Special greetings to my English friends - do you still remember this one? Way back in the good old days in 1990; Germany won the championship, but England sang the better song ;-)

New Order - World in Motion (1990)

P.S.: I was always wondering why a football song talks about love - so I did some research. Here is what I found:

When the FA (English Football Association) heard "love's got the world in motion", they asked the band to replace "love's" with "we've". The band refused. "It's an anti-hooligan song", they said.

Looking at all the trouble everywhere around us these days, I'd wish there was more love among men.

Love's got the world in motion - without the world will stop turning.

A basilica is a church with an ordinary roof that does not have a domed shape. It is such a building, built in the X century, located on the main square of the city.

When Georgia became a Christian country, mass executions of priests and adherents of paganism took place on the territory. At the same time, temples were rebuilt in the church, leaving no chance for another religion. From the largest building where the pagans worshiped their gods, they made a three-nave Christian basilica. But the churches did not stand for a long time and by now have already been destroyed.

Uplistsuli in translation from Georgian means "Church of the Prince." The uniqueness of the temple lies in the fact that it was built in a purely Georgian style: the side rooms from the main are separated by walls, not columns.

Near Uplistsuli you can see the ruins of the basilica, defeated in the era of resistance to Christianity.

reading fingers have left almost invisible traces on the letters. the story is very old.

what is readable, what can we know...just some shades and hints of the forgotten lives.

In fact, he wants me to stop with this stupid PC work and go to bed with him :-)

Timmy has no interest in toys at all, he wants to go out and spank Sammy ;-) And when he comes in, he wants to get on the table and cuddle with me. Ok, maybe I am his toy :-)))

I hope this stretching of the definition of 'toy' is acceptable.

Happy Caturday 4.6.2022 "Toys"

In fact, this is a withered vine leaf. But it could also be a view from an aeroplane of an autumnal river estuary.

Focus stack

Repost 06.04.2022 for Flickr Social group

Central British Columbia

DID YOU KNOW? Feathers are fed to the grebe chicks almost immediately after hatching. In fact, feathers are very often the first item eaten by newly hatched chicks of many grebe species. So these grebes evolved to use their feathers as a way to slow down digestion. The feathers form dense balls in the digestive tract and appear to slow the passage of food long enough that the food can be safely liquified. The bird then regurgitates the tough bits within a ball of feathers.

Interesting fact: House Wrens are fiercely territorial, they have been known to destroy bluebird and other cavity nester's eggs by piercing them, and then often removing the eggs from the nest.

If you like this and some of my other images, I invite you to take a look at my wildlife/birding blog, which I try to update every few days. ... grenfell.weebly.com and my web page at www.tekfx.ca

I appreciate your feedback and comments! so feel free to contact me for any reason. I can be reached at billm@tekfx.ca or on Flickrmail

All images are copyright. Please don't use this, or any other of my, images, on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission © All rights reserved

Music:

"Sports Hazardeux" by ALBERT MARCOEUR, in 'Sports et Percussions' (1994)

open.spotify.com/track/27pWS2up3iNu37QVv3Zic9

Odd fact: The Baltimore Oriole received its name from the fact that the male's colors resembled those on the coat of arms of Lord Baltimore.

If you like this and some of my other images, I invite you to take a look at my wildlife/birding blog, which I try to update every few days. ... grenfell.weebly.com and my web page at www.tekfx.ca

I appreciate your feedback and comments! so feel free to contact me for any reason. I can be reached at billm@tekfx.ca or on Flickrmail

All images are copyright. Please don't use this, or any other of my, images, on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission © All rights reserved

Visit this location at Bayous of Shara in Second Life

“Still, what I want in my life

is to be willing to be dazzled—

to cast aside the weight of facts

and maybe even to float a little

above this difficult world.”

― Mary Oliver

No takers for the elegant (and presumably) Victorian shelter on the promenade on this freezing cold and blustery winter's morning. In fact, apart from a couple of shore-fishermen, the seafront was practically deserted. Not a 'Ten from Len' day, then.

Ilford FP4, commercially developed.

20th February 1998

This Luxe Paris Beatnik Dress with Shawl and Boots is a fresh and comfortable look. Aptly named, this delightful outfit reflects the influences of the artistic Beatnik style.

This style has been tremendously influential to the fashion world over the years. In fact, Yves Saint Laurent set its importance in his 1960 show for Christian Dior.

This outfit is now exclusively available at Swank Events for May ’22.

LM: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Swank%20Events/128/124/38

Some facts: The ocelot, also known as the dwarf leopard, is a wild cat distributed extensively within South America including the islands of Trinidad and Margarita, Central America, and Mexico. It has been reported as far north as Texas. North of Mexico, it is found regularly only in the extreme southern part of Texas,although there are rare sightings in southern Arizona.

The ocelot is similar in appearance to a domestic cat. Its fur resembles that of a clouded leopard or jaguar and was once regarded as particularly valuable. As a result, hundreds of thousands of ocelots were once killed for their fur. The feline was classified as a vulnerable species from 1972 until 1996, and is now listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocelot

Photographed at Pousada Santa Teresa, Mato Grosso at the end of the day.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

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

©All rights reserved. Do not use without my express consent. Please contact me at thelma.gatuzzo@gmail.com if you intend to buy or use any of my images.

Fun fact: In 1810, Alexander Wilson collected a warbler from a magnolia tree in Mississippi, giving it the English name "Black-and-yellow Warbler" and "magnolia" for the scientific species name, which became the common name over time.

Painted Lady Butterfly: -

This species is a migrant to our shores and, in some years, the migration can be spectacular. The most-recent spectacle, in 2009, is considered to be one of the greatest migrations ever, with sightings from all over the British Isles that are definitely on a par with previous cardui years.

This species originates from north Africa, and it has been suggested that the urge to migrate is triggered when an individual encounters a certain density of its own kind within a given area. This theory makes perfect sense, since this species can occur in high densities that result in food plants being stripped bare on occasion with many larvae perishing as a result.

Unfortunately, this species is unable to survive our winter in any stage. This is a real shame, for not only does this species often arrive in large numbers, but is a welcome sight as it nectars in gardens throughout the British Isles in late summer. This butterfly has a strong flight and can be found anywhere in the British Isles, including Orkney and Shetland. An interesting fact is that this butterfly is the only butterfly species ever to have been recorded from Iceland.

Courtesy: UK Butterflies website

Cool facts from "all about birds":

Arctic Terns migrate from pole to pole; birds in North America travel around 25,000 miles each year.

Downy Arctic Tern hatchlings come in two colors: gray or brown. And chicks from the same nest aren't always the same color.

Arctic Terns can live for decades, but they usually do not start breeding until they are 3 or 4 years old.

The oldest recorded Arctic Tern was at least 34 years old, when it was recaptured and rereleased during a banding operation in Maine. This bird flew at least 850,000 miles, or 3 and a half times to the moon and back!!!

When molting its wing feathers during the winter, the Arctic Tern rarely flies; instead it spends much of its time resting on small blocks of ice at the edge of the pack ice.

Red Crested Turaco

From Fun Facts

Turacos are the only birds to possess actual red and green pigments in their feathers. The red pigment (turacin) and green pigment (turacoverdin) both contain copper. When you look at most birds, the color you perceive is a reflection produced by their feather structure.

These birds have highly mobile outer toes that can rotate forward or backward.

They use their long tails for balance and their feet are very good at gripping.

These birds produce a call that sounds like "go way" which is why they are often referred to as Go-Away Birds.

These birds have a beautiful red crest, which stands about 5 cm (2 in.) high when excited.

Take your pick.

Helios 44M-7 at F5.6

ursus arctos

length: 1 to 2.8 m

weight: 139 kg (male), 95 kg (female)

lifespan: 20 to 30 years

predators: humans

habitat: boreal forest, mountain alpine, arctic tundra

yukon population estimate: 6,000-7,000

they breed for the first time around their 8th year and reproduce every 3 to 4 years

bears routinely distinguish between threatening and non-threatening human behaviour

bears are not mean or malicious; they are very gentle, curious, and tolerant animals

shih shòh (gwich’in)

shär cho (hän)

dlēze (kaska)

srà cho (northern tutchone)

akłaq (inuvialuit)

atsìá sho (big grandpa) (southern tutchone)

shash chō (tagish)

shüh choh (upper tanana)

xóots or xûts (tlingit)

A combination of moments,

light and shadows.

Lines and dots.

All inconspicuous and at the same time quite clear.

🎧Ghost of Johnny Cash

Men are naturally better at lifting and throwing things, all with a smile on their faces! Women are naturally better at working alone in peace.

Picture taken by Mike.

European hornet closeup (Vespa crabro), 10-2022, Ticino, Switzerland

My best photos are here: www.lacerta-bilineata.com/ticino-best-photos-of-southern-...

European hornet (Vespa crabro), 10-2022, Ticino, Switzerland

If you're interested, you can find my best photos of the WILDLIFE IN TICINO, SWITZERLAND here: fr.lacerta-bilineata.com/l%C3%A9zard-vert-occidental-lace...

THE STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO:

I guess you can tell by the look on its face that this is not a happy hornet. That's not unusual for hornets - truth be told, variations of "not happy" "angry", or at least "badly irritated" seem to be pretty much their natural state of mind - but what's interesting about the fella above is that he also wasn't exactly sober.

To spell it out more clearly: that was one hammered hornet. It was so drunk in fact, it couldn't fly for two seconds straight without crashing. I shot that photo in my garden last fall, but as with all my pictures, I'll try to give you a bit more context.

Every year at least one hornet queen decides that some crack or hole inside the thick stone walls of my 400-year old house in Ticino is the perfect place to raise her royal family.

That in itself wouldn't pose a problem, but if there's one thing we know about "royals", it's that they're a complicated bunch (though it has to be said for both princes William and Harry that they rarely build little palaces inside the walls of some stranger's house, but I digress).

There is a slight potential for conflict; in my experience, all hornets are born with a sweet tooth and a bad temper, and particularly when there's ripe figs in my garden, tensions can rise.

That is entirely my fault though, because I still sometimes foolishly try to negotiate the human place in the food- (or rather: fruit-) chain, despite knowing perfectly well that fig season isn't the time to want to improve human-hornet relations, as any attempt in that regard will inevitably follow the same frustrating pattern:

Human: "Oh hello there Ms Hornet, how nice to meet you here at the fig tree - isn't the weather just lovely?"

Hornet: "Bzzzzzz. I have a sting. Bzzzzz. Go away. Bzzzzz."

Human: "There is really no need to be so angry, dear Ms Hornet: we're all friends here, and there's enough figs for all of us! How are the kids, I mean... larvae?"

Hornet: "Bzzzzzz. I have a sting. Bzzzzz. Go away. Bzzzzz."

Human: "Jeez, OK - relax! I can see you have a sting, I'm going, all right? You can have all the figs Ms Hornet, see: I'm already leaving!"

Hornet: "Bzzzzz. Yes, I have a sting. Bzzzzz. Don't come back. Bzzzzz."

And that's how THAT conversation goes.

Yet despite our occasional differences (like when I nearly died of smoke inhalation because Her Royal Hornet Majesty had decided my chimney was another suitable place for her nest), I'm happy to report we generally get along quite well, unless... - well, unless the hornets are intoxicated.

It's one of nature's lesser known facts (or perhaps its dirty secret) that many of our friends in the animal kingdom occasionally like to get high, and hornets are no exception. Not on anything illegal, mind; they are law-abiding insects after all, so you won't see them smoke crack or snort cocaine (although with some hornets I wouldn't rule that out completely 😉).

No: their usual drug of choice is alcohol, which my irritable neighbors find - surprise! - in my fig tree. Once some of the overripe fruit start to ferment, their potent juices become a magnet for hornets - and that's when the trouble starts.

It should come as no surprise that "hornets and hooch" are an inherently problematic combination. Because the crux with alcohol is this: it doesn't alter your personality, it only brings out the character traits that are already there without a filter, so you just become a terribly unrestrained version of yourself when you drink too much.

Which with hornets - who aren't the most cheerful bunch even on a good day - is a recipe for disaster. They are MEAN drunks - and I'm not kidding, oh boy. All that bottled-up anger constantly boiling underneath that shiny, chitin surface from the moment they hatch is finally released into the world, and it's not a pleasant sight, let me tell you.

Alcohol REALLY doesn't seem to improve their mood, and the other animals in my garden all agree (and I concur) that the fig tree would be a much happier place if the hornets just smoked weed and listened to Bob Marley instead (if them getting high can't be avoided altogether).

To be fair though, not all hornets have a drinking problem. Most of them behave responsibly and "don't drink and fly" (which I'm sure is a motto that gets taught in hornet school from an early age). And they don't get high all year long: It's only when fall arrives that the hornets like to have a merry get-together in my fig tree to get a good "buzz on".

But you know how it is: just like with any good party, there's always the ONE guy who can't hold his liquor and basically turns into your angry, drunk uncle at Christmas who starts picking fights with every one at the dinner table and insists on letting you know - very loudly - what he thinks about Trump or Biden or the Corona virus once he's had one too many.

Which finally brings me back to the fella in the photo above, because apparently he was THAT guy. That particular "drunk uncle" hornet sat underneath the fig tree on a fallen (and pretty rotten looking) fruit and was deep into its cups. As soon as it saw me, it started to buzz angrily and seemed intent on a confrontation, but it didn't manage to get airborne for more than a second.

After a few more failed attempts to lift off and a few more angry "Bzzzzzz" sounds (I think I actually did hear the words "Trump", "Biden" and "Corona" in there 😉), it just went back to boozing on the juices of the spoiled fig on the ground.

I left it to its own devices, happy that I got this quite expressive shot. 😊

P.S. I think it was actually a crazy, drunk AUNT - not an uncle 😉)

P.P.S. Just to make sure we understand each other (maybe as a disclaimer for readers who come to this gallery for the first time and aren't familiar with my kind of humor): I love the fact that these beautiful insects visit my garden. Watching how these efficient predators hunt wasps, horseflies or other insects is incredibly fascinating (adult hornets themselves mainly feed on sugary plant juices, but they hunt because their young need protein to grow).

Hornets may seem like they're constantly angry (which to me is funny - hence this text), but they're not; they're actually very peaceful towards humans, and even when you compete for a ripe fig with them, their furious buzzing is mostly just a bluff, and I've never been stung (and I don't know anyone who has).

Due to the unfounded fear many people have of hornets, who often get exterminated because they're confused with common wasps, this species is threatened in many countries (in Germany for example, hornets are a protected species). But unless you step (or sit) on them or destroy their nest, hornets don't attack, and even when they're drunk, they are usually so incapacitated that they are completely harmless (just like your uncle/aunt 😉).

So if you have hornets in your garden, just enjoy watching them and please don't harm them! 🙏 🙏 ❤ ❤

With that being said, I hope you like the photo and wish you all a wonderful weekend! Many greetings from Switzerland, and as always: let me know what you think in the comments 🙏 😊 ❤!

Explore! July 7, 2023

A daylily or day lily is a flowering plant in the genus Hemerocallis, a member of the family Asphodelaceae, subfamily

Hemerocallidoideae. Despite the common name, it is not in fact a lily. Gardening enthusiasts and horticulturists have long bred daylily species for their attractive flowers. Wikipedia

Thanks to everyone that views and comments on my images - very much appreciated.

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. On all my images, Use without permission is illegal.

Fast facts on garlic

In many countries, garlic has been used medicinally for centuries.

Garlic may have a range of health benefits, both raw and cooked.

It may have significant antibiotic properties

www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/265853

She was, in fact, a child of the moon.

Wandering around aimlessly in the dark.

Bringing light to everyone around her.

{geek}

- Luna Tiara

- Mendhi Tattoo

Vanilla Bae - Aelia Top & Aelia Skirt - FLF Bday Bash

Vanilla Bae Marketplace

Lyrium.

- Lotte Animations Set (Pose Static 1) - for The Saturday Sale ♡

A cool fact from Cornell

"Swans have long been associated with ideals of romance. Added to their elegant outlines and all-white plumage is their tendency to form permanent pair bonds by the time they’re 2-3 years old. Once a pair forms, Tundra Swans feed and roost together year-round."

The fact that the Laughing Buddha has no hair is something Tofu seems to have notived for the first time. As Tofu is very proud of his fur he can't imagine being "naked", even more so if you are outside all the time like the buddha.

Water drops. As many of you that have been Flickr friends for a while will know water and rain drops are a fascination of mine. It’s been nice today even though it’s dry but cold and overcast to pop out to the garden to catch some drops.

I toyed with the idea of zooming in on the drop, it opted for the “bigger picture”. Interesting how bare the trees become at this time of year, knowing how full of growth they were back in the summer.

Thanks for stopping

Check out these cool cardinal facts:

Cardinals are early nesters.

Both male and female cardinal birds sing.

Some people put birdseed outside to keep cardinals as “pets.”

In many cultures, bird lovers have a special place in their hearts for cardinals.

Many people associate cardinals with pleasant memories or the idea that a deceased loved one is present.

Perhaps the cardinal’s comforting, beautiful, and cheerful song invokes pleasant memories from the past.

Or maybe the bold red color speaks to us; red is the color of blood, which gives us life.

For many, cardinals symbolically represent joy and hope.

When single people encounter cardinals, they believe the bird’s presence represents an omen that new romantic relationships are on the verge of manifesting.

In the United States, when people see cardinals in winter, they feel encouraged to look forward to springtime.

Totally digging the fact that the gamer girl items from Backbone (at Access and mainstore) match perfectly with my new outfit from Violent Seduction (at Romp) ♡

The animal is ignorant of the fact that he knows. The man is aware of the fact that he is ignorant.

Minarets, Eastern Sierras, California.

So today's photo is gonna be something different from my other photos. In fact, I shot this pic accidentally. But what do you think? :) ©[http://www.flickr.com/photos/99933540@N05/]

Can't avoid the fact that I am now back in the UK where it is damp but colourful.

Thank you all for the interest in this image - you post something and you never know who will be interested.

samsung s22

Look through

Material world

Into the realm of ideas

OlympusOmZuiko 55mmF1.2

Please note for those who are unable to separate fact from fiction......this is purely fictional dialogue whilst the image is real

credits ♡

Looking Close... on Friday: Plush Toys

It has been four weeks without my little Pixie, and I am still in shock and devastated and hurt, and I miss him so terribly. He was such a special little cat, playful, naughty at times, sensitive, so intelligent, so loving, and we truly had a fusional relationship. It was so unfair that his little life was cut short so early, although I take comfort in the fact that he was loved, and that he brought so many smiles and so much love.

You will forever be in my heart, my little angel. ♥

P1070463-1 - Sunrise - Bay of Bengal - East Coast

# 332 - 24 Oct '18 - 15:15 (09:45 GMT)

She is almost our backyard .. A minute walk away ..

Early in the morning .. Had a walk along the shore .. The Slow Rise Of The Sun Was Wonderful.

WONDERFUL FACTS - What is the most powerful bird in the world?

The wild animal known to have been killed and carried away by a bird was a 15 pound male red howler monkey killed by a Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) in Manu National Park, Peru in 1990.

The Harpy Eagle is considered the world's most powerful bird of prey, although it weighs only 20 pounds. 🐧

Happy birding 🐾

Thanks to Mary for the great idea!!!!!!

Lovington, New Mexico

Possibly one of the best photography days of my life, so far. I took many, many shots of a couple of female Crossbills leading up to this set. At this point I was directly under her as she enjoyed the pine cones and kept a watchful eye on me. These are exported directly from Lightroom with little or no edits at all, in fact, I had to back off the lens to keep her in shot. A wonderful experience that she allowed me to share

I find the austerity of the entry rather shocking, but it is in fact only a preparation for what you are to see.

===================

Leica M246 Monochrom, Color-Skopar 4/21 MC, Affinity Photo, EI 6400 ISO, 1/60s, f/8

#FlickrFriday #Knowledge

On Explore - April 29, 2023 - Thanks to all my Flickr friends!

I hope you'll enjoy the my images as much as I enjoyed taking them.

Can greylag geese be white?

It can be white, completely gray (like the wild form), or somewhere in-between.

Are greylag geese native to UK?

There are two subspecies of Greylag Goose recognised: Western Greylag A. a. anser from Iceland, and north and central Europe; wintering from Scotland, south to northern Africa and east to Iran.

The greylag goose is a large, bulky, goose with a big head, and the largest of the grey goose species. It was one of the first species of animals to be domesticated in Ancient Egypt about 3000 years ago and is a typical farmyard goose. The domestic breed is known as A. a. domesticus and can interbreed with Anser anser. Many birds seen in the UK outside of the winter months are re-colonised from domestic populations and are often semi-tame. It is seen as a pest due to overgrazing of agricultural crops and is listed in Schedule 2 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, meaning it can be killed or taken outside of the close season.

Key facts Scientific name: Anser anser

Status: Resident wild and feral populations, winter visitor.

Breeding birds: 46,000 pairs UK wintering birds: 140,000 British birds and 88,000 from Iceland

Conservation status: Amber Family: Ducks, geese & swans

Length: 76 – 90 cm Wingspan: 147 – 180 cm

Weight: 2.9 – 1.4 kg

Typical lifespan: 8 years

Thank you so much for visiting my stream, whether you comments , favorites or just have a look.

I appreciate it very much, wishing the best of luck and good light.

© All rights reserved R.Ertug Please do not use this image without my explicit written permission. Contact me by Flickr mail if you want to buy or use Your comments and critiques are very well appreciated.

Lens - hand held or Monopod and definitely SPORT VR on. Aperture is f5.6 and full length. All my images have been converted from RAW to JPEG.

I started using Nikon Cross-Body Strap or Monopod on long walks. Here is my Carbon Monopod details : Gitzo GM2542 Series 2 4S Carbon Monopod - Really Right Stuff MH-01 Monopod Head with Standard Lever - Really Right Stuff LCF-11 Replacement Foot for Nikon AF-S 500mm /5.6E PF Lense -

Thanks for stopping and looking :)

The iconic Motif #1 was looking handsome in the late afternoon sun today. But I think I like the reflection best!

Motif #1 is one of the most often painted building in America. It is a replica of the original fish shack that was built here in Rockport Harbor in 1840. The original building was destroyed during the Blizzard of '78. This view is timeless, attracting dozens of photographers and painters every day.

A fun fact about Motif #1: The dentist’s office in the popular animated film “Finding Nemo” has a picture of Motif #1 hanging on the wall, a tribute by director Andrew Stanton to his hometown of Rockport.

Challenge Day #14 - Reflections