View allAll Photos Tagged ideologies

Образи та артефакти минулого. Символи комуністичної влади та імперської ідеології. Що з цим робити? Правильна відповідь, якщо це історична памʼятка – нічого, але багато хто так не вважає. Національний експоцентр України.

Upon request of Mr. Creamer here is another legendary csxt8247 post.

 

It ain't a special photo, a good spot, a good train, or even good light. It's a reflection back on times where all that mattered was fun with friends and a few spare flicks on the Nikon. Some people have expressed that I fell off and that i am not what i used to be, and that's definitely true. While i hope to still put out quality images, that has become far from my main focus. It's about friends, and it's about fun. I love doing this more than anything else, and I'm worry free about it too. When you learn to shoot for yourself, and not the standard of others, and decide to take the view from outside the viewfinder in, you open a new world of ideology.

 

I don't know, just food for thought.

The majority of these people were only 18-23 years old. Almost children. Was it really worth to sacrifice them on the altar of ideologies? I do hope we already learnt the lession and this cannot be happening again... 😥

The construction of the Temple of Heaven began in 1420 by the will of the emperors of the Ming dynasty who went there periodically to perform propitiatory ritual sacrifices due to the "celestial" nature of the Sinic autocracy.

Since the 2000s it has been used again for annual sacrifices to Heaven practiced by Confucians.

The complex covers an area of 2.73 square kilometers and includes three main groups of buildings:

• Circular altar

• Temple of the God of the Universe

• Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests

The temple is surrounded by long walls, mainly made up of a northern part, with a semicircular shape, and a southern part, with a square shape. This arrangement contains within it the entire Chinese ideology according to which the earth is square and the sky is round.

In the construction of the Temple of Heaven, the ancient master craftsmen demonstrated unparalleled skill, with enormous results, for example, in terms of the colors of the buildings. The imperial buildings mostly use yellow majolica tiles, a symbol of imperial power, however in the buildings of the Temple of Heaven the craftsmen used tiles in the color of the Sky, i.e. blue, as the main colour. In 1998 the Temple of Heaven was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

(Wikipedia source)

  

We started early Happy New Years everyone from Miami Fl.

We are in an ideological war, but we are going to win even if all the patriots die. The president won and they have tried to rob us of the vote of more than 75 million patriots, the proofs of triumph are there, but they deny the truth, fraud will fall, and with that, communism, and the truth and freedom will come to light for everyone in the world. ✌

shifting, imperceptibly at first

but there inside anyway

a-part of us

guiding gently

from fixed ideologies of linear thought patterns

  

Bonobo~ We Could Forever

The Buzludzha Monument in central Bulgaria.

Situated on the Buzludzha peak it has commanding views over central Bulgaria. Even as we drove from Kazanluk back to Sofia you only had to glance to your right to see it standing tall overlooking the valley of the rose fields.

Completed in 1981 by the Bulgarian communist government it is now in a sorry state of repair. Which I think is quite sad, whatever it is, it's a monument to the creativity and achievements of human kind.

You used to be able to go inside but it is now locked as it is unsafe to do so. Nevertheless the selfie brigade have found a way in. There is an underground tunnel that someone has cracked into and we watched as an English motorcycle couple descended into the darkness.

I wished them luck and said I'll look forward to reading about them on the news.

 

There are only two roads to this place, neither are easy. One from the north where it's a gentle climb up a dilapidated road covered in leaves and full of pot holes, or, a steep and windy road to the south, full of hairpin bends but a slightly better road surface.

We came in on one and out on the other, neither were nice.

There are initiatives in place to save this building and I wish them well. Bulgaria isn't well know as a tourist destination, part of the reason we were there. This place could be the crown of their tourist jewels.

The views from up here were just stunning.

 

B&W treatment as befits a 1980's monument.

  

The tragedy of war

 

“When I wear my poppy I’m remembering everyone affected by war, across races, genders, ideologies and borders. I’m remembering the tragedy of war, all wars. I wear it in the hope that wars will be a thing of the past.”

 

–Dave Stewart, Canadian writer, musician and filmmaker

  

Die Kriegsgräberstätte und Denkmal Golm (der Golm ist mit 69 m ü. NHN die höchste Erhebung Usedoms) liegt im Deutschen Teil Usedoms unmittelbar an der polnischen Grenze. Im Herbst 1944 entstand dort ein Soldatenfriedhof mit mindestens 1500 Gräbern. Am 12. März 1945 wurde die nahegelegene und mit Flüchtlingen überfüllte Stadt Swinemünde (heute Świnoujście, Polen) bombadiert. Der Angriff galt dem von der deutschen Kriegsmarine stark genutzten Hafen, bei dem Angriff starben wohl zwischen 4.000 und 6.000 Menschen, darunter viele Zivilisten, welche ebenfalls hier beerdigt sind.

 

Die Skulptur «Die Frierende» stellt eine Frau im Soldatenmantel dar und wurde 1952/1953 im Auftrag der Sozialistischen Kulturbehörde für diesen Ort von Rudolf Leptien geschaffen. Wohl weil sie nicht den ideologischen Vorstellungen der Parteilinie entsprach, durfte sie nicht aufgestellt werden. Dies erfolgte erst 1984 in einer privaten Initiative und mehr oder weniger heimlich, als der Bildhauer schon lange nach Westberlin geflohen war. Als Grund für die fehlende Nase wird vermutet, dass Leptien die Skulptur vor seiner Flucht bewusst beschädigte.

 

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The war cemetery and memorial Golm [Kriegsgräberstätte und Denkmal Golm] (the Golm is with 69 m above sea level the highest elevation of Usedom) is located in the German part of Usedom directly at the Polish border. In autumn 1944 a military cemetery with at least 1500 graves was established there. On March 12, 1945, the nearby town of Swinemünde (now Świnoujście, Poland), which was crowded with refugees, was bombed. The attack was aimed at the harbor heavily used by the German navy. Probably between 4,000 and 6,000 people died in the attack, including many civilians who are also buried there.

 

The sculpture "The freezing women" [Die Frierende] represents a woman in a soldier's coat and was created in 1952/1953 by Rudolf Leptien on behalf of the Socialist Cultural Authority for this place. Probably because it did not correspond to the ideological ideas of the party line, it was not allowed to be erected. This was done only in 1984 in a private initiative and more or less secretly, when the sculptor had long since fled to West Berlin. The reason for the missing nose is thought to be that Leptien deliberately damaged the sculpture before he fled.

It seems some tourist labelled our area "Unfriendly". Why? Because the gate bears a sign saying, "Your dog could be shot if found amongst sheep. Dogs must be kept on a lead".

Because some town folk just don't understand. If I had my way kids would be taught these sorts of things in school, but instead, better minds than mine and 'experts' dictate they focus on alien religions, and perverted sexual ideologies. And we wonder about the state of the world that's been created

I shall then suggest that ideology 'acts' or functions' in such a way that it recruits' subjects among the individuals (it recruits them all), or transforms' the individuals into subjects (it transforms them al) by that very precise operation which I have called interpellation or hailing, and which can be imagined along the lines of the most commonplace everyday police (or other) hailing: 'Hey, you there! - Louis Althusser

Christianity is an event. There is no other word to indicate its nature, neither the word law, nor the words ideology, concept, or plan. Christianity is not a religious doctrine, a series of moral laws or a collection of rites. Christianity is a fact, an event. All the rest is a consequence. The word “event” is therefore crucial. It indicates the method chosen and used by God to save man: God became man in the womb of a fifteen-to seventeen-year-old girl named Mary, in “the womb … where our desire did dwell,” as Dante says. The manner in which God entered into relationship with us to save us is an event, not a thought or a religious sentiment. It is a fact that took place in history, a fact that reveals who God is and points out what God wants from man, what man must do in his relationship with God. As a way of communicating Himself to man, God could have chosen direct enlightenment, so that each individual would have to follow what God suggested to him in his thoughts and in his heart. This would have been by no means an easier or safer road, since it would be constantly exposed to the fluctuation of feelings and thoughts. But the way God chose to save us is an event, not our thoughts! (Giussani, Alberto, and Prades, Generating Traces in the History of the World, 9)

Be the first to kick start your generous support and fund my production with more amazing images!

 

Currently, I'm running a crowd funding activity to initiate my personal 2016 Flickr's Project. Here, I sincerely request each and every kind hearted souls to pay some effort and attention.

 

No limitation, Any Amount and your encouraging comments are welcome.

 

Crowd funding contribution can be simply direct to my PayPal account if you really appreciate and wish my forthcoming photography project to come alive.

Please PayPal your wish amount to : men4r@yahoo.com

 

Email me or public comments below your contribution amount for good records with your comments and at final day, at random, I shall sent out my well taken care canon 6D with full box n accessory during random draw to one thankful contributor as my token of appreciation.

 

Now, I cordially invite and look forward with eagerness a strong pool of unity zealous participants in this fundermental ideology yet sustainable crowd fund raising task.

Basically, the substantial gather amount is achievable with pure passion n love heart in photography and not necessary be filty rich nor famous to help me accomplish raising my long yearning photography career, a sucking heavy expense that been schedules down my photography making journey had inevitably, some circumstances had badly fall short behind racing with time and inability to fulfill as quickly in near future consolidating good fund .

Honestly, with aspiration and hope, I appeal to urge on this media for a strong humanity mandate through good faith of sharing and giving generously on this particular crowd funding excercise to achieve my desire n is not just purely a dread dream , is also flickers first starter own crowds funding strength turning impossible into reality through this pratical raising method that I confidently trust it will turn fruitful from all your small effort participation, every single persistency will result consolidating piling up every little tiny bricks into an ultimate huge strong living castle.

In reality, I have trust and never look down on every single peny efforts that been contributed as helpful means, turning unrealistic dream alive is the goal in crowd funding excercise, No reason any single amount is regard to be too small when the strength of all individual wish gather to fulfill my little desire to make exist and keep alive. .

I sincerely look forward each and every participants who think alike crowds funding methodlogy works here no matter who come forwards with regardless any capital amount input be big or small , please help gather and pool raise my objective target amount as close to USD$10K or either acquisition from donation item list below:

 

1- ideally a high mega pixel Canon 5DS ( can be either new or use ok)

2- Canon 70-200mm F2.8 L IS lens ( can be either new or use ok)

Last but not least, a photography journey of life time for a trip to explore South Island of New Zealand and Africa.

.

My intended schedule may estimate about 1 month round trip self drive traveling down scenic Southern Island of New Zealand for completing the most captivating landscape photography and wander into the big five, the wilderness of untamed Africa nature for my project 2016 before my physical body stamina eventually drain off.

 

During the course, I also welcome sponsor's to provide daily lodging/accommodation, car rental/transportation, Fox Glacier helicopter ride and other logistic funding expenses, provide photographic camera equipments or related accessories .

Kindly forward all sponsors request terms of condition n collaboration details for discussion soon.

 

Great Ocean Drive- the 12 Apostle's

 

Please Click Auto Slide show for ultimate viewing pleasure in Super Large Display .to enjoy my photostream . ..

Due to copyright issue, I cannot afford to offer any free image request. Pls kindly consult my sole permission to purchase n use any of my images.You can email me at : men4r@yahoo.com.

 

Don't use this image on Websites/Blog or any other media

without my explicit permission.

 

For Business, You can find me here at linkedin..

 

Follow me on www.facebook.com here

Unconscious fantasy

Progressive alternative

Structures reality

Roger Waters Us+Them

Relentless performance of the legendary Waters, musician of Pink Floyd. It authentically emphasizes its political and ideological thinking.

Incredible panels illustrate the show, making you feel on stage.

 

Estádio Mané Garrincha

Brasília, Brasil

Morning Alms at Bagan village

 

Be the first to kick start your generous support and fund my production with more amazing images!

 

Currently, I'm running a crowd funding activity to initiate my personal 2016 Flickr's Project. Here, I sincerely request each and every kind hearted souls to pay some effort and attention.

 

No limitation, Any Amount and your encouraging comments are welcome.

 

Crowd funding contribution can be simply direct to my PayPal account if you really appreciate and wish my forthcoming photography project to come alive.

Please PayPal your wish amount to : men4r@yahoo.com

 

Email me or public comments below your contribution amount for good records with your comments and at final day, at random, I shall sent out my well taken care canon 6D with full box n accessory during random draw to one thankful contributor as my token of appreciation.

 

Now, I cordially invite and look forward with eagerness a strong pool of unity zealous participants in this fundermental ideology yet sustainable crowd fund raising task.

Basically, the substantial gather amount is achievable with pure passion n love heart in photography and not necessary be filty rich nor famous to help me accomplish raising my long yearning photography career, a sucking heavy expense that been schedules down my photography making journey had inevitably, some circumstances had badly fall short behind racing with time and inability to fulfill as quickly in near future consolidating good fund .

Honestly, with aspiration and hope, I appeal to urge on this media for a strong humanity mandate through good faith of sharing and giving generously on this particular crowd funding excercise to achieve my desire n is not just purely a dread dream , is also flickers first starter own crowds funding strength turning impossible into reality through this pratical raising method that I confidently trust it will turn fruitful from all your small effort participation, every single persistency will result consolidating piling up every little tiny bricks into an ultimate huge strong living castle.

In reality, I have trust and never look down on every single peny efforts that been contributed as helpful means, turning unrealistic dream alive is the goal in crowd funding excercise, No reason any single amount is regard to be too small when the strength of all individual wish gather to fulfill my little desire to make exist and keep alive. .

I sincerely look forward each and every participants who think alike crowds funding methodlogy works here no matter who come forwards with regardless any capital amount input be big or small , please help gather and pool raise my objective target amount as close to USD$10K or either acquisition from donation item list below:

 

1- ideally a high mega pixel Canon 5DS ( can be either new or use ok)

2- Canon 70-200mm F2.8 L IS lens ( can be either new or use ok)

Last but not least, a photography journey of life time for a trip to explore South Island of New Zealand and Africa.

.

My intended schedule may estimate about 1 month round trip self drive traveling down scenic Southern Island of New Zealand for completing the most captivating landscape photography and wander into the big five, the wilderness of untamed Africa nature for my project 2016 before my physical body stamina eventually drain off.

 

During the course, I also welcome sponsor's to provide daily lodging/accommodation, car rental/transportation, Fox Glacier helicopter ride and other logistic funding expenses, provide photographic camera equipments or related accessories .

Kindly forward all sponsors request terms of condition n collaboration details for discussion soon.

 

Great Ocean Drive- the 12 Apostle's

 

Please Click Auto Slide show for ultimate viewing pleasure in Super Large Display .to enjoy my photostream . ..

Due to copyright issue, I cannot afford to offer any free image request. Pls kindly consult my sole permission to purchase n use any of my images.You can email me at : men4r@yahoo.com.

 

Don't use this image on Websites/Blog or any other media

without my explicit permission.

 

For Business, You can find me here at linkedin..

 

Follow me on www.facebook.com here

Helio-K9-centrism is an offshoot of Heliocentrism. While Helio-K9-centrism still holds that our planet revolves around the sun, it further recognizes that our lives revolve around our dogs. While this duality may seem contradictory to some, it has been emotionally proven many times. I thought Jasper’s smiling face sitting in the middle of a mosaic of the sun’s smiling face was a perfect metaphor for Helio-K9-centrism, an ideology first formalized and published by an amateur American philosopher, Todd Wynia in 2022 AD 😉

Ideologies separate us. Dreams and anguish bring us together. -- Eugene Ionesco

"We have only to kick in the door and the whole rotten structure will come down"- Adolf Hitler

 

During Operstion Barbarossa one of Hitlers main targets besides Moscow and Stalingrad was the city of Leningrad. The city was strategically and ideologically important. The city was a center of Russian culture and was even home of the Russian revolution. Hitlers plan for the city was to completely destroy it and kill all of the inhabitants. It's even a rumor that he wanted to rename it "Adolfsburg". During the initial attack the Germans surrounded the city from the south, while their allies the Finns seeking to reclaim lost terroritory surrounded it from the north. Even though the Finns were involved they only invaded up to the previous border they had before the winter war.

 

The siege went on for over 900 days. During that time the people of Leningrad suffered from starvation and bombings from the Germans. Food was so scarce people resorted to eating snow or even cannibalism.

 

During the closing days of the siege when both the Germans and Finns were being pushed back the Russian army had enough resources to finally invade and liberate the city from the siege. On January 27th 1944 the siege was over. The Russians next objective was revenge.

 

The siege showed how evil the Nazi regime and their genocidal goals were for their plans of "living space". Just the thought of mass murdering a whole city is haunting. The siege also showed people will resort to do anything to survive.

  

So I wanted to try something different and improve on some European architecture. I hope you all enjoy!

Capitalism is like cancer. Once it enters a host country's economy, it will spread and devour labor, the environment, and any other impediment to the growth of profit. Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell. The essence of capitalism is to turn nature into commodities and commodities into capital. However, the world cannot continue to get richer as the earth becomes poorer. Just as the only inevitability in life is death, the only inevitability about our capitalist way of life, is the death of our planet [and our civilization].

 

Garikai Chengu

Concerning Brexit, madness is the new normal in the UK; common sense is regarded as a 'betrayal of the will of the people'. The truth is that with Brexit we are dealing with an ideological project of a neocolonialist, nationalistic and fairly xenophobic minority. The 'will of the people' is the last thing that would be on their mind.

You see three chairs. Here in the middle sits the unable to work prisoner. To the left and right he is held by two men. Another man is holding his head. On the left side of the table you can see the syringe with phenol. Then the dossier and on the right the stethoscope. Behind it sits the SS doctor / paramedic or prisoner functionaries.

 

If the patient is declared unfit for work, the doctor injects the phenol into the prisoner's heart muscle. The patient becomes unconscious. After a few seconds death occurs. Then the corpse is brought to the crematorium and burned. In this way, hundreds of thousands of concentration camp prisoners were liquidated.

 

A merciful death. Most of them were sent to the gas chamber immediately after their arrival. The survivors died as a result of hard work and malnutrition. Many were beaten to death, shot, hanged or put in a hunger bunker, where they died for several days. Medical experiments without anaesthesia also claimed many lives.

 

The number of victims 20.05.1940 - 27.01.1945 in the Auschwitz camps alone is estimated at up to 1.5 million. One person died every 100 seconds, 36 people per hour and 875 people per day. If a week had passed, 6.129 people were no longer alive. In the month 26.270 people lost their lives. Only in Auschwitz. All because of an ideology and people who put these ideas into practice.

 

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Das Behandlungszimmer. 3 Stühle. Hier sitzt in der Mitte der arbeitsunfähige Häftling. Links und rechts wird er von zwei Männern festgehalten. Ein weiterer Mann hält seinen Kopf fest. Auf der linken Seite des Tisches die Spritze mit Phenol. Daneben die Akte und rechts das Stethoskop. Dahinter sitzt der SS Arzt / Sanitäter oder Funktionshäftlinge.

 

Wird der der Kranke für arbeitsunfähig erklärt, sticht der Arzt dem Gefangenen direkt in den Herzmuskel und spritzt das Phenol rein. Der Patient wird bewusstlos. Nach einigen Sekunden tritt der Tod ein. Danach wird die Leiche ins Krematorium gebracht und verbrannt. Auf diese Weise wurden hunderttausende KZ Häftlinge liquidiert.

 

Ein gnädiger Tod. Die meisten wurden nach der Ankunft in die Gaskammer geschickt. Die "Überlebenden" sind an Folgen von schwerer Arbeit und Unterernährung gestorben. Viele wurden totgeschlagen, erschossen, erhängt oder in einem Hungerbunker gesteckt, wo sie mehrere Tage lang starben. Auch die medizinischen Versuche - ohne Narkose - forderten viele Todesopfer.

 

Die Opferzahl 20.05.1940 - 27.01.1945 alleine in den Lagern Auschwitz wird auf bis 1,5 Millionen geschätzt. Alle 100 Sekunden starb ein Mensch, in der Stunde starben 36 Menschen, am Tag 875 Menschen. War eine Woche vergangen, lebten 6.129 Menschen nicht mehr. Im Monat verloren 26.270 Menschen das Leben. Nur in Ausschwitz. Das alles wegen einer Ideologie und Menschen, die diese Ideen in Taten umsetzten.

 

Italy, Tuscany, Pisa, Summer 2024

 

The common sunflower is a species of large annual forb of the daisy family Asteraceae. The common sunflower is harvested for its edible oily seeds which are used in the production of cooking oil, as well as other uses such as food for livestock, bird food, and planting in domestic gardens for aesthetics. A common misconception is that flowering sunflower heads track the Sun across the sky. Although immature flower buds exhibit this behaviour, the mature flowering heads point in a fixed (and typically easterly) direction throughout the day. The flowers are the subject of Vincent van Gogh's Sunflowers series of still-life paintings. The sunflower is often used as a symbol of green ideology. The flower is also the symbol of the Vegan Society.

 

"Ideologie e costruzioni: una goccia d’acqua su questi pan di zucchero, e tutto si scioglie."

 

"Ideology is construction: a drop of water on these sugar lumps and all dissolves."

Georges Braque

 

www.facebook.com/simonedidiophotography

"Being Feminine is to Be Myself"

 

It is important to discover in myself the attributes that connect me to the world.

 

For me, being feminine includes understanding, gentleness, showing affection, and behaving with proper manners and etiquette. I also believe that this should include, sensitivity, kindness, warmth, flexibility, cooperation, expressiveness, modesty, humility, empathy, caring, tenderness, helping others, a dedication to people, and causes that are virtuous.

 

I express my femininity with my body, appearance, and behavior, as they are all linked. It is an essential part of the human experience, as it offers security, confidence and a positive attitude to society. Humility is an important aspect of femininity, like the ability to laugh at oneself, and not be too proud, and break out of useless patterns and habits. Being feminine also has a natural flow, influencing others with ones creativity, flexibility, and compassion, that can be expressed in attitude, behavior, clothing, words, appearance, gestures, and actions. Remember, it is important to love oneself in order to fully love others.

 

Our femininity can express our dreams and ideologies and attract others to reflect on these, like the moon attracts the tides. We too should set goals to behave the way we want the world to be. This all being said, at its root, femininity is not something that can be taught in a classroom, but rather an innate and part of what makes us feminine.

 

Emma Jane

 

collaboration by Melter Weatherwax

 

Les Niches Parties égayent Augustijnenrei et consistent en une série de masques brillants, ornés de rubans colorés. L'installation reflète l'ambiance festive qu'a connue Naveau lors de son voyage au Mexique, où des drapeaux colorés animent les rues. Il fait également référence à la fonction communicative des drapeaux : en tant que diffuseurs d'un avertissement, d'un message ou d'une idéologie. A Bruges, elle remplit temporairement les niches au bord de l'eau de manière ludique avec une mascarade qui fait appel à l'imagination, un accueil chaleureux pour chaque passant.

 

Les Niches Parties brightens up Augustijnenrei and consists of a series of shiny masks, adorned with coloured ribbons. The installation reflects the festive atmosphere Naveau experienced during her trip to Mexico, where coloured flags liven up the streets. It also refers to the communicative function of flags: as disseminators of a warning, message or ideology. In Bruges, she temporarily fills the niches by the water in a playful way with a masquerade that appeals to the imagination, a warm welcome for every passer-by.

Tower caught fire along 71st Street and Collins Avenue, around 4 a.m., Tuesday.

These are the causes of what I am tired of saying, that is, that ideological divisionism is one of the fatuities of those who presumably call themselves Liberals of the left, only eight years of misgovernment were enough to resurrect hatred, racial disagreement, etc, where everything was solved since the death of a giant named Martin Luther King Jr. Now surely not a madman wanting to tear down the monument of this great man who united all races with a single name: Americans.

 

500px.com/thesergeantags

Temple of Heaven, Beijing, China.

 

This is where the Chinese emperors prayed to the sky gods for the country during the Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty (1644-1912).

 

The concept of "Round sky and square land" is reflected in the design of this building, making it one of the few historic buildings in China that was designed in a circular shape. This ideology is also reflected in the shape of the traditional Chinese coins (round coin with a squared hole) circulated across a period of over 2000 years.

Stars, the coat of arms of the Soviet Union, other symbols of communist power and imperial ideology. What to do with all this? The pavilions of the Expo Center are architectural monuments. Remove the Soviet stars and replace the coat of arms of the Soviet Union with the coat of arms of Ukraine? But, in this case, it will be like trying to “put panties on Michelangelo’s David.” Yes, this is not a world masterpiece, but still. Blow to hell and build a “new world”? The answers have yet to be found, but in any case these will be “society-splitting” answers and solutions. All those who are in a hurry with answers and actions need to remember that soldiers fighting the enemy, civilians left homeless, do not care deeply about all these symbols and their meanings.

 

Pavilion No. 1 (Main) has a total height of 65 meters, the height of its gilded spire is 25 meters.

An attentive viewer may be surprised by the appearance of an unprepossessing metal cascade staircase on the central facade of the pavilion, which leads from the roof of the first level to the doors of the round room of the second level. Previously, this staircase was hidden behind a huge coat of arms of Soviet Ukraine surrounded by banners with stars. After independence, this coat of arms looked so out of place that it had to be dismantled.

 

The Expocenter complex includes 180 buildings and structures. 20 buildings have the status of architectural and urban monuments of local significance of Ukraine – the entrance propylaea, the main pavilion and numerous other pavilions.

 

Павільйон №1 (Головний) має загальну висоту 65 метрів, висота його позолоченого шпиля – 25 метрів.

Уважного глядача може здивувати вигляд непоказних металевих каскадних сходів на центральному фасаді павільйону, які ведуть з даху першого рівня до дверей круглого приміщення другого рівня. Раніше ці сходи були приховані за величезним гербом Радянської України в оточенні прапорів зі зірками, який домініював на просторому 11-ти метровому порталі. Після здобуття незалежності та перейменування Виставки досягнень народного господарства в Національний Експоцентр України цей герб виглядав настільки недоречно, що його довелося демонтувати.

 

Зірки, герб СРСР, інші символи комуністичної влади та імперської ідеології. Що з усім цим робити? Павільйони Експоцентру є пам'ятками архітектури. Прибрати радянські зірки і замінити герб УРСР на герб України? Але в цьому випадку це буде все одно, що намагатися «надіти трусики на Давида Мікеланджело». Так, це не світовий шедевр, але все ж. Зруйнувати пекло і побудувати «новий світ»? Відповіді ще належить знайти, але в будь-якому випадку це будуть відповіді та рішення, які «розколюють суспільство». Всім тим, хто поспішає з відповідями та діями, треба пам'ятати, що воїнам, які борються з ворогом на лінії фронту, цивільним у тилу, які залишилися без даху над головою, глибоко начхати на всі ці символи та їхній сенс.

Pavilion No. 1 (Main) has a total height of 65 meters, the height of its gilded spire is 25 meters.

The Expocenter complex includes 180 buildings and structures. 20 buildings have the status of architectural and urban monuments of local significance of Ukraine – the entrance propylaea, the main pavilion and numerous other pavilions.

In search of Nikolai Apollonovitch...

 

A tribute to Saint Petersburg and Andreï Bely ( Wladimir Nabokov praised him and James Joyce as some of the finest international writers of the early XXth century)

 

Please do forgive my rather odd pictural composition ;-)

 

Leica M 21mm F/3.4 Super Elmar Asph.

 

Dear friends and colleagues; thank you for viewing, faving and commenting my digital observations.

This photograph shows a rally on Independence Square (the Maidan) in Kyiv on December 1, 2013.

 

That day, approximately 800,000 people gathered in the center of Kyiv. Of course, I was there too, along with my friends. The gray tones of this photograph, taken with a low-budget mobile phone, convey the atmosphere of those days well and stand in sharp contrast to the orange colors of the revolution nine years earlier (which felt more like a performance).

 

A few days before that, students who had come out to protest President Yanukovych’s refusal to sign the Association Agreement with the EU were demonstratively and brutally beaten on the Maidan. He refused to do so at the very last moment, while attending the summit in Vilnius.

 

On November 30 at 4 a.m., police officers from the special unit ‘Berkut’ (which was supposedly created to combat organized crime but in reality consisted of outright sadists trained to beat people in prisons and used by the authorities for forceful actions against demonstrators as well as for all kinds of dirty work) waited until only a small number of students remained on the square—and then carried out a bloody massacre.

 

The students were chased all along Khreshchatyk; when caught, they were beaten with batons, kicked, and assaulted in other ways. In total, that bloody morning left 94 people injured—unarmed young men and women who had simply decided to express their disagreement with the reversal of their country’s foreign policy course.

 

So this time the protesters were no longer entirely peaceful either. On the very day this photograph was taken, they immediately occupied the Kyiv City Council building and turned it into the headquarters of the resistance movement (the building is located on Khreshchatyk, next to the Maidan; in fact, I heard the sound of breaking glass there, and then the corresponding announcement was made).

 

Closer to the evening, aggressively minded groups began gathering near the Presidential Administration building, which the authorities had заранее protected with dense lines of those same special-unit troops, equipped with shields and helmets. I went there as well, but sensing how extremely tense the atmosphere was, I decided to leave and get away from trouble—and I was right to do so, because soon another attack by the “Berkut” units on the demonstrators began, during which people were beaten even more brutally (and by then no one was distinguishing between protesters, journalists, or people who were simply passing by).

 

The Berkut officers beat people en masse, as they liked to do. Many victims of that crackdown ended up in hospitals; many others were thrown into prison. The official casualty figures were 112 civilians and 45 journalists.

 

Despite all this, attempts to intimidate the people through demonstrative brutality failed—quite the opposite. People began arriving in Kyiv from all over Ukraine and joining the ranks of the ‘Maidan protesters’; some foreign citizens joined them as well, and local Maidans sprang up in regional cities across Ukraine.

 

In response, the authorities shifted to tactics of abductions, torture, and the killing of activists.

 

I will not describe in detail the chronology of those events, which were later called the ‘Revolution of Dignity.’ There were repeated attempts to storm the protesters’ camp (the city center was effectively barricaded). There were also attempts by Yanukovych—through the mediation of American and European diplomats—to negotiate with those who presented themselves as leaders of the protest movement (in particular with former Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, who now lives in his estate in the United States and whom I personally consider a scoundrel).

 

In the end, Yanukovych decided to flee Ukraine to Russia, after first giving the order to shoot protesters with firearms (or the order was given by one of his deputies—I do not know. The investigation into those events was later effectively buried, and the evidence destroyed).

 

On February 20, the bloody climax began, costing the lives of 48 protesters, with more than 80 wounded (four members of the security forces were also killed). Ultimately, Yanukovych’s regime fell—but by and large, the Maidan was defeated as well.

 

Why do I say that? Because its results were once again exploited by the same criminal–oligarchic groups that have controlled this country since the 1990s. Soon afterward, Petro Poroshenko became president of Ukraine. Although he is considered a ‘pro-Western’ and ‘nationally oriented’ politician, he is in fact a classic oligarch—a person who simultaneously owns major businesses, vast wealth, media outlets, has his own political force, and wields political power.

 

Those political movements that emerged from ordinary activists (the so-called ‘Maidan parties’) failed to receive significant support in the parliamentary elections. Society decided that the ‘smart and wealthy uncles’ knew better what should be done with the country—especially since they were shown on all national television channels (almost all media in the country at the time were oligarch-owned), on the radio, and on ubiquitous billboards.

 

Thus, although Ukraine formally maintained a pro-European course, in general it remained the same corrupt, clan-based oligarchic state, with weak civic institutions, a pitifully small middle class and intelligentsia, an impoverished majority of the population, and a handful of super-rich individuals. Perhaps this picture is exaggerated, but if one were to describe our reality briefly, this is what it was like (and what it is today as well, with certain adjustments—for the worse…).

 

The thing is that Ukraine did not gain independence in 1991 as a result of a national liberation struggle or any kind of mass popular movement—no. It was proclaimed by the republican Communist Party nomenklatura. These functionaries had grown tired of imitating the construction of communism; they understood the dead-end nature of this path and saw how far ahead the West had gone in terms of socio-economic prosperity. They wanted to become millionaires and billionaires and to openly enjoy life ‘to the fullest.’ Essentially, that is what happened.

 

The national-patriotic forces, led by dissidents Vyacheslav Chornovil (killed in 1999) and Levko Lukyanenko (each of whom had spent nearly a quarter of a century in Soviet prisons), did not receive significant public support. Their maximum result was only about 30% of the total composition of parliament, and it declined further afterward.

 

The nomenklatura remained in power, while leaders of organized criminal groups began breathing down their necks. The ‘carving up’ of public property began—property accumulated through the hard labor of previous generations of Ukrainians, residents of the Ukrainian Soviet Republic.

 

It was precisely during the presidency of Leonid Kuchma that the architecture of the clan–oligarchic model of governing Ukraine took shape, with Kuchma as its architect. Political power and state property, super-profitable enterprises, and entire sectors of the economy were distributed among a limited circle of individuals who became multi-billionaires almost overnight (and remain so to this day). Kuchma’s son-in-law, Viktor Pinchuk, is one of them. Rinat Akhmetov (a man of Tatar origin from the Donbas, with an openly criminal past), Firtash, Kolomoisky, Poroshenko, and others—they are the real masters of Ukraine, even though many of them do not live here now. In recent years, however, they have been forced to ‘share’ Ukraine’s agricultural land and the remnants of its natural resources with transnational corporations.

 

Under such an architecture, state institutions were from the outset created as corrupt structures designed to serve oligarchic interests. Legislation was written exclusively in the interests of clan–oligarchic groups (and the oligarchs themselves held seats in parliament and had their own political parties). These oligarchs, being boundlessly greedy, fought—and continue to fight—among themselves, forming situational coalitions and manipulating the population through the media. In fact, it was precisely this that led Ukraine to ideological split and war, to its catastrophic condition today, and to the brink of final destruction.

 

I would like to separately note the role of the Soros Foundation, the BlackRock corporation, and other similar organizations, which through their numerous grants effectively created a fake civil society in Ukraine—opinion leaders who supposedly fought corruption, promoted various gender issues, the LGBT agenda, and so on, while receiving generous funding. In reality, through their grant programs, they began turning Ukraine into an ‘anti-Russia,’ and over 30 years they succeeded in this. Instead of investing in real reforms and the genuine European integration of Ukrainians, people were morally prepared for war all this time. And this is what we now have. This is, of course, my subjective opinion.

 

For me it is obvious that the West does not see Ukraine as part of itself. We are not trusted; no one wants to invest in us. We are seen merely as a buffer zone between Russia and the West—nothing more. Our able-bodied and reproductive youth—they have already taken them in. Those who remain living in Ukraine—the elderly, veterans and disabled people of the war, the security forces and the bureaucratic apparatus of Ukraine—are of no interest to them whatsoever.

 

You will see: a day after the war ends, EU countries will reintroduce a visa regime with Ukraine, or even fence themselves off entirely, declaring our state undemocratic (and having formal grounds to do so). We have been turned into a ‘steel porcupine’—a punching bag meant to be beaten. What I am writing here may seem unpleasant to you, but I predict that in the foreseeable future such reproaches from Ukrainians may become a mass phenomenon, and perhaps even the official position of the Ukrainian state (if it survives at all). And you will have to understand where these reproaches come from and why.

 

Back in 2014, immediately after Yanukovych fled, Putin sent his troops into the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, annexing it virtually without a fight (Kyiv simply never gave the army an order to open fire). Then detachments led by Russian KGB/FSB officer Igor Girkin began a separatist movement in the Donbas, which soon escalated into what was called the ATO (formally an ‘anti-terrorist operation,’ but in reality an undeclared war between the Russian and Ukrainian armies in a limited region).

 

In 2019, a random person from a humorous TV show became president of Ukraine (a man who had previously played the role of an ordinary Ukrainian schoolteacher who accidentally became president in a television series!). The people decided that electing a comedian-actor with no political experience whatsoever was better than voting for the tiresome pseudo-patriotic oligarch Poroshenko. In the subsequent parliamentary elections, people blindly voted for the same kind of ‘people from nowhere,’ supporting President Zelensky’s party 'Servant of the People', which had been created just a few months earlier. And this party unexpectedly won a constitutional majority!

 

Instead of crafty oligarchs and politicians fed by them, the parliament was filled—once again—with random people: wedding photographers, blowjob instructors (I’m not joking), supermarket beer thieves, and so on. People believed that this rabble would be able to help Ukraine climb out of the swamp... It didn’t work.

 

The country sank into incompetence, new corruption scandals, attempts at redistributing property (so-called raiding), and more. Defense contracts were sabotaged; people were leaving the army en masse; many were leaving the country altogether. By February 24, Ukraine approached the invasion in a fairly weakened defensive state. This allowed the Russians, in just a few days, to advance to the outskirts of Kyiv and seize vast territories in the south of the country.

 

The authorities either fled or switched sides to the Russians. Then, once again, there was grassroots self-organization and a volunteer movement, which made it possible to repel the enemy for a short time, push it back from the capital, and force it into retreat. And then—there was yet another betrayal by the pseudo-elites, a refusal to conclude peace agreements in Istanbul, and afterward everything slid back again.

 

Legal lawlessness, authoritarianism, looting, corruption, and the comprador nature of the pseudo-elites against the backdrop of a losing war—that is what we have now.

 

This turned into a very long text. Perhaps it is time to put a full stop here—or at least an ellipsis…

All Saints Church in Caddington, Bedfordshire, goes back to the time of the Norman conquest of Britain. The Normans did not bring Christianity to Britain - it had been there long before, but they were the ones introducing in a very big way military-grade church buildings made from stone. Christianity became very different in the hands of the new ruling elite and, clearly, was an instrument of ideological conquest too. And the building shows it.

Mitakon Speedmaster manual lens at F0.95.

The majority of these people were only 18-23 years old. Almost children. Was it really worth to sacrifice them on the altar of ideologies? I do hope we already learnt the lession and this cannot be happening again... 😥

The Western media is having a field day reporting on the "Chinese virus" that smacks of racist overtones and China phobia.

 

The true victim is in fact our sense of humanitarianism.

 

We should all support what the Chinese government is doing by trying to contain the spread of the virus.

 

We all live in the same global village and should all work together in unison rather than disparaging the Chinese Government who to date has accomplished more than what the US government accomplished during the 2009 H1N1 swine flu pandemic.

 

When the swine flu pandemic died down in April 2010, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that 60.8 million Americans had contracted the virus, 274,304 were hospitalised and 12,469 had died.

 

In December last year, the flu season arrived unexpectedly early in the US, afflicting at least 19 million people, hospitalising 180,000 of them and killing 10,000. This is according to the CDC's Weekly US Influenza Surveillance Report on Jan 25.

 

As of Wednesday, the coronavirus has, within China, afflicted over 24,300 people and killed 490. Outside China, it has afflicted at least 186 people and killed one.

 

However, commentators online are expressing greater terror over ethnic Asians than the ongoing regular flu.

 

Know the facts from the fallacies and keep up the spirit of helping our fellow human beings in our shared time of need.

 

Part of an essay by Ashton Ng for Straits Time , "The true victim of Corona Virus: Our sense of humanitarianism"

 

Daisy flower taken at MIFGS 2019.

 

Happy Friday and dont' forget to wash your hands, sneeze into a tissue and refrain from touching your face

Homage of Century - Bagan

 

Be the first to kick start your generous support and fund my production with more amazing images!

 

Currently, I'm running a crowd funding activity to initiate my personal 2016 Flickr's Project. Here, I sincerely request each and every kind hearted souls to pay some effort and attention.

 

No limitation, Any Amount and your encouraging comments are welcome.

 

Crowd funding contribution can be simply direct to my PayPal account if you really appreciate and wish my forthcoming photography project to come alive.

Please PayPal your wish amount to : men4r@yahoo.com

 

Email me or public comments below your contribution amount for good records with your comments and at final day, at random, I shall sent out my well taken care canon 6D with full box n accessory during random draw to one thankful contributor as my token of appreciation.

 

Now, I cordially invite and look forward with eagerness a strong pool of unity zealous participants in this fundermental ideology yet sustainable crowd fund raising task.

Basically, the substantial gather amount is achievable with pure passion n love heart in photography and not necessary be filty rich nor famous to help me accomplish raising my long yearning photography career, a sucking heavy expense that been schedules down my photography making journey had inevitably, some circumstances had badly fall short behind racing with time and inability to fulfill as quickly in near future consolidating good fund .

Honestly, with aspiration and hope, I appeal to urge on this media for a strong humanity mandate through good faith of sharing and giving generously on this particular crowd funding excercise to achieve my desire n is not just purely a dread dream , is also flickers first starter own crowds funding strength turning impossible into reality through this pratical raising method that I confidently trust it will turn fruitful from all your small effort participation, every single persistency will result consolidating piling up every little tiny bricks into an ultimate huge strong living castle.

In reality, I have trust and never look down on every single peny efforts that been contributed as helpful means, turning unrealistic dream alive is the goal in crowd funding excercise, No reason any single amount is regard to be too small when the strength of all individual wish gather to fulfill my little desire to make exist and keep alive. .

I sincerely look forward each and every participants who think alike crowds funding methodlogy works here no matter who come forwards with regardless any capital amount input be big or small , please help gather and pool raise my objective target amount as close to USD$10K or either acquisition from donation item list below:

 

1- ideally a high mega pixel Canon 5DS ( can be either new or use ok)

2- Canon 70-200mm F2.8 L IS lens ( can be either new or use ok)

Last but not least, a photography journey of life time for a trip to explore South Island of New Zealand and Africa.

.

My intended schedule may estimate about 1 month round trip self drive traveling down scenic Southern Island of New Zealand for completing the most captivating landscape photography and wander into the big five, the wilderness of untamed Africa nature for my project 2016 before my physical body stamina eventually drain off.

 

During the course, I also welcome sponsor's to provide daily lodging/accommodation, car rental/transportation, Fox Glacier helicopter ride and other logistic funding expenses, provide photographic camera equipments or related accessories .

Kindly forward all sponsors request terms of condition n collaboration details for discussion soon.

 

Great Ocean Drive- the 12 Apostle's

 

Please Click Auto Slide show for ultimate viewing pleasure in Super Large Display .to enjoy my photostream . ..

Due to copyright issue, I cannot afford to offer any free image request. Pls kindly consult my sole permission to purchase n use any of my images.You can email me at : men4r@yahoo.com.

 

Don't use this image on Websites/Blog or any other media

without my explicit permission.

 

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► █░▓ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ TIME FOR SUMMER BEACH in a less frequented area of the densest populated country in Europe. On my walk along the left shore of the Boven Merwede river (aka Rhein on this short stretch). We are treading upon Natuurgebied Sleeuwijkerwaard (a nature resort). Upper right: a concrete pier, base for a pontoon bridge ever used for military exercise. Leftover from the Cold War era in 1956, a reminder of the ideology fud and paranoia that didn't start yesterday and lives to this very day.

 

Lumix G90 / Lumix 12-35 mm f2.8. —At 12mm (24mm full frame equivalent) and f5 aperture priority. Shutter speed of 1/80 sec. This is a sooc jpeg edited in Apple Photos 10.0, uncropped 4×3 format and exported as (non 16-bit) tiff.

  

~SHORTCUTS~ ...→Press [F11] and [L] key to engage Full Screen (Light box) mode with black background ↔ Press the same key or [Esc] to return... →Press [F] to "Like" (Fave)... →Press [C] to comment.

 

File name: P1033445.tiff

To me, religion is an ideology. I'm not religious, although like almost everyone was born in a faith. Despite my indifference towards religion, I am always taken aback by the sheer creativity of how religion is expressed in architecture, regardless of the religion. This is the breathtaking interior of the Cathedral in Puebla, Mexico. Construction of this magnificent building began in the year 1575.

I think of the brown tint images here as fighting forms. More detailed descrption to come. Below is a basic meaning of the title series.

 

Tenkō (転向, literally, changing direction) is a Japanese term referring to the coerced ideological conversions of Japanese socialists and communists who, between 1925 and 1945, were induced to renounce leftist ideologies and enthusiastically embrace the Emperor-centric, capitalist, and imperialist ideology favored by the state. Tenkō was typically performed under duress, most often in police custody, and was a condition for release (although surveillance and harassment would often continue thereafter). But it was also a broader phenomenon, a kind of cultural reorientation in the face of national crisis, that did not always involve direct repression

 

source: wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenk%C5%8D#:~:text=More%20broadly%2....

To be very frankly. Until now, I still have no idea what is that bright colour reflection in the water drop?

 

May be it is the shed in my backyard. This is the water drops macro done in my backyard in 2013.

 

Would you take a closer look and make a wild guess too? :o)

 

Have a great evening!

 

Have you examined and studied your inner micro-universe?

 

If photography is art of seeing, then philosophy is art of thinking. Philosophy guides us in asking the right questions and reviewing the basic assumptions and working mechanism in our mind.

 

For example, you may tease the idiot followers of technology that line up in front of the Apple stores. However do you believe that Photoshop and RAW files are going to help you improve your photography? Is this coming from the similar kind of ideology? Do you think you have a critical mind independent of all the mass media and internet brain-wash?

 

Are you able to doubt or challenge the words of God and/or those from the leaders in the political, religious, academic or scientific fields? The philosophers can give you a hand on this.

 

This is the galaxy of micro-universe I saw in my backyard.

 

Have a great philosophical Wednesday!

 

Cogito ergo sum. I think, therefore I am. - René Descartes

 

我思故我在。 - 笛卡爾

Yangon - Sule Pagoda

MYA5023.F

 

The Sule Pagoda Burmese stupa located in the heart of downtown Yangon, occupying the centre of the city and an important space in contemporary Burmese politics, ideology and geography. According to legend, it was built before the Shwedagon Pagoda during the time of the Buddha, making it more than 2,600 years old. Burmese legend states that the site for the Shwedagon Pagoda was asked to be revealed from an old nat who resided at the place where the Sule Pagoda now stands.

 

The Sule Pagoda has been the focal point of both Yangon and Burmese politics. It has served as a rallying point in both the 1988 uprisings and 2007 Saffron Revolution.

 

The pagoda is listed on the Yangon City Heritage List.

Die Kriegsgräberstätte und Denkmal Golm (der Golm ist mit 69 m ü. NHN die höchste Erhebung Usedoms) liegt im Deutschen Teil Usedoms unmittelbar an der polnischen Grenze. Im Herbst 1944 entstand dort ein Soldatenfriedhof mit mindestens 1500 Gräbern. Am 12. März 1945 wurde die nahegelegene und mit Flüchtlingen überfüllte Stadt Swinemünde (heute Świnoujście, Polen) bombadiert. Der Angriff galt dem von der deutschen Kriegsmarine stark genutzten Hafen, bei dem Angriff starben wohl zwischen 4.000 und 6.000 Menschen, darunter viele Zivilisten, welche ebenfalls hier beerdigt sind.

 

Die Skulptur «Die Frierende» stellt eine Frau im Soldatenmantel dar und wurde 1952/1953 im Auftrag der Sozialistischen Kulturbehörde für diesen Ort von Rudolf Leptien geschaffen. Wohl weil sie nicht den ideologischen Vorstellungen der Parteilinie entsprach, durfte sie nicht aufgestellt werden. Dies erfolgte erst 1984 in einer privaten Initiative und mehr oder weniger heimlich, als der Bildhauer schon lange nach Westberlin geflohen war. Als Grund für die fehlende Nase wird vermutet, dass Leptien die Skulptur vor seiner Flucht bewusst beschädigte.

 

---

 

The war cemetery and memorial Golm [Kriegsgräberstätte und Denkmal Golm] (the Golm is with 69 m above sea level the highest elevation of Usedom) is located in the German part of Usedom directly at the Polish border. In autumn 1944 a military cemetery with at least 1500 graves was established there. On March 12, 1945, the nearby town of Swinemünde (now Świnoujście, Poland), which was crowded with refugees, was bombed. The attack was aimed at the harbor heavily used by the German navy. Probably between 4,000 and 6,000 people died in the attack, including many civilians. who are also buried there.

 

The sculpture "The freezing women" [Die Frierende] represents a woman in a soldier's coat and was created in 1952/1953 by Rudolf Leptien on behalf of the Socialist Cultural Authority for this place. Probably because it did not correspond to the ideological ideas of the party line, it was not allowed to be erected. This was done only in 1984 in a private initiative and more or less secretly, when the sculptor had long since fled to West Berlin. The reason for the missing nose is thought to be that Leptien deliberately damaged the sculpture before he fled.

On August 23, 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union sign a nonaggression pact, stunning the world, given their diametrically opposed ideologies. But the dictators were, despite appearances, both playing to their own political needs.

After Nazi Germany’s invasion of Czechoslovakia, Britain had to decide to what extent it would intervene should Hitler continue German expansion. Prime Minister Chamberlain, at first indifferent to Hitler’s capture of the Sudetenland, the German-speaking area of Czechoslovakia, suddenly snapped to life when Poland became threatened. He made it plain that Britain would be obliged to come to the aid of Poland in the event of German invasion. But he wanted, and needed, an ally.

The only power large enough to stop Hitler, and with a vested interest in doing so, was the Soviet Union. But Stalin was cool to Britain after its effort to create a political alliance with Britain and France against Germany had been rebuffed a year earlier. Plus, Poland’s leaders were less than thrilled with the prospect of Russia becoming its guardian; to them, it was simply occupation by another monstrous regime.

 

Pop up campaign kiosk on front of UQAM (Université du Québec à Montréal)

The gentleman just spotted me taking the picture.

 

Promouvoir l’idéologie

Kiosque de campagne éphémère devant l’UQAM (Université du Québec à Montréal)

Le monsieur venait de s'apercevoir que je prenais la photo..

As you read the descriptions on my other two shots today, you get a full picture of my motivation here. It's a bit of fun, but a time out from reflecting on the beauties of Nature, to a little inner reflection.

 

Science fiction really got going with the work of two authors in particular: Jules Verne (1828-1905) and H.G Wells (1866-1946). It is a fascinating genre that has on one hand successfully predicted future scientific developments, but equally as much, has often simply projected the fears and prejudices of the present into the future. There is a wonderful scholarly study on this genre by my former thesis supervisor at Monash University, Professor Andrew Milner, "Locating Science Fiction" (Liverpool University Press, 2012).

 

So much sci-fi is utopian in its dreams. At least H.G. Wells showed us that progress was no guarantee that the world would be better - far from it! I'd still live in the Classical Greece of Homer if given the choice, rather than the world of today - I can really do without the technology. It would be a shorter life, but I would know that I really lived.

 

I find it amusing that so many people believe that if the aliens come they will be our friends. I'm in the Professor Stephen Hawking camp. If and when they come they will destroy us - look at our own history of colonisation to see what happens when worlds collide. Dear God, we can't even allow ourselves space to think transgressive ideas today.

 

However, I'm not so sure that a War of the Worlds will ever happen in outer space. We fight this war in the inner space of our minds. Right here, right now there is a war for the control of your mind. Do not under any circumstances allow another person, political or religious ideology to direct your thinking. Seek to be truly educated with wisdom. Think for yourself! That's the only way to be fully and individually a human being. And Socrates was prepared to die for exactly that vision.

Today is Australia Day. Australia celebrates or mourns, depending on your political ideology. It is the day when many people from differing backgrounds and faith become Australian citizens, pledging to uphold our laws and democracy. It is a day some Indigenous people have dubbed Invasion Day because it marks the day white invaders came.

Whatever your feeling, have a peaceful and enjoyable day.

This is one of our native trees that flowers all through the summer in the green and gold colours of our country.

www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/gnp10/tristaniopsis-laurina.html

This is an artwork that I felt needed to be shared in light of it being the new moon in Scorpio tonight.

I'm not sure if it's finished yet but I do know that it's charged with all the energy and intensity that one way or another we're all feeling right now.

An artist colleague commented recently that the Dragonfly appears to be 'breaking free' and I like that, not least because of the symbolism attached to these beautiful creatures.

On a personal level it's the Phoenix rising, in another more refined and matured incarnation.

It is breaking away from the constraints of older, more rigid ideologies but with grateful acknowledgement of where I've come from.

 

My first venture over 30 years ago into partial abstraction and a move away from more conventional realist subject matter was a Dragonfly and this is depicted here in the burnt edge and the mosaic.

 

Led Zeppelin ~ The Battle of Evermore

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYTNO_WtNys

 

Las Calles vacias 2020 durante la cuarentena del covid 19

The empty streets 2020 during the covid 19 quarantine

 

Las calles de la ciudad de Nueva York en cuarentena, estos momentos los recordaremos para siempre y que las próximas generaciones servirán de ejemplo para ellos y para nosotros para apreciar más que nunca en el mundo en el que vivimos

  

The streets of New York City in quarantine, These moments we will remember forever and that the next generations will serve as an example for them and us to appreciate more than ever in the world in which we live.

  

It is difficult to conceive of a potentially more instructive social danger due to its egalitarian nature than the incomparable threat of Covid19. It is a global issue that cannot be tackled effectively using local recipes and requires universal cooperation from a cosmopolitan perspective.

  

Taking time to reflect (RRA)

Although this is not the time for ideological or social demands, at least until we surrender to the adversary, this crisis can help us change our perspective on certain issues of enormous importance. For example, the hegemonic mentality of for himself may vary, prevailing since the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War.

 

Could this global pandemic lead to a kind of social revolution? A revolution as unprecedented as the pandemic itself. That it be undertaken without fanfare and be seen consummated by far-reaching reforms.

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