Thunder and Lightning from around the World
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For a showcat grooming often involves a bath. This was shot before Bastian's first show, so he did not really understand what it was good for...
Posted for the "Happy Caturday" theme "Styling".
Bastian (mixed breed) 04.12.2015.
Olympus OMD EM5 Digital Camera
Warming up before the parade.
This festival Involves various bagads from Brittany (Bretagne), Wales (Pays de Galles), Ireland (Irelande), Scotland (Ecosse) and Galicia (Galice, Espagne. Spain).
Following the parade, the various groups went to the large tents where their area was represented with food and a a bar:
There was a tent for Brittany, with folkloric dance and a cider bar; a tent for Wales, also with dance and a bar; a tent for Ireland with Irish dance, ale and rum; a tent for Scotland, with dance and rum, and a tent for Galicia, also with dance and a bar.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBbH51QmuRo
Bagad de Lann Bihoué: The Bagad of the French National Navy:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBVxLF4qR-0
Le Bagad Cap Caval de Plomeur:
Plan de la Besurta, La Ribagorza, Huesca, Aragón, España.
Ruta cuyo itinerario discurre en el entorno de las pistas de esquí nórdico de Llanos del Hospital en el Valle de Benasque. La ruta tiene su inicio en el Plan del Hospital atravesando en su recorrido bellos parajes como el Plan de Estan y el Plan de la Besurta para llegar finalmente hasta el espectacular Plan d´Aiguallut con magnificas vistas al pico Aneto. Se trata de recorrer una parte del conocido como Camino dels Aranesos que originalmente unía el Plan del Hospital con el Valle de Arán.
El recorrido se divide en tres tramos, un primer tramo muy corto y sencillo hasta el Plan de l'Estan, un segundo tramo tambien muy sencillo hasta la Besurta y un tramo final algo más exigente aunque accesible a cualquier senderista acostumbrado a la montaña hasta el Forau d´Aiguallut.
Route whose itinerary runs around the Nordic ski slopes of Llanos del Hospital in the Benasque Valley. The route begins in the Pllan del Hospital, passing through beautiful places such as the Plan de Estan and the Plan de la Besurta to finally reach the spectacular Plan d'Aiguallut with magnificent views of the Aneto peak. It involves walking through a part of what is known as the Camino dels Aranesos, which originally linked the Hospital Plan with the Aran Valley.
The route is divided into three sections, a first very short and easy section to Plan de l'Estan, a second section that is also very simple to Besurta and a final section that is somewhat more demanding although accessible to any hiker accustomed to the mountains until the Forau d'Aiguallut.
From my archived files and a different photo. A man burns herbs in a Celtic bowl on my visit to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Fair in 2018.
Smudging, or other rites involving the burning of sacred herbs (e.g., white sage) or resins, is a ceremony practiced by some Indigenous peoples of the Americas. While it bears some resemblance to other ceremonies and rituals involving smoke (e.g., Australian smoking ceremony, some types of saining) from other world cultures, notably those that use smoke for spiritual cleansing or blessing, the purposes and particulars of the ceremonies, and the substances used, can vary widely among tribes, bands, and nations, and even more so among different world cultures. (Wikipedia source)
Texturized with PSE 2020
The custom of hanging up tin cans when a baby girl is born is hard to explain as it involves a play on words and Bavarian dialect. But I'll give it a try:
“Büchse” is the German word for tin can. The custom of putting up a sign after the birth of a girl designating the father as Büchsenmacher (can maker / gunsmith) and hanging it with old cans has survived into the 21st century and still exists in Lower Bavaria and Upper Austria. Its origins can be found in the Bavarian dialect, which describes a girl as Bix (Büchse), or Bixel. Bix/Can is used here as the unflattering word for the female reproductive organs. The father is being made fun of for not producing anything better than a girl.
I guess it's time for that custom to die out.
List of wars involving Ukraine Historically -Thank you Wiki-
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_involving_Ukraine
Model: Damian
Current ongoing battles the Ukrainians are fighting in this Russian Invasion.
(not complete)
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2022 RUSSIAN INVASION ON UKRAINE
Attack on Snake Island24 – 25 February 2022
Millerovo air base attack25-Feb-22
Northwest offensive1 March 2022 – present
KHERSON OFFENSIVE
Battle of Kherson24 February – 2 March 2022
Battle of Koblevo25-Feb-22
Battle of Melitopol25 – 26 February 2022
Battle of Mykolaiv26 February 2022 – present
Battle of Berdyansk27-Feb-22
Battle of Zaporizhzhia27 February 2022 – present
Siege of Enerhodar28 February – 4 March 2022
Battle of Voznesensk2 – 13 March 2022
EASTERN UKRAINE OFFENSIVE
Battle of Okhtyrka24 February 2022 – present
First Battle of Sumy24 – 25 February 2022
Second battle of Sumy27 February 2022 – present
Battle of Chernihiv24 – 25 February 2022
Siege of Chernihiv24 February 2022 – present
Battle of Konotop24 – 26 February 2022
Battle of Kharkiv24 February 2022 – present
Battle of Starobilsk25 February 2022 – present
Siege of Mariupol25 February 2022 – present
Kruty skirmishes28 February – 1 March 2022
Battle of Sievierodonetsk 2 March 2022 – present
Horlivka offensive2 March 2022 present
KYIV OFFENSIVE
Battle of Antonov Airport24 – 25 February 2022
Battle of Chernobyl 24-Feb-22
Battle of Ivankiv25 February – 5 March 2022
Battle of Vasylkiv26-Feb-22
Battle of Kyiv25 February 2022 – present
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LEGAL DISCLAIMER: I Do Not Condone Any Acts Of Vandalism Nor Do I Participate In Such Criminal Activity. I Am Simply An Observant and Take Photos Of This Graffiti You Have Come Across. ALSO I Will Not Condone Any Usage Of My Photos To Support Any Legal Matter Involving These Acts Of Vandalism Therefore YOU ARE NOT WELCOME TO VIEW OR TAKE THIS MATERIAL For ANY Purpose...
Jaganath Rai Temple is a large Hindu temple in the middle of Udaipur in Rajasthan, just outside the royal palace. It has been in continuous worship since 1651.
It was built by Maharana Jagat Singh in 1651. Jagdish Temple is a splendid example of either Māha Māru or Māru-Gurjara architecture, decorated by beautiful and ornate carvings.
# painting
#acuarela
#aquarelle
#art
#arte
#artist
#newmexicoartist #drawing
#dibujo #
#painting
#paint
#pen
#penandink
#sketch
#sketchbook
#watercolor_involve #watercolorpaintingsforbeginners
I printed this with Gamblin Relief Ink and used my new Iron Frog Baren (frog).
#oilpainting
#pintura
#painting
#oleo
#figurative-painting
#Life-drawing
#life-painting
#figure-painting
#acuarela
#aquarelle
#art
#arte
#artist
#newmexicoartist #drawing
#dibujo #
#painting
#paint
#pen
#penandink
#sketch
#sketchbook
#watercolor_involve #watercolorpainting
#linoleumcutprint
#linoprint
#blockprint
#printmakersofinstagram
#printmaker
#reliefprintingworkshop
Fingertips for MacroMondays, and a wonderful tool for putting thoughts on paper. I wanted to use the opportunity to combine two passions of mine for this task on MacroMondays
Collecting pens (and using them) became for me, like photography, a passionate hobby. While a picture seen through my eyes gives another take on the world and on my surroundings, the pen, gives my thoughts a shape, a code, readable and understandable for the rest of the world. I think, both activities involve some kind of every-day-magic, we rarely think about.
A village in Menchukha valley in the north-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, India.
I have posted this photo earlier but many new friends have joned me since then and I wanted to share this with them.:-)
Menchukha is a very remote and picturesque valley situated at around 6000 feet above sea level in the state of Arunachal Pradesh in north-east India.The Yargyapchu River flows through this serene and beautiful valley.The name Menchukha means "medicinal water of snow" Men - medicine ,chu - water and kha - snow.The valley is home to the Adi and Memba tribes and the population is mainly Buddhist.
We spent a couple of days here sometime in November 2019 and most of the time the sky was overcast.This is a very remote area and involves two days travel over very bad roads from the nearest airport so it is still (thankfully) relatively untouched.
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: I Do Not Condone Any Acts Of Vandalism Nor Do I Participate In Such Criminal Activity. I Am Simply An Observant and Take Photos Of This Graffiti You Have Come Across. ALSO I Will Not Condone Any Usage Of My Photos To Support Any Legal Matter Involving These Acts Of Vandalism Therefore YOU ARE NOT WELCOME TO VIEW OR TAKE THIS MATERIAL For ANY Purpose...credit goes to Johnny Savage
Hoover Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between the U.S. states of Nevada and Arizona. It was constructed between 1931 and 1936 during the Great Depression and was dedicated on September 30, 1935, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Its construction was the result of a massive effort involving thousands of workers, and cost over one hundred lives. It was referred to as Hoover Dam after President Herbert Hoover in bills passed by Congress during its construction; it was named Boulder Dam by the Roosevelt administration. The Hoover Dam name was restored by Congress in 1947.
Since about 1900, the Black Canyon and nearby Boulder Canyon had been investigated for their potential to support a dam that would control floods, provide irrigation water and produce hydroelectric power. In 1928, Congress authorized the project. The winning bid to build the dam was submitted by a consortium named Six Companies, Inc., which began construction of the dam in early 1931. Such a large concrete structure had never been built before, and some of the techniques were unproven. The torrid summer weather and lack of facilities near the site also presented difficulties. Nevertheless, Six Companies turned the dam over to the federal government on March 1, 1936, more than two years ahead of schedule.
Hoover Dam impounds Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States by volume when full. The dam is located near Boulder City, Nevada, a municipality originally constructed for workers on the construction project, about 30 mi southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada. The dam's generators provide power for public and private utilities in Nevada, Arizona, and California. Hoover Dam is a major tourist attraction, with 7 million tourists a year. The heavily traveled U.S. Route 93 (US 93) ran along the dam's crest until October 2010, when the Hoover Dam Bypass opened.
Those who involve themselves in theological questions seek wisdom only as we relinquish any pretense of innocence. Wisdom has always already outgrown innocence. The biblical prototype—the divine Sophia—precedes all creation, after all (Prov. 8: 22–23). She has seen it all. This mystery does not warrant ignorance of our history and our institutions, of our hugely varying effects on the planetary contexts of theology. Often what is called “mystery” (as in “Don’t ask questions, it is a holy mystery”) is mere mystification, used to camouflage the power drives of those who don’t want to be questioned.
-On the Mystery, DISCERNING DIVINITY IN PROCESS, Catherine Keller
Cat bonds involve a profound sense of trust, harmony and a silent language that only they understand. Bonded cats tend to share their territory without conflict or aggression finding comfort in each other’s presence, when they feel safe occupying the same spaces.
My happiness always involves Ruffy. And nothing is better than that. Well… maybe Ruffy x 6 is better. ;-) Create your own happiness and Happy Smile on Saturday! Hope this makes you smile. :-)
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I've been working on this pic for about a week and before it gets overdone, I'd better post it. You wouldn't believe how different it looks each day!!
If you don't recognize her, that's my Ruffy. I created this for the Smile on Saturday group, selfie with half a face theme. I know it's not Saturday.. Maybe you'll smile before Saturday. ;-)
I'm still trying to get Ruffy's blood sugar #'s under control. Today I'm testing her blood every 2 hours, doing her 2nd blood glucose curve. Have been giving her insulin shots 2x daily, but for the 1st time, today her sugar # was low! It's usually really high! So no insulin today. Scary stuff!! Have to keep calling the vet & they tell me what to do. OK.. back to create your own happiness...
The KL Tower Facade Lighting exercise involves the lighting up of the whole tower, from the ground floor to the top of the antenna mast, with LED lights.
KL Tower has installed 80 LED lights for the tower shaft, 160 lights for the tower head and 12 LED lights for the antenna mast. The tower lights can be seen as far as 10 km away while the lights at the tower head can even be seen from Genting Highland.
Traditional storytelling involves a narrator transmitting a fixed story to an audience of one or more, employing various verbal tones, physical gestures, and facial expressions to evoke reactions and participation from the audience. This process is anchored in the reality that the story's basic structure never changes.
- - - It was a dark and stormy night - - -
This is a vintage Christmas embossed postcard, copyrighted 1908 by Julius Bien & Co. N.Y.
The postcard features an illustration of Santa Claus with a white beard, wearing a red hat and a holly wreath. Santa is holding a plate with a large, decorated Christmas pudding (or plum pudding).
The text "A MERRY CHRISTMAS" is visible on the plate.
The card number "5004" is printed in the bottom left corner.
Christmas pudding and plum pudding are essentially two names for the same dish: a dense, steamed dessert made from dried fruits, spices, and suet. The name "plum pudding" is an older term. In pre-Victorian English, the word "plum" was used as a general term for all kinds of dried fruits, such as raisins, currants, and sultanas, not the fresh stone fruit we call a plum today. The dish is traditionally prepared weeks or even months in advance to allow the flavors to mature, often involving family members stirring the mixture and making a wish. On Christmas Day, it is usually served warm, doused in brandy, and set alight for a dramatic presentation.
Santa Claus looks excited in the image because, in the context of the Victorian and Edwardian eras, the Christmas pudding was a highly anticipated and significant part of the Christmas feast, symbolizing family unity, abundance, and joy.
Symbolism and Tradition:
A Prized Delicacy: The Christmas pudding was the centerpiece of the festive table and a rich dessert made with expensive, imported ingredients like sugar, spices, and dried fruits that were not everyday fare for most people at the time.
Anticipation and Ritual: The making and serving of the pudding was tied to numerous family rituals and superstitions, such as every family member taking a turn to stir and make a wish, or the excitement of finding a hidden silver coin for good luck.
Culminating Moment: The moment the pudding was ceremoniously brought to the table—often doused in brandy and set alight (flambéed) for a dramatic display—was a moment of great excitement and the celebratory culmination of the meal.
Joyful Imagery: Postcards from this era often depicted a jolly and enthusiastic Santa, as this aligned with the overall joyful and abundant themes promoted by Christmas imagery, a stark contrast to some earlier, more austere depictions of Father Christmas. Santa's expression, therefore, reflects the genuine excitement and shared happiness that the pudding represented to families during the Christmas celebration in the early 20th century.
Twas the Night before Christmas: Even in the iconic 1823 poem that helped shape the modern Santa, the description of his "cheeks... like roses" and "nose like a cherry" has been interpreted by some as suggesting a ruddy complexion from drink, though the modern interpretation is that his jolliness comes from the Christmas spirit, not alcohol.
The tradition of leaving food for Santa Claus has ancient origins in European folklore, though the modern American custom of cookies and milk became popular in the 1930s.
Historical Roots - Ancient Norse Mythology: One of the earliest roots of this practice dates back to ancient Norse mythology. During the midwinter Yule festival, children would leave food, such as hay or carrots, for the god Odin's eight-legged horse, Sleipnir, hoping Odin would stop by and leave gifts in return.
Dutch Tradition: The custom also stems from the Dutch celebration of the Feast of St. Nicholas on December 6. Children would leave their shoes out the night before with treats for St. Nicholas and his attendants, who were believed to be traveling long distances, and wake up to find them filled with gifts.
Modern American Tradition - The specific tradition of leaving out cookies and milk for Santa Claus became widespread in the United States during the Great Depression in the 1930s. At a time of economic hardship, parents encouraged this practice as a way to: Teach children about the importance of gratitude and giving to others, even when they had very little themselves. Reinforce a sense of hope and the spirit of generosity during a difficult period. The dairy industry later used marketing campaigns to promote milk as the ideal accompaniment to Santa's cookies, helping to solidify the tradition in American culture.
3671
REFORD GARDENS | LES JARDINS DE METIS
Coucher de soleil, Sainte-Flavie.
Visit : www.refordgardens.com/
Photo taken close to REFORD GARDENS. (Sainte-Flavie)
Mrs Elsie Reford loved those beautiful sunsets.
Reference: Elsie's Paradise, The Reford Gardens, Alexander Reford, 2004, ISBN 2-7619-1921-1, That book is a must for Reford Gardens lovers!
''I shall always, all my life, want to come back to those sunsets.'' Elsie Reford, July 20, 1913. (page 25)
" It is just after 8 o'clock and I am sitting in front of my big window with the gorgeous panorama of a glorious afterglow from a perfect sunset. There is every hue of blue on the water of 'the Blue Lagoon' while Pointe-aux-Cenelles is bathed in pink and crimson and the dark hills of the north shore seem no further than two or three miles distant. I don't think in the whole world at this moment there could be anything more beautiful." Elsie Reford, June 2, 1931. (page 81)
''One thing I can do that no one else can is to pass the love that I feel for this place and this woman''. -Alexander Reford
Visit : www.refordgardens.com/
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From Wikipedia:
Elsie Stephen Meighen - born January 22, 1872, Perth, Ontario - and Robert Wilson Reford - born in 1867, Montreal - got married on June 12, 1894.
Elsie Reford was a pioneer of Canadian horticulture, creating one of the largest private gardens in Canada on her estate, Estevan Lodge in eastern Québec. Located in Grand-Métis on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, her gardens have been open to the public since 1962 and operate under the name Les Jardins de Métis and Reford Gardens.
Born January 22, 1872 at Perth, Ontario, Elsie Reford was the eldest of three children born to Robert Meighen and Elsie Stephen. Coming from modest backgrounds themselves, Elsie’s parents ensured that their children received a good education. After being educated in Montreal, she was sent to finishing school in Dresden and Paris, returning to Montreal fluent in both German and French, and ready to take her place in society.
She married Robert Wilson Reford on June 12, 1894. She gave birth to two sons, Bruce in 1895 and Eric in 1900. Robert and Elsie Reford were, by many accounts, an ideal couple. In 1902, they built a house on Drummond Street in Montreal. They both loved the outdoors and they spend several weeks a year in a log cabin they built at Lac Caribou, south of Rimouski. In the autumn they hunted for caribou, deer, and ducks. They returned in winter to ski and snowshoe. Elsie Reford also liked to ride. She had learned as a girl and spent many hours riding on the slopes of Mount Royal. And of course, there was salmon-fishing – a sport at which she excelled.
In her day, she was known for her civic, social, and political activism. She was engaged in philanthropic activities, particularly for the Montreal Maternity Hospital and she was also the moving force behind the creation of the Women’s Canadian Club of Montreal, the first women club in Canada. She believed it important that the women become involved in debates over the great issues of the day, « something beyond the local gossip of the hour ». Her acquaintance with Lord Grey, the Governor-General of Canada from 1904 to 1911, led to her involvement in organizing, in 1908, Québec City’s tercentennial celebrations. The event was one of many to which she devoted herself in building bridges with French-Canadian community.
During the First World War, she joined her two sons in England and did volunteer work at the War Office, translating documents from German into English. After the war, she was active in the Victorian Order of Nurses, the Montreal Council of Social Agencies, and the National Association of Conservative Women.
In 1925 at the age of 53 years, Elsie Reford was operated for appendicitis and during her convalescence, her doctor counselled against fishing, fearing that she did not have the strength to return to the river.”Why not take up gardening?” he said, thinking this a more suitable pastime for a convalescent woman of a certain age. That is why she began laying out the gardens and supervising their construction. The gardens would take ten years to build, and would extend over more than twenty acres.
Elsie Reford had to overcome many difficulties in bringing her garden to life. First among them were the allergies that sometimes left her bedridden for days on end. The second obstacle was the property itself. Estevan was first and foremost a fishing lodge. The site was chosen because of its proximity to a salmon river and its dramatic views – not for the quality of the soil.
To counter-act nature’s deficiencies, she created soil for each of the plants she had selected, bringing peat and sand from nearby farms. This exchange was fortuitous to the local farmers, suffering through the Great Depression. Then, as now, the gardens provided much-needed work to an area with high unemployment. Elsie Reford’s genius as a gardener was born of the knowledge she developed of the needs of plants. Over the course of her long life, she became an expert plantsman. By the end of her life, Elsie Reford was able to counsel other gardeners, writing in the journals of the Royal Horticultural Society and the North American Lily Society. Elsie Reford was not a landscape architect and had no training of any kind as a garden designer. While she collected and appreciated art, she claimed no talents as an artist.
Elsie Stephen Reford died at her Drummond Street home on November 8, 1967 in her ninety-sixth year.
In 1995, the Reford Gardens ("Jardins de Métis") in Grand-Métis were designated a National Historic Site of Canada, as being an excellent Canadian example of the English-inspired garden.(Wikipedia)
Visit : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elsie_Reford
LES JARDINS DE MÉTIS
Créés par Elsie Reford de 1926 à 1958, ces jardins témoignent de façon remarquable de l’art paysager à l’anglaise. Disposés dans un cadre naturel, un ensemble de jardins exhibent fleurs vivaces, arbres et arbustes. Le jardin des pommetiers, les rocailles et l’Allée royale évoquent l’œuvre de cette dame passionnée d’horticulture. Agrémenté d’un ruisseau et de sentiers sinueux, ce site jouit d’un microclimat favorable à la croissance d’espèces uniques au Canada. Les pavots bleus et les lis, privilégiés par Mme Reford, y fleurissent toujours et contribuent , avec d’autres plantes exotiques et indigènes, à l’harmonie de ces lieux.
Created by Elsie Reford between 1926 and 1958, these gardens are an inspired example of the English art of the garden. Woven into a natural setting, a series of gardens display perennials, trees and shrubs. A crab-apple orchard, a rock garden, and the Long Walk are also the legacy of this dedicated horticulturist. A microclimate favours the growth of species found nowhere else in Canada, while the stream and winding paths add to the charm. Elsie Reford’s beloved blue poppies and lilies still bloom and contribute, with other exotic and indigenous plants, to the harmony of the site.
Commission des lieux et monuments historiques du Canada
Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.
Gouvernement du Canada – Government of Canada
© Copyright
This photo and all those in my Photostream are protected by copyright. No one may reproduce, copy, transmit or manipulate them without my written permission.
The barn to the right is a tobacco barn with its rectangular openings to control the temperature and humidity while the tobacco is cured, dried after being hung from rafters. The barn to the left cures some tobacco and stores equipment and supplies. Raising tobacco involves a lot dirty, sticky and hot work. Located in the western edge of Owen County in the Kentucky River Valley. The barns are painted a distinctive black to raise the temperature for curing tobacco
Some family commitments involving a trip upt’ North stopped me posting over the weekend, so to prevent another Flickr blockage I made sure I did photoshop editing on my return to keep things loose, so to speak. However, when I thought this LE seascape was going to be a gas, I was wrong. It turned out a bit lumpier than I expected and I had a lot of cleaning up to do. Overconfidence can lead to embarrassing mistakes. That’s all I’m going to say about that.
This photo art involves no AI
When adding some colour to this plain white ball light, I was struck by how a combination of them might be made to look like the planet Jupiter. That couldn't be done, but you can mentally piece them together from this arrangement to see what I mean.
The title comes from a very historic period in Australian rock and blues music in the late 60s and early 70s. At the time pubs were full of live music and provided new bands with an ideal launching point for their careers. Alas, no more. Pity the younger generation of musicians.
One of the legends of Australia blues rock was Lobby Loyde and his band the Coloured Balls.
Lobby Loyde and the Coloured Balls - Working Man's Boogie (1972) www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPInO0ybDhs
Lobby Loyde was born John Barrie Lyde in Longreach, Queensland in 1941. His music style was heavy rhythm and blues and his influence on other Australian guitarists at the time was immense. He was also one to popularise the "Sharpie Movement". Sharps were one of the youth gangs that predominated in Melbourne (and to a lesser extent in Sydney). They were known for their hair styles and slick dressing with large boots. Unfortunately they were also known for their violent subculture (although to be fair it followed a strict code that wasn't the case when the more nihilistic, and to a large degree racist, Skinheads emerged).
Lobby Loyde later joined Angry Anderson and Rose Tattoo, but eventually moved into producing music. He died of lung cancer in 2007.
Fisherman on Inle lake
Inle Lake 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)
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.
Start of a weekend involving three gigs in three days -making a total of five in five from Wednesday through to Sunday. I set off early but wasn't able to check into my hotel until 2, so I went on a speculative wander and discovered that neither London Camera Exchange nor Jessops in Manchester sold the triumvirate of cheap Sigma primes...after checking in at the hotel, I recharged my phone and set off around 7.15 to Jimmy's, a semi-subterranean bar with a spectacular but totally over the top lighting system for the size of venue. The singer I'd come to see, Emily Capell, was on last. Faced with back-lighting, low lighting, contrasty lighting that was tricky to gauge exposure for and the humble Stylus 1 (good as it is) I converted most of my shots to black and white...
Calcite crystals glint from faceted stalactites and stalagmites in one of the inner chambers of the Crystal Cave, Blue Hole National Park, Belize.
To reach the entrance, one walks approximately 45 minutes through the jungle and up a karst ridge to a steep opening into the earth. Gaining ingress involves a near-vertical down-climb of slippery limestone that requires both hands. Once inside, the enveloping warm, dark air is all surrounding, and the terrain consists of an incredible and confusing jumble of slippery large rocks. The path disappears into holes and crannies, down which I would not have thought to proceed. There were so many possible route choices, suffice to say that should our guide have decided to abandon us, we would have struggled to find our way back to the surface. In addition, the air was hot and humid such that we sweated profusely.
As we wended slowly deeper, occasionally we passed reminders that it was the Maya who first navigated these depths over one thousand years ago, by torchlight. There are numerous broken ceramic pots that the Mayan priests brought down to the depths of Xibalba, the underworld, for important ceremonies. Sometimes the pots were used to collect smoke, and then ritually broken to release the spirit, and other times smaller pots were used to collect blood offerings. Our guide, required by the government for entrance, informed us that caves were sacred spaces for the ancient Maya, similar to how modern cathedrals are perceived, and filled with the spirits of ancestors. We were also told that the Mayan priests and nobles who entered the caves would have ritually used suppositories made from multiple hallucinogenic substances in preparation for the descent (e.g., a mixture of peyote, psilocybin, nightshade, and others). Combined with only having torches for light, I can only imagine that our experience in the cave was far different in tenor from theirs.
“Wearing it, cursed by it, serving it, raging at it. Not always in that order.
Want it? Come, try and take it. Please."
A Delirious, Rambling Aberrant;
Born of a freak accident involving Vezok and the Spear of Fusion, Vezon was bound to the Mask of Life as its guardian.
Patiently awaiting his moment; A mutant spider, future visions and the two relics accountable for one's confused existence make for interesting company.
____________________________
I wanted to complement Vezon's chaotic origins through body horror and actual portions of Vezok (mine and Johann's specifically).
I reckoned it would be cooler if the mask fused into his chest (perhaps to further how toxic their relationship was), and I thought it might be neat if the spear could transform based on whether it was set to Fusion or Fission.
Another addition to my Inika/Piraka series, built to emulate Johann's Cursed Wasteland style as his Secret Santa, while coinciding with the 2006 Collab.
My first SS attempts amounted to nothing, so around mid-December I decided to repurpose an existing Vezon WIP, emulating Johann's grim-dark, inhumanly proportioned creatures.
It's hilarious coincidence that he chose Vezok and committed to the half-split so strongly, without any input from me!
Props to Yanni, Brick Brickolson and Buttloaf for their collective work on these fantastic 'box-art' edits.
More photos are available on my:
______ ISLAND OF DOOM ______
[ Velika, Kazi, Piruk, Garan, Dalu, Balta ]
[ Reidak, Hakann, Vezok, Vezon, Zaktan, Avak, Thok ]
[ Jaller, Hahli, Nuparu, Hewkii, Kongu, Matoro ]
[ Axonn, Brutaka, Botar, Kardas, Irnakk, Umbra ]
[ Good Guy, Piraka & Catapult, Piraka Outpost ]
____________________________
[ Hakann, the Explosive ] [ old version ]
[ Vezon, the Disaster (Spear) ] [ (Scythe) ]
[ Toa Kongu, the Wrangler ] [ old version ]
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(...) Before anyone could stop him, the newcomer snatched up the spear. He was about to use it on Vezok when he stopped.
“No, no, bad idea. That will just make another of him… of me… or else something worse."
Reidak slammed into the new arrival and pinned him against the wall.
“What are you? Some new trick of Makuta’s? What happened to Vezok?”
“This happened.” said the being calmly, hefting the spear.
Thok approached and looked at weapon. Carved into the side of the shaft were the words 'Spear of Fusion'.
“Hakann, you imbecile,” he snapped. “You used it in reverse. Instead of fusing Vezok with something else, you split him into two beings! This thing is a vezon.”
“A vezon?” repeated the newly created being. “Oh, yes, the Matoran word for ‘double.’ Yes, that does make sense. I will go by that name, then.
Of course, first I will have to eliminate all of you so no one else knows I am only half a being. You don’t mind, do you?”
Bibliomania is an obsessive–compulsive disorder involving the collecting or hoarding of books to the point where social relations or health are damaged. One of several psychological disorders associated with books, bibliomania is characterized by the collecting of books which have no use to the collector nor any great intrinsic value to a genuine book collector. The purchase of multiple copies of the same book and edition and the accumulation of books beyond possible capacity of use or enjoyment are frequent symptoms of bibliomania.
you can read all the book titles HERE
leave notes on your favorties :)
this is hopefully a little bit of a lighter subject than yesterdays. i dont have a lot of time, but this ones pretty self explanatory...
i guess if you happen to know someone with bibliomania, get help...?
it cant be good.
day 122
On Beautiful shores
The entire rainbow of radiation observable to the human eye only makes up a tiny portion of the electromagnetic spectrum – about 0.0035 percent! This range of wavelengths is known as visible light. This literally means that we are seeing less than *half* a percent of what is out there. The night sky is extremely colourful due to star colour, nebula, the dust of the milky way and of course light pollution on the horizon for most of us.
Can you find the Constellations - Taurus, Auriga, (pleiades), Cassiopeia, Perseus in this one in the central milky way? What about the red patch centre right known as the California Nebula? If you find that, you can easily find the pleiades (the Seven Sisters) to the right of this, the well known blue star cluster. Okay how about an easier one, the Andromeda Galaxy? Hint - look at the top of the picture. So if you found Andromeda, stay with me a little longer, step down diagonally right from there to the next obvious bright star. That's Mirach. Then diagonally again. The very, very fainy object is another galaxy, called Triangulum, it is even further from us than Andromeda. The red around the milky way is from nebula which are essentially where stars explode into life. If you are on a desktop, mouse over the image for a helping hand.
This picture was aquired in early October 2021. It involves three, two minute tracked exposures of the sky with a 35mm f/1.4 lens in order to capture the stunning night sky details. This image is just over 116 megapixels, allowing for stunningly detailed prints and low noise. For some reason, this one has a Christmas feel to it? If you full screen this one on your phone you will see the full view, over 200 degrees of it by my rough guess.
Salvation involves a change in the relationship between God and a person. Salvation includes God’s adoption of believers into his family, his acceptance of them as righteous and his forgiveness of their sins. It also includes personal renewal and transformation through the work of the Holy Spirit.
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Eph 2:19–22.
Taken in the Blue Ash suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio.
I don't think I've ever encountered a dirtier working truck. It looks like it has never been washed and my guess is they have no intention of washing it ever again.
They are doing a major construction job in the area which involves creating a couple of roundabouts and replacing a considerable amount of pipes. I've seen this truck on site for several months, but it never was in position to get a decent shot. My lady came back from a store run to the shopping center where it is parked and told me that it had moved where I could get a better picture, so I went there when I thought the light would be best.
I love Oshkosh truck as they are fairly rare and generally special purpose very heavy duty trucks that mean serious business. I believe they still make trucks for the military. Many I've seen seem to be around road construction or concrete work. Unfortunately, I don't know what purpose this truck was built for. It obviously is all wheel drive and has a tank of some sort, but what might be in it is beyond me.
Happy Truck Thursday
Sheltered Together – © 2019 – Robert N. Clinton (aka CyberShutterbug)
Scene Thru the Lens presents collections of books/zines of images shot by photographer Robert N Clinton (aka CyberShutterbug). Most of his photos involve street photography made at various locations. The images were shot on both film and digital cameras. Virtually all images involve monochrome photographs.
Each publication is available for sale in either print or digital editions or both. Orders for the books/zines are managed by the publisher through links on this site. Commercial transactions and shipping for any orders are securely handled by the publisher, MagCloud. Any questions, concerns or issues regarding any order should be directed to the MagCloud support system.
CyberShutterbug's photography books can be purchased at Scene Thru the Lens. Thank you for your support.
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: I Do Not Condone Any Acts Of Vandalism Nor Do I Participate In Such Criminal Activity. I Am Simply An Observant and Take Photos Of This Graffiti You Have Come Across. ALSO I Will Not Condone Any Usage Of My Photos To Support Any Legal Matter Involving These Acts Of Vandalism Therefore YOU ARE NOT WELCOME TO VIEW OR TAKE THIS MATERIAL For ANY Purpose...
Japan has been a major center for studio glass since the 1970's. Ikuta Niyoko is one of its most successful exponents. Her hallmark method of making involves the use of thin sheets of plate glass and ultraviolet-reactive adhesive. She builds up fluidly rhythmic forms in which each sheet of glass is shifted by a few degrees relative to the one before.
Aves da Mata Atlântica - Brazil
(Pteroglossus bailloni) Species # 1053
The saffron toucanet separated from the other species in the viridis group by the Brazilian savanna biome. It is thought that this species is part of an ancient stock that became isolated in the current Atlantic Forest from marine transgression and were not able to adapt and invade the Brazilian savanna.
The saffron is a large-gape frugivore. Due to their nature, they are especially crucial for plants with larger seeds to disperse themselves to further areas. They are one of the few birds that are capable of carrying larger seeds to new locations.
The saffron toucanet has been observed making nests beginning in October. The highest numbers of active nests were recorded in November. Their nests had a cavity depth of 20.0-68.0 cm, an entrance diameter of 4.3-7.4 cm, and a cavity height of 7.0-24.0 meters. Due to their small size, they do not need large cavities for their nests and they do not need to compete with other species for suitable spots.[10] They prefer making their nests in living trees such as the Garapa (Apuleia leiocarpa) and the Aspidosperma australe. The diameter at breast height (DBH) was between 44–132 cm. They do not tend to reuse the same cavities for their nests.
Courtship for these birds involves the male singing and feeding the female. They will preen each other. The female will lay two or three eggs that are incubated by both parents for about 16 days.
The diet of the saffron mainly consists of fruit, like figs and palm fruits. They have also been noted to eat young birds.[5] In one study, a saffron toucanet was observed entering a red-rumped cacique nest, removing the nest contents by swallowing them, and flew away. All of this occurred within 30 seconds. It is thought that their smaller bodies helped them be able to perch on the nest, enter and exit quickly. Another study saw one unsuccessfully attempt to attack the nest of a White-spotted Woodpecker.