An Evening with Noel Fielding - graphic design made using Adobe Photoshop. A cover contept for Noel Fielding's nonexistent podcast.

Back in those pre-digital-camera days, where before you could see your pictures you had to fill up a roll of film, take it somewhere to be developed, and then pay some scarce $$$ when you picked your photos up a few days later, being unable to immediately upload timestamped photos to the nonexistent Internet I had to include labelings like the "10" card above in my puppy photos, to indicate how many days old the puppies were.

You can read my My Dog Carmel picture book online for free.

In less than 20 years, Skagway grew from a tent city of gold stampeders to an established town, the major economic and political center of the District of Alaska (1884-1912). This history is embodied in Skagway's architecture. Reflecting the general American culture brought into the region during the gold rush, the construction, style, and features of the buildings contrasted sharply with the earlier traditional Native structures and the massive buildings of Russian America. Basically Victorian, many of the structures still stand — making Skagway one of the best-preserved examples of turn-of-the-century architecture in the far northwest. Whether to study the town's influence in Alaskan history or to reconstruct or renovate specific buildings in Skagway itself, it is helpful to understand the architecture of this substantial remnant of the Klondike gold rush. The town's growth, and its architectural development, can be divided into four phases of building activity:

PHASE I, Pioneer Tent City, 1887 to 1897 The first phase of Skagway's development began when Captain Moore and his son Ben constructed the first cabin and ended after the first wave of stampeders built upon the land, after disputes over lot titles had been settled or sent to the courts and after buildings were aligned with the streets instead of the trail. Buildings dating from this period of time tend to be simple in construction and detail. Log cabins, tents, and quickly constructed wood frame structures abounded. During the first days of the stampede, land ownership was undecided. Stampeders were unsure whether gold would continue to be found in the Klondike, and businessmen built with one aim — to make the most money as quickly as possible. Except for the few log structures, buildings erected during this period tended to be tall and narrow in proportion. Board and batten building fronts were extended occasionally to create false fronts. These were lavishly painted or covered with canvas signs. Tents were all sizes and shapes. Ornamental details were nonexistent. Structures such as the Moore cabin, the Seattle Hotel, and the Goldberg Cigar Store were characteristic of this period. Few of the buildings of this phase have survived. What has been retained is a land use pattern which reflects a definite business orientation toward the east side of the valley as well as a grid of streets, lots, and blocks which reflect the general layout of Skagway during this early period.

PHASE II, Gold Rush Boom Town, fall 1897 to spring 1899 The second phase has received the most publicity. It is the era of mad dashes for the passes, of crowded saloons, and of Jefferson Randolph "Soapy" Smith, con man extraordinaire. The completion of the railroad over the White Pass and the increase in federal laws (and their enforcement) in the spring of 1899 symbolized the end of the "Days of 98." There was a more intense use of the land during this phase. The construction of building facades along the front of property lines created a nearly continuous linear mass along the streets. Boardwalks were built at different levels and were usually cluttered. False fronts of one, two and three stories were ornamented with painted signs, sign boards, and ornamental advertisement figures — boots, clocks, wooden Indians, and barber poles. Utility lines and telephone poles appeared. Fire towers on Fourth and Sixth avenues loomed over the downtown area while tower-like structures used by breweries were located outside the business district in cramped alley ways such as Hiroshima or Jap Alley, French Alley, and Paradise Alley. One-story cigar stores, saloons, and prostitutes' cribs abounded. Outside the business district, homes were situated back from the property front and side lines. Each of these small log cabins and wood-frame structures was set in its own frame of trees, grass, and an occasional garden. All of these buildings were considered temporary, filling the quick demand caused by the gold rush. Most have been torn down or have been altered by later additions and renovations, placing their architecture more accurately in a later period. Because of the accessibility of Puget Sound dealers, construction materials were easily shipped to Skagway on steamships. Unemployed craftsmen were lured north to build the new town, but because profits from the stampede depended on how quickly buildings were available, structures were of poor quality. Fire was a hazard. During 1898-1899 several fires destroyed clusters of buildings, including the grand three-story 50-by 100-foot People's Theater and the 50-room Brannick Hotel. The Mascot and Idaho saloons, the St. James Hotel, and the Hegg Photograph Studio belong to this phase, although they later received new window or facade treatments. The least altered reminders of this era are Jeff Smith's Parlor and the Pacific Clipper Line office. With the completion of the railroad and the change in attitude toward long-term commitments to Skagway, the second phase ended.

PHASE III, Mature Railroad Town, 1899 to 1905 The third phase began when the rails reached from the ocean to the headwaters of the Yukon River in 1899 — the sign that Skagway had succeeded in its ambition to be the dominant gateway to the interior. It is best known as a period of sturdier buildings, of churches and fine residences, of a new morality, and of town pride. Beginning about 1899 and continuing through the next decade, building styles became more elaborate and complex. This change was greatly facilitated by the establishment of scheduled steamer service to Puget Sound cities and by the development of the White Pass & Yukon Route transportation system. Larger and heavier tools, materials, and building elements became available. Plate glass windows replaced multi-pane display windows. Pressed metal ornamental details appeared on facades. Imported machinery and the arrival of skilled craftsmen and architects improved the sophistication of construction. Many of the structures built at this time were multi-storied, well-constructed, and elegantly detailed. Garish signs were replaced by appealing facades; canvas awnings appeared, as did bay windows and electric display lights. Rustic details, such as those on the Arctic Brotherhood Hall and Pantheon Saloon, added a representative touch of Alaskan rustic rugged individualism, but they still fit into the verticality and symmetry of Skagway's Victorian architecture. During this third phase, city and public efforts strived for permanence. City ordinances changed the streetscape by requiring all sidewalks to be on one level and by mandating brick chimneys. The Methodists built the only granite structure: the two-story McCabe College, one of Alaska's first institutions of higher education. The origins of residential design in Skagway are commonly traced to the popular Queen Ann style. Henry Dozier, a Seattle architect hired by the White Pass & Yukon Route, used this style in designing cottages for the railroad company officials. The W.H. Case residence combines Victorian Gothic with Queen Anne details. Some residences mixed features from so many different styles that they are best classified simply as Victorian mélange. Exceptions to the Queen Anne residential styles stand out, particularly Captain Moore's "steamboat" mansion (now the Pullen House) and the bungalow-style homes along Main Street. It is probable that most of these designs were derived from pattern books, although professional architects had offices in Skagway. The work of professional architects is best seen in public buildings such as the Twelfth Avenue School, Elks Hall, WP&Y Railroad Building and Methodist Church (on the corner of Fifth and Main).

PHASE IV, Tourist Town, 1905 to the present. The fourth phase of building activity was influenced by tourism as well as by a brief economic spurt in 1908. A local drive to improve the town's appearance was part of a reaction to criticism about Skagway's being the "scrap heap of creation," as one visitor phrased it. Local groups organized to clean up the town, and civic improvements at first meant tearing down early gold rush era shacks. By 1907, however, businessmen were suggesting the creation of a New Skagway by building a business corridor along Broadway Avenue. They actually used little new construction; instead, people merely moved structures from other parts of town onto Broadway. The Golden North Hotel was moved and a third floor added. The Trail Inn/Pack Train bar complex had been two army barracks which were moved to Broadway and adorned with an exuberant three-story facade, 100 feet long, with a corner tower. The avenue's new appearance was due to new architectural styles; in fact, the facades built in 1908 could have been built in 1900 or earlier. However, the overall townscape had changed. The major businesses that once lined Fourth, Fifth and Sixth avenues, were now shifted 90 degrees to face the railroad tracks down Broadway.

I'm quite surprised there are this many students attending school in Stringtown, Texas as now the town is practically nonexistent. My mamma is the one in the middle row second to the left. She was about 14 here which means the photo was taken sometime around 1909.

1993 Suède Sweden Svezia

Escapade en train à Blåhammaren, dans le nord de la Suède, près de la frontier norvégienne.

Il est conseillé de savoir lire une carte et utiliser la boussole, car les sentiers ne sont pas bien marqués et on ne rencontre quasi personne ... le temps peut aussi changer brusquement : en qq minutes on passé de l'été à l'hiver avec de la neige (meme en plein mois de juillet).

Week-end close to the Norwegian border, in the north of Sweden, at Blåhammaren.

It is recommended to be able to read a map and use a compass because the paths are almost nonexistent ... the weather can also change within minutes going from Summer into Winter (with snow mid of July).

Camminata vicina al confine con la Norvegia, a Blåhammaren (2 giorni).

Saper leggere una mappa e utilizzare una bussola è d'obbligo perché i sentieri non si vedono bene. E non c'è molta gente da incontrare ! Subito il meteo può anche cambiare da estate a inverno con neve a metà luglio !

Atlanta Braves baseball from 20 September 2019 (the night they clinched the division crown). The new park (opened in 2018) gets panned a little because it's usually pretty hot in Georgia and a heck of a lot of seats are in direct sun.

It's a relatively generic stadium (in the new mold of generic stadiums), but it's nice. The area outside the stadium (bars/restaurants) is actually a bit more interesting/unique than the stadium itself.

The biggest drawback is that the Atlanta Braves no longer play in Atlanta. (That and parking is almost nonexistent up there in Marietta near the stadium. We were scratching our heads looking for the actual parking lots.)

As for the game...it was a great game. First time in my life I actually got to see a division-clinching game. (They'd clinched a playoff spot a few days before.)

Mendon Ponds Park is owned and very poorly maintained by the County of Monroe, NY.

Unfortunately, this extraordinary property is rapidly deteriorating due to an egregious lack of care. Trails are not cleared of debris... signs are useless. Park maintenance is essentially nonexistent. They do have a marketing department. Seriously, the taxpayers are paying the salaries of a county parks marketing department.

Email Mendon Ponds Park complaints to: countyexecutive@monroecounty.gov

Milo and I flew out to Austin, Texas on the 4th. It was his first time flying. He's amazing. He slept both flights. Even during take off when it's super loud. He met cattle for the first time, met my cousin's dog Coco, met my other cousins dog Boots, and went into a food place for the first time. He's had a lot of firsts this week so when I went to the lake he stayed at my aunt's house. On the 6th he fell half way down the stairs and hit his head on the tile and went into a seizure about 10 minutes after that. Poor guy freaked me out. It was a bad one. But luckily he's acting fine now and going slowly down the stairs from now on. I won't be home till maybe the 20th, I may stay longer. But until then my posts will be either short or nonexistent. I'll comment other peoples pictures as much as I can!

In less than 20 years, Skagway grew from a tent city of gold stampeders to an established town, the major economic and political center of the District of Alaska (1884-1912). This history is embodied in Skagway's architecture. Reflecting the general American culture brought into the region during the gold rush, the construction, style, and features of the buildings contrasted sharply with the earlier traditional Native structures and the massive buildings of Russian America. Basically Victorian, many of the structures still stand — making Skagway one of the best-preserved examples of turn-of-the-century architecture in the far northwest. Whether to study the town's influence in Alaskan history or to reconstruct or renovate specific buildings in Skagway itself, it is helpful to understand the architecture of this substantial remnant of the Klondike gold rush. The town's growth, and its architectural development, can be divided into four phases of building activity:

PHASE I, Pioneer Tent City, 1887 to 1897 The first phase of Skagway's development began when Captain Moore and his son Ben constructed the first cabin and ended after the first wave of stampeders built upon the land, after disputes over lot titles had been settled or sent to the courts and after buildings were aligned with the streets instead of the trail. Buildings dating from this period of time tend to be simple in construction and detail. Log cabins, tents, and quickly constructed wood frame structures abounded. During the first days of the stampede, land ownership was undecided. Stampeders were unsure whether gold would continue to be found in the Klondike, and businessmen built with one aim — to make the most money as quickly as possible. Except for the few log structures, buildings erected during this period tended to be tall and narrow in proportion. Board and batten building fronts were extended occasionally to create false fronts. These were lavishly painted or covered with canvas signs. Tents were all sizes and shapes. Ornamental details were nonexistent. Structures such as the Moore cabin, the Seattle Hotel, and the Goldberg Cigar Store were characteristic of this period. Few of the buildings of this phase have survived. What has been retained is a land use pattern which reflects a definite business orientation toward the east side of the valley as well as a grid of streets, lots, and blocks which reflect the general layout of Skagway during this early period.

PHASE II, Gold Rush Boom Town, fall 1897 to spring 1899 The second phase has received the most publicity. It is the era of mad dashes for the passes, of crowded saloons, and of Jefferson Randolph "Soapy" Smith, con man extraordinaire. The completion of the railroad over the White Pass and the increase in federal laws (and their enforcement) in the spring of 1899 symbolized the end of the "Days of 98." There was a more intense use of the land during this phase. The construction of building facades along the front of property lines created a nearly continuous linear mass along the streets. Boardwalks were built at different levels and were usually cluttered. False fronts of one, two and three stories were ornamented with painted signs, sign boards, and ornamental advertisement figures — boots, clocks, wooden Indians, and barber poles. Utility lines and telephone poles appeared. Fire towers on Fourth and Sixth avenues loomed over the downtown area while tower-like structures used by breweries were located outside the business district in cramped alley ways such as Hiroshima or Jap Alley, French Alley, and Paradise Alley. One-story cigar stores, saloons, and prostitutes' cribs abounded. Outside the business district, homes were situated back from the property front and side lines. Each of these small log cabins and wood-frame structures was set in its own frame of trees, grass, and an occasional garden. All of these buildings were considered temporary, filling the quick demand caused by the gold rush. Most have been torn down or have been altered by later additions and renovations, placing their architecture more accurately in a later period. Because of the accessibility of Puget Sound dealers, construction materials were easily shipped to Skagway on steamships. Unemployed craftsmen were lured north to build the new town, but because profits from the stampede depended on how quickly buildings were available, structures were of poor quality. Fire was a hazard. During 1898-1899 several fires destroyed clusters of buildings, including the grand three-story 50-by 100-foot People's Theater and the 50-room Brannick Hotel. The Mascot and Idaho saloons, the St. James Hotel, and the Hegg Photograph Studio belong to this phase, although they later received new window or facade treatments. The least altered reminders of this era are Jeff Smith's Parlor and the Pacific Clipper Line office. With the completion of the railroad and the change in attitude toward long-term commitments to Skagway, the second phase ended.

PHASE III, Mature Railroad Town, 1899 to 1905 The third phase began when the rails reached from the ocean to the headwaters of the Yukon River in 1899 — the sign that Skagway had succeeded in its ambition to be the dominant gateway to the interior. It is best known as a period of sturdier buildings, of churches and fine residences, of a new morality, and of town pride. Beginning about 1899 and continuing through the next decade, building styles became more elaborate and complex. This change was greatly facilitated by the establishment of scheduled steamer service to Puget Sound cities and by the development of the White Pass & Yukon Route transportation system. Larger and heavier tools, materials, and building elements became available. Plate glass windows replaced multi-pane display windows. Pressed metal ornamental details appeared on facades. Imported machinery and the arrival of skilled craftsmen and architects improved the sophistication of construction. Many of the structures built at this time were multi-storied, well-constructed, and elegantly detailed. Garish signs were replaced by appealing facades; canvas awnings appeared, as did bay windows and electric display lights. Rustic details, such as those on the Arctic Brotherhood Hall and Pantheon Saloon, added a representative touch of Alaskan rustic rugged individualism, but they still fit into the verticality and symmetry of Skagway's Victorian architecture. During this third phase, city and public efforts strived for permanence. City ordinances changed the streetscape by requiring all sidewalks to be on one level and by mandating brick chimneys. The Methodists built the only granite structure: the two-story McCabe College, one of Alaska's first institutions of higher education. The origins of residential design in Skagway are commonly traced to the popular Queen Ann style. Henry Dozier, a Seattle architect hired by the White Pass & Yukon Route, used this style in designing cottages for the railroad company officials. The W.H. Case residence combines Victorian Gothic with Queen Anne details. Some residences mixed features from so many different styles that they are best classified simply as Victorian mélange. Exceptions to the Queen Anne residential styles stand out, particularly Captain Moore's "steamboat" mansion (now the Pullen House) and the bungalow-style homes along Main Street. It is probable that most of these designs were derived from pattern books, although professional architects had offices in Skagway. The work of professional architects is best seen in public buildings such as the Twelfth Avenue School, Elks Hall, WP&Y Railroad Building and Methodist Church (on the corner of Fifth and Main).

PHASE IV, Tourist Town, 1905 to the present. The fourth phase of building activity was influenced by tourism as well as by a brief economic spurt in 1908. A local drive to improve the town's appearance was part of a reaction to criticism about Skagway's being the "scrap heap of creation," as one visitor phrased it. Local groups organized to clean up the town, and civic improvements at first meant tearing down early gold rush era shacks. By 1907, however, businessmen were suggesting the creation of a New Skagway by building a business corridor along Broadway Avenue. They actually used little new construction; instead, people merely moved structures from other parts of town onto Broadway. The Golden North Hotel was moved and a third floor added. The Trail Inn/Pack Train bar complex had been two army barracks which were moved to Broadway and adorned with an exuberant three-story facade, 100 feet long, with a corner tower. The avenue's new appearance was due to new architectural styles; in fact, the facades built in 1908 could have been built in 1900 or earlier. However, the overall townscape had changed. The major businesses that once lined Fourth, Fifth and Sixth avenues, were now shifted 90 degrees to face the railroad tracks down Broadway.

Tom Clarke is helping build Kissito's Morris Cerullo Teaching Hospital & University in the Kamashi Zone of Ethiopia where access to basic healthcare in nonexistent.

Woodland trail to a nonexistent destination

I saw my first-of-year Bluebird just 9 days ago, but didn’t get any decent photos. Today however, I found at least 4 birds and got within photo range more than once. With this nearly nonexistent winter, I have to keep reminding myself that it’s still February and not April. Hennepin County, MN 02/21/24

These are photos from a camping trip I took to Locomotive Springs in Box Elder County, Utah, back in September of 2007. I took a few trips there while working as a scoutmaster. It's a really interesting place to camp, fish, and ride mountain bikes. There are freshwater ponds to fish, ghost towns to visit, and nearly complete isolation from civilization. You can tent camp there only in the spring and fall -- in the summer the daytime temperatures are just too brutal and the fishing is almost nonexistent.

As my painting skills are nonexistent, I let my camera paint for me :) I really like that function!

Business people are having a break at the usual bench. A calm area in the midst of this buzzing city.

1993 Suède Sweden Svezia

Escapade en train à Blåhammaren, dans le nord de la Suède, près de la frontier norvégienne.

Il est conseillé de savoir lire une carte et utiliser la boussole, car les sentiers ne sont pas bien marqués et on ne rencontre quasi personne ... le temps peut aussi changer brusquement : en qq minutes on passé de l'été à l'hiver avec de la neige (meme en plein mois de juillet).

Week-end close to the Norwegian border, in the north of Sweden, at Blåhammaren.

It is recommended to be able to read a map and use a compass because the paths are almost nonexistent ... the weather can also change within minutes going from Summer into Winter (with snow mid of July).

Camminata vicina al confine con la Norvegia, a Blåhammaren (2 giorni).

Saper leggere una mappa e utilizzare una bussola è d'obbligo perché i sentieri non si vedono bene. E non c'è molta gente da incontrare ! Subito il meteo può anche cambiare da estate a inverno con neve a metà luglio !

In less than 20 years, Skagway grew from a tent city of gold stampeders to an established town, the major economic and political center of the District of Alaska (1884-1912). This history is embodied in Skagway's architecture. Reflecting the general American culture brought into the region during the gold rush, the construction, style, and features of the buildings contrasted sharply with the earlier traditional Native structures and the massive buildings of Russian America. Basically Victorian, many of the structures still stand — making Skagway one of the best-preserved examples of turn-of-the-century architecture in the far northwest. Whether to study the town's influence in Alaskan history or to reconstruct or renovate specific buildings in Skagway itself, it is helpful to understand the architecture of this substantial remnant of the Klondike gold rush. The town's growth, and its architectural development, can be divided into four phases of building activity:

PHASE I, Pioneer Tent City, 1887 to 1897 The first phase of Skagway's development began when Captain Moore and his son Ben constructed the first cabin and ended after the first wave of stampeders built upon the land, after disputes over lot titles had been settled or sent to the courts and after buildings were aligned with the streets instead of the trail. Buildings dating from this period of time tend to be simple in construction and detail. Log cabins, tents, and quickly constructed wood frame structures abounded. During the first days of the stampede, land ownership was undecided. Stampeders were unsure whether gold would continue to be found in the Klondike, and businessmen built with one aim — to make the most money as quickly as possible. Except for the few log structures, buildings erected during this period tended to be tall and narrow in proportion. Board and batten building fronts were extended occasionally to create false fronts. These were lavishly painted or covered with canvas signs. Tents were all sizes and shapes. Ornamental details were nonexistent. Structures such as the Moore cabin, the Seattle Hotel, and the Goldberg Cigar Store were characteristic of this period. Few of the buildings of this phase have survived. What has been retained is a land use pattern which reflects a definite business orientation toward the east side of the valley as well as a grid of streets, lots, and blocks which reflect the general layout of Skagway during this early period.

PHASE II, Gold Rush Boom Town, fall 1897 to spring 1899 The second phase has received the most publicity. It is the era of mad dashes for the passes, of crowded saloons, and of Jefferson Randolph "Soapy" Smith, con man extraordinaire. The completion of the railroad over the White Pass and the increase in federal laws (and their enforcement) in the spring of 1899 symbolized the end of the "Days of 98." There was a more intense use of the land during this phase. The construction of building facades along the front of property lines created a nearly continuous linear mass along the streets. Boardwalks were built at different levels and were usually cluttered. False fronts of one, two and three stories were ornamented with painted signs, sign boards, and ornamental advertisement figures — boots, clocks, wooden Indians, and barber poles. Utility lines and telephone poles appeared. Fire towers on Fourth and Sixth avenues loomed over the downtown area while tower-like structures used by breweries were located outside the business district in cramped alley ways such as Hiroshima or Jap Alley, French Alley, and Paradise Alley. One-story cigar stores, saloons, and prostitutes' cribs abounded. Outside the business district, homes were situated back from the property front and side lines. Each of these small log cabins and wood-frame structures was set in its own frame of trees, grass, and an occasional garden. All of these buildings were considered temporary, filling the quick demand caused by the gold rush. Most have been torn down or have been altered by later additions and renovations, placing their architecture more accurately in a later period. Because of the accessibility of Puget Sound dealers, construction materials were easily shipped to Skagway on steamships. Unemployed craftsmen were lured north to build the new town, but because profits from the stampede depended on how quickly buildings were available, structures were of poor quality. Fire was a hazard. During 1898-1899 several fires destroyed clusters of buildings, including the grand three-story 50-by 100-foot People's Theater and the 50-room Brannick Hotel. The Mascot and Idaho saloons, the St. James Hotel, and the Hegg Photograph Studio belong to this phase, although they later received new window or facade treatments. The least altered reminders of this era are Jeff Smith's Parlor and the Pacific Clipper Line office. With the completion of the railroad and the change in attitude toward long-term commitments to Skagway, the second phase ended.

PHASE III, Mature Railroad Town, 1899 to 1905 The third phase began when the rails reached from the ocean to the headwaters of the Yukon River in 1899 — the sign that Skagway had succeeded in its ambition to be the dominant gateway to the interior. It is best known as a period of sturdier buildings, of churches and fine residences, of a new morality, and of town pride. Beginning about 1899 and continuing through the next decade, building styles became more elaborate and complex. This change was greatly facilitated by the establishment of scheduled steamer service to Puget Sound cities and by the development of the White Pass & Yukon Route transportation system. Larger and heavier tools, materials, and building elements became available. Plate glass windows replaced multi-pane display windows. Pressed metal ornamental details appeared on facades. Imported machinery and the arrival of skilled craftsmen and architects improved the sophistication of construction. Many of the structures built at this time were multi-storied, well-constructed, and elegantly detailed. Garish signs were replaced by appealing facades; canvas awnings appeared, as did bay windows and electric display lights. Rustic details, such as those on the Arctic Brotherhood Hall and Pantheon Saloon, added a representative touch of Alaskan rustic rugged individualism, but they still fit into the verticality and symmetry of Skagway's Victorian architecture. During this third phase, city and public efforts strived for permanence. City ordinances changed the streetscape by requiring all sidewalks to be on one level and by mandating brick chimneys. The Methodists built the only granite structure: the two-story McCabe College, one of Alaska's first institutions of higher education. The origins of residential design in Skagway are commonly traced to the popular Queen Ann style. Henry Dozier, a Seattle architect hired by the White Pass & Yukon Route, used this style in designing cottages for the railroad company officials. The W.H. Case residence combines Victorian Gothic with Queen Anne details. Some residences mixed features from so many different styles that they are best classified simply as Victorian mélange. Exceptions to the Queen Anne residential styles stand out, particularly Captain Moore's "steamboat" mansion (now the Pullen House) and the bungalow-style homes along Main Street. It is probable that most of these designs were derived from pattern books, although professional architects had offices in Skagway. The work of professional architects is best seen in public buildings such as the Twelfth Avenue School, Elks Hall, WP&Y Railroad Building and Methodist Church (on the corner of Fifth and Main).

PHASE IV, Tourist Town, 1905 to the present. The fourth phase of building activity was influenced by tourism as well as by a brief economic spurt in 1908. A local drive to improve the town's appearance was part of a reaction to criticism about Skagway's being the "scrap heap of creation," as one visitor phrased it. Local groups organized to clean up the town, and civic improvements at first meant tearing down early gold rush era shacks. By 1907, however, businessmen were suggesting the creation of a New Skagway by building a business corridor along Broadway Avenue. They actually used little new construction; instead, people merely moved structures from other parts of town onto Broadway. The Golden North Hotel was moved and a third floor added. The Trail Inn/Pack Train bar complex had been two army barracks which were moved to Broadway and adorned with an exuberant three-story facade, 100 feet long, with a corner tower. The avenue's new appearance was due to new architectural styles; in fact, the facades built in 1908 could have been built in 1900 or earlier. However, the overall townscape had changed. The major businesses that once lined Fourth, Fifth and Sixth avenues, were now shifted 90 degrees to face the railroad tracks down Broadway.

The comic The Unreal God And Aspects of His Non-Existent Universe.

Me and Scott :-)

Some nobleman taking off his hat to a lady and wearing a nonexistent torso (that print is supposed to go on black, but when it's all virtual, you can do whatever).

The Flips supporting Meredosia, Bad Catman, Bookmobile, and Looming at Black Sheep Cafe in Springfield, IL on January 17, 2014.

Words cannot describe how good it felt to be shooting another show at Black Sheep after so long. It doesn't have the greatest lighting and the photo pit is nonexistent, but I just feel so at home there because that community of people is just incredible. They all support each other so much and it's amazing to be a part of that and to get to photograph it every so often. And then getting to be the guest photographer for Harm House's "Record of the Night" was absolutely awesome. Honestly, when I look back, I can't even begin to describe how thankful I am to the Black Sheep venue and community for everything they've done for me. This was my training ground when I was really getting started, and these are the people who took me in and accepted me without question and without reservation. That, and they put on some kick-ass shows =)

This is a construction site in Hato Rey that I've never seen work actually being done on. I remember as a kid that construction in the area was pretty much nonexistent, but since the construction of the Choliseo and the Train, there are several proejcts underway. I just never see people doing work.

© D O Y E E D T • A N N A H A A L

When you go through the streets

No one recognizes you.

No one sees your crystal crown, no one looks

At the carpet of red gold

That you tread as you pass,

The nonexistent carpet.

And when you appear

All the rivers sound

In my body, bells

Shake the sky,

And a hymn fills the world.

🔻

Pablo Neruda

Which she'd probably like me to lose. And no, she actually isn't wearing pink. I didn't have any pink dresses at the time and my sewing skills for a doll as small as she is were nonexistent.

"Those afraid of the universe as it really is, those who pretend to nonexistent knowledge and envision a cosmos centered on human beings will prefer the fleeting comforts of superstition. They avoid rather than confront the world. But those with the courage to explore the weave and structure of the cosmos, even where it differs profoundly from their wishes and prejudices, will penetrate its deepest mysteries." - Carl Sagan

This is my first image out of my Nikon D600 that I have been able to edit directly in RAW/Lightroom.

RAW support is only in beta, so don't expect much... shadow recovery is pretty much nonexistent. But, lens correction is back again, and it's wonderful to be back into an efficient workflow.

This is a park bench on the Songhees walkway in Victoria's Inner Harbour. I didn't expect to catch the end of this sunset, so you can really spot the banding in the sky that resulted from pushing the exposure (rather than pushing the shadows).

Nicely posing Willow Flycatcher, low on the trees/shrubs right over the water. While no doubt one or more of the "oh an empid buzzed by" birds I've seen in my life were this species - they're common around here - this is the first one I was able to identify, so a lifer ;-)

I had this photo shoot (and a following less productive one) with this bird, while in one of the gazebos. Shortly after the bird vacated, we had an unexpected rain squall (good timing, being in the roofed gazebo.) Two other birds and I had a nice chat while it rained about what we had seen, and they helped me ID this empid. Around here, that much white beneath combined with the almost-nonexistent eye ring is a good clue for Willow, it's one of the standard empids here that had been reported recently on social media, and Sibley indicates that the 'low above water' behavior is typical for this species. So many other empids do treetops.

Realizing that the confusion and the chaos in your mind have no origin, no cessation, and nowhere to dwell is the best protection. Shunyata is the best protection because it cuts the solidity of your beliefs. "I have my solid thought" or "This is my grand thought" or "My thought is so cute" or "In my thoughts I visualize a grand whatever" or "The star men came down and talked to me" or "Genghis Khan is present in my mind" or "Jesus Christ himself manifested in my mind" or "I have thought of a tremendous musical comedy, or how to conquer the world"---it could be anything, from that level down to : "How am I going to earn my living after this?" or "What is the best way for me to sharpen my personality so that I will be visible in the world?" or "How I hate my problems!" All of those schemes and thoughts and ideas are empty! If you look behind a mask, you see that it is hollow. There may be a few holes for the nostrils and mouth--but if you look behind it, it doesn't look like a face anymore, it is just junk with holes in it. Realizing that is your best protection. You realize that you are no longer the greatest artist at all, that you are not any of your big ideas. You realize that you are just authoring absurd, nonexistent things. That is the best protection for cutting confusion.

-- This slogan is related with the idea of carrying everything onto the path at the absolute bodhicitta level. It is very tricky. There is some possibility that when you hear that if you just simply meditate on the four kayas, everything is going to be protected, you may think that your kid is going to be protected, your brothers and sisters, your property and your motorcars. But this protection is not quite at that level ; it is shunyata protection, which is that you no longer have anywhere to dwell, you are suspended in shunyata. It is a very clever way of approaching the whole thing. You are not talking about egolessness here, you are trying to work out your protection. But you might find yourself being egoless and realizing that there is nothing to protect. So your protection is groundlessness. It is a very clinical approach in some sense. There can be no germs around if you have no ground on which to collect germs.

-- The idea of the four kayas is not particularly tantric, it is mahayanist high thinking. The kayas appear in the third turning of the wheel of the dharma in the Uttaratantra of Maitreya and in the Diamond Sutra. But at the same time, it is highly influenced by tantra. The whole thing is based on mahayana principles, but there is undercurrent of techniques that are borrowed from tantra. So the understanding is presented from the mahayana viewpoint, but the techniques are tantric.

-- Chogyam Trungpa / Shambhala Publications

The Roman Bridge crosses the old course of the Jarama River This 148-meter-long civil construction, composed of five arches (four small and one large) nestled among poplars and other deciduous trees that lend it an evocative image each autumn, is called a Roman bridge. But only the foundations and some studies of the ashlar blocks remain from Roman times because, in reality, it dates from the Middle Ages with significant additions during the 16th century that gave it its current appearance.

Visitors who arrive at this point always ask themselves the same question: But where is the Jarama River? Is this thin trickle of water? It is indeed surprising to find such a large bridge supporting an almost nonexistent flow of water. But the answer lies in the fact that, as has happened so many times throughout history, the riverbed was displaced for various reasns, in this case by almost half a kilometer. Therefore, the Jarama River should be sought further west because what flows there (when it does) is a meager irrigation canal, the Caz stream, which carries less water than a canteen with holes in it.

Nearby, there is a recreational area, right next to the actual Jarama, known as "La Chopera" (The Poplar Grove), where families come "with their picnic blankets and Tupperware" to spend the morning or afternoon in the shade and sit down to eat at one of the tables while the children play

Subway patrons were forced to stand curbside at Lankershim and wait for nonexistent buses Wednesday evening when a power outage shut down the Red Line at North Hollywood. The MTA's charm offensive knows no bounds.

Saint Paul - aghast. Suddenly, Szymborska:

"So these are the Himalayas.

Mountains racing to the moon.

The moment of their start recorded

on the startling, ripped canvas of the sky.

Holes punched in a desert of clouds.

Thrust into nothing.

Echo—a white mute.

Quiet."

(c) 2013 / T. B. H. von H.

~Elie Wiesel

I found this quote today....and I like it a lot. :)

~

And since this is another Lightroom edit, a story: I applied one of the presets, creamtone b&w, I think, then messed with the shadows and opened it in Picasa for text. After finishing everything, I exported it to where I could upload from, but get this: the file size had exploded into over 20 megabytes! I couldn't even upload it to Picnik to resize it. :) After a session of head scratching, I looked in the folder and found a version that was something like 2 MBs....I have no idea how it got there, but am alright with it if it meant flickr would accept it. :)

Did you read that whole thing? Ice cream to you! ;)

But have you ever experienced that?

PS - My uploads this weekend may be sketchy/nonexistent, as I won't be home much. But I'll try to keep taking photos. <3, M

Soldiers with the 331st Transportation Company from Fort Eustis, Va., "stab" the beach with the Army Trident Pier July, 21 during Joint Logistics Over the Shore 2008. The Trident Pier is a floating causeway that will allow Soldiers and Sailors to move rolling stock and shipping containers from ships anchored at sea onto the shore using an improvised port. The critical training the Soldiers and Sailors receive allows them to quickly and efficiently move equipment from ship to shore for military missions or humanitarian assistance when a port is nonexistent or has been destroyed. (Photo by Sgt. Stephen Proctor, JTF8 Public Affairs)

1993 Suède Sweden Svezia

Escapade en train à Blåhammaren, dans le nord de la Suède, près de la frontier norvégienne.

Il est conseillé de savoir lire une carte et utiliser la boussole, car les sentiers ne sont pas bien marqués et on ne rencontre quasi personne ... le temps peut aussi changer brusquement : en qq minutes on passé de l'été à l'hiver avec de la neige (meme en plein mois de juillet).

Week-end close to the Norwegian border, in the north of Sweden, at Blåhammaren.

It is recommended to be able to read a map and use a compass because the paths are almost nonexistent ... the weather can also change within minutes going from Summer into Winter (with snow mid of July).

Camminata vicina al confine con la Norvegia, a Blåhammaren (2 giorni).

Saper leggere una mappa e utilizzare una bussola è d'obbligo perché i sentieri non si vedono bene. E non c'è molta gente da incontrare ! Subito il meteo può anche cambiare da estate a inverno con neve a metà luglio !

Pennsylvania's blue laws are awful. Sights like this, in Wheeling, WV, are practically nonexistent in PA.

Dragonflies have always been a challenge for me to properly identify, especially when I've never seen a particular species before. That has been the case with this species. I now am finding that this is actually not a species I'd never seen before. I think I've a couple of encounters but of very freshly hatched, immature adults.

This specimen is approaching full maturity but still bearing a very close resemblance to a female. Probably within another day, this critter will be entirely black with the exception of the single yellow dot on the abdomen that gives them their name.

In trying to research this species, I was surprised at how little is documented on it. Sure, there's plenty of census data but precious little that I could find explaining their preferred habit, food, or life cycle. The real question I would like to have answered is why have they been virtually nonexistent in the last few seasons and now I can't walk through the dragonfly field without encountering 40 or 50 of 'em?

I don't know plants, but mountain laurel is kind of an obvious one I figured out early. This is an evergreen shrub nonexistent in the parts of Kentucky where I lived, but common once you get up into the foothills and beyond. It's all over Red River Gorge. There are oceans of it.

Activity is nonexistent in the late hours during the week through downtown Tulsa. 12 hours from now (or previous) road and foot traffic will be dominating the streets during the usual lunch rush.

Mendon Ponds Park is owned and very poorly maintained by the County of Monroe, NY.

Unfortunately, this extraordinary property is rapidly deteriorating due to an egregious lack of care. Trails are not cleared of debris... signs are useless. Park maintenance is essentially nonexistent. They do have a marketing department. Seriously, the taxpayers are paying the salaries of a county parks marketing department.

Email Mendon Ponds Park complaints to: countyexecutive@monroecounty.gov

First day of classes, reading for International Relations for hours, and snow coming down just as Olivia and I headed off to bed.

I'm pouring my energy into classes and staying healthy and time for photos has just become nonexistent.

kizimbani Spice Farm.

Kuchi Chicken : Long Legged

are tall and long necked with an upright stance, cushion-like comb and nonexistent wattles. It has a large rounded head with a medium sized parrot-like beak with a full and lobster-like tail whereas young ones have yellowish eyes that become pearly pale (milkish) with age.

From a nonexistent past when women rode aircraft in ballgowns

when you put together the pieces that have pictures on it...spells dad. I think i'll hang these at least .5-1" from eath other.

Soldiers with the 331st Transportation Company from Fort Eustis, Va., "stab" the beach with the Army Trident Pier July, 21 during Joint Logistics Over the Shore 2008. The Trident Pier is a floating causeway that will allow Soldiers and Sailors to move rolling stock and shipping containers from ships anchored at sea onto the shore using an improvised port. The critical training the Soldiers and Sailors receive allows them to quickly and efficiently move equipment from ship to shore for military missions or humanitarian assistance when a port is nonexistent or has been destroyed. (Photo by Sgt. Stephen Proctor, JTF8 Public Affairs)

Arista 400 Black and White Film.

Is someone getting better at film? I would like to say so!!

I got chai tea after band today with Amanda. These are her feet, propped up a chair in the warm afternoon.

I basically made her spend her afternoon with me so I could tell her my sorrows of AP Photo, since she took it her senior year a few years ago. So I whined for about an hour, then laughed, and had a really nice time catching up with her. She gave me a ton of advice, as well as some well needed compliments to boost my confidence.

Even though the battery in my camera is dead, and the light meter is temporarily nonexistent, this roll of film came out with some surprising contrast. I actually used this print for my "Contrast" print, haha.

I love Amanda. If you're reading this Amanda, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

Not sure if this actually works - but we WERE supposed to experiment today, so here goes.

I was exhausted today, not feeling so well, so I took a nap, right around sunset. My last thought before trying to go to sleep was to take a photo in that almost-nonexistent light in my bedroom. It seemed to fit with that time and space where you slip into the oblivion of sleep, where your conscious self fades into unconsciousness. I am in the photo, but just barely.

Photo unrelated. But if you squint you can see a black bear.

Well, like a few of our other companions, I am now off to college. I'm majoring in Aerospace engineering with a minor in Military Science, and am a contracted Cadet in Army ROTC. I'm officially in the Army now. In 5ish years I plan on graduating with my masters degree and commissioning into the Army as an Officer, more then likely I'll be going Infantry.

Until then, I regret to say it, but any and every Lego building from me will be sparse or nonexistent. Between living 3 hours away from my Lego, Having class, and on top of that doing activities, drills, etc. with ROTC both during classes and over some breaks, I won't be building. I will still try to be as active on Flickr as I can, and feel free to Flickrmail or IM me or the like.

Of course I'll always have my Lego, so Look for me to start building on 5-6 years :P

And this, Farewell and God bless!

Scorpier

Beautiful downtown Skagway. Though Skagway is a small enough town that you can pleasantly travel around it on foot, side trips from Skagway to any of the neighboring cities can prove to be a difficult proposition. For example, the city of Haines is 14 miles away by ferry, but if you try and rent a car and drive to Haines, it is an unbelievable 359-mile trip to get there because of the poor or nonexistent access to roads around Skagway.