Una delle rarissime bandiere nazionali esposte.

La cosa mi ha colpito, in certi stati l'esposizione del simbolo nazionale è onnipresente ma in Giappone non è così.

 

One of the very rare national flags on display.

What struck me, in some states the display of the national symbol is omnipresent but in Japan this is not the case.

 

_MG_2720m

I met him on Bandra Hill Road liked his look , his turban , his peaceful attitude and shot a few frames.

 

He belongs to the Sikh religion.

 

about Sikhism

 

Sikhism,[1] founded in fifteenth century Punjab on the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev and ten successive Sikh Gurus (the last one being the sacred text Guru Granth Sahib), is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world.[2] This system of religious philosophy and expression has been traditionally known as the Gurmat (literally the counsel of the gurus) or the Sikh Dharma. Sikhism originated from the word Sikh, which in turn comes from the Sanskrit root śiṣya meaning "disciple" or "learner", or śikṣa meaning "instruction".[3][4]

 

The principal belief of Sikhism is faith in waheguru—represented using the sacred symbol of ik ōaṅkār, the Universal God. Sikhism advocates the pursuit of salvation through disciplined, personal meditation on the name and message of God. A key distinctive feature of Sikhism is a non-anthropomorphic concept of God, to the extent that one can interpret God as the Universe itself. The followers of Sikhism are ordained to follow the teachings of the ten Sikh gurus, or enlightened leaders, as well as the holy scripture entitled the Gurū Granth Sāhib, which, along with the writings of six of the ten Sikh Gurus, includes selected works of many devotees from diverse socio-economic and religious backgrounds. The text was decreed by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth guru, as the final guru of the Khalsa Panth. Sikhism's traditions and teachings are distinctively associated with the history, society and culture of the Punjab. Adherents of Sikhism are known as Sikhs (students or disciples) and number over 23 million across the world. Most Sikhs live in Punjab in India and, until India's partition, millions of Sikhs lived in what is now Pakistani Punjab.[5]

 

The origins of Sikhism lie in the teachings of Guru Nanak and his successors. The essence of Sikh teaching is summed up by Nanak in these words: "Realisation of Truth is higher than all else. Higher still is truthful living".[6] Sikhism believes in equality of all humans and rejects discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, and gender. Sikhism also does not attach any importance to asceticism as a means to attain salvation, but stresses on the need of leading life as a householder.

 

Sikhism is a monotheistic religion.[7][8] In Sikhism, God—termed Vāhigurū—is shapeless, timeless, and sightless: niraṅkār, akāl, and alakh. The beginning of the first composition of Sikh scripture is the figure "1"—signifying the universality of God. It states that God is omnipresent and infinite, and is signified by the term ēk ōaṅkār.[9] Sikhs believe that before creation, all that existed was God and Its hukam (will or order).[10] When God willed, the entire cosmos was created. From these beginnings, God nurtured "enticement and attachment" to māyā, or the human perception of reality.[11]

 

While a full understanding of God is beyond human beings,[9] Nanak described God as not wholly unknowable. God is omnipresent (sarav viāpak) in all creation and visible everywhere to the spiritually awakened. Nanak stressed that God must be seen from "the inward eye", or the "heart", of a human being: devotees must meditate to progress towards enlightenment. Guru Nanak Dev emphasized the revelation through meditation, as its rigorous application permits the existence of communication between God and human beings.[9] God has no gender in Sikhism, (though translations may incorrectly present a male God); indeed Sikhism teaches that God is "Nirankar" [Niran meaning "without" and kar meaning "form", hence "without form"]. In addition, Nanak wrote that there are many worlds on which God has created life.[12]

[edit] Pursuing salvation and khalsa

A Sikh man at the Harimandir Sahib

 

Nanak's teachings are founded not on a final destination of heaven or hell, but on a spiritual union with God which results in salvation.[13] The chief obstacles to the attainment of salvation are social conflicts and an attachment to worldly pursuits, which commit men and women to an endless cycle of birth—a concept known as reincarnation.

 

Māyā—defined as illusion or "unreality"—is one of the core deviations from the pursuit of God and salvation: people are distracted from devotion by worldly attractions which give only illusive satisfaction. However, Nanak emphasised māyā as not a reference to the unreality of the world, but of its values. In Sikhism, the influences of ego, anger, greed, attachment, and lust—known as the Five Evils—are believed to be particularly pernicious. The fate of people vulnerable to the Five Evils is separation from God, and the situation may be remedied only after intensive and relentless devotion.[14]

 

Nanak described God's revelation—the path to salvation—with terms such as nām (the divine Name) and śabad (the divine Word) to emphasise the totality of the revelation. Nanak designated the word guru (meaning teacher) as the voice of God and the source and guide for knowledge and salvation.[15] Salvation can be reached only through rigorous and disciplined devotion to God. Nanak distinctly emphasised the irrelevance of outward observations such as rites, pilgrimages, or asceticism. He stressed that devotion must take place through the heart, with the spirit and the soul.

 

A key practice to be pursued is nām: remembrance of the divine Name. The verbal repetition of the name of God or a sacred syllable is an established practice in religious traditions in India, but Nanak's interpretation emphasized inward, personal observance. Nanak's ideal is the total exposure of one's being to the divine Name and a total conforming to Dharma or the "Divine Order". Nanak described the result of the disciplined application of nām simraṇ as a "growing towards and into God" through a gradual process of five stages. The last of these is sac khaṇḍ (The Realm of Truth)—the final union of the spirit with God.[15]

 

Nanak stressed now kirat karō: that a Sikh should balance work, worship, and charity, and should defend the rights of all creatures, and in particular, fellow human beings. They are encouraged to have a chaṛdī kalā, or optimistic, view of life. Sikh teachings also stress the concept of sharing—vaṇḍ chakkō—through the distribution of free food at Sikh gurdwaras (laṅgar), giving charitable donations, and working for the good of the community and others (sēvā).

[edit] The ten gurus and religious authority

Main article: Sikh Gurus

A rare Tanjore-style painting from the late 19th century depicting the ten Sikh Gurus with Bhai Bala and Bhai Mardana.

 

The term guru comes from the Sanskrit gurū, meaning teacher, guide, or mentor. The traditions and philosophy of Sikhism were established by ten specific gurus from 1499 to 1708. Each guru added to and reinforced the message taught by the previous, resulting in the creation of the Sikh religion. Nanak was the first guru and appointed a disciple as successor. Gobind Singh was the final guru in human form. Before his death, Gobind Singh decreed that the Gurū Granth Sāhib would be the final and perpetual guru of the Sikhs.[16] The Sikhs believe that the spirit of Nanak was passed from one guru to the next, " just as the light of one lamp, which lights another and does not diminish ",[17] and is also mentioned in their holy book.

  

After Nanak's passing, the most important phase in the development of Sikhism came with the third successor, Amar Das. Nanak's teachings emphasised the pursuit of salvation; Amar Das began building a cohesive community of followers with initiatives such as sanctioning distinctive ceremonies for birth, marriage, and death. Amar Das also established the manji (comparable to a diocese) system of clerical supervision.[15]

The interior of the Akal Takht

 

Amar Das's successor and son-in-law Ram Das founded the city of Amritsar, which is home of the Harimandir Sahib and regarded widely as the holiest city for all Sikhs. When Ram Das's youngest son Arjan succeeded him, the line of male gurus from the Sodhi Khatri family was established: all succeeding gurus were direct descendants of this line. Arjun Mathur was responsible for compiling the Sikh scriptures. Guru Arjan Sahib was captured by Mughal authorities who were suspicious and hostile to the religious order he was developing.[18] His persecution and death inspired his successors to promote a military and political organization of Sikh communities to defend themselves against the attacks of Mughal forces.

 

The Sikh gurus established a mechanism which allowed the Sikh religion to react as a community to changing circumstances. The sixth guru, Har Gobind, was responsible for the creation of the concept of Akal Takht (throne of the timeless one), which serves as the supreme decision-making centre of Sikhdom and sits opposite the Darbar Sahib. The Sarbat Ḵẖālsā (a representative portion of the Khalsa Panth) historically gathers at the Akal Takht on special festivals such as Vaisakhi or Diwali and when there is a need to discuss matters that affect the entire Sikh nation. A gurmatā (literally, guru's intention) is an order passed by the Sarbat Ḵẖālsā in the presence of the Gurū Granth Sāhib. A gurmatā may only be passed on a subject that affects the fundamental principles of Sikh religion; it is binding upon all Sikhs.[19] The term hukamnāmā (literally, edict or royal order) is often used interchangeably with the term gurmatā. However, a hukamnāmā formally refers to a hymn from the Gurū Granth Sāhib which is given as an order to Sikhs.

[edit] History

Main article: History of Sikhism

 

Nanak (1469–1538), the founder of Sikhism, was born in the village of Rāi Bhōi dī Talwandī, now called Nankana Sahib (in present-day Pakistan).[20] His father, Mehta Kalu was a Patwari, an accountant of land revenue in the employment of Rai Bular Bhatti, the area landlord. Nanak's mother was Tripta Devi and he had one older sister, Nanaki. His parents were Khatri Hindus of the Bedi clan. As a boy, Nanak was fascinated by religion, and his desire to explore the mysteries of life eventually led him to leave home and take missionary journeys.

 

In his early teens, Nanak caught the attention of the local landlord Rai Bular Bhatti, who was moved by his intellect and divine qualities. Rai Bular was witness to many incidents in which Nanak enchanted him and as a result Rai Bular and Nanak's sister Bibi Nanki, became the first persons to recognise the divine qualities in Nanak. Both of them then encouraged and supported Nanak to study and travel. Sikh tradition states that at the age of thirty, Nanak went missing and was presumed to have drowned after going for one of his morning baths to a local stream called the Kali Bein. One day, he declared: "There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim" (in Punjabi, "nā kōi hindū nā kōi musalmān"). It was from this moment that Nanak would begin to spread the teachings of what was then the beginning of Sikhism.[21] Although the exact account of his itinerary is disputed, he is widely acknowledged to have made four major journeys, spanning thousands of kilometres, the first tour being east towards Bengal and Assam, the second south towards Tamil Nadu, the third north towards Kashmir, Ladakh, and Tibet, and the final tour west towards Baghdad and Mecca.[22]

 

Nanak was married to Sulakhni, the daughter of Moolchand Chona, a rice trader from the town of Bakala. They had two sons. The elder son, Sri Chand, was an ascetic, and he came to have a considerable following of his own, known as the Udasis. The younger son, Lakshmi Das, on the other hand, was totally immersed in worldly life. To Nanak, who believed in the ideal of rāj maiṁ jōg (detachment in civic life), both his sons were unfit to carry on the Guruship.

[edit] Growth of the Sikh community

 

In 1538, Nanak chose his disciple Lahiṇā, a Khatri of the Trehan clan, as a successor to the guruship rather than either of his sons. Lahiṇā was named Angad Dev and became the second guru of the Sikhs.[23] Nanak conferred his choice at the town of Kartarpur on the banks of the river Ravi, where Nanak had finally settled down after his travels. Though Sri Chand was not an ambitious man, the Udasis believed that the Guruship should have gone to him, since he was a man of pious habits in addition to being Nanak's son. They refused to accept Angad's succession. On Nanak's advice, Angad shifted from Kartarpur to Khadur, where his wife Khivi and children were living, until he was able to bridge the divide between his followers and the Udasis. Angad continued the work started by Nanak and is widely credited for standardising the Gurmukhī script as used in the sacred scripture of the Sikhs.

 

Amar Das, a Khatri of the Bhalla clan, became the third Sikh guru in 1552 at the age of 73. Goindval became an important centre for Sikhism during the guruship of Amar Das. He preached the principle of equality for women by prohibiting purdah and sati. Amar Das also encouraged the practice of langar and made all those who visited him attend laṅgar before they could speak to him.[24] In 1567, Emperor Akbar sat with the ordinary and poor people of Punjab to have laṅgar. Amar Das also trained 146 apostles of which 52 were women, to manage the rapid expansion of the religion.[25] Before he died in 1574 aged 95, he appointed his son-in-law Jēṭhā, a Khatri of the Sodhi clan, as the fourth Sikh guru.

 

Jēṭhā became Ram Das and vigorously undertook his duties as the new guru. He is responsible for the establishment of the city of Ramdaspur later to be named Amritsar. Before Ramdaspur, Amritsar was known as Guru Da Chakk. In 1581, Arjan Dev—youngest son of the fourth guru—became the fifth guru of the Sikhs. In addition to being responsible for building the Darbar/Harimandir Sahib (called the Golden Temple), he prepared the Sikh sacred text known as the Ādi Granth (literally the first book) and included the writings of the first five gurus. In 1606, for refusing to make changes to the Granth and for supporting an unsuccessful contender to the throne, he was tortured and killed by the Mughal Emperor, Jahangir.[26]

[edit] Political advancement

 

Hargobind, became the sixth guru of the Sikhs. He carried two swords—one for spiritual and the other for temporal reasons (known as mīrī and pīrī in Sikhism).[27] Sikhs grew as an organized community and under the 10th Guru the Sikhs developed a trained fighting force to defend their independence. In 1644, Har Rai became guru followed by Harkrishan, the boy guru, in 1661. No hymns composed by these three gurus are included in the Sikh holy book.[28]

 

Tegh Bahadur became guru in 1665 and led the Sikhs until 1675. Teg Bahadur was executed by Aurangzeb for helping to protect Hindus, after a delegation of Kashmiri Pandits came to him for help when the Emperor condemned them to death for failing to convert to Islam.[29] He was succeeded by his son, Gobind Rai who was just nine years old at the time of his father's death. Gobind Rai further militarised his followers, and was baptised by the Pañj Piārē when he formed the Khalsa on 13 April 1699. From here on in he was known as Gobind Singh.

 

From the time of Nanak, when it was a loose collection of followers who focused entirely on the attainment of salvation and God, the Sikh community had significantly transformed. Even though the core Sikh religious philosophy was never affected, the followers now began to develop a political identity. Conflict with Mughal authorities escalated during the lifetime of Teg Bahadur and Gobind Singh. The latter founded the Khalsa in 1699. The Khalsa is a disciplined community that combines its religious purpose and goals with political and military duties.[30] After Aurangzeb killed four of his sons, Gobind Singh sent Aurangzeb the Zafarnamah (Notification/Epistle of Victory).

 

Shortly before his death, Gobind Singh ordered that the Gurū Granth Sāhib (the Sikh Holy Scripture), would be the ultimate spiritual authority for the Sikhs and temporal authority would be vested in the Khalsa Panth—the Sikh Nation/Community.[16] The first scripture was compiled and edited by the fifth guru, Arjan Dev, in 1604.

 

A former ascetic was charged by Gobind Singh with the duty of punishing those who had persecuted the Sikhs. After the guru's death, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur became the leader of the Sikh army and was responsible for several attacks on the Mughal empire. He was executed by the emperor Jahandar Shah after refusing the offer of a pardon if he converted to Islam.[31]

 

The Sikh community's embrace of military and political organisation made it a considerable regional force in medieval India and it continued to evolve after the demise of the gurus. After the death of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, a Sikh Confederacy of Sikh warrior bands known as misls formed. With the decline of the Mughal empire, a Sikh Empire arose in the Punjab under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, with its capital in Lahore and limits reaching the Khyber Pass and the borders of China. The order, traditions and discipline developed over centuries culminated at the time of Ranjit Singh to give rise to the common religious and social identity that the term "Sikhism" describes.[32]

 

After the death of Ranjit Singh, the Sikh Empire fell into disorder and was eventually annexed by the United Kingdom after the hard-fought Anglo-Sikh Wars. This brought the Punjab under the British Raj. Sikhs formed the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee and the Shiromani Akali Dal to preserve Sikhs' religious and political organization a quarter of a century later. With the partition of India in 1947, thousands of Sikhs were killed in violence and millions were forced to leave their ancestral homes in West Punjab.[33] Sikhs faced initial opposition from the Government in forming a linguistic state that other states in India were afforded. The Akali Dal started a non-violence movement for Sikh and Punjabi rights. Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale emerged as a leader of the Bhindran-Mehta Jatha—which assumed the name of Damdami Taksal in 1977 to promote a peaceful solution of the problem. In June 1984, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi ordered the Indian army to launch Operation Blue Star to remove Bhindranwale and his followers from the Darbar Sahib. Bhindranwale, and a large number of innocent pilgrims were killed during the army's operations. In October, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards. The assassination was followed by the 1984 Anti-Sikh riots massacre[34] and Hindu-Sikh conflicts in Punjab, as a reaction to the assassination and Operation Blue Star.

[edit] Scripture

 

There are two primary sources of scripture for the Sikhs: the Gurū Granth Sāhib and the Dasam Granth. The Gurū Granth Sāhib may be referred to as the Ādi Granth—literally, The First Volume—and the two terms are often used synonymously. Here, however, the Ādi Granth refers to the version of the scripture created by Arjan Dev in 1604. The Gurū Granth Sāhib refers to the final version of the scripture created by Gobind Singh.

[edit] Adi Granth

Main article: Ādi Granth

 

The Ādi Granth was compiled primarily by Bhai Gurdas under the supervision of Arjan Dev between the years 1603 and 1604.[35] It is written in the Gurmukhī script, which is a descendant of the Laṇḍā script used in the Punjab at that time.[36] The Gurmukhī script was standardised by Angad Dev, the second guru of the Sikhs, for use in the Sikh scriptures and is thought to have been influenced by the Śāradā and Devanāgarī scripts. An authoritative scripture was created to protect the integrity of hymns and teachings of the Sikh gurus and selected bhagats. At the time, Arjan Sahib tried to prevent undue influence from the followers of Prithi Chand, the guru's older brother and rival.[37]

 

The original version of the Ādi Granth is known as the kartārpur bīṛ and is claimed to be held by the Sodhi family of Kartarpur.[citation needed] (In fact the original volume was burned by Ahmad Shah Durrani's army in 1757 when they burned the whole town of Kartarpur.)[citation needed]

[edit] Guru Granth Sahib

Gurū Granth Sāhib folio with Mūl Mantra

Main article: Gurū Granth Sāhib

 

The final version of the Gurū Granth Sāhib was compiled by Gobind Singh in 1678. It consists of the original Ādi Granth with the addition of Teg Bahadur's hymns. It was decreed by Gobind Singh that the Granth was to be considered the eternal guru of all Sikhs; however, this tradition is not mentioned either in 'Guru Granth Sahib' or in 'Dasam Granth'.

 

Punjabi: ਸੱਬ ਸਿੱਖਣ ਕੋ ਹੁਕਮ ਹੈ ਗੁਰੂ ਮਾਨਯੋ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ।

Transliteration: Sabb sikkhaṇ kō hukam hai gurū mānyō granth.

English: All Sikhs are commanded to take the Granth as Guru.

 

It contains compositions by the first five gurus, Teg Bahadur and just one śalōk (couplet) from Gobind Singh.[38] It also contains the traditions and teachings of sants (saints) such as Kabir, Namdev, Ravidas, and Sheikh Farid along with several others.[32]

 

The bulk of the scripture is classified into rāgs, with each rāg subdivided according to length and author. There are 31 main rāgs within the Gurū Granth Sāhib. In addition to the rāgs, there are clear references to the folk music of Punjab. The main language used in the scripture is known as Sant Bhāṣā, a language related to both Punjabi and Hindi and used extensively across medieval northern India by proponents of popular devotional religion.[30] The text further comprises over 5000 śabads, or hymns, which are poetically constructed and set to classical form of music rendition, can be set to predetermined musical tāl, or rhythmic beats.

A group of Sikh musicians at the Golden Temple complex

 

The Granth begins with the Mūl Mantra, an iconic verse created by Nanak:

 

Punjabi: ੴ ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ ਅਕਾਲ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਅਜੂਨੀ ਸੈਭੰ ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥

ISO 15919 transliteration: Ika ōaṅkāra sati nāmu karatā purakhu nirabha'u niravairu akāla mūrati ajūnī saibhaṅ gura prasādi.

Simplified transliteration: Ik ōaṅkār sat nām kartā purkh nirbha'u nirvair akāl mūrat ajūnī saibhaṅ gur prasād.

English: One Universal Creator God, The Name Is Truth, Creative Being Personified, No Fear, No Hatred, Image Of The Timeless One, Beyond Birth, Self Existent, By Guru's Grace.

 

All text within the Granth is known as gurbānī. Gurbānī, according to Nanak, was revealed by God directly, and the authors wrote it down for the followers. The status accorded to the scripture is defined by the evolving interpretation of the concept of gurū. In the Sant tradition of Nanak, the guru was literally the word of God. The Sikh community soon transferred the role to a line of men who gave authoritative and practical expression to religious teachings and traditions, in addition to taking socio-political leadership of Sikh adherents. Gobind Singh declared an end of the line of human gurus, and now the Gurū Granth Sāhib serves as the eternal guru, with its interpretation vested with the community.[30]

[edit] Dasam Granth

Main article: Dasam Granth

A frontispiece to the Dasam Granth

 

The Dasam Granth (formally dasvēṁ pātśāh kī granth or The Book of the Tenth Master) is an eighteenth-century collection of poems by Gobind Singh. It was compiled in the shape of a book (granth) by Bhai Mani Singh some 13 to 26 years after Guru Gobind Singh Ji left this world for his heavenly abode.

 

From 1895 to 1897, different scholars and theologians assembled at the Akal Takht, Amritsar, to study the 32 printed Dasam Granths and prepare the authoritative version. They met at the Akal Takhat at Amritsar, and held formal discussions in a series of meetings between 13 June 1895 and 16 February 1896. A preliminary report entitled Report Sodhak (revision) Committee Dasam Patshah de Granth Sahib Di was sent to Sikh scholars and institutions, inviting their opinion. A second document, Report Dasam Granth di Sudhai Di was brought out on 11 February 1898. Basing its conclusions on a study of the old handwritten copies of the Dasam Granth preserved at Sri Takht Sahib at Patna and in other Sikh gurudwaras, this report affirmed that the Holy Volume was compiled at Anandpur Sahib in 1698[3] . Further re-examinations and reviews took place in 1931, under the aegis of the Darbar Sahib Committee of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee. They, too, vindicated the earlier conclusion (agreeing that it was indeed the work of the Guru) and its findings have since been published.

[edit] Janamsakhis

Main article: Janamsākhīs

 

The Janamsākhīs (literally birth stories), are writings which profess to be biographies of Nanak. Although not scripture in the strictest sense, they provide an interesting look at Nanak's life and the early start of Sikhism. There are several—often contradictory and sometimes unreliable—Janamsākhīs and they are not held in the same regard as other sources of scriptural knowledge.

[edit] Observances

 

Observant Sikhs adhere to long-standing practices and traditions to strengthen and express their faith. The daily recitation from memory of specific passages from the Gurū Granth Sāhib, especially the Japu (or Japjī, literally chant) hymns is recommended immediately after rising and bathing. Family customs include both reading passages from the scripture and attending the gurdwara (also gurduārā, meaning the doorway to God; sometimes transliterated as gurudwara). There are many gurdwaras prominently constructed and maintained across India, as well as in almost every nation where Sikhs reside. Gurdwaras are open to all, regardless of religion, background, caste, or race.

 

Worship in a gurdwara consists chiefly of singing of passages from the scripture. Sikhs will commonly enter the temple, touch the ground before the holy scripture with their foreheads, and make an offering. The recitation of the eighteenth century ardās is also customary for attending Sikhs. The ardās recalls past sufferings and glories of the community, invoking divine grace for all humanity.[39]

 

The most sacred shrine is the Harimandir Sahib in Amritsar, famously known as the Golden Temple. Groups of Sikhs regularly visit and congregate at the Harimandir Sahib. On specific occasions, groups of Sikhs are permitted to undertake a pilgrimage to Sikh shrines in the province of Punjab in Pakistan, especially at Nankana Sahib and other Gurdwaras. Other places of interest to Sikhism in Pakistan includes the samādhī (place of cremation) of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Lahore.

[edit] Sikh festivals

 

Festivals in Sikhism mostly centre around the lives of the Gurus and Sikh martyrs. The SGPC, the Sikh organisation in charge of upkeep of the gurdwaras, organises celebrations based on the new Nanakshahi calendar. This calendar is highly controversial among Sikhs and is not universally accepted. Several festivals (Hola Mohalla, Diwali, and Nanak's birthday) continue to be celebrated using the Hindu calendar. Sikh festivals include the following:

 

* Gurpurabs are celebrations or commemorations based on the lives of the Sikh gurus. They tend to be either birthdays or celebrations of Sikh martyrdom. All ten Gurus have Gurpurabs on the Nanakshahi calendar, but it is Guru Nanak Dev and Guru Gobind Singh who have a gurpurab that is widely celebrated in Gurdwaras and Sikh homes. The martyrdoms are also known as a shaheedi Gurpurab, which mark the martyrdom anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev and Guru Tegh Bahadur.

* Vaisakhi or Baisakhi normally occurs on 13 April and marks the beginning of the new spring year and the end of the harvest. Sikhs celebrate it because on Vaisakhi in 1699, the tenth guru, Gobind Singh, laid down the Foundation of the Khalsa an Independent Sikh Identity.

* Bandi Chhor Divas or Diwali celebrates Hargobind's release from the Gwalior Fort, with several innocent Hindu kings who were also imprisoned by Jahangir, on 26 October, 1619.

* Hola Mohalla occurs the day after Holi and is when the Khalsa Panth gather at Anandpur and display their warrior skills, including fighting and riding.

 

[edit] Ceremonies and customs

The anand kāraj (Sikh marriage) ceremony

 

Nanak taught that rituals, religious ceremonies, or idol worship is of little use and Sikhs are discouraged from fasting or going on pilgrimages.[40] However, during the period of the later gurus, and owing to increased institutionalisation of the religion, some ceremonies and rites did arise. Sikhism is not a proselytizing religion and most Sikhs do not make active attempts to gain converts. However, converts to Sikhism are welcomed, although there is no formal conversion ceremony. The morning and evening prayers take about two hours a day, starting in the very early morning hours. The first morning prayer is Guru Nanak's Jap Ji. Jap, meaning "recitation", refers to the use of sound, as the best way of approaching the divine. Like combing hair, hearing and reciting the sacred word is used as a way to comb all negative thoughts out of the mind. The second morning prayer is Guru Gobind Singh's universal Jaap Sahib. The Guru addresses God as having no form, no country, and no religion but as the seed of seeds, sun of suns, and the song of songs. The Jaap Sahib asserts that God is the cause of conflict as well as peace, and of destruction as well as creation. Devotees learn that there is nothing outside of God's presence, nothing outside of God's control. Devout Sikhs are encouraged to begin the day with private meditations on the name of God.

 

Upon a child's birth, the Guru Granth Sāhib is opened at a random point and the child is named using the first letter on the top left-hand corner of the left page. All boys are given the middle name or surname Singh, and all girls are given the middle name or surname Kaur.[41] Sikhs are joined in wedlock through the anand kāraj ceremony. Sikhs are required to marry when they are of a sufficient age (child marriage is taboo), and without regard for the future spouse's caste or descent. The marriage ceremony is performed in the company of the Guru Granth Sāhib; around which the couple circles four times. After the ceremony is complete, the husband and wife are considered "a single soul in two bodies."[42]

 

According to Sikh religious rites, neither husband nor wife is permitted to divorce. A Sikh couple that wishes to divorce may be able to do so in a civil court—but this is not condoned.[43] Upon death, the body of a Sikh is usually cremated. If this is not possible, any means of disposing the body may be employed. The kīrtan sōhilā and ardās prayers are performed during the funeral ceremony (known as antim sanskār).[44]

[edit] Baptism and the Khalsa

A kaṛā, kaṅghā and kirpān.

 

Khalsa (meaning pure) is the name given by Gobind Singh to all Sikhs who have been baptised or initiated by taking ammrit in a ceremony called ammrit sañcār. The first time that this ceremony took place was on Vaisakhi, which fell on 29 March 1698/1699 at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab. It was on that occasion that Gobind Singh baptised the Pañj Piārē who in turn baptised Gobind Singh himself.

 

Baptised Sikhs are bound to wear the Five Ks (in Punjabi known as pañj kakkē or pañj kakār), or articles of faith, at all times. The tenth guru, Gobind Singh, ordered these Five Ks to be worn so that a Sikh could actively use them to make a difference to their own and to others' spirituality. The 5 items are: kēs (uncut hair), kaṅghā (small comb), kaṛā (circular iron bracelet), kirpān (dagger), and kacchā (special undergarment). The Five Ks have both practical and symbolic purposes.[45]

[edit] Sikh people

Main article: Sikh

Further information: Sikhism by country

Punjabi Sikh family from Punjab, India

 

Worldwide, there are 25.8 million Sikhs and approximately 75% of Sikhs live in the Indian state of Punjab, where they constitute about 60% of the state's population. Even though there are a large number of Sikhs in the world, certain countries have not recognised Sikhism as a major religion and Sikhism has no relation to Hinduism. Large communities of Sikhs live in the neighboring states, and large communities of Sikhs can be found across India. However, Sikhs only make up about 2% of the Indian population.

 

In addition to social divisions, there is a misperception that there are a number of Sikh sectarian groups[clarification needed], such as Namdharis and Nirankaris. Nihangs tend to have little difference in practice and are considered the army of Sikhism. There is also a sect known as Udasi, founded by Sri Chand who were initially part of Sikhism but later developed into a monastic order.

 

Sikh Migration beginning from the 19th century led to the creation of significant communities in Canada (predominantly in Brampton, along with Malton in Ontario and Surrey in British Columbia), East Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, the United Kingdom and more recently, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Western Europe. Smaller populations of Sikhs are found in Mauritius, Malaysia, Fiji, Nepal, China, Pakistan, Afganistan, Iraq and many other countries

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism.

   

Sheppard Fairey dit OBEY

 

ANDRE THE GIANT :

 

En 1989, Fairey et d’autres étudiants de la Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), créent des autocollants (stickers) et des affiches à l’effigie du lutteur (catcheur) français André Roussimoff dit André the Giant, (appelé ainsi car il était atteint d'acromégalie) accompagné du texte « André the Giant Has a Posse (traduit par « André le Géant a une bande de potes), C'est un clin d’œil humoristique, à l’attention de la contre-culture hip-hop et de la communauté des skaters américains. Quelques années plus tard, plusieurs dizaines de milliers de stickers (autocollants) sont disséminés à travers le monde…

 

En 1994, une menace de procès par Titan Sports pour atteinte à la marque déposée a forcé Fairey à créer une version redessinée de son autocollant André le Géant. Il a développé le visage du lutteur pour en faire son logo désormais emblématique, rejoint par le slogan omniprésent OBEY tiré du classique culte de John Carpenter de 1988, They Live.

 

Exposition "We are here" au Petit Palais

Art urbain. Jusqu'au 17 novembre (entrée libre)

Riquewhir, , Alsace, France.

 

Riquewihr en idioma francés, Reichenweier en alsaciano, es una localidad y comuna francesa situada en el departamento de Alto Rin, en la región de Alsacia.

 

Por su belleza y atractivo turístico es uno de los pueblos distinguidos por la asociación Les plus beaux villages de France.

 

Esta ciudad fortificada rodeada de viñas es una auténtica joya. En el pueblo de Riquewihr abundan las casas de colores con entramado con fachadas decoradas con viejos rótulos. Algunas casas están adornadas con bonitas ventanas saledizas. Las omnipresentes flores y plantas trepadoras refuerzan el atractivo del pueblo.

 

Para descubrir el patrimonio arquitectónico único de Riquewihr, lo mejor es pasear y admirar, en el ocio, los innumerables monumentos. Se puede descubrir el ayuntamiento de estilo neo-clásico. El castillo de Württemberg en 1539 ahora alberga el museo de la comunicación. Además del edificio notable, puede supervisar la posición a través de las edades. El antiguo patio de la Abadía de Autrey desde 1510 tiene un innegable encanto con su torreta ascendente desde el sótano hasta el ático y bóveda con ocho costillas apoyo a una terraza. Va a pasar por el Museo del Dolder. Esta entrada de la puerta fortificada de la ciudad tiene un campanario de 25 metros de altura con una cara exterior bélico y la apariencia benévola en el casco urbano. La torre de los ladrones 1550 es la antigua prisión. Se pueden visitar las cámaras de tortura y mazmorras húmedas donde matones estaban cerradas. Por último, paseando por las calles, se pueden admirar las fachadas de las casas de los siglos XVI y XVII incluidos en el inventario de monumentos históricos. Entre ellos, por nombrar algunos sólo por el bien de sus nombres tan evocador, la antigua casa de tonelería, la casa llamó a los ranúnculo y enólogos de casas esperan en silencio.

 

Riquewihr in French, Reichenweier in Alsatian, is a town and commune in the department of Haut-Rhin in the Alsace region.

 

For its beauty and tourist attraction is one of the villages distinguished by the association Les plus beaux villages de France.

 

This fortified town surrounded by vineyards is a real gem. In the village of Riquewihr, houses with colorful, half-timbered facades adorned with old signs abound. Some houses are adorned with pretty bay windows. The ubiquitous flowers and climbing plants reinforce the appeal of the town.

 

To discover the unique architectural heritage of Riquewihr, the best is to stroll and admire, in leisure, the countless monuments. During your no, you can discover the neo-classical style town hall. The castle of Württemberg in 1539 now houses the Museum of Communication. In addition to the remarkable building, it can monitor the position throughout the ages. The old courtyard of the Abbey of Autrey since 1510 has an undeniable charm with its turret ascending from the basement to the attic and vault with eight ribs supporting a terrace. You will pass by the Dolder Museum. This entrance of the fortified gate of the city has a bell tower of 25 meters of height with an external warlike face and the benevolent appearance in the urban helmet. The tower of the thieves 1550 is the old prison. You can visit the torture chambers and wet dungeons where thugs were closed. Finally, walking through the streets, you can admire the facades of the houses of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries included in the inventory of historical monuments. Among them, to name a few just for the sake of their names so evocative, the old coop house, the house called the ranunculus and house winemakers wait in silence.

This place, despite its part demolition, had to be done as it has been on the have to do list for a while. It was Friday 31st October, a bright sunny Mother Earth day and 11 years on from the No Opencast Action at Tibshelf, Chesterfield. One day before an event on The Future for Clean Coal - a follow on from the Direct Action at kings North, part of the camp for climate change. We got a train to Doncaster, then a bus to Barnby Dun, we ended up getting off early but we walked part of the canal that was once the main supply chain for Coal to Thorpe Marsh Power Station, the loading deck at the side of the canal lays derelict.

 

We arrive, this is epic in scale with a theme of Dead Cities, a film set for post-Armageddon where the ruins of Modern Life are subject to Mother Earth's Reclamation yard. What a way to pay homage to Mother Earth. The D20 had already been in action, then power fails, here we were celebrating the demise of consumerism, but with no means to consume! We walk round, fall off ropes, laugh as we synchronize the echoed shouting of Gizmo's name and our four legged explorer looked confused, we were for an afternoon the famous three and their dog, minus the picnic.

 

We returned back to our childhood, it soon was over but we was to return, this time the D20 was on full charge, we had the Pentax and names for the six Cooling Towers, Bertha, Sandra, Emma, Ruth, JG, and Big Bottom Girl. Their omnipresent good looks underneath their apparent ugliness made you fall in, we also met the security and he seemed more intrested in getting his girlfriend into his cabin than being bothered with us, but we left anyhow, we were going to return.

 

We were now just two, soon to be three as Dan the man joined us on site. We watched the sun set over Thorpe Marsh Power station, got a lift back to Sheff courtesy of the slavver Jag and to our homely pub to get rather drunk.

 

Here is some blurb on the place we have found on wickipedia

Quote:

 

Thorpe Marsh Power Station closed in 1994. Since then it has gradually been demollished. Well, everything except the cooling towers - 6 of them. The are also two biggish and several small buildings.

 

There are various plans for the site - including a nature reserve, and a landfill site (fiercely objected to by local residents). In reality, nothing will probably happen. The towers still survive because it is feared that any explosion caused would rupture the banks of the nearby canal.

 

The station has been closed since 1994 and the 45 acres (18 ha) site was accquired by Able UK in 1995.[2] Much of the station has been demolished and now only its six cooling towers (each 340 ft (100 m) high and 260 ft (79 m) in diameter at the base), two ash slurry hoppers, railway sidings and the station's large adjacent electricity switching station still remain. The switching station was nearly flooded during the 2007 Yorkshire flood, which would have knocked the grid out according to news reports. The power station featured in the final episode of the 1999 ITV drama, The Last Train.

 

The rest of the images here

 

It goes without saying there is a lot of nasty shit on here along with deep holes and uneven land, we nearly come a cropper a couple of times, despite the ease of access as said there is security (they're chilled mind you) and what you expect with such a place so do not go along on your own, a mate and fully charged phone the 84 bus from B2 Doncaster Bus Station, ask them for the power station, once of the bus you will see them and simple walk towards them..

This place, despite its part demolition, had to be done as it has been on the have to do list for a while. It was Friday 31st October, a bright sunny Mother Earth day and 11 years on from the No Opencast Action at Tibshelf, Chesterfield. One day before an event on The Future for Clean Coal - a follow on from the Direct Action at kings North, part of the camp for climate change. We got a train to Doncaster, then a bus to Barnby Dun, we ended up getting off early but we walked part of the canal that was once the main supply chain for Coal to Thorpe Marsh Power Station, the loading deck at the side of the canal lays derelict.

 

We arrive, this is epic in scale with a theme of Dead Cities, a film set for post-Armageddon where the ruins of Modern Life are subject to Mother Earth's Reclamation yard. What a way to pay homage to Mother Earth. The D20 had already been in action, then power fails, here we were celebrating the demise of consumerism, but with no means to consume! We walk round, fall off ropes, laugh as we synchronize the echoed shouting of Gizmo's name and our four legged explorer looked confused, we were for an afternoon the famous three and their dog, minus the picnic.

 

We returned back to our childhood, it soon was over but we was to return, this time the D20 was on full charge, we had the Pentax and names for the six Cooling Towers, Bertha, Sandra, Emma, Ruth, JG, and Big Bottom Girl. Their omnipresent good looks underneath their apparent ugliness made you fall in, we also met the security and he seemed more intrested in getting his girlfriend into his cabin than being bothered with us, but we left anyhow, we were going to return.

 

We were now just two, soon to be three as Dan the man joined us on site. We watched the sun set over Thorpe Marsh Power station, got a lift back to Sheff courtesy of the slavver Jag and to our homely pub to get rather drunk.

 

Here is some blurb on the place we have found on wickipedia

Quote:

 

Thorpe Marsh Power Station closed in 1994. Since then it has gradually been demollished. Well, everything except the cooling towers - 6 of them. The are also two biggish and several small buildings.

 

There are various plans for the site - including a nature reserve, and a landfill site (fiercely objected to by local residents). In reality, nothing will probably happen. The towers still survive because it is feared that any explosion caused would rupture the banks of the nearby canal.

 

The station has been closed since 1994 and the 45 acres (18 ha) site was accquired by Able UK in 1995.[2] Much of the station has been demolished and now only its six cooling towers (each 340 ft (100 m) high and 260 ft (79 m) in diameter at the base), two ash slurry hoppers, railway sidings and the station's large adjacent electricity switching station still remain. The switching station was nearly flooded during the 2007 Yorkshire flood, which would have knocked the grid out according to news reports. The power station featured in the final episode of the 1999 ITV drama, The Last Train.

 

The rest of the images here

 

It goes without saying there is a lot of nasty shit on here along with deep holes and uneven land, we nearly come a cropper a couple of times, despite the ease of access as said there is security (they're chilled mind you) and what you expect with such a place so do not go along on your own, a mate and fully charged phone the 84 bus from B2 Doncaster Bus Station, ask them for the power station, once of the bus you will see them and simple walk towards them..

This place, despite its part demolition, had to be done as it has been on the have to do list for a while. It was Friday 31st October, a bright sunny Mother Earth day and 11 years on from the No Opencast Action at Tibshelf, Chesterfield. One day before an event on The Future for Clean Coal - a follow on from the Direct Action at kings North, part of the camp for climate change. We got a train to Doncaster, then a bus to Barnby Dun, we ended up getting off early but we walked part of the canal that was once the main supply chain for Coal to Thorpe Marsh Power Station, the loading deck at the side of the canal lays derelict.

 

We arrive, this is epic in scale with a theme of Dead Cities, a film set for post-Armageddon where the ruins of Modern Life are subject to Mother Earth's Reclamation yard. What a way to pay homage to Mother Earth. The D20 had already been in action, then power fails, here we were celebrating the demise of consumerism, but with no means to consume! We walk round, fall off ropes, laugh as we synchronize the echoed shouting of Gizmo's name and our four legged explorer looked confused, we were for an afternoon the famous three and their dog, minus the picnic.

 

We returned back to our childhood, it soon was over but we was to return, this time the D20 was on full charge, we had the Pentax and names for the six Cooling Towers, Bertha, Sandra, Emma, Ruth, JG, and Big Bottom Girl. Their omnipresent good looks underneath their apparent ugliness made you fall in, we also met the security and he seemed more intrested in getting his girlfriend into his cabin than being bothered with us, but we left anyhow, we were going to return.

 

We were now just two, soon to be three as Dan the man joined us on site. We watched the sun set over Thorpe Marsh Power station, got a lift back to Sheff courtesy of the slavver Jag and to our homely pub to get rather drunk.

 

Here is some blurb on the place we have found on wickipedia

Quote:

 

Thorpe Marsh Power Station closed in 1994. Since then it has gradually been demollished. Well, everything except the cooling towers - 6 of them. The are also two biggish and several small buildings.

 

There are various plans for the site - including a nature reserve, and a landfill site (fiercely objected to by local residents). In reality, nothing will probably happen. The towers still survive because it is feared that any explosion caused would rupture the banks of the nearby canal.

 

The station has been closed since 1994 and the 45 acres (18 ha) site was accquired by Able UK in 1995.[2] Much of the station has been demolished and now only its six cooling towers (each 340 ft (100 m) high and 260 ft (79 m) in diameter at the base), two ash slurry hoppers, railway sidings and the station's large adjacent electricity switching station still remain. The switching station was nearly flooded during the 2007 Yorkshire flood, which would have knocked the grid out according to news reports. The power station featured in the final episode of the 1999 ITV drama, The Last Train.

 

The rest of the images here

 

It goes without saying there is a lot of nasty shit on here along with deep holes and uneven land, we nearly come a cropper a couple of times, despite the ease of access as said there is security (they're chilled mind you) and what you expect with such a place so do not go along on your own, a mate and fully charged phone the 84 bus from B2 Doncaster Bus Station, ask them for the power station, once of the bus you will see them and simple walk towards them..

Le quartier du Petit Champlain repose au pied du Cap Diamant à Québec. Son nom vient de la rue du Petit-Champlain, une rue étroite dont les maisons à l'ouest longent la falaise.

S'ajoutent les rues Sous-le-Fort, du Cul-de-Sac, du Marché-Champlain et une partie de la rue Notre-Dame et du boulevard Champlain.

Des artisans et des commerçants se sont regroupés en coopérative en 1985 et y tiennent des boutiques. Les décorations soulignant fêtes populaires ou grands rassemblements sont omniprésentes mais particulièrement féériques durant la période de Noël.

Rochefort-en-Terre est classé comme l'un des Plus Beaux Villages de France et Petite Cité de Caractère en Bretagne.

La cité bretonne de Rochefort-en-Terre donne une impression d'homogénéité malgré la diversité des courants architecturaux qui s'y sont exprimés : maisons à pans de bois, bâtiments de style gothique, demeures Renaissance, hôtels classiques, architecture XIXème...

C'est la pierre, ici omniprésente, qui fait le trait d'union entre ces différents témoignages de l'Histoire.

 

Rochefort-en-Terre is classified as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France and a Small Town of Character in Brittany.

The Breton city of Rochefort-en-Terre gives an impression of homogeneity despite the diversity of architectural trends expressed there: half-timbered houses, Gothic style buildings, Renaissance residences, classic hotels, 19th century architecture... It is the stone, omnipresent here, which forms the link between these different testimonies of History.

 

Sâdri, état du Rajasthan, Inde

Le mâla (ou maalais), guirlande de fleurs dont la confection est considérée comme un des 64 arts traditionnels indiens, est un objet de culte omniprésent dans l'hindouisme Il est vendu dans des petites boutiques à proximité des temples et des lieux de culte ou, comme ici, à même le trottoir.

On achète ces colliers de fleurs pour les dieux mais aussi pour les mortels : mariage, enterrement, cadeau de bienvenue,...ils sont de toutes les cérémonies.

The countdown is over, and today's NS Train 255, the final Triple Crown Services RoadRailer train, comes into Cerro Gordo just east of Decatur on the NS Lafayette District behind an omnipresent Dash-9, just as I'd hoped for, honestly.

 

These very fascinating RoadRailer trains have traversed a number of routes on the NS System and other railroads over the past few decades, but they never caught on anywhere like the TSC trains did on the NS, and had an impressive 38 year run for what was basically an experimental piece of equipment and an unique intermodal concept.

 

With the decision made not to invest more in the equipment, the last remaining service lane since the others ended in 2015 was this one on the Former Wabash between Oakwood Yard in Detroit and Voltz Yard in Kansas City hosting trains 255 and 256 moving mostly auto parts headed to the Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant at Claycomo that rolls F-150s and Transit vans off the line.

 

As the equipment aged out and slowly deteriorated and became more difficult to operate, for 9 years there's been a perpetual rumor that these trains were done "by the end of the year", and that day finally came on August 26th when this one arrived at Voltz. Secondhand green 53 foot containers take over this service next week double stacked in well cars and a few of these trailers on spine cars mixed in.

 

The first time I saw one of these was in 1997 around Taylorville, IL, not that far from here. We were traveling up a parallel highway in a 1991 GMC Safari Van headed to a family function and one overtook us, then promptly left us in the dust behind a high hood GP50 leader. I knew about them prior to that moment, but until then I'd only seen them in print. That day sparked an interest in them that never died.

 

On that topic, the crowds out to see this train was amazing to see; a steam train sized chase pack. I'm glad to see so many other railfans got out to see them make their last trip and could appreciate the moment. We'll never see anything else like it. The Wabash just won't feel the same without those strings of trailers—built very appropriately, I might add, by Wabash National. I'm very thankful to have been fortunate enough to see them off into their last sunset.

 

Locomotive: NS 9936

 

8-25-24

Cerro Gordo, IL

Music: shaban & Käptn Peng - parantatatam

youtu.be/QEXVqYgHrsY

 

Parantatatam etwas möchte beginnen

etwas - möchte von außen nach innen

etwas - möchte von drinnen nach außen

- etwas will sich mit etwassen austauschen denn

- etwas ist erwacht - etwas

hat jetzt lang genug im dunkeln verbracht

etwas - hierdrin will zerspringen und zerfetzen

etwas steht jetzt auf und wird sich nie wieder setzen

 

denn etwas - will jetzt fließen

durchbricht jede schicht um zu sprießen

beginnt zu singen - und zückt seine klingen

um die wüsten dieser welt wieder zum blühen zu bringen doch

etwas traut sich nich verstrickt und versteckt sich

etwas nennt sich ich, erschrickt und entdeckt sich

etwas ist - und wird immer sein

etwas bricht jetzt aus und

etwas gliedert sich ein etwas zerteilt alle etwasse in viele kleine teile

etwas ruft: aufbruch! Etwas ruft: verweile!

Etwas will hassen und zerstören und sich rächen

Und die knospen aller blumen mitm krummsäbel aufbrechen

Etwas will nehmen, etwas möchte geben

etwas will töten und etwas möchte leben etwas

will die ganze welt aus ihren angeln heben will das alles nehmen und drehen und

jedem etwas seinen mangel nehm alles um sich rum wien fisch von der angel nehm

- ins wasser schmeissen und nie wieder angeln gehn

ah! es lebe das leben

auf immer und ewig in liebe ergeben

 

Parantatatam etwas möchte beginnen

etwas - möchte von außen nach innen

etwas - möchte von drinnen nach außen

- etwas will sich mit etwassen austauschen denn

- etwas ist erwacht - etwas

hat jetzt lang genug im dunkeln verbracht

etwas - hierdrin will zerspringen und zerfetzen

etwas steht jetzt auf und wird sich nie wieder setzen

 

etwas spricht gerade wörter zum takt

die bilder seines geistes in etwas verpackt

und spricht sie dann aus um sich selbst zu beschreiben

- schreibt sie auf um sie sich selbst zu zeigen

dem etwas das hört und fühlt und sieht denn

etwas spürt das etwas brennt vor dem ein etwas flieht

etwas will etwas sagen etwas darf und muss

etwas fängt jetzt an und beginnt mit dem schluss

dass das ende vorbei ist denn der anfang ist ewig

- etwas gebiert fortwährend und stetig

durchdringend und schwingend und zwingend und singend

sein lied jeden augenblick von vorne beginnend

- zerinnend und findend

hervorbringend hinter seinen formen verschwindend

steht es da

es ist omnipresent aber unsichtbar

es durchdringt alle etwasse und etwasse durchdringen es

es singt nicht eine etwas sondern etwasse singen es

- völlig entflammt hat das etwas erkannt

das etwas das brennt steckt gerade alles in brannt

ein etwas will schrein ein etwas möchte schweigen

ein etwas möchte anderen etwassen etwas zeigen

seht ihr denn nicht da ist etwas!

ziu- und schon hat etwas dass etwas verpasst

- das etwas das ist & war & wird

das unsterbliche etwas dass jeden tag stirbt

das etwas dass wächst und lernt und reift

das etwas dass etwas über etwas begreift

jeden tag - unmerklich und leise

shhh begreift es seine eigene reise

 

Parantatatam etwas möchte beginnen

etwas - möchte von außen nach innen

etwas - möchte von drinnen nach außen

- etwas will sich mit etwassen austauschen denn

- etwas ist erwacht - etwas

hat jetzt lang genug im dunkeln verbracht

etwas - hierdrin will zerspringen und zerfetzen

etwas steht jetzt auf und wird sich nie wieder setzen

 

etwas will still stehen

doch etwas möchte rennen

etwas will sich aufm kopf drehen

doch etwas möchte pennen

etwas möchte tagelang nur tautropfen trinken

und mit kontinentgroßen handflächen winken

jedem etwas dass vorbeikommt handküsse schenken

jedem sein eigenes gedicht ausdenken

etwas will frei sein und etwas will sich reiben

etwas möchte gehn und etwas will für immer bleiben

Países Bajos - Haarzuilens - Castillo de Haar

 

***

 

www.kasteeldehaar.nl

 

***

 

ENGLISH:

 

The oldest historical record of a building at the location of the current castle dates to 1391. In that year, the De Haar family received the castle and the surrounding lands as a fiefdom from Hendrik van Woerden. The castle remained in the ownership of the De Haar family until 1440, when the last male heir died childless. The castle then passed to the Van Zuylen family. In 1482, the castle was burned down and the walls were destroyed, except for the parts that did not have a military function. These parts probably were incorporated into the castle when it was rebuilt during the early 16th century. The castle is mentioned in an inventory of the possessions of Steven van Zuylen from 1506, and again in a list of fiefdoms in the province Utrecht from 1536. The oldest image of the castle dates to 1554 and shows that the castle had been largely rebuilt by then. After 1641, when Johan van Zuylen van de Haar died childless, the castle seems to have gradually fallen into ruins. The castle escaped total destruction by the French during the Rampjaar 1672.

 

In 1801 the last Catholic van Zuylen in the Netherlands, the bachelor Anton-Martinus van Zuylen van Nijevelt (1708–1801), bequeathed the property to his cousin Jean-Jacques van Zuylen van Nyevelt (1752–1846) of the Catholic branch in the Southern Netherlands.

 

In 1887, Jean-Jacques' grandson, Etienne Gustave Frédéric Baron van Zuylen van Nyevelt van de Haar (1860–1934), married Baroness Hélène de Rothschild, of the Rothschild family. When Etienne inherited the ruined castle in 1890 from his grandfather, the couple set about rebuilding the castle, fully financed by Hélène's family. For the restoration of the castle, they contracted famous architect Pierre Cuypers. He would work on this project for 20 years (from 1892 to 1912). The castle has 200 rooms and 30 bathrooms, of which only a small number on the ground and first floor have been opened to be viewed by the public. Cuypers placed a statue of himself in a corner of the gallery on the first floor.

 

The castle was equipped by Cuypers with the most modern gadgets, such as electrical lighting with its own generator, and central heating by way of steam. This installation is internationally recognized as an industrial monument. The kitchen was for that period also very modern and still has a large collection of copper pots and pans and an enormous furnace approximately 6 metres long, which is heated with peat or coals. The tiles in the kitchen are decorated with the coats of arms of the families De Haar and Van Zuylen, which were for this purpose especially baked in Franeker. Cuypers emphasized the difference between the old and new walls by using different kinds of bricks. For the interior Cuypers made extensive use of cast iron.

 

Many details in the castle refer to the Rothschild family, such as the Stars of David on the balconies of the knight's hall and the coat of arms of the family right underneath on the hearth in the library. The coat of arms of the Van Zuylen family are omnipresent. Their motto is on the hearth in the knight's hall (A majoribus et virtute)

 

***

 

ESPAÑOL:

 

El Castillo de Haar (en neerlandés: Kasteel de Haar) se encuentra cerca de Haarzuilens, en la provincia de Utrecht en los Países Bajos.​ Los edificios actuales, todos construidos a partir de 1892 sobre el castillo original del siglo XIV, son obra del arquitecto holandés Pierre Cuypers, en un proyecto de restauración neogótica financiado por la familia Rothschild.

 

El más antiguo registro histórico de un edificio en la ubicación del castillo actual data de 1391. En ese año, la familia De Haar recibió el castillo y las tierras circundantes como feudo de Hendrik van Woerden. El castillo permaneció en la propiedad de la familia De Haar hasta 1440, cuando el último heredero varón murió sin hijos. Pasó entonces a manos de una rama lejana de la familia, los van Zuylen, y ya a finales del siglo XIX, Etienne Gustave Frédéric, barón de van Zuylen van Nyevelt van de Haar, casado con Hélène de Rothschild pudo restaurarlo.

This place, despite its part demolition, had to be done as it has been on the have to do list for a while. It was Friday 31st October, a bright sunny Mother Earth day and 11 years on from the No Opencast Action at Tibshelf, Chesterfield. One day before an event on The Future for Clean Coal - a follow on from the Direct Action at kings North, part of the camp for climate change. We got a train to Doncaster, then a bus to Barnby Dun, we ended up getting off early but we walked part of the canal that was once the main supply chain for Coal to Thorpe Marsh Power Station, the loading deck at the side of the canal lays derelict.

 

We arrive, this is epic in scale with a theme of Dead Cities, a film set for post-Armageddon where the ruins of Modern Life are subject to Mother Earth's Reclamation yard. What a way to pay homage to Mother Earth. The D20 had already been in action, then power fails, here we were celebrating the demise of consumerism, but with no means to consume! We walk round, fall off ropes, laugh as we synchronize the echoed shouting of Gizmo's name and our four legged explorer looked confused, we were for an afternoon the famous three and their dog, minus the picnic.

 

We returned back to our childhood, it soon was over but we was to return, this time the D20 was on full charge, we had the Pentax and names for the six Cooling Towers, Bertha, Sandra, Emma, Ruth, JG, and Big Bottom Girl. Their omnipresent good looks underneath their apparent ugliness made you fall in, we also met the security and he seemed more intrested in getting his girlfriend into his cabin than being bothered with us, but we left anyhow, we were going to return.

 

We were now just two, soon to be three as Dan the man joined us on site. We watched the sun set over Thorpe Marsh Power station, got a lift back to Sheff courtesy of the slavver Jag and to our homely pub to get rather drunk.

 

Here is some blurb on the place we have found on wickipedia

Quote:

 

Thorpe Marsh Power Station closed in 1994. Since then it has gradually been demollished. Well, everything except the cooling towers - 6 of them. The are also two biggish and several small buildings.

 

There are various plans for the site - including a nature reserve, and a landfill site (fiercely objected to by local residents). In reality, nothing will probably happen. The towers still survive because it is feared that any explosion caused would rupture the banks of the nearby canal.

 

The station has been closed since 1994 and the 45 acres (18 ha) site was accquired by Able UK in 1995.[2] Much of the station has been demolished and now only its six cooling towers (each 340 ft (100 m) high and 260 ft (79 m) in diameter at the base), two ash slurry hoppers, railway sidings and the station's large adjacent electricity switching station still remain. The switching station was nearly flooded during the 2007 Yorkshire flood, which would have knocked the grid out according to news reports. The power station featured in the final episode of the 1999 ITV drama, The Last Train.

 

The rest of the images here

 

It goes without saying there is a lot of nasty shit on here along with deep holes and uneven land, we nearly come a cropper a couple of times, despite the ease of access as said there is security (they're chilled mind you) and what you expect with such a place so do not go along on your own, a mate and fully charged phone the 84 bus from B2 Doncaster Bus Station, ask them for the power station, once of the bus you will see them and simple walk towards them..

Disparada en playa de Velilla.

 

Suenan Beyond Creation:

"Omnipresent Perception"

 

Abrazos.

Happy Furry Friday!

 

[#30 on Explore! Thank you my friends.]

I VAN

I enjoy seeing groups of people doing different forms of martial arts. The skyline in the background serves as a cool backdrop. Don't you think so?

Acaba Febrero en su ciclo más largo, el bisiesto de cada cuatro años.

La tarde salpicada de nubes, contrasta con luces y sombras la campiña omnipresente de olivar, ahora coloreada de verde cereal y amarillo jaramago.

As the omnipresent sign of the Christian faith,the symbol of Christ Passion and his victory over death,the cross was ubiquitous in the Byzantine world.Beginning with Constantine's 1's vision of the cross on the eve of battle with his rival Maxentios in 312 AD,the cross was associated with the emperor;it became an imperial insignia on the battlefield and a fixture in court ceremonies.The cross played an important role in religious and civic life.Deacons carried the cross into the church as part of the liturgy,and it was celebrated with three feast days.Crosses were processed through city streets during times of natural disaster and enemy attack and in commemoration of these events.They decorated churches, office buildings,municipal structures, homes,and all manner of domestic and personal goods.

In spite of the omnipresent power of the elements that engulf the little tree, it clings tenaciously to life on the cliffside in its coat of frost.

is the basis and credo of our modern industrial society, which thus produces millions and millions of tons of CO2 in a fraction of a second, by burning raw materials that have slowly built up over millions of years.

 

Pitch Drop, 2016, Julian Charrière

Pitch Drop (2016) refers to the experiment of the same name.

 

The experiment, begun in 1930 in a laboratory in New Zealand, that has been studying the dripping behavior of hard and rock-like pitch for some 90 years.

 

Charrière's work takes up this lengthy process: The time-based sculpture drips once every ten years, following a rhythm of centuries beyond the human lifespan.

 

Until the upper container would be empty,

more than 10,000 years would pass.

 

This enormous time span corresponds to the duration of the Holocene so far,

the period in the history of the Earth that marks the evolution of humankind

development of humankind from the Neolithic period to the

present.

 

I have seen the work of art years ago in Düsseldorf and could already notice minimal changes, but it has not yet come to the formation of drops.

 

It is also a good experiment to show that nuclear waste repositories, no matter in what hard sediment, will be in flux over the millennia.

 

Charrière clarifies also with this

which unimaginably long periods of time the earth's history is in comparison with human scales.

 

Why the artist is concerned ...

 

The title of his exhibition is "Controlled Burn"

 

The extraction of tar or pitch is probably very old. While tar is clearly a product of dry distillation from woods or coals, pitch, on the other hand, can be described as a by-product of tar production. Tar has an oily consistency and remains semi-liquid or viscous, while pitch retains its viscous property only at high heat and hardens when cooled.

 

The basic material of coal is mainly of plant origin.

 

Typical coal formation takes its beginning in extensive swamp forests of lowlands. The trees bind carbon dioxide, CO2 from the air by means of photosynthesis and convert it into the carbohydrate cellulose and other organic compounds.

 

After individual trees die, they sink into the swamp and are thus removed from the normal aerobic decomposition process - peat is initially formed.

 

Coal is formed from the peat when subsidence occurs over geological periods of time, i.e. many tens of millions of years, and overburden.

 

In this process, with increasing depth of subsidence, both the ambient pressure and the ambient temperature rise to well above 1000°. This causes the so-called incarburization of the peaty sediments.

 

Initially, lignite is formed. As the depth of injection increases, the coalification process intensifies. Lignite becomes hard coal and finally anthracite. For this reason, the quality of coal is often better the deeper it lies in the earth and the older it is.

 

Similar processes occur in the formation of oil and gas. The artist wants to make clear to us the time span of our waste and the corresponding climate and earth damage in proportion to the formation time of the fossil energy sources ...

 

With full speed into the abyss ... ;-) ...

 

Deutsch

 

Große Beschleunigung und immerwährende Geschwindigkeit

ist die Grundlage und Credo unserer modernen Industriegesellschaft, die somit in Sekundenbruchteilen abermillionen an Tonnen an CO2 produziert, durch die Verbrennung von Rohstoffen, die sich über millionen von Jahren langsam aufgebaut haben.

 

Pitch Drop, 2016,Julian Charrière

 

Pitch Drop (2016) nimmt Bezug auf das gleichnamige Ex-

periment, 1930 in Neuseeland im Labor begonnen, das seit rund 90 Jahren das Tropfverhalten von hartem und felsgleichen Pech untersucht.

 

Diesen langwierigen Prozess nimmt Charrières Werk auf: Die zeitbasierte Skulptur tropft einmal alle zehn Jahre und folgt somit einem Rhythmus von Jahrhunderten, der über die menschliche Lebensspanne hinausgeht.

 

Bis der obere Behälter leer wäre,

würden über 10’000 Jahre vergehen.

 

Diese enorme Zeitspanne entspricht der bisherigen Dauer des Holozäns,

dem Zeitabschnitt der Erdgeschichte, der die Entwicklung

der Menschheit von der Jungsteinzeit bis in die Gegen-

wart umfasst.

 

Warum es dem Küntler geht ...

 

Ich habe das Kunstwerk vor Jahren in Düsseldorf schon gesehen und konnte minimale Veränderungen schon feststellen aber zur Tropfenbildung ist es noch nicht gekommen.

 

Charrière verdeutlicht auch mit diesem

Werk, welche unvorstellbar langen Zeiträume die Erdge-

schichte im Vergleich zu menschlichen Massstäben

kennzeichnen.

 

Sein Ausstellungstitel - Controlled Burn ...

 

Die Gewinnung von Teer bzw. Pech ist vermutlich sehr alt. Während Teer eindeutig ein Produkt trockener Destillation aus Hölzern oder Kohlen ist, kann man Pech dagegen als ein Folgeprodukt der Teerherstellung bezeichnen. Teer besitzt eine ölige Konsistenz und bleibt halbflüssig bzw. zäh, Pech dagegen behält seine zähflüssige Eigenschaft nur bei großer Hitze und härtet bei Erkalten aus.

 

Das Ausgangsmaterial von Kohle ist hauptsächlich pflanzlichen Ursprungs.

 

Typische Kohlebildung nimmt ihren Anfang in ausgedehnten Sumpfwäldern von Tiefebenen. Die Bäume binden mittels Photosynthese Kohlendioxid, CO2 aus der Luft und wandeln es in das Kohlenhydrat Zellulose und andere organische Verbindungen um.

 

Nach dem Absterben einzelner Bäume versinken diese im Sumpf und werden so dem normalen aeroben Zersetzungsprozess entzogen – es entsteht zunächst Torf.

 

Aus dem Torf entsteht Kohle, wenn es zu Absenkung über geologische Zeiträume hinweg, also viele dutzend Millionen Jahre kommt und zu Überdeckungen.

 

Dabei steigen mit zunehmender Versenkungstiefe sowohl der Umgebungsdruck als auch die Umgebungstemperatur bis weit über 1000°. Dies verursacht die sogenannte Inkohlung der torfigen Sedimente.

 

Dabei entsteht zunächst Braunkohle. Mit zunehmender Versenkung intensiviert sich die Inkohlung. Aus Braunkohle wird Steinkohle und schließlich Anthrazit. Deshalb ist die Qualität von Kohle oft umso besser, je tiefer sie in der Erde liegt und je älter sie ist.

 

Ähnliche Prozesse laufen bei der Entstehung von Öl und Gas ab. Der Künstler möchte uns die Zeitspanne unserer Verschwendung und der entsprechenden Klima- und Erdschädigung in der Proportion zur Entstehungszeit der fossilen Energieträger verdeutlichen ...

 

Mit Vollgas in den Abrund ... ;-) ...

 

_V0A7093_98_pt3

DC can't plausibly claim to be the "best" for any particular cuisine, with the possible exception of Ethiopian. We have an astonishing number of outstanding Ethiopian restaurants. Shashamane is one of several along 9th Street NW, at U Street. It doesn't get a lot of attention, no online reviews except from the omnipresent Tyler Cowen -- but it has fantastic food.

 

One quibble, which applies to virtually all Ethiopian restaurants, is that they often don't bring the food the way you order it. My son Chris was emphatic in saying that we wanted the kitfo (ground beef) raw and the waitress said "of course." When she left, Chris said, "They're going to cook that kitfo, I can just tell." And they did. But it was still delicious - blazing hot with extra red pepper powder if desired.

 

Chris is sort of an old hand at trying to trick Ethiopian servers into bringing you the "real stuff" -- at another Ethiopian restaurant they didn't want to bring him the raw lamb and lamb liver dish, until he lied and told them he'd had it before. Even then, they still brought it out and made him look at it before they would serve it to him.

And of course the omnipresent red bus...

La obra poética, en la que el sentimiento constante y predominante es la saudade, nos ofrece una visión desolada del mundo y de la vida. También es reseñable la profundización en el yo que realiza la poetisa y que la lleva al descubrimiento de una saudade ontológica, un sentimiento misterioso e inefable de soledad sin relación con algo concreto, que está vinculado a la radical orfandad del ser humano. Esta tara existencial que Rosalía analiza desde su propia vivencia, se percibe como el hallazgo final de un proceso en el que la desgracia va marcando su vida por medio del sufrimiento y del dolor, siendo éste último inevitable, como nos lo revela en el poema Unha vez tiven un cravo. Ante esta situación, la única solución es la huida o pérdida absoluta de la conciencia.

 

Toda la visión desolada de la vida se intensifica con la angustia existencial que se deriva de la omnipresencia de un fantasma que atenaza su vida y que se manifiesta de forma especial en el símbolo oscuro, vago y polisémico de la negra sombra.

Jan Vermeer (Johannes van der Meer - Delft, October 31, 1632 - Delft, December 15, 1675) - Gentleman and Lady with Wine - (1658-60) oil on canvas 67.7 x 79.6 cm - Gemäldegalerie, Berlin

 

In quest'opera la vista ravvicinata viene abbandonata per la prima volta. Vermeer fa indietreggiare gli spettatori, separandoli per mezzo della sedia non occupata al tavolo. La distanza così guadagnata allarga l'angolo di visuale. L'interno non è più percepito come parte di un estratto di figure, ma piuttosto le figure sono ora parte di questo estratto dall'interno. Innovazioni di questo tipo indicano l'influenza dei primi capolavori di Pieter de Hooch, pittore collega di Vermeer di Delft che aveva tre anni in più. Gli interni di De Hooch del 1658 circa sono principalmente concepiti e progettati a partire dall'architettura degli interni. Ciò che Vermeer riuscì però a realizzare con un interno del tipo dipinto da de Hooch è dimostrato particolarmente da questo dipinto.

nella differenziazione delle caratteristiche superficiali ma senza ridursi a questo scopo puramente oggettivo. Alla luce onnipresente, gli oggetti assumono l'aspetto di possedere una qualità superiore

 

In this work the close-up view is abandoned for the first time. Vermeer pulls the spectators back, separating them by means of the unoccupied chair at the table. The distance thus gained widens the angle of view. The interior is no longer perceived as part of an extract of figures, but rather the figures are now part of this extract from the interior. Innovations of this kind indicate the influence of the early masterpieces of Pieter de Hooch, Vermeer's fellow painter from Delft who was three years older. De Hooch's interiors from about 1658 are primarily conceived and designed from the architecture of the interior. What Vermeer was able to accomplish, however, with an interior of the type painted by de Hooch is demonstrated particularly by this painting.

in the differentiation of surface features but without reducing himself to this purely objective purpose. In the omnipresent light, objects take on the appearance of possessing a superior quality

In this stitched together photo from two consecutive frames, to the left spawning herring are leaping out of the frothing water to escape the huge gulping mouths of bubble feeding whales. The omnipresent gulls are looking for scraps, including one bold one in the middle of the action to the right. Sitka Sound, Alaska.

08/10/2024 www.allenfotowild.com

j'ai pris cette photo en décembre 2004, depuis la pointe sud de

manhattan.

il faisait un soleil radieux quand tout à coup tout s'est obscurci

avec le nuage de tempête le plus noir que j'aie jamais vu.

il a commencé à pleuvoir à grosses gouttes. j'ai réussi à prendre

cette photo juste avant de tout remballer.

quelque part sur la droite, hors champ, miss liberty...

cette photo a été exposée à plusieurs reprises à paris sous le titre

"can you hear them, the helicopters", une phrase empruntée à pj

harvey parce qu'à manhattan, s'il y a un son aussi inhabituel

qu'omniprésent, c'est bien celui des hélicoptères.

elle a également fait la jacquette d'une compilation d'artistes autoproduits.

 

j'espère rentrer de cette semaine à new york avec une photo qui soit

aussi essentielle dans mon portfolio...! à bientôt !

 

--

i took this picture in december 2004 from the lower part of manhattan

(battery park)

the sun was shining and intense when suddenly came the darkest cloud

i had ever seen.

 

i hope to make a new amazing capture like this when i'm in new york

this week.

 

this picture has been part of exhibitions several times in paris and

was used for a cd booklet

Hard to believe that these giants get upwards of a third of their water requirements from the omnipresent coastal fog.

 

The industrial revolution arrived in California in the mid-19th century driving intense demand for lumber. The massive coast redwoods seemed a boon for commercial loggers, but their efforts quickly decimated the old growth forests. Today, about 6% of the original coast redwood habitat is old-growth forest, and much of what remains was reforested with other species of trees that made it hard for the remaining redwoods to survive.

 

By the early twentieth century, conservationists had lobbied to protect these lands and trees, and a complex system of state and nationally protected lands emerged. In 1994, the California state and National Park services agreed to co-manage the lands as one unit. There has been significant progress in restoring the Mill Creek Watershed to a more natural state, removing old logging roads and clearing some of the Douglas-fir planted by the logging companies, to allow for the redwoods to thrive and flourish again.

 

Though not quite as staffed and managed as other National Parks, Redwood National and State Parks is a magnificent place for hikers, nature lovers, and photographers. Take the opportunity to visit Northern California and see for yourself. You'll be glad that you did!

 

Select Fine Art prints of this and other images can be purchased at bit.ly/ProPeak

 

Las sensaciones se confunden cuando uno llega hasta los dos mil metros largos de altitud del primero de los lagos del Circ de Pessons.

Se juntan en el cerebro, casi amontonándose, el cansancio de la primera parte de la ascensión, la potente luz de mediodía del sol de Julio, los variados y llamativos tonos de verde, el azul intenso del cielo sin nubes, el brillo de espejo de la quieta lámina de agua reflejándolo todo...

Un conjunto de sensaciones, todas ellas preñadas de una belleza casi hiriente, supongo que junto a un incipiente, casi imperceptible y ligero "mal de altura", acaban conformando

un cuadro clínico-estético que intuyo muy semejante al síndrome de Stendhal, pero aplicado en este caso a la Naturaleza, no a las obras de arte humanas.

Y es que Naturaleza acaba siendo siempre de quien los humanos "copiamos". No importa si son estructuras arquitectónicas, pinturas sublimes, esculturas majestuosas o páginas y páginas de la más profunda inspiración negro sobre blanco...

Ella es omnipresente, omnipotente, omnisiciente...

Toda nuestra inspiración se basa en ella.

 

Música recomendada: "The Music of Nature". Mother Earth.

El monte Ararat (en armenio, Արարատ; en turco, Ağrı Dağı) es el pico más alto de Turquía, con 5165 msnm, localizado en la parte oriental del país, muy cerca de la frontera con Irán y Armenia. Se trata de un volcán inactivo cuya cima se encuentra cubierta de nieves perpetuas.

 

A pesar del consenso académico de que las "montañas de Ararat" del Libro del Génesis no se refieren específicamente a este monte, el Monte Ararat ha sido sin embargo ampliamente aceptado en el cristianismo, en el judaísmo y en el islam como el lugar de descanso del Arca de Noé.

 

Está localizado en el extremo este de Turquía, a 16 km al oeste de la frontera de Irán y a 32 km al sur de la frontera con Armenia. Esta montaña se considera una de las más singulares de la Tierra por su amplia base y la predominancia de su silueta en el paisaje.

 

Un cono más pequeño (3.896 msnm), el monte Sis, se eleva al sudeste del pico principal. Una meseta de lava se extiende entre los dos pináculos.

 

Actividad volcánica

 

Técnicamente, el Ararat es un estratovolcán, formado a partir de flujos de lava y eyecciones de materiales piroclásticos.

 

La última actividad volcánica registrada en la montaña fue un terremoto importante en julio de 1840 centrado alrededor del Desfiladero de Ahora, una larga sima de dirección noreste que cae unos 1.825 m desde la cumbre de la montaña.

 

La montaña pasó de Armenia a Turquía tras un pacto fronterizo con la URSS (que había ocupado Armenia). En su día, los turcos protestaron ante la URSS por el hecho de que la República Socialista Armenia incluyera el Ararat en su escudo de armas, siendo parte del territorio turco. Según se dice, desde el Kremlin respondieron si acaso la luna y la estrella que aparecen en la bandera turca también eran parte de su territorio.

 

En la actual Armenia el Ararat es un símbolo omnipresente. Sigue apareciendo en su escudo de armas y no hay casa que no tenga una foto, cuadro o grabado con la silueta del monte. La pérdida de su monte sagrado es aún hoy motivo de nostalgia y melancolía para los armenios.

 

Fuentes: Wikipedia_ Diario del viajero.

 

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El Pedraforca es omnipresente en el bosque de Palomera. Como si de un faro se tratara, nos ayuda a no salirnos del camino.

 

---

Saldes, Barcelona.

www.agglo-plainecentrale94.fr/missions-et-actions/product...

Une démarche de développement durable

Le centre de production horticole, c'est 13 300 m2 de serres qui figurent sans doute parmi les plus modernes et performantes du pays. "Nous n'avons pas voulu nous contenter de remplacer les vieilles serres de Créteil et Limeil-Brévannes, explique Thierry

Deman, responsable de la production florale et arboricole de Plaine centrale. Notre objectif, c'était de créer un site de production qui garantisse un haut rendement, respecte l'environnement et offre au personnel de bonnes conditions de travail. C'est

pourquoi nous nous sommes inscrits dans une démarche HQE (haute qualité environnementale) de développement durable."

C'est ainsi que les constructions ont été intégrées dans leur environnement, que les serres ont été travaillées et disposées pour limiter au maximum l'impact visuel, que les arbres et les haies existants ont été préservés et que les matériaux choisis (bois,

verre, aluminium, acier inoxydable, linoléum, peintures sans solvant) l'ont été pour leurs faibles nuisances environnementales.

À l'intérieur, la plupart des réseaux ont été enterrés et l'éclairage a été réalisé avec des luminaires basse luminancepour améliorer le confort visuel.

Les équipements bruyants ont été mis dans des lieux isolés pour limiter les nuisances sonores, des siphons ont été placés régulièrement sur les dallages pour faciliter le nettoyage du sol, des ouvrants de pignons et de toiture ont été installés pour permettre

le brassage et le renouvellement de l'air.

Des économies d'eau et d'énergie

Mais le respect de la démarche HQE est surtout sensible dans la gestion économique et écologique de l'énergie et de l'eau.

De nombreuses dispositions ont ainsi été prises pour réaliser des économies de chauffage et améliorer le confort de travail du personnel (énergie humaine) : orientation des serres dans l'axe nord-sud pour un ensoleillement maximum, utilisation d'un verre spécial pour une filtration positive des rayons solaires (rétention

des UVA), régulation informatisée du climat et installation d'une chaudière à grand volume d'eau, mise en place de chaînes de production pour diminuer les déplacements, les efforts et contraintes physiques, concentration des aires de culture

autour de la galerie de travail.

Par ailleurs, tout a été conçu pour limiter les prélèvements d'eau et supprimer les rejets. C'est ainsi qu'un bassin de récupération des eaux de toiture a été réalisé et qu'un système d'arrosage, fondé sur le drainage et le recyclage des eaux de sol

a été mis en œuvre (voir encadré).

Ce sont bien, ainsi, des serres du XXIe siècle qui ont ouvert à Mandres-les-Roses. Un univers de fleurs et de plantes vertes certes, mais aussi de tapis de convoyage, de ponts roulants et de chariots mécaniques, car l'automatisation est omniprésente et a

permis à chaque étape de la production (rempotage, fertilisation ...) et de la manutention (transport du terreau, des plaques de culture ...) d'éliminer la plupart des tâches pénibles. Quant aux ordinateurs dont la présence peut également surprendre, ils

gèrent, ni plus ni moins que le chauffage, l'arrosage et le climat.

Un système d'arrosage innovant

En matière de développement durable et de protection de l'environnement, les serres communautaires se situent à la pointe de la technologie. Alors que les dégâts causés aux nappes phréatiques par les engrais et traitements divers sont depuis longtemps avérés et que l'eau devient un bien de plus en plus précieux, les serres communautaires ne polluent pas et permettent de réaliser des économies. Elles le doivent à l'installation d'un système d'arrosage qui met en œuvre le recyclage des eaux d'arrosage et la récupération des eaux de pluie (ou eaux de toiture). Comme le montre le schéma ci-dessous, le recyclage des eaux d'arrosage s'effectue par filtration à travers une toile perméable et une couche de roche volcanique au pouvoir tampon, disposées sous les plantes. Les eaux de pluie, elles, sont récupérées dans un bassin de 500 m3. Après mélange et fertilisation dans une station de pompage, eaux de pluie et d'arrosage sont dirigées sur les rampes d'arrosage.

Tothom reconeix la silueta de Rocacorba amb el santuari omnipresent damunt la roca.

 

El Santuari de Mare de Déu de Rocacorba, o Castell de Rocacorba, està situat dalt del massís de Rocacorba, a Canet d'Adri (Gironès) CAT., a uns 929 metres d'altitud, just al costat del Puigsou, (992 m) actualment ocupat per repetidors de televisió que s'albiren des de moltes comarques del voltant.

 

És una obra declarada bé cultural d'interès nacional.

 

En aquest racó de món és on s'hi erigeix solemne, just al cim d'una roca amb forma de proa de vaixell, i on en dies clars permet veure des del Cap de Creus, el Montgrí, les Illes Medes, les Gavarres, el Montseny o el Puigmal.

-------------------------------------------

RocaCorba.

 

Everyone recognizes the silhouette of Rocacorba with the ubiquitous sanctuary on the rock.

 

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Rocacorba, or Castle of Rocacorba, is located on top of the Rocacorba massif, in Canet d'Adri (Gironès) CAT., At an altitude of about 929 meters, right next to the Puigsou, (992 m ) currently occupied by television repeaters that can be seen from many surrounding counties.

 

It is a work declared a cultural asset of national interest.

 

In this corner of the world is where it stands solemnly, right on top of a rock in the shape of a ship's bow, and where on clear days it allows you to see from Cap de Creus, the Montgrí, the Medes Islands, the Gavarres, the Montseny or the Puigmal.

This is the Shafer Trail in the Canyonlands National Park, Moab, UT. La Sal Mountains in the background with icecaps! They are omnipresent in all the vistas around Moab.

 

It is a 18.2 mile point-to-point trail and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for off road driving and is accessible year-round. As windy as it looks but not difficult even for newbie drivers.

 

I was surprised to see not many people even know about this National Park let alone the epic vista of the Shafer Trail. Mostly, the Park is know for the Mesa Arch but is mostly overshadowed by the Arches National Park just 40min apart.

 

Nonetheless, the Shafer Trail joins the White Rim road and also has an outlet to Potash Road that joins Moab. At places a 4X4 seem like a good idea but you will see regular sedans cruising along too. Also the trail takes you to other side of the Horseshoe point and give a closer look to the green river overlook. Not to mention you will also get to see the Muscle Man arch on the trail as well.

 

This is a single shot but will post more panorama once I stitch them! The new Lightroom 6 is going to be a big help saving a lot of back and forth trips of photoshop!

 

I was very happy that I visited the Canyonlands and will recommend it equally if not more than the Arches.

Thank you for favorites and comments, I highly appreciate it.

A black ice bergy bit in stormy seas lies near the shore on Diamond Beach, adjacent to Jökulsárlón lagoon, Iceland. If you look closely at the variety of textures in the berg it seems to have come from an ice cave. The black colour comes from embedded lava dust. Many other small bergs float in the background with the omnipresent seabirds.

17/11/2020 www.allenfotowild.com

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This morning I saw a few Idd Pictures in our newspapers, and I think this picture I took in sheer humility speaks not of Idd this year but Idds to come in future years for this little guy..nurtured on love , good upbringing in his eyes you see the greater glory of man in the splendor of his omnipresent Faith Islam.

Yes unscarred Islam, a Islam that was the Word of God and no that of a Rogue Mullah.

Islam as seen through the Lives of the Holy Prophet, Islam as seen on the sands of Karbala , martyred but palpitatingly alive 1400 years.

Islam is so much and more.Idd is not just hugging , Idd is a symbol of eternal Peace of Humanity.

As a photographer poet Idd is a message I send through my Photo Blog.Idd Namaz is the callisthenics of our spirtuality , I am afraid I could have shown it with a single picture..but with my shortcomings I posted 127 all at Flickr a few at Bloggerspot and Word Press.

The Press photographer who shouted Fuck Off to me was old enough to be the age of my son, this was his upringing his hate that came into play and yes Indians hate Indians pers se.

One day perhaps he like his other Press photographer brothers will read the writing on the wall..

You can fool the readers with crappy pictures some times but not all times.

Photography is not just pictures , photography is wordless poetry that one reads when one sees a picture..

This will remain etched on my heart and soul, the defiance and the confusion in the childs eyes on the changes in Islam bought by a few disgruntled morbid apostates.

And the hands holding him as the preciousness of Islam -The Muslim Child.

Above his head is a hand that was making him turn towards camera but for me it is a hand of the Unseen Lord ever protecting his loved ones..

Idd Mubarak to all of you..

  

The Tetons explode across the horizon. The Rockies define every space they are apart of. But The Sierra Nevada? The Sierra Nevada are omnipresent. The Sierra Nevada allow you to get lost as you ascend. They are massive and all encompassing, even when you’re high in their elevation, there is still more to see beyond where you’ve already scrambled to be. Look up and there are higher peaks to see. Look down and valleys stretch, like arms, toward streams and lakes, and further rock walls. From Yosemite, to King’s Canyon, to Sequoia, the Sierra Nevada are grand. Each park and landmark and place in this mountain chain reminds me of an extravagant room in a massive and extraordinary castle. All together? The Sierra Nevada sparkles. This shot was taken at Moro Rock, at sunset, as the crowds left, and quiet descended upon the mountains. Their glow as the sun and heat left them, and the quiet and coolness of the night crept in, will stay with me forever.

At first I thought this was one of the omnipresent alder leaf beetles (Plagiosterna aenea), but then I saw that the shape wasn't right. Now, I am almost completely convinced this instead is a brassy willow beetle (Phratora vitellinae) munching away happily on a leaf.

 

Part 1 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52812672600/

The driver of EWS Transrail-branded 56070, with his cab window open, is undoubtedly enjoying a fabulous summer's day at Hunt Cliff, between Skinningrove and Saltburn, but the omnipresent clouds bubbling up over the sea and coastline made for a nail-biting wait, a fully sunlit shot not being absolutely assured. However, all worked out well in the end on 2nd August 2002, as the Class 56 'Grid' groaned up the grade from Crag Hall and on towards Redcar with its eight loaded potash/polyhalite hopper wagons, forming the 6F66 Boulby to Tees Dock diagram.

 

© 2022 Gordon Edgar - All rights reserved. Please do not use my images without my explicit permission

À une heure trente de Québec sur la rive sud et nous sommes déjà ailleurs. Rivière ouelle, l'odeur marine est omniprésente et m'ivresse, la brise caresse mon visage, même les canards marins ( eider à duvet ) chantent devant ce spectacle d'une grande pureté.

True to being the only and original "I made you a cookie but I eated it cat", Beibei attempts to eat Baobao's book but this time is caught in the act. Notti.

 

Remember to visit. :-)

Destined to probably be my only photo of this species, it rotted during last years wet weather. I believe it's a hybrid of reichenbachii with something...I think it was classified as x rotteri. Hee, now that I think of that...the rotting is appropriate (not a planned pun here) :)

As seems inevitable anymore, you'll note the presence of LOTS of small ants and some sort of caterpillar. Insects appear to be omnipresent in flowers.

Omnipresent bottle of hand sanitizer...

 

Focus stacked 8 source images, Mitakon 35mm f/0.95 manual lens, HeliconFocus software

Le quartier du Petit Champlain repose au pied du Cap Diamant à Québec. Son nom vient de la rue du Petit-Champlain, une rue étroite dont les maisons à l'ouest longent la falaise.

S'ajoutent les rues Sous-le-Fort, du Cul-de-Sac, du Marché-Champlain et une partie de la rue Notre-Dame et du boulevard Champlain.

Des artisans et des commerçants se sont regroupés en coopérative en 1985 et y tiennent des boutiques. Les décorations soulignant fêtes populaires ou grands rassemblements sont omniprésentes mais particulièrement féériques durant la période de Noël.

I do not recall a location where I have heard so many Swainson's Thrushes.... They were omnipresent in Manning Park, we could hear them any time during the day and practically on all the trails.... It was a little more challenging to see them... especially in the open. Early morning at Sunrise was the time of day when our efforts were best rewarded. In fact, this one looks almost as sleepy as the photographer was :)

Another frame of this spot which is one of the prettiest rail photo locations in this smallest of states.

 

This spot is such a great location for photo run bys and a highlight of any trip along the line so here's another angle for the album of my day out with the Mass Bay RRE's Narragansett Bay Special which made a round trip over the entire thirteen mile length of the Newport Secondary.

 

The train consisted of two GE centercabs, Newport and Narragansett Bay Railroad numbers 14 and 66 and the five car regular dinner train consist.

 

The latter is freshly repainted into the very attractive paint scheme featuring colors that pay homage to the state of Rhode Island and the omnipresent sea. It wears a newly applied logo for the Grand Bellevue Dinner Train for which it is the regular power. A GE 65-tonner, it was built in 1943 and was most recently numbered USN 65-00566 where it served with a sister unit at the Portsmouth Navy Yard until being replaced with a trackmobile several years ago. In 2024 she and sister unit USN 65-00308, two years her junior, were purchased by Eric Moffett and turcked to Rhode Island with the the 65-00308 being assigned to the Seaview Railroad freight operations at Quonset Business Park.

 

She is coupled to diner lounge BC-30 which a Budd RDC-3 built in 1956 for the Pacific Great East Railway. The self propelled car was one of seven the railroad bought which passed to BC Rail and remained in daily scheduled passenger service until discontinued by the province of British Columbia in 2002. It and sister BC-15 spent a couple years on the short lived Wilton Scenic Railroad in New Hampshire before coming to the island in 2007. The car is in the process of being remodeled into a dining car and bar with the headlights and horn operational and used as a shoving platform from the cab.

 

The train is performing a photo run by in the backyards of some pretty waterfront homes just south of the Bristol Ferry Road crossing at about MP 10.8, which would have been MP 19.2 as measured from Myricks and the junction with the New Bedford mainline back in PC and early CR days.

 

Rising beyond is the Mount Hope Bridge which opened in 1929 spanning Mount Hope Bay at one of the narrowest gaps in all of Narragansett Bay. The two-lane suspension bridge bridge connects the towns of Portsmouth and Bristol and is part of Route 114. Its towers are 285 feet tall, the length of the main span is 1,200 feet, and it provides 135 feet of clearance over high water with a total length of 6,130 feet.

 

This village is named Bristol Ferry because from 1640 in the early colonial days until the opening of the bridge a ferry was operated here. In the 19th century the ferry landing had both rail and trolley connections, and it remained in continuous service almost three centuries until finally becoming obsolete when this span opened to traffic. To learn more here's a neat blog with stories and photos and a history of the ferry: portsmouthhistorynotes.com/tag/bristol-ferry-area/

 

Portsmouth, Rhode Island

Saturday May 17, 2025

Le quartier du Petit Champlain repose au pied du Cap Diamant à Québec. Son nom vient de la rue du Petit-Champlain, une rue étroite dont les maisons à l'ouest longent la falaise.

S'ajoutent les rues Sous-le-Fort, du Cul-de-Sac, du Marché-Champlain et une partie de la rue Notre-Dame et du boulevard Champlain.

Des artisans et des commerçants se sont regroupés en coopérative en 1985 et y tiennent des boutiques. Les décorations soulignant fêtes populaires ou grands rassemblements sont omniprésentes mais particulièrement féériques durant la période de Noël.