Brick & Stone Architecture
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Our original plan was to keep heading north and so we thought we would never get to see the elusive Three Sisters again.
As fate would have it, we had to go back to Calgary a week later for some needed supplies. On our way back to Banff, we passed through Canmore and naturally we felt obligated to pay the Sisters yet another visit, our 3rd by then.
Not an easy shot for it was a bright and hazy day, choppy water due to the wind, and to make matters worse, I was shooting into the sun.
I couldn't remember if I had stacked the CPL with a 3-stop and 10-stop ND filter, a 6-stop and a 10-stop, or just a 10-stop alone. (It was bright!) My rationale was to bring out more dark details, smooth out the sky and the water somewhat.
I like the result, and I hope you would, too! 😊
Per www.travelalberta.com - "In 1883, Albert Rogers named these mountains the Three Nuns after a storm left a heavy veil of snow on the northern face of all three peaks. They were renamed the Three Sisters in 1886 by George Dawson and they are referred to individually as Big Sister, Middle Sister and Little Sister. Heavily associated with the town of Canmore in the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies known as Kananaskis Country, the Three Sisters may be the most recognized peaks in the Bow River Valley section of the TransCanada Highway (Hwy 1)."
OK, but which one is Big, and which one is Little? 🤔
It's Friday, wishing you all a very nice weekend!
Thank you for your visit, dear Flickr friends!
The geysers, buffalo, wolves and weather seem to get most of the glory. I'm kind of partial to the Yellowstone River area, with its waterfalls and colorful canyon.
Unfortunately, so are tour operators, which means places like Artist Point are often teeming with people. On this day however, the clouds and threat of late Spring storms kept the masses at bay, so I was able to take a little more time looking around and setting up my shots.
Interestingly enough, the rationale behind the name Artist Point turned out to be false. F. Jay Haynes, the official photographer and concessionaire at Yellowstone National Park named the point in 1883, believing that it was the spot from which Thomas Moran made sketches to paint his grand painting (now hanging in the Smithsonian American Art Museum) in 1872. However, on a return trip to Yellowstone, Moran pointed out that he'd actually done his work from the North Rim of the Canyon. The name stuck, nonetheless.
Today I am a bit late with my post and the reason for this is very much yours here. Well, part of the rationale.
I spent last night here at the Quitzdorf reservoir. And of course I took the opportunity to get up early and watch the sunrise.
Those of you who have known me for a while will notice that I've been here before (twice in fact) and the pictures are always taken from the same location. This is simply because I haven't found another spot where you can see the sun and at the same time there are no buildings on the other side of the lake in view. The place here is (unfortunately) not as deserted as it looks in the photos.
Heute bin ich etwas spät dran mit meinem post und die Begründung dafür sehr Ihr hier. Naja, einen Teil der Begründung.
Ich habe letzte Nacht hier, am Stausee von Quitzdorf verbracht. Und natürlich habe ich die Gelegenheit genutzt früh aufzustehen und mir den Sonnenaufgang anzusehen.
Die von Euch, welche mich schon eine Weile kennen werden merken, dass ich hier schon einmal war (sogar zweimal) und das die Bilder immer von der selben Stelle aufgenommen wurden. Das liegt einfach daran, dass ich noch keine andere Stelle gefunden habe bei der man die Sonne sieht und gleichzeitig keine Gebäude am anderen Seeufer im Blick sind. So verlassen, wie das auf dem Fotos wirkt, ist der Ort hier nämlich (leider) nicht.
more of this on my website at: www.shoot-to-catch.de
Today, May 28, 2018, is Memorial Day in the U.S. I wish I could come up with a fitting and respectful rationale for posting this photo of Ms. Snowy today, aside from the fact that she is sitting in our local cemetery, but I can't. I can and do offer my thanks to those of you who have served in any branch of the armed services.
Please view Large.
Stockholm's public library. The library has been described as the physical manifestation of a transitionary period in both the rationale of its designer and the shifting values of European architecture; the ultimate result a deceptively complex synthesis of styles presented in a visually straightforward package: the fading influence of Neoclassicism juxtaposed against the emergence of Rationalism. Brilliant!
In the early 1850s, one Nicholas Pike, director of the Brooklyn Institute in New York, decided to import this bird from England. The first few attempts to establish the bird weren't successful but eventually the house sparrow took hold when the birds were released into Greenwood Cemetery, Central Park and a few other places. The rationale apparently was the control of some bug called a canker worm. The sparrow supposedly would pig out on the critters and reduce the canker worm population. Soon, cities and towns throughout the country were importing house sparrows to "aid people against encroachment of insects."
But others soon noticed that house sparrows don't have much of an appetite for bugs. On top of that, they were driving out native songbirds.The infatuation with the house sparrow turned to hatred, so much so that some states began paying bounties for dead sparrows. However it was too late; house sparrows had spread throughout the continent.
They're now found as far north as Canada's Northwest Territories and as far south as Cape Horn, the remote tip of South America. That extreme range indicates how adaptable house sparrows are. They can be found anywhere there are people, in big cities and small towns, in suburbs and around farms. The only place they're not found: deep, deep woods. In more extreme locales, they require human presence to survive.
I found this male in my backyard in Polk County, Florida.
This photo was taken quite awhile after sunset. Consequently it was quite noisy and what you might call "soft." Traditional bird photography emphasize sharpness and clarity.
However, the composition is seldom complex or very interesting. In the case of warblers on flowering branches at least the flowers are a secondary point of interest. I think it is the lack of compositional interest that limits the general appreciation of bird photography. People who don't have a particular interest in birds are not big fans.
The same can't be said of fine art bird paintings. There is one painting by a UK painter of a Peregrine Falcon hitting a duck in the sky from a perspective above the scene. There is the duck falling(a splay of feathers), the other ducks, the falcon and the scenery below. Now that is interesting to study.
This photograph communicates a number of things. One is the simple contrast of form and color to be found among the wading species of the marsh. Another is that some species search the same shallows for different prey. They are non-competitive. Also the movement in opposite directions conveys the sense of dynamic nature and the choreography of marsh life.
Any way this is a rationale for taking the time to process a less than high resolution photo. I did narrow the aperture to get the 3 birds generally in focus.
Old houses in Aoni used to have this type of roofing.
UNESCO inscribed the "Traditional skills, techniques and knowledge for the conservation and transmission of wooden architecture in Japan" on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2020. Thatching technique (茅葺き Kayabuki) is mentioned as an important component of the heritage. I suppose this would give a political rationale for national and local governments to subsidise the cost of thatching for the inheritance of the traditional roofing technique.
This old house is located in the main village of Hakuba near the Himekawa riverside. Parked BMW Mini has a Sagami (相模) number plate, which means the owner of the car (and probably, that of the house) is not a local. It is not rare for urban dwellers to purchase and restore old farmer's houses for holiday house or residence after retirement. For some people, owning an old wooden house may be regarded as a status symbol like owning a German car.
Patterns in ice on the surface of a small flatland creek. I believe these artistic lines were created by snow faeries and elves, because I can't think of any rationale scientific explanation for the genesis of lovely patterns like this.
In 1990, Archaeological Survey of India discovered a sunken apsidal stepped well along with few sculptures inside it. This stepped well is located immediately to the north of the Shore Temple, its south edge abutting the northern wall of the Shore Temple. On the extreme south of this newly discovered shrine is placed a monolith statue of Varaha (Boar)in its zoomorphic form. This image is carved in round from a single boulder. The statue was found severely damaged, however, with efforts from ASI restorers, we now see this image in its near original glory. The other element of this stepped well is a slender cylindrical shrine constructed partly in rock and partly in stone. Beyond this cylindrical shrine, further northward, is a circular cistern or mini-well. This is cut downwards with a circular rim-like stone placed at the ground level.
ASI report mentions that this well provides potable water though situated near the ocean. Though Rabe accepts these sockets for the capstones of a well, however, he suggests that these might be constructed to hold the ‘pillar of victory’ taken by Narasimhavarman I from Vatapi (Badami) which probably was installed here.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Rabe2 tries to explain political reason behind the systematic destruction of this Varaha image. Rabe suggests that this Varaha monolith was severely and systematically butchered when the Chalukya king Vikramaditya I invaded the Pallava kingdom. The rationale behind this destruction was the submissive and prostrated attitude of the Varaha (Boar) Varaha was the dynastic crest of the Chalukyas. This specific posture of Varaha might be taken as a reference to the subjugation of the Chalukyas by the Pallava king Narasimhavarman I. And to take revenge, the Chalukyan army destroyed this Varaha image while marching forward into the Pallava kingdom.
Inscriptions On the Varaha (boar) monolith –
The Varaha sculpture is carved out of the mother rock like the three other animal sculptures in the Five Rathas nearby. It has four birudas (titles) of Rajasimha Pallava, some of his favorites, inscribed upon the base, in Sanskrit in the Pallava Grantha script. The birudas on the side are “Sri RajasimhaH” “Sri RanajayaH” and “Sri BharaH”. The biruda on the rear, under the varaha’s tail, is “Sri Citra KaarmukaH”. Between the legs of the boar on both the and under its tail, leaves of acquatic plants are sculpted. These are similar to those at the base of the Varaha and Gajalakshmi panels in the Varaha Mandapam. These indicate that the boar which represents Vishnu, is diving under water, not merely digging.
However, how to explain the engraved titles of Rajasimha, as the Chalukyan attacked the Pallava kingdom before the reign of Rajasimha. To explain it, Rabe tells that it was most possible that like other monoliths, this Varaha was also executed during the period of Narasimhavarman I(630–668 AD). Therefore, when the Chalukyas attacked the Pallavas, during the reign of Narasimhavarman I and Parameshvaravarman I, this monolith was present in the temple complex. As the Varaha was destroyed before the reign of Rajasimha (695 to 722 AD), it was Rajasimha who restored it and that’s how we find his titles engraved on it. (Above description source Internet). Location - Mada Koil St, Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu 603104, India
No one wants to see God's beautiful creation behind a fence, in a cage; albeit protected from the wild poachers, but it can be a good thing if our animals are well cared for... still I know some will argue the point. I for one, am thankful to be able to at least get to meet these amazing creatures in a set setting, I talk with them and try to convey a sense of calm and crazy rationale and ask forgiveness for human's mistakes with creation. This female Snow Leopard is starting to recognize me when I come visiting. If you look a little into eyes, you can see my reflection...
'En touto nika', 'by this conquer'. The vision of Constantine the Great of the Holy Cross with its instruction "By This Conquer", in 312 AD prior to a decisive battle close to Rome, gave Christianity, and in particular the cross as a powerful religious symbol, historical force. Even more so, when his mother, Helena, a few years later 'discovered' the cross Jesus was nailed against in Jerusalem. In this scene, however - the chapel of St John the Baptist in Markyate, Hertfordshire, the symbol of the cross follows a slightly different rationale: the building itself is located down in the valley of the River Ver and the drivers on the adjacent major (and fast) road will hardly notice it is even there. This is all about "visibility". The wooden cross does not signal victory, it just says "we are still here".
Sometimes I establish some photography goals that are simply based upon “can I get that” as opposed to that would make a good photograph rationale. In this case, it was the former. Ron Bielefeld, the most capable bird photographer I know, took a wonderful picture of a Pectoral Sandpiper, which puffs out its chest when calling in flight. After I saw his image, I wanted one of my own. We frequently heard the species on the tundra as it makes a very distinctive “woop woop” sound when flying. I called it the Woop Woop bird and was on alert hoping to get a shot of it while calling. Finally, on our last day of shooting, one flew toward me giving me this shot of it’s puffed out chest. (Calidris melanotos) (Sony a1, 400mm with 1.4 extender providing 560mm, f/4, 1/2500 second, ISO 4000)
My #1 rationale to the wife for the NEED, not Want, of a wide-angle lens -- now that I've got one just got to find a way to get up there again,....
'Just' another curve on the wonderful 79 miles of Big Sur.
Hate to tell you folks but that is the usual view of the "Blue Pacific Ocean" and with nothing visual to look at, the roads take over (especially courtesy of those "motorcycle passing lanes" as marked by the double yellow)
'Central to rationales for arming Israel is the claim that it is the nation of "the Jewish people". Such rhetoric - equating Israel with all Jews and Israel's future with theirs - is an effort to sanctify Israel and shield it from criticism by brandishing the charge of antisemitism.' Norman Solomon ▪️Yn greiddiol i'r dadleuon o blaid arfogi Israel mae'r haeriad mai hi yw cenedl yr Iddewon. Haerir ei bod yn cynrychioli'r Iddewon i gyd er mwyn ceisio santeiddio Israel a'i gwarchod rhag beirniadaeth drwy'r cyhuddiad o wrth-Semitiaeth.▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️Blackpool, Lancashire/ Sir Gaerhirfryn, England/ Lloegr
Leica M8, Elmar (collapsible) 2.8/50. When you are letting go, all you "have" and everything you "are", there will be a somebody who will not shut up. That voice will question your attempts at letting go, critique its entire rationale and ridicule your expectations as illusionary. This guy is a tough one. His whole existence is on the line. He will fight.
This connection between the worship of God and our practical response that flows from it has particular application in the contemporary church. A friend of mine who is pastor of a large parish was approached by a small group of parishioners who wanted him to establish a perpetual adoration chapel in the church. Although certainly not opposed to the idea in principle, the pastor did have some concern with the rationale being offered by the people involved. They seemed to be approaching this in a very "detached" way, with no apparent desire to connect their worship with practical application. So he decided to try something. He prepared a list of various outreach ministries sponsored by the parish and the diocese. He asked that those who wished to participate in perpetual adoration also sign up to help out in one of the areas of ministry on the list. Sadly, the members of this particular group refused to do so. The pastor eventually established the perpetual adoration chapel, but he continued to insist that parishioners find concrete ways to live out the implications of that worship and praise. In doing so, he was recognizing this ancient biblical marriage of prayer and action.
-William T. Ditewig, The Emerging Dioconate, Servant Leaders in a Servant Church
Milky Way over Emerald Lake (8,000 feet) in Lassen National Park. Single shot captured 75 minutes after sunset, adding light pollution but also useful foreground light and lake reflections. There is an interesting sidebar to this cold evening alone on the lake. Soon after dark I turned around to check the rocky hillside—I had seen deer earlier and was thinking of prey—and spotted what appeared to be an illuminated and symmetrical ladder ascending straight up from the top of the ridge. For several minutes my mind conjured up explanations that no rationale person would disclose to others before resuming my photography. The next day the explanation for my other-worldly sighting was answered: I had observed a Starlight satellite train launched by Space X Falcon 9—thanks Elon.
Fassadendetail der Posstfiliale Ostiense/Ufficio postale Ostiense (Via Marmorata), Rom
Architekten: Adalberto Libera, Mario De Renzi, 1933-35
Flickr Red Day, Sunday, April 6th: Make your own red banner or create a red image. Although it may not make any difference, we can at least make our collective voice heard on Sunday, April 6th.
JOIN THE PROTEST GROUP here
www.flickr.com/groups/2575846@N24
skagitrenee (Renee) has put together a rationale outlining what we would like to see changed with the new Flickr; see the links here:
www.flickr.com/photos/skagitrenee/13536824243/
Also please go to vote and leave your comment; we want Flickr to see the importance for all these missing points.
yahoo.uservoice.com/forums/211185-us-flickr/suggestions/5...
I have always loved this sculpture and the view through its tweezer-like "pincers". I hadn't previously looked up the artist's description and rationale for the sculpture, however. I finally did so the other day...
“Dialogue” is a public art installation created by multidisciplinary artist Florent Cousineau, located on the upper plaza near the Alexandria Bridge in Ottawa.
“The tall, slender silhouette of the work’s two-part structure contrasts with the strong horizontality of its setting. While the pure lines of these sculptural forms create space for multiple interpretations, their arrangement also evokes an exchange between two monumental figures. Their curves entwine in a movement recalling a pair of witnesses, dancers or sentinels leaning on each other for support. Light sources emanating from within the two figures create a fluid, rhythmic dialogue, inviting us to linger.
Dialogue can be seen on the upper plaza near the Alexandra Bridge in Ottawa until 2021.”
Source: www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/art-monuments...
Baraboo Part IV -- The International Crane Foundation has a great exhibition all 15 species of worldwide cranes. Helping save this threatened species is the rationale of the place.
With great wide expanses, many of the exhibit homes are backed by murals expertly done of their homeland.
This (I think) is a Sarius Crane out of India, who was a new father. He would let us all know gathering to his at least 5-foot height to letting out some Very LOUD cries of either protection or triumph, I couldn't tell. But you can hear them way down by the parking lot.
Portrait of a good friend from Texas wearing his arch-American belt (cowboys etc.) where it fits best. And he is not happy. What? You didn't know? You didn't know that Copenhagen has suggested to annex the territory of the USA as its hinterland or, as the news has it, its "Danish Periphery". The rationale given was that what formerly were US citizens now, as Danish citizens, would be given a proper education. First come good table manners and then matters such as civility and general decency. The Danish Prime Minister also said that Copenhagen would deal responsibly with the natural and human resources of that territory as Denmark has done for centuries in Greenland, the Caribbean, West Africa and Tamil Nadu (India). In the end, it is hoped, my friend from Texas will see things in a more positive light for the Danish are the most lenient kind of masters. Fuji X-Pro3.
there is no sound in a vacuum,
no soliloquy that precedes the moment when galaxies collide,
no context,
no warning,
no rationale,
no debate,
no stirring score to set the mood,
to note the presence of impending radiation,
of heavy particles ripping through the void at the speed of light.
there is no real meaning to be found,
no religion to assign blame,
no confessor to absolve guilt,
there is no guilt,
no underlying lesson to be learned,
no moral,
no arc to follow,
no history to capture,
no purpose, really, in capturing it,
no human scale to anything,
no soulful revelation,
nothing really to grasp.
there is only a shifting tone,
a change in the fundamental,
a lumpiness in the residue,
inexplicable in ages to come,
buried in the miscalculations that are bound to occur;
there is the presumptuousness of intelligence,
the common mistake,
that there was nothing,
and then there was everything,
a big bang in an empty void,
a propagation,
a place with boundaries to be discovered,
a mysterious place
filled with whispers of the here and now.
(deep breath)
no, not so much;
the cascade of universes,
embedded in this unforeseen continuum,
suggests a something far more intricate,
far more subtle,
far more chaotic,
far more beautiful than i will ever know,
far more nuanced than i will ever understand,
far more,
far more,
far far more.
i look up at the sky,
i wait.
littletinperson
a repost (with revisions) from long ago
Tahoma/Mount Rainier in the clouds, taken from the Crystal Mountain Trail at about 6800 feet/2070 meters) elevation
"Go to the mountains", the voice softly whispered in my head as I slipped from sleep into semi-consciousness at the insistent ringing of my hiking-day morning alarm. "But that's not what I had planned", I thought to myself, having selected a different hike the night before when I was preparing my gear and planning for the day's adventure.
"You should go to the mountains", the voice said again, more insistently this time, as I ate a quick breakfast, downed some coffee, and checked the weather to make sure the thunderstorms from Saturday afternoon were not making an appearance in Sunday's forecast. "But it will be so crowded at Mount Rainier National Park on a holiday weekend at the end of summer" I thought, pushing my rationale for having chosen a different hike.
Yet somehow I found myself checking the mountain weather forecast before I headed out, and as I drove to the trailhead, underneath the sounds of my selected playlist I could hear the words again, "Go to the mountains".
The weather did not look promising as I made my way south and east, watching the mountains draped in a thick layer of cloud cover. I stubbornly protested to that voice in my head that Tahoma probably wouldn't be visible anyway. "That doesn't matter, it's about being there" the voice replied, and after only the briefest hesitation I drove past the turnoff to the lake trail that had been my original destination, and headed toward the mountains.
Knowing it would be overcrowded at the National Park, I quickly ran through other trail options in my head, and decided to head out to Crystal Mountain. A ski resort in the winter, it lies adjacent to the National Park boundary and the Mount Rainier wilderness area, and provides access to hiking trails in the summer. Being past summer wildflower season I hoped the trails would not be busy, and fortunately that was the case.
Although Tahoma never fully emerged from the clouds, the joys of hiking for hours in near-solitude through expansive mountain views in every direction, glorious subalpine meadows, and two lovely and quiet alpine lakes (one of which I shared with only the birds, chipmunks, and insects), filled my soul with all those things I hadn't consciously realized I was needing...and my mind with gratitude for inner voices that speak when we need them to give us a nudge in the right direction.
Bird's nest fungi's fruiting bodies resemble tiny egg-filled bird nests. They are easily overlooked because of their tiny size (7mm or 1/4 inch across). Young specimens have a thin layer of tissue covering the cup's top. It wears off at maturity to expose the disc-shaped spore parcels within. The smooth inner walls of the fruiting body and the combined effect of the crucible shape and internal wall angle produce a good splash action. The force of the falling water splashes out the "egg" uncoiling and snapping the funiculus, the cord that connects it to the fruiting body. As the egg continues its flight, the cord extends to its full length. The sticky end of the cord may adhere to a leaf or a twig some distance away, and the egg may end up being wrapped around or hanging down the object to which the funiculus is stuck. The spores can germinate when the thick outer wall of the "egg" wears away, or the egg may be eaten by a herbivorous animal, and ultimately passed through its digestive system. Recently New Zealand collected specimen of C. laeve had the name changed to C. simile. I have not caught up with the rationale for this.
The Battle of the environmental education center.
An intense moment as these bucks stare at each other before locking antlers. It's hard to describe my shooting rationale in this situation as anything other than "spray and pray". These White tailed Deer were moving all over the place and the light was dwindling. My shutter speed was low and I knew if I shot in bursts my chances would be better. I had two different shots in mind that I was attempting to get. One was the two head to head. The other unimportant as nothing came of it. Anytime they moved into this position I fired a few shots. It didn't come together as I had hoped but the intensity in their eyes in this shot convinced me to loosen up.
In the early 1850s, one Nicholas Pike, director of the Brooklyn Institute, decided to import this bird from England. The first few attempts to establish the bird weren't successful but eventually the house sparrow took hold when the birds were released into Greenwood Cemetery, Central Park and a few other places. The rationale apparently was the control of some bug called a canker worm. The sparrow supposedly would pig out on the critters and reduce the canker worm population. Soon, cities and towns throughout the country were importing house sparrows to "aid people against encroachment of insects."
But others soon noticed that house sparrows don't have much of an appetite for bugs. On top of that, they were driving out native songbirds.The infatuation with the house sparrow turned to hatred, so much so that some states began paying bounties for dead sparrows. However it was too late; house sparrows had spread throughout the continent.
They're now found as far north as Canada's Northwest Territories and as far south as Cape Horn, the remote tip of South America. That extreme range indicates how adaptable house sparrows are. They can be found anywhere there are people, in big cities and small towns, in suburbs and around farms. The only place they're not found: deep, deep woods. In more extreme locales, they require human presence to survive.
I found these two females in my yard in Polk County, Florida.
The ancient Angkor Wat temple complex in northwestern Cambodia is regarded as the supreme masterpiece of classic Khmer architecture and source of intense national pride. It was built as a mausoleum for a great medieval king (Suryavarman II, 1113-1150) whose regime had adopted some aspects of Hinduism.
The infinity POV in this remarkable southern section of the east gallery follows through a corbel-roofed colonnade with a long sequence of columns. Typically seated at the base of each column are rishis or bearded ascetics. To the left of the arcade is perhaps the most famous of the bas-relief scenes at Angkor Wat, the Churning of the Ocean of Milk. It depicts an epic chapter in the Hindu creation myth and is seen as a paragon of classic Khmer art.
It is also a story about the victory of good over evil. The devas (gods) and the asuras (demons) are portrayed in a metaphoric tug-of-war with the Naga or serpent king as their divine rope, while overhead a ubiquitous host of asparas or celestial maidens sing and dance in encouragement.
Anchor Wat contains the longest continuous series of bas-reliefs in the world with a complete iconographical record of Hindu mythology, including the Khmer version of scenes drawn from epic Indian legends of the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. The beautifully carved sandstone reliefs also depict scenes from ancient Khmer courtly and military life, including a triumphal battle march with the king and his commanders mounted on war elephants.
This grand architectural endeavour contributed to the notion that the king was an incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu. He was depicted as a deified monarch with transcendental qualities, a divine universal ruler, hence a “god who is king.” The myth provided the religious rationale for absolute royal authority and subject obedience.
© All rights to these photos and descriptions are reserved. Any use of this work requires my prior written permission. expl#114
Tiny Confederate violets make their annual late-winter debut.
DeKalb County (Winnona Park), Georgia, USA.
15 March 2025.
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📷 Photographer's notes.
☞ Viola sororia f. priceana is a variant of the common blue violet (Viola sororia), both native to eastern North America. The former is called a Confederate violet due to its colors reminiscent of a Confederate Civil War uniform, i.e., blue and gray.
☞ This is a close-up. The wildflowers were only one centimeter in diameter; they appear much larger in the image than they did in 'real' life.
☞ See the more abundant purple-hued violet variant: here. The two violet types often grow in propinquity.
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👎 Rejection.
On 22 March 2025, a moderator for the Flickr group "GEORGIA, THE PEACH STATE" rejected this photo for NOT displaying "scenic beauty of the State of Georgia, USA." It's difficult to fathom a rationale for the rejection...and none was provided.
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▶ Photo by: YFGF.
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▶ Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M10 II.
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— Edit: Photoshop Elements 15, Nik Collection (2016).
▶ Commercial use requires explicit permission, as per Creative Commons.
Classical Khmer kings of medieval Cambodia promoted the notion of Devarāja, a cult of the "god-king” that provided the religious rationale for royal authority. They were depicted as divine universal rulers or deified monarchs with transcendental qualities.
The gigantic smiling faces at Bayon Temple portray the great Mahayana Buddhist king, Jayavarman VII, as a living god on earth - a Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara or enlightened Buddhist saint overseeing a vast and disparate empire with an enigmatic blend of benevolence and absolute authority.
The temple served as the primary locus of the royal cult and was Jayavarman's personal mausoleum at the height of his rein over the Khmer Empire in the late 12th Century. It is positioned at the centre of the ancient Angkor Thom city complex and rural metropolis in northwestern Cambodia. Over 200 serenely smiling visages carved on more than 50 sandstone face-towers remain throughout the temple.
© All rights to these photos and descriptions are reserved. expl#63
66613 runs through the S curves south of the Howgill Fells with 6h51, a Hardendale Quarry to Tunstead train of limestone.
The railway here was built by the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway and opened in December 1846. The S curves here were necessary to drop the railway down from Grayrigg to funnel through the deep gorge of the river Lune, while avoiding the steeper gradients that a more direct descent would have incurred.
The same rationale and the same solution was adopted by the engineers of the M6 motorway over a century later. As my image shows, the 1970-built motorway uses the S curves in the same way to ease the gradient into the Lune gorge.
41-0829-2, fabricație Electroputere Craiova 1988, ultima reparație tip RR finalizată la începutul anului 2020 la Remarul Cluj, fotografiată în timp ce remorca trenul 1655 (rang InterRegio) în relația București Nord - Suceava.
Odată cu noul mers al trenurilor acest tren a fost inlocuit cu unul de rang Intercity ce a preluat numărul 551. În locul trenului 551 circulă trenul 553, de asemenea cu rang de Intercity.
De asemenea a rămas în circulație și trenul 1655, acesta având plecarea din București la ora 14:12.
Nu înțelegem ce a vrut să facă conducerea companiei CFR Călători prin aceste modificări, dar putem intui că nu sunt măsuri de bună credință.
Locomotive 41-0829-2, built by Electroputere Craiova in 1988, last underwent a general overhaul (RR) completed in early 2020 at Remarul Cluj, photographed while hauling train 1655 (InterRegio category) on the Bucharest North – Suceava route.
With the introduction of the new timetable, this train was replaced by an InterCity service, which took over the train number 551. Instead of train 551, train 553, also classified as InterCity, is now operated.
At the same time, train 1655 has remained in service, with a departure from Bucharest at 14:12.
We do not understand the rationale behind these changes implemented by the management of CFR Călători, but we can infer that they do not appear to be good-faith operational decisions.
Buzău (RO)
Classical Khmer kings of medieval Cambodia promoted the notion of Devarāja, a cult of the "god-king” that provided the religious rationale for royal authority. They were depicted as divine universal rulers or deified monarchs with transcendental qualities.
The gigantic smiling faces at Bayon Temple portray the great Mahayana Buddhist king, Jayavarman VII, as a living god on earth - a Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara or enlightened Buddhist saint overseeing a vast and disparate empire with an enigmatic blend of benevolence and absolute authority.
Bayon Temple served as the primary locus of the royal cult and was Jayavarman's personal mausoleum at the height of his rein over the Khmer Empire in the late 12th Century. The temple is positioned at the centre of the ancient Angkor Thom city complex and rural metropolis in northwestern Cambodia. Over 200 serenely smiling visages carved on more than 50 sandstone face-towers remain throughout the temple.
© All rights to these photos and descriptions are reserved.
Rethinking Portraiture | Personal Faves | National Geographic
Shay and Susie out for a walk.
Today is World Go for a Ride Day (November 22nd).
I fully admit that I would have had no idea that there was such a thing as "World Go for a Ride Day" never mind knowing that it was on November 22nd if it were not that it was one of the date themes for the "125 pictures in 2025" group.
I knew i was not going anywhere special today but I did take the dogs for a nice 3 km walk in Tievenadarragh woods.
Tievenadarragh is a 10 minute drive from home so not very far but requiring a car ride for the 3 of us to get there. ...so this is the best I can do for a picture to mark the day!
looking online, I see that the stated purpose of "Go for a Ride Day" is to combat a sedentary lifestyle, which seems a laudable rationale to me.
For the 125 pictures in 2025 group: number 121. World Go for a Ride Day (November 22nd)
Ride It On - Mazzy Star
A Global Shift - A Sparticus moment in European history
Today - there is a shift in global consciousness - a steadfast and increasing solidarity against Putin and his regime. There is huge momentum - the tide has turned.
Not against the Russian people - they too want their freedom from repression.
Putin has taken a step too far with appalling timing too.
The world has spent the last 2 years trying to save the lives of millions of people from Covid. This is a spectacular mis-judgement by Putin not to acknowledge this. Without empathy, how could he know this? It's a colossal mistake.
In knowing the truth of the situation, Russian soldiers do not have the motivation to kill their Ukrainian brothers and sisters and the Ukrainians, rightly, are doing everything they can possibly do to defend their right to liberty and freedom against an oppressor and ultimately they will be victorious.
Glory to Ukraine.
I stand by Ukraine and all who protect her.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine
04/03/2022 - Statement by a paranoid, deluded, Schizophrenic dictator....
..."We have no ill intentions against our neighbours," Putin claims.
Reversed: We have ill intentions against our neighbours.
...And he says his government sees "no need" for its neighbours to take further action that will "make our relations worse".
Reversed: "make our relations worse", so I can use that to justify my next move.
..."I think everyone must think about how to normalise relations, co-operate normally and develop relations normally," he adds.
Reversed: "I am not thinking about how to normalise relations, co-operate normally or develop relations normally.
Summarised
With my right hand I will destroy you all and with my left, I request you understand my rationale
Easter Message
The most moving political speech I have ever heard.
Publication History
Calculator (Noah Kuttler) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.
Originally introduced as an enemy of the Atom, the character was later redeveloped in the 2000s as a master information broker, hacker, and tactical supervisor to other supervillains, and foil to Batman's partner Oracle.
He is also the father of Wendy Harris and Marvin White.
Calculator has been adapted into various media outside comics. Armin Shimerman, Ely Henry, and Jason Spisak have voiced the character in animated series and films. Furthermore, the Calculator appears as a recurring character in Arrow, portrayed by Tom Amandes.
Calculator first appeared in Detective Comics #463 (September 1976), and he was created by Bob Rozakis and Mike Grell.
As is commonplace in comics, the character was based on a topical event or trend; in this case, Noah Kuttler took his powers and costume design from the recently popular pocket calculator.
His costume had a large numerical keypad on the front and an LED display on the headpiece. By typing on the keypad, he could make hard light constructs appear from the headpiece, similar to Green Lantern's power ring.
While using this modus operandi, the Calculator was defeated by Blue Beetle, Atom, Green Arrow, Black Canary, Elongated Man, Hawkman, Batman and Air Wave.
Fictional character biography
Pre-Crisis
A mysterious figure who appeared seemingly from nowhere, the Calculator moved across the country, committing a series of crimes designed to lure various super heroes into battle with him.
He then allowed himself to be defeated, pressing a special button on the computer console on his chest that would prevent him from ever being captured by the same hero again.
While using this modus operandi, the Calculator was defeated by the Blue Beetle (Ted Kord) Atom, Green Arrow, Black Canary, Elongated Man, Hawkman, Batman and Air Wave.
Having put his life of costumed crime behind him, the Calculator now operates behind the scenes as the information broker for the criminal underworld.
Major Story Arcs
As a child of 5, Noah Kuttler was locked in a cage by his mother. He would not be let out until he solved a Rubix cube.
Noah was married, and had two children: Wendy and Marvin. They were the joys of his life. But his wife committed suicide upon returning them from the hospital. Noah was distraught, but took solace in his children. They left him too, and joined the Teen Titans.
Birds of Prey: Perfect Pitch
Huntress, Lady Blackhawk and Creote head to Istanbul, where they meet with Yasemin Soze, a powerful arms dealer. Huntress poses as herself but as the heiress to her mob family and as the capo of Gotham’s criminal underworld.
Helena demands that Yasemin cease the supplying of guns to the O'Shanlins in Metropolis and start doing business with the Sigiorello family in Gotham. The Birds of Prey intend to put a stranglehold on all Gotham mob supply lines.
Yasemin doesn’t like being told what to do so she orders Deathstroke to have Helena and her entourage killed. As for Black Canary and Green Arrow, they intimidate the Star City mob in order to prevent them from becoming a rival with Gotham.
Meanwhile, Calculator begins to track down Oracle by exercising any leads he may have. He gets in contact with Senator Pullman who suggests that Calculator should kidnap those who work with Oracle since she draws her strength from her followers.
Calculator targets Savant because he is aware of his recent encounters with Oracle. Calculator sends Black Spider and Hellhound to kidnap and torture Savant. Hellhound demands to know who and where Oracle is while Black Spider tries to persuade Savant into joining Calculator’s organization. Fortunately, Commissioner Gordon witnessed the kidnapping and he informs his daughter.
Barbara relays Gordon’s message to Creote who is still in Istanbul. Deathstroke follows the Birds back to Gotham but then he receives a message from Calculator.
The message states that Deathstroke will be paid twice as much as his usual fee if he kidnaps one of the Birds so he can use them as bait to lure Oracle out into the open.
Deathstroke captures all the Birds and uses their comm. link to get in contact with Oracle. Slade tells Oracle that she must surrender herself as well as the access codes to her satellites to Calculator or the Birds die.
Batman rescues Savant from Hellhound and Savant throws Black Spider out of a window despite his injuries. Savant is taken to the hospital where he tells Batman that he will no longer be part of Oracle’s team.
As for the Birds, they manage to escape their bonds and Black Canary immobilizes Deathstroke with her Canary Cry. Huntress gives Batman all the information that the Birds managed to dig up from Yasemin’s records.
With Deathstroke’s failure, Calculator was no closer to getting Oracle and just to ridicule him, Barb sends a citywide feed to every computer or television in Gotham in order to display her Oracle face.
Calculator later became one of the heads of Alexander Luthor's Secret Society. While on the Society, the Calculator was responsible for a worldwide meta-human prison break, as well as aiding with recruitment. Calculator learned about Oracle while trying to retake some satellites for a disguised Alexander Luthor, and immediately became obsessed. In recent years Calculator has become an evil counterpart to Oracle, acting as the information broker for the criminal universe. After Alexander Luthor's death, Calculator became the head of the Secret Society.
While head of the Secret Society he told Dr. Psycho that he was not allowed to go after the Secret Six, but Dr. Psycho disobey joining Cheshire to take them down.
Post Society
After the Secret Society disbanded, Calculator set out on his own to discover who Oracle really was. Through torture, he learned about one server that had survived the destruction of the Gotham Clock Tower by Black Mask during War Games.
Oracle thought she had destroyed all evidence of her stay in the Clocktower, but it was not so…a computer geek found this one surviving server…on which was information on Oracle's identity. This hacker hid it away in a private server cluster inside a tech center, where it could only be accessed from inside the building.
After hearing about this, Calculator was determined to get that data. He killed a techie working for the company, and stole his invitation to a tech convention. While there, he ran into Oracle, who was also there to get the data…he did not recognize her, and was a bit enamored by her intelligence.
Calculator managed to slip away from the tour, and got onto the network...Oracle did the same and it became a data battle. Calculator believed Oracle was merely one of Oracle's agents, and attempted to kill her. She broke his leg before he could shoot her. Hellhound got Calculator away safely after a mob protecting Oracle threatened to take him down. But the obsession to discover Oracle's identity still remained...
Calculator acted as a double agent for the Silicone Syndicate, leading the Birds of Prey into a trap. He later actually joined the Silicone Syndicate (after being captured and 'disintegrated' by Gizmo). This went well until Calculator's loyalties were questioned, and he was given the mission to kill Oracle in three days…or die at the hands of the Syndicate.
Deciding his chances were slim-to-none of completing his main goal in time, Calculator instead comes up with a new scheme. He spreads rumors about Kilg%re to the other Syndicate members, in the process gaining access of the location of Kilg%re's code. He sends Matchmaker to download Kilg%re's code. Naturally Kilg%re kills Matchmaker.
Calculator uses an altered Motherbox to rewrite Kilg%re's coding, taking over his programming so that Calculator can mentally control him. Kilg%re is no longer his own entity, merely an extension of Calculator.
He used Kilg%re's abilities to track the Birds of Prey and attempted to turn their hideout into a death trap. He saw Oracle, but did not recognize her for what she was
Calculator's failure to destroy the Birds of Prey (again) leads the remains of the Syndicate into Endgame. They confront the Birds…the remains of the Syndicate are promptly taken out. Calculator escaped using Kilg%re.
Family Matters
The Calculator also visits Wendy in her hospital room where she is comatose, after she and Marvin were attacked by Wonderdog.
He reveals that he is their father. He then vows revenge on the Teen Titans, who he holds responsible, due to their failure to protect Wendy and Marvin.
He is trying to obtain the Anti-Life Equation so he can restore Wendy to health. Oracle interfered, replacing the Anti-Life Equation with fake crystals. Wendy recovered on her own, however she was unable to feel her legs.
The Anti-Life Equation left residue on Calculator, making him traceable on the internet. He is then thrown out of the hospital.
The Calculator has hired the Fearsome Five to take down the Teen Titans. They are eventually defeated, but Kid Devil sacrifices himself to save the city. The Calculator captures Kid Eternity, and forces him to channel Marvin, over and over again until Kid Eternity burns out.
Brightest Day: Batgirl
Calculator uses hypnosis through mobile phones and computer screens to take control of students in the Computer Science Lab of Gotham University during Barbara Gordon's speech.
Barbara tells Stephanie Brown to get out of the room so that she can save Barb later. One half of the zombie audience takes Barb to Calculator's hideout while the rest go after Batgirl. At Calculator's compound which is located in Slaughter Swamp, Barbara is seen fastened to an examination table, with the Calculator alongside her.
He talks to Oracle while caring a conversation with his late son Marvin's corpse. Calculator wants Barbara to answer some of his unanswered questions, Calculator then plugs himself into his own laboratory equipment which is connected to Barbara's mind. Calculator intends to break through Oracle's neural barriers in order to see and read through Barb's thoughts.
Barbara however, refuses to give into Calculator's intrusions without a fight. Barbara enters a cybernetic dream state where she battles Calculator in a library that houses Barbara's memories and experiences.
Barb battles Calculator and they both fall into another dream state where Calculator's younger self is imprisoned in a cage. Barb tries to help the childlike Calculator but suddenly she is attacked from behind by Calculator's adult form.
He blames Oracle for turning his daughter Wendy Harris against him but Oracle doesn't give into Calculator's guilt trip. Their constant struggle causes them to plunge further into Calculator's psyche where Barb witnesses Calculator's morbid memory of when his wife had taken her own life.
Barb tries to escape Calculator's mind but she is immediately brought to a dream where Calculator is beating Kid Eternity to a bloody pulp.
Meanwhile, at the Gotham Wharf, Stephanie Brown aka Batgirl has evaded a mass of Calculator's mind controlled zombies but then she is attacked by Man-Bat who is also under Calculator’s control by via sonar.
Stephanie manages to outrun Man Bat thanks to Proxy aka Wendy Harris, who pilots a getaway plane. Stephanie and Wendy use Barb's tracking signal to locate Calculator's lair. With Wendy's help, Stephanie manages to get through Calculator's technological defense measures.
After getting past the security system, Stephanie finds Marvin's corpse and the machine that is controlling the zombies. She uses her grappling gun to remove the CPU from the machine.
The zombies are freed from Calculator's control but Stephanie rash action activates a cybernetic monster that goes after her. Luckily, Wendy charges her plane right into the monster thus destroying it. Stephanie and Wendy sever Calculator's connection to Oracle and Stephanie takes Calculator to the new Arkham Asylum.
Brightest Day: Atom
However, on the way to the Asylum, Calculator vanishes into thin air. No one is able to trace him (including Oracle or Batman). Oracle manages to keep open a phone line long enough for Ray Palmer to track him down.
Ray wanted to discover why Calculator set up the robbery that distracted Ray from his lab. Calculator also reveals that he knows of Ray's father's stroke. Calculator is back to normal, and mildly surprised by Ray's appearance. But he was not unprepared...as soon as Ray's life signature had been detected, Calculator had released a deadly pathogen (that he of course was immune to).
If Ray did not leave in 45 seconds, he would die. Ray responds by shrinking them both, traveling to Oracle, who gives Ray the antidote. Ray tells Calculator to talk, or he would shrink him down and leave him in the computer. Calculator reveals that he had been hired by the Colony. He did not appear to know anything else about the Colony, having only taken this job for pay…and perhaps the satisfaction of seeing his old enemy the Ray in distress.
Brightest Day: Red Robin
Moneyspider aka Lonnie Machin has discovered a connection between a Russian economist named Viktor Mikalek and Dr. Sivana's Unthernet, which was corrupted by Darkseid.
Acting on Moneyspider's intel, Red Robin discovers that Calculator may have had a hand in the Unthernet since he used it on Oracle but she demolished his control over the Unthernet thus leaving the system in Mikalek's hands.
Upon entering the Unthernet, Red Robin manages to defeat cyberspace versions of Deathstroke, his Titans and Calculator with the help of Moneyspider, Promise and the Teen Titans. Mikalek then sends Catman to distract Red Robin while Calculator fulfills his end of the bargain he made with Mikalek.
Tim must relunctantly rely on Damian to find Calculator and capture him since Calculator doesn’t know what Damian looks like. Damian busts into Calculator's secret penthouse office but he soon discovers that this Calculator is a programmed android/ suicide bomber.
Damian survives the explosion and tracks down Tim since he will be walking into a trap. Meanwhile, Red Robin and the Teen Titans go after Calculator who is hiding beneath a nightclub. The team are then ambushed by Calculator's robotic replicas.
Damian arrives on the scene and the team defeats the robots. Calculator's scheme drives Red Robin to the brink of stabbing him in the chest but Tim soon discovers that this Calculator is just another robot since the real Calculator is in Gotham, terrorizing the Birds of Prey.
Brightest Day: Birds of Prey
Calculator decided to take down Oracle down for once and all. He gets information on Oracle's exact location from Savant, who claims to still hold a grudge against Oracle…however, he is a double-agent acting under Oracle's request. Savant feeds Calculator false information.
Calculator also wants to take down the meddlesome Birds of Prey, so they cannot assist their leader. He sends Mortis along with some other high-powered metas to take them down. It turns out that while in his mind, Oracle erased all knowledge of her, and her identity.
This has done something to Calculator, who is suffering from splitting headaches. He is not sure why this is happening (though he knows Oracle is behind it), but he thinks he is sick and going to die. As a result, he launches his strike to annihilate Oracle ahead of schedule.
Mortis' team captures Huntress, Lady Blackhawk and Dove who proclaimed that she was Oracle while Black Canary is left behind, suffering from Mortis' deadly touch. The girls are taken to Calculator's mobile headquarters which happens to be a bus.
Calculator figures that since he has Dove who he thinks is Oracle, he figures that he doesn't need the other two hostages. Calculator points his gun at Lady Blackhawk but before he could pull the trigger, Dove breaks free of her cuffs and with her superhuman cry, she disarms Calculator. At the same time, an armored helicopter that Oracle is piloting by via remote threatens Calculator to surrender.
The Birds take this opportunity and try to escape but they fail when Calculator tells Current to take down the helicopter with an electrical blast. His headache abruptly vanishes.
Huntress furiously confronts Calculator by asking him to explain his actions after he ordered Current to shoot down Oracle's aircraft.
Huntress’ question causes Calculator to have a loss of words nor could he find any rationale to justify his actions of late. Huntress' taunts causes Calculator to lose his composure in order for her to lash out by scratching at Calculator’s face. Calculator begins to panic because he knows that Huntress’ constant humiliation of him is causing him to lose his respect within his organization.
Calculator desperately tries to recover his authority by pointing a HIVE agent’s weapon at Huntress, Lady Blackhawk and Dove. With only words as her weapons, Huntress continues to taunt Calculator about how Oracle’s influence stretches across the world and her legacy will overshadow Calculator’s reputation.
Calculator orders the HIVE agents to never speak of this evening’s events and he tells Current to kill the women then dispose of their bodies. Dove in turn tells Huntress and Lady Blackhawk that if anything happens then she wants them to escape while she shields them from any gunfire.
Huntress refuses to let Dove sacrifice herself so she calls Calculator on his bluff by saying if he wants respect then he should be the one to kill them. Huntress turns her back to Calculator in order to entice him. As he takes aim, Calculator pulls the trigger but Dove jumps in front of the bullet.
Fortunately, Dove’s wound is not fatal and Mortis warns Calculator that her hold over Black Canary has failed because Black Canary arrives on the scene. Canary knocks one of Calculator's teeth out then she unleashes her 'Canary cry' on Mortis as well as the HIVE agents.
Mammoth is taken out by Hawk, the Birds escape Calculator's bus and Calculator flees with Current but Huntress follows the getaway vehicle by holding onto the back door of the bus.
Huntress knocks out Current and warns Calculator that the ghosts of Oracle (who was NOT in the helicopter, though only a few select heroes know that) will always be watching. Calculator manages to get away, and is regaled by all of Gotham's villains for finally killing Oracle, until it is revealed that he didn't.
Powers, Skills and abilities
Calculator is highly knowledgeable in the use and operation of computers, he has been described as being "Oracle without the morals." He's ruthless to any hero in his way, but useful to any villain as long as they're willing to pay.
He has shown to be a mastermind, coming up with brilliant schemes to complete a certain agenda. When the Internet went down, Calculator created a second, secret Internet which he likes to refer to as the Ünternet. Supposedly he added an 8th level to the TCP/IP protocol which allows it to be almost invisible.
After he is stabbed through the heart with a steel tentacle by an enraged Kilg%re, Calculator's body was flooded with nanoprocessors which repaired the damage from Kilg%re's attack and set up a neural network in Calculator brain, giving him control over all of machinery.
He is able to mentally control anything technological and mold it to his will, his first act after obtaining this power is to mold a bunch of Computers and Keyboards into a large robot that kills Kilg%re.
Calculator is also able to use machines he possesses as an avatar for himself, speaking through them and observing the surroundings, and controlling them to do his bidding.
He has redirected missiles and when Oracle logged onto the Ünternet he traced her to the Birds of Prey Headquarters and turned her computer terminal into a killing machine.
Through most any computerized terminal, Thinker; as Nameless, showed he could materialize hard-light imagery off of any electronic projection screen into the material world. Giving him the ability to create and control photokinetic constructs with the push of a button.
⚡ Happy 🎯 Heroclix 💫 Friday! 👽
_____________________________
A year of the shows and performers of the Bijou Planks Theater.
Secret Identity: Noah Kuttler
Publisher: DC
First appearance: Detective Comics #463 (September 1976)
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/51598515789
Created by: Bob Rozakis (writer)
Mike Grell (artist)
please accept hereby a humble contribution for
a new world full of colour and empathy.
free from copyright in the name of the dream
drawing: natalie de cock
dreaming: rosita
foto: frank vranckx /aka schaaflicht (slö)
(rosita is a streetchild from the "seefhoek")
........................................this happening was part of a spontanious activity by the antwerp artcollective "de schaaf"..............................
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
12 ☼ct☼ 2009: important update!!!:
new h☼pE send supp☼rt, please: doebiedoebieD☼EL: 69 cR☼Ws ~ E ♥↕☼↨‼
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
may rosita's dream
also be:
an open invitation for some
street communication
daily streetlife
rampart
melting pot
universal routes
all connected
joyous roots
______° ° \______
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This was the #1 photo by Flickr - Interesting on the date September 05 2004.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
maybe if we start here
update: new dreams with 'tmuziekd☼☼sc☼llectief
h☼kuske p☼kuske f☼kuske*****
6, 7 en 8 ☼☼gst: feesten in D☼EL…
*(☼♥☼)*
☼<↨(8-♥)x
I’m not going to lie. Doing an 800 mile “afternoon trip” isn’t something I’d consider smart, planned-out, or even rationale. But when the stresses of life thwart down upon you like 2 million thousand unicorn carcasses, sometimes a nice long drive followed by sleeping in your car in 25º weather in the parking lot of an abandoned supermarket, just so you can wake up at 5am to take a 9 mile hike starting at 10,200ft getting altitude sickness to get a photo like this… makes it all worth while. So I did. Left work around lunch. Drove almost to Mammoth, visited the Bristolecone Pines at night, Bishop creek looking for fall color (nope) and ended up hiking at 5:30am along a trail only lit by moonlight to get to the base of Long Lake at around 7am to photograph this. Then continued on another mile to Gem Lake and a few others, before heading back to my car almost passing out from the altitude. 8 miles round trip, then stopped by Schat’s Bakery, and then hope to hang out with the kids for the night. So far, the perfect start to a weekend! More details to come. Need to clean house, work on wedding photos and catch up with God.
Exposure: 0.2 sec (1/5) (with GND .6 & GND .9 Cokin filters)
Aperture: f/20.0
Focal Length: 19 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Mapped... for your pleasure ------------------------------------------------------------------->
Classical Khmer kings of medieval Cambodia promoted the notion of Devarāja, a cult of the "god-king” that provided the religious rationale for royal authority. They were depicted as divine universal rulers or deified monarchs with transcendental qualities.
The gigantic smiling faces at Bayon Temple portray the great Mahayana Buddhist king, Jayavarman VII, as a living god on earth - a Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara or enlightened Buddhist saint overseeing a vast and disparate empire with an enigmatic blend of benevolence and absolute authority.
Bayon Temple served as the primary locus of the royal cult and was Jayavarman's personal mausoleum at the height of his rein over the Khmer Empire in the late 12th Century. The temple is positioned at the centre of the ancient Angkor Thom city complex and rural metropolis in northwestern Cambodia. Over 200 serenely smiling visages carved on more than 50 sandstone face-towers remain throughout the temple.
© All rights to these photos and descriptions are reserved.
Rue du Grenier sur l'Eau 13/09/2025 09h22
A letter box was treated by one of the best stencil artists of Paris and France: C215. Here in a side street of the Rue du Pont Louis-Philippe. This mini fresque must be made somewhere in 2019 or 2020 (source: Google Streetview)
C215
C215, real name Christian Guémy, is a French street artist hailing from Paris who has been described as "France's answer to Banksy".
C215 primarily uses stencils to produce his art. His first stencil work was put up in 2006, but he has been a graffiti artist for (as of 2011) over 20 years. His work consists mainly of close up portraits of people. C215's subjects are typically those such as beggars, homeless people, refugees, street kids and the elderly. The rationale behind this choice of subject is to draw attention to those that society has forgotten about. C215 is a prolific street artist and has practiced his art in cities all over the world. His stencils may be seen in Barcelona, Amsterdam, London, Rome and Paris.
In addition to his street work, C215 also produces commercial artwork for galleries on wood and canvas. C215 has to date done a number of solo gallery shows to promote his work. C215's most recent show is entitled 'Community Service'.
Guémy's daughter Nina is a popular subject of his stencil art. She has also become a stencil artist in her own right.
[Source: Wikipedia]
Processed by: mavenimagery Labs, Californa.
Image and Text by : maven
Please read the hilarious true story. Names and some details have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals
Location I-5 (Interstate), N.California.
“You OK in there?”
“What does it look like?”
“To me?”
“Yeah”.
“Cant’ say looks great from here, pal. It’s your lucky day, though".
“Yeah? How’s that?”
“See, there is a tree, like, ten feet at two o’clock and you’re at three o’clock. It’s a gnarly giant oak. The bushes broke your impact. Like sort of cushioned you…um, had you ran into, say, at two, we wouldn’t be talking right now…"
"Yeaa…"
"Yeah. What’s your name?"
"Andy. You?"
“We’re not friending here. Just making sure you’re conscious. You’re the one buried in the bushes”
“Sorry, man.”
“No Problem. What day is it?”
“Monday”
“What’s your favorite movie?”
“Fast And Furious.”
“Isn’t that cute. Which one? There’s three.”
“The first…the one with Paul Walker and—‘
“Yeah, yeah. Vin ‘Dumb” Diesel.”
“Right”
“Right”
“So you’re OK, then?”
Silence.
“You Okay?”
“Fine. Fine. How’s the car looking?”
I aim and take the shot. Click! Click!
“Not pretty. Looks great in the shot though…The license plate and the logo will be photo shopped so no worries about that part”
“Photo…what?”
“Will be clo…removed digitally.”
“You from the paper?”
“No. With the studio. Universal”
“Like in Hollywood and shit, man? Thought, you were from the news.”
“So you’re safe, then”.
“Yea, man. Appreciate it! Otherwise, my boss woulda fire me on the spot”
Silence.
“You there?”
“Yes”
“As I was sayin, man, that greedy SOB woulda fire me and—“
“Fire you?” I snapped. I couldn’t recognize my new voice. "He should’ve f****kill you! I’da f**** kill you, you moron! Why’d do it?”
“Do what? What’re ya talk—‘
“Don’t get cute with me, Andy. I saw what happened! You moronically….stupidly, not to mention unnecessarily, tried to pass the car in front of you! Road demons like you take lives. Innocent lives. Road F****g Demons like you, who call themselves great drivers after watching a stupid car-race-chase- flicks like Fast and Furious and pull stunts with a pizza delivery truck…almost cost me my life too. I had five (a fact) fatal and almost 30 well-not so fatal-accidents, totaling a brand new car every six-seven months which had caused all insurance companies in the State of California to refuse to insure me thinking I was some kind of stunt driver who’ve had come out every time with not even a nose-bleed from an on- purposely totaled 50K cars!”
“Got insurance now?”
“Shut up! What’d I say last?”
“Something about 50 grand totaled—‘
“Thanks, genius”. I said now in my normal voice. You a good driver, Andy? Course, you are. Like all men, you’re good at sex and driving, right? Know who’s the best driver, Andy? Not expecting an answer, I went on. The one who knows the horse-power under him and who knows, without panicking, how to handle a moment of crisis. In a moment like this who saves the day and lives along with his own. Not the one who grabs the steering wheel with two hands like a vice and knows and minds every traffic sign. Looks like you’re a lousy driver, Andy, trapped in that jammed stupid pizza truck—‘
It-It’s not a pizza truck…it’s," I hear a sob. "I work for a K… Copy Center”
Omitted.
After fifteen minutes or so, a black SUV pulls over and a man about my height but skinnier, in his early thirties with a clean white T-Shirt, casual looking jeans and a cop’s haircut; wearing a black plastic framed skier sunglasses.
“How are we doing here?” He asks all formal.
“How it looks like we’re doing,” I said nonchalantly.” Me and Andy,” I motion with my head toward the truck, “are having a little break in the woods. Chatting”.
“Are you part of the party, sir?”
“What party?” I ask in mocking but innocent tone.
“Is that your car over there?”
I turn my head and look through some curious onlookers I’ve failed to notice earlier to see my gleaming silver colored car on the other side of the three-lane highway, then back at him, our gaze locked.
“I think it is”.
“Did you cross all the way up here?” In an incredulous tone.
“Yah,” mimicking his tone.
“You have a wish of a suicide, sir?”
“Not that I’m aware of”
“Are you on medication?”
“Who is it you talking to?” Came the broken voice of Andy.
“Looks like help is here Andy. Officer, could you tell Andy that you’re the Help".
“I’m not the help”.
“Who’re you?”
“Who’re you?”
“No, no. I asked first”.
“I’m off- duty. Officer Brown, Elk Grove PD”.
“Sorry Andy. The help is not here. This is Off-Duty Officer Brown from Elk Grove PD”.
Off-Duty Officer Brown turns and takes quick strides to the black SUV, inserts his clean-cut head through the open door window and reaches out for what looks like a police radio.
“He’s calling it in, Andy. Just relax okay?”
“You said you called it in”
“I didn’t say, but I called it in almost twenty minutes ago”.
“Oh, God,”. Implores Andy.
“Calm down, Andy. You’ll be fine. And sorry for what I said, you know, about, um, you being a pussy driver and stuff”.
“You didn’t say pussy-driver!”
“I didn’t? Oh, Good, then. We’re good, right Andy?”
Whatever.
“Any physical injuries?”
“Oh, now you ask!” Andy retorts.
“That’s not a healthy tone, Andy. I did ask if you were okay. And you said—“
“I still can’t believe you crossed all that traffic,” cut me off Officer Brown. “You know how dangerous that is?”
“I have a feeling you’ll tell me”
“It’s all about the picture, isn’t it?”
“No, no. It’s not all about the picture. I saw it happening. Stopped and ran over here, risking my life, as you’ve put it, to make sure that the persons in the truck were okay. There was one person, Andy, the one still in there and after making sure he was OK, I took a few shots. Andy! I called. Didn’t I ask you if you were OK?
“I don’t remember! Andy yells back
When did you hear the Click sound of the camera? Before or after I talked to you?
I don’t remember! Andy yells again
Must be a concussion, I said as a matter of fact. Any idea when the help is coming?
I could feel Officer Brown’s prickly gaze behind the sunglasses.
“Computers,’ I said complaining. “Cell phones. The blessing and the curse of the twenty-first century. These gadgets should make things easier and faster. And here we are, you Off- Duty Officer Brown and me Dr Maven Stark, standing helplessly next to a—‘
Are you a doctor? Officer brown’s brow raised above the rim of his sunglasses. Why didn’t you do something?”
“Whoa! Easy! Not that kind of doctor. I hold— a PhD in Photography and Fine Art, I wanted to say.
“What? Afraid of blood, doctor? But not afraid of crossing six lanes with average speed of 70miles per hour traffic?”
“See, you bring up that crossing thing again. You make it sound as if I’d just crossed the enemy line of fire in Iraq. OK. I think I’m done here. Good luck, Andy! Officer Brown is here to protect and serve. So if you—‘
“You said he is off-duty!”
“Yes. But he’s still off-duty officer of the law…with Elks Grove PD. I’m just a…Mr. Nobody.”
“Elk,” corrects me Officer Brown. “Single. Not plural,”
“So there was only one single elk in the whole grove which the place’s named after? Andy!”
“What!?” snapped Andy.
“It’s Elk. Singular. Not Elks!”
“I don’t care if it’s Bison or Bisons Grove! Please, don’t leave me here!”
I look at Officer Brown, shaking my head. “I guess he’s lost fate in the system. Can you blame him? It’s been almost an hour now,”
“This situation is treated as non-emergency, doctor. You should know the procedure,”
“Procedure? Non-emergency? Says who? Who decides on what is non-emergency or emergency situation? Has anybody, anybody at all, including you, saw or talked to the persons involved in the accident?”
“Single person! Andy not Andies!” yells Andy
“Andy, here, could have an internal bleeding. Not arguing. Done and gone,”
“You’re not going anywhere,” said Officer Brown anxiously.
“What’didja say?”
“I’m not going to let you cross that traffic again and be responsible for whatever may happen”.
“I’m over 18 years old. I’m grown up,” then, at that very moment, something happened in some regions of my brain that controlled sanity and rationale. “I want you TO LISTEN ALL EARS, OFFICER BROWN! I’VE LIVED IN 25 COUNTRIES; TRAINED IN MARSHAL ARTS AND BROKE THE JAW OF MY 9TH GRADE PE TEACHER; BEEN SHOT AT MORE THAN TEN TIMES AND I CAN SHOOT A SINGLE HAIRLINE OFF OF YOUR HEAD FROM 50 FEET! I’VE CHASED TERRORISTS WITH AK-47s BARE HAND! AND OTHER THOUSANDS MIND-BOGGLING INCIDENTS I DON’T CARE TO MENTION! I’VE HAD A VERY BAD DAY WITNESSED AN ACCIDENT BEEN STUCK HERE LISTENING TO YOU AND TO THAT WHINIG MAMAS BOY!
"I heard that" Andy yells
"Sorry, Andy! AND now,” I lowered my voice; a son to his father . “You’re telling me I’m not capable of crossing the road. Is that it?”
Officer Brown takes a few steps back. “Sir, I need you to calm down—“
“I am ‘calmed down’!”
“Good. Now, we’ll just have to wait until an officer on duty comes and drive you safely to your car. I understand your frustration here. But the law prohibits pedestrians on the highway. You could be charged with jay-walking. Do-you-understand-what-I’m telling you, sir?”
Omitted.
A marked highway patrol car pulls behind the black SUV. Officer Brown walks to the uniform with aviator sunglasses. I could tell that he was particularly feeding him beans about me. Then Officer brown turns and, without a single glance at me, gets in his SUV and drives off.
The uniform walks up to me, “How’re you doing, sir?”
“Doing great. Never done better”
“Is that your car over there?” his eyes darted to the camera slung on my shoulder.
“Yep. That’s the one. It’s my car. Just love silver color. Silver makes the car look Noble. Expensive. Can you imagine an uglier car in the traffic than a red Box Toyota Corolla? I honestly can’t”.
“I wouldn’t know about that, sir”
“I know, I know. Just making small conversation to…you know, melt the ice and pass the time. We have nothing but time. Einstein disagrees, though. No time in space and stuff. And now, they came up with the Superstring Theory. Everything in the universe, that includes human kinds, like you and me, and my six lanes across silver car over there. Them scientists are plain nuttos! “
“From my understanding you crossed the six lanes and came over. Is that correct, sir?”
“Crazy, huh? Correct. I did cross all those lanes”
“It’s all about the picture, isn’t it?’
“You got me. It’s all about the picture. Take it at all cost”
The uniform opens the back door of the petrol car.
Get in, sir”
“Sure. But what about Andy?”
“He’ll be fine”
How did they know that? Are they psychics or just simply they didn’t care as much as my crossing the six lanes. I’ll never know.
I got in.
“Please fasten your seatbelt”
“Sure, captain! Where’re going?”
“Driving you to your car. You know how dangerous is what you did?”
“Himm, is, like, very dangerous. Now I know what I did was extremely irresponsible”
He slams his foot on the gas pedal, and now we are swerving in the middle grassy land that separated the two-way traffic. “It can be that dangerous. There are drunk drivers…” Now, the car is zigzagging on the road. “Drivers on dope. ” . Slams the brakes to a complete halt, then floors the accelerator, making a U-turn back toward my car.
I unfasten my seatbelt. “Wow! How did you learn to drive like that? Let me guess. Fast And Furious? Need For Speed? Don’t tell me at the academy…”
“Nah, Just a hobby of mine”
“Awesome. Well, Andy is a huge fan of Fast And Furious”.
“Who’s Andy?”
“Thanks for the awesome ride, officer. Lesson well learned”
Who was Andy?
Purakaunui Stream
New Zealand
Visiting the Catlins is like visiting a forest wonderland and no matter the lighting, it's a beautiful place. We were there at the tail end of autumn with most leaves fallen and being washed away downstream. This spot is a few minutes walk above the main falls. You can see a post processing rationale at the following link : everlookphotography.wordpress.com/2014/06/04/editing-rati... [Deviant Art Gallery] [Facebook] [Web Gallery] [500px][G+]
You'll find a number of these "balanced rocks" in the general vicinity of Lee's Ferry/Navajo Bridge/Marble Canyon (i.e., northern Arizona). The rationale for tossing shoes onto the top of them eludes me.
The Dog Island Lighthouse on Dog Island in Foveaux Strait is New Zealand's tallest lighthouse, and one of its oldest. It is notable for its masonry construction, and is a work example by an engineer who was prominent at the time. The lighthouse employed the first revolving beam in New Zealand, and the unique original light apparatus was in use for 60 years. Dog Island Lighthouse is one of the most distinct lighthouses in New Zealand, with only two others having stripes painted on them for better visibility at daytime. The lighthouse is registered by Heritage New Zealand as a Category I structure, and the adjacent lighthouse keepers cottage has a Category II registration. Originally operated by three lighthouse keepers, the structure has since 1989 been remote controlled from Maritime New Zealand's Wellington office, with Dog Island since having been uninhabited. Dog Island Lighthouse has twice featured on New Zealand stamps.
It was clear that a lighthouse was needed in Foveaux Strait, but there were long discussions in the 1860s where to place it. Captains with local experience were asked for their opinion, and they suggested possible sites on Centre Island, Ruapuke Island, Stewart Island, Solander Islands, and Dog Island. The latter was chosen as Southland's first site for a lighthouse; the recommendation was made by the Invercargill Harbour Master to James Alexander Robertson Menzies, the first Superintendent of the Southland Province. The Harbour Master's rationale was that the island was dangerous, as "it is very low and not seen till close upon it". At the time, the Southland Province had just split from Otago Province, and both provincial governments were involved. There was confusion over who would take ownership of the situation, and in the end, the central government assumed responsibility for the construction of all lighthouses throughout the colony.
The lighthouse was first operated on 5 August 1865. Within a year of its construction, it was noted that the tower oscillated in high winds much more than other towers. Due to weak peaty subsoils, the tower took on a slight lean. During storms, the tower leaked severely and it was feared that this would strengthen the mortar between the stones. Weak mortar was scraped out in 1867 and replaced with Portland cement. At the same time, the tower was painted with a large white stripe in the middle, with the remainder painted in black, both to make the tower more visible during daylight, but also to further waterproof the structure. This colour scheme has remained ever since.
In 1871, a crack appeared at the base of the tower and the Marine Engineer of the day ordered immediate strengthening. This was carried out with strong hardwood and wrought iron bands. This work, significantly hindered by bad weather, cost £978-4s-3d. By 1916, it was decided that major strengthening was necessary again, as the cement grout was failing. Plans drawn up then and amended two years later saw a reinforced concrete skin of 2 feet in thickness being applied to the outside up to just below the balcony, and an internal 6 inches reinforced concrete lining up to the fourth floor. The tower was repainted in its previous colour scheme.
The burners for the lights were changed from colza oil to paraffin oil in 1876. The original system was in use for 60 years, and in 1925, the optical apparatus was upgraded to a second order dioptric lens with an incandescent oil burner. This changed the light output to three flashes in quick succession every 30 seconds. A diesel electric plant was installed in 1954, and electrical operation of the beam started in October of that year. The diesel generator was replaced in 1970. In September 1999, the light was replaced again, this time with a rotating beacon, with a 35-watt halogen bulb as the light source. The energy comes from solar panels and a battery bank.
A third dwelling for lighthouse keepers was built in 1884. The three original dwellings were in a poor state by the 1920s and two houses with six rooms each were built for the families; at the same time, the two original cottages became storage sheds. A new house was built in 1979 for the by then single lighthouse keeper.
There were originally three lighthouse keepers with their families on the island. The initial rotating light mechanism had to be wound up hourly, and in 1883, the principal lighthouse keeper died when he fell down the central shaft trying to attach weights to the mechanism. In 1977, the number of lighthouse keepers were reduced from two to one due to operational improvements. There was a Committee of Inquiry into lighthouse automation in 1981 and the Dog Island site was one of nine sites throughout New Zealand that was to remain staffed; in this case, it was due to its remoteness, and its ability to help with search and rescue in the area. In August 1989, Dog Island was fully automated and the last permanent lighthouse keeper in New Zealand was withdrawn from service. The lighthouse is remote controlled from Maritime New Zealand's Wellington office.
Despite the lighthouse, the steamer SS Waikouaiti ran aground on Dog Island on 28 November 1939 during dense fog and was wrecked.