View allAll Photos Tagged speculation
The scary staircase at Dunino Den.
Theres a lot of speculation about the ancient Den, some say witches used it for demonic rituals, some say its a Druid hangout, others say pagan worship.
Regardless, its a great natural wonder and a great place to explore. Various offerings haunt the site; upon an upturned tree stump, bangles, coins, ribbons and shells are placed as gifts to whatever gods or spirits care to notice.
the one thing that stands out is the amount of coins littering the place!
Theres supposedly a face carved into the rock not unsimilar to the Green Man, but we couldnt find it.
next time perhaps.... if the spirit of the forrest allows!!!
Interstellar matter and dust Banquet of interstellar dust matter and looking at the internal threads of our galaxy somewhere between Centaur Sagittarius and the powerful Scorpio in the constellation Ophiuchus, where the secular horse galloping our imagination inside the stars. The main disc of our galaxy has a diameter of 80,000 to 100,000 light-years, the perimeter 250 to 300 000 light years and a thickness of about 1,000 light years. It consists of 200 up to 400 billion stars. If we define a natural scale and assume that the Milky Way has a diameter of 130 km, the solar system would have a length of 2 mm. The Galactic Halo extends over a diameter of 250,000 and 400,000 light years. As reported extensively in the galaxy structure below, new research has shown that the disk extends much more than we thought until last. Officially, since 2005, the Milky Way is now considered to be a large barred spiral galaxy SBbc type the Hubble sequence (small barred spiral helix) with a total mass of 600 to 3,000 billion solar masses (M☉) [5] [6], comprising from 200 to 400,000,000,000 stars. The galactic disk has an estimated diameter of about 100,000 light years. The distance of the Sun from the center of the galaxy is estimated at 26,000 light years. The disc is protuberant in the center and symperikleietai from the so-called thick disk. The Sun (and thus the Earth and the Solar System) is quite close to the inner ring of the Arm of Orion, local cloud, at 7,94 ± 0,42 kpc from the Galactic Center. The distance between the local arm and immediately nearest, the Perseus Arm, is of the order of 1 · 1019 m (6.500 light years). The Sun and by extension the solar system, located in what scientists call the Galactic Habitable Zone. The direction of the Sun's path (apix or corymb), refers to the direction of the Sun as it travels in the Galaxy. The general direction of galactic motion of the Sun is near the constellation Hercules, at an angle of approximately 86 degrees from the Galactic Center. The orbit of the Sun in the Galaxy is expected to be approximately elliptical with the addition of influences from the galactic arms and uneven mass distribution. We are currently 1/8 of the track before perigalaxio (the shortest distance from the center of the Milky Way). The solar system takes about 225-250000000 years to complete an orbit (one Galactic Year), so speculation has performed approximately 20-25 orbits during its lifetime. The orbital speed of the Solar System is 217 km / sec, ie. One light-year every 1,400 years, and 1 AU in 8 days.
I took this last weekend through (it was way too cold to open it) the window of my cabin in Breckenridge at about 3 am on Valentines day. The stars were just too bright and beautiful to pass up. used my new 50mm 1.4, and stopped down a bit and did about 15min exp. You can see the glow of the town (off to the right in the picture) on the mountain (Mt. Helens).
Feels good to post again, been so busy recently that I haven't even really shot anything worth while in a few weeks, hope you like it.
Contact me if you're interested in my shots (no digital version requests).
abenison@gmail.com
I'm also now on imagekind!
All rights reserved
So, I've just finished watching the Season 3 finale for The Flash, so there will be spoilers ahead. You've been warned.
It was a good finale, though I didn't find it as emotional as the last episode. There were things that have me ideas, and that's what this post is about.
The first idea I had, which won't happen, was that there would be two Barrys for Season 4. I feel like that would've been interesting, like an "Oh, here's how we beat [Blank]." And the character growth would've been cool to see. But he died, so that won't happen.
Savitar name-dropped DeVoe, his second name-drop in this season I believe. Therefore, I think it's safe to assume that DeVoe, or the Thinker, will be the Season 4 Big-Bad. In case you don't know, he's the purple guy in the photo.
Because Barry left, I think Wally may get to wear the suit, which I have mixed feelings about. Another thing was if Jesse was protecting Earth-3 while Jay was away, but Jay's back now, and Harry may be back for good, does that mean both Jesse and Harry will be series regulars next season? I think that'd be cool. Since we're talking about speedsters, I think it's time I mentioned Black Flash. Is he gone for good? Caitlyn froze him, and he crumbles to pieces, but if he could be permanently killed like that why didn't Eobard have Snart do that in Legends? I hope he's still up-and-running (pun intended) because I like the character. But the biggest thing I saw was the storm. In The Flash Rebirth #1, there was a speed-force storm which gave a bunch of citizens the same powers as the Flash. I mentioned this in my Lightning Bug story. I think it'd be cool for them to do that, and have Barry or Wally be thrust into teaching them, although because I've heard lots of things complaint about too many speedsters, and the show-writers aren't making another speedster Big-Bad, I fear it may not happen.
Anyways, those are my ideas/speculations. What are yours? Let me know in the comments. And in case you were wondering, H.R. was totally copied from Max Williams because I think it's a great custom. Thinker is made from Captain Hook's head, LBM Catwoman's cowl, and Magneto's torso. Enjoy, and have a nice day.
With another boat-load of new traction delivered to Kingmoor the knock-on effect on the older DRS traction will become apparent once these new locomotives come into service. There's *rumours* that even more Class 68s are going to be ordered and there's *anticipated speculation* that DRS will be making Class 37/4s available for sale once surplus to requirements.
37419 tnt 37688 1Q14 at Manchester Piccadilly 28/09/2013
Following much recent speculation about the firm's future, and an emergency council meeting on Wednesday, the end came on Friday 24 January for Halton Borough Transport. I happened to be in Liverpool for a short while on Tuesday, and took a shot of one of the fleet's former Metrobus Scanias, not expecting it to be the final time I saw one of them in service. Although I made a couple of trips over to Widnes for the final two days of operation, none of these Scanias turned out on normal service while I was there.
B.L.A.D.E was hired by the MOD in the 2020's for a "Classified" reason. Speculations have been made towards the MOD's actions, Many believe it was due to the UK armed forces being spread too thinly out around the Globe fighting alongside old enemies. B.L.A.D.E's technology was created, invested in and produced by one company which made its millions producing a new greener, cleaner energy source;
"The Thoreum Energy Plants".
These Thoreum Plants now power every house, every vehicle and even your average mobile device.
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Troop count total = 25 Personell
- 6 Standard Troopers
- 11 Specialists
- 3 Drivers/engineers
- 5 Elites
- 1 Battle mech (Hopefully more sometime soon)
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So here it is my up to date faction. Yes I know the Clone torso's are not brilliant, However I do have an Ideal torso in mind, These. But I'm not made of money so it could be a while before I buy them.
Im also thinking about turning my APC's into Tanks, and making another one :3
Speculation: He needed to make a call, but couldn't dial with gloves. So he took off his boot to use his toes. Then he saw there was no phone and ... oh never mind. White Cloud, Kansas.
Tomorrow, the submarines at Disneyland close for an extended overhaul projected to last into September. Speculation had suggested that due to planned construction in Tomorrowland, and unplanned budget woes, the submarines may actually never return...I certainly hope that is NOT the case, as the submarines have always been one of my very favorites, having great sentimental value to me as well...
Truth be told, I had heard about the closing of the submarines, and planned for this shot at the first opportunity of a good sunset. December 18th was a photo meetup day for many of us local to Disneyland, and I kept an eye on the sky all day from work thinking this might be an epic evening, at least for California sunsets. I reached the park just as the sun went down and made a beeline for the Monorail platform, while everyone else went to Paradise Pier in DCA which was also a great choice.
As it turned out, I got my shot, and hopefully it won't be the last we see of the submarines at Disneyland...
Demonstration against property speculation. The rap music wasn't great, but the energy was. OranienStrasse, Berlin.
37424 (or 37558) 'Avro Vulcan XH558' heads north over Ravenglass Viaduct with the 14.37 Barrow-in-Furness - Carlisle on Thurs 28th December 2017.
Quite a lot of speculation at the moment about the 37's being replaced on these services by top & tailed 68's at some stage, maybe sooner rather than later......
Happy 17th Birthday to the girls with a passion for fashion!
After much speculation, I can finally & officially confirm some HUGE news with you guys that I have had to keep under wraps for quite some time. I have partnered with toy company MGA Entertainment to design an exclusive collection of #BRATZ Collector dolls to be released in Fall 2018!! 😭❤️
I’ve been a huge Bratz fan since their debut in 2001, so this is something I have wanted to do since I was a kid, and I am beyond excited that it’s now come to fruition! A true dream come true!!!
I went to L.A last year to work on the project & was hands on with every detail. Having creative freedom on every single detail including designing their outfits, choosing fabrics, hair colours, accessories, make-up & more. We want to make sure these dolls are perfect, and appreciate your continued patience and support. I promise it’ll be worth the wait!! My goal was to focus on giving Bratz fans the sassy, cutting edge & fashion forward dolls we grew up with, but with fresh & modern styling that brings the dolls into 2018 & beyond!
I have to say a huge thank you to the CEO of MGAE, Isaac Larian who believed in my vision & who made this partnership a reality. I can't wait for everyone to see the dolls & hope you will all be proud & go support them 💋 #BratzXHaydenWilliams #BratzCollector #BratzDolls #Bratz2018 #PassionForFashion
© Ben Heine || Facebook || Twitter || www.benheine.com
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For more information about my art: info@benheine.com
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A Flower Will Grow and Grow
A poem by Peter S. Quinn
A flower will grow and grow
And give every petals show
Of love colors up and close
In shades that to summer flows
Of every nature's true choice
Is given much speculation
With every tincture’s rejoice
In its step by step gradation
Their moments are never lost
They give of their pleasure’s glow
Of foliage green to yellow rust
As season in its moment's go
Like blue sky in dreams high
Following new twilight's dawn
Where every our fortunate lie
To carry our good judgment on
A life is like a flower of living
Growing its leaves from steam
Every its laudable there giving
Both of reality and of its dream
Faith without Love
is not faith,
Only speculation or
knowledge or mere
intellectual assent
The Fruit of
Authentic Faith
is Always Love
~R.C. Sproul
There is always speculation about the references to drugs in the song, "Puff the Magic Dragon", but as with many songs in the 1960s, we read far too much into it.
If you listen to the song and the words, it's actually about a friendship between a boy and his dragon friend, and about growing up. It ends quite sadly. Lyrics below.
I guess this is my interpretation of the song, although Puff's friend is a young girl here.
Listen & enjoy:
Puff The Magic Dragon -- Peter, Paul & Mary ~ Live 1965
Created for the Magnificent Manipulated Masterpieces 113th MMM WHATS IN THE SKY Challenge
Artwork ©jackiecrossley
© All rights reserved. This image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying & recording without my written permission. Thank you.
Stock used:
E-S Genesis Dragon by Elevit-Stock
Laila In the Sun - by KarahRobinson-Art
Forest Mountain - Unrestricted by Cat-in-the-Stock
Shaded Mushroom PNG STOCK by KarahRobinson-Art
Stock ideas: Ps Boss.
Puff the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honali
Little Jackie Paper loved that rascal Puff
And brought him strings and sealing wax and other fancy stuff
Oh, Puff the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honali
Puff the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honali
Together they would travel on a boat with billowed sail
Jackie kept a lookout perched on Puff's gigantic tail
Noble kings and princes would bow whene'er they came
Pirate ships would lower their flags when Puff roared out his name
Oh, Puff the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honali
Puff the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honali
A dragon lives forever, but not so little boys
Painted wings and giant's rings make way for other toys
One gray night it happened, Jackie Paper came no more
And Puff, that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar
His head was bent in sorrow, green scales fell like rain
Puff no longer went to play along the cherry lane
Without his lifelong friend, Puff could not be brave
So Puff, that mighty dragon, sadly slipped into his cave
Oh, Puff the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honali
Puff the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honali
Percival Lowell speculation that there were canals on Mars. In 1894, he chose Flagstaff, Arizona as the home of his new observatory, the now famous Lowell Observatory. In 1909 another telescope allowed closer observation of the structures Lowell had interpreted as canals as erosion. The canals were definitely disproved in the 1960s by NASA’s Mariner missions. Today, the surface markings taken to be canals are regarded as an optical illusion.
Sketchbook LensFX, PhotoWizard,, plaster, hotwax
Tulip -( center-back lighting from sunshine) . In the seventeenth century in the Netherlands, the enthusiasm for tulips lead to a period of speculation, known as "tulipomania," where the demand for particular varieties commanded enormous prices.
Like the wolves at the other zoo, this eagle drew some curious speculation from onlookers. "What's it doing?"
Music for today : Wall Street wail by Duke Ellington
Just at the right time to post that shot!!
this morning all the financial markets enclosed with a decline for a countless day anymore!!
Financial crisis is on the world, anybody can changes that; governments try to repair the system but the system have to repair himself!
The world is in an economic crisis because a little part of bankers and richs businessman take part in speculation using immaterial money created by the subprimes, property credits, popular savings to earn more and more money!! but the system return to himself. next to the property crisis, now it's financial cisis.
And on these times of crisis, some of them, continue earning money because they gamble with the stock exchange decline!
The detriment is for all the bank employees who lose their job, but this regulation by the emptiness will clean a rotten economical system!!
There is some months people in Africa and Asia cannot find bread and food and some United Nations representatives told that it need 70 billions to feed the world.
And today we assist to a debauchery of money by Central Banks: 800 billions $ for U.S. Federal Reserve, 300 billions €for Europe Central Bank and 4000 billions Of Yen for Bank Of Japan....
Our world is crazy my dear friends....
.../...
Juste au bon moment pour poster cette image!! ce matin les places financières ont encore clôturer à la baisse pour une énième fois!!
Le monde économique est en crise, les gouvernements font tout leur possible pour tenter de le réparer, mais celui-ci doit se soigner par lui-même.
la crise est à nos portes car depuis de nombreuses années, banquiers et boursicateurs jouent l'argent immatériel produit par les subprimes, crédit immobiliers, épargne populaire. Mis le système s'est retournée contre lui-même, apres la crise immobilière, voila que découle de ça la crise banquière.
Et en ces temps de crise, comme certains spéculent sur la baisse de la bourse, en ce moment des banquiers s'en mettent plein les poches en spéculant sur les chutes des places financières!!
Il y a quelques mois en Afrique et en Asie, la population réclamait du pain et de la nourriture, les matières premières étant manquantes, un rapport de l'ONU rappelait que 70 à 80 milliards d'euros étaient nécessaires pour "nourrir le monde"
Et aujourd'hui on assiste à des débauches d'injection d'argent: La réserve fédéral américaine (FED) a injecté 700 milliards de dollars, la banque central européene (BCE) elle 300 milliards d'euros et la Banque du Japon (BOJ) 4000 milliards de yens réspectivement dans les marchés nationaux pour sauver les banques et les agences de crédit!
Notre monde est complétement fou...
I'm now on facebook, if you got it, check my profile:
www.new.facebook.com/people/Julien_Ratel/585303328
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On Explore Oct 9, 2008 #399
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When I was in high school there was speculation the the C&NW needed to buy new locomotives for its Chicago area commuter service. There was a claim the the C&NW had ordered FP45s with head end power units instead of steam generators. In 1970 the C&NW ended the speculation by purchasing four KCS E units, including 5031B, which was originally KCS 23. Imagine the shock to a loyal North Western fan; E8As with number boards. The first time I remember seeing a C&NW E8A that did not have a bald nose. CNW E8A 5031B
Mount Prospect, Ill., June, 1970.
Photo by Jim Lewnard.
Frame#7006-34
Light and shadow on Trillium Pond causing a speckled pattern. The water was peppered by Black Locust blossoms.
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28/100 paddles 2016.
Earlier on there were speculations of the withdrawal of the Heritage service that runs on Route 15 with buses instructed to run on weekends during the summer and Bank Holidays only according to the 853 blog which got a hold of these plans that were leaked. Though these proposals did not appear in the Central London bus consultation so I was relieved knowing that these were 'rumors' but according to London Evening Standard these are now secret plans.
If you would like to know more on this news you can click on the link below:
www.google.com/amp/s/www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/an...
If TFL want to reduce buses, they should reduce the new routemasters instead, I've always noticed so many empty buses towards Blackwall which shows how ridiculously high the frequency is of Route 15. Same for buses towards Trafalgar Square. Also they already withdrew the heritage service on Route 9 back in 2014, and with the daily service being axed it will much harder for tourists who would like to have a chance to ride these buses. Again, another stupid proposal.
Without knowing what this plant is, it's only speculation as to what these little structures are. Without going on too thin of a limb, though, these are almost certainly seeds of some type. Perhaps this is some aquatic plant or semi-aquatic plant that utilizes water to spread its seeds downstream. It would make sense as these little things are too low to the ground for wind dispersal. There's no fruit or flower to tempt an animal. What are your thoughts?
Warkworth Castle in Northumberland is forever associated with the Percy Earls of Northumberland but the site did not start with them. Indeed there is some mystery over who first built it and when. Located on a tight bend in the River Coquet and about a mile from the sea, the castle sits on the neck of this land which means that the enclosed space becomes an outer ward with the river as its moat on three sides. The medieval church and modern village now occupy the bend.
As an easy to defend site, close to the English/Scottish border, the speculation is that it may have had some sort of fortification well before the present building but this is now elusive - especially so if the first fortification was of mere earth and timber. Henry, son of King David I of Scotland, was granted the site around 1139 AD and he, in turn, granted salt pans to various local monks. As the new Earl of Northumberland the old guide book speculates that he either built the first castle or he improved an existing motte and bailey with new stone walls; the guide book certainly notes ‘Norman’ foundations at various points in the current building. A castle certainly exists in documents of 1157 AD.
King John of England confirmed the castle to Robert of Clavering in 1199 AD. Robert spent much time in the area as Sheriff of Northumberland and was gifted other local estates. He is thought to have built the main gateway, some of the walls and improved the Great Hall. He may also have built or improved the keep but this work has since vanished under the large and luxurious later Percy building. The Claverings held the castle but such was its importance that royal troops were also garrisoned here at times - at the king’s expense - due to the Scottish wars. In 1322 the constable of the castle sent 26 light horsemen (hobilars) to join the English army. The Scots were beaten off in 1327 and again the following year when Robert The Bruce besieged it.
The last Clavering male died in debt in 1332 and the castle eventually passed to Henry, the second Lord Percy of Alnwick. He improved the gatehouse and walls and may have added the Grey Mare’s Tail tower on the eastern side. From this time onwards Warkworth was the second castle home of the Percys and much favoured by them. The third Percy lord was a great soldier in the 100 Years War in France and was created Earl of Northumberland in 1377 before winning the battles of Otterburn and Homildon Hill against the Scots.
Sometime during this period extensive building work was carried out by the Percys with the keep on the motte being rebuilt as a sumptuous and comfortable building with decent accommodation, ample water management and drainage. It even had a very modern feature - a light well extending down the centre of the building to draw in both light and fresh air. For the ‘grim north’ this was a very princely home.
However after supporting Henry IV’s 1399 coup against Richard II, the Percys fell out with King Henry and rebelled - leading to executions and a period of disgrace. During this time Warkworth was attacked by a royal army with gunpowder artillery and it surrendered after seven discharges of the royal cannons. It is thus the first British castle to be successfully attacked by artillery despite the claims of nearby Bamburgh Castle.
John, Duke of Bedford held the castle for 11 years before it was returned to the next Percy - Henry, Earl of Northumberland. He was drawn into disputes with the junior Nevilles (the Earls of Salisbury and Warwick) but was supported by the senior Nevilles, the Earls of Westmoreland, who had their own issues with the junior Nevilles. Inevitably all this was mostly about money and inheritance. It paved the way to private battles between these families BEFORE the so-called Wars of the Roses. Indeed the first Battle of St Albans in 1455 may be more of a Mafia-style ‘hit’ as the Yorkists were lead by the three Richards (York, Salisbury and Warwick) and the principal dead were the Duke of Somerset, Henry Percy and a Percy kinsman, Lord Clifford.
The castle passed into Yorkist hands and - at various times - the Earl of Warwick directed sieges at Alnwick, Bamburgh and Dunstanburgh using Warkworth as his base. Warwick’s brother John Neville was given the castle and the earldom of Northumberland for a time but Edward IV eventually returned it to Henry Percy, the 4th Earl of Northumberland. John Neville was thus ‘downgraded’ to 1st Marquis of Montague and was thoroughly alienated by this action, leading to John joining his brother Warwick in rebellion against Edward IV. Warkworth’s Montague Tower is probably his work.
The 4th Percy earl carried out some work in his own right. One oddity is that a collegiate church was planned right in front of the keep which would have cut the keep off from the rest of the inner bailey. We know this as the present church foundations contain a tunnel which would have passed under the massive building to allow access to the keep from the bailey. However the guide book suggests the church was never finished and that the foundation crypts were partly buried and then became used for storage.
Henry the 4th earl became infamous for not supporting King Richard III at Bosworth in 1485. He then managed to get himself killed by the locals at Cocklodge in 1489 and is now buried in Beverley Cathedral. Later Percys got involved in the 16th century religious conflicts in England and none of them came out of it well. One even got involved in the Gunpowder Plot against the new Protestant King James I of England. One footnote is that King James visited Warkworth in this period and found it ruined and overrun by goats and sheep in every chamber. Some of his party went into the castle and were: “Much moved to see it so spoiled and so badly kept”.
Later Percys favoured Alnwick over Warkworth and it was one of these (now a Duke) who turned the site over to the future Ministry of Public Building and Works in 1922. It is now an English Heritage site and well worth a visit.
The beautiful Icelandic waterfall. Called the 'Golden' waterfall for several reasons apparently -
1. The glacier water is not pure white, having a golden cast, not that we could really detect it when we visited! This is apparently due to the silt that the glacier deposits in the river.
2. An ancient chieftain became very rich, and before he died, he threw all his gold into the river at this point, and this is why a rainbow forms.
3. It is a part of the Golden Circle - a tour of the geothermal spots of Iceland
Gullfoss is in the river Hvítá (engl. white river), which has its origin in the glacier lake Hvítávatn (engl. white river lake) at Lángjökull glacier about 40km north of Gullfoss.
The waterfall Gullfoss
The waterfall Gullfoss © Tobias Klose, Scuba Diving in Iceland Glacial water is brownish, since it carries lots of sediments that the glacial ice has carved off the earth. Gullfoss is called the "Golden Falls", since on a sunny day the water plunging down the three step staircase and then tumbeling in two steps down into the 32 m deep crevice truly looks golden.
To stand at Gullfoss and wallow in the beauty and the wonder of nature is an uplifting experience. One feels more energetic when leaving Gullfoss than when arriving. That's the impact these unique nature sites such as Gullfoss and Geysir have on us.
Sigríður Tómasdóttir, the daughter of Tómas Tómasson who owned the waterfall in the first half of the 20th century must have felt the same. She lived at a farm nearby and loved Gullfoss as no one else.
At this period of time much speculation about using Gullfoss to harness electricity was going on. Foreign investors who rented Gullfoss indirectly from the owners wanted to build a hydroelectric powerplant, which would have changed and destroyed Gullfoss forever.
As the story goes it's thanks to Sigríður Tómasdóttir that we still can uplift ourself with the beauty of Gullfoss, because she was the one that protested so intensly against these plans by going as far to threat that she would throw herself into Gullfoss and therby kill herself.
To make her threat believeable she went barefoot on a protest march from Gullfoss to Reykjavik. In those days the roads weren't paved and when she arrived after 120 kilometers her feet were bleeding and she was in very bad shape.
The people believed her and listened and the powerplant at Gullfoss was never built.
Today one can see the memorial site of Sigríður that decipts her profile at the top of the falls.
Despite months of rumors and speculation pointing towards Iowa Interstate's newest ES44AC #519 being painted into a special baby blue "The Rock" heritage scheme, it emerged out of Mid-America Car in Kansas City in standard IAIS paint, besides being named after Paul H. Banner, one of the founding chairmen of the Iowa Interstate.
There was quite some speculation about the manufacture of domes
The Star trek era replicator was first used to supply Kirk, Spock & Bones with food but now with my secret modifications it serves a more important purpose.
Capped triple exposure with dodgy el wire.
f11 for the dome, f4 for the enlarger & f2.8 for the dodgy new el wire.
(This was my fathers. I used this to learn to print negatives 30 years ago. It still works & has a Hoya 50mm lens. Any reasonable offer considered)
The Garden of Cosmic Speculation is a 30 acre sculpture garden created by landscape architect and theorist Charles Jencks at his home, Portrack House, near Dumfries in South West Scotland...
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The garden is inspired by science and mathematics, with sculptures and landscaping on these themes, such as Black Holes and Fractals. The garden is not abundant with plants, but sets mathematical formulae and scientific phenomena in a setting which elegantly combines natural features and artificial symmetry and curves. It is probably unique among gardens, drawing comparisons with a similarly abstract garden in Scotland, Little Sparta...
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The garden is private but usually opens on one day each year through Scotland's Gardens Scheme and raises money for Maggie's Centres, a cancer care charity named for Maggie Keswick Jencks, the late wife of Charles Jencks.
Ned Mansour - Beautifoto Model
The story below has it threads from a daydream I had on our way home to wales, two days after our family attended a formal do in Scotland.
My twin brother and I were just 16.
Mum had me dressed up in a brown satin gown that mimicked her green one.
I was wearing rhinestone jewellery.
Mum was wearing her expensive diamond earrings, which I alone felt received far too much attention from strangers. Or was I just jealous?
Then I had the unsettling experience of my fancy rhinestone bracelet vanishing from my wrist under, what I alone had felt, were suspicious circumstances.
But thoughts like that are what goes with the territory of the pickpocketing games my twin brother and I like to role-play at home.
Though my bracelet was found and returned the next day, the events at the posh dance in Scotland, added with the vivid circumstances of what I dreamed that evening the night I lost it, along with my speculation over what caused my bracelet’s loss, remained firmly entrenched in my imagination.
And yes, at the dance, there was one sly-eyed lady who attached herself to our family. A far too slick talking stranger who I felt uneasy around and did not trust from the getgo.
So, with all that said:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Dirty Rotten Scoundrel
(I preyed till the end)
A female pickpockets perspective
I do love a good, ultra-posh gathering, especially when I’m not invited and have to crash it.
This evening I was able to slip in with a group of chirpy young ladies.
Easily entering the establishment and orchestrating an even easier bumping lift of a fat leather wallet from the dangling purse carried by one of the taffeta-gowned ladies in my surrogate group.
It all give me a tingly feeling of good things to come as I went to the lady’s washroom just off a hall by the main exit.
There, in a stall, I emptied the wallet of notes, £200, and discarded it under a linen-covered table piled high with small towels on my way out.
I left the powder room, now hungrily on the prowl as I explored my new patch.
I meandered around. Admiring, to myself, the glamorous gowns, dresses, and delicious jewels the ladies were wearing.
Gleamingly smooth pearls, glittery diamonds, and stunning pieces set with every colour of gemstones imaginable.
All are displayed in abundance along mouth-wateringly well-fitted velvet, satin, taffeta, and other sleek backdrops of an expensive ladies' attire.
My eyes also eagerly took in the plump bulges of pockets holding thicke wallets and shiny gold and silver watches being worn by the regulation-required tuxedo-clad males who accompanied some of the ladies.
Myself? I was dressed in a tight-fitted, soft velvet frock, perfect for squirming in close and also carrying a shoulder purse. Not too large, I needed to fit in with the primarily clutch purse-carrying ladies. Which, aside from wearing only 1/4 carat stud diamonds in my ears, I somewhat did.
It was a most titillating experience, moving in and out of the crowded main room, casually looking over the well-dressed guests. Hunting for an opportunity.
Which I soon found, an early twenties male, succulent in a black tux and hand-tied bow tie sporting a gold watch chain around his waist. Along with the noticeable bulge( no not that kind) of a thicke note-filled wallet in his jacket pocket.
I walked by, gathering his attention. His eyes followed and I stopped and pulled a cigarette and round lighter from my purse.
I carry two lighters a square one I use privately, and a round one that has no fuel.
I unsuccessfully tried to light my cigarette.
Soon a hand was extended with a lighter. It was my mark. He lit it, and as I bent over my hand went to his chest, reached in, and nimbly lifted out his long fat wallet, deposited it in my purse, along with my lighter.
Successful pickpocketing is all based on how well one pulls off distracting your mark. The move I just pulled off by drawing away attention using an empty lighter is one I use a lot in crowded pubs. Successfully I might add, on both men and women.
I was chatting with him a bit before making an excuse and pulling away. Far too many other opportunities around to waste time chatting with a pickpocketed mark.
I again went to the powder room and inside a stall, extracted £850 from the wallet.
I heard someone come in but did not enter a stall.
After a few minutes of fumbling noises, I heard the water running and splashing.
A female voice was talking.
On silent feet, I carefully opened the stall door and slipped out. Around the corner where the sinks were located, a voluptuous lady in lavender velvet was washing her face.
She was talking to herself, thinking she was alone. She appeared to be having issues with contact lenses by the way she was damning them.
I looked around her figure. A pricey necklace glittered reflecting in the mirror.
On the side of the sink, facing me, we’re long matching lavender satin gloves.
On top of which was a shiny pile of jewels, rings, gold bracelets, and a Rolex ladies watch with diamonds circling the face.
With her eyes closed, she had turned away towards the linen-covered table and was reaching blindly for a towel.
I threw the empty wallet under the table.
As she was distracted by the noise, I reached over with my other hand and picked up the jeweled timepiece. Then I slipped out the door before she turned back to face the mirror.
I headed back out the hallway, finally letting out my breath, with the intention of getting a drink and taking a well-earned break as I decided what to do next. This patch was a gold mine, but have I had my run?
That would be a big No, to my run of luck being over….
For, as I walked out the door, I fell in step behind a pair of exceptionally well-dressed middle-aged teenagers maybe 16-year-olds, brother and sister, so possibly twins?
Both had soft red hair and adorably large hazel eyes.
The sister’s soft hair flowed silkily down back in a thin downy feathery fall to just below her shoulders. And just as her hair had an almost fluid spill, so did the ultra-soft expensive gown she wore. As I walked behind them, my mark ran her hand, ring and bracelet rippling with rich sparkles, along her hair, pulling it forward over her shoulder so it was hanging down in front, exposing her neck to me.
She was deliciously sumptuous in a long flimsy thin silk gown of dark chocolate with rhinestone trimmings. The slinking gown was a wide shoulder halter top, with a slight flare at the bottom, sweeping over the top of silver sandals. I was admiring how the dress fell, gently affirming with tight lines, her youthfully graceful figure.
The tuxedo-wearing brother appears to be overly protective of his sister.
And of no surprises why…
They reached a table and he actually seated her like a real adult male.
I circled for a better look, my eyes not believing what they had glimpsed.
She was indeed wearing some pretty valuable jewellery for one of her age.
A silver, wide chocker-style necklace filled with precious diamonds blazingly encircled her neck. It was something one expected a royal to wear.
A pair of amazing chandelier-style earrings twinkled down from her ears.
A wide diamond bracelet lay elegantly around one of her heavy cream-coloured satin glove-clad wrists.
A mouthwatering ring with a large centre diamond graced her right pinkie.
She also had a brilliant eye-catching broach, small, but set with obscenely valuable diamonds, dangling provokingly between small firm breasts, set in the v of her sleek gown’s neckline.
As I had been following I was able to observe the simple clasps of both necklace and bracelet. My fingers itching the whole time.
I sat myself down at a nearby side bench along a side walkway leading to the hallway down which were the washrooms.
From my perch, I watched them, while pretending to watch the dancers on the ballroom floor across to the far side of the room. I was close enough to catch snippets of their conversation. I had a side view of the brother, a delightfully frontal view of his deliciously pretty twin sister.
I marveled over how I hadn’t been here 30 minutes and aside from already making several nice lifts, had stumbled across a wealthy young chick wearing real diamonds, playing peekaboo along her delightful figure. The whole display just cried out to a thief:
“Here I am,naïvely displaying jewels ripe for the plucking!”
I had my eye on her dazzling necklace as my preferred target. I began making a full study of it. As she was innocently sitting there chatting with her brother, I wondered if it had ever entered into her wildest dreams that the jewels she was wearing were ever at such a risk of being stolen.
Probably not, and all I had to do was watch and wait for opportunities, with which I had several methods to deal with.
One of which I made ready by reaching down and undoing my right open-toed shoe strap, then, trap set, sat back and waited, watching my chosen mark.
Oh, The right shoe strap because I am
left-handed. Now just needed my red-haired mark to use the lady’s loo.
I soon found that where I sat was indeed in a good location.
Lots of potential prospects were passing me by. But none yet had on targetable jewellery as the diamonds the sumptuously chocolate-gowned red head fetchingly wore, especially around her throat.
I kept refocussing my attention on her.
The brother was bored.
He was trying to get his sister to join in on some type of adventure. But she told him they were both too dressed up to play.
I thought to myself:
“Listen to your brother luv, It would be delicious to stumble across you pair outside, alone, looking for adventures.”
I then took my eyes off the savory diamonds around the young girl’s throat, because an older red-headed version of the girl had joined them.
Their mum I correctly surmised. Watching her son help seat her. Wish it was me seating her as I would use that opportunity to lift valuables from her fine figure.
The mother was elegantly dressed in a shiny green satin number. It had a knee-length skirt with quarter-length sleeves and a playfully low scooped neckline.
The dress, like her daughter’s gown, showed off every bump and curve of her still youthful figure.
And she, like her daughter, was also expensively wearing diamonds. But my lord, what a decadent collection of jewels.
A set of sparking ‘ice’ that included stunningly long diamond earrings, diamond bib style necklace, and a flashy diamond-filled bracelet. She also wore two gemmed cocktail rings on the bare fingers of her right hand. A wedding band and diamonds on her left’s ring finger. Flashing out from the V on her shiny dress was a large emerald broach, the same green color as her eyes.
And to literally top it all off, perched on her head like a crown, was set an actual dainty diamond-encrusted tiara!
Perhaps they were (very) minor royals after all?
I would have loved to see her daughter wearing a tiara also. Not sure how I would have gotten it off her head without notice. But I would have been game for a try.
The mother appeared to be alone. No husband for whatever reason seemed to be with them, judging by body language. A language I have become an expert in deciphering.
So the 16-year-old male was apparently the only security that lay between me and lifting some precious diamonds from either the females at the table with him. Though I still favored lifting jewels from the more susceptible sister sitting there dressed like a princess.
So this young watchman could probably easily be led astray long enough for me to plan out an approach.
This made things quite interesting. As I pondered over how to accomplish luring him off, I listened in some more, soon learning:
The father was not with them, I was right about that.
With the father gone their fetchingly attractive, well-dressed, very wealthy mother was open game to many interested males asking her to dance.
Hence her two kids were bored and tired of being alone so much, the fact of which appeared to go over their mum’s diamond shimmering head.
I licked my lips, it would seem that opportunity was going to be knocking at my door if only the mother would leave her children alone again so they could hopefully become open targets.
I was hell-bent on acquiring the daughter’s appealing necklace once the mum, then her brother, were both finally out of the picture.
But it was then that a lady walked by, holding her young toddler. She swished her way right past where I was sitting. Too aloof apparently to notice me. And I had to do a double take on what she wore around her throat.
She was expensively dressed in satin, with a double row of smooth, valuably matched, pearls around her throat. Her long hair is conveniently up. I watched with salivating interest as she made her way past me to the powder room, a child clinging to her shoulder.
When that Lass disappeared, my eyes went back to the table with its diamond-wearing Lass.
The lad was still trying to talk his balking sister into doing something, anything.
She was engagingly adjusting an earring, listening to him with an enchanting smile.
Their mum was idly smoking a cigarette, her eyes on the dance floor, her mind a million miles away.
Then the young mum wearing the pearls came out from the powder room hallway, and my attention was once again drawn away by an opportunity I simply could not allow myself to pass up.
Out of the corner of my, I saw her approach my bench, her gown flicking pleasingly along her figure.
I reached down and fumbled with my loose strap.
As I heard her approach, I look up and ask her if she could help me fasten my heel strap.
Her pearl necklace was magnificent.
She chirped politely, “Pleased to help you miss…”
Not sounding aloof in the least as she sat her toddler down. The child was adorably dressed in white satin and looked at me with wide-eyed wonder.
As her mum scrunched down I look around. Coast was clear for lift off…
Dipping my left hands' fingers in and locating her now dangling necklace of pearls’ clasp, I easily undo it, then in one motion lift them up and out from around her neck.
Her swinging ropes of pearls are in my purse before she finishes redoing my loose strap and stands up.
I hear the child giggling and I stroke her satiny attire as the mother stood straightening her dress.
She politely twittered “There you go, so happy I could help .”
I smiled back:
“So was I, beautiful child.”
Happily housing up her child, she left, not noticing she was a few pricy kilograms lighter around her throat.
I watched her move safely off, still admiring the way her gown moved. Mulling over in my mind if I could have lifted a diamond tiara that easily?
With those succulent imaginings I eagerly look back over at the table I had been keeping an eye on.
It was empty…!
My potential mark was gone, that quickly. Had the young twins gone out? We’re they with their mum? I was cursing myself. The pearls were a nice haul. But had I let real diamonds slip from my fingers!
I sighed, rising, straightening my dress, and began to move off, thinking to grab a smoke outside to settle my now overly excited nerves.
Then I spotted a young lady attired all in black satin, consisting of a long dress and bolero jacket.
She was sitting alone three tables away from the one where the twins had sat. Two empty cocktail glasses were at her elbow, a half-full one in front of her.
She was smoking the last vestiges of a cigarette. A thin necklace valuably set with a single row of diamonds flickered up around her throat as she blew a wispy stream of smoke. With one hand she brushed back her long wavy hair, exposing an expensive diamond tennis bracelet that blazed up from her wrist as she did.
“She’s trying to attract attention.” I thought, wondering if she had a clue as to whose attention she had just attracted.
I quickly moved in and took the seat next to her.
“Mind if I sit here a few minutes to catch my breath?”
She obviously did mind, but nodded politely, saying nothing, but started looking around.
I could tell she was on the prowl, and by noticing her ring finger was bare, she was available.
I began the conversation.
“Cannot believe how crowded this party is, and the number of men here.”
She nodded, opening her purse and pulling out another cigarette, and holding it up, like a beacon. She smiled at me weakly. Her face had the same sharp moody features of the sultry actress Jean Harlow.
“Yeah, it’s been alright, but a lot of ladies also. Been a struggle finding anyone to dance with. But that’s what I get for coming alone.”
I smiled, pulling out a cigarette myself, along with my round lighter. I reach over with it and say:
“Here allow me.”
I could see in her eyes, that she was disappointed that no male had spotted her and offered to light it. But as my lighter failed to light I saw relief in her eyes and she looked around for a male hero.
It was at this point my free hand reached down to her wrist and neatly flicked open the clasp of her diamond-studded bracelet hanging down loosely from her wrist. Slipping it off her wrist and in my purse before she could blink her long eyelashes twice at a suitable male for which she was desperately searching.
She gave up her vigil, and turned to me saying :
“That’s ok, You need a lighter that works.”
As the girl with the long eyelashes and bare wrists giggled, I replied :
“Oh, it works, sometimes.”
With a sigh, she finally pulled her own lighter out and lit both hers and my, cigarettes.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my tux boy come back, with his sister, slinky gown swirling, in tow. Both giggling over something. It was twinging as it struck me how fetchingly pretty his sister was when she was happy.
And I was equally happy to see her come back.
Instantly my mind turned toward her brother.
If I could just lure him away for a bit. With him out of the way, I should have an open shot at lifting the bloody beautiful necklace his sister was wearing.
I had no real plan yet but figured once the young watchman was out of the picture, I could come up with something on the fly.
My table mate sighed.
“You know, I may just as well blow this joint. Waste of my time getting dressed up tonight.”
I looked away from the lad, back at her, puffing away on her cigarette. An epiphany popped up in my head.
Smashing out my half-smoked cigarette, I opened my purse and from the wad of cash I had taken from my first mark, I peeled off £100 in notes of the realm.
“See that lad over there? Well before you leave it would be worth this…”
I laid the notes on the table
“For you to have a couple of dances with. Him.”
She looked at the pile of cash, speaking.
“Why would you want to pay me this for taking him dancing?”
Her eyes went from the cash on the table to face me with a questioning look, I answered:
“It’s just that his sister, the redhead next to him, had a rather personal question to ask me. And is unable to do so with her brother hovering around.”
I could tell she knew I was lying, her eyes looked over the girl head to toe, then dropped to the designer clutch purse at her elbow.
“Nice purse that.”
She figured that it was her purse I was after. Worth about £400 at a pawn. but she didn’t seem to really care, as neither did I.
Scooping up the notes she put them in her purse, a knock-off designer number.
Smashing out her cigarette, she rose and bid me an uncaring farewell.
I watched as she went up to the table, placed a hand on the lad's shoulder, and said something I was too far away to catch. But he got right up as the lady nodded to his sister, I saw her eyes traveling up and down again, closely drooling over her sumptuous attire.
She then led the lad off.
As I again found myself becoming mesmerized by the shimmering necklace that lay around his sister’s throat, as she was watching her brother being led off.
I shake my head clear, looking away to rationally think.
As I did, my elbow hit something, looking down, I found myself staring at the 1/4 full cocktail glass.
Speaking of plans on the fly.
I picked up the glass and quickly circling, came up from behind to reach my red-headed mark, sitting there with all innocence.
As I passed I said:
“Watch it..”
Then let the drink slip from my hand and land in the silken lap of her gorgeous dark chocolate gown.
She jumped up immediately, and I was ready with my handkerchief.
As I apologized profusely. I Placed one hand on her shoulder and with the other reached down and began sopping up the wet area of her luxurious gown(making sure my fingers reached titillatingly well down along inside her pantyliner to maximize the distraction.
All the while the darling girl was confused, becoming aroused, and apologetic all at the same time.
“It’s ok miss, my fault I’m sure, must have startled you, didn’t I!”
As she spoke, she looked down watching my hand wiping her, long red hair falling into her face, my hand left her quivering shoulder, and locating the clasp of her necklace, flicked it open. Then I pulled it off from around her neck and dropped it neatly into my open purse on the floor.
She pulled her hair up to see, and I grasped her wrist with my now free hand, easily unsnapping her diamond bracelet, where it soon joined its purloined mate inside my purse.
“Do you have a handkerchief luv?”
She nodded her head no. Chandelier Earrings swing out, wickedly flashing their many tiers of pricy diamonds.
“Let’s get you to the washroom and clean you up a bit.”
As she lifted the hem of her wet gown I took her by the scintillating silk gowns covered waist and led her off.
As she was preoccupied with holding and studying her soiled gown, my fingers holding her waist worked over and unhooking her exceptionally valuable diamond brooch, easily lifting it off. Then I curled my fist around it into a ball.
I open the door to the washroom, then as she went in, deposited her brooch in my purse.
I handed her a towel, which she took and began wiping off her slippery wet gown
As she was bending over to clean down her front, her hair kept again falling down over her face.
Here luv, I said taking her soft hair and pulling it back. I laid my fingers cupping her ears. As she was busy wiping off wet spots, I was busy wiping off her ears with a stroking motion. Pulling out her handsomely jeweled earrings in the process.
I stood back, dropping the sparklers inside my purse as I watched her bending over to clean up, her slinky thin gown tightly outlining her figure
As she finished and stood up, I apologized:
“I am so sorry.”
Smiling weakly, she hugged me, saying with her head pressed to my shoulder:
“That’s s ok accidents happen.”
She twittered it pleasantly enough, and I hugged her back.
Pulling away I looked her over.
“Look you missed a spot.”
I lifted her hand and laid it upon the wet area just below her breasts, my fingers tickling. Giggling, she put one hand on my waist for support, and as the other began to wipe her wet spot, I myself wiped off the ring from her slick glove-clad finger.
She was now pretty much cleaned up, and thoroughly cleaned out.
If only she had been wearing that diamond tiara!
I walked back through the exit door as she stayed behind to take care of her business. The excitement, mixed with anguish, made her have to use a stall.
I head off down the hall intending on turning towards the exit once I reach it.
From what had become a habit, I looked towards the red-headed damsel in distress’s table. Brother is not back yet… but…
The wealthy mother, whose glittery diamonds would put a Tiffany’s display case to shame, is back at the table. Gullibly alone. Tiara is glittery like a bloody bright beacon. She is holding an unlit cigarette, a lighter on the table by her purse. She is watching her son on the dance floor.
I said thoughtfully to myself knowing the song was almost through and the lady would be dropping him like a hot potato when it was done:
“In for a penny…”
Licking my lips with expectations, I pull out my round lighter as I walk up to the twin’s richly attired mother…
“May I? “
I lean over as she turned to me, and placed the cigarette in between her red lipstick-covered mouth. Up close, her earrings and tiara flashed into such provoking life it made me blink.
As I clumsily knock her overly expensive purse to the floor with my elbow, I tell her:
“Can never get these bloody things to work.”
Fini
I’m not really wicked, just written that way
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Postscript:
The dance venue in Scotland had a washroom with a linen-covered table stacked with towels.
It was underneath where cleanup found my rhinestone bracelet.
Yes, I had used the wash.
But what if it had gone like this:
An observers viewpoint:
The mum is wearing real diamonds in her earrings. Therefore reasonable to assume her daughter’s bracelet must be real diamonds also, and a young lady is usually the easier pick.
Bracelet is acquired, discovered not to be real, not wishing to be caught with a nicked bracelet of just rhinestone, the evidence is tossed.
I mean really, it could have happened that way?
“Le chat mangerait du poisson, mais ne se mouillerait pas les pieds”
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
the cat would eat fish, but would not wet her feet
Le chat mangerait du poisson, mais ne se mouillerait pas les pieds
A popular place in the 90s on Berlin's Friedrichstrasse - now boarded up for at least 8 years if I recall it correctly. Most probably a victim of real estate speculation as the neighbouring plots - most notably the former "Tacheles" culture / art centre - have been rebuilt over the past years.
Amazingly enough, the chalkboard still advertises live music on Fridays and Saturdays after all this time...
Leica M2 + Summitar 5cm f/2 + yellow filter, Agfa APX400 in 510 Pyro
For more information / speculation / history .......... put mv chica into search engine and follow links ...................but in the meantime...briefly ... not sure how accurate this is, but it seems to have had an interesting history, to say the least.............
Built in 1894 in Christianssund Norway and named Flora, originally rigged as wooden hulled , and to haul salt fish from Northern to Southern Norway...... commandeered by the Germans at Trondheim in the second world war and renamed Bjorg Haukus , after the war she continued to trade up until the 1960's ..... 1965 .......... and she was renamed Lil Tove , the daughter of the then owner ...... time passes and she ends up in Gibraltar being sold to the Straight Shipping Co, trading in the Med. and down the West Coast of Africa / Casablanca ......renamed Chica in 1981 .... she left Gibraltar around 1983 putting into Porto ( Portugal ) before arrival at Mostyn Docks ( North Wales ), from there to Weston Point docks ( Runcorn ) and then onto the River Weaver , where she ended her days as a converted passenger vessel, finally capsizing in 1993 ( ironically / sadly just before her centenary, where she remains to this day !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ( 2014 ) still there in 2018 !
Explore Feb 28th 2013 Big Thanks
Jan 2014 - visited again today added a few more B&W in my River Weaver Set / album....
.
Sept 2015...
........ visited again bit more disrepair
.. NOV 2016 .........still there , though a bit more distressed !
Sep 2019 ............19,155 views ............. in total , a few more pics have been added to set ( M V Chica ( Liverpool )
...... Very Big THANKS for all recent views , much appreciated , M