CDP Theme Day: Revolution

We don't have any Ferris wheels in STL at the moment. No huge tires or gears got my attention and no insurrection in the streets like Baltimore this week. But this will do.

A motorbike with a picture of Che Guevara on the mud flap and some pointed text. I took this picture in Kathmandu in 2009. Heaven knows what the road looks like today.

Reports trickle in to us from the Mitrata Foundation in KTM. We learned yesterday that Januka, the young woman we have sponsored for years, is in her home village and safe. We wonder what conditions she is living in. 

If you don't think the picture fits the theme you can click here.
 

Street Scene, Williamsburg, Virginia

A moment in the sun provided a little beauty in Williamsburg.

In the Hole

To get this shot, taken in Austria, Christoph Jorda set up two Profoto B1 flash systems: one on top of the ice cave and one inside. “We had to dig out the entrance of the cave because it was almost totally closed by the snow you see in the foreground,” Jorda writes. The problem? According to Jorda, the ice cave was at an altitude of nearly 9,800 feet, the temperature was at minus 4ºF, and the flash didn’t work properly. “So he [had] to jump a couple of times to get it right,” he says.

Jorda’s image was recently featured in Your Shot’s Daily Dozen.

May City Daily Photo Theme Day: Revolution

So it's May and if all goes according to plan, VDP will be back home today, jet-lagged as hell (thank goodness today is Labour Day) and just in time for the City Daily Photo community's first of the month Theme Day! Revolution is easy-peasy in Versailles where so many events of the early French Revolution happened (like the Estates General for instance)! Truth be told, it's a bit difficult to find anything really revolutionary in the city nowadays! This gentleman was studying one of the images on the wall outside the former royal tennis court where the famous tennis court oath was taken in 1789. He's looking at Maximilien de Robespierre, a household name in France, one of the most influential people during the bloodiest phase of the revolution... To view all participants in this month's Theme Day, click here! Since there were cars parked opposite the tennis court, there's also a reflection on VDP today! To view all Weekend Reflections, visit James! Happy month of May!

Nous voilà en mai et si tout se passe comme prévu, VDP rentre aujourd'hui (et souffre de décalage horaire), juste à temps pour le thème du premier du mois dans la communauté des blogueurs City Daily Photo. Vous l'aurez compris, le thème c'est "révolution", ce qui est assez facile à Versailles compte tenu des nombreux événements de la Révolution Française qui y eurent lieu, comme par exemple les Etats-Généraux. Monsieur étudiait les panneaux se trouvant sur le mur de la salle du Jeu de Paume et plus particulièrement celui-ci, montrant Maximilien de Robespierre qu'on ne présente plus. Pour voir toutes les participations au thème dans le monde entier, cliquez ici ! Comme des voitures sont garées rue du Jeu de Paume, hop là, un reflet en prime pour les Reflets du Weekend ! Bon mois de mai !

Generation Ox, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Colonial Williamsburg has a conservation program in which it breeds and maintains rare animal breeds. This is one of their next generation of oxen.

Revolution and the Monster

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How many Revolutions Per Minute can the kids get the merry-go-round to turn?

City Daily Photo bloggers are posting for our monthly Theme Day about the multiple meanings of REVOLUTION.   Give them a visit here.

My photo is from 2009 when daughter Naomi and grandsons Dean and Eyal come for a visit to Jerusalem.
In back of them is The Monster, in profile view.
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Theme Day - Revolution - Luna Park

Down beside the north-western pylon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, just to the rear of the North Sydney swimming pool I featured yesterday, is Sydney's Luna Park. I visited on Wednesday as yet another low was forming off the coast, sending squalls of scudding rain up the harbour, and turning our usual blue skies to a depressing shade of grey. However, the rain is welcome even though we have endured a lot of it during the month of April.

Luna Park is not open everyday. A sign said it would reopen at 11am on Friday. I suspect it is open Friday/Saturday/Sunday. But it is not locked up. I wandered freely. As you can see, the gondolas on the ferris wheel are enclosed. I suspect this is a government safety regulation. The ferris wheel was installed during the 1982 renovations, and stands 35 metres tall, with 24 gondolas. Now this is a midget of a wheel. Even the word's first wheel stood at 80m. (Chicago 1893). The London Eye was pretty tall at 135m. But, the world's tallest wheel is in Las Vegas, and is an astonishing 167.6m tall. The Ferris Wheel is named after its creator, George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr, who died of typhoid fever in 1896, aged 37.

As I was assembling this post, it occured to me that the arc of the bridge, in the back ground, is part of a (silent or understood) circle. The visible portion of the arc is 153m in length. I can think about radii, and about diameters, and about the circumference of any given circle; about tangents, and chords, and sectors. But, I have absolutely no idea how to calculate the radius of the circle of this arc, that being so, I will consider it "The Radii of the Silent Arc".

This is my contribution to the City Daily Photo Theme Day. Click here to see how other CDP bloggers have interpreted the theme, "Revolution". Thank you to Chrissy Brand from Mancunian Wave for devising May's theme of "Revolution".

The Old Market

A stone lion sits guarding the remanants of the stalls and food outlets that were part of the Camden Market overlooking the canal.  The stalls were demolished to make way for a new infant school and of course for new housing.  Progress I believe it is called. 

A reminder that we live in a wonderful world

We live in such a rush every day that most of us tend to forget what a beautiful world is out there.  Add to that all the bad news around and I think it becomes a case of people spending more time indoors "hiding out" than getting out there and experiencing nature.  Earth Day was celebrated on 22 April and I spotted this video on an Earth Day blog post on the Getaway blog.  How can I not use it in a post as well?  Watch it and allow David Attenborough to remind you that we live in a wonderful and beautiful world. 

Enviornmentally Friendly

Not surprisingly, the Earth Day festival had a display of electric cars. Three of them were Teslas, the luxury rocket of no-emission vehicles. Note the storage space where the engine would normally be. My son had a chance to drive one once. He said it went from zero to OMG in near-complete silence. 

They make me drool but are a wee bit out of my price range.  So, back to my slightly worn but very well made Honda. So much more practical.                                     

Fireside Chat

While shooting at the seaside in the United Arab Emirates, Muhammad Babar Swaleheen was about to pack up when he spotted these men “discussing daily life” around a small fire. Swaleheen asked if he could photograph them, and “they gladly agreed.”

A hop, skip, and a jump from the Quay

This is not a bad location for a swimming pool, is it? Remember, the bridge opened in 1932. The engineering firm was Dorman Long & Co. and the pool was built upon part of their worksheds.

The pool opened in April 1936, emblazoned with art deco designs and brickwork. When Sydney hosted the 1938 Empire Games, the pool, already an established fixture for swimming competitions became the stage for the Games' swimming and diving programs. Through the years, 86 world records have been set at the pool by such swimming greats as John and Ilsa Konrads, Lorraine Crapp, John Devitt, Shane Gould and Michelle Ford.

Charleton's Coffeehouse, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Apparently, Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks were not the first coffee shops to bring in big crowds. 
R. Charlton's Coffeehouse in Colonial Williamsburg is conveniently located next to the Capitol where many delegates likely imbibed to get through those long budget sessions.

....Psst

Spotted in colourful Camden.

Going Electric

Dams are rising all along the Mekong River to bring the people of Southeast Asia clean electricity. In Thailand the hunger for electricity is driving dam construction on the lower Mekong in Laos and Cambodia. Bangkok’s CentralWorld complex (at right) houses some 500 shops, a hotel, and an ice-skating rink.

See more pictures from the May 2015 feature story “Harnessing the Mekong or Killing It?” »

Drum Major

                             

Rick Kramer, leader of Joia, seen many times before on these pages. They describe themselves as a world rhythm ensemble and turn up at all sorts of public celebrations. Rick certainly has a lot of flair.

It's hard to appreciate what they do without hearing them. Here's an audio clip from their performance at Earth Day. Crank up the volume.

I built my house of bricks, 'cause straw and twigs don't last

I thought, perhaps, that the tale of "The Three Little Pigs" was devised by a brick-making family of yore, out to plead the case for their favoured building material. Whichever, I cannot see these towers of steel, and concrete, and glass lasting anywhere near as long as the buildings erected from sandstone.

The first image shows the third St Phillip's church down on York Street (Church Hill) which was erected in 1856. It replaced the second St Phillips, just a little further down the hill, which was regarded as "the ugliest church in all christendom", which had been erected in 1804. The middle image, shows St James Church on Macquarie Street, which was constructed between 1820 and 1824, initially under the stewardship of Governor Lachlan Macquarie. Both these churches are of the Anglican (Church of England/Episcopalian) persuasion. The third image shows the C. W. Foley building down on Erskine Street which was constructed in 1899, just before the 1901 demolitions in that very area, which attempted to rid Sydney Town of poor people who it was easy to blame for the plague.

The Foley Building nestles into the glass ediface of the corporate head office of Westpac Bank (formerly the Bank of New South Wales). This entire city block was "rejigged" by Westpac during the 2000s, some old stuff being retained, and other "stuff" getting the heave-ho. With the current construction of the Barangaroo complex and its adjoining Wynyard Walk, another facelift is occurring. Over the next little while, I will try to unpack this down-at-heel part of my city.

Proposals to protect our fish population

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Lots of fish on ice are always available at Beer Sheva's open-air market.

For ABC Wednesday, P is for protecting our population of Mediterranean fish.

According to this article in Haaretz --

Restrictions will soon be imposed on commercial fishing in the Mediterranean Sea in order to stem the decline in fish populations, the state promised the High Court of Justice this month. . . .

Among other limitations, the state will restrict fishing by divers during the May-June spawning season along the Mediterranean coast. The use of trawlers – boats that drag large nets along the sea bed, sweeping up everything in their path – will be prohibited from June to August near the shore and at depths of less than 30 meters. . . .
According to environmental advocacy organizations, the two dozen or so trawlers operating along the Mediterranean coast are responsible for the decline in fish populations, both because they account for around 70% of the catch by Israeli fishermen in the sea and because of the nets’ deleterious effect on marine habitats.. . .

But according to Uri Sharon, a spokesman for the fishermen who owns a trawler, the real culprits are pollution and the Aswan Dam, which reduced the amounts of food sources and marine life reaching the Mediterranean from the Nile River.
Menakhem Ben-Yami, an expert on Israel’s fishing industry,  argued that tens of thousands of amateur fishermen use nets and poles, without facing any catch restrictions. 

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A Table Mountain "selfie"

A quick three day visit to Cape Town for World Travel Market Africa had me slip out the exhibition at lunch time on day 1 to head down to the V&A Waterfront for a quick lunch.  Well, probably more sightseeing that lunch (as if I've never been there but I am the eternal tourist).  I ended up at the #LoveCapeTown selfie frame enjoying the view and before I knew it I was taking pictures for a German couple wanting to  have a picture together.  Then two Dutch ladies... and four from the UK.  One of the UK guys asked if they could take one of me.  Of cause they can.  So here I am doing the Table Mountain selfie frame touristy thing at the V&A Waterfront.

Notorious Hairdresser

In 1888 the streets around here were the stomping ground of the notorious Jack the Ripper.  Hundreds of theories as to his identity still perplex people.  If you enjoy being scared you can take tours that will give you a sense of being unsafe on a dark foggy London street and even get your hair cut!

Cluck

So, I ask myself, what would I do if confronted by a live chicken? Mrs. C, who dressed plenty of poultry on the family farm in Kansas, would know. Me, I'm a big city boy. I'd probably call for the animal control officer. 

This was in the children's area at Earth Day. There was a little boy just off camera to the right who found the bird entertaining. It was awfully calm. Personally, I think it was drugged.                  

Yorktown Marina Vista, Yorktown, Virginia

Yorktown's Riverwalk Landing, with its beach, restaurants, pub and views like this is a favorite place to visit.

Sparks Fly

Steve Bradburn used wire wool and a long exposure to create this fiery effect in Salcombe, England. Above, stars wheel in the night sky.

Osprey Nesting, Williamsburg, Virginia

This time of the year is ideal for spotting birds nesting, from blue birds to these osprey, overlooking the York River from the top of a dead tree.

Science and beauty on 32 tiles

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This unusual work of ceramic tiles hangs in the staircase of our Meitar Local Council offices.
Click a few times to enlarge the photo and you will find a variety of subjects. 

A metallurgical engineer and enameller named Boris R. created it in 2008.

You can tell Boris is an engineer.
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(Linking to OurWorld Tuesday.)
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Is there a difference between an obsession and an addiction?

Perhaps, she is simply revelling in a short-lived pleasure. "In the Night Garden" is a pleasure, whether it is short-lived remains to be seen.

Her absolute favourite character is IgglePiggle, She can sing along when Derek Jacobi sings the IgglePiggle song: Yes, my name is Igglepiggle Iggle piggle wiggle wiggle piggle Yes my name is Igglepiggle Iggle piggle wiggle wiggle woo! Igglepiggle doesn't live in the Night Garden. He travels there by boat each evening, on his way to sleep. With great gusto, she can name all the characters: Upsy-Daisy, Makka Pakka, the Tombliboos, the Pinky-Ponk and the Ninky-Nonk, The Tittifers, and the Pontypines. Even the Haa-Hoos.

Can an 18 month old child have an addiction? Perhaps not. I shall think of it as a short-lived obsession that brings her immense pleasure. I have allowed her to watch two episodes on my computer, but her Mummy would prefer that she stick with the books and the CD and allow her imagination to do all the rest.

Robot Pole Dancers and the Geeks

Made from scrap metal, powered by windscreen wiper motors and featuring CCTV heads, the robot pole dancers greet you at the entrance of the latest geek event in London.  Created by Giles Walker as a reaction to the huge surge in survelliance cameras that watch our every move.  Giles creation of using pole dancers with CCTV heads is a way of "playing with the concepts of voyeurism and power".
The Dutch web-hosting tech company TransIP is launching their UK arrival with an eight day event offering workshops, talks and loads of fun for all the geeks and would be entrepeneurs in London.  

Hug a tree. Save a whale.

Yesterday brought the annual Earth Day celebration in Forest Park. The weather was just perfect and the crowd was large.

I don't like the direction our festival is taking. It seems more corporate and tightly controlled. Much less wacky spontaneous activity. I remember seeing seeing a powerful man in a silk suit doing tai chi with himself in a central area; young people performing capoeira, the Brazilian martial art/dance form, on the sidewalk; three young men playing banjo, guitar and fiddle, without authorization and just for fun; a woman in flowing robes standing by a sign that read "Free Hugs"; a veritable encampment of the faeries from the Renaissance Faire; a full service bar. Everything like this is gone.

Now we find booth after booth just trying to sell something or promote an organization. They have always been there but now there is little relief. Most of the entertainment is pretty tame. It has lost some of its fun and charm. Still, there are always interesting people.                        

Boatman of Mathura

While taking pictures of Hindu holy men in the Indian city of Mathura—birthplace of the Hindu god Krishna— Andrew Louis Kleynhans came across a boatman on the Yamuna River who asked to have his picture taken. To get this angle Kleynhans got on his stomach in the boat’s stern, his feet dangling in the water. “In the end ... the boatman was very happy with his image,” he writes.

Kettle River April 26