You can't trust a promise someone makes while they're drunk, in love, hungry, or running for office.
- Joe Moore
Monday, October 31, 2016
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Quote of the Day
As men’s prayers are a disease of the will, so are their creeds a disease of the intellect.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Quick work trip to Krautland
I made a quick trip to Berlin this week, from Wednesday to Saturday with colleagues. Yes, I broke my self-imposed promise not to go to Germany ever again. I should know better than to make these bombastic, sweeping gestures by now. *sigh*
Anyways, I stayed close to my hotel room for most of the trip, but here are some of the very few pictures I took on the one occcasion where I actually went to the museum area.
The Egyptian collection in Berlin is one of the very, very few nice things I would ever attribute to the Krauts. But I gotta hand it to them, they have a magnificent collection of loot. Here some 18th dynasty Akhenaten goodies.
Queen Nefertiti, seemingly nekkid.
If he knew what hell his Kraut offspring would wreak upon the world, he would have committed suicide as a child.
Not sure what this was supposed to symbolize, as the moose no longer exists in Krautland. Possibly, that it did 60 thousand years ago?
Kraut horn to blow in, presumably when you feel that you just haven't fucked the day up for others sufficiently and you want that last, final omph.
One of the very few rays of metaphorical sunshine came when I happened upon this guy who sold handmade fountain pens. Beautiful craftsmanship.
Finally, I was extremely skeptical of Berlin.
Anyways, I stayed close to my hotel room for most of the trip, but here are some of the very few pictures I took on the one occcasion where I actually went to the museum area.
The Egyptian collection in Berlin is one of the very, very few nice things I would ever attribute to the Krauts. But I gotta hand it to them, they have a magnificent collection of loot. Here some 18th dynasty Akhenaten goodies.
Queen Nefertiti, seemingly nekkid.
If he knew what hell his Kraut offspring would wreak upon the world, he would have committed suicide as a child.
Not sure what this was supposed to symbolize, as the moose no longer exists in Krautland. Possibly, that it did 60 thousand years ago?
Kraut horn to blow in, presumably when you feel that you just haven't fucked the day up for others sufficiently and you want that last, final omph.
One of the very few rays of metaphorical sunshine came when I happened upon this guy who sold handmade fountain pens. Beautiful craftsmanship.
Finally, I was extremely skeptical of Berlin.
Saturday, October 29, 2016
Friday, October 28, 2016
Quote of the Day
Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!
Speech near the Berlin Wall, 1987
- Ronald Reagan
Speech near the Berlin Wall, 1987
- Ronald Reagan
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Quote of the Day
All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin. And therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words "Ich bin ein Berliner!"
- John F. Kennedy
- John F. Kennedy
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Quote of the Day
In politics it is necessary either to betray one's country or the electorate. I prefer to betray the electorate.
- Charles de Gaulle
- Charles de Gaulle
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Quote of the Day
When it comes to your health, I recommend frequent doses of that rare commodity among Americans - common sense.
- Vincent Askey
- Vincent Askey
Monday, October 24, 2016
Quote of the Day
Getting divorced just because you don’t love a man is almost as silly as getting married just because you do.
- Zsa Zsa Gabor
- Zsa Zsa Gabor
Sunday, October 23, 2016
Quote of the Day
Faith, as well intentioned as it may be, must be built on facts, not fiction - faith in fiction is a damnable false hope.
- Thomas Alva Edison
- Thomas Alva Edison
Saturday, October 22, 2016
Quote of the Day
"They're all mistakes, children! Filthy, nasty things. Glad I never was one."
- Pam Ferris in "Matilda"
- Pam Ferris in "Matilda"
Friday, October 21, 2016
Quote of the Day
J: Why the big secret? People are smart, they can handle it.
K: A PERSON is smart. PEOPLE are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals and you know it.
- Will Smith & Tommy Lee Jones in "Men in Black"
K: A PERSON is smart. PEOPLE are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals and you know it.
- Will Smith & Tommy Lee Jones in "Men in Black"
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Quote of the Day
The effect of power and publicity on all men is the aggravation of self, a sort of tumor that ends by killing the victim's sympathies.
- Henry Brooks Adams
- Henry Brooks Adams
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Quote of the Day
Grattez le Russe, vous trouverez le tartare.
[Scrub the Russian and you will find the Tartar]
- Napoleon Bonaparte
[Scrub the Russian and you will find the Tartar]
- Napoleon Bonaparte
Monday, October 17, 2016
The hills of Skye
There are several famous hills and rock formations on Skye; I went and took pics of three of 'em. There's the Old Man of Storr, the Quiraing and the slopes of the Cuillin Mountains, where lie the Fairy Pools.
The Old Man of Storr, close up.
What, you think I walked up there?
Seen from the front. The Old Man is pretty much dead center of the pic.
Right next to where I stopped to take pictures was this cute, little island.
These pictures are from the Quiraing area, just north of Staffin. Great views from up here, folks.
Grrreat scenery.
This purdy lil' tree was hiding snuggly on the side of a little gully.
I believe this is the part of the mountain called The Prison. This is a far as I got. I think The Table is behind the pinnacles to the upper left.
My cozy little B & B is somewhere amongst these buildings.
The Cuillin Mountains.
Water streams have carved deep gashes in the mountain side.
If I'm not much mistaken, the Fairy Pools are to be found along this stream, but I just didn't have the stamina to go look for myself. It was cold and windy and I had a nice, warm, comfy car.
The Old Man of Storr, close up.
What, you think I walked up there?
Seen from the front. The Old Man is pretty much dead center of the pic.
Right next to where I stopped to take pictures was this cute, little island.
These pictures are from the Quiraing area, just north of Staffin. Great views from up here, folks.
Grrreat scenery.
This purdy lil' tree was hiding snuggly on the side of a little gully.
I believe this is the part of the mountain called The Prison. This is a far as I got. I think The Table is behind the pinnacles to the upper left.
My cozy little B & B is somewhere amongst these buildings.
The Cuillin Mountains.
Water streams have carved deep gashes in the mountain side.
If I'm not much mistaken, the Fairy Pools are to be found along this stream, but I just didn't have the stamina to go look for myself. It was cold and windy and I had a nice, warm, comfy car.
Skye: Fairie Glen
A brief drive east of Uigh lies the Fairie Glen (Glen meaning valley in Gaelic). It is quite small, maybe 100 meters (appx.330 feet) by 200, and roughly divided into 2 small "valleys". There were ruins from some stone structures within this enchanted spot. Possibly fences, possibly walls, possibly both.
Nice trees, both fallen and upright were all over the place.
The road goes ever on and on.
From a vantage point.
Towards Uigh.
A lovely pond.
Lovely tree, Rowan methinks?
The landscape surrounding the Glen was also quite scenic.
Nice trees, both fallen and upright were all over the place.
The road goes ever on and on.
From a vantage point.
Towards Uigh.
A lovely pond.
Lovely tree, Rowan methinks?
The landscape surrounding the Glen was also quite scenic.
Skye: Kilmuir Cemetery
This is the grave of Flora MacDonald. The 24 year old Flora helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape Scotland after his disastrous defeat at Culloden in 1746. He was disguised as her Irish (female) servant. Flora was jailed for a time, but then released. She married Allan MacDonald and they had seven children. They moved to North Carolina in 1774 but returned to Skye in 1779. She died at Kingsburgh and was buried here at Kilmuir in 1790.
A fascinating life and a fascinating story that has captured the attention of many writers and has earned her a place in the famous Skye Boat Song (...rocked in the deep/Flora will keep/watch by your weary head...). The epitaph on her gravestone was written by no less an illuminary than Dr. Johnson: "...a name that will be mentioned in history, and if courage and fidelity be virtues, mentioned with honour". The original gravestone was stolen piecemeal by tourists, until the present one was erected in 1855 by a great-great grandson.
An informative board told the visitor about Flora and some of the other luminaries here interred.
A fascinating life and a fascinating story that has captured the attention of many writers and has earned her a place in the famous Skye Boat Song (...rocked in the deep/Flora will keep/watch by your weary head...). The epitaph on her gravestone was written by no less an illuminary than Dr. Johnson: "...a name that will be mentioned in history, and if courage and fidelity be virtues, mentioned with honour". The original gravestone was stolen piecemeal by tourists, until the present one was erected in 1855 by a great-great grandson.
An informative board told the visitor about Flora and some of the other luminaries here interred.
Skye sunrise
I arrived in Staffin, far north on the island Sunday afternoon, but already early on Sunday morning, Skye showed me some lovin'. Feast yer eyes on this sunrise, my pretty ones.
Heaven's on fire.
The ever changing clouds made for purdy scenery.
Outside the cloud cover, things were softer around the edges.
Back to red fire.
One of the last of these pics.
Over to the north, a goddamn RAINBOW suddenly appeared.
The sun rising on the mountains to the west of me. "And not by eastern window only / when daylight comes, comes in the light. / In front the sun climbs slow, how slowly / but westward look, the land is bright."
Heaven's on fire.
The ever changing clouds made for purdy scenery.
Outside the cloud cover, things were softer around the edges.
Back to red fire.
One of the last of these pics.
Over to the north, a goddamn RAINBOW suddenly appeared.
The sun rising on the mountains to the west of me. "And not by eastern window only / when daylight comes, comes in the light. / In front the sun climbs slow, how slowly / but westward look, the land is bright."
Quote of the Day
A boy’s will is the wind’s will,
And the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts.
- H. W. Longfellow, "My Lost Youth"
And the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts.
- H. W. Longfellow, "My Lost Youth"
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Isle of Skye
I had intended to take some pictures of Duffus Castle, a ruin just north of Elgin, but my trusty old pocket camera chose that day to die on me. So instead I went to Skye, the almost mythically beautiful island just off the west coast. I'd never been before but I can assure you I will go there again. These are pics I took Sunday Oct 2.
I managed to get in two pictures from an unusually sunlit Loch Ness on the way to Skye. Here is Urquhart Castle.
The Loch itself had a wee bit of fog on. Wewy myftical.
Kyle of Lochalsh is a tiny village on the mainland. Opposite, to the left in the image, is the even tinier Skye village of Kyleakin, which in Gaelic means "The strait of Haakon" - in this case Haakon IV of Norway, who ruled these parts until he squandered them at the Battle of Largs in 1263.
A little further up the island was this cozy little waterfall, which I stopped to photograph. I believe it is called Mealt waterfall.
While standing there, I noticed an airplane crossing the skies.
This is the Scotland I've come to know and love, folks.
A bit further north was this waterfall.
This is the beach in Staffin Bay. Somewhere along here, there are fossil dinosaur print, but I'll be damned if I know where they were. And I spent a ridiculous amount of time looking for them.
Just north of Staffin was a fellow Elvis fan.
I managed to get in two pictures from an unusually sunlit Loch Ness on the way to Skye. Here is Urquhart Castle.
The Loch itself had a wee bit of fog on. Wewy myftical.
Kyle of Lochalsh is a tiny village on the mainland. Opposite, to the left in the image, is the even tinier Skye village of Kyleakin, which in Gaelic means "The strait of Haakon" - in this case Haakon IV of Norway, who ruled these parts until he squandered them at the Battle of Largs in 1263.
A little further up the island was this cozy little waterfall, which I stopped to photograph. I believe it is called Mealt waterfall.
While standing there, I noticed an airplane crossing the skies.
This is the Scotland I've come to know and love, folks.
A bit further north was this waterfall.
This is the beach in Staffin Bay. Somewhere along here, there are fossil dinosaur print, but I'll be damned if I know where they were. And I spent a ridiculous amount of time looking for them.
Just north of Staffin was a fellow Elvis fan.
Saturday, October 15, 2016
Duff House & Bow Fiddle Rock
From Fraserburgh I drove west to Duff House, in the care of Historic Scotland. It is a stately Georgian house, which has been refurbised extensively and now also houses a section of the Scottish National Gallery. Afterwards I drove up to Bow Fiddle Rock, a geological peculiarity which has gotten its name from its resemblance to a fiddle bow. So why it's called Bow Fiddle and not Fiddle Bow is beyond me.
There was construction work being carried out on the facade.
A statue of Minerva.
If this was the first thing to great me as I came home on a dark and stormy night, I might have wet myself in terror.
The architect had originally planned for a much bigger structure. As with several other Scottish buildings, it all ended in tears, lawsuits and ruin for the people involved.
Nice rock.
Nearby, on the mainland, were actual caves. Wheeeee!
There was construction work being carried out on the facade.
A statue of Minerva.
If this was the first thing to great me as I came home on a dark and stormy night, I might have wet myself in terror.
The architect had originally planned for a much bigger structure. As with several other Scottish buildings, it all ended in tears, lawsuits and ruin for the people involved.
Nice rock.
Nearby, on the mainland, were actual caves. Wheeeee!
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