I meant to post about this last night, but it got too late for me…
This is the famous Athenaeum (wait… I gotta check my spelling) (ok, fixed it 🙂 ) portrait of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart. Dunno what the name means. It’s his second portrait of Washington.
It’s unfinished on purpose.
Martha Washington had commissioned it when George became president, because she liked Stuart’s first one.
Stuart himself liked this one…. so much that he left it unfinished, so he wouldn’t have to deliver it to Martha. He used it as a model to make many copies, from which he earned a good income for years.
It was also copied by the engraver for creating the portrait still used on the US one dollar bill.
Okay…. Google says… “Nico Hoerner #2 of the Chicago Cubs throws the ball to first base during the fourth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field on August 05, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
This doesn’t seem sufficient to explain levitation!
Wow…. this is Leland Melvin… retired astronaut, who spent 24 years with NASA. But before that, he was a wide receiver with the Detroit Lions!
This picture is famous for his having sneaked his two adopted Rhodesian Ridgebacks into his official NASA portrait.
He served on the Space Shuttle Atlantis in 2008 and 2009, helping to construct the International Space Station. As a NASA Educator, he helped develop the US 5-year STEM education plan. After retirement, he wrote books.
Astronaut, athlete, researcher, scientist and author, … An incredibly impressive person!
Dad was a “business machine” repairman, including ten-key adding machines…and later calculators. He was able to operate them at very high speed…like the users had to. But the numbers on the phone are backwards, (1-2-3 on top, instead of the bottom) and he was always misdialing the phone. So he took his desk phones apart and rewired them, then put the keys back in the “correct” place. Drove everyone else nuts when they tried to use his phone.
I read somewhere they designed phones that way on purpose. People who were fast on adding machines would push the buttons on the phones too quickly for the phone to correctly respond. My first push button phone still used clicks to send the information instead of the current tones.
Probably true. I believe the same was said about the QWERTY keyboard we use today. There are much faster layouts, but because this one is so “normal” now, it’s pretty much impossible to change.
Actually, it’s from a movie… Not that it doesn’t portray a tragic event.
This is…
Adrien Brody, who won the Oscar for Best Actor, playing the role of Władysław Szpilman (real-life Polish-Jewish composer and pianist) who lost everything in the Holocaust.
on location
on Mała Street in Warsaw, in a recreation of its wartime appearance, from photos, for the film
The film is…
The Pianist, from 2002, by Best Director winner Roman Polański, who was actually a Holocaust survivor, escaping from a camp as a child, but losing his mother to Auschwitz.
I saw that film during its first run on a huge screen. I’m surprised I didn’t recognize it. An extremely moving and powerful story that will undoubtedly define Mr. Brody’s career. It’s the only movie I ever considered leaving in the midst of because it was so disturbing. I lost relatives in the Holocaust, who of course I never met, but I had a cousin (by marriage) with a number tattooed on his wrist.
I knew I couldn’t watch it, and I never went.
I think I should watch this stuff… but I just can’t.
This one, Sophie’s Choice, Schindler’s List; I didn’t see any of them because I get too upset at just the previews and reviews.
In the late 70s someone took me to see the 1950s Alain Resnais film Night and Fog, because I liked his later one, Last Year at Marienbad. I didn’t know it was going to be a documentary about Auschwitz, revisiting the grounds and showing old footage of piles of bodies, and torture victims. I had nightmares for weeks.
That’s when I decided not to watch any more… though I did like, if that’s the right word, a film called, in English, Sunshine, about an Austrian family that shares my name, some of whom end up in the camps. I didn’t know until my late 20s my relationship to the name wasn’t biological.
I, too, lost relatives … In fact, I known almost nothing about any generation before my paternal grandparents, to whom I’m not blood related, and nothing before my maternal grandmother, about whom my mother would only say she was born in “the old country.”
The previous generation to mine, including both my parents, all American born except one Uncle who was a baby when they immigrated, wouldn’t talk about ancestors at all. No names, locations or relationships.
And they don’t even think about it, do they.
Little show-offs, that’s what they are!
Anyway, the person who took this picture posted on his Instagram that it was from 1995…
“Grand Canyon South Rim, taken while hiking down the mule trail.”
But it didn’t give his real name.
When I first looked at it, I thought that edge looked like it had been carved out by humans, but that was probably impossible.
Reading that it was in the Grand Canyon makes me think perhaps it was… that area has been visited by humans for a very long time, though I doubt a path like that has been left accessible in a national park, sloping, with no railings.
Also, the thing about the Grand Canyon is… it sounds silly to say… that it’s a canyon. That edge is far above the canyon floor, but probably not up a mountain, and may have been approachable from comparatively flat terrain.
I’ve been to the south rim several times, by way the GC Railroad. Worth the trip no, matter how you get there.
And, some mining was done IN the canyon. Uranium.
BTW don’t have many colors available in this little program on my tablet. Obviously making him white wouldn’t work, and grey doesn’t work well either. So he’s one of those rare blue mountain goats.
Had that problem at the Grand Canyon! Found a spot where the rails came to a point overlooking a bit, and claimed if for myself, and took a panorama. (Other tourists still kept pushing into my space and were a bit irritating.)
Well, when they’re literally tripping over the legs of my tripod (moving the camera, making me start over…and over…) they really just need to be patient. And honestly, the photo isn’t really any different from 2 feet either side of where I was set up.
It’s too bad I had to reduce the resolution to post that here. If I wanted to, I could print the original at 12 feet wide. But I wouldn’t have any place to put it.
We had over 90 mile visibility that day. Unbelievable.
I was out making an exhibition of myself at the first show of the year (For me) yesterday. I was running my 7mm scale (O gauge) shunting layout “Saxham Street Sidings”. The layout measures 6’6″ x 1′, the scenic area is 4’6″ long.
It was a good day, with a good turnout by the public, and most importantly, lots of interested youngsters. They are the future of the hobby, and it was good to see them really taking an interest in the layouts and exhibits.
A lot of people and stores still call the 750ml bottles a fifth, even though they’re not a fifth of anything.
They’re about a quarter of an ounce smaller than the ⅘qt/⅕ gal bottles, but that’s closer than a lot of sizes manufacturers try to pass off these days, like 30oz “quarts” of mayonnaise.
.
And Happy Birthday, George!
I meant to post about this last night, but it got too late for me…
This is the famous Athenaeum (wait… I gotta check my spelling) (ok, fixed it 🙂 ) portrait of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart. Dunno what the name means. It’s his second portrait of Washington.
It’s unfinished on purpose.
Martha Washington had commissioned it when George became president, because she liked Stuart’s first one.
Stuart himself liked this one…. so much that he left it unfinished, so he wouldn’t have to deliver it to Martha. He used it as a model to make many copies, from which he earned a good income for years.
It was also copied by the engraver for creating the portrait still used on the US one dollar bill.
..
,
Okay…. Google says… “Nico Hoerner #2 of the Chicago Cubs throws the ball to first base during the fourth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field on August 05, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
This doesn’t seem sufficient to explain levitation!
Sports can cause levitation.
.,
,.
Wow…. this is Leland Melvin… retired astronaut, who spent 24 years with NASA. But before that, he was a wide receiver with the Detroit Lions!
This picture is famous for his having sneaked his two adopted Rhodesian Ridgebacks into his official NASA portrait.
He served on the Space Shuttle Atlantis in 2008 and 2009, helping to construct the International Space Station. As a NASA Educator, he helped develop the US 5-year STEM education plan. After retirement, he wrote books.
Astronaut, athlete, researcher, scientist and author, … An incredibly impressive person!
Doggy lover!
That too!
,.,
,,
Dad was a “business machine” repairman, including ten-key adding machines…and later calculators. He was able to operate them at very high speed…like the users had to. But the numbers on the phone are backwards, (1-2-3 on top, instead of the bottom) and he was always misdialing the phone. So he took his desk phones apart and rewired them, then put the keys back in the “correct” place. Drove everyone else nuts when they tried to use his phone.
I read somewhere they designed phones that way on purpose. People who were fast on adding machines would push the buttons on the phones too quickly for the phone to correctly respond. My first push button phone still used clicks to send the information instead of the current tones.
Probably true. I believe the same was said about the QWERTY keyboard we use today. There are much faster layouts, but because this one is so “normal” now, it’s pretty much impossible to change.
Yes, the QWERTY keyboard was designed (For English users) to slow down typists who could out-type the mechanical mechanisms.
,.
That was rude!
Not neighborly at all! Now if you’ll excuse me, somewhere there is a baby with candy.
Porky little ‘roo didn’t need that anyway.
,
Nope. Not a chance. Unless it’s sweet potato pie.
I just had one tonight, and I didn’t even know it was the right day.
,..
Which war-torn hellhole is this?
Actually, it’s from a movie… Not that it doesn’t portray a tragic event.
One of the people writing about the film had taken this photo of the same spot, in 2023.
I saw that film during its first run on a huge screen. I’m surprised I didn’t recognize it. An extremely moving and powerful story that will undoubtedly define Mr. Brody’s career. It’s the only movie I ever considered leaving in the midst of because it was so disturbing. I lost relatives in the Holocaust, who of course I never met, but I had a cousin (by marriage) with a number tattooed on his wrist.
I knew I couldn’t watch it, and I never went.
I think I should watch this stuff… but I just can’t.
This one, Sophie’s Choice, Schindler’s List; I didn’t see any of them because I get too upset at just the previews and reviews.
In the late 70s someone took me to see the 1950s Alain Resnais film Night and Fog, because I liked his later one, Last Year at Marienbad. I didn’t know it was going to be a documentary about Auschwitz, revisiting the grounds and showing old footage of piles of bodies, and torture victims. I had nightmares for weeks.
That’s when I decided not to watch any more… though I did like, if that’s the right word, a film called, in English, Sunshine, about an Austrian family that shares my name, some of whom end up in the camps. I didn’t know until my late 20s my relationship to the name wasn’t biological.
I, too, lost relatives … In fact, I known almost nothing about any generation before my paternal grandparents, to whom I’m not blood related, and nothing before my maternal grandmother, about whom my mother would only say she was born in “the old country.”
The previous generation to mine, including both my parents, all American born except one Uncle who was a baby when they immigrated, wouldn’t talk about ancestors at all. No names, locations or relationships.
I was only told we’re American now.
,..
,
And they don’t even think about it, do they.
Little show-offs, that’s what they are!
Anyway, the person who took this picture posted on his Instagram that it was from 1995…
“Grand Canyon South Rim, taken while hiking down the mule trail.”
But it didn’t give his real name.
When I first looked at it, I thought that edge looked like it had been carved out by humans, but that was probably impossible.
Reading that it was in the Grand Canyon makes me think perhaps it was… that area has been visited by humans for a very long time, though I doubt a path like that has been left accessible in a national park, sloping, with no railings.
Also, the thing about the Grand Canyon is… it sounds silly to say… that it’s a canyon. That edge is far above the canyon floor, but probably not up a mountain, and may have been approachable from comparatively flat terrain.
I’ve been to the south rim several times, by way the GC Railroad. Worth the trip no, matter how you get there.
And, some mining was done IN the canyon. Uranium.
,
Got it!
Well, sure. He’s one story up.
He’s not really hiding… but I’ll post a solution
BTW don’t have many colors available in this little program on my tablet. Obviously making him white wouldn’t work, and grey doesn’t work well either. So he’s one of those rare blue mountain goats.
,,
Clearly a popular photo op.
LOL…. for a moment I thought it was a sport.
Till I realized that all those people were posing for different cameras, each trying to look like they’re holding up the Leaning Tower.
Must be hard to get a shot that’s not full of other tourists.
Had that problem at the Grand Canyon! Found a spot where the rails came to a point overlooking a bit, and claimed if for myself, and took a panorama. (Other tourists still kept pushing into my space and were a bit irritating.)
If you look all the way to the right, there are tourists there. And there’s a helicopter in the shot too. But it’s a bit difficult to find.
Nice shot
I bet some of those other tourists thought they
we’re claiming the spot, as well…. and were also a bit irritated. 🙂
Well, when they’re literally tripping over the legs of my tripod (moving the camera, making me start over…and over…) they really just need to be patient. And honestly, the photo isn’t really any different from 2 feet either side of where I was set up.
It’s too bad I had to reduce the resolution to post that here. If I wanted to, I could print the original at 12 feet wide. But I wouldn’t have any place to put it.
We had over 90 mile visibility that day. Unbelievable.
,..
It’s never a wasted trip if the doggies get treats! Cleo deserves the best…or tube steak if that’s all that’s available.
I was out making an exhibition of myself at the first show of the year (For me) yesterday. I was running my 7mm scale (O gauge) shunting layout “Saxham Street Sidings”. The layout measures 6’6″ x 1′, the scenic area is 4’6″ long.
It was a good day, with a good turnout by the public, and most importantly, lots of interested youngsters. They are the future of the hobby, and it was good to see them really taking an interest in the layouts and exhibits.
Looks great!
can you provide some closeups of your layout?
Here’s three from yesterday, I can take more later in the week if you wish.
the amber beacon on the roof of the white Transit van actually flashes, helps draw the kid’s attention to the layout.
yes, but get in even tighter
Will do.
..
…
Forth Bridge at night, Firth of Forth, Scotland.
Looks kind of like a golden sea creature… like you might have to feed it a treat before you can cross.
Let’s toast the Forth of Firth with a fifth!
(In the USA, a bottle of liquor containing 4/5 of a quart was commonly called “a fifth.”)
A lot of people and stores still call the 750ml bottles a fifth, even though they’re not a fifth of anything.
They’re about a quarter of an ounce smaller than the ⅘qt/⅕ gal bottles, but that’s closer than a lot of sizes manufacturers try to pass off these days, like 30oz “quarts” of mayonnaise.
Ginger Lop for Bunday.
The light is too bright for a blue-eyed one.