Lodge in the rainforest

LODGE IN THE RAINFOREST

View west toward Amanda

View from room 

Main lodge

Restaurant in Amanda.  I think the photograph is so bad it's actually good.

The rainforest

MEMORIALS OF THE FAITHFUL

'It is clear that whatever glory is gained outside the Cause of God turns to abasement at the end; and ease and comfort not met with on the path of God are finally but care and sorrow; and all such wealth is penury, and nothing more'.

‘Abdu’l-Baha, Memorials of the Faithful

Reflections on Mount Carmel

This a collection of photographs, and drawings of Mount Carmel.

ноутбук

Earth & Jupiter Rotation Rates Compared

Sketchy self-portrait

                                       be

TUG

Black and White Kittehs

Julia Ramponi

Julia Ramponi was an Italian immigrant who lived across the street from us in Santa Cruz. She kept her small yard and the public area in front of her house spotless well into her eighties. She told me--in very accented English-- that in the Old Country, the centerline of the street marked the edge of the resident's (unofficial) responsibility. I actually saw her once using gasoline to remove oil spots on the pavement left by leaky cars parked in the space in front of her house.

I'll never forget her self-respect and for the respect she had for her neighbors.

Old Joe

My Russian tutor took this picture today during our lesson at the coffee house.

Я старый человек!

Time marches on.  The hairline, too.

Cat and Turkey

The Maple

The sun lit up the maple late this morning after a drenching pre-dawn rain.

Washington for Beginners

"Onions and prisoners".  LOL

 "Moss"  So true.

The First Astronaut

Steve Allen's "Man on the Street" interview with Bill Dana on the Tonight Show

                                            Allen:  Hello, what is your name?

                                            Dana:  My name Jose Jimenez.

                                            Allen:  And what do you do?

                                            Dana:  I am the first astronaut.

                                            Allen: I see.  Is that a crash helmet you're holding?

                                            Dana:  Oh, I hope not.

Western Scrub Jay

I've easily trained the Jays to swoop down and take peanuts out of my hand. It didn't take long. If I hold three, they'll linger on my hand for a few seconds as they figure out how to pick up at least two. They often watch the squirrels bury their peanuts, and then steal them.  They're rascals.

Poor Poor Pitiful Me

Quirky lyrics.  They nailed the ending.

I wish there was more volume.

Tug and the first fire of the season

All my cats have been wary of the first fire of the year, and Tug is no exception. This is about as close as he gotten so far...

Leaves at my backdoor

Leaves at my backdoor after a windstorm.

Random pictures of Bahji, Israel

Restoration and preservation of Bahji and  the Garden of Ridvan, Israel.

Channel 9 Movie Theater

I believe it was 1955 when I was living in North Hollywood with my four brothers and both parents. My two older brothers were spending the summer in San Francisco, and my twin brother and I were left to take care of ourselves during much the hot, dry summer days in the San Fernando Valley.  We ended up watching a lot of television, such as it was.  Every week, channel 9 in Los Angeles broadcast the same movie every day for six days, and then twice on Sunday, and named the feature the "Channel 9 Movie Theater".  I still remember the jingle.

One week that summer, my twin bro and I watched every showing of 'Room Service with the Marx Brothers.


Hail and Farewell!


Jumping butterballs!

Ketevan Geladze

 "You'd have done better to have become a priest"  

--Ketevan Geladze (mother of Joseph Stalin) to her son.

 

Building Sections

Layer Colors:  175 and 34.

In the Days of 49

Kids in a Crosley

CROSLEY STATION WAGON

I remember riding in the back of a Crosley similar to this with my three brothers and bags of groceries, with my dad at the wheel and my mom riding shotgun in '49 or '50.  The little motor and gearbox was no match for that much load climbing the hills of San Francisco, so its status as our family car was short-lived.

Halloween Card

Встречай, Украина, Веру Бахаи

Святые места бахаи

A short movie I made from images of Ukrainian Baha'i s on pilgrimage to the Baha'i holy places on Mount Carmel and Bahji, Israel.

(updated)

Redbuds in October

The Redbud is front and center..

MÁKÚ

Secluded on the heights of a remote and dangerously situated mountain on the frontiers of the Ottoman and Russian empires; imprisoned within the solid walls of a four-towered fortress; cut off from His family, His kindred and His disciples; living in the vicinity of a bigoted and turbulent community who, by race, tradition, language and creed, differed from the vast majority of the inhabitants of Persia; guarded by the people of a district which, as the birthplace of the Grand Vizir, had been made the recipient of the special favors of his administration, the Prisoner of Mah-Ku seemed in the eyes of His adversary to be doomed to languish away the flower of His youth, and witness, at no distant date, the complete annihilation of His hopes. That adversary was soon to realize, however, how gravely he had misjudged both his Prisoner and those on whom he had lavished his favors. An unruly, a proud and unreasoning people were gradually subdued by the gentleness of the Báb, were chastened by His modesty, were edified by His counsels, and instructed by His wisdom. They were so carried away by their love for Him that their first act every morning, notwithstanding the remonstrations of the domineering Ali Khan, and the repeated threats of disciplinary measures received from Tihran, was to seek a place where they could catch a glimpse of His face, and beseech from afar His benediction upon their daily work. In cases of dispute it was their wont to hasten to the foot of the fortress, and, with their eyes fixed upon His abode, invoke His name, and adjure one another to speak the truth. Ali Khan himself, under the influence of a strange vision, felt such mortification that he was impelled to relax the severity of his discipline, as an atonement for his past behavior. Such became his leniency that an increasing stream of eager and devout pilgrims began to be admitted at the gates of the fortress. Among them was the dauntless and indefatigable Mulla Husayn, who had walked on foot the entire way from Mashad in the east of Persia to Mah-Ku, the westernmost outpost of the realm, and was able, after so arduous a journey, to celebrate the festival of Naw-Ruz (1848) in the company of his Beloved.

(Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 17)

67th Birthday Table

The Beauty of Language

I watched "Good Morning, Miss Dove" (1955) early this morning on TCM, and the film reminded me of how much I appreciate eloquence.  It's like hearing  a ringing bell. 

Nurse Billie Jean:  "And the compliments he paid my hair, my eyes and my figure.
                                  I'm embarrassed to repeat them".


Miss Dove:       "Reticence, Virginia, is the sine qua non of gentility".

сегодня мой день рождения

My tutor baked me a yellow cake with chocolate frosting.

I emailed her:



Мне нравится  мой торт.

Очень вкусно!

спасибо, Anna!






She emailed me back:



Да не за что! Приятного Аппетита!!!

Primordial Soup

Dave Brubeck -- Take Five

BAY BRIDGE PRIMING

Judy and Jessie

Judy and Jessie in Santa Cruz

Acts of kindness

*Volume warning*