From time to time I want to be sad . Not that I want actually , I do feel I need that . But it seems this isn't popular way of being . People who have sad , gloomy face are considered to be unpopular . Sadness is undesirable - smile is in need. So keep smiling - that's main slogan. In fact , laugh is really healthy. A person who can laugh , despite of difficult situations we come across every day , has got an easier life , I think . But what I really mean , smiling and laughing are good if you can have moments of sadness or melancholly. For the better balance of the body and spirit .
Somebody once wrote , nevermind who - 'The joy - that's a serious thing '. For me thats true. Beethoven's 'Ode to joy' is fine example .
I often feel like beingl sad . As if I need to experience a kind of grief , which I haven't gone through yet . And I wonder if it is possible , because nobody wants to experience the grief . And I feel stranded between these two needs , the grief and the joy. As most people try to evoid sadness and grief , the signs of depression , such feeling sometimes rescues from turmoil inside me . I am only afraid to sink deeper in sadness.
Tuesday 31 January 2012
Saturday 28 January 2012
Simple - like David Hockney
I liked his paintings since I saw his " Big splash" first time . Simple in form , balanced colours , just nice . And recently his big exhibition in London has been wide discussed , as contains large number of paintings , including latest ones , inspired byt he landscape of Yorkshire , where he has come back . What I like in this kind of painting is just simplicity , the way the painter shows patterns captured in nature , geometrical shapes and contrast between objectsc. Like in cubism and in pictures of some impressionists , Matisse or even Van Gogh .
I like as well this way of finding natural structures in landscape in photography . I am always trying , if possible , to take pictures using existing patterns , like roads , lines of trees and hills , walls stretching across fields and hills . I think that's the kind of admiration for nature's creation on the earth .
So below some examples of similar kind of scenery I have photographed .
I like as well this way of finding natural structures in landscape in photography . I am always trying , if possible , to take pictures using existing patterns , like roads , lines of trees and hills , walls stretching across fields and hills . I think that's the kind of admiration for nature's creation on the earth .
So below some examples of similar kind of scenery I have photographed .
Thursday 26 January 2012
Slow Loris - damned gremlin
Once there was a popular thriller - movie story about small creatures who invided our planet . They were very cheeky and very dangerous as roamed in large numbers. Although at first they seemed to be cute , quickly became hated . Shortly speaking, the gremlins have become a symbol of something opressive .
The new BBC documentary ,which I have freshly seen , " Slow Loris - jungle gremlin " , shows things differently. As the hollywood story is fictional , real jungle gremlins are now revealed. But of course , that's the different case. There is no specimen on the planet able to be dangerous for us , humans . In reality , we are dreadful danger to the " jungle gremlins" - slow lorises .
Pulling out Slow Loris' front teeth .
The specimen has become very popular as a pet animal , due to be considered very cute. The animal lives in the south-east Asia's rainforests , and as it's name indicates , moves slowly. That means , this particular subspecies of bigger Loris family , related to lemurs , is very vulnerable. So to protect themselves from bigger predators , and for hunt , slow loris has got a toxic bite , what is rare among mammals.
Slow lorises has become depopulated , and listed as endangered , mainly because of deforestation and pet trade. Slow loris has been long used in traditional medicine in the South-East Asia , but now additionally as an object of exotic pet trade . It's possible to sell one slow loris to Japan or Russia for 2500 $ , but as documentary showed , on the local pet market in Jacarta tourists can purchase this animal for mere 25 $ . And pochers in order to deliver them to sellers , pull out or cut their front teeth , to evoid toxic bite. What results in infections ; many animals dies. As hidden camera showed , they are kept in cages or plastic boxes , often couple of them squeezed cruelly .
This is of course merciless , just sheer desire to get profit . But another fact , pointed out by the author of this documentary, is even worse for me. The slow loris as a pet has been popularized via Internet . The You Tube video of owner tickling slow loris has reached 12 milions views . Many of these pets are thrown away after some time . One Indonesian woman owning this small primate , after her pet had started to stink , has to now wash her loris once a week .
I ask you . Do really people have to be so spoilt ,to not take into an account that keeping not domesticated , exotic animals brings problems for either keepers and their pets ? That's not snake sleeping in one spot most of the time , although snakes should be left to live in the natural environment as well .
I wanted to place another photo of slow loris to show how it looks , but I have changed my mind finishing this post . I don't want to help exotic pet's traders to get more money .
The new BBC documentary ,which I have freshly seen , " Slow Loris - jungle gremlin " , shows things differently. As the hollywood story is fictional , real jungle gremlins are now revealed. But of course , that's the different case. There is no specimen on the planet able to be dangerous for us , humans . In reality , we are dreadful danger to the " jungle gremlins" - slow lorises .
Pulling out Slow Loris' front teeth .
The specimen has become very popular as a pet animal , due to be considered very cute. The animal lives in the south-east Asia's rainforests , and as it's name indicates , moves slowly. That means , this particular subspecies of bigger Loris family , related to lemurs , is very vulnerable. So to protect themselves from bigger predators , and for hunt , slow loris has got a toxic bite , what is rare among mammals.
Slow lorises has become depopulated , and listed as endangered , mainly because of deforestation and pet trade. Slow loris has been long used in traditional medicine in the South-East Asia , but now additionally as an object of exotic pet trade . It's possible to sell one slow loris to Japan or Russia for 2500 $ , but as documentary showed , on the local pet market in Jacarta tourists can purchase this animal for mere 25 $ . And pochers in order to deliver them to sellers , pull out or cut their front teeth , to evoid toxic bite. What results in infections ; many animals dies. As hidden camera showed , they are kept in cages or plastic boxes , often couple of them squeezed cruelly .
This is of course merciless , just sheer desire to get profit . But another fact , pointed out by the author of this documentary, is even worse for me. The slow loris as a pet has been popularized via Internet . The You Tube video of owner tickling slow loris has reached 12 milions views . Many of these pets are thrown away after some time . One Indonesian woman owning this small primate , after her pet had started to stink , has to now wash her loris once a week .
I ask you . Do really people have to be so spoilt ,to not take into an account that keeping not domesticated , exotic animals brings problems for either keepers and their pets ? That's not snake sleeping in one spot most of the time , although snakes should be left to live in the natural environment as well .
I wanted to place another photo of slow loris to show how it looks , but I have changed my mind finishing this post . I don't want to help exotic pet's traders to get more money .
Wednesday 4 January 2012
Do we need Myths ?
In present times , is the Myth still worth to think about ? The Myth , as a symbol has been always present in the culture , but is still valuable ? I have reminded to myself about the power of the Myth just having read another blog , where the author mentioned how important for him was to find in life the way , which heroes of myths used to follow - http://tomandatticus.blogspot.com/
As I can recall , I started to be interested in myths when I was 10. I used to read , since that age , Greek Mythology and stories of the Old Testament . Later on , that was famous fantasy saga about Conan of Cimmeria , by R.E. Howard , however of course , that was only artificial mythology .
Well , who remembers this days about myths ? Old , good myths , seems to be have been replaced by urban myths . Urban myths and tales are nothing new actually , as cities themselves have long history . But nowadays urban myths are created by pop culture and Hollywood stories , like " Batman " , "Superman " and so on .However , recently more popular has become Fantasy movies , which have much common with old myths .Where the powers of devil are overcome by the power of Good . Like in " The Stars Wars " .
But indeed were the first myths created in order to illustrate that the Good is finally always on the top , and to show which side to choose in this dual world ?
I have looked to Wikipedia to check up the teory of myth by Joseph Cambell , reffered by the author of that blog I mentioned above . According to Cambell , the heroes of traditional myths were archetypes . Just in universal way indicate how, through lonely journey and fighting against bad world ,to reach initiation and wisdom . And that wisdom should be used after coming back. In early mythology there was no particular differentiation between the World of Dark and Light . In greek mythology all Gods acts either through good and bad deeds . The same in Celtic Mythology - I looked to book by Carl McColman " 366 Celt " - according to the author , in the stories of gods, goddes and heroes , " we can find an insight into the mystery and majesty of our own ".
I have reached to my shelf with books again and taken " The Mythology of Greeks and Romans " . In the Epilog , I coul read a short summary about antic myths . So I read, that mixing with mythology means to stand on the edge of abyss . Abyss of contradictions of life , contradictions , which are impossible to sort out .That's a tragedy of human's life . And in this dark side of Greek myths we can find a bit of consolation for ourselves . The heritage of Greek myths and culture is continued , over centuries , by latin culture . This antic heritage encourage to the patience and bravery without complaining , against incomprehensible and often horrifying world .
This seems to be very true , what Greek myths say to us . Even now , in the time of popular , plastic culture of western world , antic tragedy is still evoking . It's enough to remaind the succes of Hollywood production " 300 " . And many more stories based on greek myths .
But greek mythology is ,as the matter of fact , the part of tradition , in which myths played significanr role in human culture . All over the world myths and fairy tales were helpful to face the danger and chaos of the world . And prepare to initiations . According to American poet and writer , Robert Bly , the lack of old myths and stories , being transmitted from generation to generation , unable the process of initiation . Initiation of young men in modern society .
So the secret , which myths hold , is simple . People however , usually look for the secret which would allow them to gain the power , richness , means for getting material things and admiration .
Some people , who I know , would be disgusted at such an idea as seeking for wisdom in myths or just notice the magic of life . Actually , this isn't about reading myths, but looking into ourselves . Cynicism and calculation seems to be the only way in life sometimes . Am I wrong to see the things like that ?
As I can recall , I started to be interested in myths when I was 10. I used to read , since that age , Greek Mythology and stories of the Old Testament . Later on , that was famous fantasy saga about Conan of Cimmeria , by R.E. Howard , however of course , that was only artificial mythology .
Well , who remembers this days about myths ? Old , good myths , seems to be have been replaced by urban myths . Urban myths and tales are nothing new actually , as cities themselves have long history . But nowadays urban myths are created by pop culture and Hollywood stories , like " Batman " , "Superman " and so on .However , recently more popular has become Fantasy movies , which have much common with old myths .Where the powers of devil are overcome by the power of Good . Like in " The Stars Wars " .
But indeed were the first myths created in order to illustrate that the Good is finally always on the top , and to show which side to choose in this dual world ?
I have looked to Wikipedia to check up the teory of myth by Joseph Cambell , reffered by the author of that blog I mentioned above . According to Cambell , the heroes of traditional myths were archetypes . Just in universal way indicate how, through lonely journey and fighting against bad world ,to reach initiation and wisdom . And that wisdom should be used after coming back. In early mythology there was no particular differentiation between the World of Dark and Light . In greek mythology all Gods acts either through good and bad deeds . The same in Celtic Mythology - I looked to book by Carl McColman " 366 Celt " - according to the author , in the stories of gods, goddes and heroes , " we can find an insight into the mystery and majesty of our own ".
I have reached to my shelf with books again and taken " The Mythology of Greeks and Romans " . In the Epilog , I coul read a short summary about antic myths . So I read, that mixing with mythology means to stand on the edge of abyss . Abyss of contradictions of life , contradictions , which are impossible to sort out .That's a tragedy of human's life . And in this dark side of Greek myths we can find a bit of consolation for ourselves . The heritage of Greek myths and culture is continued , over centuries , by latin culture . This antic heritage encourage to the patience and bravery without complaining , against incomprehensible and often horrifying world .
This seems to be very true , what Greek myths say to us . Even now , in the time of popular , plastic culture of western world , antic tragedy is still evoking . It's enough to remaind the succes of Hollywood production " 300 " . And many more stories based on greek myths .
But greek mythology is ,as the matter of fact , the part of tradition , in which myths played significanr role in human culture . All over the world myths and fairy tales were helpful to face the danger and chaos of the world . And prepare to initiations . According to American poet and writer , Robert Bly , the lack of old myths and stories , being transmitted from generation to generation , unable the process of initiation . Initiation of young men in modern society .
So the secret , which myths hold , is simple . People however , usually look for the secret which would allow them to gain the power , richness , means for getting material things and admiration .
Some people , who I know , would be disgusted at such an idea as seeking for wisdom in myths or just notice the magic of life . Actually , this isn't about reading myths, but looking into ourselves . Cynicism and calculation seems to be the only way in life sometimes . Am I wrong to see the things like that ?
Sunday 1 January 2012
New Year's ride .
On the bike . To the Cramond Village . The weather was welcoming , and many people jumped to the same idea . When I came to Cramond late afternoon , there was horrible traffic jam , in the narrow street coming down to the shore . At this time of day the tide was low . So many people wanted to take stroll to Cramond Island . The Island lies in the Firth of Forth , 1.5 mile off Cramond . And as walkway is exposed when the tide is low , that's easy way to get to the Island .
The place is really nice . Small old village just opposite the Island , and river Almond , finishes it's run in the very same spot .
River Almond pours out freshwater into the bay . When high tide , in this place these waters mix . On the picture , you can see that river's waters run where normally sea waters stay .
Below ; walkway leads to Cramond Island
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