an unhappy ending

A proud Bleiburg Soccer Team

What a lovely goal ! Bleiburg 1 : Opponent 0

Two "Yellows" make One "Red".

The Bathing Beauty

...and I always thought that it was

Esther Williams

who was "The Bathing Beauty"

The kid at the fountain.

Hey, Kid ! Get away from this fountain !

Ducks and Reflections

A right-side-up duck

and an up-side-down building

Guys' chat hour

or

Political discussion

Does He really care ? I think not !

The Newspapers were full of it. Even Time Magazine devoted a large part of a recent issue, including the cover photo.

It was the story of a 13 year old boy, who, along with over 50 other men was stuffed by the South Sudan military into a metal container, causing the death of all by asphyxiation, except for this young man.

It all happened in the South Sudan, the “new country” of which the international community had such great hopes, that it would become the beacon of Democracy in a world full of dictatorial hatreds, mayhem and killing.

In fact the South Sudan became one of the worst killing fields between warring tribal factions.

Several newspapers mentioned this brutal killing and that this boy survived “by the grace of God”.

Time's headline quoted him as saying: “I was the only one God left alive.”

I can understand a boy of 13, largely uneducated, but indoctrinated in the christian belief system, which says that there is not a sparrow which falls, which is not the will and the doing of Almighty God,

the all merciful, the all just, the all knowing.

Isn't it just wonderful ? Another benevolent deed committed by this “all merciful” and “all just God”.

What about the other 50+ men, who died a horrible death, by suffocating in an over heated metal container?

If they were all sinners, then why did the “All Merciful” allow them to die?

If there were some just men among them, why did the “All Just” not save them ?

Why did he allow this indescribably brutal act's happening ?

If this boy survived “by God's grace”, where is the grace for the other 50 ?

In fact, where is the grace, the benevolence, the justice for all the millions who died what is an unjust death by all standards ? Even by the standards of a so-called God ?

Of course, if you read the Old Testament you are confronted with a “God” who orders the most heinous crimes and, in fact, commits some of the worst mass murders himself, and over the millennia has stood idly by when evil men killed millions upon millions of their fellows.

So, please don't tell me that the survival of one out of fifty in a metal container in the South Sudan was an act of a gracious, forgiving, all loving, and just God.

It was more likely a coincidence, that this lad was low down in this container, maybe close to a small opening through which he could breath a little. Such a lucky circumstance probably saved him.

But certainly not a concerned God.

Bertstravels

has his doubts about the existence of God,

but he has no doubt about the non-existence of a concerned, caring God.

Water, water, everywhere

Water

more water

still more water

Dr. Alexander Van der Bellen - Bundespraesident of Austria

Well, it was a cliff hanger.

Alex won this vote by the narrowest of margins:

50.3 % to 49.7%

Many Austrians I know breathed a deep sigh of relief

Flowers in the Park

First Swim 2016

The above is a little corner of Paradise.

Bert taking the plunge !

If I do this too often, the pool will be empty.

Air temperature :    26 C

Water temperature: 18 C

Goose bumps:  100 %

Sheer Pleasure: 100 %

Early Morning

The early morning changes the sky and the lake 

from dark blue to a reddish hue.

Algonquin Gems

A typical Sunset in Algonquin Park.

This one on MacIntosh Lake

Early morning fog, 

together with this root of an ancient tree

seems to guard the entrance into the Hailstorm Creek Marsh.

An Osprey, returning from a fishing trip

carries his prey like a torpedo 

in order to reduce drag.

In the nest, which is guarded by the female, 

three chicks are waiting for their meal.

The remains of a century old fishing hut

at the North end of Big Trout Lake

always provides a comfortable rest spot.

Rhododendrons

The Rhododendrons have made a strong appearance

An early showing

and then:

the full bloom !

Jakaranda Tree

When you first see streets in Harare, lined on both sides with
the Chakaranda Tree" ( or "Jakaranda ) you feel as if you had been transported into "Fairyland".
The light to deep purple gives an impression of intense beauty, created by a rare colour in such profusion in nature.

Painters of the Canadian First Nation

The "Indian Group of Seven"

"The Embrace"

by

Daphne Odjig

borne on 11th September 1919

One of the founding members of 

The "Indian Group of Seven"

"The Rock Painter"

by

Carl Ray

a member of the "Indian Group of Seven"

"The Great Flood"

by

Norval Morriseau (1931 - 2007)

probably the most prominent member of the "Indian Group of Seven.

Prototypical Africa

The "Oryx" populates the Kalahari in great numbers.

Early morning haze and a lone Oryx in the distance.

A young male Lion observes us with suspicion

 A male Kudu tries to hide behind some  bushes.

Gotsch'ya

view in largest format possible.

The Purple Breasted Roller and his Prey.

The KING of the KALAHARI

The absolute Ruler !

the black-maned Lion of the Kalahari.

This image was taken with a 400 mm lens 

from an estimated distance of  75-100 meters

(to the best of my recollection )

There is always a hook.

Otto Preminger, the famed movie producer died and went to heaven.
St. Peter, guarding the pearly gates exclaimed joyfully that they had been waiting for him, since God would like him to produce one more movie. 
Otto told Peter that he had stopped producing movies a long long time ago and did not, under any circumstances, wish to make one more.
But, Otto, said St. Peter, we have Ludwig van Beethoven, who will write the score.
I don't care, says Otto. I told you, no more movies for me.
Listen, St Peter continues, we shall have Michelangelo paint the set. 
How often do I have to tell you: No more movies, none,  not ever again.
That's not all, St.Peter insists; We persuaded William Shakespeare to write an original play.
Otto Preminger thinks for a minute: Loui for the music, Mike for the set,  Bill for the text...
How can I say No...  Okay, Otto says to St. Peter, I'll do it.
There is just one little thing, says Peter, I know this really cute young blond girl. She sings nicely........

                                                           ************************

Seagulls

Mother  Seagull ready to attack

in defense of her newly hatched chicks.

Too young to fly

they seek safety by camouflage.

Blending beautifully with the colour of the rock

they remained absolutely motionless

and thereby almost invisible.

Soon they will learn to fly

and the skies will be their home