Visual Insights: Dennys Photo Gallery: Awesome Quiet Landscapes by Adrians Art

Visual Insights: Dennys Photo Gallery: Awesome Quiet Landscapes by Adrians Art: From Denny: This week, while on one of my spectacular "visual vacations," I discovered this awesome photographer over at flickr. This photographer, Adrian Campfield, is based in the United Kingdom and has an incredible emotional connection to Nature's beauty. The early sunrise and sunset landscape photography is breathtaking, exuding a wonderful sense of peace and tranquility.

The commentary under the photos are all from the photographer. Be sure to visit this photographer's flickr pages by just clicking on the photograph!

Since he is a professional photographer you are in luck if you wish to purchase prints of any of these beauties, just click on over here: Adrian's Art. He is also a pastel, pencil and watercolor artist and includes examples of his work on the site. This is an awesome body of work taken from 2007 - 2011. (All Rights Reserved by this photographer with embed codes available for bloggers.)

Dennys Art Sanctuary: Funny Art Photo Of The Day: Museum Watching

Dennys Art Sanctuary: Funny Art Photo Of The Day: Museum Watching

Visual Insights: Photo Of The Day: Awesome London

Visual Insights: Photo Of The Day: Awesome London

A Spiritual Perspective: Michael Jackson

Image by bernissimo via Flickr

From Denny: Most of us enjoyed the King of Pop's music and dance as much as we agonized over the mess in his personal life. That kind of abuse is difficult to heal and you have to be motivated to the point of treating healing like it's an extreme sport to accomplish it. It can be done. Unfortunately, MJ continued to interact with his abuser and, over the decades of not healing, it drove him to drug addiction to avoid the flashbacks of PTSD. Then the toxic long-term effect of the drugs created the ensuing bizarre acts.

I did manage to find some of his videos that were not disabled over at YouTube and embedded them in the sidebar. Already the family is fast-acting to make money off a dead artist who hasn't even been buried yet. Sometimes you really wonder about the crassness of your own culture...

When I was watching his earliest videos it struck me how much he had grown as a dancer, an artist and a producer. Initially, he began by creating the scenarios, designed the set, created the dance choreography. Then, like the director Hitchcock, he would quickly inject and then exit himself from the scene. He reminded me of the fast flutter by of a hummingbird. As his confidence and ability grew he developed a longer dance scene for himself as part of the crowd. By the time of the early 90's like in Black and White he had hit his stride for visual expression on all the levels.



Moon Walking Series Photo by tipoyock @ flickr

Whether it was conscious or not, Michael had started really getting in tune with his spiritual energy. I noticed how he was moving Chi energy during his dance. When you observe others imitating his dance moves the Chi movement isn't there as that is what set Michael apart and made him so attractive to others. Granted, he spent years studying dance films of many other great dancers and put in the hard work to perfect his own moves. The Chi movement explains the smoothness of his Moon Walk and his fluidity of dance.

Lately, I've been reading in the mysticism area of the Kabbalah. It struck me how the Kabbalah talks about spiritual energy distortion. Michael Jackson immediately came to mind. Because he had not fully healed of past trauma he was unable to fully express and cooperate with his given spiritual energy - in Christian circles it is called a spiritual anointing.

An anointing, and the larger and more powerful it is, takes a lifetime to grow into, understand and learn to cooperate with to both receive and give out the full benefits that can become available. One evidence of Michael Jackson's anointing was this new energy to draw the races together: liking the same music, thinking better about each other, choosing to live better. Up until his arrival on the music scene black and white America were divided in their music as well as their lives. Michael changed all that for his generation and the next one to come. In that area he was quite successful in his anointing.

Like most people I wondered about the business of so many plastic surgeries to change his appearance and the skin bleaching. He was a handsome man and it left a lot of us scratching our heads as to why he wanted to change his appearance and so drastically at that. Again, as I observed his metamorphosis over the years, I realized on a spiritual level what he was reaching for as he tried to cooperate with his spiritual energy: this neutral state of straddling all the polar opposites. In an awkward way he was trying to create balance in himself by not being totally male or female, black or white.

Unfortunately, by then the drug addiction had grabbed such a hold on him that his thinking was distorted, unable to flow easily with his outrageously over-powering anointing – even for him. Many unspiritual people don’t realize that the more spiritual energy you cultivate, the more you absorb - and the more you must discipline yourself on every level in order to cooperate with it, most especially your thoughts. If not successful it is like trying to grab a roaring tiger by the tail and it bites ferociously.



Photo by frgdr @ flickr

Michael Jackson was just as vulnerable and imperfect as the rest of us. His contributions to music, dance, social issues like hunger and poverty, and most of all, race relations can be counted among his tremendous accomplishments. Had he been able to mature fully in his spiritual anointing it does leave us wondering how he could have influenced humanity to live better? We will never know. The brief time he was here brought the races closer together in America. Let’s not allow that dream to be lost in Time.

Over at Flickr I found 17 really great photos of Michael Jackson, placing a link to them in the sidebar. They are parked over at my photo blog, Visual Insights. The majority of the photos are All Rights Reserved and only allow blogging them not downloading for use.

It was interesting to see how people perceived him. Many are artistic interpretations; others are candid photos of autograph signing, portraits and performances. Enjoy the photos, as I culled the best of what was on Flickr, and think kind thoughts for an entertainer who brought us all a lot of joy into our lives!

Denny Lyon
Copyright 30 June 2009
All Rights Reserved

Thank you for your support!

"Home is where the heart is" montage by alicepopkorn @ flickr - this is such a cool photo and she is one of my fav photographers, such an imagination - as if she is creating her photos in concert with my writing simultaneously, that soul collective thing going on. Her new photos suddenly appear right when I need them, cool, huh?! The God within us is always in tune with itself and all we have to do is hitch a ride! :)

From Denny: Just wanted to take the time to thank everyone for subscribing to the feed on this blog and all the others - and following on Blogger and other sites. You are much appreciated!

Blogging is so much more fun when you have company and such good company you all are, thanks! Thank you for your support and hope you are enjoying your time here learning right along with me as I find amazing things for all these blogs!

Bee Poetry: Pollen for tea

Pollen for tea
Originally uploaded by Steve Punter

From Denny: From a friend over at flickr who travels and photographs just about anything and anyone, then offers it up for free in the Creative Commons area. This is one great guy from the UK! Check out his photos by clicking on his name under the photo; it will take you to his flickr page.

Pollen for tea

Pollen for tea
Weight for weight
she carries
more home
on her legs
than I do in my
bags

Plastic sacks

And I do it at most
once
a day

Mostly
fat from tesco
and some protein from Lidl

She shops
till she drops

Nectar
in her gullet
and pollen
for her siblings

A worker
woman
less than a month and
she will be gone

Uploaded by Steve Punter on 21 May 09, 11.25AM CDT.

4 Science Articles You Might Enjoy

From Denny: Since I have too many interests I've parked them on other blogs in addition to this one. Apparently, most people start a blog, lose interest, abandon the first one to start another blog. Not me. I just keep expanding to ADD more blogs! (totally crazy, I suppose - but hey! I'm happy...)

Anyway, articles about how the brain works, astronomy, psychology, some math and physics on basic levels is what I park over at the blog The Soul Calendar. It keeps climbing in the traffic rankings quite nicely and I happily write about whatever catches my interest for the week! Life is good!

I'm still poking around the web for children's resources for parents and science projects readers might find interesting. If you know of any sites or projects, speak up and shoot me an email at warriorspearl@gmail.com, much appreciated!

Here are a few posts you might find an interesting read:

Is My Brain Making Me Buy Things I Don't Need?

Double Amputees Shed Light on Brain's Flexibility

Robolegs Help People Walk

Hurricane-Killing, Space-Based Power Plants

NASA Photo by Image Editor @ flickr

Libations Friday! Poem: Keeping the Peace

Now on to the Friday poem. True to my partial Spanish heritage - OK, diluted by a few generations of American mutt - still burns the passionate flame of spirit.

It’s interesting the path a person takes to the making of a write, in this case a poem. Early this morning I went over to my StumbleUpon blog page to see what my friends have been putting up on the site. BTW, I’m known as warriorkitty. If you are over there, and would enjoy becoming a friend, be glad to include you! Shoot me a message that you came over from this blog. Just click on the warriorkitty link above.

The StumbleUpon site often gives me inspiration for a blog post and today I got lucky. A friend, rodie151, had put up a post from the Quantum Learning blog about finding balance in your life. Rodie does a lot of pages on self-improvement and finds the most intriguing places to visit.

Well, spiritual things are right up my alley, so, I took a look. Wonderful piece of personal illumination from which others can benefit! You can find “Balancing on the Top of the World” post on The Healing Waters blog. Just right click and pull it up in a new window for easier navigation, go here.

Of course, during the day I was thinking about his post and my thoughts went to the subject of Peace and the many stages mankind has endeavored over the centuries to achieve Peace. Those two people helped birth a new poem this afternoon, thanks, guys! Life really is a team effort!

***

Keeping the Peace


As I wander this world
Peering into intimate spaces,
Meeting new faces,
I wonder.

As I wander this world
Witnessing war-strewn nations,
Saddened faces,
I wonder.

As I wander this world
Shocked by copious injustices,
Exhausted faces,
I wonder.

As I watch this world of
Warring nations,
Outraged leaders,
Complaining religions,
Squabbling families,
Fuming individuals,
Is it any wonder?

Where is Peace?

Harmony:
Living
Breathing
Here, now, in this world.

Tranquility:
Available any time,
Day or night,
Here, now, in this world.

Welcoming
Serenity, I am.
Alive, present
Here, now, in this world.

Freedom from strife,
Here, now in this world.
Look within for
Keeping the Peace.


By Denny Lyon
Copyright 2 April 2009
All Rights Reserved

Photo of two peace doves by left-hand @ flickr

For a related article by Denny Lyon: Great Peace Quotes with Great Photos, go here.

The Joy Makers: Feel the Love

The Joy Makers: Feel the Love:

"Improv group brings joy to surprised thousands

Stop here for free joy, hugs, love and a happiness high that will last for days!" 9 videos featured to lift your spirits for sure!

By Denny Lyon

From Denny: For just a little while, forget about job loss, the economy and all your worries. These funny videos done by some terrific improvisation folks is well worth the laughing time!

I pulled them all together into one article as your go-to place when you need cheering up from a lousy day or when your thoughts turn to depression. There is no way to stay depressed after watching these great YouTube videos.

Photo by -Gep- @ flickr

Fun Little Poetry Site

New Addition to Blog/Site List:

Poetic Creations by Joanne Olivieri of Haiku and Senryu poetry. The little whimsical poems literally dance on the page. Take a look and enjoy!

Photo by marbuto @ flickr

Funny Friday the 13th!

Photo by nao-cha @ flickr of dog Cocoa

From friends over at Twitter:

"Very funny page for Friday the 13th, both versions - peterdrew@keithbaxter It's Friday the 13th! Beware...
http://snipr.com/dp10t DUDE!! not nice scaring me like that :=)"

From Denny: Just click on the title as the address is linked. Enjoy!

Feedburner Glitch

Now I know why my feed counts have been going up and down wildly. Turns out Feedburner keeps deactivating them: on all 7 blogs! So, apologies, if you have found this maddening; join the club. Guess it's taking Google and Feedburner longer to merge and work out the gremlins than they are telling the public, oh, well... Meanwhile, rest assured I will be now manually monitoring these feeds twice a day to keep them activiated. Thank you for your patience everyone!

Don't you just love this photo of an ass? Such a good fit when things go wrong because that's how you feel and look to others! Might as well have some fun with screw-ups, right! ;)

Thanks go to the folks over at flickr who place their photos in the Creative Commons area for online writers and bloggers like me, much appreciated! They can be so funny.


Photo by gidibao @ flickr

Just what does a Trillion $ Dollars LOOK like???

OK, this is so very cool. A guy was curious about what a trillion dollars looks like so he decides to use Google Sketchup to find out.

He takes you through the process and wow! My husband walked in about then and said, "I wish I had a trillion dollars about now!" Well, yeah! Take a look; you will enjoy.

What a trillion dollars looks like.

Photo by Simon Davison @ flickr

Signs of the Times: Funny Churches

Signs of the Times: Funny Churches:

"Laughing at church signs

How many times have you passed by a church on your way to work and wished you had a camera? You are in luck as I found the guy who did."

By Denny Lyon
Photo by au_tiger01 @ flickr

Silly joke...

From comedian George Carlin: “One tequila, two tequila, three tequila… floor.”

Photo by The Pug Father @ flickr

Thank you to new Feed subscribers!

From Denny:

Hi, everyone! Thank you for joining up on this feed to The Social Poets, much appreciated! It was quite the pleasant surprise this morning when I checked my stats and saw all the new folks coming over to my place for a visit, welcome! I thought the happy dog jumping for joy photo was definitely a good fit for today. :)

BTW, have you noticed the new slideshow I put together for you at the top of the page? All my blogs do take a bit longer than they should to load so I thought you might like to be entertained a bit by some wonderful photography from my friends at flickr. There is so much beauty in the world and they did a great job of capturing a lot of it! They also did photos to amuse you and others to make you think deep, cool stuff!

Yes, I know, the first rule of blogging is to make your pages load fast. Unfortunately, it also makes them visually dull to look at! I like color and large photos and a larger font. A larger font is great for those of us with good eyes but who read a lot on the internet all day long. Those tiny 5.5 fonts are crazy to put on a blog for the general public. You miss out on the older or retired folks who could read your blogs too!

While I park some of my own poetry here from time to time, I do promote my fellow poets too. I'd be glad to post some of yours here too. Just go on over to HubPages.com and get yourself an account. Why? Because you get to keep your copyright to all your writings! I can link from HubPages over to this blog with your writing without violating your copyright. Cool, huh?!

So far, I've been quite pleased with HubPages who are honorable in all ways. That's a lot more than I can say for a previous site I left and took down all my writes. They were monkeying with the already small pay scale and lying about it. I have no use for that kind of attitude toward others.

Tell people the rules of the game and let them decide; don't go changing the rules without notification - and favoritism for some and not for others. Too weird for me over at Triond. Besides, as an Israeli site there is no protection for an American writer's copyright. It was time to walk away from that messy situation.

For me it turned out to be a good thing as I started 7 blogs instead of spinning my wheels on a useless hamster track site going nowhere! I'm having loads of fun with all these blogs and discovering many other writers who have wonderful information to share.

You will notice I've started including life coaches. The first one is Bruce Elkin, a real sociable smart guy from Canada. He specializes in sensitive people like artists, poets, writers, photographers and the like. He is equally adept with business folks and frazzled parents. I found him over at HubPages and he is quite a delight to know: upbeat, serious thinker and problem solver.

The second life coach is newer to me as I just found him at HubPages and his name is Frederick Pearce. As I learn more about him I'll let you know. His article about a bad boss and that tense interaction is something I thought a lot of us have experienced in life. It is a really good article, heartfelt and yet full of learned wisdom and practicality. I'll be looking at more of his writing to see what can be useful to you here at The Social Poets.

Send me a shout if you would like more of something. Feel free to leave comments; that's why the comment box is enabled! If you want to write privately, then feel free to email me, Denny Lyon: warriorspearl@gmail.com.

I've only been at this blogging gig for a little over three months. So, if you have suggestions of other subjects, authors, sites, blogs you would like to see featured here just drop me a line.

Thanks again for signing up for my feed!



Photo by William Dalton @ flickr

Magic poem

Magicpoem

Magic Poem

By mohitmisra of India
Photo by Adan Garcia @ flickr

Simple Easy Ways to Update Loved Recipes to Healthy

Simple Easy Ways to Update Loved Recipes to Healthy: "Bon Appetit!
There are small tweaks you can do to update and still retain the pleasure of eating well! 4 videos."

By Denny Lyon
Photo by mahalie @ flickr

Todays Blogging: Born from Yesterdays Underground Newspapers

Todays Blogging: Born from Yesterdays Underground Newspapers: "Read the real life story of the amusing transition from subversive underground newspaper writer to today’s blogger."

By Denny Lyon
Photo by nao-cha @ flickr

Friends poem

Friendspoem


Friends a poem, from the book: Ponder Awhile

By mohitmisra from India
Photo by StuSeeger @ flickr