Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Favorite Pic of the Day for March 28th

Above:

~Check out today's BIRTHDAYS HERE:~
 

Seasonal Sightings:


Living on the East Coast, some Easter weekends are spring-like and sunny, others are more winterlike with snow and ice.  This year, it's sort of a combo.  We're supposed to get sun, but with a few snow flurries.  Regardless of what seasonal sightings you'll be seeing this weekend, enjoy the view!

Basket of Goodies


Basket of Goodies
Tony by



Una Provocadora Pasión


La Pasión 
por Juanky Alonso Fotógrafo


I try not to bring politics or religion into the site that often, but there are a few exceptions.   Some days however, I can help it.  When it comes to politics, some days, even when I don't plan it, I can't help but unleash my loathing on the hateful orange idiot.  Despite what we've all seen and experienced, he frustratingly has continued to keep his abusive grip on both his followers and on the media.  


When it comes to religion, it's difficult to celebrate the holidays without it slipping in from time to time.  The one holiday where I've brought it in with intent, has been Good Friday.  Regardless of my, or your personal believes, Good Friday is rooted in faith and religion.  Although commerce and capitalism have managed to corrupt and commercialize almost every holiday, they have get to do so with Good Friday.  Maybe they don't need to, given it's associated with Easter, but until there's a Good Friday gift giving Gorilla, it remains at it's core a day of faith. 


'God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.'
Acts 2:24


Given my focus on holidays, it makes sense then, that Good Friday posts would include visuals that commemorate the day.  Although I'd occasionally sprinkled in a few religious themed images, it wasn't until 2020 that I really began featuring Good Friday themed imagery on the site.  It began when I was working with model and rugby player Bas on piece about his work. 


It wasn't really planned, but our discussions about a post took place just a few weeks before Easter weekend.  When I was going through Bas's portfolio, most of my favorite images were from photographer Jan Deuzeman, with my favorite series being an Easter themed series of images. 


Since that first piece back in 2020, (Raw Defiance) I've featured Jan's Easter themed imagery each year.  Although they weren't always religious or faith based, it's become a tradition to feature Jan's work each Easter weekend.  This year however, Jan was busy working on his exhibition, and didn't have time to create new holiday work.  This had me on the hunt for another Good Friday themed series to feature.  


I was fortunate to come across this spectacular series from photographer Juanky Alonso.  This visually stunning series puts a strongly sensual twist onto the Passion.  The final section in Matthew tells the story of Jesus' passion (from the Latin word for “suffering,” referring to Jesus' torture and death) and resurrection.  I loved the passion and intensity Juanky brought to version of the story.

A Return to Roskilde


'The rest of the world was black and white, but we were in screaming color.'
Taylor Swift


It's not surprising to learn that the Roskilde Festival was started by high school students.  We all know that during those high school years, our hormones keep us on our toes, so it's great that the two high school students, channeled this energy, to join with a promoter to create the first Roskilde music festival back in 1971.  Their goal, to create their own Woodstock festival in Denmark. 


The Danish event went on to become one of the largest music festivals in Europe and the largest in the Nordic countries.   After it's successful first year, the festival was then taken over by the Roskilde Foundation, which has since run the festival as a non-profit organization for development and support of music, culture and humanism.  Although originally created for students and alternative audiences, today, the festival attracted mainstream youth from Scandinavia, the rest of Europe and beyond. 


The festival has attracted some of the biggest names in music, with acts including Metallica, The Kinks, Bob Marley, U2, Leonard Cohen, R.E.M, Neil Young, The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Eminem and Taylor Swift.  Some, like folk legend Bob Dylan, have returned multiple times over the years to perform.  


There wasn't a naked race at the first festival in 1971, the Roskilde run didn't officially begin until 1999.  Since then, each Saturday of the festival, part of the festival camp ground is fenced off for the race.  The event crowns two winners, for the first male, and first female to cross the finish line. 


 Part of the fun for the runners is having their race numbers painted onto their bodies.  When the race began, most painters used just black or white to paint the runners numbers on their bodies.  Over the years, the colors and creativity has increased, with some runners bringing in artists to use their fleshy canvas to create unique and colorful body art.