Friday Night Photos Safari Edition

Happy Friday everyone. I hope everybody is doing well. Post any photos, memes, or music you like.

No, I didn't go on an African safari (I wish), but I did go to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park for a few hours on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday morning this week.

Malayan Tiger
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Mountain Gorilla
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Northern White Rhinoceros
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Masai Giraffe
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Tree Kangaroo
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Unknown
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Unkown
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QMS's picture

.
and shots of wild critters

country art ..

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these are centered by re-bar, enclosing deck spaces, creating a colored light screen

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thanks for hosting SP!

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truth is considered foreign influence, world peace is a threat to national security

Socialprogressive's picture

@QMS
Love the country art. The best part of that art is emptying the bottles.
Nice Sly selection.

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dystopian's picture

@QMS Neat pics QMS!

Around here I see that sometimes with the bottles on a dead tree with lots of branches, or a metal purpose-made sculpture to hold them looking like a tree. So it is a bunch of colored glass fruit. They look great in the sun. On a tree they blow around and move a bit. And as SP mentions, there is the fun of emptying them, for the art of course...

be well!

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9 users have voted.

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

QMS's picture

@dystopian
.
.
Days and months are travelers of eternity. So are the years that pass by. Those who
steer a boat across the sea, or drive a a horse over the earth until they succumb to the
weight of the years, spend every minute of their lives traveling. There are a great number,
too, of ancients who died on the road. I myself have tempted for a long time by the cloud
moving wind - filled with a strong desire to wander.

-- A narrow road to the deep North, Matsuo Basho

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truth is considered foreign influence, world peace is a threat to national security

@QMS Smart, funny, kind, artistic, wordly, and amazingly attached to his family's roots, which are 11 or 12 miles from my home. When he finally caught on to fatherhood, he put his soul into it. I watched him with his son. All about his son.
Great song, and Lyle without a pony is just not Lyle.

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

janis b's picture

@QMS

And a great song to express your love of travelling by water.

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soryang's picture

@QMS

Which I'm rediscovering after many years of neglect really.

I think it's something in the perspective of nature in the east and our role in it as natural beings. I may have been exposed to a few Basho haiku when I was a teen, because my mother had haiku paperbooks lying around the house that I used to read and enjoy. Something about the text you selected reminded of a Chinese song I've been trying to translate off and on for several days, 但願人長久 Wishing you long life. I'm still stuck on the first song from the album Dàndàn yōuqíng . I was listening to a Philippine musicians translation in his video performance of the song last night and I thought oh, this is pretty good! But after the first several lines, the words in English became somewhat rocky and incoherent, so I resolved to carry on.

After I read your post with the Matsuo Basho quotation I sensed the similarity to Chinese classic poems I had heard lately interpreted by Dr. Gao, the beautiful natural quality of such literature and the almost instant identification with the author's humanity. I went over and looked at another unorthodox English translation of Basho's work- it's very appealing literature. The discussion in the intro by the "translator" surprised me.

The forward of the book, included a brief chronology of Basho's life. The last two entries related to his final years took me off guard. Is it synchronicity or just our common humanity? For some reason I can't copy the entries for 1693 and 1694. (page 5)

http://www.tclt.org.uk/basho/Oku_2011.pdf

Maybe there is no such thing as synchronicity. It's just the common human experience of all our lives. We may react in unique ways to life's events but the issues that arise in life share certain qualities.

I have to say I've really enjoyed the vivid photos of wildlife and the great comments in this OT. Thanks to SocialProgressive and everyone here. They are helping me to cope with the unknown in next two or three days with this tropical depression near Cuba right now. I'd better rest. Tomorrow may be very busy.

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語必忠信 行必正直

orlbucfan's picture

@soryang Where do you live? I'm in ECFL. I've been through the TS/Hurricane rodeos too many times to count. We are going to get a rain monsoon, for sure!

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Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.

soryang's picture

@orlbucfan

I've been in this location for about 20 years, I've lived in FL off and on since 73. This particular episode is bothering me because of another potential stall. We were flooded last time, homeless for a time, living in a crappy apt, while it took several months to restore our home more or less, etc. Don't want to go through that again. About a half dozen of the neighbors moved out, another half dozen were trying to sell, but haven't yet.

No one over here is doing any prep. It's like Ian, oh well it's just a TS etc. I've been prepping sand bags all day just in case. I saved most of them from Ian when they didn't work. I've been rebagging them all day. NWS says we'll get 6-8 inches here, last time I think we got 18 inches. I'm in a low spot, so that's about what we got inside the house in Sep 2022. Back then, when the sheriff's emergency crew came to get us and the neighbors out at zero dark thirty, it was up to my waist out on the street. I've got the bags ready about 50 or so, if I see the water in the street rising, I'll sandbag the house in the am. I've had hurricanes damage this house before then, and had another damaged by hurricane wind once in Jacksonville Pinellas. My next door neighbor is just about done rebuilding from Ian. A few months ago a large oak fell on his roof and went through it. After that I had all the remaining large trees on my property cut down.

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語必忠信 行必正直

snoopydawg's picture

@QMS

And quite unique!

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

Voting is like driving with a toy steering wheel.

janis b's picture

@QMS

Those glass screens are very lyrical and full of light and colour. Until I looked more closely I wondered what happened when a gust came through, but then I saw they were more rigidly fixed on bars. I love the green leaves that find their way through.

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dystopian's picture

Hi all, Hey SP!

Great pix SP! Awesome shots man. A real Bungle in the Jungle. Those Tree Kangaroo sure are an odd thing. On the African antelope... The curved horned antelope methinks is a Sable Antelope, and the long straight-horned antelope is Oryx. Both great looking beasts. The Arabian Oryx was once down to 8 animals I think, each owned by different Sheiks in different countries. They all agreed to pool them, creating one 'last stand' herd, and indeed then did save that species of Oryx.

Thanks for the great pix!

I gotta fly but will try to get back later...

happy trails!

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9 users have voted.

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

Socialprogressive's picture

@dystopian
Thanks for the IDs and info. Hope you can make it back later.

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janis b's picture

@dystopian

Thanks as always for the interesting and curious facts of nature ... and sheiks.

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With some of the close ups it makes one feel that you are right next to the animals.

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Socialprogressive's picture

@humphrey
Sometimes the critters are close. The first Rhino shot is uncropped. He was close enough to fill the frame. The rest were far enough away to need some amount of cropping to bring them in close.

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snoopydawg's picture

IMG_1187.jpeg

Me taking a picture of the shadow

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We are in for another week of temps over 100. It’s so very humid at the cemetery this year that I’m not enjoying our walks. Sam doesn’t seem to mind since she gets in the crick to cool off. Sometimes I walk through the sprinklers,but that just makes it worse.

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Voting is like driving with a toy steering wheel.

Socialprogressive's picture

@snoopydawg
I see deer antlers in your shadow photos. Alfred Hitchcock appeared in his own movies. You can appear in your own photos. 100 degree temps are no fun. Stay cool and hydrated. It's going to be in the mid to upper 90s around here for the next week.

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orlbucfan's picture

@snoopydawg @snoopydawg snoopy, my good pal, who is a native Montana gal, called me yesterday from Butte. She said UT is hot: triple digit temps, and MT's weather has been the pits. Climate change crisis is simply unreal and stupid!

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Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.

snoopydawg's picture

@orlbucfan

I lost a tooth in the train parking lot when I was a wee lass. We would visit my aunt in Cut Bank every summer and we’d take the train from Ogden to Butte…until we started driving so we could visit the N parks…but I’ll always remember Butte.

It has been brutal this month. This will be the 3rd week of over 100 temps. I haven’t noticed the humidity at the cemetery until this year. There’s a huge holding pond and streams in the area we walk and of course they have to water during the day. Either I just suddenly got old or the high temps made it appear. Heat doesn’t bother me unless it’s humid too. I could walk at the other end, but Sam likes to play in the water. Gotta make the dawg happy.

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

Voting is like driving with a toy steering wheel.

and everyone in the comments deserves kudos.
Make it top of your bucket list to get to Africa. It is one thing to see and photograph these critters, but to be in their land, being as unobtrusive as possible, photographing them living their lives, or just simply see it with your own eyes when you do not have a camera in hand, changes you forever.
I rank Kenya 3rd, S. Africa 2nd, Tanzania 1st in my experience, although my guide in Tanzania said Nabibia not only offered the critters, but amazing terrain. I haven't been there, cannot verify it, but it is on my bucket list.

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Socialprogressive's picture

@on the cusp
It's hard to pick a top place for my bucket list. So many places. So little money.

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@Socialprogressive show you some ways to do this affordably. Always send me a pm. if you are interested. I can give you many suggestions and avenues for working people, or retirees budgets, to do this.

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Socialprogressive's picture

@on the cusp

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janis b's picture

I think the SD Zoo is a very special zoo. They take such good care of the animals and do so much for their preservation and reintroduction to their native environments.

To date, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has helped reintroduce more than 44 endangered species into native habitats, many of which were born at the Zoo, the Safari Park or at one of the five conservation stations the Alliance manages.
https://sandiegozoowildlifealliance.org/pressroom/san-diego-zoo-wildlife...'s%20notable%20multidisciplinary%20field%20conservation%20programs,of%20unique%20wildlife%20in%20Southern

You also contribute to their well being by supporting the zoo, and sharing the fascination and beauty of the animals with others.

I enjoyed the rhythms of the Arabic music you posted. What are the camels at the zoo doing these days?

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Socialprogressive's picture

@janis b
Thanks for the link.
I've been a zoo member for the last 12 years and even though the cost of membership has gone up over the years, I'm happy to pay the increase knowing how much it helps fund their work.
As for the camels, the last time I checked in on them they were eating.

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janis b's picture

A year and a half ago during record rains, a major landslip close to the corner of my house occurred. The work of restoring the land started this week. It has been full-on intense, in both a challenging and highly rewarding way.

The Landslip is ca. 12 yards wide and 12 yards deep. The top 1.5 yards go straight down at a 45° angle from the start of the slip, and then more gradually slopes down.

The polyurethane that covered and protected the slip for all this time was removed, and I could see the bare land again. I felt great anticipation of its return to naturally beautiful bush. With shovels and augers, 80 holes were dug into the clay and sandstone, natural to the Waitakere Ranges, in preparation of re-planting. Next came 2 layers of coco matting. The planting of native trees and bushes began, and is almost done. At the same time the decking that had to be removed shortly after the slip has come quite a long way to being reinstated. Another week or two and most will be back to normal, and the days will become more peaceful and action-free again.

I feel very good and confident in the process and the people doing it. I’ve known some of them for most of the 27 years I’ve lived here. I feel very grateful that their services are available at this time. It is the perfect time for planting because of the rain that will still fall for the next couple of months, and because the builders have time during these slower winter months. The only downside is that there's a muddy mess of trails created by carrying down the materials from the parking area.

I’ll try to put together and post a little photo diary next Friday.

Enjoy the weekend and be well

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dystopian's picture

@janis b Hey J!

Great to hear about your restoration and rehab project. Especially since it is going well! Would be great to document the regrowth and return of various animals to the habitat, with photos of course. Wink

be well!

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8 users have voted.

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

janis b's picture

@dystopian

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Socialprogressive's picture

@janis b
Good to hear things are moving along in a positive direction.

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dystopian's picture

Here are a few I probably posted a long time ago. Maybe we're too old to remember?

This is one of our silk moths, family Saturniidae. Ours don't make the good silk, but they are pretty fancy!

One day I found this at the gas station in town. Free with a fillup. It probably spent the night at the lights, had gotten chilled as misty. I picked it up, warmed it in car, took pix, and let it go an hour later in town. Last seen gaining altitude flying west over Main St.

Cecropia - dorsal
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Cecropia - ventral
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The broad antennae indicate a female. Both sexes use them to smell pheromones of the other sex.
cecropia031720front_0.jpg

dorsal semi-closeup
cecropia031720head1_0.jpg

keep yer eyes peeled and camera handy!

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9 users have voted.

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

janis b's picture

@dystopian

What a work of art in nature, thank you!

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Socialprogressive's picture

@dystopian
who cares. They're great shots of a beautiful looking moth.

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enjoying it.

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janis b's picture

@humphrey

Thanks humphrey

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Socialprogressive's picture

@humphrey

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orlbucfan's picture

@humphrey I've had Dobes for 30 years. You think Pitbulls have a bad rep? Try Dobes. Between the demon/devil dawg crap, and born vicious (BS!!), Dobes are right up there. Grrr...(no pun). Sp, the more I follow this weekly photo thread, the more I wish I had visited San Diego when my sis lived in LA. She raved about your town. Smile I can certainly see why. Great photos as always, you guys and gals. Welp, We're getting set to get soaked possibly by tonight. I'll take a monsoon soaking over a hurricane anytime!!! Anywho, Rec'd!!

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Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.

Socialprogressive's picture

@orlbucfan
I knew a guy that had a Dobie and a Black Lad. The Dobie was super sweet and friendly, loved people, while the Lab was ill tempered and didn't like people at all. The exact opposite of their reputations.
Hope your monsoon rains aren't overwhelming. Stay safe and dry.

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I'm great at multi-tasking. I can waste time, be unproductive, and procrastinate all at the same time.

African animals and the San Diego zoo. There is a wonderful book based on a true story of two African giraffes that were brought to the United States via boat, got caught in a hurricane and survived and made the cross country trip (1938) to San Diego. It is called West with Giraffes by Linda Rutledge. A delightful read.
I agree with OTC, you can with planning travel to Africa relatively cheaply.
Enjoyed all the pics and wonderful comments.

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Life is what you make it, so make it something worthwhile.

This ain't no dress rehearsal!

Socialprogressive's picture

@jakkalbessie
Thanks for the book recommendation. I checked it out on Barnes and Noble. It looks like it will be a good read.

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