iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 1h

One time a friend decided to make a bar graph showing the distribution of colors in a package of #Goldfish he was about to eat. 22 June 2013 #BarGraph #Colors

Goldfish crackers of 4 different colors are stacked in neat columns, showing how many of each color were in a package of the snacks. They are laid out on a dark-purple upholstery that has little leaf-like patterns on it.

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 3h

Looking for something else, I came across a few semi- #Abstract photos that I thought I'd share; this is one. This is an interior staircase in the Salt Lake City Public Library. The row of sun-shades is deployed at times to protect the levels below from exposure. 26 Feb 2015

Seen from the top of this curving staircase that is partly seen in the bottom-half of the photo (with green-grey glass guardrails), the region below the wide expanse of windows at left is covered with row up row of scalloped fabric sun-shades, stretching from left to right on two chords each.

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 3h

Since Franklin & her X-ray crystallography has been back in my feed this week:

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 7h

Is it just me, or does all the fretting about exactly *when* Alito might/should retire resolutely confirm that he, Alito, and everyone else actually believes that the SCOTUS is, at the moment, a firmly partisan outfit?

substack.com

Say Alito Prayer for Democracy

A possible retirement of one of history’s most radical justices in history looms large over the midterms.

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

I've always felt like the spirit of Edward Hopper was with me when I took this photo of my Aunt Doris in a car of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. Someplace in Colorado, c 1986 #AccidentalArtist #aofoto #aoFotoCall

This is an old-time railroad car, #514, on a scenic railway tour. There is a row of large windows along the side, with a few people visible, sitting on benches inside the car.
One in particular, the subject of the photo, wears a white bulky sweater with some brown stripes near the bottom of the sleeve. She has glasses on. She's looking out the window, smiling, and yet the glass is an an incrossable barrier betweeen us.
Many pine trees are reflected in the windows.

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

A few years ago I thought there'd been an outbreak of small art installations by Christo, but it turned out the water company was just putting in new fire hydrants. 1 Sep 2020 #AccidentalArtist #aofoto #aoFotoCall

This is a suburban neighborhood fire hydrant wrapped in heavy, white plastic, with black tape wrapped around it near the top. The soil around the piece is devoid of grass from digging; beyond, there is short grass and a stand of trees. There are words printed on the plastic that I can't really make out.

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Since I was 8, my #3rdPlace has been libraries. Here are some. This is the large reading room at the Boston [MA, USA] Public Library. 11 Feb 2016 #BlueskyArtShow

This is a long, tradional library reading room in a classical revival style: columns supporting a barrel-vaulted coffered ceiling in a cream color. The walls are grey-pink granite. Tall Palladian style windows line the wall at right.

Two rows of wooden tables extend on either side toward the distance. Each table has green-glass shaded lamps, and numerous people are sitting at the tables, presumably reading, but also getting in away from the very cold outside.

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Since I was 8, my #3rdPlace has been libraries. Here are some. This is the "lobby" of the Salt Lake City Library; the floors at left are where the books and other library offerings are found. 25 Feb 2015 #BlueskyArtShow

This is a large public building, a 5-story high, glass-covered atrium that has a lattice work of concrete on the right (with offices and shops within), and 5 levels of floors seen at left, each level connected with a flamboyant curving staircase (and elevators in the front at left).
It is a sunny day, with light from above casting shadows on the floor below. A few people can be seen waking in the space, giving a sense of scale.

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Since I was 8, my #3rdPlace has been libraries. Here are some. This remarkable spiral staircase was between tall shelves of books in The Old Library at Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. 16 Oct 2025 #BlueskyArtShow

This is a dark image because of the light through the window at back; the light silhouettes a wrought-iron spiral staircase with decorative filigrees in the risers. At either side are very tall wooden bookshelves appropriately filled with old books. At the very top we can see the word "BIBLIOTHECA" in gold.

Barely visible heads of visitors are at the bottom of the photo. At right, only half in the frame, is a white bust sculpture of some famous scholarly figure.

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Since I was 8, my #3rdPlace has been libraries. Here are some. These are the stacks in the reading room at the South Bowie [MD, USA] branch library. 28 Dec 2016 #BlueskyArtShow

We are looking at the light-wood end-cap of a long row of low bookshelves; similar shelves fill the space to left and right. Light orange columns support a ceiling from which hang many small lights, reflected in the shiny tops of he bookshelves.
The little sign at the left says "NONFICTION / 232 - 305", and at right, "NONFICTION / 305 - 332".

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Since I was 8, my #3rdPlace has been libraries. Here are some. This is the Information Desk at the Hyattsville [MD, USA] branch library. It amuses me that the children's area has a giant apple tree, perhaps symbolizing the forbidden fruits knowledge in the books. 16 Jul 2022 #BlueskyArtShow

In a library, we can just see the curved fron of the "Information/Informacion" desk at left, with a woman in white trousers and B&W shirt standing in front of it.
To the right is a low bookshelf. Beyond: a children's area with some computers on desks and a large imitation tree in the middle.
Long fluorescent lighting tubes seem to be placed willy-nilly on the ceiling. In the foreground the floor is shiny white tiles with some ruddy colored ones interspersed. In the children's are is a carpet decorated with bars of green, gold, and black.

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Since I was 8, my #3rdPlace has been libraries. Here are some. This is a skylight at the Crofton [MD, USA] branch library. 22 Apr 2018 #BlueskyArtShow

In a library, this is a decorative skylight/barrel-vault with translucent glass on the top curve. At the bottom of the vault is a beak supporting a large, dish-shaped lighting fixture. Ceiling lights in the library can be seen below. The warm yellow color of the photo came from the sunlight and the chandelier.

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Since I was 8, my #3rdPlace has been libraries. Here are some. This is a reading area at the South Bowie [MD, USA] branch library. 11 Mar 2017 #BlueskyArtShow

In a library, the nearest sign at right points one way to "Classics/Adult Graphics", the other way to "Romance Series".
Beyond, a quiet space with large, black upholstered chairs, a low table between them.
Low bookshelves stand at left. At the wall in the rear are large windows with bare trees visible beyond. A person in a red jacket sits to the right f a window.

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Since I was 8, my #3rdPlace has been libraries: cozy, reassuring, filled with new things to learn. If there are books, I feel at home. I know I don't look particularly relaxed in this selfie, but this has been my local for 30 years. Bowie [MD, USA] Branch Library 23 June 2014 #BlueskyArtShow

A selfie in a library. At right foreground, a not very happy looking old guy trying to see the button to push to take the photo. He has short, silvery hair, mustache, and beard. He's wearing a blue shirt.
Behind him light comes through a skylight. Columns are painted dark green. Further away we can see rows of bookshelves filled with books.

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

In 2017 I arranged a social gathering for long-time friends from the usenet group soc.motss, bi-modally located in Thurmont, MD & Gettysburg, PA. For a festive group dinner we went to the Shamrock Restaurant, in Thurmont, where I had the best dinner of soft-shell crabs I've ever had! #FoodOnFriday

Dinner at a restaurant table. At front, left-of-center, is an oval plate holding 3 fried, soft-shell crabs, along with a small cup of tartar sauce and a garnish of watermelon wedge on a lettuce leaf. Above and to the right is a small plate with a baked potato on it. To the right: flatware spoon, fork, and knife, all sitting on a red-and-white striped place mat.
At the top left of the photo is a glass of iced tea and one of iced water. There also seems to be a small "tub" that once held butter but is now empty.

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I finally got around to talking a little about this finale to Gulda's "Concerto for Cello and Wind Orchestra" (1989), a really interesting work by an eclectic*, 20th-century composer. This finale I thought was very joyous, and also displayed a surprisingly musical array of cello technique. #Music

youtu.be

122 Friedrich Gulda : Concerto for Cello & Wind Orchestra (1989), mvt 5

YouTube video by Catching My Ear

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

"Ever since they shed the golden handcuffs of royal arts patrons, visual and performing artists have found themselves at odds with despots." —Jennifer Ruben, 2 Oct 2026, "Undaunted Arts in D.C." #CommonplaceBook

contrariannews.org

Undaunted Arts in D.C.

🚨32 Days to the Midterms🚨

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

It makes it so hard to settle on a brand for Republicans. Pedophiles? Rapists? Stalkers? Gropers?

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Isn't it time for better job requirements?

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

This is an *excellent*, short video about the equinox, noting that the equinox is an astronomical event that happens at a specific moment everywhere the same on the Earth. The length of daylight and nighttime are almost equal, but not quite for reasons explained. Don't DEFINE your equinox thus.

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

This "just" in: the Felon-In-Chief engaged in Insurrection. I'm re-posting because it needs to be said many, many times over again: weak & spineless Republicans colluded to try bringing down the US government in January 2021. Treason has no statute of limitations. #CommonplaceBook

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

It usually surprises me just how little it costs, relatively speaking, for the Epstein Class to buy a part of the government. But, then, if the average American could buy, say, a senator for $530, it might be irresistable.

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

This is "Multiverse", a site-specific LED sculpture created in 2008 by Leo Villareal for the underground concourse moving-walkway that connects the West & East Buildings of the National Gallery in Washington, DC. 29 Dec 2013 #Lights #BlueskyArtShow

We are looking down a long corridor that has two moving "walkways" in it, with steady lamps along the way.

Arching overhead are a large number of thin, stainless-steel longitudinal slats with rows of tiny white LEDs between them. The LEDs are programmed to make quickly changing and moving patterns along the slats that give a person the feeling of zooming to light speed in a science-fiction film.

At the far end is a cafe and a gift shop.

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

More ceiling #Lights ! I loved this geometric pattern, particularly with the grid of the lattice behind/above it. At the Odenton [Maryland] Branch Library. 11 Mar 2017 #BlueskyArtShow

Looking up at a pattern made by ceiling lighting, there's one bright lamp in the center with four orthogonally radiating arms of fluorescent lights with arched cylindrical reflectors above them.
The background is a wooden open-work lattice array of ceiling tiles.

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

At Christmas time (long ago!) we were on the Carnival "Elation" cruise ship. Maybe it was seasonal decoration, but there were many #Lights on the pool deck, making it very festive at night. 28 Dec 2011 #BlueskyArtShow

In a nighttime view, this is looking at the open pool-deck of a large cruise ship from a level above.
The pools are illuminated wthe underwater blue-green lights. Various lights around the pools make a romantic mood.
Strings of Christmas lights festoon the ship's funnel, and a long string of white lights hangs from the top of the funnel and stretch across the pool to a spot
just over the viewer's left shoulder.

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

This pendant lamp (seen from above), holding 9 #Lights , was one of several in the "Great Western Staircase" (designed by Henry Hobson Richardson, late 19th century) at the New York State House, in Albany, NY [USA]. 6 Dec 2022 #BlueskyArtShow

Seen from above, this is a hanging light fixture of a central pendant surrounded by eight gracefully drooping arms, all parts of which are decorated with gracefully curving leaf patterns.

Small, white globe-lamps hang below each arm. The entire fixture is a brilliant brass color.

In the background some of the staircase can be seen.

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Look at all these #Lights decorating the "Buca di Beppo" restaurant in Salt Lake City, Utah. I never quite understood what "Immigrant Italian Dining" was meant to signify—perhaps that it was "authentic"?—but the food was good. 25 Feb 2015 #BlueskyArtShow

This is the outside entrance to a restaurant in the dark. There are bright lights everywhere!
At upper left is the illuminated sign with the name "Bucca di Beppo" in red and greet.
In green neon, "Immingrant Italian Dining" is written over the entrance way. Pillars holding up the porch roof, and railings around the porch, are festooned with strings of smaller, clear lights. Windows at the back of the porch and in the second floor show a brightly lit interior.

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Sometimes #Lights on ceilings make patterns I find pleasing. These were at the (then new) South Bowie [Maryland] Branch Library. 28 Dec 2016 #BlueskyArtShow

Against a tessellated patter of square, acoustic ceiling-tiles, four hanging light fixtures occupy the corners of a square as we look directly up at them in this photo.
Each fixture has a lamp holder, a grey hemisphere that is suspended below a larger hemispherical reflector. The parallex from below makes it look like the smaller lamp holders hang off-center, "leaning" outward toward the square's corners in an optical illusion.

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Things that end up as public utilities (I.e., having utility for the general public), should be publically owned. One more thing I'd add to the list is credit cards: there's no reason that so many monetary transactions that rule our economy should have surcharges for corporatate profits.

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

We're still in #HatchChili season, so here's something tasty from New Mexico for #FoodOnFriday : items like this burrito typically come with choice of green- or red-chili sauce. But, when you're asked "Red or green?", you can specify "Christmas Style" to get both! So, so good.

This is a large burrito, contained in a rolled, flour tortilla on a light-tan plate with a brown edge. The right side of the burrito is covered in [smooth] dark-red chili sauce; the left side is covered in [chunky] green-chili sauce. This combination is known as "Christmas style".
Some utensils sit at top right on a folded, white-paper napkin. Behind the plate one can see a bit of torso in a green shirt, preparing to attack this tasty dish.

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

"Conspiracy Theory Rock", an animated music-video all about the issues of corporate-control of US media; relevant in 1998, but super-relevant today with the Great Oligarch Takeover of our media corporations.

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

#TIL (two nights ago, really), from watching a not-recent video of Jacques Pépin's, that a "skirt steak" is cut from a cow's diaphragm. I'm not sure how it is I never understood that until now, but at least it gave me something new to learn last Tuesday!

This is a schematic diagram of "cuts of beef" obtained from a cow, depicted as regions drawn on a picture of a cow, indicating what region of the cow contributes each type of "cut". The "oxtail" is to the right of the diagram (i.e., the "cheek" is facing left).

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Logos In Space! Here is a picture of me (on the right, in red), with our mission scientist, at the science-command station for our microgravity experiment known as "Zeno". (We can get into the reason for the name later.) Aside from being the project scientist for Zeno... March 1994 #Zeno #STS-62

Two men in plaid shirts (one blue, one red), both with beards, stand next to various computer systems in front of a white wall on which is displayed a large banner of a project logotype for "Zeno", the "Critical Fluid Light Scattering" experiment. The name "Zeno" is spelled out in broad, modern font, shown with a schematic red laser beam shooting through the letters to scatter in several rays from the center of the 'o' in the name.

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

On our recent cruise ship (Celebrity "Silhouette"), late-evening silent discos were popular. The dance venue was the lowest floor of the central elevator-atrium, which gave me this opportunity to enjoy three levels of people enjoying the disco. 8 Aug 2026

This is a three-layer cake of people in dark blue light.
On the lowest level, a group of people wearing headphones are dancing, hearing music played by the DJ, whonis in the foreground with his back to us.
On the second layer, one man stands leaning on a balcony, watching the dancing.
On the third layer, six people dressed in black (crew members) are at their balcony, observing.
Staircases are visible in the background, connecting the deck levels.
Various lamps here and there around the venue provide some accent light.

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

LOL-test passed. At last: a funny economist-joke. (p.s. The context is AI taking over.)

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

This first-hand narrative aligns well with the usual Republican playbook: 1) Government can't run anything well; 2) accuse X of being badly run; 3) starve X of all federal funding; then 4) anonounce: See how poorly X is being run!

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

I love a good analemma & this one is spectacular!

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

On a winter'a day when we were leaving the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, south of the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC, the bare trees & the sun setting across the Potomac made for me a memorable #Golden landscape. 3 Jan 2016 #BlueskyArtShow

This is a winter landscape. Before the viewer, short grass is turned ruddy by the light of the setting sun. The sun, at center, is hidden behind one of the several bare trees that cast shadows toward the viewer.
A row of cars parked seemingly at the edge of the river behind them are mere silhouettes.
The sky, devoid of clouds, is a cool golden color near the horizon, fading to a light purple-blue above.

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

After visiting Los Alamos, New Mexico [USA], we drove away via the beautiful Valles Caldera National Preserve. There had been a fire there somewhat recently. Some burned trees plus the misty sky and the #Golden brown of the low growth, created a very Romantic landscape. 8 Oct 2016 #BlueskyArtShow

In a national park formed in a volcanic caldera, we see in the foreground the black, barren remains of some trees burned by a fire. Smaller fir trees grow at the rights. Most the the ground is covered by golden-brown grasses.
Mist hangs in the air, obscuring the mountains in the background, above which hang a few rain clouds.

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

This exquisite #Golden "Ewer" (10th century, Iran) is in the collection at the Freer Gallery of Art, Washington, DC. 28 Apr 2019 #BlueskyArtShow

This small pitcher is made of gold and highly decorated with relief. It is spherically shaped at the bottom, with a wide tall mouth; a slender, elegantly curved handle in an 'S' shape is attached at the left side.
The piece sits on an ivory colored surface, surround by several shadows cast by the small spotlights that light it.

From the card:

Ewer
Iran, Buyid period,
third quarter of 10th century cE
Gold

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

This Long Gallery in the Palazzo Colonna (Rome, Italy) was so very, very #Golden that it almost hurt one's eyes with its brilliance. 26 Oct 2013 #BlueskyArtShow #PalazzoColonna #Rome

This is a long room, highly decorated in Italian Baroque style. It is a gallery for art; large paintings, each framed in gold, absolutely cover every bit of wall space. The ceiling is curved and fully decorated with allegorical frescoes.
There are numerous brilliant chandeliers hanging near windows along the sides of the gallery. The floor is polished marble inlaid with geometrical patterns. A group of people are standing near the middle of the gallery, overwhelmed by the art works.
Reflections from shiny surfaces abound.

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

This was the view on our drive to visit the Monastery of Christ in the Desert, near Abiquiu, New Mexico [definitely USA], along the Rio Chama. It was fall. These autumnally #Golden trees lined the riverside, setting the desert alight ("visually", of course). 14 Oct 2016 #BlueskyArtShow

A desert landscape in the US Southwest: across the middle a small river with sandy banks meanders. On the near side of the river are is a large stand of trees with autumnal golden foliage; on the other side, pine trees dot the the land that rises to mountains in the distance.

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

One of the exits of the Royal Ontario Museum had a ceiling of arches decorated (and effectively lit) with gorgeous #Golden mosaics, of which this was one. Toronto, Ontario [Canada] 22 Oct 2022 #BlueskyArtShow

This is an arched ceiling decorated in mosaic most made of gold tesserae, and thus very bright looking. The arch is divide into four segments by a broad ribbon in a Greek-cross shape. The ribbon itself is decorated with florets and dots and geometric shapes. Between the ribbons, there are sexagonal lozenges with smaller geometric shape within.
At the bottom of a photo is seen a wall sconce on a pillar supporting the arch.

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

This #Golden clockwork figurine (c 1600, by Matthias Walbaum; see alt for card info), "Diana on a Stag", is in the collection of the Royal Ontario Museum, #Toronto, Canada. 25 Oct 2022 #BlueakyArtShow #ROM

This is a fanciful, tabletop clockwork figure showing a female huntress sitting on the back of a much larger deer stag, the stag outfitted with regal livery, holding one front leg in the air.

Smaller figures, 3 dogs, a lizard, and another hunter on a horse, are on the ornate base of the work. A key for winding the mechanism is visible protruding from the left of center of the base.

From the card about the item:

"Diana on a Stag"
This work is typical of German Mannerist goldsmithing. The stag's head is removable; the body is a wine jug. A clockwork mechanism and wheels make the figure move in a programmed pattern.

Silver, partly gilded and jewelled.
South German, Augsburg, c. 1600
By Matthias Walbaum

This is a close-up view of the stag's head on this golden figurine, "Diana on a Stag", described in the alt text of the first photo.
Particularly, note that the eye of the stag is a small, faceted, light-blue gem.

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

This #Golden azalea (Rhododendron astrinum 'Earl's Gold') was in the azalea collection at the [US] National Arboretum, Washington, DC. 5 May 2018 #BlueskyArtShow #USNA #Azalea

This is a close-up view of a clump of dark yellow, five-petal blooms, with very long stamens, on an azalea bush. It's at the top of a slender brown stem, surrounded by a dozen buds ready to open.

In the blurred background are some other flower clumps on the same shrub as well as additional greenery trees in this woodland setting.

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Jeff Shaumeyer 🌈 @jnshaumeyer.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I'm also good with this. We let Nixon & Reagan & Bush & Bush get away with entirely too much illegal activity with no (or too few) consequences, and now look where it's gotten us with the narcissistic man-baby in the White House. This should be the Century of Accountability for America.

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