Random picture thread for Friday

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HAPPY Valentine's Day

For THIS FRIDAY I've pulled up a few photos from Valentine's Days past to add to one from this year. But first, here is a little history relating to the origins of the holiday as it is celebrated here in the USA and Japan:

CELEBRATING VALENTINE’S DAY IN THE USA & JAPAN

While Valentine’s Day is named after St. Valentine and originally the date itself was a day to remember and honor him that was chosen to replace the mid-February Pagan Lupercalia Fertility Festival.

We owe it to a poem by the 14th -century English poet Chaucer though for Valentine’s Day becoming a day to celebrate romantic love. The poem itself was about love birds choosing their mates on “Seynt Valentynes day.”

Ironically, it was a written line that established Valentine’s Day’s romantic association in Japan as well. Rather than from a poem though, it was a consequence of a mid 20th-century translation error in the ad copy of a chocolate company’s campaign to promote the sale of chocolate which, as erroneously translated, promoted the giving of chocolates to men by women. That never got corrected and to this day it remains a day for women to give the sweets on February 14th rather than the other way around.

(Credit the clever Japanese confectionary industry though for coming up with another holiday to rectify the mistake. Beginning in 1978 White Day on March 14th became the day for men to treat the women.)

Heart-shaped boxes for chocolates introduced by “Candy Man” Richard Cadbury, and Hallmark’s advent of printed valentines in 1913 all contributed to how we celebrate Valentine’s Day both here in the USA and Japan.

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JAPAN

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1630Boston

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Dolly Parton - 1966

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JUST POSTED VALENTINE'S DAY RELATED VIDEOS

Looking for the lucky flash of light as the sun sets on the horizon. If you see it that supposedly will make you lucky in love. (Video and related photos taken from Oahu's Magic Island.)

Link to Video of the Sun Setting on the Ocean Horizon:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/6FlIQcw8Ffc

Watching a spectacular waterfall can be romantic. (Video and related photos taken of Japan's famed Kegon Waterfall in Nikko.)

Link to cascading waters of famed Kegon Waterfall accompanied by pulsating sounds of "Rave:"

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/RNylgS-3lkg

Finally, sharing in a dance of love, the Hula. (Video taken of Young Hula Dancers on the Island of Maui.)

Link to Video of Young Hawaiian Hula Dancers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qprhilEMos

Concurrently taken photos:

Sun setting on the Ocean Horizon in Oahu:

Japan's famed Kegon Waterfalls in Nikko:

Young Hula Dancers in Maui:

oih82w8

Leaving Cartagena, Columbia.

air4mdc

@Bullsitter said:

That was one of my favorite episodes, which inspired me to head up to the grocery store and procure some wooden fruit/ veg. crates to make a soapbox. That was some 58 years ago.

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Twobitcollector

Almost 11 months to the day it finally arrived.
Yep my Union Pacific Big Boy is here.

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Clackamas1

@Kkathyl said:
I will play

That is really cool.

golden

@JWP said:

I have been there twice. It is super cool!

D808LF

!

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THE STAR OF THIS WEEKEND'S ALASKA BOAT SHOW

In my below linked 3-video Playlist, first is a 360 degree view of the the 32 foot Kingfisher 3225 GFX combined luxury cabin cruiser and sport fishing vessel. It is followed by a pair of YouTube Video Shorts (accompanied by a musical score) which explore the luxurious spacious cabin and the stern's fishing deck that extends to the transom.

Attached to the transom are a pair of massive Honda engines capable of 700 hp. With 250 gallon fuel capacity the Kingfisher 3225 GFX has a range of 500 nautical miles. The boat is crafted from heavy-gauge welded aluminum in Canada.

With a base price under $400,000 dollars the fully equipped model seen here is listed at $482,750 dollars. The boat show sale price is advertised at $424,747.

Close to a dozen of these boats presently ply Alaska waters and they are well suited for journeys in the Prince William Sound connecting Whittier, Valdez and Cordova. The boats are dual purposed in affording cabin cruiser comfort and ideal sport fishing platforms. The perfect "Alaska Yacht."

The 2025 Kingfisher 3225 GFX is the Cadillac of the line equipped for both livability and sport fishing,

Featured at the 2025 Alaska Boat Show it stood out capturing the attention of all.

In the first video see a 360 degree exterior view of the boat. The second and third videos which show the interior will play in succession when you click "Play All."

Manufactured in Canada it cannot be used for commercial fishing due to the restrictions of the Jones Act but is the perfect vessel for coastal ocean water fishing for pleasure. It is equipped with comfortable seating (convertible for sleeping) in an enclosed cabin, a kitchen and a separate head. Outside the cabin is a spacious fishing deck.

Link to 3-VideoPlaylist of the Boat that was the Star of the Alaska Boat Show:

(When you reach the Playlist, Click "Play All" to see all three videos in succession.)

https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLtb5zi734BfbanGRp-TNefBJ4PbT7ysAH

And here are concurrent photos from the Alaska Boat Show focusing on the Show's star, the 2025 Kingfisher 3225 GFX:

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A Leopard Pike

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Watch fireworks exploding along the banks of the Yangtze River along with scenic views of towering mountains, cliff caves, and a spanning bridge.

Yangtze River Cruise Video Playlist:

1. Unexpectedly while cruising China’s Yangtze River the sounds of exploding fireworks are captured in this video and puffs of smoke become visible along a significant stretch of the river bank.

Firing off in broad daylight it was as if an entire village was attempting to scare away its demons in a single effort. Either that or a simulated battle was being staged for a war movie.

2. As China’s Yangtze River approaches Chongqing the view from a river cruise boat includes haunting cliff caves and then jutting toward the sky mountains lush with tree growth.

3. Yangtze River Cruise approaches spanning bridge and Wuhan.

4. Cruising the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River.

Link to Yangtze River Video Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLtb5zi734BfaJSPU0WsJTlg_YCJOiRPLx

Concurrently taken Photos along China's Yangtze River:

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Caution - Attending a Boat Show may end up in one not going home empty handed:

1630Boston

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50-50 Chance an Eruption of Mount Spurr is Imminent with Ash on its Way

Last time the Active Volcano closest to Anchorage erupted and covered us with ash was 1992 as a Category 3 Event. I still recall its largest recorded eruption in July of 1953 as a Category 4. That one, combined with a bout of Chicken Pox that followed, kept me from playing outside for the rest of the summer.

Today's cloud cover is hiding any present visible activity as first pictured below. The following recent views as taken from my office location depict the 80 mile distant Mount Spurr and its Crater which can be identified as the tallest peak.

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FWIW, here is a video from last week depicting Mount Spurr:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iu7JjaKP970

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