just came from a morning swim and this makes me feel even cooler, breal. even though i know it makes no sense – particularly given the concerns you have shared about the future of this swamp – the color, the glimmer, the archetypal associations, give me hope and a respite, maybe even to dream of the possibility of renewal/rebirth. title so appropro. thanks, breal, and thanks b for posting it.

Posted by: conchita | Jul 29 2006 14:12 utc | 3

Raw Obsidian, it’s geochemical fingerprints allow archaeologists to make conclusions regarding the what makes Obsidian. Its composition is very similar to that of granite under immense heat of combining water and fire, It originates as molten silica, the melting point of about 1000 °C (1800 °F) as from volcanic eruptions; made of the same minerals as granite but cooled very quickly Which becomes glass. I’m reminded of the hindu philosophy, with the exertion of its own tapas, heat-energy, out of nothing emerged Brahma without external cause or action. Obsidian was a critically important material for paleolithic and neolithic peoples in the production of stone tools; it is even used today. As It is one of the sharpest things known to man and can be quite dangerous to work with. It is so sharp, that it has even been used in optometrist surgery.

In the beginning in the state of flood there was neither matter nor non-matter, neither being nor non-being. At that time there was neither the sky nor the space nor anything beyond . There was no life anywhere nor any source of pleasure. What was there ? And where ? What was the power ? At that time even the solemn water did not exist. There was neither death nor immortality, neither night nor any notion of the day. At that time only one, i.e. Brahma, imbued with energy in his nature was there and nothing else existed. Darkness was hidden inside darkness and the existence was unknown. With the exertion of its own tapas, heat-energy, out of nothing emerged Brahma without external cause or action. This caused the conception of creation and the sages realized the cause of matter in non-matter. Who knows the entire truth and who can speak about this creation ? What are the causative factors of this creation ? The gods have originated after the creation. Who knows the one from which this world has got created. It is not known how this existence has come up. He only knows the one who has unveiled it. Does he bear it or not ? It is not known whether the lord up above knows it or not .

Swamp dreams indeed, reminds me of being sucked under. Trapped under glass. Ever had dreams of being lost in a dark bog? I remember as a child watching the movie The great Houdini, starring Tony Curtis, the master of theatre arts; the great escape artist Harry Houdini ; one of his stunts while performing an escape attempt in a river in Detroit where he was trapped under the ice and only found his way to the surface by following his mother’s voice, and the effect , emotion that scene had for me then and still has today. My subrosa fears also congure up reminders of the typical neocon troglodyte as obsene avatar with the attitude of the saying, “Just turn the Middle East into glass; a glass parking lot.” Yeah! that will solve everything. A beautiful death. The french have the little death, the troglodyte have dreams of , well…

Posted by: Uncle $cam | Jul 29 2006 15:19 utc | 5

Thank you, b real. The whole series is stunning, but this is my favorite yet.

Posted by: Aigin | Jul 29 2006 16:08 utc | 7

Thank you for those pictures.

Posted by: Noirette | Jul 29 2006 19:17 utc | 9