Design is the method of putting form and content together. Design, just as art, has multiple definitions; there is no single definition. Design can be art. Design can be aesthetics. Design is so simple, that’s why it is so complicated. (Paul Rand, designer)
Concision in style, precision in thought, decision in life. (Victor Hugo, author)
For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. (Leonardo da Vinci, artist)
The most amazing lesson in aerodynamics I ever had was the day I climbed a thermal in a glider at the same time as an eagle. I witnessed, close up, effortlessness and lightness combined with strength, precision and determination. (Norman Foster, architect)
A falcon is the perfect hunter. (Jean Craighead George, writer)
The View
The Story
A Frank Angle 
200 mph? Wow. Interesting video. Great thoughts this morning, Frank. Happy Saturday!
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Audra,
That’s a zoomin’! … and used for a purpose. Cheers to your weekend.
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Cool! I like the quote by da Vinci.
Coincidentally, I saw this video on FB yesterday: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/snowy-owl-flying-transport-quebec-traffic-camera-1.3393343
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Merril,
Wow on the traffic span … and what a wingspan! Many thanks!
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I thought you might like it. 🙂
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For my interests, your quotes were the best yet, especially the first one, which works to explain why I’ve been unable to get my latest abstract painting past the startup phase. I also learned a new word (concision), and I’m mulling over what to bump from my Top 25 Bucket List in order to include a glider ride.
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Tim,
Because applicable quotes with peregrine or falcon will limited.I came up with the idea of interesting words for a quote, then arranged them in order – so glad you caught my intent. In terms of the glider, I have a local contact who could arrange a ride.
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Interesting videos, Frank. Nature is amazing.
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Karen,
Nature is amazing … and the more one looks, the more one sees.
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What great videos, Frank! Thanks so much!
There are several nesting areas in Acadia Nat’l Park for peregrines. and while we see tons of eagles and osprey up there, falcons are a rare site. The nesting areas are cordoned off and nobody can hike there for fear of upsetting the nesting. I guess there aren’t many folks hiking around these tall buildings!
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Elyse,
Thanks for sharing the info … Are there any peregrines nesting on tall buildings in DC or Baltimore?
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I don’t know. Not likely in DC — the buildings aren’t very tall. by law, no taller than the Capitol b
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I figured not in DC because of that reason.
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Left to the hearer backslash the viewer, “perhaps, good design is the cream rising to the top, au naturel”. The problem arises when design does not appease the aesthetic of the masses. Can’t ugly and clumsy be of good design? In the realm of au naturel?
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Calvin,
Nature is a wonderful designer, and yes – sometimes it’s not perfect or pretty, but in terms of the environment of said organism, it’s a masterpiece.
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And that’s the moral of the story isn’t it. Good shtufffs, you.
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To me, yes … but not to all.
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Are you familiar with the work and writing of Freeman Patterson. I think he might be right up your alley. Or not. He has been on my Santa List for as long as I can remember.
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I don’t know him … so thanks for the recommendation.
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Design is a human activity…the word also means “cunning” and “trickery” as much as “art” and “technology”……the wonders of that beautiful falcon were not created by humans, though humans may create artifice to mimic them. The falcon itself cannot be called “design” unless one assumes there is a God who is, like humans, a Designer.
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Cynthia,
Interesting thoughts about design, but I must disagree with your last statement because nature is the designer. After all, they haven’t always been in this form.
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And who ( or what) is “nature”?….
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The laws of nature at work.
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? ? ? 🙂
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Nature has many laws that determines operations … gas laws, laws of motion, etc … and natural selection is a great designer
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I’ve studied science, and I know what your saying, but it’s still not design in my book, because we cannot point to a design-er.
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Then we disagree and have a different understanding of natural selection.
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Yes indeed, we must agree to disagree.
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I have seen a falcon hunting – it is indeed an amazing thing! Great videos – well found Frank!
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Pauline,
Falcons are amazing … but one of the videos said the drive has about a 25% success rate (which surprised me). Glad you’ve got to see them at work!!!
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I locked eyes with a falcon, once & I can still see the icy, steady glare.
I used to feed birds from a feeder in my yard. It was winter, snow had just fallen.
Falcons had been nesting in certain spaces of high-rises.
Many birds were a flutter around the feeder, & a few pigeons were gathering the spill over on the snow. I looked up and saw a dot. In seconds the dot was a falcon come to grab one of my birds. I saw eyes & claws in a flurry of feathers. Our eyes locked.
He didn’t get any of the birds, and not a bird was to be seen. The snow had an even layer of small bird feathers covering it.
Hey, I’m a city girl, and this was very exciting for me.
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Resa,
Their eyes are steely … and wow .. thanks for sharing your story! … I’ve seen the feathers, but not the swoop.
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Great videos. Used to live in the NYC area and saw many falcon’s at work
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John,
Probably reducing the pigeon population. … Some cities have brought them in to nest on tall buildings.
Tough game so far.
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I don’t know what to say about the game. The sports writers are having a field day. Knowing you as I do, I imagine you are somewhat disappointed in some fan and player conduct. I know I would be and let’s hope next year is better.
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Many things to be sick from that game – sure the results … I find it so hard to believe that players lost their cool with so much on the line and so little time on the clock. Fans cheers Ben’s injury is simply a no-no. A reaction of a combination of passion and alcohol. And as you know, the black & gold wasn’t totally innocent.
Interestingly, I saw the movie Concussion late afternoon … so that was on my mind as I was watching the game. I truly believe the NFL doesn’t give a damn about it’s players.
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I think you are right.
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Refs tried to control it … but we also responsible for letting get out of hand. It’s a shame, two good teams who played hard.
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Incredibly camera work! I’ve watched a hawk come swooping through our yard and capture a small bird at the bird feeder and we always hear the sound of his velocity before we see him! These falcons are magnificent birds.
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Debra,
Wow … swoops right in the urban backyard. We had a few at our previous residence … wonderful birds.
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Very impressive indeed, Frank! That pigeon was so lucky. 🙂
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Sylvia,
Interesting how the perspective of the predator and the prey differs based on perspective.
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We’ve often seen crows at play jumping into an updraft and then coming back around for another go at it – when their turn comes up after other crows. Interesting what birds will do.
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LB,
Try re-reading your comment the way I first read it … that is with cows instead of crows. … Thanks for sharing!
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Amazing beings and seeing through their eyes only makes me feel …lacking! I wouldn’t mind a nice pair of wings! 😉 Happy Sunday, my friend. 🙂
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Marina,
I would love to see a camera of exactly what they see … oh can they soar!
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Beautiful. We’ve had a couple of days of clear skies and all the hawks are out. Quite amazing to watch them hunt with success across open fields.
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Mouse,
I enjoy seeing them perched on the limns, power lines, telephone polls, and signs. … and every once in a while see a swoop.
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Frank, this was cool! My new home backs up to a bird sanctuary, and I’ve become quite the bird watcher. We have hawks, owls, and the biggest buzzards I’ve ever seen. Nature is so cool.
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E-Tom,
Those a truly large wing spans near your home. … and I imagine you see nature at work, too – such as hawks and owls swooping upon their prey.
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Oh I do. And being a city girl, they are freaking me out. Two weeks after I moved in, I was drinking coffee on my deck and what I now know was an extremely large buzzard swooped down and up the deck steps, and crashed into the railing. We just stared at each other. I don’t know who was more stunned–me or him. It took him a good five minutes to gather himself and hope up to a near by tree. I froze and didn’t move for the longest time.
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LOL … maybe the buzzard was thinking, “There goes the neighborhood.”
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Very funny!!
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I knew you would appreciate it. 🙂
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