Oktoberfest Menu, 2011

I’m still not hungry, and it’s been nearly 24 hrs…

Last weekend folks in Anchorage’s downtown district had a twelve hour (noon to midnight) solstice festival. Not bad for such a small town - and some of the newer shops down there are downright respectable! (disclaimer: it has been many years since I’ve stepped foot down there – I’m no fan of crowds).

For me, this meant a chance to let my daughter play a bit, and to work on my street photography, such as it was. Not very successfull by anyone’s standards. Below: one of my favorites

Balloons on the solstice

Early Morning

It’s a rough time of the year, the approach to the solstice. Sleep comes slowly, and what little to be found is fitful.

It’s too bright out. It never really feels like bedtime. It seems like I should be out doing something.

The image above: taken at 5:30 in the morning.  The sun had risen about an hour earlier, but was still at a sharp angle.  You’re looking directly north, with the sun at NNE. I was awake at 3:30 that morning, and it was already starting to get light…

So soon, posting will resume.

Died. No longer with us. Never to be seen, visited, or spoken with again.

The first we didn’t know too well. Friend of a friend. Possibly a couple more “of a friend”‘s in there.

The second was a recently retired professional acquaintance. Respected, but not too well known.

The third, and least expected, was a close friend, and the father to my daughter’s best friend. A pretty rough shock.

It’ll be a bit before things are fully back to normal, such as it is. For now, just accept: not much activity for the next week or so.

Coming up for air

I’ve returned from a much-needed vacation, and will soon start this up again. It’s a remarkable thing, going from Alaska to Hawaii and back. I left the surf and sun for… melty snow, cold nights, and skiing.

After a week of sulking, I think I’m ready to get back into the swing of things. Maybe. I’m still struggling for direction here, but at least I’ve re-discovered the joy of making photographs.

For example, you might be in a boat with an electric motor.  In Alaska.  And on a cold, rainy day.  And end up having to swim the entire lenght to get back.

What’s worse, is you might end up getting left behind while your wife pulls it back to shore for you.

So really, always be prepared.

(some blurring to protect the innocent)

Swimming back to shore

On a photographic note: I was prepared.  I had one of my small (Canon G11) cameras with me.

In a couple of days, those of us with U.S. Citizenshipt (and U.S. residents) we will get the privilege of paying for the service that government provides. It is traditional for most of us to bitterly complain about this, for it always hurts to see one’s money wasted away on the bureaucracy.

Every year, I think of a man.  I do not know this man, mind you.  My father spoke of him (OK, fine, I don’t remember who he said it about).  That man always paid his full amount of taxes. Never a deduction, never a credit.  Full amount, always.

He considered it a privilege to pay his taxes.  A privilege to live in this country, to pay for roads, and schools, and police, and fire departments, and libraries, and emergency services.

Yes, it could be argued that we’re also blowing wads of money on two wars and Obamacare (sorry, you’re already paying for the uninsured – just ask Mitt Romney, he admits it.  He just doesn’t like *how* the new Health Care bill covers the people).  But we’ve always blown giant wads of cash on meaningless endeavors.  Today is no different.

Given a choice, I’d rather that we all thought just a little bit more like the man in my memory.

Still, at least I’m aware of them. Won’d do anything ’bout it now, but thought it was strange. Nothing for months, then suddenly this week.

Some from Arabic-language only sites, too…

The purpose of questioning, I suppose, was due to curiosity: I spend so much time doing things, that it seems impossible that there would be time for learning.  Since most of us are busy, including the questioner, there is also the subtext to the question: “how can I keep up?” questions the questioner.

The answer is, perhaps, not helpful: “it depends.”

However, I do have a few tricks.  So consider this the first installment: Keeping Caught up with Educational DVDs.

What sort of DVDs, you ask?  Mostly Photovision’s Video Seminar (note: not a plug!). Every other month they send a 2-hour DVD, and I have to find time to watch it.  Time in front of a TV or screen with a DVD player.  This competes with various other DVDs: Tony Sweet videos like Visual Literacy and Visual Artistry (both highly recommended, BTW), or Annie Liebovit’s Life Through a Lens.

Watching these takes away from work, rest, and family time.  But I do make time: when I get them, I rip them to MP4 and load them onto an iPod.  This gives me a mobile viewing opportunity, and then I watch: during downtime, when waiting for appointments, etc.

So that’s it: the cheap way of keeping caught up with DVDs.