Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Getting better all the time

The State of California just can't get it together.  Hoping to get around the 2/3rds requirement to try and tax it's way out of a recession, California has turned to using "fees" to raise revenues.  A tax being a tax by any name, the voters nixed this trend of the bait and switch of fee for tax with Proposition 26.

This means fees can't be raised without a 2/3rds approval for State, and more importantly local fees.  So, toss the idea of fees getting California out of the hole it's in.

With Governor Moonbeam back in office, California could end up taking this to court, and as usual overturn the will of the people.

Upping the ante of dysfunction....  It keeps getting better all the time.

Falling Down


Making the best of what's still around.

Friday, November 26, 2010

Thursday, November 25, 2010

On the Vine


A day to give thanks for our blessings. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

A little travel humor

We all know travel can be stressful, and the TSA sure isn't making things any easier.  It's important to be safe and keep a sense of humor, so in that vain, I thought I'd share these TSA bumper stickers floating around the internet.

On Holiday


Be safe out there and enjoy...

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Monday, November 22, 2010

Rural Living


I went up to one of my favorite spots called Knapp's Castle, which is an old abandoned stone structure to find that it's being worked on. I'm not sure if they're restoring it, or what's going on. There is construction going on, and from the way things look, people wont be able to come and go any longer.

It's a loss for hikers and photographers, and a gain for whomever is going to be living there again.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Above Town


The storm had started to pass, so I thought I'd take a drive up the mountain and get a view from cloud level. The view from up there was breathtaking, though I'd forgotten to bring my eye glasses.

That meant I was fumbling in the dark to get this shot. I couldn't tell if the camera was on the right settings, so I just sort of winged it.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Made in the Shade


As you can see, it's not so hard to push sun and structure further than you think.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Morning Catch


It's about time I got back to doing some early morning photography. Lots of images out there to capture.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Forgotten


Recently I've been spending a lot of time with a loved one who has been reminding me of things I've long forgotten.

It's strange, those memories are just fragments. Like bits and pieces of paper torn from some old book, with little remaining of the story they once told.

It's hard to know if any of those things really happened, or are worth even thinking about. The past and future don't really exist, so why waste any time on them?

Livin' Easy


Nature's given the gift of clouds lately, I've been trying to not let them go to waste.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

skipped the light fandango


Traces of yesterday,
strange and unreal,
like looking through glass,
someone's memory,
an uncertain past

Friday, November 12, 2010

Careful what you wish for

The voters of California have spoken, and it seems that they want a complete economic meltdown.  Looks like they're going to get it.  Let's just hope the rest of the nation has the good sense to NOT bailout California.

The long haul


It will take some time to get to where we're going.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Digital Books/Readers

Here I am again making another plug for digital books, media, readers, what have you.  Why?

Sure, I love using mine, but I'm starting to see there's more value to these things than meets the eye.  Namely the fact that they remove a lot of clutter.  I know they're not the same as having a physical book, magazine, or newspaper, which I've got a reverence for when it comes to books, but that's the point.

Physical media creates a lot of clutter and takes up lots of room.  Recently I've been helping loved ones, and one of the biggest challenges is organizing and deciding what to do with years worth of collected media.  Toss, donate, or keep?

It's a time consuming and often emotional process.  I'm not much for objects and material things, but, like it or not, they are part of our lives.  They can bring us much joy, and by the same token they are burdens.  They need homes and need to be taken care of.  They gain mass over the years, and quite frankly can become a ball and chain.

Not so with digital media. All you need with this type of media is a means to access your content.  This is great, and means you won't be carrying such a heavy load.

So, getting back to the Kindle.... in the year or so that I've been using this device, I'm reading more than I have in years, and yet there's no pile of books taking up more in more space in my office.  I've always got something to read with me, and the ability to get more on a whim.  What's not to like about that?

I think digital readers are the future.  The devices we have now will seem very primitive in five years time, and yet I would still recommend getting one sooner rather than later, for the reasons listed above.

Know someone who loves to read and doesn't own one of these?  Get them one.  They'll thank you, and you'll be making their lives easier.

Fall Harvest


The season is changing fast... Autumn will soon be gone.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Monday, November 8, 2010

Unforgettable


Clouds are something that shouldn't be wasted by staying indoors.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Through the years


As winter approaches, Nature has started to offer up some spectacular lighting.

Friday, November 5, 2010

In the pale moonlight

Fooling all the people isn't all that hard when they're fools to begin with.  In an effort to get different results from doing the same thing, the people of California elect Moonbeam Brown as Governor for the third time.

This will probably be the last nail in California's coffin.  I'm sure that State feels it's too big to fail and deserves a bailout.... I don't think that will happen.  Oh well....

In tow


A gathering of friends...

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

After the storm


The voters in California have no sense, and so a has-been becomes governor again. We've only ourselves to blame.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Monday, November 1, 2010