Vacation Time

I'm not going to be blogging for the next two weeks or so. Going on vacation, without my laptop. You have to do that every once in awhile, un-hook yourself a bit from the electronic world we live in. I also have to point out per my most recent post below, that AEA's website will also not be updated until I return. When I return, I'll have all sorts of work to do just to get everything back to normal, but that's my punishment for taking time off. Whatever, back atcha later.

AEA Webpage Alert

In case you noticed, AEA's webpage has not been updated recently, and it won't be until Oct 7th at the earliest. Reason: AEA's host server is going through a major upgrade and it's down until Sep 25th at the earliest, and I'm on vacation until Oct 7th. Yes, I do the updates. So, what you see now is what you will see until everything is back to normal early next month. AEA has no control over server upgrades, it's part of the deal with web-hosting arrangements.

Friday and not much to write

Sadly (or perhaps happily for some) I'm having an especially hard time today getting the creative side of my brain working. Maybe it's the dreary weather, or maybe that side of my brain really ain't all that creative. The easy way out is to find a link online to post, showing when clicked, in full screen video, a room full of people trying to cram as many chickens as they can into a burlap sack in ten minutes. The winner gets to keep the chickens, the others get to clean off their clothing with complementary easy wipes.

So, given my predicament, I'll just close this Friday bit-o-nothingness with a simple shout out, "Go Hokies, beat the Huskers."

What to Photograph?

When I'm out shooting with my Nikon or Panasonic in hand, I have been working to further develop an ability to see things around me that might make an interesting photograph. Some compositions work, most are immediately deleted after I review the result on my camera LCD screen, or eventually find their way to the trash can on my computer after being downloaded. I considered dumping this photo but decided to keep it for no good reason other than I kinda liked it.

As I was walking around an old barn on a nearby farm, I spotted this empty plastic bottle someone had stuck in a crack. Sort of semi-littering; but, at least it was not tossed on the ground for someone to pick up and discard properly. In this regard, young people today have definitely NOT learned that its bad to litter. My generation was constantly reminded by TV and print ads that littering was not a good thing to do. Not so today, and I constantly see the results of it wherever I go. Sad, but true.

Summer is About Over

Soon we'll be asking, "Where have all the flowers gone?" Like these I photographed way up north in Alaska last June.

New Camo Patterns for Combat Uniforms

The Army will soon begin testing in the field two new camouflage patterns to replace that now used on the ACU. The one at the bottom is already in used by Special Forces and Delta Force units in Iraq and Afghanistan, while the one at the top is a modification of the current pattern, by adding a brown/tan color. Which do you prefer?

I hope that when the Army decides which is best, that they stick with it. And, that they dump the velcro patch stuff. Whatever, this ought to be a much more deliberate selection process than what we've seen recently with the current ACU pattern, beret, and the blue Class "A" uniform with white shirt. Leaders at the top make decisions, then those at the bottom voice numerous complaints. Why can't this be a bottom up process?

NASCAR Chase to Championship On

The race last night set the stage for the top 12 drivers who will compete this year for the championship. In that regard, I have mixed feelings. Overall, I'm very happy that the 12 drivers are all people I can root for. One driver that I have never rooted for (Kyle Busch) did not make the cut (he missed it by a mere 8 points) and while that made me shout "Alright!" at first, after I listened to his well said interview after the race, I mellowed my glee a bit.

Not only was he humble (at least he seemed that way and I assume he was being genuine) but he congratulated others involved who made the top 12, especially Brian Vickers. Given the mess they got into with each other earlier this year, I thought Busch's congratulatory comments about Vickers were good. Also, Kyle seems to have matured a lot this year, and now seems to be able to handle defeat as well as he does victory (not counting the dumb thing he did when he smashed the Guitar trophy in Nashville).

Last year Busch was at the top of the standings entering the championship series. Then he nose-dived to last place by totally losing it race by race. This year he still won races (4), but struggled otherwise just to get close enough to have an excellent last gasp shot getting into the top 12. He obviously fell short; but somehow, I think this year on top of last will make him a better racer, and more so a better person.

No, I will not make him one of my favored drivers next year, no matter what he does. It has something to do with the dorky sunglasses he wears I guess. Stupid reason, but that's my story.

Cabin in the Woods

How about living here? Photo taken at Crow Creek Mine near Girdwood, AK. I've been there several times over the past few years and each time I go, I want to stay. But, I ain't gettin no younger, and I'm afraid I'd be hard pressed to be able to chop enough wood to feed the stove during the winter. So, I'll stay where I am, but I can dream.

Hubble Telescope New Photos

Check out some of the new photos taken by the recently improved Hubble telescope in space. They are HERE.

New Army Earplugs

I'm glad to see the Army is coming out with new earplugs for Soldier use. When I left active duty in 1992 we had the "foam" variety that we carried in a small plastic box with chain hooked on a BDU pocket button. They were a pain to use because you had to roll the foam plugs with your fingers so as to reduce the diameter so they would fit into your ear canal. Most times they never went in far enough and thus did a relatively poor job. But, they were better than nothing, which was what we essentially had for the first half of my career. As a result, my high frequency hearing today is not as good as it ought to be.

I learned my lesson, however, and as such today I use hearing protection whenever I'm using loud machinery, like weed eaters, leaf blowers and lawn mowers. I want to keep whatever amount of hearing I have left over from my LOUD time in the Army, from getting any worse. I'd like to get me a pair of the new earplugs the Army is talking about, and see how they work.

iGoogle

I suppose most serious computer users today are familiar with GOOGLE. It's a popular way to search for just about anything online, and is a wonderful tool when doing any sort of research. But, I wonder how many are aware of iGoogle?

In short, iGoogle is a site on which you can put together a "homepage" for your browser, with a large number of "gadgets" and other helpful additions that makes browsing much simpler. You can set up your iGoogle page to contain what you want. In my case I have all the main cable news network news feeds set up, local and other weather forecasts, a direct link to my Gmail account showing my inbox, and date and time with a nice sized clock dead center. Works for me.

You can get started here. Have fun!

Have a Nice Labor Day Weekend

Picture was taken along the shore of Lake Superior in Upper Michigan last Fall about this time. Beautiful place to visit, or live full time for that matter, except during the months with snow and cold from about Thanksgiving through the end of March. Anyway, all of you reading this please have a safe and wonderful Labor Day weekend, especially anyone in Michigan.

As for me, I'm staying home. Maybe have a cold one (or two) and go see a movie.

Dwell Time

Years ago if someone used the term "dwell time" it would bring a puzzled look and a quick question–What are you talking about? Today, this is not so. Perhaps this term is one of the most used in military circles, especially during family discussions. Once again, the military is having to face reality that even with "objective" timelines of 18-24 months for dwell time in between deployments, needs on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq are making it next to impossible to always meet that goal-especially in Afghanistan. It seems to me that at some point, something is going to break. When that is I have no idea. The fact that the military continues to do as well as it does is testimony to the quality of the force, but there are limits.

Just my view.

California Fire

Here's a neat time lapse movie of the smoke plumes near LA. Powerful stuff, glad I don't live there.

Summer or Fall?

Today when I walked my morning route it was 60 degrees. Pretty nice for September 1st in Virginia. My mind tells me it ought to be much warmer, but my body is telling me it is almost Fall. Whatever, it's nice and I'll certainly take it. The scenery is also nice up along the Blue Ridge Parkway of Virginia, as you can tell by my recent photo above.