The 27TH day of the third month of the year of the OP

I actually walked two miles this morning with the temperature in the sixties and a light rain. It has been raining fairly consistently for the past couple of days. That's a good thing because it corresponds with the pine pollen season. For those of you who have not experienced a pollen season, fall to your knees and say "Amen", say "Amen"! ..... Even the cars are coated yellow overnight.

Driving my allergies nuts.

Is there any resemblance between Nancy Pelosi and the above picture of a stinkbug I made this morning. Probably not! Speaker of the House=Stinkbug? Oh!, there's that pesky rant again.

By the way I will continue to rant as long as the Washington money and power grab in Washington continues to undermine that which the framers so long ago constructed.

Late last week, the day before I left for Annapolis, I discovered that my debit card had been hit by some slime who tried to use it in Texas of all places. Short story..........got my money back and a new card issued. It is just amazing what can be done on the computer these days. I guess the Texas/Mexican drug cartels are branching out to card theft. I would love to suggest to them that they get the number from Obama's card...........maybe then we would get some border control. Although I'm not so sure of that either. Idiots!


FICTION AND FACT FROM SKIP'S ALMANAC OF GARBAGE KNOWLEDGE

OK, all my fellow seniors out there...........time to step up and be noticed!

Patriotic retirement:

There's about 40 million people over 50 in the work force;

Pay them $1 million apiece severance with three stipulations:

1) They leave their jobs. Forty million job openings - Unemployment fixed.
2) They buy NEW American cars. Forty million cars ordered - Auto Industry fixed.
3) They either buy a house or pay off their mortgage- Housing Crisis fixed.

All National financial problems fixed!!!

A SERIOUS and NEW SECTION

Your American Heritage

(A note to my kids and grandkids so they understand what their country is really all about)

In the United States, the Bill of Rights is the name by which the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution are known.

The 26th Day of the third month of the year of the OP

This You Tube clip is really something to consider. We need to get juiced up before the criminals in Washington have us all in a gulag! God it's even a British tea bag!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeYscnFpEyA

You might also want to visit the 912 Project started by talk show host Glenn Beck.

http://912project.com/

As you can see the "Rant is back"

The twenty-fifth day of the third month of the year of the OP

Yes, I have been neglectful in not keeping up with you all.

Last weekend was spent in Annapolis, MD at an "extreme" high school competition. An organization called USFirst created and sponsors a Robotics competition nationwide. This was "Lunacy 2009" and as you can see the room at the Naval Academy was packed. These are high school students folks. If your kids/grand kids have not heard about it ............. get with the program. It is our future here.

http://www.usfirst.org/

These kids, and yes there was a team from England, create and build robots to compete each year all across the country. The machine at the left was built and operated by a high school team, "Chop Shop", from Merrimack, NH. They start from scratch, building everything including the shipping crates. Each machine is controlled with joysticks and computers from the sidelines. The whole competition is explained at this U-tube clip. These kids are good, and they have to learn and apply such talents as carpentry, computers, marketing, and management.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW0eCFPDoxc

It was so refreshing to see a group of young adults and kids doing something other than standing on the corner with their pants down around the bottom of their butts.

FICTION AND FACT FROM SKIPS ALMANAC OF GARBAGE KNOWLEDGE

How to wash a toilet.

1. Put both lids of the toilet up And add 1/8 cup of pet shampoo to the water in the bowl.
2. Pick up the cat and soothe him while you carry him towards the bathroom.
3. In one smooth movement, put the cat in the toilet and close the lid. You may need to stand on the lid.
4. The cat will self agitate and make ample suds. Never mind the noises that come from the toilet, the cat is actually enjoying this.
5. Flush the toilet three or four times. This provides a 'power-wash' and rinse'.
6. Have someone open the front door of your home. Be sure that there are no people between the bathroom and the front door.
7. Stand behind the toilet as far as you can, and quickly lift the lid.
8. The cat will rocket out of the toilet, streak through the bathroom, and run outside where he will dry himself off.
9. Both the commode and the cat will be sparkling clean.

The 17 day of the third month of the op

<---------------NEW--------------


Happy St. Patrick's Day............Wohoooo for green beer!

Hello comrades!

As most of you know, I have been critical of our congress on occasion. Is it any wonder. They are spending the world out from under the tax payer and could care less. Think I am wrong. Take your heads out of the sand and look at the way one of our erstwhile icons of the Senate evaluates things.

This from the Drudge Report....but the headline says it all about the expertise of these buffoons.

Senator suggests AIG execs should kill themselves...

Yeah! Right! That will solve the problems Senator. How about we just un-elect you bunch of dolts at the next go round.

I mean, how shallow can you be?

And since when should we (the American public, taxpayer, and followers of the constitution) assume that Washington can run anything, let alone the economy.

How can this bunch of power hungry people be so conceited about their business acumen when virtually none, repeat none, of them have ever run anything close to a business

And how come those of the Senator's ilk have never been investigated for the Fannie and Freddie fiasco....ummmmmm! Dodged another bullet did you Barney (the banking queen) and Chris (the Connecticut guy who gets preferential loans and lord only know what else). Any corruption here? Nahhhhhh!

Think I'll go duct tape my head so it won't explode and finish that pitcher of beer!

FICTION AND FACT FROM SKIP'S ALMANAC OF GARBAGE KNOWLEDGE

Webster's definition of "Oxymoron"

"Representative Government"

The 16th day of the third month of the year of the op

Happy St. Patty's day everybody!

Happy Birthday to my daughter who is way, way too much older than I thought I was!

We initiated the print "The Doors of Charleston, SC" here. Now the Windows are available as well. Stay tuned for more wonderful art to come.

FICTION AND FACT FROM SKIP'S ALMANAC OF GARBAGE KNOWLEDGE

Murphy told Quinn that his wife was driving him to drink.
Quinn thinks Murphy's very lucky because his own wife makes him walk.

The 13th day of the third month of the year of the OP

Last Friday we had spring for about two hours and then went directly into summer. Until this morning. Now it's spring again! Or maybe the beginning of winter............thank you global warming. Fifty nine degrees this morning and headed to below fifty for a day or two. Great walking morning and spent about three miles on the Cayce Riverwalk.

End of March and the striper run begins in the river, and thought that I would take a look as there are more boats and fishermen on the river. All looking to find the elusive Morone Saxatilis, striper, or rockfish. No such luck and the river is still brown from run off following the recent rains both here and upstate. Guess we'll have to wait a couple of weeks and in the mean time I should get the fly-fishing equipment ready. The accompanying photo is of a box of said fish.

FICTION AND FACT FROM SKIP'S ALMANAC OF GARBAGE KNOWLEDGE

The Knights Templar were a monastic military order founded in Jerusalem in 1118 C.E., whose mission was to protect Christian pilgrims during the Crusades. Over the next two centuries, the Knights Templar became extraordinarily powerful and wealthy. Threatened by that power and eager to acquire their wealth, King Philip secretly ordered the mass arrest of all the Knights Templar in France on Friday, October 13, 1307 - Friday the 13th

The ninth day of the third month of the OP

Well, we had spring on this past Friday from noon till about four in the afternoon. Saturday in the seventies and now in the mid eighties until this coming Thursday, when it is supposed to cool down again. At least the snow and ice are still on Lake Winnepasaukee in New Hampshire. I know that makes absolutely no sense what-so-ever, but it's important to me.

The image of the day is the new "Doors of Charleston, SC" print. Check it out on the website.

FICTION AND FACT FROM SKIP'S ALMANAC OF GARBAGE KNOWLEDGE

As a photographer we have to make moral decisions from time to time about the images we make. And sometimes those decisions must be made instantly or quicker. Often those decisions can make the difference between a good shot and a so-so one. Thanks to my North Wildwood friend for contributing this item which she, for some unknown reason, thought was just too appropriate for me. Thanks, Ronnie!

THE SITUATION:

I am in Ireland, Dublin to be specific. There is chaos all around me caused by a hurricane with severe flooding. This is a flood of biblical proportions. I'm a photo-journalist working for an Irish Daily Mail, and am caught in the middle of this epic disaster. The situation is nearly hopeless. I am trying to shoot career-making photos. There are houses and people swirling around me, some disappearing into the water. Nature is unleashing all of its destructive fury.

THE TEST:

Suddenly, I see a man in the water. He is fighting for his life, trying not to be taken down with the debris. I move closer... Somehow, the man looks familiar...I suddenly realize who it is... It's Brian Cowen! The raging waters are about to take him under forever. I have two options: I can save the life of Brian Cowen, or I can shoot a dramatic Pulitzer Prize winning photo, documenting the death of one of the country's most powerful men!

THE QUESTION:

Here's the question, do I select high contrast color film, or should I go with the classic simplicity of black and white?

THE ANSWER:

I need to have a pint to conjure up my professional decision. Hang in there Brian!

The sixth day of the Third Month of the OP

This one is for my Maryland friends who are apparently finally warming up some.

I mistakenly walked another five miles today on the Columbia side and all I got for it was a blister on each foot. Jeeeeeeez! Ok, tomorrow will be pressing eighty degrees and so I'll work in the yard in my bare feet. Oops! That may not be too smart either.

I hope everyone has a great weekend and maybe next week I will get back to the Cayce Riverwalk.

I took the accompanying photo some years ago late in the afternoon (one of the magic hours) with wonderful lighting. This is the Pride of Baltimore II. The boat was working it's way up the Chester River to Chestertown along with a few other vessels. I guess they were arriving for the annual Tea Party. A celebration which will certainly take on added significance this year.

FICTION AND FACT FROM SKIP'S ALMANAC OF GARBAGE KNOWLEDGE

Pride of Baltimore II

Whether making harbor in a new port of call half way around the world or returning home to her berth in the Inner Harbor, Pride of Baltimore II grabs attention! Whether blasting off her shipboard cannons or skimming majestically over the waves with all sails aloft, Pride II makes a proud statement about her sponsors and her colorful maritime history. As the Goodwill Ambassador of the State of Maryland and the Port of Baltimore, Pride II represents the business, tourism, and educational interests of the state with unmistakable flair and panache.

Pride of Baltimore II was commissioned in 1988 as a sailing memorial to her immediate predecessor, the original Pride of Baltimore, which was tragically sunk by a white squall off Puerto Rico in 1986, taking her captain and three crew members down with her. Both ships were built in the Inner Harbor as reproductions of 1812-era topsail schooners, the type of vessels, called Baltimore Clippers, that helped America win the War of 1812 and finally secure its freedom. (From the Pride II website).

http://www.pride2.org/index.php

The 5 Th day of the Third month

Spring is springing! Sorry my northern friends, pushed seventy today and I did 5.5 miles on the RiverWalk. Beautiful day on the outside but worked on my taxes inside..........ugh! Can't wait to see what next year's will look like.

The Cayce RiverWalk where I usually hike is still closed due to high water but I walked about a half mile on the West Columbia walk. Two rivers, the Saluda and Broad, combine to form the Congaree. There is one walk of about five miles along the Saluda and Congaree on our side of the river. The Broad joins the Congaree on the Columbia side and there is a 2.5 mile walk along there. Got that? There will be a written test on it tomorrow. I met some friends from the Cayce walk at the dam and they said that the water yesterday was above all of that on the lower right of the photograph. Creek's going down!

The Columbia River Walk starts at the Broad River dam and goes down river into Columbia for 2.5 miles. The walk itself is between the Broad and the Columbia Canal and is fun play on. I saw, other than the eye candy, a great blue heron, red tail hawk, and two Canada geese who will probably be here all summer.

SKIPS ALMANAC OF FICTION AND FACT AND OTHER GARBAGE KNOWLEDGE

If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; And even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN, Preferably in a zig-zag pattern!

As an editorial comment, if you have your own gun........shoot him first, then run!

4Th day of the third month of the OP

We got fifty degrees and bright sunshine today and half of the RiverWalk was closed due to flooding. Whenever upstate gets heavy rain, or in this case snow and rain, the Congaree River loads up. The flood picture was taken today and the other some time ago when levels were closer to normal. It still amazes me at just how quickly these rivers flood and this is big water under normal circumstances. God help anyone who gets caught in one of these things.

The third photo is a new product which consists of some of the doors in Charleston, SC. The print will be a glicee and measure 12.5" x 17.5". It will be sprayed with a UV protectorate to reduce the effects of sunlight on the colors. I will follow up with two more studies featuring windows and then the alleys/gardens of Charleston. Hopefully, these will generate some interest. They will framed in hand made wood frames crafted and signed by myself, as well as flat and on floating frames. I do have to give credit to Door Center Publishing in Hopewell, New Jersey who gave me the original idea for the Lighthouse posters and this print. Thank you Lucia. Their company has published "Door" posters for years, but mine are designed as fine art and much different. Please visit their website for a look see.

http://www.doorposter.com/

FICTION AND FACT FROM SKIP'S ALMANAC OF GARBAGE KNOWLEDGE

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Just had to do it! See what it covers and more importantly what it does not cover regarding our current congress!

The third day of the third month of the 2009th year (The year of the OP)

Cold today and did not go to the RiverWalk, but did a few days ago. There are some condos, or another bank, or another drugstore being built, and I watched this guy work this huge Caterpillar bulldozer. The machine must have been on at least a thirty degree angle and at certain spots almost forty-five degrees. It took huge nerves and skill to run this piece of equipment. The guy driving this thing is certainly not a member of the very prevalent "New American Castrati". It takes nerves to be sideways on a hill like this riding a few tons of steel ready to turn over in a good breeze.

FICTION AND FACT FROM SKIP'S ALMANAC OF GARBAGE KNOWLEDGE

Happy "Square Root" day everybody!

Bet you didn't even know such a day existed let alone celebrating it today. This is the 09Th year. The square root of 9 is three (the month), and three times three (the day) is nine. Tricky huh! It only happens nine times each century, and the next one is April 4, 2016. Now, where else are you going to get such junk but from a photographer?

Second day of the third month of the year of the OP

NO SNOW!

I guess my friends up north have gotten enough of that last night and today but we had none. The big southern storm circled around Columbia and there was great glee amongst the school kids to the north, west, and even the southwest of us. Rain to the East and it just circled us for about 12 hours. I'd go to the door every hour or so just to see if we were getting any, but alas to no avail.

It is getting time to go south to visit my favorite rookery. For you city dwellers, that is a place where birds gather to mate, build nests, and have young. The photo today is of one of the most amazing places I have found to photograph. It has been a tourist trap for over a hundred years in St. Augustine, Florida and is the "Alligator Farm". I have actually had young tri-colored herons step on the lens of the camera which I had resting on the railing. You can get that close to them!

http://www.alligatorfarm.us/

As you can see people can virtually interact with the birds and thankfully not the gators which swim below waiting for an errant chick to drop out of the many nests. Can be rather gruesome when that happens. But that is just the way the people act, and not the gators. Much screaming and pleading for someone to interfere with nature. But, everybody gotta eat. I understand that the great egrets have arrived and some of the wood storks. Nest building is going on and of course all kinds of bird frivolity. I hope to make a trip down there around the end of May.

FICTION AND FACT FROM SKIP'S ALMANAC OF GARBAGE KNOWLEDGE

"If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you may live in Alabama." Thank you Jeff Foxworthy

The first day of the third month of the year

I woke up to forty four degree weather and a pretty heavy rain at 7:00 am and they say we will get one to three inches of snow overnight tonight. It's sorta like predicting positive results from the Obama "porkulous package".........I'll believe it when I see it. But just in case, I guess we better go out and stock up on eggs, milk, and toilet paper. In case it really does snow. That's an old Maryland tradition by the way. As a photographer I really do hope it snows. I need to make some images of the south covered in white stuff. Fortunately, I haven't started the victory garden yet and so the cold weather won't hurt any delicate new buds trying to emerge from the primordial ooze.

FICTION N FACT FROM SKIP'S ALMANAC OF GARBAGE KNOWLEDGE

I want to thank my Northern cousin for the following article. She and I are always alternatively vying for the title of the "Lead" black sheep in the herd we call family. Both of us are very proud of our efforts, and do seem to blindly contribute to the general good upon occasion. Right on DD! I have added a couple of my own astonishingly insightful editorial comments just to aggravate a few more people.

THE PROPOSAL

When a company falls on difficult times, one of the things that seems to happen is they reduce their staff and workers. The remaining workers need to find ways to continue to do a good job or risk that their job would be eliminated as well. Wall street, and the media normally congratulate the CEO for making this type of "tough decision", and his board of directors gives him a big bonus.

(Doesn't seem to work that way so much anymore, just look at Jeff Imelt at GE. Stock is at $8.5 down from forty something in the past year alone, yet he still makes $3.3 million a year plus bonus -2008- and he becomes a presidential economic advisor to boot....Oh that'll help.........go figure).

Our government should not be immune from similar risks. Therefore: Reduce the House of Representatives from the current 435 members to 218 members and Senate members from 100 to 50 (one per State). Also reduce remaining staff by 25%.

(We'll probably have to change the constitution to do it, but the staffs could be reduced so that the reps and congresspeople would actually have to work, or at least read a bill or two before they pass it.........Duh!).

Accomplish this over the next 8 years. (two steps / two elections) and of course this would require some redistricting. (Might take longer, but it is the kids and grand kids we're fighting for on this one). Some Yearly Monetary Gains Include: $44,108,400 for elimination of base pay for congress. (267 members X $165,200 pay / member / yr.) $97,175,000 for elimination of the above people's staff. (estimate $1.3 Million in staff per each member of the House, and $3 Million in staff per each member of the Senate every year) $240,294 for the reduction in remaining staff by 25%. $7,500,000,000 reduction in pork barrel ear-marks each year. (those members whose jobs are gone. Current estimates for total government pork earmarks are at $15 Billion / yr.

(Your humble and lovable author also suggests that the Congressional dining room be required to serve only pork product entrees for the next 8 years to serve as a poignant exclamation point.)

The remaining representatives would need to work smarter and would need to improve efficiencies. It might even be in their best interests to work together for the good of our country?

(oxymoron's anyone?).

We may also expect that smaller committees might lead to a more efficient resolution of issues as well. It might even be easier to keep track of what your representative is doing. Congress has more tools available to do their jobs than it had back in 1911 when the current number of representatives was established. (telephone, computers, cell phones to name a few).

(God forbid we actually get involved).

Note:

Congress did not hesitate to head home when it was a holiday, when the nation needed a real fix to the economic problems. (And that right there tells you who the really work for). Also, we have 3 senators that have not been doing their jobs for the past 18+ months (on the campaign trail) and still they all have been accepting full pay. These facts alone support a reduction in senators & congress.

(FLASH EDITORIAL COMMENT........All these current 653 senators and congress people, regardless of party, need to be replaced through the vote and ten year term limits implemented. We need people who realize that they work for us and are not in DC to line their own pockets and/or build their own castles. How stupid is it to have someone over 100 as a representative? Sitten, rockin, n droolin on our dime!).

Summary of the opportunity:

$ 44,108,400 reduction of congress members.
$282,100,000 for elimination of the reduced house member of staff.
$150,000,000 for elimination of reduced senate member staff.
$59,675,000 for 25% reduction of staff for remaining house members.
$37,500,000 for 25% reduction of staff for remaining senate members.
$7,500,000,000 reduction in pork added to bills by the reduction of congress members.

$8,073,383,400 per year , estimated total savings. (that's 8-BILLION just to start!)

Big business does these types of cuts all the time.

(But big government never will).

If Congresspersons were required to serve 20, 25 or 30 years (like everyone else) in order to collect retirement benefits there is no telling how much we would save. Now they get full retirement after serving only ONE term .

(Or maybe just a full ten years as a real term limit and serve it or loose it!)

Sounds like pie in the sky? Well, we Americans are and always have been forward thinkers. Now it seems we have be look to the past for our salvation once again. It's something called the Constitution people! For those with public school educations..........Google it! The above suggestions probably do not comply with the Constitution, but the basic premise of the piece is sound food for thought, and a start! Now you and I have to get busy.

Aren't you all glad I don't have to sit inside on too many rainy days like this one?