The 22nd day of the second month of the year of the owl pellet

Yesterday, we had a chance to go to the zoo. The Riverbanks Zoo and Garden here in Columbia to be precise. We have a new addition to the zoo and his name is Lewis. He is a ten-day-old reticulated giraffe calf and measures approximately 5 feet, 5 inches and weighs 126 pounds. His parents are Sharon and Charlie and he was born on Feb. 9, 2009. This photograph shows Lewis about to get a kiss/lick from dad Charlie, while mom Sharon looks on in the background. We watched this trio for about 40 minutes and I was amazed to see the amount of bonding going on between father and son. Not a real prevalent occurrence in nature. In fact, mom appeared not to be real happy about having the little critter around. He tried to nurse a number of times and she would have none of it. The old man seemed to be telling his son not to worry, that she wouldn't pay any attention to him either.

You think of giraffes as just some tall ungainly animal, eating leaves from the tree-tops in Africa or at zoos around the country. But upon closer inspection, they are extremely powerful as one can see when you look at the musculature on the shoulders and neck. Not to mention that they have a tongue that is about a foot long. Amazing animals! The little guy wasn't moving around much. He seemed to find a spot in the enclosure where the sun was warm and he just hung out until his father started to pester him to move around. There will be many more photos of these guys posted on my site.

http://www.riverbanks.org/mediacenter/releases2009/0203.shtml

21st day of the second month of the year of the owl pellet

Saturday morning, and the temperature was in the twenties. Got over fifty by the time I finished my three miles on the Riverwalk. Now a really nice day and I hope to get out and enjoy it later.

As you can see from today's photo, I am concentrating on old images of the Chesapeake Bay and specifically on the Watermen who work there. Yesterday, I talked about tonging for oysters. Possibly the oldest way to fish for oysters. Late in 1800's, oystermen in New England were running out of product to catch and had to expand or perish. Their alternative was to migrate to the Chesapeake Bay and introduce their oystering boats called skipjacks.

Skipjacks can only fish for oysters. They are dredge boats or as the watermen call them "Drudge" boats. Controversy surrounds everything and the skipjack is no exception. Maryland and Virginia watermen were angry with the introduction of this boat on their turf. They claimed, and rightly so, the dredges tore apart the oyster beds and diminished the long term value of said beds. Claiming that hand tonging was more Eco-friendly, even though back then they had no idea what that term was all about. Well progress won out and the boats became a part of the maritime landscape on the bay. Controversy continued as the skipjack type of fishing took more and more oysters, fights among watermen broke out over territorial fishing grounds. The border between Maryland and Virginia became a critical war zone, and the skipjacks seen there in the early 1900's were more times than not armed to the teeth. Hence, the much remembered "Oyster Wars".

These are not suited for other types of commercial fishing on the bay. With the decline in the availability of oysters, a number of the boats are currently used to take tourists around the bay on Eco tours. The boat was built specifically to be 1/3 as wide as they are long and hence make a wonderfully steady platform from which to work. They generally range from 30 to 60 feet long, fitted with one mast, and something called a push boat. The pushboat is a much smaller boat which holds one large engine. As the name states it is simply used to push this sailing vessel when not under sail. See the one on the stern of the Hilda Willing pictured here. Law prohibits a skipjack from having any power other than a sail unless it is external and hence the pushboat concept. Additional photographs of these boats, the bay, and watermen can be found at my website where I am currently adding some sixty new images.

http://skipwillitsfineartphotography.ifp3.com/

The Chesapeake Bay skipjack fleet is the last commercial sailing fleet in the country, and I believe that I have a photograph of just about all of the remaining boats. So take a look.

The 20th day of the second month of the year or the owl pellet

A few years ago, I had the privilege of photographing the "Watermen" of the Chesapeake Bay. It took about a year to do the whole study and resulted in a couple thousand slides. The term "Watermen or Waterman" is used in the mid-Atlantic region to describe a commercial fisherman. Implied, however, is much more than just a title. It describes a way of life. Fiercely independent people who are among the last true small businessmen in this country. They are self employed for the most part and employ others depending upon their success. They have a big investment in their boats and equipment. Just as important, they are endowed with a vast knowledge of the bay and the critters that live there-in. The photo at the top of this blog is entitled "Tonger's Sunrise". It shows a crew of oyster tongers working on a classic Chesapeake Bay work boat.

Watermen are constantly changing tactics depending upon the time of the year and what type of fish, crab, or shellfish is plentiful, in demand, and in season. The tongs used in the above photo are anywhere from 10 to 20 feet long and are used just like a pair of salad tongs. The watermen develop a "Feel" for the bottom of the bay and they clasp the oysters with the head of the tong, raise it to the boat, and empty it on a culling board where the oysters are separated from the rock and debris. This is strenuous work often done in poor weather and/or rough seas. The better ones, that's more profitable for those of you with a public education, generally work six full days a week.

In the 19Th century, hundreds of thousands of bushels of oysters were harvested annually in the Chesapeake. Today, they are lucky to get fifty thousand bushels a year. Oysters were originally, commercially, harvested by hand with tongs as pictured here. The native Americans were probably the first to harvest this delicacy and likely did so by simply picking them up by hand. In the late 1800's the Skipjack fleet emigrated from New England, introducing a much more productive method of oystering. The virtual end of the Skipjack fleet in the last few years, gave way to mechanical patent tonging rigs. And yes, as the method of harvesting became more efficient.....the supplies of the product declined. Today, oystering on the Chesapeake is not one of the better ways for a Waterman to make a living. Instead of being a primary catch, oysters are now only one of the many different products in the Chesapeake seafood menu.

19th Day of the Second Month of the Year of the Owl Pellet

Spring may be coming, but at a snail's pace. Walked the Riverwalk today for about 2 miles with the temperature in the early sixties and it was delightful. Saw this tree snail. Got to thinking, and that is not always a good sign..........................so!

AN OPEN LETTER OF APOLOGY TO MY GRAND KIDS

Kids, I wish to apologize for the actions of my generation for the debt we have left you to pay.

Our government has just spent almost a trillion dollars that will only stimulate the economy in time for the next election. Our national waste is congress, which spent $180 Billion as a supposed stimulus in the spring of 2008 .... IT FAILED. Our professional politicians in the congress spend $345 billion to bail out the housing problem in the summer of 2008 ....IT FAILED. This congress passed a $700 billion Wall street bailout in the fall of 2008 ....IT FAILED. Let's see that makes a total of over 2.25 trillion dollars all to be paid by your generation. Now they want you to pay the mortgage's of nine million people who can't or won't pay them on their own. Of course the other 91 million mortgages seem to get paid by hard working people. So we need to pay for the losers. Thank you Barny Frank, another loser!

The president spoke to the public yesterday and used the term "Crisis" over 25 times in one speech. This government needs and thrives of public pessimism for the realization of their own objectives. So much for hope!

There are currently over five million people out of work because the media has been screaming recession for eight years and has finally gotten their wish. Often recessions feed upon themselves because of a negative media. Even though the economics may tell another story. The media needs public pessimism so that their chosen politicians end up looking good. Is this a great country or what?

Oil prices per barrel are going to historic lows, but gas prices are going up. And this is the world we leave you. But, because Mexico is on the verge of imploding you may not have to worry about it. If Mexico goes down , we will be inundated with people trying to escape, not to mention the drug dealers and terrorists. The result of another FAILED government policy favoring open borders. I love you guys very much and am very embarrassed by those of us who sit here and let all this stuff to happen.

Your grandfather is a Capitalist! Because your schools probably have not taught you the meaning of that term, I will. It means that I believe in the market place without government intrusion. As demand for a product goes up, so does it's price. And vice verse. If a product is of no value to the public, it will not sell, a profit is not made, and the company goes out of business. Yep, that's right............produce or die. Yes, profit is not a bad word. It is a six letter word and not four. Sorry, Prince Harry Reid, Queen Pelosi, and Mr. President. I still respect the office, unlike the media who beats up on all republican presidents. Profit and loss is what drives the economy of this country, not government.

Being a Capitalist means you have to be creative in making a product people actually want to buy. You have to be creative in finding a way to sell your product. And finally you need to find a way to get your product to your customer. And you have to do all this so that you have enough money left over to support yourself, your family, and whatever charity to which you choose to contribute. If you product is popular enough, you will have to hire other people to help you. And that kids is the real engine that has driven this country for over 200 years. Small business is the mother's milk of this economy. Na, Na,Nana, Na........ Ms Pelosi!

The only problem Kids, is that our generation is allowing a government to virtually destroy the capitalist principle. This is nothing more than a massive attempt to restructure American Society. I am truly sorry you did not have a real chance to taste what this country was really all about.

Those currently in power think it is unfair to people who choose not to follow the road to self sufficiency. They prefer government support for those who would rather follow the yellow brick road to find the phony behind the screen.

17TH DAY OF THE SECOND MONTH OF THE YEAR OF THE OWL PELLET

Returned from three days at Charleston, SC and I can tell you for a fact that the "Recession" does not exist down there. OK, it's a destination town where there is allot of business travel and the annual SEWE (South Eastern Waterfowl Festival) was held Friday through Sunday. But the streets were full, gift shops and galleries busy, and we still had to make reservations for dinner. I saw a number of my friends and photography colleagues at the waterfowl show and they seemed to be selling OK, but certainly not breaking any records. You can see from the photo that the horse and buggy business was very good as well. I shot about four hundred images and there will be more news coming regarding the photography.

I was asked what the "Year of the Owl Pellet" blog title was all about. Instead of just referring you back to day one where it is defined, I will bring you up to date. The first picture I took this year was of an owl pellet. BUT, metaphorically it is much more than that.

An owl pellet is what remains after an owl has dined, on say a mouse. The owl then regurgitates the bones, hide, and other indigestible parts. Hence the pellet.

Metaphorically, Washington makes me feel like an owl pellet and that is why I call it the "Year of". Perhaps, you do as well. Those people take all the digestable parts and leave us with virtually nothing. Oh, yeah you can say they spend our money for what is needed to maintain our society. Not! But we both would be lying to ourselves. Congress just passed the biggest socialist spending, that's right "Spending not stimulus" bill in the history of the world, planet, solar system. Hey, it's our money they're spending or have we forgotten? On top of that insult, the empty suits have the audacity to fly to Denver to sign it. They go there to promote not only "The bill" but also the global warming issue by signing it in front of a solar panel company. Do you think these geniuses care that the fuel alone to fly the Air Force One out there, is more than one citizen uses in 30 years. Talk about invironmental impact. Hello, are there any live brain cells still left out there?

This the eleventh day of the second month of the year of the owl pellett

I am still working on new additions to the photo stock on the website and ran across a couple of images and a funny story about one of them. Well, at least I think it's funny and since I don't really want to "Rant" two days in a row I thought I would lighten up a bit. Not all the way as you will see, but at least on a frivolous note.


Commercial fishermen on the Chesapeake Bay are called "watermen". I guess for lack of a better term but that's what we have called them for a millennium or so. They are a fiercely independent bunch carving out a gradually diminishing living on the countries largest estuary. For the most part they are men (that's changing though) and they do work on the water. They catch most fish that swim in the bay as well as crabs, clams, and a few oysters. One of the most fruitful products of their labor is fishing for, catching, and shipping soft clams or manano. The clam is actually one of the biggest money producers for the watermen and is much sought after. Hence, the clam is known pretty much known throughout the mid-Atlantic region and New England to where most of them are shipped. The local folks just take them for granted as something that grows in the bay and provides some with an income and some others with tasty treats. Sorry Peta!

The Clam rigs are expensive running over a hundred thousand dollars when all is said and done. Therefore, waterman such as Jimmy Black of Rock Hall, MD have to work very hard just to make ends meet. However, they are their own boss and are the epitome of small business in this country. They like me can't apply for unemployment either....OK, enough! Now, for the real rant.

I am the only living photographer, that I know, who has been banned from showing his work at BWI (Thats the old name) Airport in Baltimore, MD. The Photo on the top of this page was one of many pictures purchased by an agency in New York City to provide images for above the ticket counters at the airport. They took this little image and enlarged it to four feet by sixteen feet long! Had to use some mirrors and stuff, but it was big and I was proud! Not to mention the nice check which accompanied the whole deal.

Now in comes the political correctness. Someone complained about the image and the airport caved. It had to come down. Well, I did get paid and gave them another one which was less controversial. I did ask for a press release as to why it was removed, but to no avail. I won't bore you dear reader with the reasoning behind the objection, but suffice to say a lady thought it was too delicate to show in public. She must not have been familiar with the industry or just had never seen an aroused clam before! Off to do a shoot in Charleston and be back over the week-end.

The tenth day of the second month of the year of the owl pellett

It's been ten or eleven days since I last put the technological pen to ethereal paper. Each year as my children age, it seems harder and harder for me to shake a cold. There is nothing at all "COMMON" about my common cold. After all it is MINE.....Jeeeeeeeeez. New drugs and lots of them still don't make me feel any better and at the risk of whining (let alone spelling it right), I have watched enough television so as to be bleeding from my eyes. It seems that no amount of sleep, rest, drugs, complaining or the Obama administration can cure this thing. It is getting better, so I guess Obama's speech in St. Petersburg, Fla is having it's effect. When my parents were alive (Bless Them), they lived in that grey city, with its big grey cars, and little grey people driving them. Couldn't see over the dash board. I'm sorry but I am a capitalist. A not so wealthy one, but I am a self employed capitalist. One guy wanted Obama to pay for his unemployment because it was not as much as he was making when he was working. Duh! That's why it's called unemployment. Another wanted him to Ensure (that's an old people's drink isn't it?) that she get a new car and a kitchen. They loved him! Are you people all NUTS? Another (college student, which answers my question right there) could not understand why the Govt. did not make sure that his unemployed and pregnant girlfriend did not have better benefits from "his" job at Mickey Dee's. The guy at the top of this page has got to be really questioning what it was he fought for. I guess that I will just have to take my self employed butt over and get me some unemployment!