Trump Economic Breakdown

Your Excellency, Mr. President,

We watched the report of your conversation with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, with fear and distaste. We find it insulting that you expect Ukraine to show respect and gratitude for the material assistance provided by the United States in its fight against Russia. Gratitude is owed to the heroic Ukrainian soldiers who shed their blood in defense of the values of the free world. They have been dying on the front lines for more than 11 years in the name of these values and the independence of their homeland, which was attacked by Putin’s Russia.

We do not understand how the leader of a country that symbolizes the free world cannot recognize this.

Our alarm was also heightened by the atmosphere in the Oval Office during this conversation, which reminded us of the interrogations we endured at the hands of the Security Services and the debates in Communist courts. Prosecutors and judges, acting on behalf of the all-powerful communist political police, would explain to us that they held all the power while we held none. They demanded that we cease our activities, arguing that thousands of innocent people suffered because of us. They stripped us of our freedoms and civil rights because we refused to cooperate with the government or express gratitude for our oppression. We are shocked that President Volodymyr Zelensky was treated in the same manner.

The history of the 20th century shows that whenever the United States sought to distance itself from democratic values and its European allies, it ultimately became a threat to itself. President Woodrow Wilson understood this when he decided in 1917 that the United States must join World War I. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt understood this when, after the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, he resolved that the war to defend America must be fought not only in the Pacific but also in Europe, in alliance with the nations under attack by the Third Reich.

We remember that without President Ronald Reagan and America’s financial commitment, the collapse of the Soviet empire would not have been possible. President Reagan recognized that millions of enslaved people suffered in Soviet Russia and the countries it had subjugated, including thousands of political prisoners who paid for their defense of democratic values with their freedom. His greatness lay, among other things, in his unwavering decision to call the USSR an “Empire of Evil” and to fight it decisively. We won, and today, the statue of President Ronald Reagan stands in Warsaw, facing the U.S. Embassy.

Mr. President, material aid—military and financial—can never be equated with the bloodshed in the name of Ukraine’s independence and the freedom of Europe and the entire free world. Human life is priceless; its value cannot be measured in money. Gratitude is due to those who sacrifice their blood and their freedom. This is self-evident to us, the people of Solidarity, former political prisoners of the communist regime under Soviet Russia.

We call on the United States to uphold the guarantees made alongside Great Britain in the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, which established a direct obligation to defend Ukraine’s territorial integrity in exchange for its relinquishment of nuclear weapons. These guarantees are unconditional—there is no mention of treating such assistance as an economic transaction.

Signed,

Lech Wałęsa, former political prisoner, President of Poland

Graduation!

Photo: © Stan Banos

This is the first photo I've successfully edited in 'adult' PS after reading about one third of the Scott Kelby PS manual (videos only get me so far). I had first edited it in PSE about a year ago and the resulting image was, in a word... awful- not because PSE was so utterly lacking, but because of my pathetic color sense! I'm sure someone with considerably more experience could do the present result even better, but this version is night and day of my previous, trust me- it was so bad I'm embarrassed to post a Before/After. I can usually get color balance in the general neighborhood, but sometimes it's like that part of my brain leaves without notice and I'm left with something completely foreign to both sight and common sense. 

Well, I'm hoping it's satisfactory- particularly since I also had to get a new monitor calibrator, and after several tries and retries to get it right on first attempt, and failing miserably... I just decided to tweak it 'manually' after the fact until my library best mirrored their previous results- at least as I best remember! My previous calibration was in sync with a few prints I had commercially made with no problem, so I can only conclude it was on point or fairly damn close- and that the 'legacy' hopefully carries on... 

Looking forward to studying more of the manual and select videos, especially looking forward to using gradient masks for the sky! And being able to edit more in RAW and as a 16, as opposed to 8 bit TIFF will help relieve the banding I sometimes experienced in skies previous. Of course, this will all take more time than I currently have (why I had originally planned to do in retirement), but getting up for the challenge. One thing's for sure, I ain't gonna mess with no LR until then! I opened it up just to take a look, accidentally clicked on something or other, and next thing I knew it had reorganized one of my folders into it's own distinct filing system which took me a good hour to suss out and (re)reorganize. I gotta separate manual for that too- but one headache atta time!

SHAMELESS!

If you saw any of the Oval Office Debacle, I need not describe just how downright low and despicable Trump and Vance were in that scripted, tag team beat down, attempting to belittle the man trying to save the lives of his countrymen from the likes of the wanton serial killer next door who just happens to be Trump's best bud.

Why does everyone associated with Trump have to be a sycophant, FOX News talking head (excuse the redundancy) or misogynist? Tell me the Tate Bros recent arrival on our shores has nothing to do with POTUS! The Tates are proud, self-described misogynists with a history of sex crimes in several countries- and, of course, rabid Trump supporters......

It Always Does...

     It always does...            Photo: © Stan Banos

Scary Shit!

These unvetted, uninvestigated teens have access to your info, my info... Everyone's Info- And answer to no one,
While quietly destroying the very agency set up to protect us.

Temporary Change Of Address...

That is to say, today's post is featured on a different venue! Enjoy the change in scenery while yours truly downloads photo-editing software,* starts the beleaguering process of viewing an endless array of You Tube tutorials on Photoshop and Lightroom (having ordered and thus awaiting respective manuals on each), only to begin what will no doubt be a years' long process of delving into the labyrinthine intricacies of each. Or should I say, trying how to most effectively avoid involvement with as much of either as possible...

*Hopefully, they will download and operate properly unlike the last time.

The Photo Edit Blues (Cont)...

So... I made my peace getting PSE 2025 until retirement scheduled for end of year when I would have time to graduate to PS and/or LR. That was the plan, remained the plan, until... PSE 2025 started acting up from jump! Long story short, program would freeze solid after 1/2 hr of use and it would open some DNG files in RAW, and not others... WTF!?! Support then updated a driver- which didn't fix a thing. 

So... called again and am told my files are damaged or corrupted- can't possibly be program. Of course, never, ever had these problems before PSE 2025! Both my older and most recent DNG files (from same card in same camera) can open in RAW one day, can't open in RAW the next, if they are now "damaged," as claimed- pretty obvious what damaged them!!! Not possible, I'm told. Then explain how possible!!! Cause what you're saying clearly doesn't make sense...

So... after being given the distinct impression that I'd be grasping at straws if the updated driver didn't fix the freezing, after refusing to even address that something else (like the program itself) might be amiss (rather than 'corrupted' files)- I told 'em to just give me my damn money back! Agreed- now, how'd I like to purchase the entire PS package!? Well, uhm, what kind of discount would I get for my trials and tribulations? Ten bucks per month for PS and LR- essentially, half price. 

So... WTF! Here we go- not one, but at least two programs, each thirty times more complex than PSE... what could possibly go wrong?!? Download this weekend, master the 10% of each I'll end up using round about when seventy-five (assuming I get there)...

With Friends Like...

Leaked copy of Trump "peace proposal" would be more punitive (to Ukraine!) than the Treaty of Versailles was to Germany!!!

And then there's... "BIG BALLS!"

PS- And as the video brings out- Less than 1% of the Federal Budget goes to foreign aid (not 25%).

What's that? You still haven't stopped laughing about the nuclear guys they fired!
I hear ya!

Two Phenomenal Photo Books

At this point in life, I'd feel perfectly fine leaving it at that. These are two books I would have instantly bought last century, when photobooks weren't as plentiful and I had an avid thirst to get my hands on as much quality material as I could afford. Make no doubt, these are two splendid efforts, rife with imaginatively composed images to ponder and consider- images that inspire! Failing by Mike Brodie falls along the line of the personal, on the road kinda epic; while Look At The USA: A Diary Of War And Home by Peter Van Agtmael is more the journalistic effort that covers the "War on Terror" on the battlefield, as well as the ongoing political scene back home. That said, both photographers are highly capable and creative image makers* that leave us all with exemplary photos to remember, moments of life to contemplate...

*(almost said "story tellers," which certainly wouldn't be wrong here, just that it's the most overused term most recently... overused).

Happy Valentine's Day!

Photo: © Stan Banos

Addendum: OK, OK... this is just an image I stumbled upon, folks! Admittedly, not the greatest photo ever taken- just a humble snap worthy of a quick look and a laugh... It does not necessarily reflect the views of the author.* I'm all for L-O-V-E! Something we all need more of these days when being outwardly mean, vindictive and downright cruel is routinely reinforced and... rewarded.

*And now that ya'll got me to thinking: for the record, also not into leather and S&M, or vandalism and theft either... not that there's anything necessarily wrong with that- at least for the former.

So... That's Why!

I love how Trump said that none of what Elon is doing with the federal government could possibly profit him in any way- course not! Why condemn altruism in its highest form? And why, oh why, go after something from jump that accounts for less than 1% of federal government spending?

DRAIN THAT SWAMP!!!

Twenty-six Houses Along Waldeggstrasse

I've always had a special (little) place for... special little photo books. And Otto Hainnzl's effort, Twenty-six Houses Along Waldeggstrasse, is the latest to draw my attention  It's raison d'être is simple, but intriguingly so, least to my mind- and eyes! Enjoy...

Software Solution(s)

FWIW, after much soul searching and deep rooted meditation, I've decided to stick to the original gameplan... That is, having now reacquainted myself, I will continue with the latest juvenile reincarnation of PSE for the remainder of my F/T employment (till end of year), it's latest formulation runs $100 for 3 yrs- yes, even that is now by subscription. Then, when I actually have the time and peace of mind, I will test the waters of both LR and C1; I actually look forward to trying both out in a relaxed manner, and then proceed from there- right now, waaay too many fish to fry before that eventful time. This is a pretty stressful period in life with: financial, health, parental and housing concerns all clashing for top billing, while still attending to my F/T occupation. So, I'm really quite anxious for the time when things are (hopefully) settled enough for me to indulge myself in both the above. It'll be interesting to discover which of the two I settle on after serious testing- or, if I'll continue to avoid 'adult responsibility!'

Addendum: And I still haven't properly(?) calibrated my monitor- so I just further fine tune it after the fact to the point where it mimics what I had previous. I have to assume it was OK before since I did get a coupla commercially made prints made, and they mirrored my results...

Trump X2

Well, certainly no shortage of Trumpian grand blunders, boners and BS to report! Nothing even vaguely humorous with these two however. How long before we hear of despicably deplorable conditions in which immigrants are detained in Guantanamo?

Oh, and uhh... stealing and occupying the Gaza Strip (using US troops)... Nothing but blue skies and sunshine for all regarding that one- Guaranteed (said with French Canadian accent- no, make it Cajun)! Hopefully, it's just more of the endless supply of meaningless, nonsensical shit that pours out his mouth... otherwise, he's gonna find himself neck deep in it- not that he'd ever take responsibility. And, of course, no one's bothered to ask the Palestinians who live in and own it, but heck, no reason they shouldn't be amenable...

The guy couldn't run a coupla casinos in Atlantic City, but he's gonna create the... Mideast Riviera! Just think how many tourists and high rollers are gonna flock on in and spread the wealth once the terrorist attacks, kidnappings and bombings commence- after years of all out counter insurgency/guerilla warfare...

6:20! - 6:20! - 6:20!

 This is idiocy, stupidity and just plain insanity rolled into one- and its name is... TRUMP!

Seriously, in a sane world, this would not be allowed to exist.

And if the joke wasn't on us- it'd be funny as hell!

Digital Dyslexia

I'll spare you the concurrent woes of my dental, parental and prostate woes- cause who the freak wants to hear it! So...

After ten or so years, it was time to replace ye ol' desktop- especially since Windows 11 would no longer be supported on it. So I got me a sleek, little Dell at a good price, uploaded my battle weary PS Elements 9 on it and- Boom, lights out! He just wasn't getting up... Lugged it over to the Amazon return center (as instructed), where I was curtly told they wouldn't accept it- could only return to UPS! This was after the repair man never showed, as scheduled. I'll spare you the details of the Amazon return and Dell repair phone calls- let's just say I indubitably made it unto two more training recordings...

I calibrated my monitor on the new, new desktop with a new Datacolor Spyder (my old Spyder 4 also wouldn't take to W11) and it's not quite the same... brightness, color and contrast a bit off, so do I adjust incrementally on my monitor- and have everyone else in the world adjust accordingly? Was it wrong before and right now, or vice versa?!? Or does it all even out in the long run? Damned if I know, so I'm corresponding with Mr. Datacolor Customer Service in Switzerland as to what to make of it.  Meanwhile, Windows 11 has moved everything around enough to make it that much harder to find and locate anything, as any proper update should do- and now for The Biggest Wrench in the whole shebang... what photo editing software do I now proceed with? 

The plan was to get (and learn) a serious, adult photo editing software (as opposed to my juvenile Elements version of Photoshop) upon retirement end of this year when I actually have the time and calmness of mind. Curious how many a photographer complains how overly complex camera menus are- but never a word about ever so much more complex photo editing software!?! I don't need more than1/10 of 'em, can't understand more than 1/10 of 'em, can't bear to look at any more than 1/10 of any of 'em, and yet, I'm cornered into procuring something so utterly complex and exorbitantly priced! Lightroom seems the current tried and true, but apparently not all that good with Fujifilm files; Capture One does Fuji best but either one is akin to learning a foreign language. The latter has a free, more moderately featured program specifically for Fuji I've yet to try (for fear of proving my ineptitude even with the simpler program), but I'd still need something for my Q and GR files. Which means I'll probably go back (at least in the meantime) to using the latest, greatest version of PS Elements. I just got a free trial for a week, and that has changed so much in the intervening years (surprise!), I hardly recognize it and will have to retrain on that as well! And speaking of free trials- let's hear it for those three figure, yearly subscription rates, paid updates and renewal increases...

But why limit myself!? Afterall, there's: Affinity, Luminar Neo, Darktable, GIMP, DXO Photolab 8, Raw Therapee and on and on it goes... a veritable, never ending chain of intricate, labyrinthine interfaces each more brazenly convoluted and byzantine than the former. And my tiny, pea sized cranium short circuits each and every time I just glance at a distance. Mercy! I am truly gobsmacked by these photo editing marvels who can master any of the above to create images of such precision and wonder. And I'm left wondering, how did I ever create any images worth viewing with my paltry peasant's knowledge of a handful of the most basic of tools and workflows- which is all I freaking need! Don't need AI this and that, don't need to detach and replace people's heads, don't need vectoring gradient layer masks... I thought I might be able to logically, scientifically deduce which program would best suit my needs by reading the reviews, viewing the tutorials, listing the pros and cons in order of importance, value and ease. Instead, I surrender (yet again) with a migraine wishing 'em all into the cornfield. The Joy of Photography!

Travelin' Shoes

Forget the politics, this is exactly why moving elsewhere (other than the USA) sure does seem attractive 
any ol' time...

Trump Blames DC Crash On Diversity

Yes, of course, this crash can only be blamed on DEI, that is clearly self evident for all to see- seems the Biden admin purposely installed those affected with "severe intellectual and/or emotional disabilities" in charge of things like... air traffic control- simply for the sake of diversity! Can you believe it- can anyone? More on FOX News...

So, if we're keeping count- Trump got rid of the pandemic response team in his first term (that didn't have any consequences), and he's now gotten rid of the air safety committee in his second...

Addendum: And it gets crazier still...

Watching The Tide Turn...

And this is the man the previous two videos were referencing. If you doubt Jake Barber's veracity, listen to what Dr. Gary Nolan (premier Stanford immunologist) has to say about his character- and the serious health consequences he incurred in carrying out his mission.

Equally amazing in the three videos presented is how these special ops, military he-men practically transform into peace loving, we are all connected hippies when describing the transformation they experienced when making contact with these craft.