Review And Resist!

I'm still reeling, seething from the disgusting, despicable display of conduct unbecoming of any human being of any age, sex or social stature thrust upon us via Trumpland today! I am, of course, talking about Pam Bondi the US AG who was bribed and bought while still working in Florida by one Donald Trump, and who makes the lowest thief, cheat and traitor combined in the entire history of humanity stand tall and proud in comparison. Of all the people in this cowardly, sycophantic administration devoid of a human soul, she alone by sheer force of will rises to most worthy of debasement, torture and eventual dismemberment.

Now- on to the camera equipment review... 

Recently bought a Godox iT32 shoe mount strobe for my Fujifilms, and it works like a charm- a little (it's surprisingly small, roughly the size of my Ricoh GR), dedicated TTL flash unit with separate camera dedicated magnetic mounts also enabling off camera operation! It has a host of manual/automatic, on camera/off camera features- but I want it mostly for direct sunlight fill flash. I got it on a Saturday morning just before I was to cover a protest, and didn't think I'd have a chance to sift through its multiplicity of operations to deftly use it just for fill, almost left it home. Nevertheless, I turned it on, scrolled upwards as directed on its back screen, and Boom- first stop... TTL mode! And it worked flawlessly* the entire afternoon... 

Photo: © Stan B.**

I wish I could say the same for my Fujifilm X-T1/2 cameras. After losing one too many photos due to their abhorrent, literally non existent AF, I will now switch to MF when using them. It's tedious, outrageous and rage inducing, but I really have little choice. In the long run, I'll end up losing more photos if I continue to use their nonfunctional AF, as opposed to manually focusing my subjects the slow, methodical OG way! Hell, did it for decades with analog and film, and if I could learn to shoot and compose with my right eye after decades of being a left eye shooter (when I got my floaters), I'll gradually if very grudgingly adapt to it again- with many a loud, choice cussword along the way (hopefully, not within earshot of my subjects)...

*Check to see compatibility with particular camera brand and models- with possible exception of Fujifilm, seems to work only with latest brand models (Leica version supposedly coming soon- hope it works with original Q).

**Yeah, don't usually like smiley pictures much, but kinda partial to this one. I'd show others but anything else that came close was outta freakin' focus despite being incredibly well lit! Actually, doubt such a small strobe had much effect at that distance from the subject- just needed something positive to look at after the Bondi madness and revulsion...

Not A Fan- A Supporter!

I'm not a fan of Bad Bunny's music (mostly an age thing)- but I am a genuine supporter of Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio! He's a beautiful human being, so positively proud of our tiny 30 X 100 mile island, its people and its culture. An island so small and widely ignored that the President tediously threw paper towels at its inhabitants in their hour of need; a people so disparaged, that we were said to hail from "an island of garbage" by a supporter in that same President's last election. This is a man so vilified by the MAGA hateful for posting the signs: “The only thing more powerful than hate, is love” and “Together, We Are America.”

The ultimate irony being that an official alternative was created and offered utilizing an aging performer who sang about doing girls, a performer singing and rejoicing about the same accusations the President himself so desperately continues to hide...

So... This Changes Everything, Right?

Everyone who didn't know Trump was an avowed, dyed in the wool racist before is now fully awoke, aware and in full condemnation mode- Right?!? They just weren't sure before, and people (like myself) are always trying to demonize him. Or... hey, it's just a meme, it really doesn't mean anything, so... "stop the fake outrage!" 

I can already visualize Republican legislators silently, walk/running past reporters' questions in the halls of Congress in their heads down defensive posture. Can already hear the half apologetic, totally incredulous excuses by the few corralled in some wayward corner of a Capitol hallway, the self righteous and indignant denials by the FOX talking heads...

But we had no reason whatsoever to believe he was racist before- just like we have no reason to believe he's a pedophile...

PS- I wonder why such a sue happy kinda guy doesn't-sue-'Katie Johnson'* for saying such horrible things?!? Hhmmm...

*full video

The Grand Experiment Is Over.

If you ever wondered what it's like to live under fascism, as have I (being an amateur student of the history marking the beginning of 20th. century Europe), we in America no longer have to. This is not hyperbole- if the Commander-in-Chief gets his wish that the (Republican) federal government should directly control national elections (particularly in those states he does not control politically), there is no longer any debate or even the slightest lingering doubt that we no longer live in a "democratic republic." This will not be partisan control of an election, it will be outright, one man, autocratic control- one bona fide dictatorship... and he is beginning to orchestrate it in full view via Georgia!  Gone are the days when anyone (incl myself) could fairly accurately decry that Dems & Repubs are two sides of the same coin- the feckless Dems have seemingly willed themselves off said coin. 

The mask is off- except for those worn by our anonymous 'law enforcers.' Our First Amendment already lies mortally wounded, as we can now be placed on an official terrorist watchlist simply for watching/documenting said 'law enforcers' in action (funny how even the reliably, vociferous multitudes of 2nd Amendment activists who helped empower this now blatantly obvious dictator were completely silent for the first time in memory when one of their armed believers was recently shot down in cold blood by said agents). Does anyone still really think he will now only arrest (or kill) the Brown people he detests? 

Unless stopped, Trump will control national elections- a complete violation of and direct attack on the US Constitution (the very institution so many of his supporters claim to hold so dear- without even a passing familiarity with its most basic tenets). Some of his supporters may not like the term "dictator," but that is who they actively serve- and the rest of us must defy!

"Sexy And Cute Brazilian 9 Yr Old!"

Yeah, and there's plenty more SICK SHIT GALORE in... the highly redacted, 'PG' 50% of the Epstein Files we're allowed to see (so there can't possibly be even worse stuff in the Verboten 50% we're not allowed to gander)! Torture, pedophilia, talk of bodies and purloined newborns- a world wide emporium fitted to your sickest thoughts and desires. This was a whole lot larger and a whole lot worse than anyone imagined- Donnie's Bestie was running an international scale, juvenile use 'em and lose 'em flesh emporium.

But not to worry folks, Donnie's people, as well as Donnie J himself, have proclaimed that there is NOTHING worth examining, NOTHING worth investigating- so don't y'all go worryin' your perty little heads... Ya hear!?

Retirement Reset

Photos: © Stan B.

After a week of weather, followed by a week of... jury duty, I could finally get back to this thing called "Retirement." And a lovely thing it is! I still look in the mirror sometimes, only to see the reflection of a laughing fool- no superiors, no deadlines, no responsibilities other than to myself... and it only took seventy years! 

I started jumping on various trains on our MUNI (commuter train) system, riding to The Last Stop- no, I have neither the talent nor intention of doing a San Francisco equivalent, but it felt great getting out and hitting the pavement under an unusually warm January sun- even for NorCal. I started casually exploring great swaths of the city I was not all that familiar with, camera and cigar in hand- and it felt... great! Walking about the outer environs of what is still (ironically) perhaps America's most beautiful city- despite the mortal wound still festering in its downtown. And thinking myself still the thirty year old I long since ceased to be, I proceeded to walk hour after hour, hill after hill, until I felt a stiffness in my left knee- which turned into a discernible limp by the time I got home. Blew out my knee in just two days! Swollen, stiff with (thankfully) minor pain, I figured a good week before back to normal- that was two weeks ago. Revised prognosis- a good month, month and a half... Particularly taking into account, that I've also been documenting a protest or two (at somewhat lower speed) in the interim, with more to come- the one and only good thing about Trump, increased protest photo-ops...

Moderation- the new North Star!

When in the Burbs...

The Fix-Is-In!!!

Anyway ya look at it- preparations are now underway! Whether they rig it, highjack it or just take it at the point of a gun... The Midterms are gonna be one screwed up, f'd up, scam a la mode- thanks to the PDF in Chief who knows full well he's speeding down the loser's shit slide of his own making. And this is scary shit, folks- Banana Republic Shit. The (non)official start of a year long, full fledge, pedal to the metal, rig this motherfucker in your face! Even crazier than Cray-Cray Sydney P is back in town... 'nuff said!

How Much Is Your Life Worth?

The Environmental Protection Agency previously set the price of a human life at $11.7 Million dollars. Interesting figure. The current Trump EPA has changed that value to $0.00. Very interesting...

For Those Who Doubt...

 The Truth Will Set You Free!

Where's The NRA!?!

So, yet another public execution by anonymous, untrained thugs! At least six freakin' assholes surround and proceed to beat the shit out of Alex Pretti because they are totally clueless on how to restrain someone when he's literally on his back- and failing to do so, proceed to shoot his ass dead for no good reason! 

Where's the NRA?!? Are they going to rush in to defend the deceased; ya know- stand your ground, Second Amendment, blah, blah, blah... Are they sending in their members and supporters to protest and protect?!?

The Silence is Deafening!

Domestic Terrorists!

TERRORIZING!

I've Never Asked Before...

I have NEVER asked for funding, fees or donations of any kind on this blog. So please, hear me out. I am now in the process of setting up a Go Fund Me for the express purpose of allowing me to join the President's newly forming... Board of Peace. I think everyone here knows that I've been a rather strident advocate for peace throughout my life- both here on the ol' blog, as well as in every other endeavor in life... Needless to say, being on this board would allow me unprecedented opportunities to help promote and expand world peace! And it's high time that we finally had an actual organization where member nations and participants could meet, regularly and in times of emergency to discuss and work out world problems on a world stage. Only President Trump could have thought of such an ingeniously innovative enterprise; if enough money is raised we could even construct a uniquely designed building that, given time, would itself become an iconic symbol synonymous with- the unity of nations!

I come to you with this urgent plea so that I can cover the cost of admission which our President has set at a most reasonable $1,000,000,000- so you can see my urgency in reaching out. President Trump has assured everyone that he will be personally involved in the collection and allocation of said monies- that alone should more than assure all involved that the very thought of the usual graft, corruption and non-delivery of services so often involved when money meets politics will clearly not be an issue here!

Of course, I'll also have some complementary swag to give out (dependent on size of contribution), including: hats, sneakers, watches, commemorative coins, NFT's, and I should have a steak or two left in the fridge somewhere's... For every contribution of $1,000,000- you can write your own post right here at Based On A True Story (accompanying photo/illustration, $500,000 additional). And I want to express my gratitude in advance to everyone for your continued support...

Thank you for your attention to this matter!

Seriously- Who's Deranged!?

I know some think me suffering from TDS, but (along with the several other million actually paying attention) the fact is- we are currently in the hands of a megalomaniac with the emotional maturity of a toddler and the intellectual prowess of a fourteen year old who has now leap frogged into full fledged dementia! How much longer will it take, how much worse does it need get before some adult(s) somewhere declare the obvious and initiate a corrective course of action before this demented egotist sells us out of home, country and well being? He has already proclaimed that "Considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize... I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace..." Currently, we can put however many troops we want in Greenland- he just wants to officially add it to his real estate empire! Pure... EGO! And Canada, and Columbia, and... 

This Is... INSANITY!!!

It's not funny anymore!!! This guy is heading us straight into a major global catastrophe: war, world pariah status, financial collapse- an unprecedented combination thereof that will make the Covid days seem like the Good Ol' Days of Fortune, Mirth and Plenty! Wake The Fuck Up, America!!!

And Europe- Appeasement Did NOT Work In The '30s... and it ain't gonna work now! Please, awaken The Sleeping Giant- too many of us are somnambulating along thinking things will settle out on their own, they always do given time... NOT when there's a sleeping dementia patient at the wheel who couldn't steer straight on his best day! You alerted us before- time to do it again... we have truly lost our way here. 

Alert citizenry should've Amendment 25'd his fat, petulant ass back when he swore (incessantly) to anyone who would, or wouldn't listen, that he had more people at his inauguration than Obama. That was his first hysterical proclamation as POTUS to the world at large that he was, without doubt- Out of His Ever Lovin' Mind... without parallel, precedent, or the slightest clue whatsoever! And it shoulda been his last...

Happy Holiday!

Unless you live in CA, you can't get into a US National Park for free this MLK Holiday (or Juneteenth)- nope, gonna have to wait for Trump's B'day for that! Of course, there are those that will insist that the decision to stop that tradition has nothing whatsoever to do with racism, the 35% of the US population who insist that Renee Good was deliberately trying to run down the masked gunman who shot her four times point blank as he broke protocol and stood facing her car while she tried to drive away upon being accused of blocking traffic, the same 35% who believe anything and everything out of Herr Donald's mouth that is (or isn't) slurred and semi-intelligible when not resting his eyes. The same 35% who believe that none of this is the least bit racist whatsoever... 

Dr. King, a staunch advocate of non-violence all his life, was also accused of being a wanton criminal, terrorist and worst; I'm reminded of that in Renee Good's last words (to ICE) on earth, "It's OK, I'm not mad at you." The masked gunman who murdered Renee Good in public with four shots point blank is then heard saying, "Fuckin' Bitch!" before hastily and illegally driving off, departing the crime scene he himself created...

Last Stop- Brian Rose

Recently got my copy of Last Stop by Brian Rose, been a fan since I discovered what will probably always remain my favorite work by him, The Lost Border- with Four Seasons Total Landscaping, a brilliantly conceived, executed (and printed) visual testimony to the area surrounding Mr. Giuliani's errant Four Season debacle not far behind. Mr. Rose is a documentary photographer with a knack for making said work rise above the mere documentary more often than not. The idea of riding the NY subway to its very ends is not a new one to photographers [I don't recall the name(s)], but this is certainly the best effort I can recall. New York City is separated into five distinct boroughs- Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Manhattan and the Bronx. Of course, most people associate NYC with Manhattan, while Brooklyn and Queens are on Long Island (Queens alone is five times the size of Washington, DC), the Bronx the only borough on the mainland and Staten Island, well, I think the rest of NYC thinks it's really part of New Jersey. But I digress... 

New York is far from beautiful, but it obviously has its allure. Rose captures much of its architectural distinctiveness, and when you go to its very end(s), you discover just how truly diverse NYC really is in terms of topography, culture, history and ethnicity. The results speak for themselves, and BTW, although safety considerations are always exaggerated, it does take a particular bit of... nerve to go about the ends of NY, camera gear in tow...

Best price, here; And if you're not doing anything on the 21st, there's an online interview with Mr. Rose- you can sign on for it, free... here!

Jill Freedman

Jill was one of my very first inspirations- never knew she was such a cut up!!!

But I got the fuckin' picture, I got that picture- and it is a winner, isn't it? 
Yes, it is Jill- Yes, it is!

500 Years of History...

 "... you know, the fact that they had a boat land there 500 years ago doesn’t mean that they own the land.” -Donnie J.

Imagine, just imagine if Mr. Trump had the slightest acquaintance with history (particularly the history of his own country) and took that to its logical conclusion (assuming Mr. Trump possessed the necessary attributes for introspection). It was a throw away line (when compared to others in his vast repertoire) despite its astounding implication, but it so clearly serves to highlight the very epitome of his near supernatural ignorance of history, logic and the world at large. It's the ultimate declaration of absolute ignorance- we deserve to take over your country because we recognize your arrogance and refuse to acknowledge our own for doing the-exact-same-thing!

They should fly a flag with that very quote every Coumbus Day parade in the US!

"Nothing bad can happen, it can only good happen." -Donnie J!

1/10/2026     Photos: © Stan B.

As an avid student of, and witness to history, it is indeed, both fascinating, and in this case frightening, to see history rhyming yet again- in an almost century long cycle. The cycle of Fascism: the same origins (prejudice, fear, ignorance) using the same playbook- manufacturing and spreading alarm (using rumor, propaganda and outright lies) and then using the ensuing anxiety to declare the necessity of increasingly authoritative measures. At first, these retaliatory measures are used against those on the margins, the despised, the most powerless; gradually the circle expands to cover one and all- slowly, incrementally, denied by both those who tighten the screws, and dismissed (at first) by those, not yet, being screwed. Eventually, the frog is boiled, the deed is done, and one and all are entrapped on a sinking boat despite one's social status.

Of course, all the above can only be done with the aid of a charismatic figure, someone with considerable appeal, access to those with power and money, and the ability to con said assets for his own personal gain and ambition. And so we currently find ourselves, thoroughly within the grasp of he who now controls the most powerful country in the world. A man who persistently boasts of his own attributes and conquests to anyone who'll listen, and particularly to those who rather not- a most particular conceit for someone so ill equipped to speak, at all! This is a man who: lauds his own "very large ahh... brain," attempts to mimic and demean people with disabilities in public and refers to women as "piggy." His followers praise his business acumen, despite his: multiple bankruptcies, repeated failures to exhibit the slightest knowledge of what constitutes a simple mathematical percentage, and his proven inability to make a profit in a business specifically designed to separate the customer from his money- gambling casinos. His statements and policies are never questioned to his face and official behavior once thought unconscionable, now dulls with familiarity.

The signs are all there, and increasing by the day- this will not end well! This purveyor of 30,573 lies in his first term alone, this convicted felon whose criminal history began with organized crime in NYC, this best of friends for fifteen years to one of the most notorious child sex traffickers of these past decades is proclaimed by Conservative Christians as none other than "God's Imperfect Vessel!" He and his family continue to bilk the public and collude with private enterprise to the tune of Billion$, all the while declaring to "drain the swamp." And this is but the slimmest of outlines, highlighting a criminal career that is now faltering under the weight of his own lies and deteriorating physical and mental health. 

His last days will not bode well for all of us. The economy is temporarily being held up by its sheer size and resilience, his fear of the personal secrets The Epstein Files hold are causing increasing panic and policy blunders of major national and international consequence. The masked occupation of some of our major cities, the outright military threats to enemies and allies alike- all of this and more by a man who slurs through incoherent, meandering speeches stopping only to "rest his eyes" for ever increasing intervals as his seconds praise his intellectual prowess and non stop work ethic (when not golfing). 

The walls are starting to cave, despite his followers continued and more desperate denials- but the end will not come easy! Which will implode first remains to be seen: our faltering economy, a foreign military escapade gone horribly wrong, or the whistleblower who finally puts the nail to The Epstein Files- however it unfolds, we will have to pick up the remaining pieces of his hubris, our country and ourselves...

Photos: © Stan B.

Anatomy Of A Murder...

"We're a 3rd world country now!"

On To Greenland!

Let's teach those ornery Greenland motherfuckers a lesson they'll NEVER forget! And then we hit Canada, turn those ungrateful bastards into the Fifty-First State; and to really show them who's Boss- we won't even bother rearranging the flag just to show their uneven, extra star!!!

About Time!

Photos: © Stan B.

Every year around this time I would get particularly anxious, particularly as to how long it would take me to get my first good shot of the brand new year, that is- would I ever take a decent shot again in my life? Lately, I've really gotten better about this particular anxiety- and for good reason. For decades I'd get three, four keepers a year... and not for a lack of trying. But for the last half dozen years, I've been averaging at least fifty per year- not fifty possibilities, not fifty temporary heart throbs, but fifty solid stick 'em in the portfolio for keeps! And it's about goddamn time!It's instilled a certain amount of confidence, and ease of mind. I know they'll come, not always when or how I want, but come they will- as long as I do keep trying.

The last good photo I took was early December, and then... nada. I kept shooting through it all, weather permitting and got a heckuva lotta almosts. And I hate almosts- the same work and energy you put into a keeper but with a whole lot more doubt cause you just ain't sure, the whole process through! So why not just drop it and save all the toil and heartache? 'Cause sometimes, sometimes all the work, editing and follow through somehow gets you a winner. Most of the time it just ends in disgust and disappointment- one BIG time suck! But I'm even handling those better, realizing it's just part of the process and managing to maintain my sanity in a much calmer (and welcomed) fashion- it'll come. After seven decades I finally have the modicum of confidence to believe and trust in the process... enough confidence that I'm even successfully incorporating something I only experimented with years past- fill flash!

January the third I heard about numbnuts' invasion of Venezuela, and that there would be a spur of the moment protest. I knew this would be a small affair and that chances of nailing even one satisfactory photo were extremely poor to none. Regardless, got my gear and went- with zero expectations. And just when I started to think, enough of this no win situation- I decided... chill- is what it is, and I knew what it would be when I got there, so just hang, relax, and... observe. Twenty minutes later I had my first two photos of 2026.

No, that's definitely not always gonna be the case, it's usually not gonna be the case! But I no longer have the time to sulk, my time is limited, and I'm determined to make the most of it. For those just starting out, when you're not working it- you should be looking, learning to separate the wheat from the chaff, absorbing every bit as much as you can. It won't all pay off ASAP, but it'll be there in reserve, and if you work it long enough, it'll make itself known as you make it your own.