Dang! Someone IS Ticked!

And Rightfully So...

 

Beware The... Demon Seed!!!

Trump said this "doctor" was "Very Impressive" while claiming... "I know nothing about her!"
How do you spell "desperation?" I spell it when a racist quotes and supports a Black woman with an African accent!

And yet... Millions of Goddamn Fucking Idiots will still vote for this man to be
PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA! Meanwhile...

Self Publishing Options

I've already envisioned my next book which I'll probably get to doing 'round the end of the year. And it'll probably be another Blurb endeavor, being that they're probably the cheapest, most convenient platform available (and the one I'm most familiar with) to produce basically what is a dummy of the book that you'd really like to make. 

But I also started thinking... what would it be like to make a book with really nice reproduction? What would it be like to create and be able to present, look at and enjoy a proper, "professional" caliber production? So I began to do a bit o' research to see what options, if any, are available- and there are, to be sure, quite the shitload of options... And this guy has produced a variety of informative videos presenting the strengths and options of various self publishers world wide, presenting and comparing: paper options, inks, printing quality, binding, graphics, available sizes, materials and formats etc... Not to mention pricing.

Definitely of interest whether you're considering your first book, or like moi, considering a step up somewhere along the line... (until Steidl comes knocking).

Reap What Ya Sew...

Photo: © Stan Banos

Thought the previous stitching glitches in my recent panoramics were due to my faulty photo technique in camera. But in this panoramic (which took several reshoots to get the light and perspective right), once again, I was applying my final, final edits when (Shit!) I noticed a couple of stitching glitches I just couldn't account for! That is, this time I could carefully compose and take as many frames as I wanted, so I'm left to assume that said imperfections are software errors. They occur in places that seem to defy logic (as if algorithms are necessarily logical) since they don't occur near the edge of any individual frames, but fortunately, they're minor enough not be immediately noticeable. And stay they will! Does it bother me- yes; enough to invest in updated stitching software (assuming it will alleviate said problem)? Tell ya what, since I currently don't have any plans on making a grand slew of these- random (and hopefully non fatal) anomalies it is! I'll just content myself with playing a version of panoramic Where's Waldo? Besides, minor randomness amidst a world of digital perfection is a good thing- that's my story, and I'm sticking to it...

They'll NEVER Learn...

Never. And although sad, I must admit it's also... fun! White male Repubs (excuse the redundancy) will never learn not to mess with AOC- despite the now oft repeated repercussion of ultimately being made bloody fools of is guaranteed! They can't help trying to demean and/or ridicule someone they rightfully see should be cleaning their household, serving them food or occasionally forcing themselves upon should the mood strike. The instinct is too overbearingly strong... Or is it perhaps more akin to all the stories one hears of judges and other public officials of high order who pay to be humiliated by a dominatrix?

So when Yahoo Yoho decided to bum rush his verbal assault of AOC on the Capitol steps, he voluntarily opened himself to the ultimate tongue lashing he so righteously deserved and received. But has he learned? Hell no! No staunch Trump stalwart is ever capable of... learning. Where's the value in that? That's what lying's for...

Nala et al...

I once had a bike, a cat, and a wife... loved 'em all. I gave up the bike voluntarily four years ago, The Wife decided to leave of her own accord and took our one eyed cat, Nelson (whom I had originally befriended), with her. Watching this video (along with several others) of Nala and her cycling guardian brought me great joy. And why not? It combines some of my greatest passions in life to date: travel/adventure (and documenting it), cycling, and a loving, adventurous pet! Seeing both their relationship and the world rolling past so completely absorbed and appreciated through the eyes of Nala in her roadside crow's nest is worth the price of admission alone. That is one happy cat (and companion)! And one can't help but wish their journey well...

I Support The Wall...

OF MOMS!

SIX More... Months!!!

I may have misunderestimated this guy- to quote our last dumb as shit Republican  POTUS Supreme (give credit where credit is due- Repubs can always find a deeper, darker subbasement somewhere, somehow). The entirety of this interview is replete with countless gems... not only does the intelligence test our POTUS claims he "ACED" turn out to be a... senility test, he also babbles on about: "Our two beautiful World Wars..."

Now that is well beyond Yeezus high levels of poetry, imagination and insight! And I can only hope that he does not go quietly into the night come 01/20/21- this time he'll be guaranteed a full military escort out of the bunker for his photo op...

So Tired Of Winning...

Photo: © Stan Banos

As I'm sure are you! We have a POTUS who says one thing in the AM, reverses in the PM, and then denies the whole damn thing before the day is done, reassuring us that The Sniffles will all disappear... "eventually." Meanwhile, it's every man and woman for themselves as we all scurry about attempting to do what's hopefully best or currently fashionable in whatever city, town or state we occupy- knowing that El Capitan has abandoned ship and has bigger beans to fry. So... sit back, and if you're lucky enough to still have a job and roof over your head, grab a beer and chill- cause with this piecemeal approach, we're in for the long haul... least till next Spring when we hopefully have a vaccine.

Addendum- 80,000 people died of influenza in the US in the winter of 2017/2018- the highest in 4 decades. As of the date above- 140,000 have died of Covid-19 in the US alone...

America is once again respected throughout the world!!!      Photo: Arsal Aleem

Fear The Combover!

If I was still teaching, I'd definitely prefer/demand/get fired for starting off every classroom day on the good foot with this National Anthem (least till Nov. 3)! And I love that catchy refrain...

                                       (Thanks, Sean)

Tribute To Trump Supporters!

Four year oldie but goodie that still holds up with many a much needed laugh (esp. towards the end). And theses days, Trump and his minions need all the laughs they can get, recycled or otherwise, to get his one trick pony back on track...

 And while we're here...
 

"Get A Noose!"

"Post Racial America," July 4, 2020- Independence Day! An America where a guy in a Confederate hat, along with a few friendly cohorts, can confront a Black man- beat and pummel him, tear his hair out and then propose to lynch him for being on the same public property they're all on. Fortunately, bystanders prevent the inevitable...

And when the police finally arrive, they proceed- to lecture the victim! No arrests to date!

All under the reign of the greatest President of the Confederate States of America- Donald J. Trump!

The English Bull Terrrier

These most peculiar looking of dogs have always captivated me; the first one I ever saw belonging to a man who had been severely burned and disfigured. They were a rare daylight sighting, whom upon first viewing, produced a definite sense of: confusion, apprehension and even fear. I did not know what to make of neither man nor faithful companion- two profound mysteries that intrigued a prepubescent boy.

Bob looked very much like the all white bull terrier pictured in this video. Walking him in Manhattan everyday always involved the usual and not so usual interaction with the public. One person openly theorized that there was actually only one of these dogs throughout the entire world and that they were secretly loaned out overnight to various 'owners' in an attempt to deceive the public. Another passerby pointed and loudly exclaimed, "Look- the world's first mammal!"

Bob was naturally athletic: unbelievably agile, incredibly fast, supremely graceful. He could pirrouette at a moment's notice or upon greeting, engage in the customary twirly bird happy dance. Conversely, he could also be pathetically clumsy- not to mention stubborn whenever the mood set, eternally comical, and well, in all honesty... not-too-bright. Fifty five pounds of pure muscle, love and play. And I will forever miss him...

 One more time!!!

Kiwanuka...

Back in the day I was somewhat up on music trends- but that all ended in the mid eighties. The end of Punk/New Wave, and the rise of Madonna (YIPES!), and... the birth of Rap/Hip Hop (all hail Public Enemy)- the cultural/generational tidal wave which started to expose my advancing years. And save for Nirvana, I couldn't get into Grunge, punk in plaid just didn't make sense to me; by the end of the nineties I was listening to Gregorian chants and Pygmy vocalizations set to a beat. Still am...

Now, not only do I not even know what the current musical trends are, I wouldn't even know where or how to access them. Occasionally (very), a few gems do happen to miraculously appear upon my doorstep, and these by Michael Kiwanuka most definitely qualify. The first is most definitely as rhythmic as it is timely and contemplative, the second a more bluesy and guitar oriented get down, and the third... an all out happy dance jubilation!

 

Oh- The Humanity!!!!

© Reuters/Borut Zivulovic

First Lady Melancholia torched and burned in her own home town- is there no justice, is there no decency!?! 
(Thanks, Martha!)

Fuzzy Wuzzy Trump Top

OK, now as anyone prone to speaking their mind, I've been known to occasionally put said foot in mouth. So the challenge is simple, prove me wrong- you'll look good... and I'll be happily on my way.

Ya see, I'm not quite through looking at Herr Trump, especially now as he slowly implodes before our eyes, and find this even more fascinating (well, more ridiculous than fascinating) than his inexplicable posture), but... let your own eyes be the judge- and tell me point blank that I'm not seeing what I, and you, are most definitely seeing!

Mr. Artificial Spray Tan, Comb Over Deluxe is still so insecure about the long dead weasel so meticulously ensnared atop his head that it's pretty freaking obvious that someone's been ordered to purposely blur the goods... which no doubt complements the likes of someone so adept at blurring the lines of reality with everything that escapes from his circular orifice of deceit.

So- go on... take a good, long, hard look at multiple shots seemingly emanating from a common White House video feed (where it's even more pronounced). The eyes sharp, teeth and nose detailed, but the front and top of his hair are definitely, purposely and most obviously- an artificially b-l-u-r-r-e-d blob! It is not shallow depth of field, not selective focus (I know what that looks like), in some pictures bits of his hair are in and out of focus within the same field of focus! And if it's caused by digital compression- how come it's happening only in that region of his hair? Anyone remember that godawful/comical Whitney Houston video that attempted to photoshop pounds unto her emaciated, drug addled body as it futilely struggled to keep in digital sync as she anxiously paced the concert stage?

Why is this blatant vanity of deceit not mentioned and discussed openly!?!? Why have we so passively succumbed to four very long years of this visual aberration assaulting both our eyes and common sense in equal measure?!?! It's bad enough this guy is lying to us every single day of our lives, wouldn't we be better served if they blurred the orange expanse beneath the remains of his hair?

Pre-POTUS Look: Notice unadulterated wisps of comb over hair are all equally focused

providing less cover for naked scalp...

In Stitches

Love that pastel Green (and all the miscellaneous frames, windows and geometric shapes)!   
Photo: © Stan Banos

This is a reshoot of the panoramic I mentioned a while back that did not stitch together properly. Truth be told, this one also had a a few minor aberrations- which I cleaned up with Mr. Clone. Perhaps it's: a) the outdated software (Elements 9), or b) I simply needed to take yet more frames, but... a) I do want to keep it as in house as possible,* and b) I didn't want to set records for challenging oncoming traffic in what I had rather mistakenly assumed was a rather traffic free street. 

I must say I'm rather pleased to now have a coupla successful panoramics courtesy of my GR under my belt. I don't expect a whole series, but I now have the confidence to actually do them should the opportunity arise- if I can remember that they are, in fact, a viable option. When I had my Widelux... I had to get into a whole 'nother frame of mind, a very different mindset to see and create panoramics- you even had to hold that camera differently, lest your fingers appear in the frame! But when I go out with the GR, I can see and handle 2:3, 3:4 and 1:1 aspect ratios simultaneously, and I think I can now add panoramic to the mix simply because... they can all be done with the same camera. Yeah, that simple fact makes it easier for my mind to deal with all the various, competing formats. 

Of course, there is a major drawback: crowd scenes are out for obvious reasons. You can only include people (and other moving objects) if they're relatively static and few in number- you simply must keep tabs on their location (harder than it sounds), as you proceed from interlocking frame to interlocking frame... As a small plus, you retain all camera/exposure controls and functions as opposed to the three shutter speeds of a Widelux!

All said and done- a nice and much welcomed tool (however specialized and/or limited) that can come through now and then to save the day...

  

* I tried out a coupla other photo editing programs earlier in the pandemic (Wow- does that ever feel like eons ago, when we all thought... R&R for two weeks, then back to usual!) and after a few half hearted attempts at reinventing the wheel, pulled a quick and hasty retreat back to the welcoming womb.

Irony of... Ironies.

I love all the Yahoos getting their 'I told you so' jollies at the expense of those shot in Chaz/Chop/Whatever... somehow it's meant to prove obvious police superiority. Yet, if one follows exactly what that irony reveals- it's that anarchistic mob rule yields results similar to an officially commissioned and highly funded, equipped and 'well trained' police force...

Happy 4th- And Don't Forget...

Photo: © Stan Banos

 Fourth of July! The day when even... Archconservatives celebrate- REVOLUTION!!!


But this- this is where it lives....

"We Lied, We Cheated, We Stole"

So said Mike Pompeo- so why would anyone, anyone have any reason to doubt anything this man ever says?!?