Photography versus Taking Pictures

Originally uploaded by Horse Photographer

I will forever be a picture taker and never a photographer. I'd be happy with the "before" picture - it's clear and the subject is interesting. Maybe I'd futz with "auto level" or some such "make me a genius" buttons in post-processing, but probably not much. Every aspect of the picture is better in the after image - and it makes the whole picture more effective.

See more of Tami Gramont's work at http://newhorsephotography.com/ or on Flickr.

1976, Ronald Reagan

Reagan lost the nomination to Gerald Ford in 1976. After Ford gave his acceptance speech the delegates called for Reagan.

He spoke briefly. No notes, no prepared remarks, no teleprompter. He sealed the 1980 nomination then and there:



There is a shorter version of this clip, but I liked some of the back story that the few extra minutes fleshed out.

How would Barry have done if the nomination had gone to Clinton? If the Democratic race had gone the other way I'm sure Clinton would not have put Obama on the spot - The Clinton Machine would not have allowed Obama to suck the air out of the room.

Full disclosure - in 1976 I was in Carter's camp. Except for a brief flirtation with Paul Tsongas, it was the last time I supported a Democrat. Thank God I was too young to vote for the peanut - I'm not sure if I could have survived the remorse. By 1979 I was ready for a Reagan, but not Republicans. As a teenager I watched the Carter administration stumble along; for a while it was enough that he "wasn't Nixon". Towards the end I think the only thing that kept Carter in office was the thought of having Wally Mondale as president... By 1980 I had become a card carrying Cold Warrior type - and I carried said card in a wallet emblazoned with the slogan "I'd rather be killing Communists".

Miss Israel

Miss Israel is a seaman?

Doubletapper informs us that Seaman Adi Rodnitzki is Miss Israel, 2009:

The Irish in Africa

This video is titled "Proof the Irish discovered Africa" which is a silly proposition.

It is proof, however, that some of Ireland's liquid exports are enjoyed by people who create videos for YouTube:

Banana Dogs

Because I'd forget about this picture if I waited until Halloween to post it...

The Great Seal of TOTUS

H/T Mike Moody The Catholic in me made me opt for the image with the motto in Latin. It reads "Repeat after me". As the Brits would say, this is Brilliant!

Best Baseball Story of 2009

Felix Perez with Team USA

And I thought the World Baseball Classic didn't mean much to fans. For me it was a chance to see Cuban players, but for an American veteran it was much more. Via the Babalu blog comes this story from ESPN:

MIAMI -- Brian Finnegan was only doing his job on Tuesday night when he saw Felix Perez in the handicapped section of Dolphin Stadium. Finnegan's son, Tommy, had spent his life in a wheelchair battling cerebral palsy, and recently had passed away at age 20.

So when Finnegan, working security for the World Baseball Classic, realized that Perez was hoping some of the players would sign his American flag, he didn't hesitate.

"It was like divine intervention," Finnegan said. "In some ways I saw Tommy in Felix and wanted to help."

Finnegan took Perez's flag -- the one Perez carried with him through tours of Afghanistan and Iraq as a sergeant with the 82nd Airborne -- and brought it into a raucous clubhouse filled with American players who were wearing that flag on their chests. The players had just scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, the last two coming on a David Wright single, to avoid elimination at the WBC and secure a 6-5 win against Puerto Rico, and now they were partying together as a team.

Finnegan came into the clubhouse and announced that there was a veteran who'd love to have his flag signed.

"We said, 'Send him in,'" Jake Peavy said.

And proof that the Y chromosome is universal:

The players wanted to know what Perez thought of the win.

"You guys gave me a [expletive] heart attack," Perez told the big leaguers.

The room erupted into laughter and cheers.

The big leaguers spent less than half an hour with Perez. I can only guess at what Felix Perez was thinking, but I know I'd be blown away to be in that locker room after that white knuckle come back.

The ESPN piece gives Felix Perez the credit for the photograph in the locker room. Those major league players did the right thing, apparently without a professional camera in sight. Thanks for proving that some athletes do the right thing even when no one is looking.

Read Amy K. Nelson's piece at ESPN. And then tell me there are no good guys left in sports.

Old Wiener

She's going into the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest dog. She's 21 - someone buy her a drink:

St Patrick's Day

This might as well be an ad from the Irish Tourism Board:



See it and others at e-water

Amazing...

I've heard of "throwing clay"... but throwing concrete? I saw this at Theo Spark's place this morning, and was blown away. If they were playing second base and short stop I think they could turn a double play in a hurricane. Working with concrete, the South African way:

"Gone" Barack Obama

De-Motivator

Shamelessly stolen from The Black Sphere:

Help Us, Obama Wan Kenobi

As it happens, my 11 year old son is a huge Star Wars fan. As in I fear for his future - one that will no doubt be littered with SF conventions and steamer trunks full of thoroughly read paper backs.

When I saw this picture at Instapundit I knew it would wind up here. And I know I will show it to my son, who will see no humor, only sacrilege - not against The One, but an unorthodox deviation from that which has been sanctified by George Lucas:

Easter Bunny, or something

I think few men appreciate the female form more than I do. But this doesn't exactly scream the miracle of Easter or the promise of salvation and eternal life. But for some it may mean 'he has risen'.




And just to further prove my point, at least about the appreciation thing, the bunny ears are available in black as well:

I think I want one...

... though I don't believe I need one. At least not yet:

2 Presidents, One Marine Corps

I think the departure is the bigger 'tell'. And unlike the video caption, I don't think the Marines are any different...

Picture Time

Caption this photo...

The Credit Crisis Explained

An excellent video that explains some of the reasons we're in the mess we're in. It sort of skips the government intrusions into the market that set the stage for this, but still educational:


The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo.

This can't be right

I think everyone has heard of the 'teens only' sound... It's alleged that only teens and young adults can hear the tone.

I'm over the hill, have documented hearing loss (too much jet noise, among other causes)... and yet I heard the sound? In a word WTF?

Created by Train Horns

Dateline: Buffalo, NY

Dinah Lord points us to this video from The Nose on Your Face - Islamic Rage Boy explains the Buffalo, New York honor killing