PhotoShop Magic

I wanted to clarify some questions about the "magical" hawk image in yesterday's post. Someone asked, "did you really take that picture." My highly indignant reply was, "Well of course!" That isn't, however, the end of the story.

Jane and I were camping in the DeGray Lake Resort State Park in Arkansas. One of the visitor events we attended was a release program for wounded wildlife that had been nursed back to health. This hawk was one of those birds. The hawk was being released. As it stretched its wings I snapped a few quick images. It was a simple matter to "straighten" the image to just the right angle to simulate flight. I was so taken with my PhotoShop skills that I failed to mention that in addition to "taking" the picture, I refined it. :-)

The reaction has been so overwhelming that I was embarrassed to take credit without an explanation. Nuff said? :-)

l8r

Spring Came

Will it stay? It's getting pretty cool at night; even had freeze warnings here in the Hill Country/Highland Lakes Area. It was 95 in Llano on Monday, then near-freezing the last two nights. Today is beautiful, however, even if a bit on the cool side.

Birds are flocking to my recently filled bird feeder. I filled it a couple of weeks ago and watched in disappontment, camera in hand, as nothing happened. Finally! I have a few images of a male American Goldfinch in non-breeding plumage. This guy is nearly all bright yellow in breeding season. Only a small cap on his head and the wings are black. And, I see that I should have been more diligent in cleaning the feeder. The birds don't seem to mind but it looks gross in the pictures.

I also thought I would post my new favorite-of-all-times photographs. This Red-tail Hawk image will give you an idea of what a rabbit's last minutes are like. :-)

click on the thumbnail for a really closeup view

It feels good to back away from the inflammatory comments related to the ongoing political campaign. Sometimes even I get tired of my rants. :-)

l8r

John McCain’s Maligning – fire and smoke

Is it true? Did John McCain succumb to the charms of much younger woman – a lobbyist? Does it matter?

Follow this scenario and dialog:
Vicki Iseman walks into John McCain’s office and plops her fantastic rump on the corner of John’s desk.

Vicki: “John, I want you to know that you are my favorite Senator and committee chairman. If you grant me a few favors, it will remain so. But, You are very exposed. If I confess to our romantic relationship, your Straight Talk Express is parked.”
John: “What romantic relationship? We’re not involved and never have been.”
Vicki: “You know that, John, as do I, but everyone is anxious to hear my confession. Who will they believe?"
John: “That’s blackmail!!!”
Vicki: “I know. I need an answer before tomorrow.”
Vicki leaves. What will John do?

I wonder how often this has already happened? I wonder how many favors are already claimed … or are promised?

John McCain has left himself very exposed. He continues to be vulnerable. How many lobbyists in Washington are working for free? Do you believe that all the lobbyists on John McCain’s staff are volunteering their time – “No Strings Attached?” NOBODY in Washington works for FREE!!!

I wonder why John Weaver “blew the whistle?” Isn’t he one of the staffers who was “replaced” when McCain’s campaign was in financial difficulty? Am I the only one who sees the Straight Talk Express driving a crooked road? Is there any fire under all this smoke?
l8r

Somebody's Wrong!

How many religions are there? Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist... the list goes on. And, how many denominations of the Christian Religion? I don't know if there is an accurate count. Wikipedia does a decent job of documenting the progression from Christ to the limitless list.

My point is mundane and argumentative. Since there are so many variants, which is right? Are the Baptist the true Christians? The Catholics? The Methodists? And, if one is right, are all the others wrong? How am I supposed to accept creationism over evolutionism when most Christians are wrong about their doctrine?

God is written into the Constitution. It doesn't, however, tell me "which" God. Is it the Jewish God, the Muslim God, Buddha or simply reference to A supreme being?

I don't know if or when there will ever be an agreement on just what part religion plays in government. You can see that it would simply add more confusion to the task of adjudication by the Supreme Court. There doesn't seem to be an established precedent. Maybe Mike Huckabee will get elected. Would that make his religion the precedent? :-)

l8r

The Family Tree

My tepid attempt at developing my memoirs led to an even less enthusiastic effort to develop a family tree. I'm cheap. I hadn't realized how much money was being made on research. It's shocking. After I told them when and where my dad died, they wanted thirty bucks a month to provide his death certificate. Actually, much more info would be made available on many more of my relatives. I think the search result offering was just to impress upon me how thorough their search engine was. I was impressed but am curious to see if there isn't a less expensive way to seek out a bunch of dead people. :-)

Dad's Masonic Bible contains a record of the family going back to grandfather and a little of the great level of ancestor. It is incomplete. All that has done is arouse my curiosity. This genealogy business gets complicated and expensive. Any research specialists out there who want to offer some free advice? :-)
l8r

HOPE

It is a word that has found its way into the presidential race. It is especially applied by younger Americans to the candidacy of Barack Obama. From the point of view of the impoverished and hopeless ... Obama has replaced the Lotto as the next great HOPE. It is encouraging. HOPE may encourage a desire to vote that has been lacking in the Proles.

Faith, HOPE and Charity -- the three Christian virtues. I wonder how that plays with Christian conservatives. Maybe it applies to Huckabee? I'm not so sure that is how HOPE is applied in this context. Do you think there is any real HOPE for change?

I just HOPE that McCain doesn't select Colin Powell as his running mate. :-)

l8r

Should there be a law against contraception?

That may seem ridiculous but the Pope might agree with such a law. I'm not sure what made me think of that. I have no passionate opinion on either side of abortion. I guess I find it difficult to understand how such things as abortion and homosexuality could even be considered as important to the political process. Isn't that a religious issue?

I was listening to public radio and heard a piece about Islamic groups in Great Briton appealing for a change in the British divorce laws. They don't support the teaching of the Quran. They were brushed aside by the governing authorities on the grounds that the "rule of law" was for all citizens. There would be no separate rule of law for the religious beliefs of all the different groups. Separation of Church and State would seem to support that concept.

Is it too far fetched to anticipate a law against contraception? Aren't religious protests already interfering with the distribution of prophylactics in the fight agains HIV/AIDS in African countries?

I wonder what the real issues would be if not for homosexuality and abortion. How would we then define conservative? Certainly not based fiscal principles. Or, maybe fiscal policy is just a matter of whose pockets receive the spending. I guess that's a whole 'nother issue, huh? :-)

l8r