Night

"I cannot walk through the suburbs in the solitude of the night without thinking that the night pleases us because it suppresses idle details, just as our memory does."  ~Jorge Luis Borges

Then and Now #7

I found this first image in my files recently and completely forget where I got it from or who shot it or when it was. I am still looking for that info and will report back soon. Meantime, hope you enjoy this installment of "Then and Now."

The Washington Monument is obvious, of course. On the right is the Museum of Natural History, on the left (you can just barely see it) is the Smithsonian Institution castle. The immediate foreground looks to be the Arboretum. Middle ground... no idea. Will update as soon as I can.

Cheers.

Update: Narrowed it down to early 1920s. (late teens, maybe) Buildings in the middle ground are likely USDA greenhouses.

Oh yeah, then there's mine. Shot from a Cessna 175, my friend Jal Mistry as pilot, Blackhawk helicopter shadowing us all the way. Fun!

The Uninsured

AP photographer Evan Vucci has put together a deeply moving multi-media presentation, putting a face on the Health Care Reform discussion. Have a look:

http://www.evanvucci.com/the-uninsured

Hat tip to Bob Krist.

The Hunter

Forever in pursuit of the next photograph.

Olmsted Island

"To conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."--Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. regarding the National Parks.

Just off the C & O Canal towpath, south of the old Tavern Visitor Center in Potomac Maryland, there is a raised boardwalk with a series of footbridges that leads to Olmsted Island. At the end of the walk is an overlook which affords a spectacular view of Great Falls.

Protecting rare plant species found only in this unique habitat by concentrating all foot traffic in one place, the 1/4 mile long boardwalk and the overlook embody the spirit of conservation expressed in the above quote. It is a very small footprint upon this large yet fragile landscape. Thanks to Mr. Olmsted and like-minded others and their inspired words and deeds, future generations will be able to enjoy all the many and various aspects of our National Parks, including this island, the flora and fauna within, and that wonderful view of those turbulent falls.

The images below are a small representation of this area. All were shot from either the boardwalk or the overlook.

Man and Beast.

On a recent trip to Grand Teton National Park I was privileged to see with my own eyes a level of stupidity that only the Darwin Awards committee could appreciate. A remarkable number of people treated the animals -- bears, elk, moose and the like -- as if they were tame, game-park creatures. The complete lack of respect for the wildness of the park's wildlife was shocking. The potential for carnage and mayhem seemed ever present. Maintaining a safe distance and quiet tones of voice while viewing wildlife appeared to be an utterly foreign concept to far too many individuals. Large scrums developed almost instantaneously roadside whenever an animal was spotted. Parents with small children ran up screaming wildly at the black bear with her cub. A black bear and her cub! No kidding. Not only does behavior like this shatter an otherwise moving experience for many, but it also places everyone in danger by potentially irritating mama bear. In addition, the cars and SUVs left idling, parked haphazardly along the road created traffic jams that rangers constantly tried to clear. (If they happened by.)

It was pure luck that no one was gored by a bison or turned into a tasty treat by a grizzly that week, and I have the impression that few people learned anything. But the animals in our National Parks are not tame. They may appear that way sometimes because they seem to tolerate the presence of humans to a degree. But ultimately they are wild. And dangerous! Respect that.

Man and beast will cross paths in the parks, that's just the way it is. However, simple things like staying in your car or keeping a safe buffer between you and the animal (and using your indoor voice!*) would go a long way to avoiding many tragic (and near tragic) encounters.

Below are a couple examples of near tragedies. (click on the links)

http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2007/06/grizzly-attacks-man-grand-teton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roMoGNHrrV8&feature=player_embedded

*A quick note about "indoor voices." When in the back country this is not the proper thing to do. If you want to avoid unexpected encounters, speak loudly and don't be afraid of making too much noise. Bears don't want to be bothered by you; if they hear you coming they will move on. If you surprise them, all bets are off!

Cheers.

A Little Action!

Some scratches and bruises, but nothing too serious. Heh!

H1N1 Vaccine. iVaccinated #2.

Ouch!

(Just kidding. Hardly felt a thing.)

Here I am once again getting jabbed. A kind nurse with deft poking skills administers the H1N1 vaccine. A few things that will not happen due to this vaccine:

-- I will not develop swine flu.

-- I will not become autistic.

-- I will not develop Guillain Barre disease.

-- I will not die.

-- And... there is no micro-chip recording my every move by the "Guvmint!"

Herd immunity folks. The more people vaccinated the less likely a pandemic can unfold. Do your part.

Cheers!