Summertime blues

I gots the blues! Summer has slipped past us and I did not accomplish half of what I had hoped. But still, I managed a good deal, got a better grip on things and dare I say, I'm a little bit wiser?
I have to just keep taking small bites at the apple. Get a better sense of time and pace. Slow and steady wins the race. This would be a lot easier if I could win the lottery! Well, maybe a little easier. For those of you out there, bear with me, be patient and I'll get to you.

Pick One!

OK, you pull up to the pumps to fill up your tank. And you are given a choice of who you want to buy your fuel from. You decide!
http://www.ontariocorn.org/ethanol/ethahome.html

The Iowa farmer in his field of dreams, or our good friends from OPEC? Call me simple, tell me I don't undertand, but as soon as I can, I'm giving my money to the farmer.

It's a Boy!

Milo Auster Schell entered the world this past Monday,August 22nd. He was born at 8:13 pm at ValleyHospital in Ridgewood, NJ. Milo weighed in at 9 lbs 1oz and is 20.5" in length.

39 Bucks?

I gassed up last night. It cost me $39 bucks. I told the attendant, "Mohammed, for that kind of money you could at least get the bugs off my windshield." (He was actually happy to do that for me)
I'll tell you what, I'd gladly pay 5% or more if it meant we did not buy oil from the Mid-East. (They say only 5% of our crude comes from the Mid-East) Stop buying their oil and you will see just how fast the shooting stops.
http://208.254.18.78/clips/energyresearch.wmv

Getting Ready

I'm feeling like the guy in the Dunkin Donuts commercial: "Got to make the donuts... got to make the donuts" Anyway, in the vein of commercials, look at this link and tell me what you think: http://www.budweiser.com/mediaviewer.html?showFile=applause.js

Hummer?

OK, I don't understand the whole Hummer/SUV thing. I see them at the pumps and wonder what everyone is thinking. But I do appreciate advertising. Not sure what dance has to do with stupidity. But the commercial is very slick. Click on the link and enjoy the video: http://www.hummer.com/popups/world/chairs.html

Out Back

Some people are incapable of letting out their dark sides on queue. Either it's really under wraps or it just isn't there. Either way I'm blessed.

Work is supposed to be like play

So why is my employment more like purgatory? I'm really working on this and am open to suggestions. I saw something on Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood, entitled "THE GOOD LIFE."
Now no one wants to be told how to live and we have all heard of the rat race and maybe it's my age or the fact that I've worked since I was 13 years old. But the good people from CBS had some interesting points. No real suggestions but truly valid points about how hard we work and to what end? I'm feeling just a little dull-witted because I should be able to figure this one out by myself. I figure I'm about 5-7 years from retirement. I've a decent idea of what I'll do in retirement, but what about now? I'm tired, a bit burnt out and driven to but prevented from artisic pursuits. I feel like I'm 17 years into a 25 to life sentence. My most difficult commodity is time. Quality time with people. Not my cell mates, my soul mates, my contemporaries, my muses. Let's connect, hang, maybe make art together.

The Toll

If this doesn't make you cry, what will?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/world/iraq/casualties/facesofthefallen.htm

Two wolves and a sheep, discussing what to have for dinner does not constitute a democracy!

Do you really care if Iraq becomes a theocracy?

More Video

This is not new video, but it may be the first time you are seeing it. I'm having fun with this. Let me know what you think!

http://www.ourmedia.org/node/39618

M

Weird Light

There is this new and rather unusual building across the street from where I work. It has some wild exterior lighting which is as much decorative as it is functional. I want to shoot here and the really selfish part of it is that it's convenient to do on my way to work. The fountains are tempting, but it also has in ground lighting and a wealth of nooks and crannies that beg for exploration. So if you can't sleep, are out partying late or are just looking to catch up with me, let's go play!

Dog days of Summer

It's hot out. (Now there is a revelation) Yeah, it's August and of course it's hot out. And I have to think it is affecting everyone in some way. Even if they only go from one air-conditioned environment to another all day.
With me, it makes me want to get out on the street and look. My brain cells get a little bit cooked, but I ove summer light, early morning and late evening. Even in the midday sun when I can find deep shadows. And shooting at night is an adventure. The heat drives people out of doors.
And women, God bless them! They dress for the weather amongst other things. I sometimes I think I can just sit there and watch them sweat.
The down-side seems to be everyone's on the move, traveling, vacationing or being otherwise entertained. Connecting, scheduling is so much more difficult in summer. Everyone becomes social butterflies, weddings, showers, events and the like.
That work thing keeps getting in the way.
My eyes are so greedy. I want time to see it all. I'm going to be a pest. I'm going to keep asking. The calendar is my friend. On the mountain the light is filtered. On the street it seems to be bounced off two or three surfaces before it reaches eye-level. Come out and look with me, step out into the light. I'm waiting for you.

Everything is melting... 

Summer in the city... 

Wet nose 

Ready

OK, the video keeps coming. Here is this week's installment:
http://www.ourmedia.org/node/37546

Inspired

I'm inspired by some events over the last few weeks. I've done some shooting, made some photograms, went to see Cirque Du Soleil "Varakai" which is so cool. I could stare at those people all day. I got to see Monty Python's Spamalot. (So very clever)
And just being in the city at night felt so good. We had a scare on the way home, west on Route 3 just before the Meadowlands there is a bridge spanning the Hackensack River. It's 4 lanes and we were in the 2nd from the right going about 50 mph when a car passed us in the far left lane and suddenly crashed into the wall and shot/spun completely across all 4 lanes of the roadway and our path crashing into the wall on the right side and then coming back at us. Peg was driving and she handled it like a pro. She pumped the brake, merged left and hit the gas and we slipped through a trail of vapor and debris without a scratch. I was/am so impressed with the way she handled it. There was no place to stop on the bridge so we called the local authorities and continued home. It was like something out of a police chase.
I've posted some images from a recent collaboration with my friend Yana. She continues to impress me both with her talents and ideas. That and she is fun to work with. I'm finding myself looking beyond what she is doing and focusing on her. I'm tempted to attempt so much more but my time is so limited. I'll have to continue with small bites at the apple.
I hope to post some more video this week. It's kind of curious in that I'm getting a lot of traffic to the website/blog and people are spending more time here. But no one is posting comments. I'm not sure what if anything that means. Are they being quitely polite? Or am I on the wrong path?

What would Christo think? 

In the palace... 

They call me the wrapper...