Even More Halloween

More Halloween

Halloween Party!

Shot by Amee

While waiting at the bus stop last week, Amee shot this image of a derelict house. It came out almost monochromatic in the shadow, but with the sun creeping down the hillside the sky was blown out. The cropped shot is better, I think, but the whole image is interesting as well.

Enough Talk, More Pin-up

What Does Rove Know That We Don't?

Karl Rove told someone from NPR that despite all the polls showing a Democratic lead in crucial House races, he has figures no one else has and that he's confident the Republicans will hold their majority in Congress. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but Rove's cryptic statement unsettles me. What does he know that no one else knows? It's probably just the need to appear confident, but it still makes me wonder and worry a bit.

Poll Position

Just a few questions to illustrate how useless polls actually are:
1. Do you think we need to "Stay the Course" OR "Cut and Run?"
2. Do you think we need a change of strategy OR tough it out?
3. If someone says, "I misspoke," is that better than saying, "I lied?"
4. Is a pair of pants one or two?

Halloween!!

With a costume party coming up this Friday, I thought I'd post a few of my previous costumes. Usually I pick something no one knows, so I have to explain it. If you have any guesses as to who I'm supposed to be, leave a comment. And Dale, I know my costumes are pathetic, so cut me a break :)

3-D!!! Learn to Freeview Stereo Images!

If you stare at this image, and cross your eyes slightly, you will see a third image show up in the middle. If you can get your eyes to pull it into focus, you'll see it in 3-D. It's a bit like those "Magic Eye" posters. Give it a shot. You can do it.

More History Repeats...

While thinking about the Adams/Jefferson post from a couple of days ago, I remembered something I had read about Woodrow Wilson trampling the rights of citizens. In the spring of 1917, Wilson had finally decided that the U.S. had to get involved in the war in Europe, but he feared that many citizens, especially immigrants, wouldn't support his decision. The largest immigrant groups at the time were German-Americans, followed by Irish-Americans. Wilson said "Any man who carries a hyphen around with him carries a dagger that he is ready to plunge into the vitals of the republic."
The passage of the Espionage Act made it a crime to "willfully obstruct the recruiting or enlistment service" of the U.S. and to "utter, print, write, or publish any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language about the form of government of the United States, or the military or naval forces of the United States, or the flag." It also made it a crime to teach, suggest, defend, or advocate any criticism of the government and gave the Postmaster the right to refuse delivery of any periodical he deemed unpatriotic or critical of the administration.
Republican Senator Robert La Follette voted against Wilson's declaration of war, prompting one warhawk Senator to call him a "pusillanimous, degenerate coward" for not supporting the President (Toby Keith would've written a song about it). La Follette delivered a strong defense of free speech, even during wartime, prompting the Senate to launch an investigation of possible treasonable conduct, which after the war was dismissed.
And this was the era where Wilson's Committee on Public Information, headed by publicist George Creel, encouraged people to spy on one another and report disloyal "pro-German" sentiment. Oh, and they started calling sauerkraut "victory cabbage." (Freedom fries?)
Using war as an excuse to silence opposition is nothing new, after all. It doesn't make it right, and in hindsight, usually is looked upon as a blot on our nation's history.
In the words of Mark Twain, "Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it."

2 More Portfolio Shots, plus 1

The two black and white shots are from my portfolio, shot with a 24mm wide-angle lens to distort the perspective.

History Repeats...

I've been reading John Ferling's book Adams vs. Jefferson: The Tumultuous Election of 1800. As usual, I've come across items that are eerily similar to current events. Ferling writes that Jefferson noted in the 1790s that the "high political passions" had usurped old friendships and ruined the possibility of amicable ties with those who differed politically.
He goes on to write about the Federalist press, which were whipping up war fever against France, trying to silence the Jeffersonian Republican press:

...many Federalist newspapers demanded that "traitors must be silent." [The] Gazette of the United States [a Federalist paper] came up with a slogan: "He that is not with us, is against us." [The Gazette] additionally decreed: "It is patriotism to write in favor of government--it is sedition to write against it."

The Federalists in control of Congress passed the Sedition act, essentially making it a federal crime to criticize the government. Ferling writes that Jefferson felt the Federalists had "ground the Bill of Rights under their heel..." and that Jefferson noted "...their [the Federalists] plan was to foment and maintain a crisis atmosphere, for the people were more manipulable in the supercharged air of heightened tension."

It seems very similar to the partisan media bickering that goes on today. Go figure.

More from the Beach...

We went to North Myrtle Beach in April this year, when the kids were on spring break. It was nice most of the week, but the water is just too cold in April. I think we may go in June next year, even though it will be more crowded.

New Stuff

I have a few more beach pics, but I shot these yesterday and thought I'd put them up today.

Lost and Found

Amee found a cd I'd been looking for yesterday--it contains all the pictures I shot when we went to the Beach in April. Here are some of my favorite shots from that trip.

Amee's Flowers, Goofy Family

Curves and Shadows