- BreadBox: "The barn door after the horse has bolted (it)."
- Rashbre: "Bolt your door, but not your mind."
- Kenju: "Lock of Ages."
- Omykiss: "Latched on."
- Joan: "I need a little peace."
- Robin: "Temptation."
- Sister AE: "Safe." and "A false sense of security."
- SPWriter: "Slide. Home safe."
- JC: "One way."
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Caption This 51
Please caption this image
London, ON, January 2007 [Click to embiggen]
Here in the Great White North, gullible consumers increasingly buy their electronics at big box stores staffed by undertrained folks who know as much about computers as I know about llama breeding. Future Shop is quite likely the worst of the bunch.
This outlet closed barely seven years after it opened because it was so successful at ripping off the populace that they built a new, much larger one just down the road. The storefront that remained struck me as a stark reminder of the forgettable landscape we seem to have created for ourselves.
Your turn: How would you caption this image? Suggest as many captions as you wish: I encourage this sort of behavior. I'll announce the winner next week - which, incidentally, marks a year since this whole Caption This madness began. Yay!
About last week's image of a simple door lock: Too many great suggestions to count, but in the end I had to pick one. That would be SPWriter's gem: "No more sleepwalking outside in the nude, Louise."
Many honorable mentions to bestow this week:
A special thanks to Robin and Steve (SPWriter) for their regular and frequent submissions. Their active participation represents, in my view, the best spirit of Caption This. It's what I had in mind when I started this thing at the beginning of 2007, and I'm so glad to see the caption bug catching on. Thanks to you both - and for everyone who jumps in - for keeping this thing fun.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
100 Things - Part 2
Last year, I wrote a 100-things list about myself (click here to read it.) I enjoyed the experience so much that I've decided to do it again. Here goes...
Update - Sep. 22, 2012: Indeed, there was at least one new list in me. #3 is now live...here.
- I work from home.
- I used to work in offices. Eventually I realized these places weren't really for me.
- Even if I was the only employee who walked around in socks.
- I don't much enjoy the politics of corporate life.
- Merely thinking about it gives me a rash.
- I also didn't tend to play well with others.
- I can't fake being nice. This gets me into trouble sometimes. But at least folks always know where I stand.
- I talk to the dog during the day. He lies at my feet while I write.
- When I need a break, I take him for a walk to remind myself that all needs should be simple.
- The more time I spend with him, the better I understand why some people prefer pets.
- Unconditional love every time I return home is a good thing.
- We rescued him from a neglectful home. He's quickly become a beloved member of our family.
- It's been an important lesson in black clouds and silver linings for our kids.
- I love watching our kids with him.
- Beyond merely playing, it's the way they simply invite him into their lives that sticks with me.
- I can see the kindness in their souls when they're around him.
- I see glimpses of my wife's soul in them, too. It gives me warm fuzzies to watch.
- I can take a decent photograph, but I don't think I've yet captured these warm fuzzies in a frame.
- I'll keep trying, though. Someday, I might succeed.
- I don't believe that we are defined by what we drive.
- I believe we are defined by traits that no car advertisement has ever captured.
- I often wonder why the "don't drink and drive" message still hasn't sunk in.
- Or the "don't drive like an idiot" one. It's as if we've forgotten - or never learned in the first place - that driving is a privilege, not a right.
- I guess this position dates me. So be it.
- For some perverse reason, I enjoy reading advertising copy from car dealerships.
- They make me laugh. Does anyone believe in their "commitment to customer satisfaction" and "excellence in service"?
- As a journalist, I am saddened that some newspapers haven't woken up to the age of the Internet.
- I'm further saddened that I live in a city serviced by such an operation. It takes me little more than 5 minutes to rifle through the lightly-written, error-prone wisp of a paper that's dropped in my mailbox every morning.
- I feel ripped off. Readers deserve better.
- I used to be a columnist for that paper.
- I wrote for them because I believed I could make a difference.
- I still feel that way. Words can be powerful if we want them to be.
- I believe that the state of today's evolving media represents an opportunity for creative thinkers to change how the world views itself.
- I hope the editors and publishers of yesterday have the courage to either drive the change or step aside to let the next generation take a crack at it.
- I doubt they'll actually have the courage, though.
- Still, I'm an idealist: I believe the next generation of media will rise above McPapers, entertainment masquerading as news and declining opportunities for great writing and production talent.
- I get on my soapbox too often for my own good.
- Building a soapbox, however, isn't my thing.
- I can build network infrastructure in my sleep, but home repairs vex me.
- I have immense respect for people who work with their hands.
- There's something cool about making something from nothing.
- I worry we're losing that appreciation in this era of low-low prices and outsourcing.
- I get a rash when I walk into Wal-Mart.
- I see the ghosts of Chinese laborers in those smiley-faced "rollback" signs.
- I've been to China.
- The tragedy of a society rushing headlong into capitalism plays itself out in stark relief on the streets of Shanghai.
- I came home with a deep appreciation of who I am, what I have, and my ability to drive my own future.
- I think we all need to reset our perspectives every once in a while.
- I hate idle chitchat.
- "Making conversation" is an oxymoron. If you have to "make" it, then silence would be preferable.
- I enjoy long periods of silence.
- I'm not antisocial by any means: I just like peace and quiet.
- Wait, maybe I am antisocial :-)
- I get my best ideas for writing when I'm alone.
- Even the slightest interruption can throw me off.
- Telemarketers who call repeatedly during the day really annoy me.
- I wish I could return the favor.
- But I can't. So I do the next best thing: monitor all inbound calls with Caller ID.
- I am addicted to my BlackBerry.
- This does not alarm me. It's a vital tool for the kind of work that I do.
- It's also quite the kick to send messages from under a tree beside a distant farmer's field. Or to IM my wife when I'm in another city.
- I believe mobile devices are changing - and will continue to change - how we interact with each other.
- That can be a good or a bad thing, depending on how we choose to use the newfound capability.
- I choose to use it for good.
- I carry my camera virtually everywhere I go.
- I never want to kick myself for missing a moment.
- I often come home empty-handed.
- That's OK, though: just having it with me brings me comfort.
- I believe my camera bag is the adult equivalent of a child's blanket.
- It feels good to have it slung over my shoulder.
- I now understand why women carry purses. Men should carry something, too.
- I think stereotypes of masculinity are silly. And amusing.
- Macho as a concept is immensely laughable.
- Men who subscribe to it without a smile on their face are also laughable.
- And pathetic.
- I think more people should stand beside a large body of water and just wonder.
- It might help them put things in perspective a little bit better.
- I generally think the best of people around me.
- I guess I'm a bit naive, then, because people can be incredibly mean-spirited.
- Even when you're related to them.
- I've come to accept that the definition of family sometimes has little to do with genetic relationship.
- Life's too short to waste on folks who don't matter.
- It's tough enough finding the time to spend with people who do.
- I wish judging yourself would be a prerequisite for judging others.
- People who don't read really bug me.
- We have a "No Solicitors" sign on our front door, right at eye level.
- Yet we still get solicitors. Lots of them. Imagine that.
- I respect those who choose to follow other faiths. I think believing in something, whatever that "something" is, is a good thing for humanity.
- I lose respect for those who take it upon themselves to convince the rest of us that "their" faith is somehow the "best" one.
- I lose even more respect when these people attempt to do their convincing on my front doorstep. Remember that reading thing in items 84 & 85.
- Sometimes I think I'm the only person on the planet who thinks Disney is a sham, a cult, an excuse to hoover dollars from the pockets of unsuspecting members of the middle class.
- I believe Mickey Mouse and his minions should be euthanized.
- And Barney.
- And Dora the Explorer. And...
- I wear my clothes a little big.
- That's because I hate feeling them on my skin.
- It bothers my wife. She says this makes me look like a little boy sometimes.
- I'm starting to buy smaller sizes, but it's a struggle.
- I wear a large red-hooded sweatshirt when I'm writing at home.
- Comfort foods and comfort clothes go together. Growing up in a cold climate does that to ya.
- Oops, out of space. For now...
Update - Sep. 22, 2012: Indeed, there was at least one new list in me. #3 is now live...here.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Art appreciation 101
She observes
London, ON, December 2007
Sometimes, I like to sit back and watch my kids as they figure out the world around them. It gives me perspective. It also gives me a chance to see whether I'm ruining them with my somewhat unconventional approach to parenting.
So far, they seem to be evolving well - doubtless a result of my wife's influence. To wit, this scene where my daughter learned about the magic of art and the joy of taking a quiet moment to stare and think. As I stood behind her and tried to record the simple scene, I wished for many more opportunities to look over our kids' shoulders in the years to come.
Your turn: Watching them grow. Please discuss.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Reach for the sky
Branched
Toronto, ON, November 2007 [Click to enlarge]
Trees take on a whole new drama when they lose their leaves for the winter. No longer able to shade the world below them, they instead frame the skies above for those of us lucky or insightful enough to take a moment to look up.
It's strictly temporary, of course, for in a few short months this scene will once again be replaced by foliage. But for now, they offer up their own lesson in finding the good after a significant loss. Just because something's empty doesn't mean it lacks its own unique sense of worth.
As a very little me stands underneath this very large canvas of impossible beauty, I suspect I've just learned that true worth often comes in starkly built packages. Yet another life's lesson learned.
Your turn: Can there be beauty following a significant loss?
One more thing: Santa's winging his way across the planet tonight. OK, not really. He's a fraud, of course. A modern-day ruse cynically designed to sell more toys before the all-important retail year-end. But that hasn't stopped countless local TV news stations from filling their lineups with breathless stories about NORAD's Santa trackers (for the record, it's here.) Years back, I posted a funny missive about the Physics of Santa Claus that outlined scientifically why the jolly fat red guy is about as real as Pamela Anderson's chest and Jamie Lynn (and Britney's, for that matter) Spears's virginity. Click here for the original post. Enjoy, and have a great holiday if you're celebrating - and a great day off if you're not.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Caption This 50
Please caption this image
[Click here for instructions on how Caption This works]
London, ON, December 2007 [Click to embiggen]
Locks make great photographic subjects. They have shiny, machined surfaces that shoot nicely and they typically don't wiggle like kids do when the camera comes out. I also have locks on the brain considering the fancy high-security one on our front door recently broke and we waited the better part of a week to get it fixed. Never mind how I managed to lock myself into the house. That's a story for another day, folks.
Your turn: How would you caption this image? Click on Comments and give it your best shot. Or shots, as I have a soft spot for multiple submitters.
About last week's image of candles: Huge amount of interest in this one, and a huge conundrum for me because so many visitors submitted so many creative suggestions. I was certainly torn. Ultimately, only one winner could be chosen because I was down to my last tiara. That person is Awareness: "Great minds think alight." If you haven't visited her site yet, click here. I'll wait for you to come back. She's that good.
As always, I feel compelled to honorably mention these folks for their flashes of creative brilliance:
- Robin: "Light reading."
- Beverly: "All is calm, all is bright."
- Bob-kat: "It's going to take ages to heat the beans using these!"
- Jeremy: "Little Light [of this flickering candle] Illuminates the night like your spirit illuminates my soul..."
- Dawn: "Let there be light, I can't see a darn thing using these candles!"
- Sister AE: "Make a wish!"
- Sara: "Shimmering Candles lighting the way."
- Dak-ind: "Lighting remberance."
- Laurie: "Light for the soul."
- Gautami Tripathy: "Shadows from the past."
- Sara: "No need to burn the candle from both ends, just enjoy them as they are."
- Robin: "Flickr, B.C."
- Killlashandra: "Blessed wishes."
- Breadbox: "A light in the darkness."
- Omykiss: "Not another power failure!"
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Sweet!
Handling it
Laval, QC, November 2007 [Click to embiggen]
I'm fascinated by industrial design. We use countless objects to get ourselves through any given day, but we rarely take a moment to look at them and wonder how they came to be as they are. Well-implemented industrial design concepts ensure they perform their intended role as intended, often not drawing attention to themselves in the process.
But I'll pay attention anyway because I'm weird. The syrup holder at the restaurant we went to before getting on the road for the long drive back to London had a neat shape to it. It seemed simple and purposeful, and I thought it would make a fun quick study in shape and surface texture.
It didn't hurt that my shooting the image made fellow diners furrow their brows, wondering why the strange guy with the Ontario accent was playing with his camera and not eating his breakfast.
Your turn: Pick an everyday object near you right now. Please describe it in a comment.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Cranked
Give me strength
London, ON, October 2007 [Click to embiggen]
The scene: The construction site of our new elementary school that's scheduled to open next September. It's a big deal for our little community and a big deal for our kids, who ooh and aah over "their" school every time we drive by the construction site.
It's a quiet Sunday and I happen to be in the neighborhood with our two youngest. Because we have a bit of time to kill, I park the car nearby and we wander around the edge of the fenced in area. They've parked the big machines just outside, so we can walk right up to them and gape at their filthy gigantism.
It takes a lot of disparate elements to build a school. But some are more critical than others. As I stare at this large crank-like thing on a big digging machine (can't you tell I'm an expert in these things?) I decide that this is where the story is focused. So much potential, so much future growth, all revolving around a pivotal part of a pivotal machine that routinely flexes its mechanical muscles without so much as a second glance from those who will ultimately benefit.
I guess I just wanted our kids to get that chance to look, wonder and dream about what will be.
Your turn: Pivotal things. Pivotal people. Please discuss.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Jamie Lynn Spears is pregnant - and stupid
My wife and I had an interesting discussion with our 10-year-old daughter last night. We had to explain to her that Jamie Lynn Spears, younger sister of that paragon of virtue Britney and star of the kid-fave show Zoey 101, was pregnant at the tender age of 16. It's a discussion we didn't really didn't want to have, but the big bad world was once again threatening our little one's mythical bubble of childhood. So we figured it made more sense for her to hear it from us than from a schoolyard friend.
As odious as I find the whole genre of celebrity "news" coverage, I had to laugh at a quote attributed to this newly-minted anti-role model: “It was a shock for both of us, so unexpected…”Here's a news flash for Ms. Spears the Younger: It’s basic biology. If you’re going to go drilling, you have to expect to strike oil at some point. If you don’t want to be “surprised”, then don’t go drilling in the first place.
I think someone needs to get a new PR director. And parents with a clue.
Your turn: Thoughts?
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Wordless Wednesday - Antisocial
Teatime? Not today
London, ON, November 2007 [Click to embiggen]
Your turn: Quick, what's your first thought upon seeing this scene? Don't overthink it...just respond in a comment.
One more thing: Robyn Hertz is still missing - and I'm hoping you can help find her. Please click here if you're just joining us.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
The house at 80 Oxford Street
Sad entrance
London, ON, November 2007
[Click to enlarge]
Some porches wear their age with grace (click here and here for earlier examples) while others, such as this one, seem to wither away without so much as a second thought from anyone who passes by.
Well, except for me. I happened to be driving past on this gray, blustery day. The light happened to be red and I happened to have my camera nearby. I happened to have caught this out of the corner of my eye. And of all the run-down snippets of life that I saw that morning, this one prompted me to lift the camera and snag a quick shot through the passenger-side window.
Only as I reviewed it in greater detail later on did I realize this house had more of a story to tell than I originally thought.
Your turn: Please share a piece of the story of this place. Feel free to use your imagination, as there's so much to tell.
One more thing: Robyn Hertz is still missing. There have been a number of sitings of her in Montreal, but she's still not home and her family and friends are extremely worried. Click here for my original blog entry and here for the Facebook page. I have also posted it to Digg. If you live in Montreal or Ottawa, I hope you'll be able to help. If you don't, please pray for her safe return.
London, ON, November 2007
[Click to enlarge]
Some porches wear their age with grace (click here and here for earlier examples) while others, such as this one, seem to wither away without so much as a second thought from anyone who passes by.
Well, except for me. I happened to be driving past on this gray, blustery day. The light happened to be red and I happened to have my camera nearby. I happened to have caught this out of the corner of my eye. And of all the run-down snippets of life that I saw that morning, this one prompted me to lift the camera and snag a quick shot through the passenger-side window.
Only as I reviewed it in greater detail later on did I realize this house had more of a story to tell than I originally thought.
Your turn: Please share a piece of the story of this place. Feel free to use your imagination, as there's so much to tell.
One more thing: Robyn Hertz is still missing. There have been a number of sitings of her in Montreal, but she's still not home and her family and friends are extremely worried. Click here for my original blog entry and here for the Facebook page. I have also posted it to Digg. If you live in Montreal or Ottawa, I hope you'll be able to help. If you don't, please pray for her safe return.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Caption This 49
Please caption this image
[Click here for instructions on how Caption This works]
London, ON, November 2007 [Click to embiggen]
The candle's soft light is one of my earliest memories. My mom lit them every Friday night for Shabbat, and I remember watching the dancing yellow glow long after everyone had finished supper and gone off to do their own thing. To me, the light was the thing. I found it comforting, something to look forward to every week as we transitioned into the weekend.
My mother still lights the candles in her home, as does my wife in ours. I still stare at them and think back to the four-year-old me. I wonder what goes through others' minds as they look into a candle's light.
Your turn: I guess now's your chance to share just that. Please leave a suggested caption - or ten - in a comment and I'll post the winner next week.
About last week's photo of a fly: This was a fun one for me. I debated whether I should post it or not. But since I had recently broken the ice with the dead rodent pic, I figured everyone who visits was already used to seeing my twisted side. In the end, I had a hard time choosing because there were so many submissions that made me laugh out loud.
But I had to choose one, and Bubblehead's stood out as particularly unique: "The original frequent flyer." Please drop by his blog, Hu-Flung-Poo, and congratulate him.
Honorable mentions go to these very creative folks:
- Gautami Tripathy: "Would you like to land on my soup?"
- Moi: "What's all this buzz about!"
- Robin: ""Secret Ingredient" and "No shoes, no shirt, no service"
- Dara: "What Jeff Goldblum has been up to lately..."
- D. Sinclair: "Time flies"
- SPWriter: "Wings and a prayer"
- Bob-kat: "I may be small but my plan for world domination is right on schedule"
- Joan: "Don't you wish YOU could be the fly on the wall?"
- Paige: "Now I lay me down to sleep...Cause a big ol' fly swatter is coming"
- Blond Girl: "This is the way we wash our hands, wash our hands, wash our hands...."
- Jilly Bean: "Too close for comfort"
- Awareness: "Straighten up and fly right..."
- John: "I said I wanted a large FRY with that..."
- Sara: "Ain't no flies on me"
- Kerri: "Times Fun when You're Having Flies"
- Snaggle Tooth: "Waiting to be served"
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Water, frozen in time
Spray on
London, ON, October 2006 [Click to embiggen]
One of my recurring themes is water in motion (see here and here for past examples.) In so many ways, water is the perfect medium to shoot. Unlike people, it doesn't talk back, it doesn't have bad days and it doesn't hide itself when you lift the camera.
My only risk in shooting this was the shopping mall rent-a-cop who doubtless would have relished taking me to task for pulling out my camera in violation of The Rules of Masonville Place.
These rules stipulate that photographic violators shall be dealt with in a most severe manner by mall authorities. I smiled as I warily eyed the crowd, looking for the telltale white-shirted uniform and imagining the kanipshen fit he'd have if he saw me taking pictures of his employer's precious and top-secret fountain.
I got lucky that day, as the guard never showed (eating donuts, perhaps? Or flirting with the KFC fry lady?) As you can see, I took the shot. And I'll do it again, rent-a-cop and risk of a mall jail term notwithstanding.
Your turn: Taking pictures at risk of getting caught. Please discuss.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Photographic mystery
Ornate
Laval, QC, August 2007 [Click to embiggen]
Children often find comfort in the weird and wonderful things their parents bring into the home. Decor is hugely subjective, of course. Your parents' taste rarely matches your own. And as hideous as you might think some of their long-ago interior design decisions might have been (olive green and gold wallpaper, anyone? Modern art interpretations of belly dancers, perhaps?) you can't help but remember them with fondness because they made your world unique. They made your house a home.
When my parents moved out of the home where I was raised (see here for background), much of that rich texture went with it. I tried to capture the old house in pictures before moving day, but in the end photos aren't the same. Still, some of the icons of the old house made their way down the hill to their new place. When we visit them now, we walk into a lovely unit that, as nice as it is, isn't the place where I grew up. The few items that made it there remind me that home isn't always the walls around you, but how you fill the space.
Your space: What is this? What were my parents thinking when they first brought it home? Have fun with it...they occasionally read my blog.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Moonscape?
Desolate
London, ON, October 2007
Photography is as much about what isn't in the frame as what is. When I was a child, I'd make a rectangle with my fingers and thumbs, then look around through the hastily created aperture. I was too young for a camera, but I remember feeling gleeful when I realized I could block out things I didn't want to see.
Fast forward to today and, despite the relative sophistication of my adult's tools - a dSLR instead of chubby fingers - I'm doing pretty much the same thing. I remove extraneous details through selective composition, placing scenes in whatever context I wish.
Some days, I'd like to be able to control the real world as completely as I do the two-dimensional one I first began defining with my fingers so many years ago.
Your turn: So what's this scene saying to you? (I'll share full background on the image this time next week. In the meantime, feel free to ruminate.)
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Wordless Wednesday - Push the envelope
99 red balloons...minus 98
London, ON, August 2007 [Click to embiggen]
I've been fascinated by flight for as long as I can remember. The fact that something can leave the planet's surface for a while is, despite our understanding of the physics involved, nothing short of magic. Click here, here, here and here for other flight-related photography.
Your turn: How flight inspires us in all sorts of surprising ways. Please discuss.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Putting on my tech guru hat
Over the past few weeks, I've had some interesting bits of media exposure. I like to drop them onto the blog periodically to ensure I don't forget what I've been up to. Here's a quick sampling:
Your turn: Why does technology interest us? Or not?
One more thing: 47 years ago tonight, a young man married a young woman in a ceremony that I always thought had been held in black and white. It's been a journey and and then some for them, touched with healthy doses of adversity and happiness. Because of this one event, I exist. Happy anniversary, Mom & Dad. I wish I had the power to give you 47 more.
- Inc.com, byline Marc Saltzman: MS Office 2007: Worth the Investment?
- BetaNews, byline Scott Fulton: Analysis: Is Black Friday truly good for an ailing US economy?
- ITBusiness.ca, byline Lynn Greiner: Technology's Future is Green
- InformationWeek, byline Richard Martin:
Wall Street Gets Sour BlackBerry TasteI'm also scheduled to be included in Outlook 2008, a year-end special that's airing repeatedly on Business News Network through the holiday season. It's scheduled to air a bunch of times over the holiday period, first one set for tomorrow (December 12 at 8:00 p.m. ET.) I'll post a link to it once it's available online. I'll be discussing RIM and the future of the BlackBerry.
Verizon Opens Its Network
Verizon's Open Move Hastens Wireless Market Transformation
Your turn: Why does technology interest us? Or not?
One more thing: 47 years ago tonight, a young man married a young woman in a ceremony that I always thought had been held in black and white. It's been a journey and and then some for them, touched with healthy doses of adversity and happiness. Because of this one event, I exist. Happy anniversary, Mom & Dad. I wish I had the power to give you 47 more.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Reflection on the right side of the tracks
Journey to...?
Lancaster, Ontario
August 2007
The scene: A small town far enough away from the nearest big city that complete strangers spontaneously walk up to you on the main drag and start chatting with you about anything and everything. Just north of the main business district, the road is bisected by the main rail line that carries passenger and freight traffic.
In the few hours that we spent in this picture perfect place, countless trains roared through the intersection, cutting the town in two and stopping residents in their tracks. What struck me was how they responded to the interruption. Motorists didn't honk each other or otherwise fume at the wheel. Pedestrians didn't tune out to iPods or tap their feet impatiently as the trains rumbled past.
Instead, in a scene that just wouldn't happen in my adopted hometown of London, people spoke with each other. Parents played with their stroller-bound kids. Kids counted the passing cars. They accepted the interruption, made the best of it.
They weren't rushed. Their destination wasn't going anywhere. I couldn't help but think that they were subtly teaching outside observers like me an important life lesson.
Your turn: Avoiding the rush. Please discuss.
One more thing: Here's another perspective on our unanticipated afternoon in this very special place. I think I need to spend more time observing life in places where folks still know how to appreciate the simpler things.
Lancaster, Ontario
August 2007
The scene: A small town far enough away from the nearest big city that complete strangers spontaneously walk up to you on the main drag and start chatting with you about anything and everything. Just north of the main business district, the road is bisected by the main rail line that carries passenger and freight traffic.
In the few hours that we spent in this picture perfect place, countless trains roared through the intersection, cutting the town in two and stopping residents in their tracks. What struck me was how they responded to the interruption. Motorists didn't honk each other or otherwise fume at the wheel. Pedestrians didn't tune out to iPods or tap their feet impatiently as the trains rumbled past.
Instead, in a scene that just wouldn't happen in my adopted hometown of London, people spoke with each other. Parents played with their stroller-bound kids. Kids counted the passing cars. They accepted the interruption, made the best of it.
They weren't rushed. Their destination wasn't going anywhere. I couldn't help but think that they were subtly teaching outside observers like me an important life lesson.
Your turn: Avoiding the rush. Please discuss.
One more thing: Here's another perspective on our unanticipated afternoon in this very special place. I think I need to spend more time observing life in places where folks still know how to appreciate the simpler things.
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Caption This 48
Please caption this image
[Click here for instructions on how Caption This works]
Laval, QC, August 2007 [Click to embiggen]
For the record, no living beings were harmed while photographing this scene. My wife, on the other hand, thought I was a little silly for doing so.
Your turn: Name or caption this image in a comment. I promise you it'll be fun. Entries are free, so submit as many as you wish.
About last week's image of the dandelion: I got lots of great responses to this one. Many honorables this time out:
- Melanie, Anne and Heidi: "Make a wish"
- Jan Scholl: Geodesic
- Robin: "Blow job" (I laughed for a while when I first read this one!)
- Tabor: "Missed one!"
- Slim: "Sometimes it's okay to give into temptation..."
- Awareness: "Wishful thinking......."
- Dak-ind: "Not on MY lawn!"
- Pastormac's Ann: "Awaiting the sacred breath of freedom..."
- Moi: "Here today, gone tomorrow!"
Have fun with this week's Jeff Goldblum-inspired image!
One more thing: This will either inspire or sicken you, but this image was captured in a restaurant. The little sucker was buzzing around the window, and I zoomed in on him when he took a break from annoying everyone around him (her? Who knows...)
Either way, I'll keep the name of the restaurant quiet to protect the guilty.
Friday, December 07, 2007
Restaurant tabletop memory
Scene from a diner
Laval, QC
August 2007
[Click to embiggen]
I use my camera to record not just scenes, but feelings. I've often written how I take pictures to remember what I was feeling at a particular moment. I'm not especially focused on remembering monumental milestones in my life - those are easy enough to recall, I suppose. Rather, it's the everyday moments that are usually forgotten by the passage of time.
To wit, we forget this morning's breakfast, and yesterday's. We forget not only what we had, but what it felt like to sit at the table and make the transition from sleeping at home to working in the real world.
I'm not saying that we could or should remember each and every breakfast throughout our lifetime. That would get pretty old pretty quickly. But every once in a while it might be nice to stop for a second and take the time to seal the memory. Maybe a little bit of quiet introspection would do some people on this planet some good.
The texture of this moment was too much to resist. A dimly lit pizzeria in the town where I grew up. A formica tabletop, a frayed menu and a backdrop of fake wood veneer. As I watched our kids eat their pizza and banter among themselves, I slipped away from the table and recorded this quiet, never-changing scene.
Your turn: A small moment that you're going to remember after reading this. Please discuss how you'll remember it.
One more thing: I have a thing for close-in photos in quiet, old eateries....click here, here, here and here for more.
Laval, QC
August 2007
[Click to embiggen]
I use my camera to record not just scenes, but feelings. I've often written how I take pictures to remember what I was feeling at a particular moment. I'm not especially focused on remembering monumental milestones in my life - those are easy enough to recall, I suppose. Rather, it's the everyday moments that are usually forgotten by the passage of time.
To wit, we forget this morning's breakfast, and yesterday's. We forget not only what we had, but what it felt like to sit at the table and make the transition from sleeping at home to working in the real world.
I'm not saying that we could or should remember each and every breakfast throughout our lifetime. That would get pretty old pretty quickly. But every once in a while it might be nice to stop for a second and take the time to seal the memory. Maybe a little bit of quiet introspection would do some people on this planet some good.
The texture of this moment was too much to resist. A dimly lit pizzeria in the town where I grew up. A formica tabletop, a frayed menu and a backdrop of fake wood veneer. As I watched our kids eat their pizza and banter among themselves, I slipped away from the table and recorded this quiet, never-changing scene.
Your turn: A small moment that you're going to remember after reading this. Please discuss how you'll remember it.
One more thing: I have a thing for close-in photos in quiet, old eateries....click here, here, here and here for more.
Thursday, December 06, 2007
A plethora of latkes
Call my cardiologist
London, ON, December 2007 [Click to clog another artery]
They're not really all that healthy. OK, they're downright deadly, as anything fried in oil is likely to be in this age of health-labelled foods and exploding rates of obesity (ironic? Me? No.)
But they're incredibly tasty with just the right amount of sour cream or apple sauce. And Chanukah (or Hannukah, or however you choose to spell it) just wouldn't be the same without them. It's as if the house needs to have the telltale aroma of fried potatoes for it to really feel like it's a holiday.
So for an eight-day span in December, we'll eat stuff we really shouldn't eat because it's good for our soul, it makes it real for our kids, and it gives us all a chance to appreciate our unique place in a world that rarely gives minorities a chance to put a stamp on their uniqueness. As we try to raise our kids to value who they are and keep our traditions alive for yet another generation, we look to simple holiday traditions like cholesterol-laden potato pancakes to help reinforce the process.
It isn't easy. No one ever said it would be. We wouldn't have it any other way.
Your turn: Touchstones of your season. Please discuss.
One more thing: I wrote a column about the holiday a couple of years back. It's entitled The puzzle of passing down faith, and it was published in our city's daily paper, the London Free Press. Click here for the link to the blog entry. Enjoy the read.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Wordless Wednesday - Juiced
Glowing glass of golden nutrition
London, ON, November 2007 [Click to embiggen]
Your turn: Does this make you thirsty?
One more thing: Juice is a recurring photographic theme for me. Click here, here, here and here for past examples of liquified fruity goodness. Odd, I know. I offer no explanations or excuses. I am what I am.
Monday, December 03, 2007
Caption This 47
Please caption this image
[Click here for instructions on how Caption This works]
London, ON, October 2007 [Click to embiggen]
Some days, it pays to look down. While attending the groundbreaking ceremonies for our children's new school (big, exciting news in our community - more entries on that in the months to come) I found myself taking pictures (huge surprise, I know) of the usual scenes: shovels, speeches, audience, site. It was an exciting, memorable day for everyone who attended.
Yet, for reasons I still don't fully understand, I realized toward the end of the event that I hadn't taken any artsy photos that day. I haven't fulfilled my photographic destiny unless I've pointed the lens at something strange, something that would prompt ridicule from passersby.
So I took a picture of a flower - some would say weed, but I choose not to - that no longer exists, blown into oblivion by the winds of autumn, with a little help from the backhoe that turned the site into a mud flat in the days after this photo was taken.
But this moment will persist for as long as I can remember it, thanks to my little addiction.
Your turn: Please name this photo. Submit as many creative captions as you wish: I get excited when I see multiple submissions from folks. I'll announce the winner next week.
About last week's image of planes at the airport in Toronto: This was a very quiet, personal moment for me. I don't just walk aimlessly through airports. Rather, I traverse them slowly and deliberately, trying to remember how it felt to be there. Travel is a privilege, and the airport is a critical waypoint on any long journey: I want my photos from these places to capture those feelings.
Many of you captured these feelings with great precision in your entries. Anne's closely reflected what I felt at that moment: "They just waltzed around with their tails in the air like they owned the place."
Honorable mentions go to these great folks:
- Vickiev: "Grounded"
- John: "Coming and going."
- Rashbre: "Turn this crazy bird around."
- Omykiss: "Caption: No parking spaces left."
- Sara: "Even when we're up in the air - we are still at home."
- Thumper: "Fly the friendly skies, eh?"
- Joan, Bubblehead: "Leavin' on a jet plane."
- JC: "One way ticket to paradise, please."
- Wordnerd: "Home is in plane view."
- Awareness: "Precious cargo coming and going."
- Robin: "You can take the man out of his country, but you can't take the country out of the man."
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Hazy alley in Shanghai
Every window has a story
Shanghai, China
May 2007
[Click to enlarge]
I've got a thing for alleys (see here, here and here), those quiet, dim places where so much seems to happen out of sight of the mainstream.
As I walked past this imposing sight on a smog-choked day, I wondered about the stories that go on behind each of these windows, the lives that play out in the shadows of a city whose size almost defies the imagination. Small and invisible in the midst of overwhelming and large.
I suspect many of these stories would be of no interest to the strangers who walk by and peer down this alley as they rush to wherever it is they're headed. But somewhere in the giant pile of existence, I'm sure there's a needle of a compelling story.
Imagine taking the time to dig in.
Your turn: Pick a window. What story does it tell?
One more thing: Caption This will be posted tomorrow. I'm not feeling particularly captionish today. Thanks for your patience.
Shanghai, China
May 2007
[Click to enlarge]
I've got a thing for alleys (see here, here and here), those quiet, dim places where so much seems to happen out of sight of the mainstream.
As I walked past this imposing sight on a smog-choked day, I wondered about the stories that go on behind each of these windows, the lives that play out in the shadows of a city whose size almost defies the imagination. Small and invisible in the midst of overwhelming and large.
I suspect many of these stories would be of no interest to the strangers who walk by and peer down this alley as they rush to wherever it is they're headed. But somewhere in the giant pile of existence, I'm sure there's a needle of a compelling story.
Imagine taking the time to dig in.
Your turn: Pick a window. What story does it tell?
One more thing: Caption This will be posted tomorrow. I'm not feeling particularly captionish today. Thanks for your patience.
Saturday, December 01, 2007
The clock strikes...
Timeless
London, ON, August 2007
[Click to enlarge]
This clock tower in the middle of London's University of Western Ontario campus sits up on a hill, standing guard like some kind of ancient sentinel. I see it often because it's not far from the television studio where I often do interviews.
On this August evening, I had just finished one such interview and was feeling pretty good about the outcome. The last bits of sunlight were fading into memory as I walked back to my car, slowly running the just-completed interview through my head. No one else was around as I looked around and tried to remember visuals that would cement this particular day in my mind.
The clock tower struck me as particularly appropriate to photograph. Not only was it perfectly bathed in the very soft light of late evening. It also reflected the importance of time to some folks, and the fact that my last deadline of the day had been met, and now I could take a few quiet moments to reflect and record.
I took a few pictures from the parking lot, lingering for a bit because I didn't want to forget what it felt like to have had a really successful, fulfilling day. Then it was time to head home and add to my memories of the day by sharing it with the folks who mattered most.
Your turn: How do you use your camera to capture how you feel?
One more thing: Speaking of TV, I was at it again yesterday. I did a live interview with BNN's Kim Parlee about the departure of Motorola CEO Ed Zander. Click here to see it. I'd love to hear what you think.
London, ON, August 2007
[Click to enlarge]
This clock tower in the middle of London's University of Western Ontario campus sits up on a hill, standing guard like some kind of ancient sentinel. I see it often because it's not far from the television studio where I often do interviews.
On this August evening, I had just finished one such interview and was feeling pretty good about the outcome. The last bits of sunlight were fading into memory as I walked back to my car, slowly running the just-completed interview through my head. No one else was around as I looked around and tried to remember visuals that would cement this particular day in my mind.
The clock tower struck me as particularly appropriate to photograph. Not only was it perfectly bathed in the very soft light of late evening. It also reflected the importance of time to some folks, and the fact that my last deadline of the day had been met, and now I could take a few quiet moments to reflect and record.
I took a few pictures from the parking lot, lingering for a bit because I didn't want to forget what it felt like to have had a really successful, fulfilling day. Then it was time to head home and add to my memories of the day by sharing it with the folks who mattered most.
Your turn: How do you use your camera to capture how you feel?
One more thing: Speaking of TV, I was at it again yesterday. I did a live interview with BNN's Kim Parlee about the departure of Motorola CEO Ed Zander. Click here to see it. I'd love to hear what you think.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Perspective in brick and mortar
Not so plain after all
London, ON, August 2007
I had gone out to pick up one of our kids from a birthday party at a local bowling alley. I was a bit early, so while the little folks consumed every last morsel of unnatural-looking icing and ran around the room a few more times just because they could, I went for a stroll outside.
There wasn't much to see in this place, a busy strip mall that occupies one of the busiest corners in the city. The plain-looking facade was like that of any other strip mall in this city that's defined by a surplus of forgettable architecture.
Yet as I stood in the late afternoon sun and took in the scene, it once again occurred to me that even the forgettable can be memorable if we choose to frame it just so. The basic subject matters less than how we choose to view it.
Your turn: Something plain that became less so when you chose to look at it differently. Please discuss.
London, ON, August 2007
I had gone out to pick up one of our kids from a birthday party at a local bowling alley. I was a bit early, so while the little folks consumed every last morsel of unnatural-looking icing and ran around the room a few more times just because they could, I went for a stroll outside.
There wasn't much to see in this place, a busy strip mall that occupies one of the busiest corners in the city. The plain-looking facade was like that of any other strip mall in this city that's defined by a surplus of forgettable architecture.
Yet as I stood in the late afternoon sun and took in the scene, it once again occurred to me that even the forgettable can be memorable if we choose to frame it just so. The basic subject matters less than how we choose to view it.
Your turn: Something plain that became less so when you chose to look at it differently. Please discuss.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Cover me with warmth
SPF
Grand Bend, ON, September 2007
Nesting or cocooning are behaviors often associated with preparing to endure another long, cold winter. We hunker down and hold onto things we hold dear, that bring us warmth and comfort.
So as the winds outside blow increasingly cold, I find myself spending a bit more time looking over pictures I took when the breezes were warmer. I linger over them and let the images get absorbed into my psyche. This image in particular warms me. I see little snippets of family life, taking in what was likely the last visit to the beach before everyone returned to school and work. It's pictures like these that remind me of my own childhood experiences in these places where the land ends and the big blue sea begins.
It's the photographic equivalent of a bowl of hearty soup, a rocking chair and a big, soft comforter.
Your turn: What do your nesting rituals look/feel like when the weather turns? Why do they matter to you?
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Who's a media whore?
That would be me. It's a title I wear without shame. Why be ashamed of something I enjoy?
So after last week's getting-my-name-online/in-print festivities (see here), this week seems to be continuing the trend:
So after last week's getting-my-name-online/in-print festivities (see here), this week seems to be continuing the trend:
- InformationWeek. Verizon's Open Move Hastens Wireless Market Transformation. Byline Richard Martin.
- BetaNews. Google's storage service appears close to launch. Byline Ed Oswald.
- Toronto Star. RIM may be next with touch screen. Byline Chris Sorensen. This was by far my favorite. Anytime I can disagree with a Gartner analyst and someone from my now-former employer, life is good. Even better, they tossed my name into the sub-head: Consultant Levy argues Waterloo firm is anxious to lure more consumers.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Forgotten
Don't look away
London, ON, November 2007 [Click to embiggen]
The irony of posting this image so soon after posting an entry on beauty isn't lost on me. I came across this sad scene as I was walking home recently. I hovered for a bit on the sidewalk, wondering if I would dare take a picture. After pacing back and forth at least half a dozen times - and likely prompting passing motorists to think I had overindulged in an old bottle of Baby Duck - I pulled the camera out and started shooting.
Why on earth would I take pictures of a dead rodent? Simple:
- Photography isn't always about beauty. Sometimes, the lens captures less glorious views of our world. For better or worse, occasionally we need to get a stark look at reality, too.
- If I hadn't taken this picture, I doubt anyone else would have. Imagine living a life, then being completely forgotten.
- Shouldn't the arts provoke us to think a little? If this photo jars you a bit, then it's done its job.
Your turn: What the hell was I thinking? What the hell are you thinking as you ponder this macabre scene?
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Caption This 46
Please caption this image
[Click here for instructions on how Caption This works]
Toronto, ON, May 2007 [Click to embiggen]
One of the things I loved about being a globetrotting analyst was the flying. One of the things I hated about it was flying alone. Hanging out in strange airports and having no one to interact with for hours on end gave me lots of time to stare out the windows with a sense of fascination and wonder not too far removed from that of our children.
I was on my way to China on this morning, moving through Toronto's Pearson International Airport to catch the second of three flights that would take me further from home than I had ever been. For some reason, my eye kept falling on things that said "Canada". I guess I really am a homebody after all.
Your turn: Please suggest a caption for this image. Submit as many comments as you wish. I'll announce the winner next week.
About last week's image of an alleyway in London: A mysterious bricked-in pathway just off an old street resulted in some compellingly brilliant and diverse suggestions. Heidi takes it this week with this wonderful phrase: "But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it."
Honorable mentions also go to:
- Judy: "This way to The Really Secret Garden!"
- Wendy: "Gateway to adventure"
- Mom: "Enter at your own risk."
- Terri: "May your path be long...and not end with a closed gate."
- Miss Meliss: "Urban Hideaway"
- Moon: "It's the simple paths that lead us to the most magnificant of places."
- d.o.m. dan: "Where the streets have no name"
- BreadBox: "Forbidding gate, secret garden...."
Saturday, November 24, 2007
The BlackBerry controversy continues
I've stepped in it again. Earlier this week, I was interviewed for a piece on the next generation BlackBerry platform (the 9000-series, for the geekier-inclined) by Dan Jones of Unstrung. The article, RIM's Touching New BlackBerry Plans, was published late Tuesday.
As things go in the world of the Internet, the piece was picked up in some notable places. In some cases, it's sparked some, um, not-very-nice responses from largely anonymous blog commenters. Here's a rundown of some of the more fun ones:
(The piece was reprinted in the Kitchener-Waterloo Record and the Hamilton Spectator. The Electricity Forum also picked it up. I know, I'm still scratching my head over that last one.)
Your turn: Does it take courage to slag someone from behind the wall of anonymity? Do you think folks would be a little more diplomatic if they had to attach their names to everything they post online?
As things go in the world of the Internet, the piece was picked up in some notable places. In some cases, it's sparked some, um, not-very-nice responses from largely anonymous blog commenters. Here's a rundown of some of the more fun ones:
- Boy Genius Report. This is my favorite of all. You've got to love when teenaged fanboys in their mothers' basements get all hot and bothered by something I've said. Funny how no one has the guts to actually post a real name or link. Imagine that.
- Gizmodo. Another notable geek-gadget blog.
- ZDNet. Where Russell Shaw calls me a clued-in analyst (whew, at least one person knows how to be nice!)
- And others: PC World, ZDNet UK, and even a blog in Australia.
(The piece was reprinted in the Kitchener-Waterloo Record and the Hamilton Spectator. The Electricity Forum also picked it up. I know, I'm still scratching my head over that last one.)
Your turn: Does it take courage to slag someone from behind the wall of anonymity? Do you think folks would be a little more diplomatic if they had to attach their names to everything they post online?
Friday, November 23, 2007
Urban mural
Trees on brick
London, ON, October 2007
[Click to enlarge]
I'm a big fan of anything that takes the endlessly repetitive landscape of a built-up, run-down city and tries to make it unique and memorable. Even when it's done on a small scale, like this mural on an old building in London's east end, I have to believe that it improves the life of the neighborhood - and of its residents - in some way.
I don't know who painted this. But whoever it was clearly saw a reality that extended well beyond the dusty brick and empty glass storefronts that surrounded this place. A sliver of hope where there previously was none: I like the feel of that. I hope you do, too.
Your turn: Something small that gives hope. Please discuss.
London, ON, October 2007
[Click to enlarge]
I'm a big fan of anything that takes the endlessly repetitive landscape of a built-up, run-down city and tries to make it unique and memorable. Even when it's done on a small scale, like this mural on an old building in London's east end, I have to believe that it improves the life of the neighborhood - and of its residents - in some way.
I don't know who painted this. But whoever it was clearly saw a reality that extended well beyond the dusty brick and empty glass storefronts that surrounded this place. A sliver of hope where there previously was none: I like the feel of that. I hope you do, too.
Your turn: Something small that gives hope. Please discuss.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Beauty redux
Isn't she lovely?
London, ON, November 2007
I take lots of pictures of things. But I'm never happier than when I'm taking photos of the people who matter most, who I love, who love me, who surround me and make me what I am.
I took this one as we set off on another grand family road trip. The kids were belted into the wondervan, everyone was happy and fed, and suddenly my wife was there, and I had to remember that moment.
This picture reminds me that sometimes you just need to pause and remind yourself why the life you lead is infinitely better than anything you ever hoped for. Or deserved.
Your turn: You're lucky because...?
One more thing: I often take pictures of my family. Just because. Here's an earlier one of my wife.
Crossed wires
The local grid
Shanghai, China, May 2007
If the devil is supposed to be in the details, then one has to wonder why we don't pay more attention to the little things around us.
When I was in Shanghai, I took big pictures of the skyline (see here and here), but it was the little pictures that sealed my memories of this remarkable place.
The so-called small views have an attainable reality that the big ones often lack. The people who live here don't spend all their time staring into the distance. Rather, they spend their days navigating the blocks near their workplaces, their homes, their schools. The things they encounter as they go about their lives make up a much smaller vista than the tourist books would have you believe.
These otherwise forgettable overhead wires may not merit any kind of extraordinary attention. But they're real, they're local, and they help me remember what it felt like to stand on the street corner and shoot this. Somehow, the broad vistas failed to accomplish this.
Your turn: Small, local, real. Why is this important to you?
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Wordless Wednesday - Craggy
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Letter to the supermarket weenies
Way back in September, I posted an entry about a couple of teenaged grocery store employees who shot a satirical video and were subsequently fired and sued by the good folks at the A&P (click here to read it and see the video.)
The company sued them for $1 million, saying this was the amount of business they lost because of the video. I found that laughable, and tossed it around my head for a bit. After about a month of stewing, I was feeling somewhat self righteous one evening. So I wrote a nasty letter to A&P and e-mailed it to them. I thought you might find it an entertaining read:
Your turn: Do you complain to companies? Why/why not? Got a story to share?
The company sued them for $1 million, saying this was the amount of business they lost because of the video. I found that laughable, and tossed it around my head for a bit. After about a month of stewing, I was feeling somewhat self righteous one evening. So I wrote a nasty letter to A&P and e-mailed it to them. I thought you might find it an entertaining read:
To whom it may concern,I e-mailed this note at 8:41 p.m. on October 10 of this year. I haven't heard back from them, nor do I expect to. Great customer relations, A&P.
I find it amusing that you use value of lost business as validation for the size of your lawsuit against these two young men. Do you really think that you lost $1 million in business immediately following the release of this video?
If you were managed by individuals who were perhaps more aware of how companies should adapt to the new social media-aware economy, you might have seen this video as a marketing opportunity. Instead, you've betrayed your old-school approach to management and convinced the next generation of grocery shoppers that you really have no clue.
If anything threatens your bottom line, it is the substandard way in which your stores are run. To wit, I went shopping at the store near my home here in London, Ontario a couple of weeks ago. From afar, I noticed a stand of blueberries and thought on impulse that I should bring home a basket.
As I approached the stand, I noticed the entire area was infested with swarming fruit flies. I alerted an employee and was greeted with a shrug. I escalated the issue to the manager on duty, and was told that's how they were received. Needless to say, I didn't buy the blueberries. Or anything else.
A parody video by two young men with a future isn't going to keep me from shopping at A&P. Fly-encrusted fruit displays will.
Carmi Levy
London, Ontario, Canada
writteninc AT gmail DOT com
Your turn: Do you complain to companies? Why/why not? Got a story to share?
Monday, November 19, 2007
Please don't squeeze the Charmin
Sad news from the grocery aisle: Dick Wilson is dead. Folks of a certain age may remember him as Mr. Whipple, the curmudgeonly grocer who in hundreds of television commercials begged shoppers not to squeeze the Charmin.
No cause of death was listed, but one presumes it had nothing to do with his little TP addiction.
I always thought that squeezing the toilet paper somehow violated some sort of unwritten supermarket law, that some things simply didn't fly in the once-genteel grocery stores of a now-forgotten age. Either way, the phrase was a cultural touchstone for much of my childhood.
Here's a peek at the classic franchise:
Additional links of note, because I know you have so much free time to read this:
Your turn: Do you squeeze it? Come on, be honest!
No cause of death was listed, but one presumes it had nothing to do with his little TP addiction.
I always thought that squeezing the toilet paper somehow violated some sort of unwritten supermarket law, that some things simply didn't fly in the once-genteel grocery stores of a now-forgotten age. Either way, the phrase was a cultural touchstone for much of my childhood.
Here's a peek at the classic franchise:
Additional links of note, because I know you have so much free time to read this:
- Mr. Whipple wiki entry
- Charmin wiki entry
- The Charmin gateway (yes, a toilet paper brand with its own web site. We're doomed.)
Your turn: Do you squeeze it? Come on, be honest!
Sunday, November 18, 2007
A little birdie told me
Tweet
London, ON, November 2007 [Click to enlarge]
Our little community is home to some remarkable talent. Recently, a noted artist, Erica Reshef, opened a studio in our area. Known as ArtVenture, it's the answer to my wife's longstanding desire to take an art course and explore her potential. We've also registered our kids here, and this bird awaited our youngest son when I dropped him off earlier this month.
The studio faces west, so the late-autumn sun casts a brilliant light into the front of the studio. When it became clear that the weather would cooperate on this day, she set up these small birds on the floor and had the kids work with the shadows that they cast on the paper below.
My kid gets to explore this world laid out by an artist whose creativity and ability make most visitors' jaws drop when they see her work. Lucky him. Lucky us.
Your turn: An artistic experience that meant something to you. Please discuss.
Caption This 45
Please caption this image
[Click here for instructions on how Caption This works]
London, ON, October 2007
[Click to enlarge]
Sometimes, I wander the streets of my burg and deliberately look for scenes that make me think. I usually seek out older areas, where the buildings aren't necessarily high-rent. As a rule I won't peek into windows - the whole peeping tom thing, after all - but stealing a look down a forlorn alleyway seems to be socially acceptable.
I liked this view as soon as I reviewed it on my camera's screen, but over a month after I first took it I'm still having difficulty figuring out what to call it. Simply put, I don't know what stories this place might tell.
This is where I turn it over to you...
Your turn: Please caption this image. Submit as many suggestions as you wish.
About last week's image - drinking and driving in Shanghai: Of all the pictures I brought home, this one more than most illustrated the social and cultural differences between our respective societies. I guess some things get overlooked as a society that's been suppressed by communism for generations suddenly discovers the lure of capitalism.
BreadBox takes it with this sardonic take: "In an attempt to curb population growth, China encourages drinking and driving"
Honorable mentions go to:
[Click here for instructions on how Caption This works]
London, ON, October 2007
[Click to enlarge]
Sometimes, I wander the streets of my burg and deliberately look for scenes that make me think. I usually seek out older areas, where the buildings aren't necessarily high-rent. As a rule I won't peek into windows - the whole peeping tom thing, after all - but stealing a look down a forlorn alleyway seems to be socially acceptable.
I liked this view as soon as I reviewed it on my camera's screen, but over a month after I first took it I'm still having difficulty figuring out what to call it. Simply put, I don't know what stories this place might tell.
This is where I turn it over to you...
Your turn: Please caption this image. Submit as many suggestions as you wish.
About last week's image - drinking and driving in Shanghai: Of all the pictures I brought home, this one more than most illustrated the social and cultural differences between our respective societies. I guess some things get overlooked as a society that's been suppressed by communism for generations suddenly discovers the lure of capitalism.
BreadBox takes it with this sardonic take: "In an attempt to curb population growth, China encourages drinking and driving"
Honorable mentions go to:
- Scottenvonrotten: "The problem with having a Dewars in China is 3 seconds later you want another one."
- Carolyn: "Highway HopScotch"
- Sister AE: "Now THAT'S what I call a drink for the road!"
- Anne: "The directions say 'exit before scotch' (hic), not after."
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Checkmate
Waiting for battle
Laval, QC, November 2007 [Click to enlarge]
Our kids like chess. They started playing it at my parents' house, and I took this image after they finished playing there during a recent visit. I like that even at their age, they can find common ground around a game that has nothing to do with video game consoles and wireless Internet connections. I also like that it gives them another opportunity to connect with their grandparents. It's often the little things that matter most.
Your turn: What is this scene saying to you?
Friday, November 16, 2007
More tea, please
A peek into my mother's tea box
Laval, QC, November 2007 [Click to embiggen]
I'm notorious within my extended family for suddenly zoning out in the middle of a conversation as my eye catches something. Sometimes, it isn't something I see as much as something that pops into my mind, an idea that I think would be cool to somehow turn into a picture.
Visiting my parents gives me ample opportunity to explore with my lens. As time passes, they're becoming more supportive of my oddball approach to photography, often encouraging me to take pictures of things they find interesting.
And so it was with my mom's tea box. I liked the lines of it, so I scooped it up from the dining room table and brought it to the couch for an impromptu shoot. All the while, my parents sat nearby and watched, smiling. It was a moment I'll remember more for their reaction than for the picture I took.
Your turn: How do you share your photography with others?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)