I was Thinking, or Not

This is Luke

I can only hope this will not make a difference. I hope, I dream, but what comes of it is half realized. There once was a man here that was something else, but now is as he never was, so cold, so dim, in a shadow that is unrecognized by these eyes. No matter of compensation could ever rearrange the feelings that have died. Oh yes I recognize this one, she, for what she really is, but does that matter now, no not somehow. This is the after-scene, the closing of the screen before the tolling of the bells, and after the eyes have shut out the light. There is that slight glow around objects that exist still, but even this is dimmer now. The sunlight does not matter now, it is all just a shadow of its former self. Thomas in this darkness holds close to the flame of the match, lighting another fag. His trembling is not from fear, but from the lack of drink. He shoves the matchbook back into his dirty jeans pocket, inhaling deep on the filter of his cigarette. Rocking on his heels to...

I often sit here thinking "what the fuck am I doing here", such as myself, why have I not made good on the promise of my mind. There is no telling or retelling of the story, itself a tale of no consequence, that is only to me important. Such self importance, seems to me to be the bread of the day. This is the thoughts that enter into my day, the scarce breathes of clarity in an otherwise obscure blur of consciousness. It really wasn't to long ago, although maybe to long since, that I was not what I am today. What has changed in me, some little hands that burnt the rage out of me. I was driven then by a smoke of dreadful consequence and circumstances that necessitated the need for self reliance. For this I am given of no real movement these last few years, by which means. When I was fully emerged in the study of my darkness, then I understood well the price I paid for light and brevity. It was scolding to be so forthcoming, to be so forward, given that I now find th...

Summer passes ever slowly Gracious in her green garb She dances now before me Ever always leading me on

This is our barn from the street side. From Richland Farm The image was manipulated in the GIMP to produce a better sky. It still needs work and the test print was horrible, but that may be the printer as well. I do not like the wash that it has, it might work better in monochrome and I considered that, but I got frustrated with the photo before I got to it so this is just a sample shot with airbrushing and some photo fill. I can't believe that digital compares to film, but then again I am a film type of person, and I just don't get the tools I am trying to work with yet. Film I "grok" so it is only a matter of learning the new tools to produce acceptable images. Considering the time I have been working with these tools, but also considering that they are not the top of the line tools (well except for the GIMP ), I guess it is not too bad. Still not ready for prime time, but I am working on that. There are a few sites out there that have galleries for publicati...

Yea, another post on the post listening again in so many years to the Moody Blues. Yea and they are still such a groove, but you got to take it all in whole, not just this track or that track, 'cause man they wrote it to be listened to all the way through. Respect their intentions man, and listen to them solid grooves and heavy beats, from beginning to the end, there ain't no skip tracks, no silence, just smooth waves of cool all over the place. If you get the chance check out "Days of Future Past" from track one through, totally awesome, man, yea. Peace, JD

This is our house, that is Arleta's house, that she shares with me. It looks a little rough right now, but soon it will receive a fresh coat of paint and some minor updates and it will be a fine house indeed. Peace JD

I don't really have favorites per se. I usually go from one obsession to the next and back again with liquid fluidity. Today I am thinking that wouldn't it be nice to let some people in on a few of my thoughts. Well I am thinking that I want to craft a new photograph. Mostly because I am bored, and because I have to do something while I wait for the bank to make their move. So today we will maybe pick up the boy, if everything goes according to his Father's plan. Well that's fine because I want to shoot him too, but not in that way that you are thinking, no I mean with the camera. I have to go to the storage shed and get the tripod for the camera. Today I am going to go to the Salvation Army store with my wife Arleta, my step son Justin, and maybe, just maybe our friend Mary, oh yea what is her name America, awesome. While there I am going to look for a look that I want to portray in my next photo of Mary. Arleta will have to help me, I need just the right look....

For the longest time I really only shot pictures of landscapes and still life. I worked through phases where I really wanted to shoot people, because I think they are interesting, and because I was young and wanted to be cool with the babes. I did however find that Models generally suck, and I dislike the "professionals" almost as much. So I set about working with average people, but then that fucking idiot got caught chopping up boys posing as a photographer, and the whole thing got blown out of context. Yea, American Press for killing the work of hundreds of legitimate photographers. Gone are the days of walking up to a person and saying "I really like the way you look, could I shoot a few shots of you for my portfolio?" No now you have to have releases, and all that smuck, and even with that they suspect you got everything from some "fly by night" internet scheme, and that your real intention is to exploit them for amazing financial gain. You use...

This is an incomplete list of the music I would listen to. I will add those that I feel worthy as I think of them, or someone mentions them. There is no preference and no order, just music. The Steve Miller Group (aka Steve Miller) The Eagles The Firm Led Zeppelin Pink Floyd The Sex Pistols Planet Gong Patti Smithe Talking Heads Adam Ant The Guess Who Stone Temple Pilots R.E.M. Red Ryder Ugly Kid Joe Joan Jet Joni Mitchel Helen Ready George Throughogood Kiss Kansas The Kinks King Crimson Robbert Fripp Thomas Dolby Garbage Bush The Toadies Buddy Holly Frankie Goes to Hollywood U2 (although I hated Bono for a long time) Sonny and Cher (and Cher) Prince and the Revolution (as well as the Artist) DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince (Will Smith) Tone Loc Selpatura Pantera Black Sabbath Ozzy Osbourne Ronnie James Dio Rainbow (Richie Blackmoore) Tim Buk Too Blur Skinny Puppy Butthole Surfers Pat Benetar Johnny Winter The Edgar Winter Group ZZ Top Molly Hatchet Mot ta Hoople David Bowie (Ziggy...

I realize that I need a tri-pod for the camera, to get use of the exposure comp feature of the camera. It seems a little silly to put such a little camera on a tri-pod, but if I want the shots that I am not getting I need to do just that. From Salmon River Falls Here, in this photo, a longer exposure would have brought out the detail and given the water a more dreamy like effect. The framing isn't bad, it is an interesting shot, but it could be better. This is the raw photo, no manipulation expect composure in the view finder. From Salmon River Falls In this photograph, I could have used a longer lens, to compress the depth of field. I also could get better control over the depth of field with a manual focus lens. I can set the film speed to some degree in this little snap shot camera, but that wouldn't really help to much. I need to experiment with other settings yet. This is a raw photograph with no manipulation or cropping except that which I do in the view finder.

Because of the same reason I just hit return and this blog page just published, when I wanted it to go to the next box, not publish. Sure it was me, I should have hit tab instead. but I didn't and now I have to edit the post. No big woop, but it is. I have to think how to use the computer, not the computer learn how I work. Now that is a tall order, but that is what a Human User Interface is, and so far, for so many reasons, this is why computers suck. I could go into the HUI thing, but that is a matter best left to technoquest , my more technical blog, while this one is more for the purpose of just saying here's the problem.

Bet you never thought I would get to this. Well I am posting the first of many photographs I have made with my father-in-law's digital camera. I really didn't think I would get anything with a digital camera. This first photograph was manipulated in GIMP on Ubuntu hardy. I didn't do much to it, just converted it to gray scale because I thought it lent it self to the look of Panalure, but it doesn't have the grain structure of Panalure. I still have a bunch of photographs to work on, so I will be posting them soon. I will also post the full color version of this photograph later as well. It was taken at Salmon River Falls, in Orwell, NY. I have to say I am impressed enough with the quality that I may actually buy a digital camera, but I won't be throwing away film yet, as it is the only true way to get real black and white (silver) images, but for now I don't have a darkroom anyways, so GIMP has to be my darkroom. This was taken on a Kodak EasyShare CX75...

I've been at this for to long, now. It ceases to amaze me that nothing comes from all the writing, as it is mostly posturing. How have I gotten to this point? Where do I go from here? What difference does it make?

March 17, 1948: William Gibson, Father of Cyberspace Another win for the Geeks, yea.

Second Life Putting A Leash On Sex, Violence -- Second Life -- InformationWeek Linden Labs is showing their willingness to mature a little. More on this later...

Libraries are Deposits of Learning It really is the end of an era for the American Library System.  That today they are outdated is an understatement.  To make them useful in the future, they will need to significantly consider their purpose.  The American Library system lacks the virtual component.  Sure most of them have a computer of two tht can surf the web, but it is not true that the people can surf the library.  This is the biggest problem I see at this time.  Access to the deposits within the library from the web.  As it is if I want to go to the Library and take out a book to read, I do not have to pay for that book, unless I do not return it in time, or lose it, so barring those two issues, it is time we devised a way to have that access from the digital page.  There is a need for time limited documents.  For a document that will cease to be of use after a certian time, if the user does not access the library system and obtain addit...

Market Scan China Sweats U.S. Debt Securities, Pressuring Prices Melinda Peer, 03.13.09, 10:25 AM EDT Apprehension from Beijing regarding its the security of its massive U.S. assets causes prices on Treasuries to fall. If they are concerned, maybe we should be concerned. This is a big O can of WTF that is yet to be fully opened. I can at this time only say, wow, where did it all go, where did it go?

Barnes & Noble Acquires Fictionwise From: MediaBistro Galleycat Bookseller Barnes & Noble announced that it has purchased the e-book retailer Fictionwise for $15.7 million in cash today. Awesome, huh, do they really think this will help them. Well anyways, hope they do well with it, I like B&N as far as I like any major in the book business. They are not a nice dusty dimly lit book nook with an old man with round rimmed glasses, but not to bad either, all things considered. I don't know much about Fictionwise, but when I figure them out, I will report more.

Danzer's German American Restaurant, 152 Ainsley Drive, Syracuse, NY. If you check out their site you will read this little bit... " Danzer's German & American Restaurant was established in 1946 and takes pride in having served homecooked German meals to Central New Yorkers for over five decades. Ludwig Danzer's tradition is still being carried out today with hearty portions of homemade German specialties, tall drafts of imported beers and ales, and those giant deli sandwiches that have made Danzer's famous." Unfortunately you can't believe it. My wife Arleta and our good friend Mary Petersen went there last night, because we have gone there often in the past, and because it is one of the few German fare restaurants in Syracuse. However the experience was more than a little disappointing. First the wait for a table was long enough, but even after that there was a period of several minutes before we even got water or acknowledgment from the wait sta...