Leaderboard

Given We decided to By heading over to the Point Reyes National Seashore and enjoying the cooler temperatures, before they are swarmed on the 4th and completing my Point Reyes Visitors cliched photographs, bingo card

Bringing out the big guns: Cracking open a roll of Velvia 50 for the first time in 16 years. I've been going out to Sweetened Water Farm (the property across the street from me) many evenings during the golden hour. It's an amazingly scenic vista that is largely unspoiled. The family that own the farm were smart and bought up a lot of MV property when it was cheap and have sold it off over the years. That means they've been able to keep such prime real estate in its agrarian state. Normally I shoot with with my 5D IV and either the 50/1.8 or the 17-40, with a side order of iPhone. I thought "what if I do the same thing, but make it much more difficult and expensive." That thought process lead me to best (and among the least forgiving) film stocks on the planet. Of course, this evening came and I didn't expose a single frame of Velvia. For the past few days there's been a spectacular spider web floating in space by the pond. I tried to capture it with my 85mm (which I had attached for the above shot) and realized immediately I a significantly longer focal length. I dug out my 300mm Nikkor and spend half an hour wrestling a tripod framing, manually focusing and cursing. TBH I could really use a 400 or 500mm lens. Don't hold your breath. With that said, 300mm is not exactly a useful focal length for normal photography. I really have to work to do ...anything with it. I puttered around the yard, attempting to find interesting things to frame. I didn't get much, but I do like this shot:

Red white and blue Deck Brunch Happy 4th Y'all.

Anybody notice that Mark Cavendish yesterday won his 35th stage win in the Tour de France? Aged 39, he has finally won more stages than the legendary Eddy Merckx? Actually Merckx won his 34 stages in a combination of wins - mountain top, breakaway etc. Cav has done his 35 stage wins all in a bunch sprint. He actually threw his chain as he crossed the line, having gone from 1700W into the bike to freewheeling kind of instantly. When one stage win is a defining moment for a pro cyclist for most riders in the Tour, 35 stage wins is heroic. Everyone who he outsprinted slapped him on his back as they crossed the line in his wake - and all riders, including Tadej Pogačar in yellow almost queued up to hug him - a popular win by the whole peleton. The "Manx Missile" finally has the 35 wins monkey finally off his back.

Similar to my own introduction to music. My two older Brothers definitely sped up my enjoyment of good old rock and roll. Still, my first albums were The Chipmunks and Elvis (Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite), Around age 10. By the time Aerosmith hit the scene, I was in High School. But I remember pulling into the school parking lot in my '72 Duster with Aerosmith blasting on my Pioneer tuner/cassette, 3 (yes 3) pair of Jensen Triaxle 6 x 9 speakers powered by my Rockford Fosgate "The Punch" amplifier. That however would have been around the time of Toys in the Attic. I thought "Big 10" was so clever. Kids! My first favorite albums were bands such as Procal Harum, Three Dog Night, Blue Oyster Cult, Elton John, Bowie and such.

^^^ Brings back great memories..... I had 2 older brothers that got me into music, so much so that at age 7 my first 45 record was The Who - Love Reign On me. And at age 8 or 9 my first album was J Geils Live Full House. Aerosmith's first album was soon after, and my brother's copy of Get Your Wings found its way on my turntable a fair bit too. The extra live part after the main portion of Train Kept A Rollin' was probably my favorite musical piece for several months if not longer. I remember too The Joe Perry Project played in our High School Auditorium....maybe 1981 or 82..... In the mid-70's I got into ELP and Pink Floyd, and I was hooked even more.

Oh man, haven't listened to that in many a year. But what the fuck is Irondreamer doing in there? Maybe Peter has a doppelganger?

Time to repost this.

What do you think?

^ Glad to see the boat goin’ to make it another year.

I think I would have used the term didactic cuntery just because it sounds more descriptive, but that is me.

Jacob is acting like a cunt no matter what sexual orientation he wants to claim. And I don't believe for one second that he came out to Steve except in his twisted imagination. I don't know why he was let back onto the forum after blowing up half of the content but he'll stay on ignore as far as I'm concerned. I won't see any reply from him so I won't be as gracious as Steve and try to respond to him.

Aerosmith by Aerosmith (1973) https://album.link/i/1658644936 Example: I have to admit that I didn't have 1973 in mind when I thought of their first album, and I also have to admit that I didn't know that 'Dream on' was from their first album as well. Growing up they were just always here, so I never really thought about their origins, and how long they had been around. When I started buying albums in the 80s, I thought of them as a classic rock band in the 80s. I didn't say I was very smart, then or now. Great Album? no, good album with a few great songs. Also Get Your Wings by Aerosmith (1974) https://album.link/i/1658645027 Example: Again 1974 just seems crazy to me for this album and tunes. Also not a great album for me, but good with some great songs, and better than their first album. I think that listening to the radio growing up gave me a distorted sense of time, and I don't think MTV helped. Permanent Vacation seemed like a new Album from a newish band. Again, not so bright.

Deck Halibut with lemon rice and peas

Finally got to Howlin' Ray's for a hot chicken sandwich and it was excellent! Went with Medium+ heat level at my brother's suggestion, but should have gone all the way to hot. No multiple hour line on a Friday at 4:00pm. In fact no line at all.

I have to admit, I don't understand the devotion to this burger joint either. I'd choose What-a-burger over In & out every time.

If you're wondering the scope of my powers, I had a biscuit on the day of the debate.