History

A New Year, A Fresh Start And Infinite Possibilities.

January 1, 2017 — 13 Comments

happy-new-year-2017

F/16.0, 30, ISO 100, Photoshop CS6.

On New Year’s Eve, Jenny stood up in the local pub and said that it was time to get ready.

At the stroke of midnight, she wanted every husband to be standing next to the one person who made his life worth living.

Well, it was kind of embarrassing.  As the clock struck – the bartender was almost crushed to death.

Interesting Fact: During the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire years began on the date on which each consul first entered office. This was probably 1 May before 222 BC, 15 March from 222 BC to 154 BC,[7] and 1 January from 153 BC.[8] In 45 BC, when Julius Caesar‘s new Julian calendar took effect, the Senate fixed 1 January as the first day of the year. At that time, this was the date on which those who were to hold civil office assumed their official position, and it was also the traditional annual date for the convening of the Roman Senate. This civil new year remained in effect throughout the Roman Empire, east and west, during its lifetime and well after, wherever the Julian calendar continued in use. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year#Historical_European_new_year_dates )

When You Stop Believing In Santa You Get Underwear

December 25, 2016 — 20 Comments

santa-was-here

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Why is Christmas just like your job?

You do all the work and the fat guy with the suit gets all the credit.

Interesting Fact: Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, or simply Santa (Santy in Hiberno-English), is a legendary figure of Western Christian culture who is said to bring gifts to the homes of well-behaved (“good” or “nice”) children on Christmas Eve (24 December) and the early morning hours of Christmas Day (25 December).[1] The modern Santa Claus grew out of traditions surrounding the historical Saint Nicholas, a fourth-century Greek bishop and gift-giver of Myra, the British figure of Father Christmas, the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas (himself based on Saint Nicholas), the German figure of the Christkind (a fabulized Christ Child), and the holidays of Twelfth Night and Epiphany and their associated figures of the Three Kings (based on the gift-giving Magi of the Nativity) and Befana. Some maintain Santa Claus also absorbed elements of the Germanic god Wodan, who was associated with the pagan midwinter event of Yule and led the Wild Hunt, a ghostly procession through the sky. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus )

Let’s Ride!

September 7, 2016 — 14 Comments

lets-ride

F/9.0, 1/320, ISO 160.

A police officer pulled over two nuns riding on a motorcycle, and said to the rider, ‘Ma’am, you’re driving much too slowly, could you please drive faster?”
And the nun says, ‘Oh, I saw the sign with the “21” and assumed the speed limit was 21 mph”
The officer explains: ‘No ma’am, the speed limit is 65. The highway number is Interstate 21.”
Then the police officer look at the passenger and see the other nun shaking like a leaf.
“Excuse me sister, but what’s wrong with your passenger?”
“Oh, that’s probably because we just got off Highway 205.”
Interesting Fact: The first internal combustion, petroleum fueled motorcycle was the Daimler Reitwagen. It was designed and built by the German inventors Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach in Bad Cannstatt, Germany in 1885.[7] This vehicle was unlike either the safety bicycles or the boneshaker bicycles of the era in that it had zero degrees of steering axis angle and no fork offset, and thus did not use the principles of bicycle and motorcycle dynamics developed nearly 70 years earlier. Instead, it relied on two outrigger wheels to remain upright while turning. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorcycle#History )

DUI Checkpoints

August 18, 2016 — 14 Comments

United States Coast Guard

F/11.0, 1/500, ISO 250.

Guy’s car is swerving all over the road so a cop pulls him over, “Step out of the car” says the cop, “I am going to need you to take a  breathalyzer test.” “I can’t”, Guy responds “You see I have very bad asthma, that can set off an attack.” “Alright,” says the cop, “then you’re going to have to take a blood test.” “Can’t do that either,” Guy responds, “I am a hemophiliac, if a wound is opened, I won’t stop bleeding, and I could bleed to death.” “Ok,” the cop answers “then I will need a urine sample.” “Sorry,” says Guy “I also have diabetes, that could push my sugar count really low.”

“Fine, so just come on out, and walk a straight line for me.” “Can’t do that either” responds Guy. “Why not?” Demanded the exasperated cop. “Well, because I’m drunk!”

Interesting Fact: The roots of the Coast Guard lie in the United States Revenue Cutter Service established by Alexander Hamilton under the Department of the Treasury on 4 August 1790. The first Coast Guard station was in Newburyport, Massachusetts. Until the re-establishment of the Navy in 1798, the Revenue Cutter Service was the only naval force of the early United States. It was established to collect taxes from a brand new nation of patriot smugglers. When the officers were out at sea, they were told to crack down on piracy; and to rescue any mariners in distress. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Coast_Guard#History )

Talk Derby To Me!

August 3, 2016 — 4 Comments

Saratoga Race

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Saratoga Race

Why was the horse naked?

Because the jockey fell off.

Interesting Fact: Saratoga Springs was the site of standardbred racing as early as 1847.[3] On August 3, 1863, casino operator and future congressman John Morrissey organized the first thoroughbred race card on the track previously used for harness racing (and now the location of the Oklahoma Training Track).[4] The current course was opened across the street from the old standardbred track the following year.[5] Among those instrumental to the creation of the Saratoga Race Course were John Hunter (later the first chairman of The Jockey Club), William R. Travers, John Morrissey, and Cornelius Vanderbilt.

Lazy Like A Log

August 1, 2016 — 8 Comments

Log

F/11.0, 1/500, ISO 320.

Pretend you’re in a box, under the ocean, and there’s no way out. How do you survive?

You stop pretending!

Interesting Fact: Beaches became popular as tourist attractions during the 18th century. Today, beachside towns and beach resort areas are a magnet for tourist who come to sunbathe, swim, stroll the beach, build sandcastles, surf and bodyboard. ( http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/earth/beaches.html )

 

 

Ready, Set, Go!

July 26, 2016 — 6 Comments

Vesper Sparrow

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Vesper Sparrow

Couples first day at a resort decided to hit the beach.
When the guy went back to there room to get something to drink, one of the hotel maids was making the bed.
He grabbed his cooler and was on my way out when he paused and asked, “Can we drink beer on the beach?”
“Sure,” she said, “but I have to finish the rest of the rooms beforehand.”

Interesting Fact: The Vesper Sparrow responds quickly to changes in habitat; it is often the first species to occupy reclaimed mine sites and abandon old farm fields as they return to forest.  ( https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Vesper_Sparrow/lifehistory )

Where Are We?

July 21, 2016 — 16 Comments

House Finches

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House Finch

What did the bra say to the hat?

You go on ahead while I give these two a lift!

Interesting Fact: The total House Finch population across North America is staggering. Scientists estimate between 267 million and 1.4 billion individuals. ( https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/House_Finch/lifehistory )

 

 

 

Building Castles In The Sky!

July 17, 2016 — 12 Comments

The San Remo

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The San Remo

This arrogant young guy has recently started work at a construction site and ever since he started he’s been bragging that he could outdo anyone based on his superior strength. He’s been making fun of one of the older workmen in particular.

Eventually, the older worker has had enough and says, “Tell you what – why don’t you put your money where your mouth is? I’ll bet you a week’s wages that I can take something over to that other building in this wheelbarrow and you won’t be able to wheel it back.”

The young guy laughs confidently, “You’re on, old man. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

So the old guy grabs the wheelbarrow by the handles. Then, he nods to the young man as he says with a smile, “Alright. Get in.”

Interesting Fact: The building’s architect, Emery Roth, took advantage of new zoning regulations to build the first of New York’s twin towered apartment blocks.[8] Each of San Remo’s ten-story towers is topped with an English Baroque mansion in the manner of John Vanbrugh and capped with an homage to the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates. The Athenian monument was known to Roth from the reproduction that had featured in the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, 1893. Roth also designed The Beresford and other landmark apartment houses and office blocks in New York. Construction began in 1929, weeks before the market crash initiated the Great Depression. The San Remo’s construction process took approximately two years. In 1940 both buildings were sold, for $25,000 over the existing mortgages. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_San_Remo#History )

 

So What Are We Staring At?!

July 9, 2016 — 26 Comments

Great Black-backed Gull

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Great Black-backed Gull  

What do you call a seagull when it flies over the bay?

A bagel.

Interesting Fact: This is the largest gull in the world. Its broad wings and powerful appearance give it a regal look that have impressed naturalists for years. In the words of one early observer: “It surely seemed to be a king among the gulls, a merciless tyrant over its fellows, the largest and strongest of its tribe. No weaker gull dared to intrude upon its feudal domain.” ( https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Black-backed_Gull/lifehistory )