NY

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 )

Look Up In The Sky!

August 17, 2016 — 18 Comments

OneWTC

 

F/25, 1/250, ISO 250.

What do you call a sheep with no legs?

A cloud.

Interesting Fact: One World Trade Center (also known as the Freedom Tower,[13] 1 World Trade Center, One WTC and 1 WTC) is the main building of the rebuilt World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan, New York City. It is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, and the sixth-tallest in the world. The supertall structure has the same name as the North Tower of the original World Trade Center, which was completely destroyed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The new skyscraper stands on the northwest corner of the 16-acre (6.5 ha) World Trade Center site, on the site of the original 6 World Trade Center. The building is bounded by West Street to the west, Vesey Street to the north, Fulton Street to the south, and Washington Street to the east. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_World_Trade_Center )

Talk Derby To Me!

August 3, 2016 — 4 Comments

Saratoga Race

F/ 5.6, 1/1250, ISO 400.

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

F/7.1, 1/200, ISO 320.

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

F/10.0, 1/400, ISO 200.

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

F/9.0, 1/320, ISO 100.

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 )

 

“Peace Is Not Merely A Distant Goal That We Seek, But A Means By Which We Arrive At That Goal.”

July 16, 2016 — 9 Comments

Mourning Dove 1

F/10.0, 1/400, ISO 160.

Mourning Dove

Why did the rubber chicken cross the road?

She wanted to stretch her legs.

Interesting Fact: Mourning Doves eat roughly 12 to 20 percent of their body weight per day, or 71 calories on average. ( https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mourning_Dove/lifehistory )

AHHHH! You Scared Me!

July 15, 2016 — 18 Comments

White-Tailed Deer 3

F/ 7.1, 1/200, ISO 200.

Why do male deer need braces?

Because they have buck teeth!

Interesting Fact: Adult white-tails have reddish-brown coats in summer which fade to a duller grayish-brown in winter. Male deer, called bucks, are easily recognizable in the summer and fall by their prominent set of antlers, which are grown annually and fall off in the winter. Only the bucks grow antlers, which bear a number of tines, or sharp points. During the mating season, also called the rut, bucks fight over territory by using their antlers in sparring matches. ( http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/white-tailed-deer/ )

 

 

 

So What Are We Staring At?!

July 9, 2016 — 26 Comments

Great Black-backed Gull

F/13.0, 1/640, ISO 320.

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 )