This is Official

I have not been posting anything but the occasional Skywatch. I'll endeavour to do better.

My photography output has been increasing recently. This is a good thing.  (Except for processing, organizing, etc. That's always a pain.)

They will more likely show up on my Flickr than on here.

Should be it for now. I'll try to be more articulate next time.

Skywatch No. 41

Earlier this week my brother and I returned to the same field where we took these in an attempt to repeat those shots. That done, he insisted we cut through the back...

Now that I am required to shoot (I've a summer course at the uni), and to do so to standards and specifications, photography's become more of an obligation and less something I do because I enjoy it. Not sure that's a good thing.

Tata, folks.

Skywatch No. 40

A late Skywatch. Rather considerably late. But nonetheless:

Quite honestly, I think I'm beginning to lose track of the days of the week. Having nothing to do is nice, I suppose, but it wears on one after a while. 

This.

Skywatch No. 39

It looks like I've skipped a week. A great number of things have happened recently, about which precisely none I could dredge up the energy or motivation to write. I'm not sure that last sentence even made sense.

Anyhow, it appears that moody clouds have been the fashion of late.

Other Things That Happened Recently:

• Obama spoke at University of Michigan's commencement last Saturday, which I had been unduly excited about until realizing that because timing was bad, it might involve having nowhere to stay, bumming rides off of people, and other assorted inconveniences. Fortunately, you can watch it here.

• This is strangely addicting.

Hate is Not Okay

Over the past few days I've been seeing this popping up on my Facebook feed as "friends" have joined it:

One would have thought things like this far behind us- somewhere in that corner of recent history people try studiously to ignore. But no, apparently it's still being flaunted out there in the open.

This is not okay. What you see above is a group praying for Obama's death. Take a look at the numbers, too- there's over a million supporters. When did this become acceptable, and on Facebook, of all places? The matter is not one of free speech; people are, after all, perfectly entitled to voice dissent and disagreement and anger if they wish it.

But "I fervently hope my president dies" is another matter altogether. It matters not whether you agree or disagree with someone. Having harm wished upon one is something no one deserves, not even the lowliest. And like Obama or not, he has been, as all presidents before him, elected into office by the people. It also takes a considerable amount of ability to lead an entire country, or even to get into office in the first place. Could the majority of us do any better, with the responsibility of a nation on our shoulders? 

Here we have a country and a government system for which we ought to be grateful- the government is not perfect, but at least we have the free speech that haters themselves are using and abusing. Do you want to live  under a government where governmental leaders can be killed whenever disagreements arise? I thought not.

Some of the commentators on the page try to justify their actions by claiming that "liberals would have done the same, if it were Bush in office." Really? I don't remember that. Personally, I might not have agreed with many of Bush's views and actions, but I did and do still hold a significant measure of respect for him. 

Death is much too grave a sentence to deal about so freely. 

What makes me incredulous is how long this page has been up, and that it has not yet been removed. If you are on Facebook, bring this problem attention by joining this page instead, then sign the "Clean Up Facebook" petition.

Sadly, this is not an isolated incident. When you next stumble across a hate-promoting-group, please stop, think, and report.

Happy Earth Day

It's Earth Day, foo's. Stop tossing rubbish on the ground. Stop tossing things that can very evidently be recycled into the garbage when the recycling bin is six inches away.

To right is my most creative Skywatch to date. Straight out of the camera. We've not had sky like that for eons.

Yesterday I was lounging about on the grass, enjoying for once not having to do anything. Several friends were bouncing about, excitedly babbling about being late for something. I ask them where they're going.

"Flash mob!"

I manage a "wh-" before they vanish. So, camera in hand, I dash off on their heels. There isn't much of a mob, though there's a small knot of people gathered on one side of the square.

"Go!"

It turns out to be a tree-hugging event, the awesomeness of which makes up for everything.

Skywatch No. 37

I was going to run up to the observatory to shoot last night, but didn't make it. Then I installed some HDR software and ran off to shoot meh sum' HDR, but then concluded I needed a lot of practice first.

So this week, I'll just be posting what I actually can and know how to do. I think I just saved you some visual trauma. You're welcome.

Sorry that the sky's not much of a focal point. But it's in there, which is what counts. One day, I'll be back shooting sunsets and thunderclouds. 

Skywatch No. 36

First are the flowers, emerging impatiently from the loam when their shoots are barely out. Trees, bursting into flower overnight like bouquets being whipped out from behind one's back. The clouds' smooth facade finally breaking into wispy streaks and the occasional towering blot that lends itself to the rare rumble of thunder.

Both were taken last weekend, during which I ventured over to the Arboretum and attempted to do schoolwork but instead ended up trekking about in the woods with the camera out.

(#*%@&#%)

Let me tell you a little story. See the time? 7:30 in the morning. The alarm on the museum next door goes off. It's just a yard or from my building. I happen to have gone to bed four hours ago *insert whining about workload* and appreciate my sleep, thank you.

This alarm also happens to sound like a combination between a brass instrument being run over by a semi and a cow with its hide being torn off.

What kind of f***ing alarm is that?

I'm sure that's what it would sound like if you tossed those two things in a blender. It keeps going... and going... and going. Guaranteed to induce insanity within five if not fewer minutes of exposure. Oh, and look now. The garbage truck has just come along. It's right under my window. And its already dissonant beeping is adding beautifully to this cacophony.

The best part? The roommate called the Dept. of Public Safety or whoever is in charge of this crap, and apparently they're testing the alarm.

Thanks, guys. Thanks.