BEST FRIENDS IN GRADE SCHOOL: We traveled many miles

BEST FRIENDS IN GRADE SCHOOL: We traveled many miles, a photo by roberthuffstutter on Flickr.

TWO BOYS ON A MOPED HEADING NORTH BY R.L. HUFFSTUTTER

My best friend from about the third-grade, Robert and I were destined to go on many adventures as we grew older. The first adventure of note began when he talked his parents into a MoPed. It didn't take long for the travel bug to bite. We headed out of KC one morning headed for Des Moines.

Somewhere near Corydon, Iowa, we were pulled over by the Sheriff. No licenses were really necessary, but the Sheriff was a bit upset that we were only twelve and on our way to find our fortune in Iowa. We stayed at the Sheriff's home that evening and part of the next day until Robert's folks drove up to ''bail'' us out. For years thereafter, I sent the Sheriff of Corydon, Iowa a Christmas card, /s/ the 2 Roberts......

When Robert earned enough money to purchase a 1949 Chevy coupe, we headed out on U.S. 24 toward the Rocky Mountains. We had a blast, ran out of money, worked at restaurants washing windows and saw a lot of sights. The age for drinking in Colorado was eighteen at the time, and eventually we found a tavern in Colorado Springs that overlooked our age (16) and served us Coors on tap.

Although our trips were frowned on by our parents, they were forgiving. Looking back, naturally, I sometimes grieve a bit for such foolish acts, then I recall the memories of America in the late 50s and the melancholy regrets transform to golden moments of youth

THIS IS JUST MY OPINION, BUT I NEED TO EXPRESS A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE WORLD SITUATION...

THIS IS JUST MY OPINION, BUT I NEED TO EXPRESS A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE WORLD SITUATION..., a photo by roberthuffstutter on Flickr.

THIS IS JUST MY OPINION, BUT I NEED TO EXPRESS A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE WORLD SITUATION...
After reading my favorite TIME LINES IN HISTORY book, I have come to the conclusion that the area often refered to as the middle east was once the near west, the far west, the east and is once again called the Middle East. Throughout the ages, begining sometime between the 6th century and the 8th century , a lot of trouble began brewing in the desert between various desert tribes and residents of various nations.

Slowly, some of the people of the middle east began moving west, looking for greener pastures, exploring and searching for new lands, a very natural action.

Likewise, some of the folks who lived west of the desert began wondering over into the sandy areas, looking for silk, spices and other assorted stuff.

When a road is called a "silk road" it only serves to invite others to seek the source of the silk. (Of course, the source was the silkworm and exactly who it was that was running the trade between Nippon and Lebanon, I am not certain.)

To make a long story short, an argument arose over religion and all hell broke loose. The rest is history.

Here's the strange part; while those who were arguing agreed on the fact that it was the same God, there were other differences, and that has been the thorn in the other's side ever since.

Now,fourteen or fifteen centuries later, the argument persists.

I dont get it!

Aren't there borders that should serve to institute peace, something like a line in the sand and a handshake that goes like: "...My honorable friend, don't cross this line and I won't cross your line? God bless you, let's share some tea, and God bless the world.

In the west, it has been called a "live and let live attitude." Not everyone wants to abide by this old adage, no, there are those who died by the millions trying to get one group to believe one way and the other group to believe another way.

As time passed, there were those who wanted to change the politics and religion of the Middle East and likewise, there was those who wanted to change the religion of either side. And it is from this interference that all of this agony and pain has arisen.

Now, the Western nations have entered this tribal argument, western nations who belong to no tribes.

Sooner or later, everyone is going to get real mad and who belongs to what tribes will no longer matter, it will be all about who owns this oil well and who owns the other.

The beauty and mistique of the "silk road" will have vanished.

By Robert L. Huffstutter

101229-SeeSomethingSaySomething

101229-SeeSomethingSaySomething, a photo by roberthuffstutter on Flickr.

After some serious thinking about the sand of the desert, camel caravans and the antics of Rommel and other desert characters since I was 18, I have come to the conclusion after 50 years that we have really been played for fools by the Middle Eastern leaders. Who will we support? Who won't we support? Who do we want running this country or that country? Which tribal leaders should we give bundles of money to, and which ones should we covertly knock-off through sniper activities? Yes, after 50 years of reading about the blood spilled in the Middle East, especially much American blood, I ask myself why in the hell we didn't leave there in 1949 when Israel became a nation and left a defense force there to make sure this nation was not tormented, treated like a piece of crap after suffering such inhumanity during WWII. We should have left the killing and politics up to the other nations in the area. It would not be much different than it is today. Why do we do this? If it is all about oil, we could have gone in, got the oil wells we need to function for the money we have given the middle east and gotten the hell out. Think of how many lives would have been saved. They would love us even more if they didn't have to see us trying to keep the peace. Let them keep the peace or do whatever the hell they want, we have our own nation to worry about. 9-11 should have made it apparent that they are not too fond of the USA.

Is Joe Lieberman kidding? Messing with the internet sometime?

Is Joe Lieberman kidding? Messing with the internet sometime?, a photo by roberthuffstutter on Flickr.

Is Joe Lieberman kidding? Messing with the internet sometime?
ANYONE...ANYONE...who wants to interfere with free speech does not belong in government, at least the U.S. Government. What is this about making it possible for the internet to be shut down? Who knows the details? Photo from Wikipedia

The Chinese aircraft carrier

The Chinese aircraft carrier, a photo by wusuoweirene on Flickr.

Flight School

Flight School, a photo by David Kyle Craig on Flickr.

The first time I saw the Pacific was in the summer of 1959. This photograph, by David Kyle Craig, is one of my favorite photos of the Pacific Ocean. This classic conjurs up the first images I recall as I thrilled at the sight of the Pacific in the that long ago summer. My thanks to David for capturing a photo image that not only existed in reality, but one that has existed in my mind for more than 50 years...

Thus, I have made it the first photo to introduce a gallery that is unique, yet one that has some personal memories. Follow the gallery and see the sights that still linger after fifty years. Time flys.

Robert
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Flight School

Uploaded by David Kyle Craig on 13 Oct 09, 11.26PM PDT.

No Man Is An Island

No Man Is An Island, a photo by HaarFager on Flickr.

HERE'S WHAT HAARFAGER HAD TO SAY ABOUT THIS MOST UNIQUE PHOTOGRAPH HE TOOK:

I've always found these traffic islands fascinating - don't ask me why. Imagine if you had to live on a plot of land this size. Could you do it? If you built upwardly, you might be able to. In something like a space needle, perhaps
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This is an excellent capture. If you will notice, much of the stimulus money is being spent building these type of concrete* curbs and curbing, thus are, in a minor manner, fundamentally transforming the nations roadways and especially the aged parking lots of distressed shopping areas. In that it provides jobs, it is a great idea. As far as practicality is concerned, the construction of hospitals where GOVERNMENT HEALTHCARE could be dispensed would be more prudent.

I am not advocating GOVERNMENT HEALTHCARE, however my fear is that there might be a shortage of hospitals as time goes by, thus new federally funded (through stimulus money) would be a preparation for the hard times that some expect to arrive.

Robert L. Huffstutter

Light Drive

Light Drive a video by djspyhunter on Flickr.

http://blogaboutjapan.blogspot.com/

THIS IS ONE COOL VIDEO--LIKE AN ABSTRACT THAT COMES TO LIFE IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES. GREAT CREATIVE WORK. IMPRESSIVE. I LOVE IT. GOING PLACES, Rob

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Light Drive

Stop motion form and colour, using light painting techniques.

Lighting: Kim Pimmel
Sound: Tron Legacy trailers

I edited together stop motion sequences of long exposure light paintings, mashed up some audio from the Tron Legacy trailers, and out came Light Drive.

The video is stop motion, so every frame is an individually shot photograph. Each photograph is a long exposure photo, with exposures reaching up to 20 seconds in some cases.

To control the lights, I used an Arduino controlled via bluetooth to drive a stepper motor. The stepper motor controls the movements of the lights remotely from Processing.

The light sources include cold cathode case lights, EL wire, lasers and more.

Twitter: twitter.com/​kpimmel

Light Studies
flickr.com/​photos/​djspyhunter/​sets/​72157615077454920/​

Uploaded by djspyhunter on 16 Dec 10, 5.49PM PDT.

MIKE MURPHY, KANSAS CITY RADIO PERSONALITY 1980S,

MIKE MURPHY, KANSAS CITY RADIO PERSONALITY 1980S, a photo by roberthuffstutter on Flickr.

MIKE MURPHY PASSES AWAY LAST NIGHT, 9 MARCH 2011
RIP MIKE, YOU WILL BE SADLY MISSED, OLD FRIEND...
Mike Murphy, one of Kansas City's most beloved radio talk-show hosts and original founder of Kansas City's St. Patrick's Day Parade. For years, Mike entertained listeners with local chatter, featuring numerous Kansas City personalities (including myself), comedians, sports figures, entertainers, editors, writers, inventors, bartenders, city officials, you name it. Mike was quite the comedian on the air and off-the-air. His tales about Squirrel Manor were endless. His show was basically general interest without political controversy.
Photo by Robert L. Huffstutter, taken at St. Pat's Day Parade, KCMO, back in the mid 1980s...

Mickey's Diner, 1955

Mickey's Diner, 1955 a photo by HaarFager on Flickr.

LOST IN THE 60S...yes, the cars were different back then. While these beauties were from the 50s, I was out driving around in the 60s, and hanging out at diners like these. Notice that todays autos all look very similar, like box tops, mostly, while these babies were different, each having its own persona. Ah, to go back and take my camera with me. HaarFager has done a great scene here, in reality, and then photographed it for the pleasure of people like me, a guy who is forever lost in the 60s. Thanks, my friend, for a moment of joy. I can almost smell the burgers inside.
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Mickey's Diner, 1955
This is probably not what you thought it was. Instead of being an actual picture from the 1950's, it's another one of my "mini dioramas" featuring some of my 1:64 scale M2 Machines Auto-Thentics diecast cars. These little cars are just loaded with detail! The hoods and doors open and they have real rubber tires and metal bases. And did I mention all the detail they have in the interior and under the hood? Marvelous is all I can say!

This picture features the following M2 Machines Auto-Thentics, from left to right:
1954 Chevrolet Bel Air
1955 DeSoto Fireflite
1953 Ford Crestline Victoria
1955 Pontiac Star Chief

I'm telling you, if you see some of these in a store somewhere, you have to check them out! Ever since I picked up the 1955 Pontiac Star Chief, I've been wanting to feature it in some kind of picture like this. Something that still amazes me when I work up pictures like this is that this particular image is only about 7 inches wide! 1:64 scale cars are perfect for this medium.

Explored on August 26th, 2009.

1294ff

Uploaded by HaarFager on 26 Aug 09, 7.05AM PST.

New York City USA - Flatiron Building 05

New York City USA - Flatiron Building 05 a photo by Daniel Mennerich (Thanks for over 450k visitors) on Flickr.

A CLASSIC BUILDING IN SEPIA TONES BY DANIEL MENNERICH

THE INSPIRATION FOR YET ANOTHER NEW GALLERY, SEPIA MASTERPIECES, IN MY OPINION...

Many people are not quite sure what sepia means when referring to photographic images. This photo, by Daniel Mennerich, defines the sepia photograph. It is not a black and white photo, it is not a color photo, it is not a photo-manipulated photo, it is, precisely, a photo that appears to be aged, like good whiskey, to a tone of hues and shades that makes the viewer say, "Man, that is really an historic shot."

It is a matter of taste; some photos look better when presented in a sepia format while others look better in color or black and white. Personally, considering the historic nature of the Flatiron Building, sepia is the right venue.

Thanks, Daniel, for the opportunity to write an essay about SEPIA and your photographic genius. This photo is one of my favorites.

A PERSONAL NOTE ABOUT THIS PHOTOGRAPH

What a joy it would be to have a studio apartment on the 4th or 7th floor.

Robert

Fire Engine At Stovepipe Wells

Fire Engine At Stovepipe Wells
Originally uploaded by Birdman of El Paso

THE BIRDMAN OF EL PASO HAS captured a truck painted red, the kind of trucks that are cool, the kind I dreamed about when just a boy
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Fire Engine At Stovepipe Wells
Fire Engine At Stovepipe Wells, Death Valley CA
This fire engine was just sitting around waiting for me to come by and take some pictures.
Uploaded by Birdman of El Paso on 16 Jun 10, 4.02PM PST.