A new toy, PAC money, and Lone Survivor
I got a new toy for Christmas. Already you ask? Yup, already. It’s a negative scanner, a perfect gift for a guy who has hundreds (sometimes I think it’s thousands) of negatives ranging in size from 35mm all the way up to 4x5 inches. I have bigger negatives that are an oddball size by today’s standard, but they won’t fit in any of the negative holders that came with the scanner. I have a darkroom in the basement and have in the past relied on that to do my film developing and printing pictures. I’ll still have to use an outside source for the big negatives (4-1/2x6-1/2) unless I can come up with a handmade negative holder. There is such a thing as an 8"x10" negative, but I personally have never seen one. Can you imagine the size of the enlarger to handle one of them if you wanted blowups? Me, I would just make a contact print and be happy with that. I also received another early Christmas gift from Jean, a book. The title of it is, The Best of Barry, and it’s full of photos I took this year that Jean picked out. You can’t go to the library and check it out; you can’t find it on a book store shelf. It’s a one of a kind book with photos from cover to cover. It’s looking at my world through the eye of my camera. I had to say eye because my camera’s a Cyclops. [Editor’s note: In our year-end issue we will share Barry’s photos with our readers.] * * * For as long as I can remember the UAW has used their PAC money to support a Democrat for office; otherwise they supported no candidate at all. I’m not aware that they’ve ever supported a Republican. Well, guess who’s trying to even the score? I really don’t admire the Republicans for doing that in face of what’s going on in this country. What they’re doing is petty. I’ve said it many times before; our government does not represent We The People anymore. They aren’t simply elected by the people to get into office; they have to be bought and paid for before hand by special interest or foreign interest. Once they’re elected they make sure the special interest groups are taken care of. Thus the combination of two words, Pork Barrel, was invented. That part is obviously more important to them because they can get rich after their time in office either by giving speeches or working as a lobbyist. Just look at Bill Clinton. I’m still wondering how We The People get on their list of people to represent. Remember, Obama turned down public financing. Public financing…that’s us folks. When a politician rejects that, they’re rejecting us. * * * We’ve got our Christmas tree up and finished it off with Clark Griswold’s favorite Santa Claus ornament. For me it wouldn’t be a tree without it. There’s no Uncle Lewis to set fire to it while lighting his cigar so hopefully the ornament will survive another Christmas at our house. * * * George Bush wanted Iraq and he got it, shoes and all. It’s surreal to watch the news coverage of Bush’s surprise visit to Iraq and see a reporter from Egypt throw not one but both of his shoes at him. Lucky for Bush he ducked them. My big question is where was the Secret Service? * * * Do you wonder if the St. Johns School Board is still going ahead with their plans to build more schools and make improvements to existing buildings? I think they’ve scrapped some of their ideas for school upgrades such as artificial turf on the football field or as some of us call them, frills. Do they still feel we need it at a time when the nation’s economy is crumbling? I wonder too. As for classroom size just wait a few years and that too will change for the better. People are moving out of Michigan seeking employment wherever they can find it. Some of the words I think describes what we’re seeing from them are irresponsible, out of touch, current events challenged, and unconcerned. Take your pick. * * * I finished reading the book, Lone Survivor. It takes me a while some times, but I enjoyed the book very much. It’s an insight into what these young men went through in Afghanistan and how brave they were under fire. I thank Walt Thelen for the opportunity to read it. My next book? I’ll have to see what Santa brings. Until the next time . . .
