Looking around

We’ve been so busy taking pictures none have been posted
lately. So, here are some critters we found interesting while
out and about.

The critter above, and all shown here, were taken on my Nikon
D3300. The settings were: f/5.6, ISO 400, shutter speed 1/1000
of a second, at 210 mm for this shot. You can click on any of
these pictures to get a better look.

Couldn’t resist this one as the bird looks like he’s posing for
the camera. Shot with the Nikon with the settings at: f/6.3,
ISO 400, shutter speed 1/600 of a second at 210 mm.

This critter was working the flower and was upside down as
shown. Hadn’t seen that before. Shot at f/6.3, ISO 400, shutter
speed 1/600 of a second at 210 mm.

This critter caught my eye too. Shot at f/11, ISO 500, 1/1000
of a second shutter speed, at 420 mm.

Finally these two are of a young male cardinal feeding a young
female cardinal. Never saw that before either. These two aren’t
the clearest as I was shooting through two storm door windows.
I still like them. The settings were: f/11, ISO 1000, shutter
speed 1/500 of a second at 420 mm.

Now that we’ve bored you to tears it’s time to mosey off into
the background and scrounge something to eat. Enjoy our day.
Comments are always welcome.

Staying local

Today we are going to mention a couple things, happening or
about to happen, on the east coast of Iowa. We mention them
only because one is of interest to us and the other just goes
to prove the insanity is everywhere. So if you bear with us,
we’ll explain.

Tomorrow the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 776 are
hosting a Cruise-In at NorthPark Mall here in Davenport, Iowa.
The proceeds from this event will be used to support military
and veterans programs. Things get started at 5 pm and continue
until somebody turns off the light or the cows come home. It’s
a great event for a good cause and we hope to see you there.

Then we have the circus coming back to our city government. It
is now being said by one Alderman that another Alderman is a
racist and a bigot. The whole incident began when a former mayor
said something to the effect that the Irish were slaves too.

Of course that got those who see racism everywhere full of
righteous indignation and caused our city to pass a proclamation
that our fair city is diversified. Whatever happened to just
shrugging it off and calling the speaker a nut if you don’t
agree. It may not be popular but he has the right to say it.

This brought about the facebook melee between the two Aldermen.
She claims the other shares the views of our former Mayor and a
zoning letter he wrote to residents near a College that wants to
tear down some buildings is racist.

The complaining Alderman went before the local Civil Rights
Commission and stated “if you’re poor and black, you are not
going to understand the letter.” Hell lady, I’m an oldfart
white guy and I can’t understand it. Of course this same
outraged Alderman has a candidate she thinks would be more
compassionate, caring that will run against the one she doesn’t
like.

I don’t believe Alderman Ambrose has much to worry about but
time will tell. We wish him well in the election. An article in
our Quad-Cities Times written by Devan Patel was used as a
reference for some of this portion of this post.

Now I’m craving a burrito and a gallon of coffee so enjoy our
friday. Before we know it monday will come calling again.
Comments are always welcome.

Two upcoming events

As summer winds down here on the east coast of Iowa thoughts
turn to the west coast of Illinois. It’s almost time for the
64th Annual O’Reilly World Series of Drag Racing at Cordova
International Raceway. The 1/4 drag strip is once again home
to this event.

The World Series has been held at Cordova almost every year
since it began. And this year the event will be held August
25-27. Admission will be $25 on friday and saturday, $12 Sunday.
We’re told discount tickets are available at O’Reilly Auto Parts.

That same weekend, August 26-27, Farm Days are being held in
the Village of East Davenport. Hours are 10 am to 5 pm
saturday and 10 am to 4 pm sunday. Admission to this even is
free.

11th Street is blocked off for the event between Mound and
Jersey Ridge and the street is filled with older farm tractors.
On the grassy area of lower Lindsey Park there will be a rope
making exhibition, petting zoo, pedal tractors, and a Gator
raffle.

There is also a wagon ride available pulled by a 2-cylinder
Johnny Popper that takes a short trip through the historic
district. If we remember right most businesses will be open for
the event also.

Tough choice. A cruise up the Illinois river road to a drag
strip for some serious bench racing and noise or a quick trip
to the east end to listen to some Johnny Poppers. Since my
buddy I used to go to the World Series with is in a Nursing
Home it looks like we’ll go to the farm show.

Enjoy our wednesday and we will forewarn you that we may do
a rant tomorrow about all the nonsense taking place. Now I need
another cup of coffee and a Snicker’s.
Comments are always welcome.

The question

Just got home from a visit with Dad and now have the chance to
put some thoughts here. As always we talked of everything from
the nut with bowl haircut to numerous bills received after one
leaves the hospital.

We talked of how we believe this is going to be a cold, snowy,
winter and how the last few have been mild whick accounts for
the larger population of birds and other critters. If nothing
else it’s always interesting.

His caregiver asked what I was going to do later and I replied
that trying out a new lens was a priority. Which led to the
inevitable question of “what do you take pictures of?” Followed
by “do you sell them?”

Well, I take pictures of everything and anything and don’t sell
them as it is a hobby of mine. So I take pictures of whatever I
find interesting at the time the camera is out. I never had a
class on photography and didn’t realize one must specialize.

I could almost guarantee that if I came across a purple gorilla
jumping rope on a street corner, and had my camera, I would get
a picture. I don’t try to sell them because they are of interest
to me and may not even be marketable.

Enough rambling, enjoy our Tuesday as we won’t get another
until next week. Now I’m going to finish a few chores so I can
try out that lens.
Comments are always welcome.

Doctors, the government, and Chuck Norris

I’ve always been leary of doctors, bankers, and lawyers for
a multitude of reasons. Now our government is on the list thanks
to Chuck Norris. I’ve been a fan of Mr. Norris since I saw him
in “Way of the Dragon”.

I’ve always felt bankers expect you to jump through hoops to
get a loan you know you can handle, lawyers want a ton of money
regardless of whether they win or lose your case, and some
doctors are more like dictators. Government is on the list as
I learn more. For the purpose of this post we’ll concentrate on
the medical profession and Chuck Norris.

Bear with me and it may just make sense. As someone who has
had many x-rays, MRIs, Cat scans and other tests done over the
years I have questions those in the medical profession don’t
like to hear. How many of us, in the beginning of the MRI
process have been told a dye may have to put in our bodies so
the MRI will highlight whatever bodily part they want to see?

I always ask if these things are harmful and am told no. Turns
out that’s not entirely true. And Chuck Norris’s wife had one
done, with the dye, had a serious reaction, and almost died!
Turns out the dye contains Gadolinium. It is a rare earth metal
and like other rare earth metals has fluorescent properties.

Still with me? Now I don’t know about you, but I do want any
heavy metals running trough my bloodstream for any reason. This
junk can end up in my brain? I have enough trouble thinking
without that happening.

If other countries question the use of this chemical why did
the FDA allow it to be used without serious study? To read his
article, and get a lot more information on the subject, go
here.

Enjoy our Monday even though it’s raining here on the east
coast of Iowa. We do need the rain.
Comments are always welcome.

We’ve gone crazy

Recent events have caused me to think of the state of our
current society and in all honesty I have to say too many of us
are crazier than an outhouse rat. Bear with me and I will try to
explain.

If I understand things correctly a white supremacist group
planned a demonstration and when word got out a counter group
organized a counter protest. At that point it would seem that
everything was as it should be.

Then came word both groups had helmets, weapons, and chemical
deterrents to the opposition. At that point, if one is honest
with themselves, it became a riot. We’ve heard talking heads
blame our president, the mayor, law enforcement, the white
supremacists, and the devil himself.

Throw in a guy in a car running over some of the counter
protesters and it’s a recipe for disaster. First off, the white
supremacists have every right to assemble peacefully as do the
the counter protesters. You may not like what they are saying
but they have the right to say it.

Please tell me how any of those getting blamed could have
stopped what happened. In a rational, educated society this
should not have happened. Said supremacists would have had their
little parade, met a planned destination, had their meeting,
and went home.

We can not mute one segment of our society because it offends
another segment. If what the group is saying offends you, don’t
go to their meetings! It seems to me that ones claiming the
supremacists are the fascists are the fascists.

This whole dividing our citizens has been planned and this
event is proof the plan is working. A state of emergency has
declared? If everyone would take a deep breath, read the laws
concerning assembly and follow them, this never would have
happened.

Grow a pair. Or better yet, grow up. That’s my opinion and
you’re welcome to yours.
Comments are always welcome.

Sunday snicker

A woman was at work when she received a phone call that her daughter was very sick with a fever. She left her work and stopped by the pharmacy to get some medication. She got back to her car and found that she had locked her keys in the car.

She didn’t know what to do, so she called home and told the baby sitter what had happened. The baby sitter told her that the fever was getting worse. She said, “You might find a coat hanger and use that to open the door.”

The woman looked around and found an old rusty coat hanger that had been thrown down on the ground, possibly by someone else who at some time or other had locked their keys in their car. Then she looked at the hanger and said, “I don’t know how to use this.”

So she bowed her head and asked God to send her some help. Within five minutes an old rusty car pulled up, with a dirty, greasy, bearded man who was wearing an old biker skull rag on his head. The woman thought, “This is what you sent to help me?” But, she was desperate, so she was also very thankful.

The man got out of his car and asked her if he could help. She said, “Yes, my daughter is very sick. I stopped to get her some medication and I locked my keys in my car. I must get home to her. Please, can you use this hanger to unlock my car?”

He said, “Sure”. He walked over to the car, and immediately the car was opened. She hugged the man and through her tears she said, “Thank You So Much! You are a very nice man.”

The man replied, “Lady, I am not a nice man. I just got out of prison today. I was in prison for car theft and have only been out for about an hour.”

The woman hugged the man again and with sobbing tears cried out loud, “Oh, Thank you God! You even sent me a Professional!”