Tattoos: "Ink-Stained Wretchedness" and, a Tramp Stamp, revisited..

My thoughts exactly. Wretchedness, I mean.

Richard Cohen in a Washington Post op-ed today puts the slam-dunk on the latest 'forever' craze...

"The tattoo is the battle flag of today in its war with tomorrow. It is carried by sure losers.

"About 40 percent of younger Americans (26 to 40) have tattoos. About 100 percent of these have clothes they once loved but now hate. How can anyone who knows how fickle fashion is, how times change, how their own tastes have "improved," decorate their body in a way that's nearly permanent? I don't get it.

A cop told me that collectively they love perps with tattoos; they make identification of a live perp or a dead body a breeze.

The forever markings. And people complain about 'Universal ID's'.

My photo here of a classic 'Tramp Stamp' at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. Taken Oct. 23, 2005. I wonder if the little 'tramp' is sick of it yet.



Heh. Not even centerlined. Click to check out the hair follicles.

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Friday Photo: Ruger New Model Super Blackhawk

I know, I know, I'm a few weeks off. Something tells me that's going to change.

My favorite lens (the 70-300mm) failed; I sent it back to Sigma for repairs. They had a trade-in program..can you believe that? I asked the young lady if the new lens was any different from my failed oldie. "Well, it's not much different. Just a little sharper is all..." HuH? Sharper is an improvement, lass. I'll take it. It'll show up in a couple days, from Californialand.

This toy is 'new' to me. The Ruger .44 Magnum with a 4 1/2" bbl. When I was a kid I had an old .44 Mag Cattleman revolver; biggest piece of crap I ever owned. With every shot the base pin drifted out a little. I traded that for a nice Mod. 17 K-22 target pistol (that I would give someone else's body parts to have back...)

Won't be much base pin driftage with this one.

I've been sorely tempted to take it out in the backyard and let 'er loose. But, times are changed; and people are just freaking antsy nowadays. When I first came to Smyrna, I would take a few guns over to the old rock quarry off of Sam Ridley Pky. Like everybody else. Now, there's a Super Tar-gay there.

I should move farther out in the sticks. As if there are any 'sticks' left, anymore...

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Oh, I changed my blog header again. Back to the original, sort of. Because I was fed up with that Titans-Flag photo. I'll get another good one when the games start up. With my new lens...

;D

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Friday Photos, late as usual

Had to shoot 'em first.

Part of my ka-tet. I see him every time I'm out there.


So, do you see the 707 and the holy clouds? Or something like that.

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Heather's Shooting Academy...EAAcorp (Friday Photo...)

The folks at EAA knew how to attract a crowd at the NRA Convention.

I've a t-shirt and this poster.

Note the autograph.

Explanation to my wife? Well, Serr8d who?

;D

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This post inspired by Cowboy Blob's creating of "National Cheesecake Gun pRon Day". Or "National Gun Safety Day".

I think I've got both covered right here...

In Heather's grasp (note the correct finger placement)

WITNESS ELITE GOLD
The "Gold Team" pistol is the signature model of 1999, 2002, 2005 IPSC World Champion Eric Grauffel. Every "Gold Team" pistol is carefully hand built by Tanfoglio's master gunsmiths. Special features of the "Gold Team" are an 8 hole ported, match grade polygonal rifled barrel, 3 chamber compensator, lightened slide, single action trigger with over travel stop, square trigger guard, checkered front and back strap, extended beavertail, ambidextrous custom shop safety, hart hammer, custom shop magazine release, extend magazine well for speed reloading, and one piece aluminum grips. The full length dust cover frame is drilled and tapped to allow the use of various styles of optic mounts. Standard features include:

* Competition Ready "Out of the Box"
* 12 Hole Ported Polygonal Barrel
* 2 Chamber Compensator
* Full Length Dust Cover
* Optics Ready - Drilled and Tapped
* 9mm, .38 Super, .40 SW & .45 ACP
* MSRP $1,879

Cheesecake. yep.

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This makes up for last Friday's lack of a Friday Photo. Is it a true photo, you ask? I'll tell you what, you try to take a picture of a flat poster and make it come out right.

This episode involved two photos ('upper' Heather and 'lower' Heather); both first adjusted for size then color level using my old Photoshop 6.0. Oh, the shots required me to bounce the flash off of a white ceiling to avoid any hotspot glare. The two monster photos (6X4 @ 576 dpi) were stitched together using the Canon Photostitch program that came bundled with my camera.

Then the GIMP was called into play to change the perspective (since I couldn't very well shoot straight down, blocking the bounced flash, now could I?). Finally the whole image was adjusted again for color balance. And to the small sizes you see here.

Oh, the top pic was uploaded to Blogger (click to embiggen). I used the Gimp's 'softglow' filter for that nice effect. The lower image is fed directly from the my Photobucket account, without the softglow filter effect but adding the thin frame.

In all, none of that was near as much fun as actually conversing with Heather at the show.

For some other pics of Heather, see my earlier NRA Convention post.

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Vacation...Oconoluftee River

In the middle of freakin' nowhere (near Bryson City, NC) I turn on my laptop to offload a camerafull of images, and...there's a stray wireless signal. Imagine my surprise. Two years ago I doubt anyone in this county had wireless internet; now, you can't escape it.

Anyway, I'm stealing bandwidth long enough to post a couple pics from the area.

From the Oconoluftee River, pre-dam. Off my front porch; next pic from the upper steps of the Jackson County Courthouse in Sylva.

Now turn this damn thing off and get on the river!
;D

From the NRA Convention in Louisville: The Floor Show part 1, featuring Gun Pr0n, Bling, and the EAA (un)exhibitited t-shirt toss

I spent this morning it the Expo hall, at Louisville's excellent State Fair/Convention Center, located just north of the airport. Louisville is such a compact city...everything is just where you think is should be. I've always liked this town.

These pictures taken on the floor. Tonight, Glen Beck at the Celebration of Values Banquet. In 2 hours.

Did I mention I hate laptops??? Ornery things...





This is a 1000-Diamond Beretta. For what purpose I don't know, but I did get this nice shot.


OK, this EAA lady demonstrates how not to handle fake firearms (no, not the 50 BMG pictured in this shot, but the holstered semiauto that later hit the floor...nice trigger finger, ma'am. I did get a tossed shirt, as well as these pics.


Then she was forced to pick up the dropped pistol. Hmmm...we may have witnessed a stage performance there. Lots of whoops I'm afraid. Can't say the crowd was disappointed.

How do I always manage to get these great shots? ;D


The tramp stamp is a disappointment. That's two for me.


I should have had time to give more descriptive accounts of these pics, but I'm in a bit of a hurry. Later, maybe.

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Oh, I'm not all goofing off. Here's the video of John McCain spanking Baracky's "foreign policy" and his abysmal gun control record...



And, the story of Huckabee's nonsensical joke that (fortunately!) will keep him out of McCain's VP consideration.

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Friday Photo....

...from 1987 or so, HWY 87, just north of Phoenix; in the Mazatzal Mountains. I was driving a rental convertible, a Firebird. Nice.

Today, I would have to settle for a rental Yugo. Maybe.

This scene probably stuffed full of condos, by now. I can haz all ur photogenic places.

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Watersports season, almost

Fishermen hit the water year 'round. I only hit the water when I can play in it.

Water temps are tolerable. Far from mid-summer, but not breath-takingly cold either.


At least the boat runs.

More later. Al Gore promised us earlier and longer boating seasons. He lied.

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Friday Photo: F-Body Firebird loses it's front wheel...

...because of a spin-out on rain-slicked Union St., on the approach to the Woodland Street Bridge. At about 4:30 PM Friday.

Seems to have adequate tread. Must've failed to learn to drive in the rain. A Nashvillian, by definition.



Not much wrong with this set of wheels, spotted earlier in the day on 4th Ave. S. Before the rain.

Notice the flowers.

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Friday Photo (yes, actually, I am still around....)

Why the posting paucity, you ask? Well, a variety of reasons...springtime, good weather, outdoor building project(s), birthday (why does everyone want to go out to eat on one's birthday? what's wrong with nice presents?), and the day after, a year ago, my dad died. In other words, I've been moody.

All these things, and more.

But, at least I'm still six feet above these nice green acres, and not sub-terrania (but in my case, I've pretty much decided in favor of flamery instead of planting...global warming and all of that...my final flippery to Al Gore's nonsensical religiousity).

More, later, especially if the rain doesn't quit.

Friday Photos...Wet Spider; Kiss my Astra

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Bolus "Ball of the Day"

Thanks, Iowahawk!

I snagged that pic on Sam Ridley Pky., here in Smyrna, last August, and haven't seen that rig since.

Check out the entire Bolus "Ball of the Day" collection. There's a Volkswagen ball that's especially fascinating.

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Friday Photo (on time early, damn!)

This shot in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, near my old home in Show Low, Arizona.

Three Ponderosa Pines, shot upskirt...

This one is the original color and true to the old 35mm negative... (click for a larger version)

The same pic, with some 'shop work on the colors (Ponderosa pines tend to red highlights)

And, the 'dreamy sequence' (just the thing whisperin' pines will do for you)...

Homesick, me...

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Slideshow of all my Friday Photos

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Friday Photo...on MONDAY! Taylor Creek Falls (AKA Fancher Falls)

Forgetful, eh?

Center Hill Lake, Taylor Creek Falls. Not as spectacular as Burgess Falls; this is a quiet place.

This is only accessible by boat. And not a big one, either.

"Click for a bigger pic"

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Slideshow of all my Friday Photos

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Friday Photos: featuring Al Gore's Belle Meade McMansion, and Percy Warner Park!

Looking from PW Park. Nice rainy day (last Friday)

Looking from the lower PW trail,
directly down Belle Meade Blvd. This is a good running route.

Approaching Al Gore's homestead. Nice plug.

Here's the front view. I never left the car!

That gate looks somewhat...out of place, eh?

Teh famous 'solar panels',installed after that utility bill flap.

(Click any pic to embiggen.)

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Oh, just in case...
;D

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Friday Photo...the Slideshow

Photobucket sends me an email touting their new "Slideshow" optionality. I found a few of my favorites stuck in various places; so here goes...as a test, mostly.

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Friday Photo (last Friday, I'm late again)

I'm having a hard time finding stuff I want to shoot. And, shooting things that I can use.

Morrison, teh barn.

Owls? Dunno.

Ask it.

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Friday Photo (not a recent Friday, obviously...)

One of my favorite boating shots...and I wasn't even in the boat!

You've got to get a shot like this before the cheap little plastic disposable waterproof camera's lens gets wet.

I'm so ready for spring...

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Friday Photo...Signage at a Nashville Stripjoint

This is the new incarnation of Babes, the perennially-shut-down strip club at 300 McCann St., just under the I-40 overpass if you were heading south on 4th Ave. S. (Nolensville Rd.) and exiting downtown Nashville. Now known as the Crazy Hores Horse...

I'm taking bets on how long this version is open before the inevitable padlocks come out, the Bible belt and all that.

But for now, they're hiring...yes, I suppose there are nudes.

Yes, positioning is important in an interview of this sort...


This weekend, they were advertising a dwarf...
I swear, "Little Lacy", or something of the sort.



But, they support the troops! Clarksville, Ft. Campbell, is only 50 minutes north of here.

But, this being 'dwarf' weekend, I wouldn't recommend this. There's only so much to go around...

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(hey, this Friday Photo set is only 1 day late! Yes!)

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Friday Photo (posted on a Sunday, taken yesterday, and NO, this ain't no stinkin' litterbox-filling exercise in 'Catblogging'...)

I repeat, this is NOT catblogging. I mean, can't someone even take a picture of a cat and post it without teh ghey innuendo?


If it makes you feel better, this is a picture of an overflow bookshelf housing a few large 'coffee-table-style' books (with some nice titles, including "The Last Sitting" by Bruce Stern, featuring Marilyn Monroe's last photo shoot, before she was assassinated by the FBI (BECAUSE OF THE KENNEDYS!)) that temporarily housed a cat...

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