Saturday, July 02, 2005

Drought, Judges, Luther, Protection and a Pelican

I'm catching up on yard work while I'm off, mulching and trimming back dead stuff. We haven't had rain in St. Louis for weeks and everything is brown. It takes daily watering to keep anything alive, not to mention green.

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Looks like TWO supreme court justices will need replacing soon, as Sandra Day O'Connor announces her retirement. It's already apparent that Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist will be stepping down, so this leaves a huge hole in the court... and guarantees that the next month or two will be hand-wringers. George W. Bush needs to be careful with his choices.

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Luther Vandross is dead after a stroke severely damaged his body a couple of years ago. That's what stress will do to you... so you might take a cue from Luther and slow down a little. I find that alcohol relaxes me. Besides, liver disease is an easier death than stroke.

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"President George W. Bush has stressed the need for greater press freedom in Russia, the Middle East and Asia, but the message from U.S. prosecutors and courts is being heard more clearly in repressive corners of the world."

This sucks. As a journalist, it should be legal to protect your sources. Some of the biggest news stories and scandals have been uncovered through the use of secret sources such as "Deep Throat." Now, a precident is being set that threatens to stifle information and, ultimately, allow bad people to continue operating.

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I snapped this photo while on vacation in Florida, at a marina in Destin. I love the way it came out with the sepia filter and it's getting printed and framed. Just figured I'd share.











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Happy 4th of July, I hope you have a relaxing weekend!



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4 comments:

OldHorsetailSnake said...

You don't "snap" a framable photo. You "frame it carefully in the waning sun, taking advantage of cirrus clouds pasted against a sepia sky, f. 1.8, 1/25, Kodacolor, acid-etched."

Check out: www.busymom.net. She's a good writer who's visiting your fair city. Invite her over for a drink. Or take her one.

V said...

I like pelicans too.

Weary Hag said...

Very pretty photo...
We need a downpour or two in New England too... the boat was sitting on dry land for two days this week and it's tied at our dock!
That's a shame about Luther; I enjoyed his voice.
It's awful about the journalism thing... pretty pathetic.
Just stopping by to wish you a happy 4th, Dave. Eat, drink and post about your merriment.

Kerouaced said...

As I write this we are getting our first rain in weeks. I won't get to golf this evenning but damn we need the rain...the court nominations worry me. There just doesn't seem to be any middle ground anymore, no compromise...