Cap'n Bob & the Damsel

Culture

Rocket Scientists – NOT

You remember the answer that Miss Teen South Carolina gave when she was asked why one-fifth of Americans can’t find the United States on a map. I couldn’t find a transcript of her incoherent ramblings but this is a synopsis of the event:

miss-teen-sc.jpg“I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because some people out there in our nation don’t have maps,” she ventured.

During her meandering response, she also tossed in out-of-the-blue references to “the Iraq” and “Asian countries” and their need for the support of the American educational system in identifying the United States on the map.

Upton is described as a varsity athlete and student leader at Lexington High School, where she graduated in June with a 3.5 GPA.

Despite the on-camera gaffe, Upton finished as third runner-up.

And then there was this screed from Senator John F’n. Kerry in response to media questions about a recent tornado disaster:

john_kerry.jpg[I] don’t want to sort of leap into the larger meaning of, you know, inappropriately, but on the other hand, the weather service has told us we are going to have more and more intense storms,” Kerry said. “And insurance companies are beginning to look at this issue and understand this is related to the intensity of storms that is related to the warming of the earth. And so it goes to global warming and larger issues that we’re not paying attention to. The fact is the hurricanes are more intensive, the storms are more intensive and the rainfall is more intense at certain places at certain times and the weather patterns have changed.

Maybe it’s just me, but that made less sense than Miss Teen SC’s response.

Miss TSC had the disadvantage of being in a high-stress situation, and did the best she could do given her state of mind.

Kerry, on the other hand, fights his way through to be in front of the media, and is certainly used to bloviating. I can’t cut him any slack for that, and he sounded like an idiot while trying to politicize the tornado disaster.

Despite his lack of articulation, however, Kerry finished second in his last big contest. Go figure.

14 Feb 2008 by Culture Humor Whacko Politics

Happy St. Valentine’s Day

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Here’s why hearts, flowers and candy are associated with St. Valentine’s Day:

heart-candy.jpgDuring the medieval era of chivalry, the names of English maidens and bachelors were put into boxes and drawn out in pairs. Each couple exchanged gifts and the girl became the man’s sweetheart for a year. He wore her name on his sleeve and was bound by duty to attend and protect her (the accepted origin of the phrase, “to wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve”). This old custom of drawing names was considered a good omen for love and often foretold a wedding. In 1537, King Henry VIII declared, by Royal Charter, that all England would celebrate February 14 as “Saint Valentine’s Day” and with the passage of time, February 14 became the traditional date for exchanging love messages and simple gifts (such as flowers or candy), with Saint Valentine becoming the accepted Patron Saint of Lovers.

Did you know that St. Valentine was not only the patron saint of lovers, but also of epilepsy, fainting and the plague?

godivaSt. Valentine was a Priest, martyred in 269 at Rome and was buried on the Flaminian Way. He is the Patron Saint of affianced couples, bee keepers, engaged couples, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, happy marriages, love, lovers, plague, travelers, young people. He is represented in pictures with birds and roses.

Enjoy the candy – Click on the pictures for larger size.

13 Feb 2008 by Culture Photography Religion

Groundhog Day in the South Bay

We really don’t know if Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow today or not. Had he been in Redondo Beach, California, he might have seen a vigorous surf blown by balmy winds on a 62°(F) day.

pier and surf

Click on the image for the large view – but before you decide to move to Redondo Beach, don’t forget that our next great earthquake is long, long overdue.

02 Feb 2008 by Culture Environment Photography

Damsel’s Water Zen

Gaze and Relax

You may have noticed the “Damsel’s Water Zen” widget in the sidebar. This is the background behind it.

Damsel likes the light patterns that water makes when sunlight dances through it. Whether in a swimming pool, in a river, in a marina channel or in a shallow harbor, it doesn’t matter, she likes the shimmering ripples.

Last September (2007), we spent our anniversary, as usual, on Catalina Island. We go to Avalon every year since that’s where we got married. While we were there, we took a lot of pictures and a few movies.

While we were waiting on the Green Pier for our glass-bottom boat tour. I leaned over the rail and captured this short sequence of the rippling water in the harbor. I used my little Canon A710 IS digital camera in AVI mode. I pointed the camera straight down and captured about ten seconds of video. When I showed the preview to Damsel, she said it was relaxing like ‘Water Zen.’

So, when we got home, I converted the short video to Flash® and popped it in the sidebar as a remembrance to our time in Avalon and an opportunity to ‘gaze and relax.’

30 Jan 2008 by Culture Travel

Victorian Lighthouse at Point Fermin

One of the prettiest man-made landmarks in Southern California, the Point Fermin Lighthouse stands in San Pedro. This beautiful structure, built in 1874, has been recently restored to nearly original condition.

I showed a gloomier weather scene by the sea yesterday, so I thought a nice big picture of the lighthouse bathed in sunlight would be a good follow-up. Click on the image for the full-sized version.

Point Fermin Lighthouse

11 Jan 2008 by Culture Photography

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas Monuments

From APOD:

Mars and Orion Over Monument Valley
Credit & Copyright: Wally Pacholka (Astropics.com)

Welcome to The World At Night. Sharing the night sky seen around the world, this view from Monument Valley, USA includes a picturesque foreground of famous buttes. Buttes are composed of hard volcanic rock left behind after water eroded away the surrounding soft rock. The two buttes on the image left are known as the Mittens, while Merrick Butte is on the right. Recorded just last week, planet Mars is at the left of the skyscape, a glowing beacon of orange that is the brightest object in the frame. To the right of Mars lies the constellation of Orion. Betelgeuse is the reddish star near the center and the Belt of Orion and the Orion Nebula are farther right. Finally, the bright blue star Rigel appears above Merrick Butte in this stunning view of The World At Night.

Please click on the image for the full-sized view of this magnificent photo.

25 Dec 2007 by Culture Photography Religion

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