Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Monday, June 29, 2009

African Iris #2



African Iris #1 here.
I am using this photo as my desktop wallpaper.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Shades of Green


May the people of Iran 
experience the blessings of 
peace, liberty, and democracy 
posthaste.


City Daily Photo

Theme day topic: Blog Day: Iran Protests

Theme day date: June 28th, 2009

Description: This is a special 'blog day' in order to help spread the images and stories coming out of Iran, and raise awareness of the issues that the people are protesting currently. 

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Friday, June 26, 2009

Skywatch Friday - with Agapanthus



Skygazers heaven here! 

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Staged



Closet in a model condominium at Vue.
The idea for posting this shot came from Father Adam's artful photo "Aprons."

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Harbor Lights



Harbor Lights

Son of a Tokyo Rose
I was bound to wander from home
Stranger to whatever I'd awaken to
Spun the wheel, took a shot in the dark
One way ticket and a runaway heart
A sailor's dream came true the night I dreamed you

Through the neon doorways
Down the stony streets I fell
All hands high side, all eyes erect, I follow
Sailing shadows, reds and blues
Curtains drawn but I saw through
The window to your soul, and I found you

Whoa, the harbor lights of Venus
Shining through the breeze
That brings me back to you my love
To you my love, to you my love

My eyes must be betraying
But that lonesome jukebox playing
Something about the harbor lights is calling me
Back to some Jamaican Bay
Doesn't seem so far away
Keep the change, but I'll repay these memories

Dawn came in this morning
Like some old junked out melody
The words she spoke when we awoke still haunt me
What you feel too won't reveal you
Let me steal you from my life

Whoa, the harbor lights of Venus
Shining through the breeze
That brings me back to you my love
To you my love, to you my love

BOZ SCAGGS

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Well-Trained Pack




Walking down 18th Street.
Great view of the Port.

Monday, June 22, 2009

City View



Sunday, June 21, 2009

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Body Language



Someone did his business in the house. Then he went and put himself in "time out" on the back porch. This is where I found him, all slumped over, hanging his head, leaning against the wall for support, and if he had shoulders, they would be hunched. Do dogs have emotions? Do they feel sadness, remorse? Do they feel sorrow? Can they express regret? Am I anthropomorphizing? 

Friday, June 19, 2009

Skywatch Friday - Sunrise & Polka Dot Umbrella



It's Friday! Visit over 300 skies from around the world here.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Matilija Poppy


The flowers can get up to 5 inches across.



Do you want toast with that?
Looks like a sunny-side-up egg!



The Matilija poppy or tree poppy is a poppy of Southern California and Northern Mexico, belonging to the poppy family (Papaveraceae). They are perennial subshrub with a woody stem. They may grow to a height of 2.5 meters (8 ft) and a width of 1 m (35 in), with the flowers up to 13 cm (5 in) across. The silvery green leaves are deeply cut, with a small fringe of hairs at the margin. They are notable for their large white flowers with intense yellow centers, blooming in summer. These flowers prefer a warm, sunny spot and fertile soil with good water drainage. They are not easily grown, and also difficult to remove.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Monday, June 15, 2009

Mandatory Water Conservation



Shortage Year Water Rates and Outdoor Watering Restrictions Began June 1.


Southern California is facing a water supply shortage for the third year in a row. 

In Los Angeles, You Cannot:
  • Water using sprinklers on any day other than Monday and Thursday;
  • Use water to wash any hard surfaces such as sidewalks, walkways, driveways or parking areas, unless flushing is needed to protect health and safety; 
  • Use water to clean, fill or maintain decorative fountains unless the water is part of a recirculating system; 
  • Serve water to customers in eating establishments unless requested; 
  • Permit leaks from any pipe or fixture to go unrepaired; 
  • Allow for the washing of a vehicle without using a hose with a self-closing, shut-off device; 
  • Permit watering during periods of rain; 
  • Irrigate landscaping between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.; 
  • Water outdoors for more than 15 minutes per watering station, 10 minutes for other irrigation systems; 
  • Allow runoff onto streets and gutters from excessive watering; 
  • Install single-pass cooling systems in new buildings; 
  • Install non-recirculating systems in new car wash and commercial laundry systems; 
  • Permit large landscape areas to water without rain sensors that shut off irrigation systems.
From the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power here.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

I Am The Flag



I Am The Flag

by Ruth Apperson Rous

I am the flag of the United States of America.

I was born on June 14, 1777, in Philadelphia.

There the Continental Congress adopted my stars and stripes as the national flag.

My thirteen stripes alternating red and white, with a union of thirteen white stars in a field of blue, represented a new constellation, a new nation dedicated to the personal and religious liberty of mankind.

Today fifty stars signal from my union, one for each of the fifty sovereign states in the greatest constitutional republic the world has ever known.

My colors symbolize the patriotic ideals and spiritual qualities of the citizens of my country.
My red stripes proclaim the fearless courage and integrity of American men and boys and the self-sacrifice and devotion of American mothers and daughters.

My white stripes stand for liberty and equality for all.

My blue is the blue of heaven, loyalty, and faith.

I represent these eternal principles: liberty, justice, and humanity.

I embody American freedom: freedom of speech, religion, assembly, the press, and the sanctity of the home.

I typify that indomitable spirit of determination brought to my land by Christopher Columbus and by all my forefathers - the Pilgrims, Puritans, settlers at James town and Plymouth.

I am as old as my nation.

I am a living symbol of my nation's law: the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.

I voice Abraham Lincoln's philosophy: "A government of the people, by the people,for the people."

I stand guard over my nation's schools, the seedbed of good citizenship and true patriotism.
I am displayed in every schoolroom throughout my nation; every schoolyard has a flag pole for my display.

Daily thousands upon thousands of boys and girls pledge their allegiance to me and my country.
I have my own law—Public Law 829, "The Flag Code" - which definitely states my correct use and display for all occasions and situations.

I have my special day, Flag Day. June 14 is set aside to honor my birth.

Americans, I am the sacred emblem of your country. I symbolize your birthright, your heritage of liberty purchased with blood and sorrow.

I am your title deed of freedom, which is yours to enjoy and hold in trust for posterity.
If you fail to keep this sacred trust inviolate, if I am nullified and destroyed, you and your children will become slaves to dictators and despots.

Eternal vigilance is your price of freedom.

As you see me silhouetted against the peaceful skies of my country, remind yourself that I am the flag of your country, that I stand for what you are - no more, no less.

Guard me well, lest your freedom perish from the earth.

Dedicate your lives to those principles for which I stand: "One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

I was created in freedom. I made my first appearance in a battle for human liberty.

God grant that I may spend eternity in my "land of the free and the home of the brave" and that I shall ever be known as "Old Glory," the flag of the United States of America.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Friday, June 12, 2009

Skywatch Friday - Power Pole



Visit other powerful skies here.


Thursday, June 11, 2009

Beach Fishing



Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Family Fishing



Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Pier Fishing



Monday, June 8, 2009

Rock Fishing



Sunday, June 7, 2009

Western Gull



The Western Gull, Larus occidentalis, is a large white-headed gull that lives on the western coast of North America. It is an exclusively marine gull that is seldom encountered inland. More from wikipedia here.

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Fishing Pier and Gull



Another view of the Cabrillo Fishing Pier here.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Skywatch - Cloud Series #3



June 2, 2009 at 4:40 PM
Come see a yellow sunset from this same spot here.
And visit more skies from around the globe here.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Cloud Series #2



June 2, 2009 at 4:50 PM

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Cloud Series #1



June 2, 2009 at 4:39 PM

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Black-Crowned Night Heron


Theme Day Bonus
YELLOW FEET

Monday, June 1, 2009

Theme Day: FEET


Sneakers & Paws


Wilson makes friends with boys in the park.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants