There’s a lot of discussion about the Iraq war, and the White House has succesfully framed the debate into two camps: finish the mission (whatever that is), and immediate pull-out. I’ve hear a smattering of better thought-out plans, but I just wanted to add mine to that list.
The first step is to acknowledge that we [...]

With the yesterday’s passage of new detainee legislation yesterday, I lost my civil rights. If, in a law officer’s judgment, I provide “material support” to the enemy, I can be accused of being an enemy combatant. Once I get that status they can lock me up, and because I’m not a US citizen they don’t [...]

Last weekend I put up a hummingbird feeder on our balcony, and it was in use almost immediately. There are 2 birds that both claim the feeder as theirs, which leads to much bird chatter. Once in a while they’ll stop and rest in a tree close enough that I can get a semi-reasonable picture [...]

A near-by forest fire is kicking up tons of ash and smoke into the air, and wind is blowing it this way. This morning there was a fine layer of ash on everything, and the smoke is creating soft light all throughout the day. Here’s one I shot at the beach in that light. It [...]

This article will try to give you a basic understanding of the TSP, and how I would use it if I had access to one. Disclaimer: I am not a financial advisor. Always do your own research.
The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is a government retirement program available to people who work for the government. Money [...]

ESPN paid $65,000,000 for the rights to the season’s first Monday night game, and sent 150 people out to cover it. You’d think that they would have figured out how to use their fancy computer system before the game. Schadenfreude is great…

Didn’t take any good pictures this week. I did have fun going out to the beach last night, where the tar was flowing freely. Here’s a close-up of one of the falls. I’d like it to be grittier. Maybe I’ll revisit this location in harsher light, or maybe I just need to learn to process [...]

Here’s my entry into fredmiranda.com’s weekly assignment. The current theme is the title of this picture. I like the concept, but I wish I could convey the fact that it is at night, somehow. The best way would be to just use a flashlight as a lightsource, but it’d have to be a beast because [...]