April 2007 Archives

The crowds were greatly reduced in size today. I shot about 300 pictures and am including 15 completely un-retouched originals (something I rarely ever do) here to whet your appetite for things to come.

The last time I visited Roma was in November, 2003. Perhaps that was a better time to visit as I didn't have large crowds of people with which to deal. Another big change was the water in the Trevi Fountain: an enormous volume and pressure. Apparently this varies seasonally as the fountain is fed by artesian wells and seems rather lackluster this trip. And one final change: during my previous trip, Coke Light (Diet Coke) was difficult to find. No more!

Oh, and I found a suitcase to replace the one the airlines destroyed!

Yes Betty, I thought of you as I saw the people whiz by the Colosseum on their motorbikes!

I love Roma. The last time I was here was probably past the tourist season. On this trip tourists are everywhere! Too many people!

Last July I was in the arctic circle and heard Ray Charles singing Georgia On My Mind, when I was trying to get Georgia off of my mind. During this trip, I passed a church advertising a free choral concert sponsored by the Associazione Internazionale Amici Della Musica Sacra. Tired from the trip, I thought a nice concert would be in order.

Attended by about 1,000 people of all ages (even teens were in the audience), the choir, The St. Benedict Choir, was from Atlanta, Georgia.

Dear God!

Well, I just arrived in Rome. I am exhausted. I don't sleep on planes.

The airline split my suitcase open. The fact that I made it to the hotel, especially considering the taxi driver's driving!, without strewing my underwear all over the airport, the Roma Termini, the streets of Rome, or the hotel lobby is nothing short of a miracle. The suitcase is ruined and will have to be replaced tomorrow.

I'm staying in a glorious hotel about a block from the Pantheon. I caught a glimpse of the Pantheon before the driver hit his brakes hard to avoid killing about 20 pedestrians. [UPDATE: Glimpse nothing! I can see the Pantheon across the street!!] I'm sitting here in the lobby blogging, checking email, and wishing my room were ready so I could catch a short nap and then go take pictures.

This is the only day I will be in Rome without rain in the forecast. It's supposed to be overcast now, but is very sunny (and actually hot). Maybe I will be lucky!

For all who care: I am now up to date on the TV series Lost. [Think iPod + long plane ride!] What is going on?!

I'm leaving this afternoon for Rome. I'll be in Tunis, Tunisia (North Africa) midweek. Now to pack...

"Yee Haw" is not a foriegn policy

Going 33.3 in an iPod World!

Well, well, well...

Today was the big announcement. I guess I have been relatively silent on my blog for a variety of reasons. Aside from being astoundingly busy with this year's film festival, being afflicted beyond belief with allergies, and getting a horrendous head cold (probably as a result of an infection that was able to gestate because of the allergies), I have been investing a significant amount of my time and energy in a major activity about which I have felt a need to be silent.

My cold is much better now. I've been taking Alavert, which has really made a significant difference in my bodies reaction to the billions of allergens floating in the Atlanta air.

Last night the film festival went off without a hitch. It is such a positive and affirming experience for children. And they should be proud! Their work is nothing short of astounding.

And today I announced publicly to my staff that I have resigned from my position, effective at the end of this contract year. I don't think this was much of a surprise to anyone. Rumors of my moving on to other work have percolated for years. Today they became true.

I have noticed that I typically work in any one job for no more than 6 years. This was my sixth year.

So, hopefully now, my blogging can be a little less sporadic.

Is anyone else out there making this connection? 

The Republicans have controlled the political life of this nation for the past 6 years and "raunch radio" and TV exploded.  Vulgarity, coarseness, crudeness, disrespectfulness, arrogance, confrontation, insensitivities of every kind became the order of the day--supposedly because of their shock value.  Moving from merely acceptable to outrageously popular, the media industry sought to feed America's insatiable appetite for "saying what American's really think" about every minority group and controversial topic imaginable--not for the purpose of bringing people together to create harmony and a better life for everyone, but for market share which brings in the money.

I have always found this disgusting.  These media are, in my estimation, the Enrons of their industry, raping the nation's moral and social conscience for money.  Giving voice to the basest among us serves no good cause whatsoever.  And the irony of it all:  you can say any vulgar, mean thing you want, but show a woman's naked breast on national TV and the pulpits start to pound.

I believe that moral guidelines should circumscribe our speech as well.  I am from the old school:  what you think guides what you say.  What you say forms that which you do.

Yes, I am delighted that Don Imus was fired for his disgusting remarks.  I regret that it took corporate America this long to "Just say no!".  I fear I ask too much to say that more of the trashy, potty-talking, low-life pandering media should also be flushed.

Today I turned 50--yes, on Friday the 13th.  My co-workers bought me Chinese for lunch, and my fortune cookie was cracked and missing its fortune.  I think I'll just spend the rest of the evening in bed as I fear I may otherwise see a black cat!

I have been going through the mail that accumulated in my absence. I am in horror. I received an oversized envelope addressed to me by name that says, "Just turned 50? Relax. AARP has you covered." The return address reads, "AARP The Power to Make It Better."

It? Is "it" the ultimate euphemism? It? The long and tortuous journey toward "kicking the bucket," "leaving behind this mortal coil," "passing," "meeting your final reward?" Or is it it itself?

I mean, really!

It!

"It" is said that the only things one can not avoid are death and taxes. I haven't started my taxes yet, and I'm already getting mail about "it."

It!

Well, last week was a busy week which portends of things to come. Change, major and radical, is in the air--which, by the way, in Atlanta, has been really unseasonably cold for the past several days.

It was good to see some friends in LA that I hadn't seen for a couple of months. Their little baby is growing and changing so fast!

And finally, before I leap into the new week, here is one more picture, from LA, that I really liked. Particularly noteworthy about this picture is what is not in the picture. Slumped directly behind where I stood as I shot this picture was a pitiful homeless man, eyes vacant. So, juxtaposed against this backdrop of towering achievement and financial gain was the vacuous abyss of hopelessness. Tall glass and steel reaching to the heavens without the strong backbone of social conscience has only the tinny ring of hollowness, perhaps hell.

I knew I was in California when...

• the car rental company provided me with a yellow PT Cruiser, which I named Mellow Yellow
• the cost of housing went through the ceiling! (No, think higher than that!)
• the cost of gasoline increased 60 cents a gallon
• the mail drop looked like R2D2
• I heard the ocean calling my name

I was so busy I didn't have much time to shoot, but here are a few pictures (none the less) just for fun.

The mountain house is a quiet escape from the busyness of business of Atlanta. This pano gives a glimpse of the kitchen, dining room, den, living room, and one of the bedrooms. Unfortunately, you can't see the gorgeous view from the windows that literally cover the front of the house.

Click above to view the full screen pano with QuickTime
<ctrl> zooms out; <shift> zooms in

Again, if you are not familiar with Pangea software. These guys have developed a browser plug in that is awesome for playing VRs (panos) very smoothly at impressive frame rates. I highly recommend you download (free) and use it. I am not certain, but I only think it's available for Mac. To see this same pano file using the Pangea plug in, download and install it (at the this link, and it's really easy to do!). Then you can view the same pano above by clicking on their logo below. Compare the difference!

One of the big differences between the Pangea plug in and QuickTime is certainly the smooth rotation or panning of the virtual reality scene. I really like what Brian Greenstone has done with this plug in!

This pano was shot on the side of the road on the way up to the top of Wayah Bald, North Carolina.

Click above to view the full screen pano with QuickTime
<ctrl> zooms out; <shift> zooms in

Again, if you are not familiar with Pangea software. These guys have developed a browser plug in that is awesome for playing VRs (panos) very smoothly at impressive frame rates. I highly recommend you download (free) and use it. I am not certain, but I only think it's available for Mac. To see this same pano file using the Pangea plug in, download and install it (at the this link, and it's really easy to do!). Then you can view the same pano above by clicking on their logo below. Compare the difference!

One of the big differences between the Pangea plug in and QuickTime is certainly the smooth rotation or panning of the virtual reality scene. I really like what Brian Greenstone has done with this plug in!

This pano was shot from the top of Wayah Bald, North Carolina.

Click above to view the full screen pano with QuickTime
<ctrl> zooms out; <shift> zooms in

Again, if you are not familiar with Pangea software. These guys have developed a browser plug in that is awesome for playing VRs (panos) very smoothly at impressive frame rates. I highly recommend you download (free) and use it. I am not certain, but I only think it's available for Mac. To see this same pano file using the Pangea plug in, download and install it (at the this link, and it's really easy to do!). Then you can view the same pano above by clicking on their logo below. Compare the difference!

One of the big differences between the Pangea plug in and QuickTime is certainly the smooth rotation or panning of the virtual reality scene. I really like what Brian Greenstone has done with this plug in!

To say that I was angry would be an enormous understatement. I had to wait over 24 hours before I could even post about this or my "No Vile Language" policy for my blog would have been breached in a most serious way. I am in the mountains as I post, but not the Canadian Rockies as planned.

The taxi to the airport, a driver I have used many times for just such trips, was late picking me up. I placed three phone calls. They went something like this:

1. "Ella, it's 5:30AM. Where are you?" "Oh, I'm almost there."
2. "Ella, it's almost 6:00AM. Are you lost? I'm afraid I'm going to miss my flight." "Oh, don't worry. We have plenty of time. Give me 6 more minutes. I'm on 400 now."
3. "Ella, can you come back to the airport to pick me up and take me home. I missed the flight. The next available flight to Salt Lake City is tomorrow." "You're kidding me!" "No, I'm not."

I decided to drive to the North Carolina mountains. I'll leave tomorrow. In the meantime, enjoy the next three pano's I shot, even though these are not the scenes I had in mind!