The Greatest Speech Ever Made

Charlie Chaplin's final speech in "The Great Dictator".  (I don't know who added the contemporary montage which plays along with the speech).

Previously Compeleted Items #17, #35 & #53 - Bora Bora Sunrise, Visit South Pacific, Skinny Dipping

Bora Bora Sunrise, a photo by Jeff__ on Flickr.

Via Flickr:

Sunrise image which greeted us every morning in Bora Bora. 

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© 2000 CarrPhotography; all rights reserved

Item #17 was visit a South Pacific island and beautiful Bora Bora was all that I imagined. Gorgeous weather and surroundings. My wife could have stayed there for a month.  Item #53 was have a champagne toast to a sunrise, which we did at Bora Bora. This was one of the sunrises we saw each day and it was spectacular.  I don't know if we'll ever get a chance to revisit Bora Bora but I'm glad we went. Although I had skinny dipped years earlier, it was a beautiful locale to swim au naturel and redo item #35.

 

Previously Completed Item #22 - Learn How to Eat With Chopsticks

I used a fork eating in Chinese restaurants from high school past college. My first chopsticks use was in my early 20s at a social environment with some work colleagues and strangers; something inside me said to pick up the chopsticks and use them versus the fork. I'm glad I did because not only do I enjoy it, the practice made it easier to eat my way through Hong Kong and Beijing (the latter city was a business trip and I know that simple eating skill looked better than asking for a fork). 

The fun part of using chopsticks is picking up something small and round, like a pea and passing (or receiving) it from another person without dropping it. I'm not able to pick up all the rice but when I was in Hong Kong I noticed how everyone used the chopsticks to shovel the rice into their mouths so I felt OK. :)

Previously Completed Item #44 - Photograph Lighting While It IsHappening

"Electricity is really just organized lightning", a photo by Jeff__ on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Electricity is really just organized lightning.
George Carlin

On our first night of our Gulf Shores weekend I was serenaded by a spectacular lightning show over the gulf. Trying to capture a nice image of this was fun but challenging as the camera doesn't have a tripod mount or a bulb setting. I wished the building and beach were lit up more but this is how it looked to me so I wanted to keep it as realistic as possible.

Photograph © 2007 CarrPhotography; all rights reserved

Previously completed list.

Previously completed (?) item #100 - clawfoot tub

 

(variation on a self-portrait cliché), a photo by Jeff__ on Flickr.

When I read others had "own a clawfoot tub" on their list I thought, "oh, I already have this" and put it on my previously completed list.

Well, now that I remember we used to have a clawfoot tub in the house we were renovating but it was in such bad shape we couldn't use it any longer. I do love the bathroom which we restored, however - yes, this is my bathroom and this is me in the photo. It is a self-portrait, which was part of my 52 weeks of one self-portrait a week for an entire year project.

Item #73 - Volunteer at Oakland Cemetery

One item on the new list completed. It should be easy since I live a few blocks from here but it still took me about 6 years to do this. :)  Oakland Cemetery was designed as a Victorian Garden cemetery and is filled with wonderful architecture and history. My company had a volunteer day at various non-profit organizations and I jumped at the chance to volunteer at Oakland. My work for this day was light; I helped spread mulch over bare, non-grassy parts of the cemetery grounds but it is still something which is of help. It is a historic area in Atlanta.

 

The cemetery was designed in the 1850s to be a place where folks would visit, picnic and get a respite from the city.

 A closeup of this the mausoleum's steps is in the Atlanta daily photo link.

 Honoring the unknown Confederate dead soldiers.

 Mayors and other notable citizens are buried here, The most famous resident is Margaret Mitchell, author of "Gone with the Wind". I forgot to include a photograph of her site.

 Part of the Atlanta skyline in the distance.

The resting place of famous golfer, Bobby Jones. People lay down a golf ball in hopes it brings them luck to their game.

Hong Kong - Previously Completed Item #9

Hong Kong - Previously Completed Item #9

I was always fascinated with the blend of British and Chinese influences in a place like Hong Kong and I was fortunate to put a solo trip together in 1993. I cashed in frequent flier points for free air travel which allowed me the opportunity to stay at a decent hotel; nothing like a 5 star place but definitely a step above hostels of my previous trips. I'm glad I went as the week flew by. It was interesting being in such a congested environment, being in a place where not many people spoke English to me. Signs were mostly in English so it was easy to get around.  And now that the territory is under China's control I would be interested in a return trip to see what changes there might be.

Pottinger Street, 1993, a photo by Jeff__ on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
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© 1993 CarrPhotography; all rights reserved

Here are some other Hong Kong photos from the trip.

Objects in your mirror may be larger than they appear

Objects in your mirror may be larger than they appear, a photo by Jeff__ on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
While this may appear to be a "random" shot; I took several versions in different locations before settling on this and moving onto a safer photographic (and driving) pursuit.
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And a timely addition to the Self Portrait Challenge - Reflective Surfaces

Life List? Bucket List?

I know. Some may find these type of lists engaging while others may find the idea irrelevant.  I lean towards the former, with a toe in the latter.

Real life and it's inherent issues always interrupts us but these type of lists - to me - can serve as a fun reminder of things we want to do.  

Now, there can be the "bucket list" for just myself, or a "family list" for family goals. Some list items can be duplicate of course. A list can be general, incorporating activities across all genres or it can be specific; a "photographic list", let's say. I think I'll look at some existing "list blogs" for a start and see what type of list I draw up.

Crossing

Crossing, a photo by Jeff__ on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Crossing the Mobile River, I drove while Elizabeth took this photo with the Diana camera.

"All good folks are in bed"

"All good folks are in bed", a photo by Jeff__ on Flickr.

Summer Night Music Suches GA

Summer Night Music Suches GA a video by Jeff__ on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Cicadas and crickets provide the soundtrack.

Lower Manhattan - Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton at Our Lady of the Rosary, 1988

Lower Manhattan - Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton at Our Lady of the Rosary, 1988, a photo by Jeff__ on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
The Church of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary is a Roman Catholic parish church in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, located at 7 State Street, between Pearl St. and Water Streets, Financial District, Manhattan, New York City, New York. The parish is home to the Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.

Eisenhower Park Restroom

Eisenhower Park Restroom, a photo by Jeff__ on Flickr.

Via Flickr:

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© 2009 CarrPhotography; all rights reserved

School Grounds

School Grounds, a photo by Jeff__ on Flickr.

Summer Fades into Autumn....

Untitled

Untitled, a photo by Jeff__ on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
as found....when walking my dog one afternoon in the park...

"I Believe in the Faith"

"I Believe in the Faith", a photo by Jeff__ on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
ODT - things we hold

I believe in the love that you gave me
I believe in the faith that could save me
I believe in the hope
and I pray that some day
It may raise me above these badlands
- Badlands by Bruce Springsteen

My faith is a very personal issue for me; I don't like to push it on anyone yet I embrace it wholeheartedly for myself. I thought a simple photo would be nice as my faith is part of who I am. These rosary beads are from Ireland.
Not cropped or photoshopped. © 2006 CarrPhotography; all rights reserved