European Tribune - Community, Politics & Progress.

that's the results of some rather artistic Egyptian chambermaids. each day a different animal.

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.

by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 01:01:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

OK...not enough fun in their lives...

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. Oscar Wilde

by Sam on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 01:27:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: STILL LIFE (4.00 / 5)

"Now Still"

I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears

by Gringo (stargazing camel at aoldotcom) on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 09:29:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: STILL LIFE (4.00 / 10)

by Sassafras on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 03:12:13 AM EST
[ Parent ]

OK, now I'm hooked. I don't see anything but a blank comment, here or in your next just below. And given the long puzzle thread that ensues, obviously others can see an interesting image. I seem to have lost my secret decoder ring.

Somewhere in cyberspace, the ghost of de Chardin is smiling.

by budr on Sun Jul 13th, 2008 at 09:59:20 AM EST
[ Parent ]

http://tinyurl.com/5kr8vn

That's odd. Do these links work?

http://tinyurl.com/6ndmsm

by Sassafras on Sun Jul 13th, 2008 at 02:44:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Yep, those work fine. Am I the only one who can't see your original links? That is strange.

Now I see what all the puzzling was about. Gorgeous pictures.

Somewhere in cyberspace, the ghost of de Chardin is smiling.

by budr on Sun Jul 13th, 2008 at 04:57:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Thank you :)

by Sassafras on Sun Jul 13th, 2008 at 06:27:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: STILL LIFE (4.00 / 11)

by Sassafras on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 03:13:43 AM EST
[ Parent ]

That works really well. I never had chance to get my still life shots done so I might dash out and buy some flowers at some point and catch up...

It's been too windy to get any good macro shots outside lately.

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 03:58:01 AM EST
[ Parent ]

It's not a flower.... ;)

Any guesses?

by Sassafras on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 04:04:27 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Crafty!!
End of a melon? No. Seeds of some fruit?

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 04:38:01 AM EST
[ Parent ]

No. It's something common-but on an unusual scale...

by Sassafras on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 04:47:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Is it part of something edible?

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 04:59:47 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Yes :)

by Sassafras on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 05:02:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Banana?

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.

by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 05:20:07 AM EST
[ Parent ]

It's a vegetable... :)

by Sassafras on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 05:23:48 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Onion?

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 05:27:35 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Yes-it's a giant show onion-which is why there's less curvature than you'd expect! :)

by Sassafras on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 05:32:51 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Hurrah. Don't know if I have ever seen a show onion before!

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 05:34:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I wish I'd taken a picture of the whole thing to show you :)

However, from http://www.recklessgardener.co.uk

by Sassafras on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 05:47:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]

National onion championships?! How does anyone go about picking the best onion, they all look the same to me?

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 05:57:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I have no idea.

Onion aesthetics are a bit of a blank as far as I'm concerned ;)

by Sassafras on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 06:08:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I'm sure if you told me I would see it right away but I've drawn a blank. Will keep thinking on it.

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 05:24:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Oops. This really wasn't intended to deceive. It seems obvious to me, because I took the picture, but clearly it isn't!

by Sassafras on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 05:31:35 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Oh we like puzzles on here!

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 05:34:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]

STILL LIFE (4.00 / 7)

squash

old mixer

bird dog house, h/t jfi shop

bluesmobile hood ornament

Peace

by town on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 04:41:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Great stuff! I really like the first one.

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 04:57:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Sun Jul 13th, 2008 at 08:16:29 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Ecce Homo

by pereulok on Mon Jul 14th, 2008 at 02:01:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

ASK THE EXPERTS (none / 0)

"Ask the experts"

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 10:41:28 AM EST

How do I go about choosing a theme for my photos for an exhibition I want to hold for my 30th birthday?

And ideally, how many photos should I limit myself to?

Suggestions?

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 11:12:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]

How big is the exhibition space?

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.

by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 12:54:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: ASK THE EXPERTS (none / 0)

I'm thinking of using the Norwegian Church (although haven't checked to see if it is available). It has a gallery area upstairs but I can't find details of space.

If you look at the coffee shop link and the picture of the shop, it is about the same size... That's not helpful really. It has two rails along 3 walls and probably takes at least 40 A3 sized framed photos. I should go and visit again.

The conference area of the venue would be used for milling around and partying a bit. I want to use the event as a fundraiser for treasure trove as well as a birthday celebration. Maybe a UK ET meet up too?

Really need a theme to work with or I'll never get a good enough standard of photos to feel confident in putting an exhibition together.

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 01:04:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

So what are your best pictures?

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.

by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 01:13:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: ASK THE EXPERTS (none / 0)

I have a small number I really like, less than 10 probably but possibly many more I have not spotted the potential of and haven't processed.

But overall I don't think that any of my work stands out enough for me to print up and frame and expect people to spend any of their time looking at them.

I'm learning more about composition recently but I jump around on different styles and maybe I should try to focus on a couple of things I enjoy best and try to get something strong from that. Hence why I need a theme then I can work on a project and hopefully produce something really decent.

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 01:22:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

so what do the ones you most like have in common?

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.

by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 02:26:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: ASK THE EXPERTS (none / 0)

Some of the more abstract stuff has been my strongest. Although I have some fantastic candid shots of people from events I've covered but that isn't something I'd especially feel like putting into an exhibition.

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 04:45:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Tagging (none / 1)

I have thousands of photos, many with the same filename if unprocessed, in arbitrarily named folders with arbitrarily named processed files. I used to be able to keep track of them but now I can't. They are split across my laptop for current use folders and two external HDDs for archiving.

Can anyone recommend a good way of storing, naming, keeping track and tagging photos so I can search for the ones I want easily?

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 05:36:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tagging (4.00 / 3)

No. The world needs a good tagging system, but there isn't one. The two main alternatives seem to be Adobe Bridge and Extensis Portfolio. I use Bridge because it came with CS3, but I don't know anyone who's a huge fan of either.

I keep RAW and processed files in folders, arranged by date, with a nominal hint about the subject. But I still lose things regularly and have to waste rather too much time searching for them.

Bridge would help with getting organised, but it's slow and a resource hog, and I'd be much happier with something simpler and cheaper.

I haven't tried Lightroom - it might have some form of filing or tagging, but I haven't felt like playing with it yet to find out.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 08:10:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tagging (none / 0)

So there's a niche in the market for a decent tagging system?!

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 05:00:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tagging (none / 1)

Buy a Mac.
Use Aperture.

Or maybe Lightroom will do the job. I think it does - I just didn't like the interface.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 12:04:09 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Fixer? (none / 0)

How should I dispose of fixer? As best I can tell, it should not go down the sink.

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 05:10:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

PHOTOS AS USUAL (none / 0)

"Photos as usual"

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 10:42:07 AM EST

From estHer (4.00 / 13)

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 10:58:50 AM EST
[ Parent ]

From estHer-in moving car. (4.00 / 8)

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 11:09:02 AM EST
[ Parent ]

The Thrush cherry robber!! (4.00 / 10)

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. Oscar Wilde

by Sam on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 11:32:22 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Sunset on Inis Oirr, Aran Islands (4.00 / 14)

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. Oscar Wilde

by Sam on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 11:37:52 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunset on Inis Oirr, Aran Islands (none / 0)

So lovely!

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 11:39:17 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunset on Inis Oirr, Aran Islands (none / 0)

you're golden this week, sam!

Peace is not the absence of war -- peace is the absence of fear. Ursula Franklin

by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 06:17:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunset on Inis Oirr, Aran Islands (none / 0)

All excellent pics, but I really love this one.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 12:37:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Can't think of a suitable title... (4.00 / 14)

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. Oscar Wilde

by Sam on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 11:44:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Define "baby". (4.00 / 5)

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 12:05:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Can't think of a suitable title... (4.00 / 6)

The Thinker!

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 12:58:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

The 3 Musketeers... (4.00 / 9)

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. Oscar Wilde

by Sam on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 12:03:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The 3 Musketeers... (none / 1)

Adorable! How is Chloe's back doing? (Is it Chloe?)

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 12:18:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The 3 Musketeers... (none / 1)

: ) Close...it's Cleo. Her back seems fine now...the trouble is keeping her from doing stupid things like jumping off things!

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. Oscar Wilde

by Sam on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 12:29:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The 3 Musketeers... (none / 1)

Nice troika :)

by pereulok on Mon Jul 14th, 2008 at 02:06:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Smiley Face (4.00 / 7)

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. Oscar Wilde

by Sam on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 12:18:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Connemara, Co Galway (on the way to Clifden) (4.00 / 12)

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. Oscar Wilde

by Sam on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 12:25:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: PHOTOS AS USUAL (4.00 / 9)

Somewhere in cyberspace, the ghost of de Chardin is smiling.

by budr on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 12:42:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: PHOTOS AS USUAL (4.00 / 9)

Sam in his natural habitat.

Somewhere in cyberspace, the ghost of de Chardin is smiling.

by budr on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 12:48:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

LOL, I think next time I want to come back as a cat! :-)

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 12:59:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: PHOTOS AS USUAL (4.00 / 4)

Absolutely! Sam reminds me a lot of a cat who lived with us for many years. He was a classic orange tabby, so of course we named him Rusty.

Rusty was without doubt the most laid back individual I have ever known in my life. The Momcat rescued him as a tiny kitten in the middle of an ugly storm. Not sure if he got lost or had been abandoned, but he was out in that storm all by himself, screaming his head off. Of course the Momcat took him in. And kind of like Charlie Rangel, he never had a bad day since. Absolutely nothing ever bothered Rusty. Whatever, he was OK with it. I told the Momcat more than once that in my next life I wanted to come back as a big orange tabby cat like Rusty.

Somewhere in cyberspace, the ghost of de Chardin is smiling.

by budr on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 02:37:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Rusty snoozing on Momcat's pillow. He knew who the ham tree was.

Rusty in a box. For some reason, he really liked curling up in boxes.

Rusty late in life, snoozing in the sun. Not long after this photo was taken, he just didn't show up for breakfast one morning. His departure was as mysterious as his arrival.

Thanks to the Momcat for loaning us these pix.

Somewhere in cyberspace, the ghost of de Chardin is smiling.

by budr on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 08:24:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Momcat sez she can't load these pix from home. Anyone else having trouble seeing them?

Somewhere in cyberspace, the ghost of de Chardin is smiling.

by budr on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 03:43:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Great pictures. Sam is a lot more relaxed than any cat I've ever had. Ours would get caught laying as in the second pick, and quickly get up and walk away. Can't be seen in shameless positions.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 12:33:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Stonework on Inis Oirr (4.00 / 9)

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. Oscar Wilde

by Sam on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 01:41:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.

by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 03:26:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

If you get the where, you'll get the what

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.

by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 03:28:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Looks Greek

I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears

by Gringo (stargazing camel at aoldotcom) on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 09:45:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Thermopylae

by Sassafras on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 03:49:37 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Yay!

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.

by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 05:18:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Sunset over Xihu (West Lake) in Hangzhou (4.00 / 12)

(with 保俶塔 Baochu Pagoda on top of 宝石山 Baoshishan ("Precious Stone Hill") in the background)

西湖 Xihu ("West Lake") is the heart of 杭州 Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province, just south of Shanghai.

The lake is famous throughout China for its beauty, legends and appeal to emperors and lovers. About Hangzhou Marco Polo wrote, ""Non c'è al mondo città uguale, che vi offra tali delizie così che uno si crede in paradiso!"

My camera is old and the lens is hopelelessly smudged, and yet I think the relaxing beauty of this sunset was able to make it through somewhat somehow.

(Now, if they could just ban private cars from the city...)

... all progress depends on the unreasonable mensch.
(apologies to G.B. Shaw)

by marco (cowannar at gmail punkt com) on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 08:31:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Today at the park. Young love was everywhere.

"The Couple"

Or were they just a couple of tree huggers?

Well, maybe not.

I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears

by Gringo (stargazing camel at aoldotcom) on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 09:38:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

These pictures are SO coming out to embarrass them again in 10 years time! Cute though.

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 03:41:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Yes, we were discussing the idea of an arranged marriage with the little girl's mother. Of course they may not even remember each other in ten years when they would both be about 13 yrs. Depends on how close the parents remain.

People used to do crazy things like marry the girl next door, but that doesn't seem to be all that common these days with society having become so mobile.

I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears

by Gringo (stargazing camel at aoldotcom) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 12:29:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

The choo-choo

I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears

by Gringo (stargazing camel at aoldotcom) on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 at 09:42:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

No location from DoDo? ;-)

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.

by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 05:21:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Well, theme parks and fake steamers aren't my forte... but this one is doable.

The "1863" suggests a real-life model from that year... indeed it is that of the C.P. Huntington. After some Googling... I think it is here in Burke Lake Park.

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 03:07:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

<Round of Applause> (even if you're wrong, just for trying)

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.

by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 03:35:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Just trying?...

Luke: All right, I'll give it a try.
Yoda: No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try.

:-)

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Sun Jul 13th, 2008 at 05:12:47 AM EST
[ Parent ]

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Sun Jul 13th, 2008 at 05:24:47 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Wow, right on the money! I do recall the name C.P Huntington on the engine, and it is indeed at Burke Lake Park. Maybe you should expand your expertise to the fake engines as well as the real. I must admit, however, that these park rides don't do much for me either.

I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears

by Gringo (stargazing camel at aoldotcom) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 10:54:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Is that the new Dulles Line? Methinks y'all out in the western provinces got hosed. ;)

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 12:31:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Ha! Well that's what happens when one neglects reading the fine print around Washington. Just wait till the privately owned toll road up I-95 gets going.

I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears

by Gringo (stargazing camel at aoldotcom) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 12:36:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Where on I95? I hadn't heard about that.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 12:38:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

The carpool lanes in No. Va are scheduled to be transformed into privately financed toll "hot lanes."

http://www.virginiadot.org/PROJECTS/HOT_main.asp

I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears

by Gringo (stargazing camel at aoldotcom) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 01:31:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Great, because that's just what we need on the interstates in DC: More confusion.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 01:36:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Not to mention other issues related to private ownership.

I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears

by Gringo (stargazing camel at aoldotcom) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 04:00:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I'm not wild about toll roads, but my opinion of them isn't as low as those of many others, especially from Chicago and Jersey (where they seem to have many and hate them). The toll roads in Florida are, or at least were, pretty nice and not too expensive.

The ones in the DC area leave a lot to be desired, but then so do the public roads.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 06:24:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

http://www.stopprivatization.com/factsheet_dot_publicprivatepartnership.shtml

There are toll roads and there are toll roads. Several of these "joint venture" privately financed toll roads between local governments and private companies have gone bad. I haven't seen the contract between the State of Va (VDOT) and Fluor-Transurban, but wouldn't be surprized to see provisions that guarantee the company specific profit margins and also guarantees that the State will not take any action seen as competing with the toll road at the expense of those profits. I believe there was a diary on this type of arrangement here on ET about a year ago. Some discussion of the issues below.

http://www.corridorwatch.org/ttc_2007/CW00000091.htm

http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/06mar/06.htm

http://www.reason.org/news/texas_toll_roads_051107.shtml

http://corridornews.blogspot.com/2005/08/federal-transportation-bill-funnels.html

I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears

by Gringo (stargazing camel at aoldotcom) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 10:49:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: PHOTOS AS USUAL (4.00 / 10)

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 04:58:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Love this photo of one of nature's most maligned birds.

I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears

by Gringo (stargazing camel at aoldotcom) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 12:38:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: PHOTOS AS USUAL (4.00 / 5)

With the Zeiss Ikonta 6x6 .. the fifty year old lens really needs a UV filter for this sort of scene! Shot on Fuji Reala.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 11:38:18 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Looks pretty sharp. The old Zeiss lenses didn't lack much. See this test report, if you have time and haven't already read it.

I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears

by Gringo (stargazing camel at aoldotcom) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 01:28:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

A little vision of hell. (4.00 / 6)

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 11:40:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A little vision of hell. (none / 0)

I've never understood the appeal of these beaches either. Urgh. Good shots though. They do have a slightly aged look about them!

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Sat Jul 12th, 2008 at 01:41:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]