THE 4TH OF JULY

It seems the 4th of July means something different every year.

For me, what I feel is sadness. At the same time, I’m grateful that I experienced the best of the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. It was a wonderful time to be young in America.

I made this image of Mt. Rushmore from a low-flying helicopter in the ’80s. I probably wouldn’t be allowed to do it today. Not sure I’d want to.

The image below is one I made last month.

Think deeper. Be safe.

STAYING HUMBLE

At some stage in your career, hopefully early on, you decide it’s important to stay humble, no matter what level of success you achieve.

The passion you feel along the way can have a way of making everything you experience a bit larger than life, obscuring the overall relevant importance of what you are doing.

Sure, some ego is important for the artist to survive, as is drive, tenacity and grit, which are all necessary to succeed, but those won’t determine what you leave behind that actually matters. Continue reading “”

NOT A GOOD SIGN

From Uncrate: “In airplanes, the black box records and stores flight data to provide information in the event of a crash. With climate change putting our planet in a downward spiral, earth is getting one of its own. The 33-foot-long steel vault is being constructed on the coast of Tasmania and is designed to record and collect measurements and interactions as our planet continues to decline. Continue reading “”

RAW AND HONEST

There’s always more stuff to acquire. So, how much is enough?

Very few people ask this question of themselves.

Van Life folks do it every day. Check out the film Nomadland!

Long before Instagram, my wife and I lived that mobile dream for awhile. It was a good time camping on and off the road for eight years. My Steinbeck’s America book project resulted from that experience:

Steinbeck’s America

THIS CODE STILL WORKS TODAY

Gene Autry’s Cowboy Code

1. The Cowboy must never shoot first, hit a smaller man, or take unfair advantage.
2. He must never go back on his word, or a trust confided in him.
3. He must always tell the truth.
4. He must be gentle with children, the elderly, and animals.
5. He must not advocate or possess racially or religiously intolerant ideas.
6. He must help people in distress.
7. He must be a good worker.
8. He must keep himself clean in thought, speech, action, and personal habits. Continue reading “”

IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME – FLYING CARS

“The 1960s animated cartoon series – The Jetsons – is best remembered for its depiction of a future that just never seemed to get any closer (apart from video phones). And nothing about this future is more lamented than the prolonged absence of George Jetson’s flying electric car. The bad news: There are still no flying electric cars. The good news: Florida is building a place to park them.” Continue reading “”