Deportation Fraud

Trump: We will have the largest deportation in history!

Trump voters: That’s what we want! Mass deportation!

Musk: But I need foreign workers in my businesses.

Ramaswamy: Me, too! Americans are too stupid to work at my company.

Trump: That’s great, guys! We’ll keep the H1-B visas so you can hire cheap labor and drive down wages for American workers at the same time. Win-win!

I Long For Free Time

I long for free time

Calm and

Unstructured

Fertile

Uninterrupted

Time to think

Reflect and dream

Time to feel

And breathe and heal

Time for good books

Good food and good friends

Time to dabble

With no clear ends

Time to create

To shape and to form

Time to imagine

Things out of the norm

Time to discover

And prioritize

To look at the World

With a fresh set of eyes

When I find

Such time

When it’s free

And it’s mine

I savor it

Treasure it

Indulge

The pleasure it

Promises

So generously

I dive in

Right away

Like I’m eating

Two-thirds

Of a fresh-baked

Rhubarb pie

With scoops

Of sweet ice cream

Dripping slowly

Down

The rough-cut sides

Of its deliriously

Delicious slices

© 2024 Daniel R. South - All Rights Reserved

The Mockingbird

I had a chance to see ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ at a local cinema last month. I know the story, having read the book, and I’ve seen the movie on television, but viewing a film on a large screen leaves an outsized impression.

The child actors gave marvelous performances. We see the story unfold through the eyes of children, a viewpoint that makes the attitudes and behavior of adults seem particularly gruff and puzzling.

The story is bitterly tragic. It doesn’t shy from depicting gross inequities and despicable attitudes. It must have made a powerful impact when it was released at the height of the civil rights movement.

A haunting conclusion is that a system of justice is only as just as the people who administer and participate in it. Despite high ideals and heroic acts, some people are systematically oppressed while others get away with grotesque behavior. This remains as true today as it was during the Great Depression.

When elusive justice is finally served, it comes in unexpected ways. The tide finally turns against those who once got away with everything.

Finally, never discount the good will of neighbors, even those who seem strange and distant. We’re all in this together. In the darkest moments, people you never knew you could count on will rise to meet the challenge.

© 2024 Daniel R. South - All Rights Reserved

Wait! Wait! Wait!

The flight landed on schedule, but a plane was parked at our assigned gate.

Wait! Wait! Wait!

Okay, we’re moving. Oops! A plane is blocking our path.

Wait! Wait! Wait!

Okay, we’re at the gate. Oops! There’s no operator for the jetway.

Wait! Wait! Wait!

Okay, the door is open now. Oops! They need to bring a wheelchair before we can leave.

Wait! Wait! Wait!

We’ve been standing for twenty minutes. They had enough time to get that wheelchair ready.

Okay, let’s go pick up the luggage on Carousel C.

Wait! Wait! Wait!

Wait! Wait! Wait!

Wait! Wait! Wait!

Oh, I think I see my suitcase on Carousel D. I’m not surprised. This happens frequently at Laguardia.

Okay, let’s catch the bus!

Wait! Wait! Wait! Twenty-five minutes in the cold!

Oh, the bus is crowded. Screw it. I’m 90 minutes late already. I’ll splurge for a cab.

© 2024 Daniel R. South - All Rights Reserved

The Value Of Things

I read recently about a young lady (age 20) who was working a minimum wage job in 2023. She began posting photos on OF - her sister was also an OF model - and made $43 million in a year.

No judgments. The human body is to be appreciated, and capitalism is a wonderful invention. If I could make 40 million bucks posting photos of my bum, I’d get out the camera and upgrade my retirement plans.

What makes me wonder is, where does the money come from? Assuming that OF takes a cut, that suggests that 500,000 people spent an average of $100 over the past year to access this lady’s content.

Who are these people? How many OF contributors do they follow? I assume that one is not enough. If someone subscribes to multiple OF artists, they could be paying hundreds or thousands of dollars a year for type type of entertainment.

Are these the people who voted for Trump because they thought that groceries were too expensive? Do they drive around in expensive pickup trucks? I can see how it would be tough to afford food if you’re dropping large sums on salacious subscriptions.

The best things in life are free.

© 2024 Daniel R. South - All Rights Reserved

The Ghost Of Christmas

I rewatched ‘The Ghost Of Christmas’, an episode from the second season of the BBC series Ghosts. There is a US version of Ghosts on CBS, but this episode is from the British series.

I’m not sure why, but the last scene moves me to tears. It’s not a sad or tragic scene; it just hits me in a powerful way. I was trying to describe the storyline to someone, and I couldn’t make it through the conversation. I was overwhelmed with emotion.

© 2024 Daniel R. South - All Rights Reserved

What's On The Menu?

What's On The Menu?

Salad: Cobb

Sandwich: Turkey club

Cheese: Swiss or Provolone

Bread: Gluten-free

Wine: Malbec

Coffee: Latte with skim milk

Omelette: Western, no onions

Pie: Pumpkin, Apple, or Rhubarb

Cake: Pineapple Upside Down

Cookie: Oatmeal raisin

Ice Cream: Coffee, Pistachio, or Vanilla Bean

Snack: Blue corn chips

Nuts: Cashews

On the go: Trail mix

Pizza: Pepperoni with Banana Peppers or Hawaiian

Pasta: Penne Bolognese

Tacos: Mexican style, any filling except mushroom

Seafood: Salmon, sea bass, cod, shrimp, scallops

Sushi: Rainbow roll

Indian: Aloo Gobi

Middle Eastern: Shawarma

Curry: Any, as long as it’s gluten-free

Curry protien: Tofu

Spice level: Mild to medium

Fries: Belgian

Favorite Burger Topping: Fried egg

Food I eat most often: Yogurt

Refuse to eat: Wheat, onions, chocolate, tomato soup, mussels, snails, octopus, most mushrooms, liver, anything more disgusting than liver

Surprising fact: Most days, my diet is vegetarian. Meat is an occasional indulgence.

© 2024 Daniel R. South - All Rights Reserved

Less Gear Equals More Productivity

When I had a roomful of music gear, I found it hard to make music. Managing the gear became a job unto itself; it took time and energy away from the creative process.

Too much camera gear can also have a negative effect on creativity. Either you carry around stuff that you don’t need, which weighs you down, literally and figuratively, or you waste time debating what to take with you.

I’ll carry four or five lenses when I have to, or when I want a workout, but I enjoy walking around with a body and two lenses. It doesn’t cover every focal length, but so what? I shoot with what’s in my hands and I don’t waste time mulling over choices. The light weight and small size are plusses when shooting in busy places.

I find that I’m gravitating toward a few lenses for most of my shooting. One is the wide-angle 14mm f/1.8. It’s lightweight and super sharp, and it’s great for shots like this where I want to fit a fairly large building in the frame. The f/1.8 aperture lets in a lot of light, so I can take handheld shots at night.

When I took this shot, I was crammed between a food truck and a bus lane; it would have been impossible to set up a tripod in that spot. Because of the ability to shoot handheld, I got a cool shot of this bus passing the nicely decorated Saks store.

Less is more. Lighter is better. Leave what you don’t need at home.

© 2024 Daniel R. South - All Rights Reserved

How Much Free Time Do We Really Have?

How Much Free Time Do We Really Have?

At my first job after college, a colleague approached me about a “business opportunity.” His proposal seemed sketchy, but he was a nice guy, and I didn’t want to decline without thinking it over.

One of my concerns was the time that would be required. My life seemed pretty busy, but in order to quantify how much free time I really had, I took a few minutes to add up how much time I spend each week on various tasks.

When I added time spent on work, commuting, meals, sleeping, exercise, errands and shopping, home chores, and time reserved for family, I realized how little discretionary time I actually have. I hadn’t even factored in things that I did for fun like seeing a movie or getting together with friends.

This quick analysis led me to two conclusions. First, I would have to disappoint my colleague. I didn’t have time to invest in his business venture.

Second, I needed to do a better job of using my free time productively. I didn’t have as much as I thought, and wasn’t managing it well.

© 2024 Daniel R. South - All Rights Reserved