January 24, 2025 a thought for today, When the kettle boils over, it overflows its own sides. Hebrew Proverbs 

My first challenge for yesterday was “a view”. This is probably familiar since it is the part that I visit often and use as a photo site many times. Most of the ones I have of this site are not encased in snow. The park has something to offer for all seasons.

The next upload for yesterday is “fish”. This is one that gave me a bit of some thought. I have had several aquariums over my life time. I gave them up some time ago since I was having trouble keeping up with the changing water and cleaning. This photo is one of my aquariums from my past. 

The last upload for yesterday was “snow bubble”. I had never heard of a snow bubble until this photo-a-day “assignment”. I researched it and found the recipe necessary technique and recipe. I needed to make a solution of water, soap and syrup, then wait for the temp to below freezing. There were several hit and miss attempts. If this image is enlarged you may be able to see some fo the crystal like sakes in a potion of the bubble. I have some of the solution left so I will continue to try. 

Life today. Another day another arctic freeze....we are getting a better picture for Saturday and the following week. 

I had planned to get the newsletter printed today. I finished it late yesterday. There was a change in going to print for this morning though. It snowed last night. There was enough that it needed cleared so I contacted Brian. He came, cleared the driveway and entrances. Also space for Sue to get in and out from the curb. 

The first challenge and upload for today is “shallow DOF”. For this image, I set the camera on portrait feature to put the background out of focus for the depth of field I needed. 

I put off doing the laundry yesterday so I did that today. That left little time to get to the church to do the printing. I may try to do that tomorrow morning before I go for the grocery pick up.

I am still trying to stay warm. The furnace is running regularly but here on this level of the house the temperature needs a little help.  I have been using the space heater even though sparingly since it pulls so much electricity. 

The next upload for today is “black and white”. Winter snow makes this an easy photo assignment. This is Brian clearing my neighbor’s drive after he finished mine. 

The word today is sacred. There are four questions of value in life, Don Octavio. What is sacred? Of what is the spirit made? What is worth living for and what is worth dying for? The answer to each is the same. Only love. Lord Byron. Nothing is more noble, nothing more venerable than fidelity. Faithfulness and truth are the most sacred excellences and endowments of the human mind. Marcus Tullius Cicero.  If any thing is sacred, the human body is sacred. Walt Whitman. Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind. Ralph Waldo Emerson.  Oh, come, Divine Physician, and bind up every broken bone. Come with Thy sacred nard which Thou hast compounded of Thine own heart's blood, and lay it home to the wounded conscience and let it feel its power. Oh! Give peace to those whose conscience is like the troubled sea which cannot rest. Charles Spurgeon.  Voltaire lighted a torch and gave to others the sacred flame. The light still shines and will as long as man loves liberty and seeks for truth. Robert Green Ingersoll.    Friendship, of itself a holy tie, is made more sacred by adversity. Charles Caleb Colton.  However great may be the work for which we are responsible, we will always do well if we pause to spend time in sacred praise. Charles Spurgeon. Wisdom is a sacred communion. Victor Hugo.  Music is either sacred or secular. The sacred agrees with its dignity, and here has its greatest effect on life, an effect that remains the same through all ages and epochs. Secular music should be cheerful throughout. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.  I tread in the footsteps of illustrious men... in receiving from the people the sacred trust confided to my illustrious predecessor. Martin Van Buren.  

The last upload for today is “fave clothing”. Well I am not much of a fancy style clothing person. I just like something comfortable and appropriate for whatever the occasion. This is my house coat (robe). Its baggy and fleecy and super comfortable. 

Article: I am uncertain about how I feel and understand about the power of AI. So I think learning as much about it as we can is a good idea. It appears there are some awesome good that it can do but I am unclear about the amount of damage it can also do. It’s like most important things that happen in life....weigh the pros and cons and use common sense in decision making. The article title is: The rapid spread of artificial intelligence has people wondering: who’s most likely to embrace AI in their daily lives? Many assume it’s the tech-savvy – those who understand how AI works – who are most eager to adopt it. The first sentence surprised me “Surprisingly,  “those with less understanding of AI are more likely to indicate using it for tasks like academic assignments”. My feeling about that is at least that’s relatively safe compared to AI techniques used in our physical and structural cognitive and genial well being, otherwise put, “crossing into human territory”.The article mentions that AI doesn’t possess human qualities but as I see it more and more testing and growth of AI capabilities and uses are in question. The article goes on to say that those without the technical knowledge think its magic. People “with higher AI literacy are more receptive to these uses because they focus on AI’s efficiency, rather  than any “magical” qualities”. Further in the article it mentions that continuing with AI growth will require more ways to “help them understand the benefits and risks of AI”. And to try to move toward the “loss of the awe that inspires many people to embrace this new technology.” I personally still need more illustrations and more information on “side affects”. AI is and has been used in some areas of  photography for a while now. I still like the “truth”, what is is and what is made up is made up. Photos capture a non-repeatable capture of time, time in truth. I do like art and crafts also, in it’s place.

Maybe taco salad for dinner. 

Joy

                                                                    trapped in a web