September 11, 2001 by Larry Towell

In photography, there are no words, only symmetry and emotion, There is a meditation to the still image however, that comes from stopping to look at the geometry of the world with all of our senses in order to capture a bit of it and confine it to one small space in recognition of a personal point of view. Photography casts aside the clutter, the commotion, and the noise of the world, in order to keep its form, shape and substance true to itself and in one complete thought.

Larry Tomwell quoted in Walrus’s Eye of the Storm

Credits: Galería de MissyV110, Socio De IAB Chile, Robin Rhode

Credits: Matthew Woodson, Lorraine a’ Malena, Stuart Franklin [via Kottke.org which has additional links]

The weirdest moments can be peaceful for example:

a) Sitting in a motorboat cruising along a tropical delta.
b) After a hellish day at work, watching two dodge ball teams whack balls at each other.

Come up with your own.

And now an interesting article:

Biobigotry is different from the impulse to avoid organisms that can hurt or sicken us, like yellow jackets, mosquitoes or poison ivy, or to fend off traditional household pests like mice and roaches. Rather, it is the dislike we direct toward creatures that live outdoors and generally mind their own business, but that behave in ways we find rude, irritating, selfish or contemptible. The squirrels are gluttons, the crows are schoolyard bullies, the house sparrows are boring and look like mice when they skitter along the ground. How we love those noble falcons and eagles that lately have blessed us by nesting on our skyscrapers and bridges. How we beg them to feast freely on the pigeons and starlings that curse us by nesting on our skyscrapers and bridges.

– Noble Eagles, Nasty Pigeons, Biased Humans by Natalie Angier

Credits: Caitlin, aashee, yaznotjaz™

I would suggest reading A Note to the Ungrateful and giving Vampire Weekend a shot. Suggested by a friend I made in last week’s training sessions. Also consider checking out this list of Stunning Pictures and Photos compiled by Smashing Magazine. I was thoroughly impressed.

Odd things I learn’t during last week from various people:

Timbuktu is in Mali not Nepal. I always thought it was in Nepal for some odd reason.

Tomatoes growing on vines came first and the bush variety came later. They were also thought to be poisonous at one time.

Tulips should not be planted near other flowers since they tend to carry a major fungal disease which transfers fairly quickly. Also if you live in the Ottawa region, the city throws out all the bulbs after the Tulip festival so feel free to get hold of them.

I had no idea Mandrake was an actual plant. I thought it was something made up for the Harry Potter series.

The word Gringo apparently comes from Mexican-American War of 1846-48 where “Green Coats” was used to refer to American soldiers.

Sunday: Drew Barrymore’s Firestarter is on TV. Apparently my one and only talent in life is recognizing child actors.
Monday: Turn on TV. Gene Simmon’s Firestarter studio cut is on. Change channel and Seinfeld is exiting a theatre where Firestarter is playing. (Odd fact: Seinfeld currently owns 46 porshes’. Totally random yet strangely fascinating)

Either way point being enough with Firestarter already. I didn’t even like the movie. For reference Enchanted wasn’t all too bad and U,Me Aur Hum was so awful that I could barely sit through the first half hour.

Credits:

Allan Vasselik
Blazedezignz
Lisa W