Back in the day, Washington, DC, 1969

Mustang & Mini-skirt, 4th Street, front of the Quad, Howard University, 1969

Photo (c) 1969 by the Incorrigible Curmudgeon

"The Wall," Howard University, Photo (c) 1969 by the Incorrigible Curmudgeon

Anybody remember the Christmas displays at Woodie's? Anybody remember Woodie's? Photo (c) 1969 by the Incorrigible Curmudgeon

Gulf Gas Station, Michigan Avenue, 29.9 a gallon, Photo

(c) 1969 by the Incorrigible Curmudgeon

Riding the D.C. Transit, Photo (c) 1969 by the Incorrigible Curmudgeon(c)Jeff Fearing

Lincoln Theater, U Street, where I ushered in 1969 (which is why I never made it to Woodstock). The film showing is "The Lost Man" with Sidney Poitier and Al Freeman, Jr. which I ended up seeing 125 times in the course of my job. Photo

(c) 1996 by the Incorrigible Curmudgeon

My friends at the Popcorn stand, Lincoln Theater, 1969 Photo

(c) 1969 by the Incorrigible Curmudgeon

Dodge Charger and Mercury Cougar XR7,

Photo (c) 1969 by the Incorrigible Curmudgeon

Venice, California

Street performer, Venice, CA

Bicycle acrobat, Venice, CA, as seen from Sidewalk Cafe

World's Greatest Wino, Venice, CA

Human statue, Venice, CA

Famous designer house, Venice, CA

Sidewalk Cafe, my favorite Venice eatery, Venice, CA

(see my Sept. 14, 2007 post below to see why).

Another Venice cyclist, Venice, CA

Purple flowers, Venice, CA

Seagull, Venice Pier, Venice, CA

I think this flower is a Bird of Paradise, Venice, CA

Venice (Venice Beach), California is one of my favorite places in one of my favorite cities, Los Angeles. It used to be a wildly independent frontier where eccentrics of all stripes peddled their peculiar talents for adoring tourists (and eager photographers like me). Now, I hear, you need a permit to be eccentric so the whole experience is sanitized compared to the way it was before the conservatives got a hold of it.

Nonetheless, a fiercely independent spirit maintains and I continue to be drawn back to it every time I'm in Los Angeles.

Obama, New Hampshire, my take

The main difference between a caucus like Iowa and a primary like New Hampshire is that caucuses are open and primaries consist of votes in private (my thanks to NPR for that insight).


While people may advocate for Obama in an open caucus, there is no disincentive to voting against him in a private vote like New Hampshire's. This is something the pundits all missed in their predictions of a double-digit Obama win after his 'surprise' win in Iowa. At the same time, Hillary, for all the strengths and experience to which she lays claim, is simply too divisive and polarizing to engender wide popular support.


In this election, you can throw exit polls out the window and pundits under the bus because ultimately it will boil down to people voting their hearts, and that's just beyond all precognition.

Assateague in winter

Assateague Island Looking Southward Photo (c) 2006 by the Incorrigible Curmudgeon

Assateague Island , Shorebirds Photo (c) 2006 by the Incorrigible Curmudgeon

Assateague Island looking northward. If you squint, you can just see Ocean City 6 miles away where the waves meet the sky. Photo (c) 2006 by the Incorrigible Curmudgeon

Sinepuxent Bay, which separates Assateague Island from the mainland

Photo (c) 2006 by the Incorrigible Curmudgeon

Traditionally for as long as I can remember, I have made the pilgrimage to Assateague National Seashore at least once a year. It is an Atlantic coast barrier island just south of Ocean City, MD. I like it because it is just sand and water (and wild ponies) without any boardwalks or concession stands. I always go to the National park section to swim, chill, take photos, and relax to the sound of the waves at one of my favorite spots on Earth. It is 150 miles and 2-1/2 hours from DC (on a good day).

In 2006, I was running out of time to make my yearly trek, so my daughter and I drove out here on December 23rd, arriving just before sundown. I brought my Nikon D200 with me and took these photos. In 2007, we never made it to Assateague, but we did get to Venice Beach, CA and to Rehoboth Beach, DE so I don't feel too bad.

Gresham Street NW rowhouses

About twenty years ago, I was in San Francisco and my friend/frat brother/architect Gary "Snoopy" McIntyre was giving me an architectural tour of the bay area (where he has lived since Howard) and he made a point of taking me to see a row of houses which had come to be known as the 'Painted Ladies.'

Anyway, one day I was out exercise walking around the MacMillan Reservoir next to Howard and noticed that this row of houses adjacent to Drew Hall, when viewed from one certain vantage point, reminded me of the 'Painted Ladies.'

I came back with my Nikon D200 with the 18-200mm VR lens and got this shot, which brought the gothic architecture of the Washington Cathedral into play as well, though it is 3 miles away on the other side of Rock Creek park on Wisconsin Avenue, perched on the highest spot in Washington, DC.

I love this POV but I need to go back and re-shoot it with a longer lens and a tripod to do it up right.