I could have never gotten this photo with my previous camera. This Sony has a 10x optical zoom. Great for getting closer than I would otherwise.
(Sidewalk cafes, during an evening in Paris.)
The beauty of zoom
Health in France
As we were wandering around Paris, my daughter noticed that a lot of people smoked.
Wikipedia says that France is number ten in the world for life expectancy. The US is number thirty-six.
My guess why is that French people walk more places than Americans. And the red wine and slower pace of life don’t hurt either. The US is number one for obesity. France is number twenty-three.
Better in each place
We just got back from a family vacation to Europe. Lest you think we are extravagant jet-setters, we went to see my sister who lives in Belgium. And since our oldest is about a year from leaving the nest, this may be our last family vacation for a long time.
Visiting another country spotlights things that are different. In England, school uniforms are common. Advantage? Kids don’t need to spend a lot to look cool. Disadvantage? Kids aren’t able to show their individuality.
It’s like that with just about every area of life. Cars? I love European. Homes? I love the increased space that American homes have for similar money.
So remember when you start to criticize another place – your home isn’t perfect. And if you haven’t traveled to another country, take the opportunity to do so. (USA people? Even Canada and Mexico are worth the hike.)
Relic of the past
This motorcycle was made in about 1970 by a German company, Mammoth. When I was a kid, I got the book, Motorcycles: Classics and Thoroughbreds. This lovely machine graced the cover. I love how it’s so ugly that it almost becomes beautiful.
From age three, I was into anything that had wheels. I still am. (Some things never change.)
I always thought it would be great fun to have a motorcycle. However, roughly half a lifetime ago, I decided the potential for losing my life or becoming disabled wasn’t worth the risk. Then my good friend Gary’s accident confirmed this decision.
So I’ll stick with my Lotus. (I wish.)
Think differently and add excitement
Yes, you’ve heard me say this concept before, many times. But I think it’s vital to add excitement to whatever you are doing.
I took this photo at the W Hotel in Austin, Texas. The supreme tour guide Sheila Scarborough was giving me a tour of downtown Austin, Texas, and we popped into W. (It’s named that way since it’s part of the Westin/Sheraton Hotel Group – not after a former president.)
Everywhere we turned, there was an exciting detail to catch. Nothing was left “normal.”
Admittedly, it’s hard to give that much attention to all you do. But choose something today to add spice to. It will make your life more interesting – and also the lives of those your “something” touches.
We are connected
About the time you read this, I will have just left my European sister… we visited Amy and her family in their now native Belgium.
I love her. We get along well. We have had our times of differences, but for the most part now we truly enjoy each other. It is a bit heart-breaking that we live so far apart.
Anyhow, this artwork is from the outside of a package she sent. She re-used a package our mom sent her. (Mom died around two years ago.) Amy can make art out of almost anything.
Samsung Laptop Review
Trust me, this is the coolest Windows laptop ever.
It’s the “Samsung Series 9 NP900X3A-A03 13.3-Inch Laptop.” (Just sort of rolls off your tongue, doesn’t it?)
Anyhow, I visited the Microsoft Store with my wife & daughter a few weeks back… you know, just to check out the enemy. And I was seriously impressed with this Samsung laptop! Mind you, I would never think of buying one. (Regular readers know where my loyalties lie.)
The best I can tell is that Samsung is attempting to compete with the MacBook Air. About the only thing the Samsung has over the Apple is processor speed. The Mac’s hard drive is twice as big as the Samsung’s. They weigh exactly the same.
For a Windows laptop, the design is really not bad. They’re trying.
My present to you
I thought you might enjoy this desktop background < Click link to download.
I took the photo on June 11, 2011 near Guanella Pass in Colorado.
It may look like a boring photo, but trust me, it will make an awesome desktop.
Never seen a human like that
This falls under the category of bad art direction… Notice where the hands are on this computer. If the model’s arms were at the angle shown, an amputation would have taken place before the shot.
Thanks to 1and1, the company who paid for the ad this photo came from.
