Black Friday. Back in my grade school years and earlier, the standard fare, no exceptions, for an upchucking tummy, was 7-Up and soup. Absolutely nothing wrong with the menu obviously, but to this day I can't stomach 7-Up and only on very rare occasions, clam chowder and split pea soup being the exceptions, will I eat soup. It just doesn't happen. One such occasion was back in 1990 at a church in PA in which I was very active, sat on the council, chaired two committees, and Jan one, the Parish Life Committee. In this particular year, during the Lenten season, we had our annual soup suppers presented by the Parish Life committee, as do many congregations, but this particular year it somehow turned into a friendly major, but highly competitive, competition of who could bring the BEST soup and bread! The final result of that year's soup suppers was a 34 page cookbook I produced using a Z-100 computer. I doubt that many of you will remember such an old beast, but at the time it was the cat's meow. Now that little cookbook holds just about every soup recipe that I will eat, excluding the two already mentioned. That is until tonight, when Jan and I had dinner at the Harborside restaurant, situated along the SW edge of Lake Union in downtown Seattle. Now for most of you this will be of little interest, but for those of you living near here, it may be otherwise. On the menu tonight was the most delightful soup I have ever experienced, a true delight to the palette as it is sometimes said. Titled Butternut Squash Bisque, it contained not only the squash obviously, but also something crunchy and topped with pear compute. A total delight all the way around. I cautiously asked for the recipe and was told it will be emailed to me in a couple of days. I can't wait. To make it all even more delightful, we were seated with a spectacular view of both the north and east sides of the city. Delightful cuisine, a fantastic view, excellent service, and great company. All-in-all you couldn't ask for more; hope that each and everyone of you experienced something equally nice for your Thanksgiving this year. As for the view, the one I'm sharing today is not what we saw, didn't take the camera with me, thought that just a bit crass, but it was even nicer. ISO 200; 1/8 sec @ f /11 on a tripod.
28 Nov 11. For those of you who may be keeping track of our weather you are aware of the early snow fall this year and the good news for all those who enjoy or make their living in winter sporting activities. For those of you who haven't been keeping track we are have an early and large snow fall which is opening up our ski, snow boarding, snowmobiling, and cross country skiing areas much earlier than usual. Good for everyone all around except perhaps for those who have to frequently drive over those several of our mountain passes. But for me it is a sign that perhaps we will get snow here in the city this year so I don't have to drive to it as we've done twice this year already. Our first trip was in mid May and as we approached the summit of Stevens Pass we were greeted with a just fallen snow that had all the trees looking like a sheet of Christmas wrapping paper. And again in late October as we made a similar trip we were treated to an early morning dusting of the local hillsides. Beautiful sights both times. A month earlier on a trip to Mt Baker I learned that the road to Artist's Point never opened the entire year due to snow, so I am more than just a little bit hopeful. The shot from the May trip was one such that I thought a little mess'n with it might be appropriate, so I've altered it to look like what I'd like to have wrapped around my gifts this year. Of course I'd have to print it myself, something I don't do, but the thought remains. ISO 200; 1/500 sec @ f /10.
29 Nov 11. Just back from our annual pilgrimage to listen to the Seattle Pacific University's presentation of The Sacred Sounds of Christmas. This is our 6th time and it seems like every year it is simultaneously old and new, but very refreshing and most enjoyable. Their arrangement of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, also the processional, was the most beautiful and moving version of it I have ever heard!! If they didn't record it (I'm betting they didn't) to CD or DVD, they definitely should have. It needs to be saved for posterity. Much like we do with our digital images. Which brings me to the topic for today's image, an image unlike any I've ever shared. While I worked in the camera store I had this "conversation" with many a customer but few, I'm rather certain, actually believed me. So I pose to you the same question: which side of the disc is the sensitive (needs to be protected from scratches, etc) side. I'm wagering most of you will say the underside, the silver side. If you do, you will be in error. It is the top side that must be protected. You can scratch, scrape, do just about anything you want to that underside, and inflict no damage. The disc is just a clear piece of plastic designed to give the recording material bulk , or structure, if you prefer. Look at the image; it has four parts to it labeled Fig 1 - 4. Fig 1 is a disc with a sticky note attached; observe that it appears to be a little wrinkled near the edge of the sticky note. Fig 2 is that same disc after I removed the sticky note which pulled off the recording layer from the top of the disc. Observe that you can see clear through the disc, where the shiny stuff used to be, to the table cloth underneath. Figs 3 & 4 are the underside of that same disc. In figure 3, you can see that I've placed the part that pulled off ,above and to the left to show it clearly to you (note the same shape and size of the material attached to the sticky note and the clear area on the disc. Fig 4 is the same thing with the sticky note and recording material removed. Again, observe that you can see clear through the transparent plastic disc. So now you have visible proof as to which side is the critical side and the one that needs protection, not only from scratches, but from acids, like that found in Sharpe marking pens, that will quickly etch through that thin layer of recording material. It is the top side! Solution, ALWAYS put a paper label on the discs you are using to store your archived images and label with printer ink or an archival pen which you can get t any scrap booking or stationery store. Hope you enjoy, dave .
