tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187393932024-03-14T08:04:44.150-04:00TAGthe Allen galleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08064101135272851599noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18739393.post-86791289764518757242012-07-27T19:06:00.002-04:002012-07-27T19:06:45.885-04:00<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/46515023" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe>the Allen galleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08064101135272851599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18739393.post-22854001531823097692009-08-30T20:49:00.002-04:002009-08-30T20:52:16.483-04:00The Elusive ButterflyJust a little something pretty, hovering in the garden.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/3870792819/" title="IMG_0662 by allengallery, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2566/3870792819_6955f51d2b.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_0662" /></a>the Allen galleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08064101135272851599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18739393.post-32601605119750882612009-05-10T21:38:00.004-04:002009-05-10T21:44:20.183-04:00I'm Still Here!<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/3519940759/" title="IMG_0090 by allengallery, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3627/3519940759_6084ffc94c_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="IMG_0090" /></a><br />Taking a long break from blogging. Time flies!the Allen galleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08064101135272851599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18739393.post-63600676863178427942008-11-05T00:27:00.003-05:002008-11-05T00:28:46.689-05:00We Did It!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNhI5ZqrkVgpdf9V-yjjF1DMbbbAekK6iyJnIClGyumegaDwE4YZpbtv_6M1YMjwZD3CtRsUfvXkNL80pbXy-CnPsYaCrc6arWiEVbiAJlukcZsbUYYqm7EAPmt0fGquTqMS0jQ/s1600-h/ObamaWins.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNhI5ZqrkVgpdf9V-yjjF1DMbbbAekK6iyJnIClGyumegaDwE4YZpbtv_6M1YMjwZD3CtRsUfvXkNL80pbXy-CnPsYaCrc6arWiEVbiAJlukcZsbUYYqm7EAPmt0fGquTqMS0jQ/s320/ObamaWins.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265041152483629266" /></a>the Allen galleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08064101135272851599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18739393.post-4482416556692415392008-06-12T16:06:00.001-04:002008-06-12T16:07:31.082-04:00Carolayun!the Allen galleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08064101135272851599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18739393.post-71218615673521700552008-04-22T15:23:00.002-04:002008-04-22T15:26:48.437-04:00The End of an era.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/2434833442/" title="IMG_0182.JPG by allengallery, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3253/2434833442_00b8a43d1d_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="IMG_0182.JPG" /></a>the Allen galleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08064101135272851599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18739393.post-18576266639110693612008-04-07T12:33:00.000-04:002008-04-07T12:34:35.057-04:00Slowly....the Allen galleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08064101135272851599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18739393.post-45150622221173320212008-02-01T17:10:00.000-05:002008-02-01T17:13:35.966-05:00Uh Oh!<P CLASS="centeralign">Fourteen Defining <br />Characteristics Of Fascism<br />By Dr. Lawrence Britt<br />Source Free Inquiry.co<br />5-28-3</P><br /><br /><br />Dr. Lawrence Britt has examined the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia) and several Latin American regimes. Britt found 14 defining characteristics common to each:<br /> <br />1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism - Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.<br /> <br />2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights - Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.<br /> <br />3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause - The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.<br /> <br />4. Supremacy of the Military - Even when there are widespread<br />domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.<br /> <br />5. Rampant Sexism - The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Divorce, abortion and homosexuality are suppressed and the state is represented as the ultimate guardian of the family institution.<br /> <br />6. Controlled Mass Media - Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.<br /> <br />7. Obsession with National Security - Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.<br /> <br />8. Religion and Government are Intertwined - Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.<br /> <br />9. Corporate Power is Protected - The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.<br /> <br />10. Labor Power is Suppressed - Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.<br /> <br />11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts - Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts and letters is openly attacked.<br /> <br />12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment - Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.<br /> <br />13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption - Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.<br /> <br />14. Fraudulent Elections - Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.<br /> <br />From Liberty Forumthe Allen galleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08064101135272851599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18739393.post-16878097712803526632008-01-08T10:15:00.000-05:002008-01-08T10:28:34.967-05:00How about you frere Jacques; dormez-vous?<object width="425" height="373"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YMrHorlOB0k&rel=1&border=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YMrHorlOB0k&rel=1&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="373"></embed></object><br /><br />From <a href="http://huffingtonpost.com">Huffington Post.</a> A crowd of very angry Ron Paul supporters, chase Mr. Hannity from a restaurant... down the street and into his hotel lobby; chanting "Fox News Sucks". I think theres a snowball or 2 involved.<br /><br />Sonnez les matines. Sonnez les matines.<br /><br />:-)the Allen galleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08064101135272851599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18739393.post-7520883817003721002008-01-07T15:41:00.000-05:002008-01-07T16:08:26.363-05:00C'mon Verizon. Stop Playing!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47Y4KXf8-tYHqfAwCeyhBH_JF9KLOr0b-1Z9_xVRWDgDAghyphenhyphens7FVVJXLt_zHebUESnIgJuf7KqRzTjNhxb_RQlHb3VWo50sKjtN_PdJj7vKigYBUaV7sjbgsimLWz4METTpOqqw/s1600-h/net.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47Y4KXf8-tYHqfAwCeyhBH_JF9KLOr0b-1Z9_xVRWDgDAghyphenhyphens7FVVJXLt_zHebUESnIgJuf7KqRzTjNhxb_RQlHb3VWo50sKjtN_PdJj7vKigYBUaV7sjbgsimLWz4METTpOqqw/s320/net.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152838378732191842" /></a><br /><br />Lately, I noticed if I misspelled a url, rather than getting the standard Safari/Firefox error message, I was being redirected to a Verizon search page. Out of no where. A Verizon search page... Hmmmmm didn't look good. I came across this article explaining exactly what Verizon has done- without any customer notification that I'm aware of.<br /><br />While the article says Verizon has added this intrusive, <S>sleazy</S> feature to its FIOS customers, it is also being added to DSL customers as well. (This is at the office where the DSL connection is used for very specific tasks.)<br /><br />Why make customers "opt out" rather than Verizon asking if a customer wants this intrusion? (Hint, read the article for reasons). Thank you Miss Verizon Girl, but no. I can choose my own search engine. <br /><br />I made the changes in my router settings... have you?<br /><br />2008.. now don't get me started.....the Allen galleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08064101135272851599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18739393.post-82865574438442228192008-01-04T12:56:00.000-05:002008-01-04T13:05:38.338-05:00:-)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkL2oFHtrGPwn1WItXSMeAvGxNl47uU05afDLYqXiLK3mkgHIcLu9CTVx91KE4rUIRi7K2CS1qePyoeWtV9bO6erDEEMmBaUEj7oN1ORhYTvDowh7rt77K9sI5GBNE4v2IN2kkQ/s1600-h/r-OBAMADAUGHTER-mediumvariable.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkL2oFHtrGPwn1WItXSMeAvGxNl47uU05afDLYqXiLK3mkgHIcLu9CTVx91KE4rUIRi7K2CS1qePyoeWtV9bO6erDEEMmBaUEj7oN1ORhYTvDowh7rt77K9sI5GBNE4v2IN2kkQ/s320/r-OBAMADAUGHTER-mediumvariable.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151684097681457234" /></a>the Allen galleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08064101135272851599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18739393.post-6045240264592601642008-01-01T00:50:00.001-05:002008-01-01T00:50:57.777-05:00Happy New Year!<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/2153103261/" title="IMG_0854.JPG by allengallery, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2186/2153103261_e687650a19.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_0854.JPG" /></a>the Allen galleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08064101135272851599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18739393.post-88433406611961024642007-12-08T14:37:00.000-05:002007-12-10T14:53:02.093-05:00Soul Train. 'Memba?<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/2095458337/" title="IMG_0326.JPG by allengallery, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2124/2095458337_9b6c7a1e23.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_0326.JPG" /></a><br />After a brief stint at shopping this morning (post raking every leaf from every tree that likes to collect in front of our gate, as well as push through the gate and collect in the front yard- we won't even discuss the backyard- and stopping off at a well known fast food chicken joint (a rarity, really... no really!), I sat down for a nice saturday afternoon lunch in front of the TV (not so rare). The channel was set to some super station and "The Best of Soul Train" was on. Good lord, I thought, is this the best they can do? And then the R&B group "Enchantment" took the stage and started singing "Gloria". Now I'm hooked. And as the camera pans around the studio and the "Soul Train" dancers go through their 1970's dance routines, I made a few observations. And here they are:<br /><br />1. The crowd was SO THIN and fit looking. Now it could be because many of the dancers were pros, but overall everyone seemed svelte and well put together. Not a lot of In N Out Burger, steroid heads.<br /><br />2. No one was doing the robot.<br /><br />3. Polyester double-knit was made for black men to wear. Good lord!!<br /><br />4. if you look and let your eyes really focus on the dancers... you'll notice from time to time men are dancing with each other. Who knew?<br /><br />5. It looked like it was so much fun to be in the studio, dancing in front of the tv cameras, seeing all the incredible music talent perform live, onstage (though most of it was lip-synching),and being able to ask questions, and almost reach out and touch them.<br /><br />6. Sisters hair was on point. Afros, afro puffs, the "Farrah" all those styles; Hair was Did! unlike today, where I notice with much frequency the numbers of sisters who have these weaves with no particular style at all like so much straw glued to one's head... What is that all about?<br /><br />7. I'll be watching again!the Allen galleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08064101135272851599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18739393.post-35568582862729761032007-12-04T11:07:00.001-05:002007-12-04T11:07:43.402-05:00SOON<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/2086963778/" title="P9010086.JPG by allengallery, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2205/2086963778_c35c72d913.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="P9010086.JPG" /></a>the Allen galleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08064101135272851599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18739393.post-20316510684661519172007-11-20T15:26:00.000-05:002007-11-20T15:47:25.351-05:00Somewhere Over Lake Michagos: Good Lord!!<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/2050254909/" title="John's Flight.jpg by allengallery, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2006/2050254909_15067ec8aa_o.jpg" width="388" height="172" alt="John's Flight.jpg" /></a>the Allen galleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08064101135272851599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18739393.post-17174117413230145472007-11-12T14:13:00.000-05:002007-11-12T20:53:31.146-05:00Verbal SkillzTwo of my favorite clips from one of the best network TV shows, Frank's Place.<br /><br />Much of the action in the series took place verbally. In each morsel below, Frank is on the short end of the stick I'm afraid, when up against two women with something to say. There is no confusion here.<br /><embed style="width:400px; height:326px;" id="VideoPlayback" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=-2184365795461622570&hl=en" flashvars=""> </embed><br /><object id="BLOG_video-UPLOADING" class="BLOG_video_class" width="320" height="266" contentid="UPLOADING"></object><br />(i'm still learning how to edit clips and videos so no....there's nothing wrong with your mouse :-)<br /><br /><embed style="width:400px; height:326px;" id="VideoPlayback" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=-558014272967410936&hl=en" flashvars=""> </embed>the Allen galleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08064101135272851599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18739393.post-21436231088239971582007-10-17T16:35:00.000-04:002007-10-17T16:37:36.996-04:00John and Che Read from Seismosis @BKLYN<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/1579457151/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2001/1579457151_bf587679cf_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="IMG_0129" /></a>the Allen galleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08064101135272851599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18739393.post-67723664726394751612007-10-17T16:29:00.000-04:002007-10-18T10:14:52.736-04:00Great Sign... not so great collards!<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/1579462769/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2400/1579462769_d281b8615b_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="IMG_0175" /></a>the Allen galleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08064101135272851599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18739393.post-41989193837252630102007-10-14T13:55:00.001-04:002007-10-14T14:01:22.554-04:00Victor @ Juicy Mother II Reading and Signing<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/1568756555/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2202/1568756555_bda635d12f_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="IMG_6969" /></a>the Allen galleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08064101135272851599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18739393.post-39839569613940544092007-09-23T23:00:00.000-04:002007-09-23T23:01:15.299-04:00Jamaican Sunday<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/1431001474/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1406/1431001474_68849f300b_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="IMG_0477" /></a>the Allen galleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08064101135272851599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18739393.post-67807888588660004492007-09-23T22:44:00.000-04:002007-09-23T22:49:12.261-04:00Almost Done...<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/1429294089/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1362/1429294089_a2489237df_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="P9210004" /></a>the Allen galleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08064101135272851599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18739393.post-55621647573741711672007-09-10T17:04:00.000-04:002007-09-12T20:31:18.495-04:00Dominican Republic in PicturesJ and I headed to La Republica Dominicana for the Labor Day weekend<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/1350663269/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1275/1350663269_87a0d54a6a_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="IMG_0326" /></a><br /><br />As always, we had a ball! This trip, we didn't have any must do things on our agenda so we played it by ear...<br /><br />A couple of museum visits...<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/1351553716/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1367/1351553716_53ce3ff509_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="IMG_6580" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/1306141043/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1314/1306141043_97e168c247_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="P8310088" /></a><br /><br />A new hotel to stay in...<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/1350663027/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1204/1350663027_e702735abc_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="IMG_0315" /></a><br /><br />We rented a car to head up to a beach we hadn't visited before in Guayacanes. Anthony, gave us a ride to the rental place and once they bought the car around (an SUV because having never driven in DR before, but witness to much of its craziness, i figured the bigger the better) Anthony casually said oh yes, it's probaly stick.. and it was... I haven't driven stick in about 10 years but figured what the hell it's like riding a bike... and it is. Didn't stall once!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/1305972604/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1028/1305972604_210d74c0f4_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="IMG_6667" /></a><br /><br />Things that kinda dart in front of you as you're driving on THE HIGHWAY :-)<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/1350664395/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1390/1350664395_30bb0d8c9b_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="IMG_6678" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/1307028240/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1409/1307028240_5930e63ed8_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="P9010157" /></a><br /><br />Chillin in Guayacanes<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/1305976670/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1318/1305976670_096a3b8564_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="P9010087" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/1305976970/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1201/1305976970_47ece8de1f_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="P9010096" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/1306145933/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1334/1306145933_37112df50b_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="P9010104" /></a><br /><br />A spot of shopping. Forget spending all that dough on True Religion... same jeans, 1/3 the price<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/1350664091/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1144/1350664091_9a4f1a7716_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="IMG_6695" /></a><br /><br />A little partying... :-)<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/1312217033/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1310/1312217033_e46c8896d4_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="IMG_6775" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/1312284873/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1025/1312284873_b0e129645f_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="IMG_6715" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/1312294965/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1244/1312294965_61aace72d5_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="P9020114" /></a><br /><br />Reconnecting with friends...<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/1305088219/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1249/1305088219_8b027b6b21_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="IMG_6663" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/1351551466/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1318/1351551466_15a53e9730_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="IMG_6835" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/1305085517/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1436/1305085517_c6dae6e390_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="IMG_6644" /></a><br /><br />And always new friends...<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/1313103486/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1032/1313103486_413a8db9bc_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="IMG_6800" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/1312209801/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1255/1312209801_92a3c92138_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="P9020178" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/1350663623/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1366/1350663623_236fffbcda_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="IMG_6820" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/1368857744/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1009/1368857744_167641958d_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="IMG_6829" /></a><br /><br /><br />These trips to DR are usually short, long weekends, maybe a week, and end too soon...<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/1367956699/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1247/1367956699_9e4620b193_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="IMG_6840" /></a><br /><br />But the fun begins with planning the next adventure on the trip home!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/1367956027/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1427/1367956027_d942724394_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="IMG_6849" /></a>the Allen galleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08064101135272851599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18739393.post-16967189547755778622007-08-12T12:02:00.001-04:002007-08-12T13:34:02.657-04:00Time..goes...by<span style="font-weight:bold;"> I realiz<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span>e my last entry was well over 2 months ago. It also seems like one of my last entries was a post on turning 44. A year later, and yes, this year has flown by.<br /><br />As I was waking this morning, i noticed the sunlight angle in the bedroom had changed from previous mornings and I began thinking towards the season changing and... time.<br /><br />Came down stairs, grabbed some coffee and settled down to the morning paper (online) and NPR.... the segment I caught, as I began listening and waking up, was on time and calendars and how societies and individuals kept/keep time; Totally in line with my first thoughts of the morning. Time.<br /><br />As far back as i can remember, which is probably to age 5 ( I do keep glimpses of earlier years, possibly as far back as an infant-really), as part of my conscious self I've had a time-line chart floating in my head. It's as much a part of me as my smile (see photos). It's just there, kind of floating in the periphery where I see my life- past, present, future, in the form of a two dimensional ladder style graph.<br /><br />On this chart I can see where I am presently age-wise. <br /><br />I can see my past behind me (represented in chronological age), In relation to where I am presently age-wise.<br /><br />I can see my future ahead of me in relation to where I am presently age-wise<br /><br />I've always used this built-in time measurement as my life guide in relation to time and memory, and it's relationship to aging. If something reminds me of a past event or say, I'm having a conversation with a friend about something that happened when I was 10 years old, my first conscious/subconscious action takes me to where age 10 is represented on the time-line chart, and that becomes my reference point. It's pretty cool really.<br /><br />When I was younger, <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/1094329546/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1306/1094329546_e14ddd2a6e_m.jpg" width="162" height="240" alt="cja_5thgrade" /></a>time was kept in a more general sense and measured by school vacations, holidays, what time the street lights came on; sort of a general, abstract feeling. Being young with not much to gauge time against, it was just a thought with very little meaning.<br /><br />In my senior year of High School, <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/1094330158/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1420/1094330158_2e2e9a1e4f_m.jpg" width="240" height="231" alt="cja_hs_cropped" /></a>I remember a feeling of time in the sense of change and a sense of beginning. "Now Voyager". Head out there young man the clock is ticking... but no rush...take it all in. <br /><br />As a young adult <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/1093467535/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1341/1093467535_477369f917_m.jpg" width="240" height="182" alt="cja_cropped" /></a>time was mostly spent in the present with a small part devoted to future and a smaller part to the past. The past was always retrievable, formed a base in my present self, and a firm foundation for the future. No limits, no self prescribed deadlines. I aged yearly, and could see myself progressing on the time-line according to my biological age... until I hit 31. <br /><br />From the age of 31 until today, rather than seeing my age progress on the time-line, it stayed at the age of 31. Turned 32, 33, etc..., each year, where I would normally see my age progress, I just hung around at 31. I could see my real present age, represented in the future, but I was still hanging around 31. In a sense, it's as though I had stopped aging in some way.<br /><br />I'm 45 today,<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/1094330544/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1112/1094330544_65ddad5e3e_m.jpg" width="240" height="196" alt="cja_45" /></a>and this is the first birthday, when asked if I feel different, I can say "Yes, I do in fact!". It's a noticeable feeling of the sense of time. That's all I've deciphered about it for now. I'm sure it will reveal itself as to what it means... in time.the Allen galleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08064101135272851599noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18739393.post-58678763078517086072007-06-02T22:47:00.000-04:002007-06-02T22:59:34.250-04:00This Year's GardenRoses.... doing well<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/526708994/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1065/526708994_c14a58a23a_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="P6020058" /></a><br /><br />Azaleas... popping with life<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/520910746/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/237/520910746_aa24293226_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="P5120069" /></a><br /><br /> along with the honeysuckle<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/520912914/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/248/520912914_bead2db2a8_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="P5120080" /></a><br /><br />Vegetables are coming along nicely...<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/526801015/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1202/526801015_248befca0e_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="P6020069" /></a><br /><br />Fruits as well<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/526709038/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1186/526709038_dbe19be67a_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="P6020064" /></a><br /><br />Here's the to beginning of a great summer!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/526801031/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/227/526801031_a56a16ae8f_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="P6020075" /></a>the Allen galleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08064101135272851599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18739393.post-1175959221027639702007-04-07T11:07:00.000-04:002007-04-07T11:20:21.040-04:00Diana Ross @ MSGIt was her Birthday,<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/449469459/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/185/449469459_63163fa147_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="P4060023" /></a> <br /><br />it was Good Friday, <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/449469481/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/193/449469481_f6e20215ff_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="P4060027" /></a><br /><br />we had good seats,<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/449469437/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/243/449469437_c7cf87b49b_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="P4060006" /></a><br /><br /> it was a great show! <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/allengallery/449469479/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/153/449469479_7a9365fd50_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="P4060024" /></a><br />More soon...the Allen galleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08064101135272851599noreply@blogger.com3