Category: Living

Photo by Joe WilcoxAug 23, 20248:40 pm

Sunflower Surprise

For the third time in three years, we present another sunflower seen in the same location on Mississippi in my San Diego neighborhood of University Heights (see previous posts from 2022 and 2023). I passed by the beauty today while talking on the phone with one of my sisters.

I pulled out Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, set to Portrait mode, and captured the Featured Image, which is composed as shot and not otherwise altered (e.g. no edits). Vitals: f/1.7, ISO 12, 1/800 sec, 23mm (film equivalent); 3:42 p.m. PDT.

Photo by Joe WilcoxAug 22, 20247:59 pm

When is a Donkey a Jackass?

The Democrats’ convention ends today (finally). Like last month’s Republican event, I bothered not to watch the speeches. My disinterest is all the greater for this week’s political powwow in Chicago—if for no other reason than Joseph Biden’s virtual assassination. As previously stated, it was clear to me weeks before his disastrous debate performance on June 27, 2024 that he was being set up.

I still can’t reckon why Biden and his team chose to take on Trump before the convention, or delegates’ virtual role call beforehand. Debates are always held in September and October, after candidates are formally chosen. Who voted for Kamala Harris? Nobody. Biden’s ouster removed the democratically chosen candidate during the primary voting process. Stated differently, at least for this election cycle, Democrats have proven to be undemocratic.

Photo by Joe WilcoxAug 19, 20249:10 pm

Where in the World?

San Diego’s sunny climate enables residents to put out items they don’t want that someone else might hanker for. If we didn’t already own a world map, I would have grabbed the one my wife and I passed along Georgia Street—a block or so south of Sprout’s Market—just inside University Heights.

Flags and wooden frame made the discard much better than my map, but we simply didn’t have space, or justifiable need, for another. So we left the thing—after I captured the Featured Image and companion using Leica Q2. Vitals: f/5.6, ISO 100, 1/400 sec, 28mm; 10:15 a.m. PDT, Aug. 17, 2024. The close-crop is same but one-minute earlier.

Photo by Joe WilcoxAug 18, 20249:33 pm

‘You Got a Snack for Me?’

Some squirrels are quite frisky-friendly, suggesting that somebody feeds them. That’s what I wondered about this rascal approaching me from a tree on July 30, 2024. My wife and I came upon the rodent when walking along Louisiana Street in our San Diego neighborhood of University Heights.

There are community cats; why not squirrels? Hand feed them peanuts in a shell, for example, and you have a friend for life, which sadly might not be long. Cars and predators are top killers; then there are falls from utility lines. Cats will be blamed for hunting and catching the rodents, but coyotes, hawks, or owls are greater threats.

Photo by Joe WilcoxAug 16, 20249:31 pm

That’s Nothing to Brag About

I hope my neighbor doesn’t see this post; no offense is intended, but she surely will be offended. The sentiment expressed in her lawn sign responds to Republican Vice-Presidential candidate JD Vance and comments that he made during a 2021 interview about Democrat “childless cat ladies“. Looking around my neighborhood, dogs would be even more applicable.

San Diego, like most of California, is largely liberal and relatively young. Median age is 35.8 years. I see plenty of couples going about, but rather than push baby carriages or walk with youngsters, the majority pull leashed dogs—often two or three. I loathe the commonly used euphemism “pet parents”, but it punctuates the point Vance tried to make in that interview.

Photo by Joe WilcoxAug 15, 20244:27 pm

The (Honorary) Cats of University Heights: Charmer

We interrupt the backlog to present an orange and white spotted two blocks beyond the neighborhood boundary. Hence, the honorary designation. Cat character manifests in so many charming ways—here posture through the blinds. By the way, this charmer is the one-hundred-thirty-third furball found behind door or window. (You got the nickname, right?)

This fine feline is also the thirty-third member of the esteemed group of honorarians, joining: AI, Boo, Buddies, Chill, Coal, Comber, Cotton, Envy, Esther, Fancy, Floofy, Guapo, Liberty, Lonesome, Jade, Mona, Moophie, Mousy, Ninja, Oliver, Too, Promise, Queenie, Pussyfoot, Rascal, Raven, Sammy, Shakey, Tag and Tig, Timber, Tom and Jerry, and Tula.

Photo by Joe WilcoxAug 14, 20248:55 pm

Curious Coneflower

While walking this evening, I stopped to regard one of my neighbor’s flower gardens. Initially passing by, I turned around, pulled out Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, and shot the Featured Image in Portrait mode, which produces bokeh-like background blur. Vitals: f/2.4, ISO 50, 1/125 sec, 70mm (film equivalent); 6:27 p.m. PDT.

Phone photography was on my mind as I strolled sidewalks; yesterday, Google unveiled new smartphones, including the Pixel 9 Fold, Pro, and Pro XL. The latter two are all about the cameras, and the experiences artificial intelligence and software can magically make.

Photo by Joe WilcoxAug 11, 20249:23 pm

The Cats of University Heights: Calicoo

A massive backlog of unpublished putty-tats should be good reason not to neglect them. But, alas, call me guilty of ignoring these fine felines. There are so many, going back so far in time, careful review is required—or one might appear twice.

This lovely Calico isn’t the oldest kitty in the queue, but she is aways back. I used Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra to capture the Featured Image, on Jan. 13, 2024. Vitals: f/4.9, ISO 50, 1/800 sec, 230mm (film equivalent); 2:01 p.m. PST.

Photo by Joe WilcoxAug 9, 20246:46 pm

Supper Ladies

Looking out my home office window, on any given day, a steady stream of healthy, skinny women and men flow by—some exercise run, others casually walk, and even more tug leashed dogs. They are the stereotypical San Diego young and fit. Photographers love them, because who wouldn’t want to look at beautiful people?

California liberals can’t cry enough about diversity, equity, and inclusion. Okay. Let’s be inclusive—equitable and diverse. That’s what the Featured Image is all about—including big, white women, who might otherwise be excluded from any photographic montage.

Photo by Joe WilcoxAug 8, 20245:31 pm

He’s Still the Owner

The Featured Image, which I poorly enlarged from a digital reprint, is a sign of its time that should still be true enough today. The Allagash wilderness of Maine’s Aroostook County isn’t as much “God’s country” as year of this portrait (1965). Four wheelers during summer and snowmobiles throughout winter let more folks noisily traverse territory that was barely accessible decades ago. But the Heavenly owner, so to speak, still holds claim.

Presumably my uncle took this photo, of my cousin Dan. Is that a 410-guage shotgun? That’s what I would expect to see a teenage partridge hunter holding. Safety is one consideration. Then there is using birdshot for, well, shooting birds.

Photo by Joe WilcoxAug 3, 202410:18 pm

Meet the Beetles

I wonder what about this plant attracts Japanese Beetles. As my wife and I walked along Georgia Street, in our San Diego neighborhood, my motion stopped and head turned in response to distinctly familiar buzzing. I knew which Coleoptera that was.

But where I expected to see one Japanese Beetle, there were several. Two are visible in the Featured Image—captured using Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Vitals: f/2.4, ISO 50, 1/2500 sec, 70mm (film equivalent); 8:56 a.m. PDT, today.

Photo by Joe WilcoxAug 1, 20246:35 pm

Much Better

On the block of the same street where fruit falls to waste, another residence is ready to gather the bounty, as you can see from the Featured Image. Yes, the homeowners have placed blankets to catch the apples—something done without worry because rain is rare this time of year.

Exceptions occur, and today is one of them. Thunderstorm is just ending, so those blankies are probably soggy now. But, obviously, they were dry yesterday, when captured by Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Vitals: f/1.7, ISO 12, 1/1250 sec, 70mm (film equivalent); 9:46 a.m. PDT.