There is something strange about the things you pass by often, maybe every day, to which you are blind. You don’t see them. The Featured Image and companion capture portion of a mural that I walked by dozens and dozens of times—simply ignored, until today.
The artwork spans a cement block wall along the alley-side of a home here in my San Diego neighborhood of University Heights. The motif features kids at play mixed with Eastern religious symbology; pardon my ignorance but perhaps Hindu.
Some people wear their heart on their sleave, as the adage goes. I still see Harris-Walz signs around my San Diego neighborhood of University Heights. I know lots of folks who are downright distraught that Kamala lost the election. Honestly, they should be relieved that she did. The former vice president wasn’t ready, if she ever will be, to become Commander in Chief.
As for Donald Trump, he gets a pass from me through the first 100 days. Peace in the Middle East and between Russia and Ukraine would be major milestones, if his administration can facilitate such outcomes.
There is something strangely out of place about this sign. The style is very 1950’s or 60’s. Then there is need for air conditioning. San Diego coastal area is quite temperate. This lounge’s location, in the North Park sliver between Normal Heights and University Heights, is somewhat breezy. Wind blows from the West across an overlook and up Adams Avenue. Cooler is more common than hotter.
The classic sign styling couldn’t be ignored. I pulled around Nikon Zf with attached NIKKOR 40mm f/2 (SE) lens and captured the Featured Image. Vitals: f/11, ISO 320, 1/125 sec, 40mm; 9:11 a.m. PST, today.
While walking about our neighborhood of University Heights, today, my wife and I spontaneously decided to get in the car and drive to Ocean Beach; an errand beckoned us. Once completed, we continued onwards to Sunset Cliffs.
I already carried Nikon Zf with NIKKOR 40mm f/2 (SE) lens attached. However, what was needed: NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR. So Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra pinch-hit for the long shots.
I am nowhere ready to officially review the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, even though my preorder arrived on Jan. 30, 2025—way early. The smartphone started selling in stores and online today. If you are considering moving from, say, either the S23 Ultra or S24 Ultra, don’t delay. The new model is surprisingly affordable, for a limited time.
Samsung typically offers magnanimously generous launch deals, particularly the value given for trade-in of older devices. To my surprise, Samsung hasn’t yet replaced the fantastic opportunity presented during the preorder period. Free storage upgrade is still available, and your S23 Ultra or S24 Ultra is worth $750 or $900, respectively, against purchase of the newer smartphone.
The Barber of Seville is responsible for most of my haircuts during our more than 17 years living in San Diego. His shop is, or was, located along Park Blvd in my neighborhood of University Heights. He trimmed my thinning locks one final time on Dec. 5, 2024, about a week before his last scheduled customer—appropriately a priest (George is a good Catholic).
He cut hair for about 45 years, 30 of them in the same location. He owns the building, and at our last meeting he was unsure what business would take over the space. Recently, somebody put up brown paper, covering the windows from inside. Something is going on inside as preparation for whatever will be the next occupant.
Let me preface this post by strongly saying that the Featured Image isn’t an expression about my attitude with respect to the current crisis in the Middle East. Rather, I observe surprising graffiti and use it to illustrate current events.
A tenuous ceasefire is underway between Israel and adversaries in Gaza and Lebanon. Earlier today, Hamas released the first three of 33 hostages in exchange for 90 by the Israelis. The conflict started on Oct. 7, 2003 when terrorists breached Israeli defenses from Gaza, killed more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and grabbed 254 hostages. Nearly 100 remain in captivity.
This afternoon, I walked over to unbeloved Hillcrest to mail a package at the United States Post Office. The postal workers were friendly and helpful, but the place was surprisingly not crowded. Plausible explanation: This is a holiday weekend for some people, particularly leading into Monday events.
Jan. 20, 2025 celebrates Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday, and the day will also be the inauguration of Donald Trump as 47th president of the United States. If Microsoft Copilot can be trusted for accuracy, Trump will only be the second President to serve non-consecutive terms (Grover Cleveland is the other).
I am a longstanding fan of the Leica Q series of cameras. I owned the original, Q2, and Q2 Monochrom. The 28mm f/1.7 Summilux lens is fantastically sharp, the body is compact, and the overall ergonomics are exceptional. I was particularly intrigued when Leica released a 43mm Q3—enough to consider trading both Q2 models against the purchase price.
But the newer Q3 is perennially out of stock, being a fairly recent release, and it’s quite expensive. I instead sold both cameras locally and used the funds to buy the Nikon Zf and 40mm lens kit and two additional lenses: NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S (for focal length, low-light capability, macro shooting, and portraits) and NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR.
A few weeks ago, when walking to Smart & Final for groceries, I observed a woman across the street decorating a utility box. She painted something, but I couldn’t see what. Now I know, and so do you. The motif somewhat reminds me of the Patridge Family bus. And you?
I used Nikon Zf and NIKKOR 40mm f/2 (SE) lens to capture the Featured Image on Jan. 13, 2025. Vitals, aperture manually set: f/2, ISO 100, 1/6400 sec, 40mm; 1:21 p.m. PDT.
While walking up Adams Avenue in my neighborhood of University Heights, today, I chatted with one of my sisters over the phone. Suddenly I heard, then saw, a massive pack of bicyclists speed past, turning onto Park Blvd. By the amount of time taken to go by, they numbered in the hundreds.
Caught off guard and fumbling, because of the phone call, I lost precious seconds deciding to pull round Nikon Zf and attached NIKKOR 40mm f/2 (SE) lens. The Featured Image and companion were captured, quickly, suddenly, with little preparation. Both are composed as captured. Had I more time and not otherwise been distracted, I would have slowed down the shutter speed for blurred motion shot.
This afternoon, I dropped off Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra at FedEx for its trade-in return. Samsung offered a deal I couldn’t resist—and I nearly did let it pass. During the days leading up to Christmas, I twice ordered—and cancelled—the flagship tablet, finally committing on Dec. 27, 2024. The thing arrived on Jan. 3, 2025.
I waffled because the S10 Ultra is an iterative upgrade that also abandons Qualcomm chips for MediaTek’s—and I was apprehensive about the switch. But Samsung maintained a relentlessly persistent promotion: trade-in that was $200 more than what I paid for the S9 Ulta (after another trade-in) for total $1,000 discount that brought the purchase price down to a few hundred dollars—for a top-tier tablet that few others can match, including those from Apple.