I don’t recall why some kitties have been ignored. I think that I thought this shorthair might be Cuddles, as they were seen about a block or so apart. But on closer examination, they are distinctly different.
The Featured Image comes from Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra on Nov. 5, 2023. Vitals: f/2.4, ISO 50, 1/1000 sec, 10: 44 a.m. PDT. Nickname: Brisk.
I detest Daylight Saving Time and the turning of clocks forward one hour in the Spring. Today, PDT resumes, and I would prefer Standard Time all year long. The naturally occurring daylight cycle better aligns with my Circadian rhythm—and yours, too.
That introduction means to prepare you for this fine feline’s nickname: Kello, which is Finnish for clock. I saw the kitty today, while walking with my wife along Texas Street in North Park. Being beyond the neighborhood boundary, Kello joins the esteemed group of honorarians—35 in all.
Before ever using a Leica, or understanding the brand’s value to collectors and photographers, I discovered several vintage film cameras for sale in an Ocean Beach, Calif. antique mall. None sold for more than $100; I possibly passed up an unexpectedly good opportunity.
That was November 2010. Fastforward to Nov. 10, 2024, when I walked by more vintage gear—this time for projecting videos and more, outside a camera store along Adams Avenue in the grey zone where a sliver of North Park separates Normal Heights and University Heights.
The march through the backlog of unpublished putty-tats continues; this one is from June 28, 2023. I have seen the kitty many times since then—yes, recently—but have yet to get a portrait better than this shot. When better is pretty bad, what does that say, huh?
I used Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra to capture the Featured Image. Vitals: f/4.9, ISO 50, 1/800 sec, 230mm (film equivalent); 5:05 p.m. Nicknamed for the partial name of the flowers, Sage likes to sunbathe most afternoons.
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.
At long last, we blast through the big backlog of unpublished kitties, starting with a tabby taken on Oct. 21, 2023, using Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. The shorthair appeared in a driveway along Meade about a block beyond the neighborhood boundary. Hence, the honorary designation.
This fine feline is also the thirty-fourth member of the esteemed group of honorarians, joining: AI, Boo, Buddies, Charmer, 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.
While walking with my wife, today, I saw a fairly large group of people overflowing the sidewalk at Florida and Monroe in my neighborhood of University Heights. Initially, I wondered if they gathered to protest, perhaps against Donald Trump or for Palestine—either or both likely given the mood across Liberal San Diego County. Recent group gatherings closed down one or more local highways during rush hour.
But as we approached, I could see no placards and heard loads of laughing. Then my eyes turned to someone bent over marking the street with chalk. He continued until out of sight. As Annie and I resumed, a look over my shoulder revealed the group moving away. Later, when we returned to our street, I continued in the direction they had taken.
What’s going on with the Featured Image? Well, as my wife and I walked by TapRoom Beer Company, something strange caught my attention. Inside, an art class appeared to be underway. Seriously. A bunch a folks gathered around at least one table, and they sketched and watercolored.
I turned back, pulled out Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, and stealthily snapped a fast photo, which would be rather meaningless without explanation. Hence the reason you are getting it. I wanted to capture more of the group but there wasn’t good way without being too obvious and coming off as an annoying Peeping Tom.
The U.S. Federal government is undergoing dramatic transformation, as President Donald Trump unleashes a nearly daily torrent of executive orders. Entire agencies are being gutted and/or face dissolution.
The poster child, so to speak, is U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which by statute delivers humanitarian aid across the globe. On Jan. 20, 2025, the Commander-in-Chief “implemented a 90-day freeze on foreign assistance“, while the organization’s future is being evaluated. Meanwhile, firings and other actions shake up FBI, Dept. Education, and other agencies.
While walking along Meade Avenue, on Jan. 20, 2025, I turned to see what was the movement behind a fence. A (possibly senior) cat sat grooming. I pulled out Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and put the 10x zoom capabilities to work.
Vitals, for the Featured Image: f/3.4, ISO 32, 1/800 sec, (synthetic) 230mm (digital and optical zoom); 1:49 p.m. PST. Real name: Mango Cat. I love it. We visited briefly, then off he departed.
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).
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.
