Who Really Needed The Dough?
A Florida pizza delivery man who was challenged by armed robbers in the city of Miramar got in first with his own weapon - a large pepperoni pizza. The man flung the piping hot pizza at the gunman, then made a safe getaway, despite one shot being fired as he fled.
FOOTNOTE: Hot shot.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Verse And Worse
Random Wit, Errant Rhyme. Not A Literary Crime
There's none so handsome, with features so craggy
As Farmer Transom, from faroff Wonthaggi
He can milk the cows and shear the sheep
And drive a tractor, all in his sleep
As Farmer Transom, from faroff Wonthaggi
He can milk the cows and shear the sheep
And drive a tractor, all in his sleep
I'm Dreaming Of A Wide Christmas
A Frank Incense Interpretation Of An Ancient Tale
Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON
Today I thought I’d try and find three unusual, out-of-the-ordinary objects to depict the gold, frankincense and myrrh that were presented to the infant Jesus by the three wise men.
The first shot (above) is a decorative, gold-painted flange on the ticket booth of an open-air carousel in Southbank, Melbourne, but the other two were always going to be harder to track down.
This small hand-crafted container (below) was given to us by a very close friend some years ago. I thought it would easily represent something in which the Magi might have presented frankincense after carrying it on their long journey.
Finally, I mulled over several options for myrrh before settling on this final set of trinkets (below) that are so distinctive because of the multi-coloured stones that give it such an ancient appearance.
And this would be the most suitable place to confess that I must have had a wacky sense of humour even when I was in primary school. I still vividly remember a Christmas card that was sent to me specifically, instead of being addressed to the whole family as usual.
It showed the three wise men bowing reverently in front of the crib. Two wise men are looking in horror at their companion and shaking their heads, saying, "No, no, we said frankincense".
The third wise man has a rope tethered to Frankenstein.
Visit TNChick, creator of Photo Hunt. Today's theme: "Wide".
Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON
Today I thought I’d try and find three unusual, out-of-the-ordinary objects to depict the gold, frankincense and myrrh that were presented to the infant Jesus by the three wise men.
The first shot (above) is a decorative, gold-painted flange on the ticket booth of an open-air carousel in Southbank, Melbourne, but the other two were always going to be harder to track down.
This small hand-crafted container (below) was given to us by a very close friend some years ago. I thought it would easily represent something in which the Magi might have presented frankincense after carrying it on their long journey.
Finally, I mulled over several options for myrrh before settling on this final set of trinkets (below) that are so distinctive because of the multi-coloured stones that give it such an ancient appearance.
And this would be the most suitable place to confess that I must have had a wacky sense of humour even when I was in primary school. I still vividly remember a Christmas card that was sent to me specifically, instead of being addressed to the whole family as usual.
It showed the three wise men bowing reverently in front of the crib. Two wise men are looking in horror at their companion and shaking their heads, saying, "No, no, we said frankincense".
The third wise man has a rope tethered to Frankenstein.
Visit TNChick, creator of Photo Hunt. Today's theme: "Wide".
The Best Seat In The House
Just eBuy It on eBay
A West Yorkshire grandmother has sold the best seat in front of her TV on eBay for Christmas - to avoid family rows. With 25 guests expected to descend on her house on Boxing Day, she decided to place the seat on auction – and she has even offered to throw in a free cushion for those with aching backs.
FOOTNOTE: Nook and granny.
A West Yorkshire grandmother has sold the best seat in front of her TV on eBay for Christmas - to avoid family rows. With 25 guests expected to descend on her house on Boxing Day, she decided to place the seat on auction – and she has even offered to throw in a free cushion for those with aching backs.
FOOTNOTE: Nook and granny.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Post Of The Day
Today's winners are My Jacket with Of Young Men And Heroes and Incurable Insomniac with The Pier. The other top contenders were San Merideth with Christmas Wishes; Jo Beaufoix with An Audience With Miss E And Miss M; Life In Shades Of F-Major with Boys’ Choir Of Harlem; Tattie Weasle with Wishful Thinking; Klaus with Osprey; The Bush Babies with Unsettling Moment At the School Gate; Mountainear with Time To Talk; Calico Kate with Decadent Ironing; Jamie Dawn with To Risk Or Not To Risk and My Two Cents with Car Retard. Do pay them a visit and leave a comment if you have time.You can nominate a post too. Just leave a comment here with the URL or link - and tell us the name of the blogger you are nominating. Righty-o, then, it's over to you ....
Figures Of Speech
Maybe There Were Singing Carols
Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON
This shot was taken in a store in Port Carling, Muskoka, when I was in northern Ontario at the invitation of the Canadian Tourism Commission three years ago. It was late September, but the Christmas decorations were in store windows throughout the state.
I asked permission to use my camera to shoot this window display and I was using a Canon EOS 3000, a film camera, at the time. It was a few months before I bought my Pentax K100D and in retrospect, I think I would have got a better result if I'd been shooting with a digital camera.
Why? Simply because I would have reviewed the shot on the LCD screen (which is not possible on a film camera) and tinkered with the settings if I wasn't happy with the result.
Yes, it was a challenging shot to take, because the window was in shadow, while the cars outside, on the main street, were in bright sunlight. I still like the shot, because it is a cross between inside-looking-out and outside-looking-in. It takes a few seconds to work out which aspect is which.
In the first version (above), I guess you have to look closely to ascertain that the silhouettes are not real people. In the second version (below) it is patently obvious that the figures are scale models. But that's the joy of a real photographic challenge. If the light isn't quite what you expect, use it to your advantage, by thinking about a change of composition.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON
This shot was taken in a store in Port Carling, Muskoka, when I was in northern Ontario at the invitation of the Canadian Tourism Commission three years ago. It was late September, but the Christmas decorations were in store windows throughout the state.
I asked permission to use my camera to shoot this window display and I was using a Canon EOS 3000, a film camera, at the time. It was a few months before I bought my Pentax K100D and in retrospect, I think I would have got a better result if I'd been shooting with a digital camera.
Why? Simply because I would have reviewed the shot on the LCD screen (which is not possible on a film camera) and tinkered with the settings if I wasn't happy with the result.
Yes, it was a challenging shot to take, because the window was in shadow, while the cars outside, on the main street, were in bright sunlight. I still like the shot, because it is a cross between inside-looking-out and outside-looking-in. It takes a few seconds to work out which aspect is which.
In the first version (above), I guess you have to look closely to ascertain that the silhouettes are not real people. In the second version (below) it is patently obvious that the figures are scale models. But that's the joy of a real photographic challenge. If the light isn't quite what you expect, use it to your advantage, by thinking about a change of composition.
Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.
Verse And Worse
Random Wit, Errant Rhyme. Not A Literary Crime
You say that you have to adorn my cranium
With a rose, a gerbera and a geranium
But I'll give it a miss, my dear Grandma Wollen
The real problem is, I'm allergic to pollen
With a rose, a gerbera and a geranium
But I'll give it a miss, my dear Grandma Wollen
The real problem is, I'm allergic to pollen
Star Quality
Aussies Never Give You A Frosty Reception
Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON
There’s nothing quite like a blue sky to provide a great contrast for strong colours framed by your lens. This image shows you a major Melbourne landmark - the recently refurbished spire of St Paul's Cathedral. I chose this composition very deliberately, to use the yellow and green of Melbourne’s giant Christmas tree as a contrast to the sandstone of the steeple as well as the clear blue of the sky.
When I first shot the giant Christmas tree in our city square for the post Star Gazing, the sky was grey and moody. Then a few days ago, it was a beautiful blue Melbourne sky and I realised I should utilise my lunchtime to go back and shoot the tree again – to show you an incongruous meeting of worlds.
Why is it incongruous? Because the rest of the world celebrates Christmas in winter, while it’s summer here Down Under. So, something that is an everyday sight for me is something of a novelty for you. Hence the incongruity – a classic Yuletide symbol, the tree, photographed against the vivid blue of an Australian summer sky.
Christmas trees are supposed to be photographed under a sky laden with snow clouds. They are supposed to have a hoar frost upon their branches. When you choose your tree, you should be well clad and your feet should be suitably shod to negotiate frozen lakes and snowy hills.
Right? Not in Australia, mate. It's the height of summer here, as you can see from the clear blue sky in this series of shots.
And while I stood there in the city square, pondering the problem of how best to present the tree in a true Australian context, I had a classic D’oh moment.
There, to the left of the Christmas tree (see above) was one of the most natural symbols of this country with its topsy-turvy seasons – a slender gum tree. So there are two trees in this shot, a real gum tree beside the manmade metal Christmas tree covered with huge metal baubles and stars of many colours.
Because it was just after midday, the sun was practically right above me, which led to an interesting situation. As I squinted into the sun, I realised the nearby roof line could make a really arresting silhouette if I framed the shot correctly. And if I really contorted myself to work the angles, I could even get in the glare from the sun as well. Seriously, we’re talking real contortion here.
On the basis of my noble performance, I thought at any moment someone would tap me on my shoulder and offer me a job at Barnum & Bailey’s circus.
These shots were all taken in the space of about three or four minutes, but this frame shows a solitary cloud assuming something approximately like a stylised heart shape. To tell you the truth, I was concentrating so hard on the best possible composition that I didn’t notice the shape of the cloud. All I wanted to do was make sure the cloud was slap-bang in the centre of the frame. It was only much later, when I was reviewing the shots, that I paid attention to its shape.
I guess it’s very apt. Christmas is really a season of the heart.
For other participants in Dot’s concept, go to Sky Watch HQ.
Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON
There’s nothing quite like a blue sky to provide a great contrast for strong colours framed by your lens. This image shows you a major Melbourne landmark - the recently refurbished spire of St Paul's Cathedral. I chose this composition very deliberately, to use the yellow and green of Melbourne’s giant Christmas tree as a contrast to the sandstone of the steeple as well as the clear blue of the sky.
When I first shot the giant Christmas tree in our city square for the post Star Gazing, the sky was grey and moody. Then a few days ago, it was a beautiful blue Melbourne sky and I realised I should utilise my lunchtime to go back and shoot the tree again – to show you an incongruous meeting of worlds.
Why is it incongruous? Because the rest of the world celebrates Christmas in winter, while it’s summer here Down Under. So, something that is an everyday sight for me is something of a novelty for you. Hence the incongruity – a classic Yuletide symbol, the tree, photographed against the vivid blue of an Australian summer sky.
Christmas trees are supposed to be photographed under a sky laden with snow clouds. They are supposed to have a hoar frost upon their branches. When you choose your tree, you should be well clad and your feet should be suitably shod to negotiate frozen lakes and snowy hills.
Right? Not in Australia, mate. It's the height of summer here, as you can see from the clear blue sky in this series of shots.
And while I stood there in the city square, pondering the problem of how best to present the tree in a true Australian context, I had a classic D’oh moment.
There, to the left of the Christmas tree (see above) was one of the most natural symbols of this country with its topsy-turvy seasons – a slender gum tree. So there are two trees in this shot, a real gum tree beside the manmade metal Christmas tree covered with huge metal baubles and stars of many colours.
Because it was just after midday, the sun was practically right above me, which led to an interesting situation. As I squinted into the sun, I realised the nearby roof line could make a really arresting silhouette if I framed the shot correctly. And if I really contorted myself to work the angles, I could even get in the glare from the sun as well. Seriously, we’re talking real contortion here.
On the basis of my noble performance, I thought at any moment someone would tap me on my shoulder and offer me a job at Barnum & Bailey’s circus.
These shots were all taken in the space of about three or four minutes, but this frame shows a solitary cloud assuming something approximately like a stylised heart shape. To tell you the truth, I was concentrating so hard on the best possible composition that I didn’t notice the shape of the cloud. All I wanted to do was make sure the cloud was slap-bang in the centre of the frame. It was only much later, when I was reviewing the shots, that I paid attention to its shape.
I guess it’s very apt. Christmas is really a season of the heart.
For other participants in Dot’s concept, go to Sky Watch HQ.
One Fell Swoop
Them’s Not Loggers, Officer, Them’s Beavers
Green campaigners in Poland called in police after discovering an illegal logging site in a nature reserve - only to find it was the work of beavers. Environmentalists found 20 neatly stacked tree trunks and others marked for felling with notches at Subkowy in the country’s north. But police followed a trail left where one tree had been dragged away - and found a beaver dam right in the middle of the river.
FOOTNOTE: Dam nuisance.
Green campaigners in Poland called in police after discovering an illegal logging site in a nature reserve - only to find it was the work of beavers. Environmentalists found 20 neatly stacked tree trunks and others marked for felling with notches at Subkowy in the country’s north. But police followed a trail left where one tree had been dragged away - and found a beaver dam right in the middle of the river.
FOOTNOTE: Dam nuisance.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Post Of The Day
Today's joint winners are Shrinky with Christmas Carol; Robin with Three Weeks and Merisi with All That Glitters. The other top contenders were The Diary of Pienovski with Finally I see The Desert; Ladybird World Mother with School Play; Fishing Guy with A Cloud Of Blackbirds; Hot Chocolate Caramel Mocha with Not So Even Exchange; Artspark Theatre with Old Pirate At Carnivale; Rune with ABC Wednesday; Jeff B with Portrait Of Words; Maggie May with Beginner’s Luck; BJ Roan with Mr Muldoon Goes To Vegas; My Five Men with Saint Nicholas and Sandwiched Genes with Crossover Strategies. Do pay them a visit and leave a comment if you have time.You can nominate a post too. Just leave a comment here with the URL or link - and tell us the name of the blogger you are nominating. Righty-o, then, it's over to you ....
Verse And Worse
Random Wit, Errant Rhyme. Not A Literary Crime
Alas, poor Yorick, he’s quite historic
But please forgive us if we sound euphoric
Shakespeare spoke of his "excellent fancy"
But wait till you meet his half-sister Nancy
But please forgive us if we sound euphoric
Shakespeare spoke of his "excellent fancy"
But wait till you meet his half-sister Nancy
We Wish You A Bonsai Christmas
Did This Grow On The Bridge Of Size?
Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON
Why do I always carry a camera with me? Because no one knows how many photo opportunities lurk just around the corner.
An overseas reader of this blog once exclaimed that only I would be carrying a camera when confronted by someone dressed as a giant prawn – after I took the shot and published it on my blog.
So when I noticed this bonsai plant in the kitchen area at work, I had to rub my eyes to make sure what adorned it. Yes, there was a solitary burgundy bauble on it. I press-ganged a friend into guarding it while I sprinted back to my desk for my camera – just in case the owner returned to claim it before I got back.
I’ve seen Christmas trees of all shapes and sizes, but I’ve never seen one like this before. The shape, the colour, the contrast, the reflection – everything was just right.
Bonsai? Hmmm, maybe the concept is growing on me.
Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHONWhy do I always carry a camera with me? Because no one knows how many photo opportunities lurk just around the corner.
An overseas reader of this blog once exclaimed that only I would be carrying a camera when confronted by someone dressed as a giant prawn – after I took the shot and published it on my blog.
So when I noticed this bonsai plant in the kitchen area at work, I had to rub my eyes to make sure what adorned it. Yes, there was a solitary burgundy bauble on it. I press-ganged a friend into guarding it while I sprinted back to my desk for my camera – just in case the owner returned to claim it before I got back.
I’ve seen Christmas trees of all shapes and sizes, but I’ve never seen one like this before. The shape, the colour, the contrast, the reflection – everything was just right.
Bonsai? Hmmm, maybe the concept is growing on me.
Mice Space
A Chat-And-Mouse Situation
A British fireman refused to work a shift at Waltham Abbey fire station after finding two mice in the kitchen. The station was closed for 90 minutes but the man was later sent back to continue his shift. There were no reported emergencies during the unexpected scare.
FOOTNOTE: Scare package.
A British fireman refused to work a shift at Waltham Abbey fire station after finding two mice in the kitchen. The station was closed for 90 minutes but the man was later sent back to continue his shift. There were no reported emergencies during the unexpected scare.
FOOTNOTE: Scare package.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Post Of The Day
Today's joint winners are Woman In A Window with Christmas Tree Caper and Klaus with My World Tuesday. The other top contenders were Sandi McBride with And It All Began With A Party Line; Sandy Carlson with Close To Frozen; Nessa with Gone Fishing; Quilly with The Christmas Gift Exchange; Mar with Here’s Looking At You; Leslie with Coming Up For Air; Supabloggasuprememama with Tail Spin; An Aerial Armadillo with White Rabbit Dilemma; Off Her Cork with Crack Your Own; Daryl with Storm King Wall. Do pay them a visit and leave a comment if you have time.You can nominate a post too. Just leave a comment here with the URL or link - and tell us the name of the blogger you are nominating. Righty-o, then, it's over to you ....
Verse And Worse
Random Wit, Errant Rhyme. Not A Literary Crime
Said firm-jawed Mary to the cassowary
"Can you fly this fairy to the closest dairy?"
"I cannot fly," said the bird, crestfallen
"But my, oh my, you should hear me callin’!"
"Can you fly this fairy to the closest dairy?"
"I cannot fly," said the bird, crestfallen
"But my, oh my, you should hear me callin’!"
V Is For Velocity
Whatever Happened To Service With A Smile?
Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON
I always obey highway speed limits. Always. But let me tell you about the time I was once clocked at 147 km per hour. Yes, that's right. At 147 km an hour. That's 91 miles per hour.
But I wasn't driving.
I was serving - a tennis serve.
You see, it was during the Australian Open tennis fortnight some years ago. While I checked out the tents that fringed the playing arena, my attention was drawn to one zone where any member of the public could rock up to have the speed of their service measured by the same mechanism that functions courtside for the stars.
From memory, you just paid a couple of dollars and you got three serves – and the pleasure of seeing your speed recorded on a huge digital screen.
Just the sort of callenge I love - and yes, I love a challenge or three.
I leant how to play tennis by hitting against the garage wall when I was a little fella. I went to Wimbledon from 1981 to 1987. Okay, so it was not in the role of competitor - I went there as a tennis writer, covering the tournament that I dreamed about as kid.
I've even got a couple of tennis trophies to my name. So I'm not just a mug player with two left feet. I can actually play. But allow me to get back to the story, instead of meandering.
It was a long line. It was a hot day. I didn’t have much time before play got under way at Centre Court. But as a clay courter with a decent serve and a (slightly) erratic baseline game, I just couldn’t resist the lure of a finite figure. So I stood there in the queue that didn’t really seem to be moving.
I was a bit self-conscious for the first serve. Pressure, y’know. All those people watching. Okay, so there were a couple of hundred spectators. I couldn’t believe my eyes when the digital screen flashed 142. That slow?
The second time around, the ball toss wasn’t perfect. I should have caught it and tried again. But equal measures of pride and stubbornness fuelled my attempt to make amends. Hmmmm. 135. Not good.
I really concentrated on the final serve. Racquet head steady. Knees flexed. Clean toss. Rotate at the hip. Wham. Surely that was up around the 170 mark. But it was only 147.
Dang speed cameras. Never work correctly when you want them to. Not happy when they say you're too fast. Even more disgruntled when they say you're too slow.
For the home of ABC Wednesday, go to Mrs Nesbitt's Place.
Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON
I always obey highway speed limits. Always. But let me tell you about the time I was once clocked at 147 km per hour. Yes, that's right. At 147 km an hour. That's 91 miles per hour.
But I wasn't driving.
I was serving - a tennis serve.
You see, it was during the Australian Open tennis fortnight some years ago. While I checked out the tents that fringed the playing arena, my attention was drawn to one zone where any member of the public could rock up to have the speed of their service measured by the same mechanism that functions courtside for the stars.
From memory, you just paid a couple of dollars and you got three serves – and the pleasure of seeing your speed recorded on a huge digital screen.
Just the sort of callenge I love - and yes, I love a challenge or three.
I leant how to play tennis by hitting against the garage wall when I was a little fella. I went to Wimbledon from 1981 to 1987. Okay, so it was not in the role of competitor - I went there as a tennis writer, covering the tournament that I dreamed about as kid.
I've even got a couple of tennis trophies to my name. So I'm not just a mug player with two left feet. I can actually play. But allow me to get back to the story, instead of meandering.
It was a long line. It was a hot day. I didn’t have much time before play got under way at Centre Court. But as a clay courter with a decent serve and a (slightly) erratic baseline game, I just couldn’t resist the lure of a finite figure. So I stood there in the queue that didn’t really seem to be moving.
I was a bit self-conscious for the first serve. Pressure, y’know. All those people watching. Okay, so there were a couple of hundred spectators. I couldn’t believe my eyes when the digital screen flashed 142. That slow?
The second time around, the ball toss wasn’t perfect. I should have caught it and tried again. But equal measures of pride and stubbornness fuelled my attempt to make amends. Hmmmm. 135. Not good.
I really concentrated on the final serve. Racquet head steady. Knees flexed. Clean toss. Rotate at the hip. Wham. Surely that was up around the 170 mark. But it was only 147.
Dang speed cameras. Never work correctly when you want them to. Not happy when they say you're too fast. Even more disgruntled when they say you're too slow.
For the home of ABC Wednesday, go to Mrs Nesbitt's Place.
I Think, Therefore I Yam
Wasn't That What Rene Descartes Said?
Open-air vegetable market, Park Circus, Calcutta. October 2006.
Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON
Open-air vegetable market, Park Circus, Calcutta. October 2006.Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON
The Die Is Cast
Surviving A Life And Death Situation
A Romanian man has won a year-long fight to persuade the courts that he isn't dead. Gheroghe Stirbu, from Timisoara, tried to renew his identity card but civil servants had mixed him up with another man who was deceased. Judges renewed his status - and then charged him £500 in court costs.
FOOTNOTE: Life’s sentence.
A Romanian man has won a year-long fight to persuade the courts that he isn't dead. Gheroghe Stirbu, from Timisoara, tried to renew his identity card but civil servants had mixed him up with another man who was deceased. Judges renewed his status - and then charged him £500 in court costs.
FOOTNOTE: Life’s sentence.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Post Of The Day
Today's winner is The Big Piece Of Cake with The Christmas Tree Nazi. The other top contenders were Shrinky with Shuffling Off; Suldog with Suldog's Home For Abused Fruitcakes; Casdok with Wasn't Prepared; Arija with More Southern Sun; Digital Flower Pictures with Shell Pink; The Pagan's Eye with Shadow Shot; Mojo with Old Friends; Indigo Blue with I Love NY; Celebration Of Life with No Laughing Matter; The Weaver of Grass with Finding Links With The Past; Jedediah with Camera Critters and Wiregrass Musings with My Obsession. Do pay them a visit and leave a comment if you have time.You can nominate a post too. Just leave a comment here with the URL or link - and tell us the name of the blogger you are nominating. Righty-o, then, it's over to you ....
Verse And Worse
Random Wit, Errant Rhyme. Not A Literary Crime
You have to admire the work of Degas
He wasn’t a Viking like Dik Browne’s Hagar
He was master of sculpture and he captured ballet
He was never crowned monarch in Paris or Calais
He wasn’t a Viking like Dik Browne’s Hagar
He was master of sculpture and he captured ballet
He was never crowned monarch in Paris or Calais
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