Hawaii

I'm in Hawaii this week for a photo shoot with one of my clients. The weather forecast for today was rain, but not so. Beautiful and very quiet day at the Fairmont Orchid. I spent a good chunk of my time trying out 3 different hammocks, all under palm trees. Nice.

Chris & Lisa

Lisa graduated from Park View . . Chris graduated from Broad Run . . and still they got married. The wedding took place at the Briar Patch outside Aldie. Here are a handful of images. To see some more, please check out the Wedding Sample Gallery on my website.

Tax Day

It's Tax Day, so of course I have to write something about it. For inspiration I turn to former Bill Clinton aide Paul Begala, who made this comment:

"Happy Patriots' Day. April 15 is the one day a year when our country asks something of us -- or at least the vast majority of us.

For those who wear a military uniform, those who serve the rest of us as policemen and firefighters and teachers and other public servants, every day is patriots' day. They work hard for our country; many risk their lives -- and some lose their lives.

But for the rest of us, the civilian majority, our government asks very little. Except for April 15. On this day, our government asks that we pay our fair share of taxes to keep our beloved country strong and safe."

I think it is a stretch to call April 15 Patriot's Day, but what bugs me most about this comment is the distinction Begala makes between public servants and "civilians". It has always bothered me when U.S. Senators speak about themselves as public servants who have made sacrifices in order to serve the public good: sacrifices like $170,000 annual incomes plus full retirement benefits after just one term in office, plus paid travel, honorariums, and lots of free meals. Begala however is talking here about people in the military, police, fire, and teachers. He is also talking about all the other civil servants employed by federal, state, and local governments. All of these government workers I am sure are honorable people who do good work. But let's be honest: the vast majority of these government employees are motivated more by a paycheck than they are by civic duty. Many of them love their job and the people they work with/for, so certainly you will find a teacher working beyond what is required, or a social worker checking in on a client on her own time. And certainly you will find people on the front line risking their lives every time they punch in on their time clock. But would they do this if they were not receiving a paycheck?

Government workers pay taxes, just like the rest of us. When you read Begala's statement you get the idea that they don't, that their sacrifice of being a civil servant is all their government asks of them. They pay with their time and personal sacrifice, while civilians pay through their fair share of taxes. But that is not the case. With this reasoning, government workers are essentially getting taxed twice, once for their sacrifice, the other by paying taxes.

There's another problem with Begala's statement though. Civil servants actually can get paid a pretty good salary, plus all kinds of great benefits. Certainly someone potentially could make more selling real estate than being a teacher, but then again, maybe not in this housing market. So a teacher potentially could be more secure in their job than a realtor. Or to put it another way, a person could make more being a teacher than they could managing a clothing store. We all make choices with our careers. Some choose careers that fall under a government paycheck, others choose careers where their paycheck comes from a private entity. ALL of these people make sacrifices to their work and to the people they work with and for. There are construction workers and coal miners and all kinds of workers not under the government umbrella who also risk their lives every day.

I mean absolutely no disrespect to any civil servant when I say this, but civilians are just as vital as their civil servant counterparts, if not more so, to the strength and security of our country. Civilians create jobs and wealth. Civilians steer our economic health, along with innovation and resources for non-profit organizations. In other words, Paul Begala, we are all in this together. Please don't set up some distinction between the "civil class" and the "private class", just like you have been trying to do between those who have and those who don't. We all sacrifice, we all give, we all take.

Digital Photography Can Sure Be Fun

One of the things I have really enjoyed with digital photography is being able to play around with photos after they have been captured. Both Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop are powerful tools for today's photographer. Personally I don't like manipulating my images too much. As much as possible I like to keep their original integrity. But there is still plenty of room in my mind to be creative, play with the colors, and alter the mood of the image. Here is one image from Jay and Jaime's April 4 wedding that demonstrates how one image can look different in five ways. My guess is that as you look at them your eye might be drawn to one particular style, while someone else might be drawn to another. I'm sure there is some psychological reason for that, maybe not.

Our Christian Nation

Whenever I read something profoundly right that someone else wrote, I like to pass that along to others. Monte Kuligowski writes today an article titled "Obama's Christian Nation" that I find spot on. Below is a portion, but please take a moment and read the entire article.

"Unfortunately, the country currently is irreconcilably divided and the division is not among traditional religions; but between leftwing non-traditionalists and traditionalists (predominately Christians, of course). Those, like Obama, who believe they can fundamentally transform America into a better place via their "smart policy," as Hillary would say, are the real problem and threat to American liberty. Every dictator, come to think of it, always believes he is smarter than his average countryman.

When a unifying faith dissipates, people often turn to believe in someone. And when a unifying faith in an external authority disappears, government necessarily becomes the highest authority. From there, well, you know what happens from there."

UPDATE: The more I think about it, the more disturbed I get about Obama's apparent lack of understanding about our nation's history. Kuligowski points out Obama's multiple use of the phrase "whatever we once were". Kuligowski makes this point:

"Obama's words, "Whatever we once were," seem to imply that what we once were is not important or perhaps that one cannot objectively determine what we once were. Either way, Obama's lack of basic understanding of American liberty is highlighted."

What exactly does Obama mean with this phrase? If I was speaking in the context of slavery and/or racism, and spoke in terms of "whatever we (as a nation) once were", wouldn't I be downplaying any role slavery or racism has played in our history? Likewise wouldn't I be questioning in a backhanded manner whether slavery or racism ever did exist in our country? Here Obama is using the phrase multiple times in the context of our Christian heritage as a nation. He seems to be implying two things: 1) I (Obama) don't have a clue what that heritage is; and 2) I (Obama) don't really care because it really does not matter with where I want to take this country. Obama has often said that words matter. If that is the case, would he please explain the phrase "whatever we once were"?

Obama and the Pirates

Good satire has a ring of truth to it. The following "remarks by the president" (actually from Jon of the Exurban League) is good satire:

"Since the pirates are still holding the captain, I have sent FBI negotiators to facilitate his safe and speedy release. I assure his friends and family that I will not stop until this man-made disaster is resolved in a peaceful, tolerant and ecologically-sound manner.

Obviously, this incident has raised many concerns among Americans. There have been calls for justice and even violence against the misguided perpetrators. But such an emotional reaction has led to the disparagement of entire groups with which we are unfamiliar. We have seen this throughout history.

For too long, America has been too dismissive of the proud culture and invaluable contributions of the Pirate Community. Whether it is their pioneering work with prosthetics, husbandry of tropical birds or fanciful fashion sense, America owes a deep debt to Pirates.

The past eight years have shown a failure to appreciate the historic role of these noble seafarers. Instead of celebrating their entreprenuerial spirit and seeking to partner with them to meet common challenges, there have been times where America has shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive.

Some of us wonder if our current Overseas Contingency Operation would even be needed had the last administration not been so quick to label Pirates as "thieves," "terrorists" and worse. Such swashbucklaphobia can lead to tragic results, as we have seen this week."

By the way, the latest news is that the pirates are seeking a $2 million ransom for the U.S. citizen they have captured. My understanding is that their little dingy is surrounded by one of our Navy ships. Maybe the U.S. should issue a statement that they are holding these pirates for ransom. Let's see what happens then.

Social Security

Here is something that should concern most everyone: the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that the Social Security trust fund will have a surplus next year of $3 billion. You might see the word "surplus" and think that is great, but just 12 months ago the CBO had projected that the surplus would be $86 billion. Now I suppose it is possible that a year from now they might be projecting the surplus at $50 billion, so maybe the news will get better, but then again, maybe not. Social Security has always been one of those guarantees from the federal government, brought into law by FDR in 1935 as part of the New Deal. Its solvency over the past 15-20 years has been a huge concern to the public, but something that politicians are afraid to touch in order to fix. George Bush tried, but got nowhere, mostly because Democrats refused to take any action. And so today, especially in an economic environment that is sour, the health of the social security system is questionable. Politicians will tell us not to worry because the federal government will stand behind the program, but the federal government can only stand behind that guarantee through raising taxes and fees on the general public.

That is Social Security. Now add a nationalized health system, an even larger federal education system, and some variation of a national energy program . . all operated by the same government that has brought us today's Social Security problems, and you have to wonder what the heck are we doing? Meanwhile add a federal banking system and a federal Car Max, and you have to wonder, again, what the heck are we doing? Why is the general public so willing to hand over all of this to any government? We have been told that Detroit was building cars that no American wanted . . that is why they are failing. Because auto makers have received federal bailout money, they now need to submit a plan telling the federal government how they, the auto makers, will change and become viable. Otherwise the federal government will send them to bankruptcy. Barack Obama even stepped in to fire the CEO of GM. So what is the federal government's plan to change Social Security, and to make it viable in the future? Have we seen that yet? Wouldn't it be a good idea for us to demand that from Washington, as well as their plan to streamline government, eliminate waste, cut programs that don't work, all before we allow them to mess up our medical system or our energy needs.

In all likelihood, if Obama gets his way, 30 years from now energy and health will be in the same position that Social Security is in now. It will need a much larger infusion of cash to operate than what anyone is currently projecting. Either even more taxation will need to be introduced, or fewer benefits and services will be offered in order to keep it afloat. And politicians will not want to touch it, just like they don't want to touch Social Security today. People seem to believe that Barack Obama will be different . . that he will save us . . that he will get it right. More likely, Barack Obama is just like most every other politician: promising the world . . initiating a ton of programs that will never go away . . spending a ton of money that does not belong to him . . all so he can someday have a legacy and some schools named after him. Where is the accountability? Why not start with keeping the government accountable for its own messes before attacking private concerns about their messes?

For Those Still Clinging To Global Warming

I remember while in high school I would go out on my own and pick up trash along the street. Nothing organized . . no fanfare . . no volunteer credits . . I just disliked litter. Same goes with the back parking lot at our school. It was constantly littered with broken glass. No school employees ever cleaned it up, and so I would go out on my own every few months with a push broom and a big trash can and clean it up in the early evening when the lot was empty. I say this to convey that i do care about the environment. I don't like to waste water or resources, mostly because I don't like to waste anything. I like clean water and a clean roadside and clean air. I would hope that would be true with most people, even environmentalists who are clinging to and scaring children about global warming. The thing is, I am just not convinced that whatever global warming is incurring is a problem. Climate changes, it always has and it always will, regardless of what we as humans think we can do to affect it. The thought that we are in the process of spending (wasting) billions of dollars to feel better about ourselves is crazy. Like I said, I hate to waste anything, including money. There is no question in my mind that there are a small number of people who will get very wealthy from this . . Al Gore being one of them. Below is a link to just one more small article that should make you wonder if all this global warming hype really is a bunch of nonsense.

Surprise! Trees Grow Bigger On CO2

Julian & Aila

Last week I took a few photos of my niece Kindra's two kids, Julian & Aila. Aila wasn't always smiley, but she still is sure cute. And Julian makes a great big brother.

Firing the GM President

When Barack Obama fired the GM President this past week, and when Barney Frank proposed regulating the pay for employees of any company receiving federal money via bailouts, and when AIG employees who received promised bonuses were castigated in the press, all of this was done in the name of accountability. The thinking was that these actions were done to protect the taxpayers investment. Federal funding (bailouts) after all ultimately comes from taxpayers. The federal government does not earn money . . they only spend (or appropriate) money that in essence they take from us the taxpayers. I'm not saying that taxes are evil or wrong. We all have our share to pay in order to pay for the constitutional duties of our government. There is a big problem though when our government decides to take on duties that go beyond its rightful place.

But back to my opening sentence. These actions by Obama and Frank should be a wake up call to every American who cares about their freedom. I was thinking this morning of all the organizations, schools, colleges, non-profits, and hospitals who receive federal funding through grants, tax breaks, and giveaways. What would now keep Obama or Frank from taking action on any one of these groups? What would keep Obama from firing a college president or the director of a non-profit organization for really whatever reason he could devise. A college or non-profit receives some federal funding to operate, so the federal government now has the right to make personnel decisions for that non-profit or that college or that hospital. Heck, Obama is now offering muffler warranties.

Of course this kind of control has always been part of the deal when you get in bed with the government, which is why some colleges (Grove City, Hillsdale, to name two) have refused to go down that road. They were unwilling to sacrifice their freedom. That cannot be said for the majority of institutions in our country. Today each one of them now knows that this administration believes it has the right and the power to come in to control any institution or any business it wants, as long as that institution or business is receiving federal funds. So why do you think Obama is pushing for these huge spending increases and for far more evasive involvement of the federal government in things like health care and energy and education? Control. Power. Being the Messiah is not enough for him. He must be Lord as well. It amazes me that the same people who believed George Bush was arrogant don't see the arrogance of this guy.