Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame?

 So...  the RRHOF announced its list of nominees for 2026 induction:

  • The Black Crowes
  • Jeff Buckley
  • Mariah Carey
  • Phil Collins
  • Melissa Etheridge
  • Lauryn Hill
  • Billy Idol
  • INXS
  • Iron Maiden
  • Joy Division/New Order
  • New Edition
  • Oasis
  • P!NK
  • Sade
  • Shakira
  • Luther Vandross
  • Wu-Tang Clan.
Heavy sigh.  

Over these 17 artists/bands, I own exactly 1 album (Black Crowes - Shake Your Money Maker).  There's not a single one of these names that would come close to being deserving, in my (humble) opinion.  Maybe Phil Collins, as a very successful pop singer (with rock roots).

Oh well, I'm getting used to being disappointed, guess I'm getting old.

Meanwhile here's a few artists/bands that I think are deserving:
  • Bue Oyster Cult
  • Boston
  • Emerson Lake and Palmer
  • Jethro Tull
  • Kansas
  • The Monkees
  • Stephen Stills (solo)
Now, get off my lawn!

A Good Start - January 2026

 As regular readers (hopefully) know, I've spent several years doing a "Good Crop" project; where I select 12 of my best/favorite photos from the previous year.  I've done this for a while, and there are several examples here.  A few months ago, I started doing photo-essays of those "Good Crops", check out the playlist on YouTube

So here's 10 photos culled from my January 2026 photos.  These will (most likely) go into the 1st cut for the 2026 "Good Crop", What're your favorites?

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Monday, February 23, 2026

Floored

Recently, we had to run to the local laundromat to wash some king-sized bed-pads.  Which meant hanging around for a while.  Which ended up with me taking photos or worn floor tiles.  Sometimes it  



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Friday, February 20, 2026

Ch Ch Ch Chuzhao

 Just a few more photos from the Chuzhao "toy" camera.  It is a fun aside from my other photos.  Just a point and click, no settings for aperture, shutter speed, ISO, anything,  No super sharpness, nothing fancy. I tend to be more observational in my photos with it...  at least I think so.


So what do you think?



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Thursday, February 19, 2026

(Still) Waiting for Spring

A bit of a warm spell recently, 60 degrees today...  I managed a short walk before rain rolled in (and afternoon commitments).  These are all from Shon Park / Green Space North.  I especially like the first one.  What you y'all think?


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Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Shadows


 

From a few days ago, taken at Drost Park.  Shadow on the frozen lake.



Monday, February 16, 2026

Waiting for Spring, A Ways To Go...


 Wandering around Highland, IL, and decided to check out Lindendale Park.  Turns out there's not a lot there except for the county fairgrounds.  But I managed a about 1.25 miles, so that's something.  This area is actually camper parking, I presume for the fair.  But it was all deserted, and this mostly frozen creek.


I feel like this photo captures the mood of the day.


Meanwhile, there was this funky concrete something down along the creek (behind me in the above photo).  Probably 10 feet tall, with no discernable purpose.  Except to inspire a funky photo!



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Saturday, February 14, 2026

Snow Day

 Another from the Chuzhao "toy" camera.  This ais actually from a couple of weeks ago, during our big snowstorm.  It took me a while to download, process (minimally) and post.






Wednesday, February 11, 2026

February Haiku

 I asked Chat GPT to create a Haiku based on my photo.  Here's my favorite from the suggestions.  I wish I was creative enough to write my own.  Anybody else want to take a crack, post in comments!


Peeling bark in light,

the tree loosens its old skin

without moving on


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Tuesday, February 10, 2026

More Chuzhao

 I took the "Toy" camera on my walk today, here's a few photos from Miner Park:


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Monday, February 09, 2026

The Blue Owl

 I posted yesterday about our recent trip to Kimmswick, MO, and mentioned a goal of the excursion was to eat at a restaurant we'd been recommended.  But I then redirected to photos from Kimmswick.


So, here's the restaurant:  The Blue Owl.

This was a great find.  Really good food, really nice people, excellent desserts!  Highly recommended, we'll need to go back!  I had the Smoked Turky Melt sandwich, wife had Quiche and their "famous" White Chili. 

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I had to sneak in an "artsy" photo...
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Desserts!
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Sunday, February 08, 2026

Kimmswick, MO

 Our temperatures have finally gotten about freezing for a few days, and Friday actually made it into the 50s!  So we decided to take a short road trip to Kimmswick, MO, and have a late lunch at a restaurant we'd been recommended.  And snagged the first decent photos I've taken this February:

Looking down the Mississippi River from the landing at Kimmswick.  The river was pretty low, but I think it was pretty typical for this time of year.
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Star Anchor supporting one of the buildings, The Barber Haus, originally 1872.
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Just the kind of thing I notice...
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Train bridge over Rock Creek (still frozen).  With the Mississippi River just visable
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Keystone Bridge Company, from 1874. The oldest known wrought iron span in Missouri. Originally placed across the River des Peres at Ivory Avenue. It remained there until 1928 when it was replaced by a new bridge. The bridge was moved to Kimmswick and put in place in 1930. The bridge is only open to pedestrian traffic and is located at the intersection of Mill Street and Front Street.
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Sunday, February 01, 2026

Eagle Watching, Sans Eagles

We go Eagle watching pretty much every year, at least.  Last Friday we went out for the first time this winter.  Just a quick run up the Great River Road from Alton to Grafton and Pere Marquette State Park.  Then back, with a lunch stop in Grafton, and a pass through Audubon Center at Riverlands.

We only saw 1 eagle, and not in a manner to grab a photo. But that's ok. Good company, nice meal at Grafton Winery & Brewhaus. And a few photos (but no Eagles).


Here's a few photos:














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Edges and Decisions - New video

 I've posted a new photo-essay video on Youtube, Edges and Decisions.  Check it out, leave a comment (here, or there!).

This is a follow-up to my "A Good Crop 2025", which was posted 1/1/26.  As I was struggling to cull my 2025 down to just 12 photos, I realized that there were 2 different 



From the video:  

"These photographs trace a quiet architecture of seeing. Each image offers a small negotiation with the world, transforming shifting scenes into something deliberate. 

Collected, they reveal a practice built on the belief that clarity is something made, not merely found."


You can check out all my videos at LSqrd1960.




Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Alton, IL

 A followup to the previous post on analog photos...


Here's "proof" that the drive through photo is from Alton IL:


My photo









And Streetview








Nailed it!  The wide angle street view spreads it all out, but you can see it is the same spot.