Longshot

What can I say……. A basketball hoop, cranked up to the roof.

Shinin' On

Grand Funk's hit "Shining On" made it's Top 40 debut today (7/20) back in 1974, on its way to #11. This song has an especially great intro, and really kicks. Much better than its more successful bookends, coming after "The Locomotion" (#1, 3/74) and "Some Kind Of Wonderful" (#3, 12/74).

The World Needs More Lerts

An oldie, back from the DC days, and the Dexter house. ….

Why Don't They Dump Them, People, To The Bottom Of The Sea

Lynyrd Skynyrd's gun control song "Saturday Night Special" made it's Top 40 debut today (7/19), back in 1975. This peaked at #27, not bad for the bad-boys of Southern Rock. I was (and am) a huge Skynyrd fan, but this is not one of my favorite songs of theirs....

Out Of Order

An abstract look at some child’s toys… This won POTD (Picture of the Day) over at PhotoShowdown.com today!!….

Oh Dear.....

I was driving through west Virgina a couple of months ago….. well, that’s a stretch. I was driving across I-70 a couple of months ago, including the 12 miles or so that cut across the WV panhandle. Anyway, I jumped off the highway in WV, for a gas-and-go, and decided to see what was down the hill…. Nothing except this deer, who was standing right by the side of the road, just hanging around. I was going probably 45 mph, with traffic behind me, snapped this out the window! Added some effects to offset the haphazard composition.

Silver Lake Lunch - VIDEO!!!

My First ever attempt to upload a VIDEO !!!! Click on the photo, or the word..... Let me know what y'all think!!

Ain't that what you said?

Three Dog Night's song "Liar" made it's Top 40 debut on this day (7/17) back in 1971. Three Dog Night dominated the early 70's, with 17 Top 40 hits between 3/1970 and 8/1975. Liar peaked at #7, one of 8 Top 10's.....

Parallel Lines

vertical binds and late afternoon sun….

Way Down

Elvis Presley's last single before he died, "Way Down" made it's debut on the Top 40 Pop Charts on this day (7/16) back in 1977. After he died (8/16/77), it went to #1 on the US and UK Country charts. It peaked at #18 on the Top 40. Not to speak ill of "The King", but it's not a very good gong IMHO, more of a 50's-60's sound. I don't remember even hearing this one in 1977.

Confluence #2

The confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, a few miles upriver from St. Louis. This is from the south shore of the Missouri, across to the point and the Mississippi. This is from the Columbia Bottomlands Conservation area.

Southgate

This is an oldie, from back in my college days. I’m pretty sure it was taken in the summer of 1981, but it might’ve been 1980 (it’s all a blur). Developed in the darkroom I would set up in my apartment bathroom (much to my roommate’s dismay!). One of those shots that I’ve always loved, but that tends to get the “gee……that’s nice” kind of response. I often have this great urge to explain it, but like a joke fallen flat, if you have to explain it, it didn’t work. Sigh.….

The Morning After....

I wrote this great post about Maureen McGovern's #1 hit "The Morning After", which made it's Top 40 debut 7/14/1973, with all sorts of great references to The Poseidon Adventure and such. And it seems to have gotten lost in the ether.... Grrrrrrrr.

You Don't Have To Be A Star, Baby.........

…. I'm speachless.

Tell Me, tell Me, Tell Me.......

Rufus (with Chaka Khan) had their biggest hit with "Tell Me Something Good" a funky little song that made it's Top 40 debut today (7/13) in 1974. This one made it to #3, and is the only one of Rufus's 8 Top 40's from the 70's that I remember.

Wildflower #3

Another flower shot, from the bike trail through SIUE. I believe this is Queen Anne’s lace, but I’m no horticulturalist! Haven’t been out much in the past few days, as we’ve been getting much needed rain!

Just Shoot Me #136.

Janis Ian’s weepy, whiney, one Top 40 hit made it’s debut today (7/12) back in 1975, as we were subjected to her song “At Seventeen”. Somehow this song made it all the way up to #3 despite being one of the most DEPRESSING songs to ever hit the pop charts. Come to think of it, isn’t there something ironic about a hugely popular song about being unpopular?

“To those of us who know the pain, Of valentines that never came, And those whose names were never called, When choosing sides for basketball… And dreams were all they gave for free, To ugly duckling girls like me”

I'm Just A Little Black Rain Cloud......

This was about the only cloud in the sky on the day I shot this, but it was kind enough to give us a spot of shade on a sweltering day. Meanwhile, right now we've had about 16 hours of steady rain, with another day's worth expected. Actually quite welcome in our too-dry region!

NEW! - PhotoShowdown Gallery

I recently started another online photo gallery, at PhotoShowdown.com. I've been posting over there for a few months, and have had a couple of POTD's. I decided to set up my gallery over there to include just my shots that have received some sort of on-line recognition. It's still in transition, a couple more to add, a few to delete...... But I thought I'd go on and add it to the links: L^2 Photoshowdown Gallery.
My BetterPhoto Gallery will still be the more active gallery, with all of my recent contest entries... THANKS for looking!!

What If You Knew Her, And Found Her Dead On The Ground??

Thirty Five years ago today (7/11/1970) Crosby Stills Nash & Young hit the charts with one of the most powerful protest songs of the day: "Ohio". Written about the Kent State "massacre" a mere 2 months earlier, this song really captures the rage and anguish of the early 70's. Of course, I was barely 10 years old that summer, and living in West Virginia, so I had no clue what was going on in the wider world, even as close as Ohio.....

Slightly Arching

Late in the afternoon, a bridge on the bike trail……. This is the kind of photo I really like, even if it’s rather…how shall we say it,….. “dull”?

Long Haired, Freaky People Need Not Apply.....

Five Man Electrical Band had their big hit 34 years ago (7/10/1971), as their song "Signs" made it's Top 40 debut. The band Tesla would have a hit remaking this in 1991, in one of the first "unplugged" recordings....

Backyard Birding

A male goldfinch, hanging out in the backyard….

The Church Has Left The Building!!

Our church's Youth Mission Trip has left for Eastern Tennessee, for a week of mission work. 14 of our youth, and 4 adults, headed for the hills Saturday afternoon. Including my wife, and both daughters!

The Tennessee mission trip is part of our Summer Of Service. Here's my younger daughter, laying in the grass, waiting for departure time.

Miner Park Slide

My son on one of the slides at Glen Carbon's Miner Park.

Tomorrow I Might Go As far As Suicide.......

Just a song lyric, folks, don't get worked up!! Atlanta Rhythm Section's "I'm Not Gonna Let It Bother Me Tonight" hit the charts today (7/8) back in 1978. This was the second chart single from the "Champaign Jam" album, and peaked at #14. I prefer the earlier ARS music, especially the underappreciated (and not available on CD) "Dog Days".....

American Bellflower

aka Campanula Americana. Another shot from Wednesday evening’s walk with my son. I know nothing about flower names, but came up with this one with some suggestions from some friends at a Photo group, and Google’s image search!!

Pretty Women Out Walking With Gorillas Down My Street.....

Joe Jackson's first album, "Look Sharp" remains one of my favorite records, 25+ years after it's release. I was just listening to it during my commute yesterday! While decidedly non-commercial, it did spawn a pop hit, "Is She Really Going Out With Him", which made it's Top 40 debut today (7/9) back in 1979. This made it all the way up to 21 on the pop charts. I still have by special edition of this ablum, which came on 2 x 10" dics. Sadly, the little "Look Sharp" button that came with it is AWOL......

Power Line in Silhouette

Taken along the bike trail that runs through Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville (SIUE), simply named "The Nature Trail". Last night, a bit abfter 7pm, on an after dinner hike w/ my 5 year old son... Nikon D70

Old Brother Willie's Getting Soaking Wet.....

Wet Willie's hit "Keep On Smilin'" made it's chart debut today (7/6) back in 1974. This on epeaked at #10, and was Wet Willie's biggest hit of the 70's. I saw these guys in the late '70s, as a warm up band, and they were really great! Definite, feel-good, footstomping music!

Stars and Stripe Forever!

“Old Glory”, hanging from the rafters at the local university’s gym.….

Happy Birthday Robbie Robertson!

Robbie Robertson was born on this day (7/5) in 1944. RR starts life in Toronto, Canada. Robertson was the cheif songwriter, and lead guitarist, for the The Band, one of my favorite 70's groups.

Practical Radio

An "internal" shot from one of my grandfather’s engineering books, about Marconi's invention. Dated October 10th, 1928.... Of course, we now credit Nikola Tesla with having inventing modern radio. the Supreme Court overturned Marconi's patent in 1943 in favor of Tesla.

Happy Independence Day!….

Nature's Peace

Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.….J. Muir. Thanks to Lauren for the quote!! Nikon D70

I Can't Complain But Sometimes I Still Do.......

Joe Walsh's hit "Life's Been Good" hit the charts today (7/1) in 1978. it would peak at #12, bettering Joe's other 70's hit "Rocky Mountain Way" by a chunk. Ah, the summer of '78 - the summer between my High School graduation and the start of college. My older daughter's in the same position this summer. Life's been good to me so far..........

Lone Tree

A little bit of digital manipulation….