ACC-112: 47 Commando - There is no reason

Over at 365project, Album Cover Challenge #112 is just about closed.  I just got an entry in, almost missed it with the holiday business.  Meanwhile, it doesn't look like I ever posted my entry for ACC-111...  I suppose I ought to, or you can just click through and see it on 365project.

Anyway, here's my entry for ACC112.

Explanation of the game here:  Album Cover Challenge, round 112.


My random band name is:  47 Commando. 
"47 Commando (Raiding Group) Royal Marines, formerly 1 Assault Group Royal Marines (2001-2019), provides the Royal Marines expertise and training in small boat operations, both amphibious and riverine. In addition, it trains and parents the Assault Squadrons of the Royal Marines (ASRM) and their landing craft detachments.[1] It is based at RM Tamar in HMNB Devonport, Plymouth."


My album name is from a John Cage quote: The first question I ask myself when something doesn't seem to be beautiful is why do I think it's not beautiful. And very shortly you discover that there is no reason."

This is a older photo, just something I dug up on my hard drive that seemed to fit the title.  I think I was a little inspired by the album cover from Rusty Young's recent album.  Operative word being little.



Check out all of my album cover challenge entries here.

Happenstance Photography - Top Images of 2018

Time for something a little different.  I was looking back over the past few years at my Happenstance Photography blog, and decided to see what my Top viewed photos have been year by year.  Pretty easy, I just copy-pasted from the stats page to Excel, and sorted by views.  I'll go with the Top 5, + ties.

So, to continue, here are the most popular posts from 2018, sorted by most view to least.

- - - - -

Deer Plain

- - - - -

Quiet Moment

- - - - -

Randomness #9415

- - - - -

Private Entrance

- - - - -

Stumped

- - - - -

There you have it.  Not necessarily my favorites (but could be!), nor my "best"...  just most popular.  Check back in 2 weeks for 2019!

Birding

Today was one of my "off" Fridays, so I ran up to Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, in West Alton.  I managed a few photos...

Pretty sure this is a pair of Trumpeter Swans.  Well, I'm quite sure it is a pair, pretty sure it is Trumpeter Swans.  My phone Ap says some sort of swan, some internet digging suggests Trumpeter rather than Tundra.

- - - - -

Great Blue Heron, hanging out on the ice on Alton Slough.  There were several of this herons hanging around on the ice, but mostly backlit.  Challenging lighting, but I managed a few decent shots.

- - - - -

2019 Looking back – themes and competitions

One of my goals at 365project for 2019 was to be more “intentional” about entering themes and competitions.  While I’ve frequently entered these challenges, it’s only been when I notice them. I decided to pick a few, and make an effort to enter the regularly.  To that end, I reviewed Wendy’s S-list, and selected 9 ongoing challenges to focus on.   And, being an engineer, I made a spreadsheet.  

Here’s the list of 9 challenges for 2019.  Sorted by frequency of entering:

• Song Title – 100%
• Eye Of The Beholder (EOTB) – 92%
• Edit The Stuffing Out Of It (ETSOOI) – 91%
• Landscape – 90%
• Scenes From The Road – 85%
• Album Cover Challenge – 75%
• What Would You Do (WWYD) – 70%
• Abstract – 67%
• Minimalist – 55%

Note, these are not the only challenges I’ve participated in, but I did follow and stress these 9.

So, how’d that work out?  Well, through today (12/19), there were 102 editions of these challenges (8.8 challenges of the 9 topics).  And I had at least 1 entry in 82 of them, an 80.4% participation rate.  I entered 100% of the Song Title challenges, and also had over 90% participation for EOTB, ETSOOI and Landscape.

I don’t have numbers for 2018 (or earlier) but I’m confident it was MUCH lower.

And since I tracked it, I can tell you that I made finalist in 41.5% of the challenges I entered, and I had at least 1 finalist in every category except "abstract".  I only had 3 wins (3.7% of entered), though.  Frankly, I can live with those numbers.

So, what does this mean for 2020?  Well, I think I’m going to continue the program, but tweak the stable.  Here’s my list of challenges to focus on for 2020. (keeping it at 9 for consistency)

• Scenes From the Road
• Album Cover Challenge
• Edit The Stuffing Out Of It (ETSOOI)
• Song Title
• Eye Of The Beholder (EOTB)
• What Would You Do (WWYD)
• Black and White
• Technique
• 365project Monthly Theme

Each of 3 additions are challenges I’ve participated in, at least occasionally.  And it seems odd that I didn’t pick Black and White last year…   The three I’m dropping (Landscape, Minimalist, Abstract) are ones where I just didn’t seem to be enthused.  I’m sure I’ll still enter each of them all along, just not as a focus.

·     

Do you want to build a snowman?

My granddaughter made this little snowman this week. Not quite 3' tall, more Olaf than Frosty... or even Sam the Snowman...   Regardless, she named him Freddy.


Not sure why he doesn't have eyes, I should've asked...

A Know Not Known To All...

So, I was listening to Stanley Clarke's 1976 album "School Days" on the way to work today.  But somehow, between the car and my desk, Maria Muldar's "Midnight At The Oasis" wedged into my mind.  Specifically the lines "I know your daddy's a sultan, a known not known by all"... 

Who knows why these things pop into your head (or mine)?  Guess I'll have to deal with it.

What Would You Do #188

As I've noted before, one of the Challenges over at 365project I rather like is "What Would You Do?" (WWYD).

The host uploads a photo, and participants edit it as they like.  As the rules state:  " ... anything goes! You can keep as much or not as much of the original image as you like."  The host picks 5-6 finalists, and members at the site vote.  The winner hosts the next round.  Anyway,

WWYD is one of the challenges I do pretty regularly.  It looks like the first WWYD was December 2010, long before I joined the site.  There have been 11 editions of WWYD in 2019, and I have entered 8 of them. I've not won this year, and only have 3 finalists. (That's 3 of the 7 completed editions I've entered).

Anyway, here's the start point for the latest edition, WWYD-188:

Angel by Suzanne

- - - -

I decided to do this round on my iPhone, using the free aps I have for the tweaks.  And here's what I came up with:

WWYD#188 - edits by LSqrd

The challenge is open until 12/31/20019, plenty of time for you to join 365project.org, and create your entry!1  As of now, there's only 7 entries, will probably less than 20 when it closes.  be Give it a shot!

Album Review: Patrick Simmons - Arcade

Patrick Simmons is one of the founding members of the Doobie Brothers, and the only member to appear on all of their studio albums (Tom Johnston missed 3 albums from '77 through '80).

This solo album was released in 1983, not long after the Doobies broke up (they would reform in 1989).  I had no idea this album existed, until I came across it at a used record store a while back.  Not long ago, after the Doobie Brother were nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame (RRHOF), I saw it at a different used record store, and decided to pick it up.

Overall, it's pretty solid, although it is definitely a product of the mid 80's (early-mid 80's, at least).  Very slick and polished.  A lot closer to Michael McDonald era Doobies that previous.  Then again, McDonald provides Keyboards, Synths, Backing Vocals...  And he co wrote one of the songs (Why You Givin’ Up).  Patrick Simmons co-wrote 6 of the 10 songs on this album, which is pretty respectable for the time.  It includes a cover of the old Chi-Lites song "How You Seen Her?"  Unfortunately (IMHO) it songs toomuch like the original.  I'd've preferred a take more like the Doobie Brother did with the HDH song "Take Me In Your Arms".

There were actually two singles from this album.  "So Wrong" peaked at #30 in May of 1983, and "Don't Make Me Do It" managed #75 in July 1985.  (Billboard Hot 100).  The album peaked at #52.


As I said, it's slick but solid.  Not as memorable as one would hope, but nothing remotely bad, either.  If you like later Doobie Brothers, you'll dig it.  I'd give it 3.5 of 5.0 stars.


 They say a picture is worth 1,000 words, so here's 2 to show what I'm trying to say with "slick".  The photo on the left is Patrick Simmons, on the album cover for Arcade.  On the right is Patrick Simmons on stage, from the early 70's Doobie Brothers.  Neither is right or wrong.  But different

Oh, and GOOD LUCK to the Doobie Brothers, hoping they make it in to the RRHOF.

Interesting side note:  This is the only solo album I have by former Doobie Brothers, though it looks like there are others.  Here's what the internet says, just for the original lineup (1971-1975):

• 1979 - Tom Johnston - Everything You've Heard Is True
• 1981 - Tom Johnston - Still Feels Good
• 1983 - Patrick Simmons - Arcade
• 1995 - Tiran Porter - Playing To An Empty House
• 1995 - Patrick Simmons - Take Me to the Highway

AND:
Check out all my album reviews here:
https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7916868#editor/target=post;postID=772328777258642897

Mushrooms...

Spotted on an old tree stump, on the walking path behind Edwardsville Township Park.  I had a heck of a time capturing this, I do struggle with macro.  This is from my phone, The results from my X-T3 were not acceptable.

There's actually quite a lot of tweaking here.  I didn't log my workflow, but there's a big crop, drop in saturation, big boost to shadows, decrease contrast, and adding some Gaussian blurto the left and bottom foreground.

Below is the starting point, straight from my iPhone:

Off Set

Well, it caught MY eye!
This was one of my entries to the 112th edition of the "Eye Of The Beholder" (EOTB) challenge over at 365project.org.  The description of the challeneg is as follows:

The EOTB (eye of the beholder) challenge is to capture something most people would not consider to be beautiful or interesting, and to find a way to portray it so that it comes across differently and aesthetically pleasing. This is a wonderful opportunity to challenge yourself in giving recognition to something that seems just ordinary or plain.

It is one of the challenges I particularly like.  Checking m,y spreadsheet (such a nerd am I!), I have entered 10 of the 11 EOTB challenges this year, with 3 finalists and 1 winner.  Although voting is still happening for the 114th edition...  I have a finalist, but don't expect to win.

Anyway, I noticed that I hadn't shared that phot here, so here ya go!

Just Hangin' Around

A short walk today on the trail behind "Airplane park", I managed a few photos.  This is probably my favorite.  Taken for the "Contre-Jour" over at 365project.  I think it fits, if a bit subtle.

Happenstance Photography - Top Images of 2017

Time for something a little different.  I was looking back over the past few years at my Happenstance Photography blog, and decided to see what my Top viewed photos have been year by year.  Pretty easy, I just copy-pasted from the stats page to Excel, and sorted by views.  I'll go with the Top 5, + ties.

So, to continue, here are the most popular posts from 2017, sorted by most view to least.

- - - - -

A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots

- - - - -

Swamped Dinghy

- - - - -

Slice Of Life - PNC Bank

- - - - -

Quotated

- - - - -

Quotated - One fails forward...

- - - - -

There you have it.  Not necessarily my favorites (but could be!), nor my "best"...  just most popular.  Check back in 2 weeks for 2018!

Old Barn, A bit battered...

So, a find on a back road, A few miles north of Hamilton MO. Which is a ways NE of Kansas City, MO.  Taken back in October, during our Quilt-Shops-And -Photo-Ops excursion across Missouri.

We were wandering out of Hamilton looking for a little shop in the middle of nowhere (which we did find).  When we saw this barn, we pulled to the side of the road to let me wander for the best angle.  What's here was the best I could manage.


UPDATE:
My wife snaped an iPhone shot of me scouting the composition:

2019 Year In Music (My year, at least)

I decided to do a look-back on albums I've added in 2019.  Not albums released in 2019, but albums that were added to my collection.  Just for giggles, and in case you're interested.

My criteria:  Complete albums that are new to me (not buying a digital version of something I have, or filling out an album I only had partial).  I included all formats:  digital downloads, CDs, Vinyl....  bought new or used.  I also decided to go 12/1/2018 though 11/30/2019, because I didn't feel like waiting till January.  Also, I used the date added to iTunes / iPod, there's sometimes some lag with getting albums ripped.

So here you go, with start with some raw numbers:

Over the year, I obtained something like 32 albums.  Most on vinyl, but some on CD and via digital downloads.

Here's a few standouts:

• CYRIL - The Way Through.  2019 release from German Prog band.  This was a gift from my son.  Really great stuff, in regular rotation.  I need to do a review. (digital)
• Wishbone Ash - Argus.  1972.  I picked this up on a whim, primarily because they seem to play this complete album in concert about 1/yr at the Wildey.  I was familiar with the name from way back when, but didn't know the music.  One of the year's especially pleasant surprises for me. (used vinyl) 
• Rusty Young - Waitin' For The Sun.  2017 release from one of the founding members of Poco.  I picked this up  at the "merch" table when I saw Poco in November, got it signed by the band.  I plan to do a review. (new vinyl)
• Tommy Tutone 2 - 1981 - I've had Tommy Tutone's 1980 debut album since it was current, but never dove deeper.  Perhaps since 867-5309 (Jenny) was so overplayed.  But it is, frankly, a great song, and the first album is super solid.  So I decided to try this one out.  And it is quite good.  (used vinyl)
• Cannonball Adderly - Somethin' Else.  1958.  I've been listening to more jazz this year but mostly from my existing collection, or streaming services.  I only picked up a couple of albums, and tis one is by far my favorite.  I looked into it based on reviews of a couple of "best Jazz Album" lists on the internet.  (digital) 
• Ozark Mountain Daredevils - Men From Earth.  1976 release from OMD.  Purchased used (vinyl) from Attic Records, in Millvale, PA.  Reviewed here.
• Watershed - The More It Hurts, The More It Works.  I picked up this 2002 release after reading the book "Hitless Wonder" by Joe Oestreich (bass and vocals).  Some really great songs, and overall solid.  (digital)
• Marquise Knox - Black and Blue.  2017 live album from the St. Louis bluesman.  I picked this up at his merch table, after seeing him at the Wildey. (CD)
• Beethoven - Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 56: Beethoven Piano Sonatas Opp. 13, 27/2, 57, 81a - I only picked up a couple of classical pieces this year, this is my favorite. (digital)
• Outlaws - Playing to Win.  1978.  I actually had this on cassette back in late '78, but it's been gone long enough that I didn't remember the music.  I was on an Outlaws kick, and listened to it streaming, then picked it up used vinyl.  This was the first Outlaws (studio) album without guitarist Henry Paul, and marks a pivot away from the country influences in their previous records.  Not as good as their previous albums, but better than the subsequent ones. IMHO, at least.

I really need to do reviews of some of these albums, I only did one of them so far...

So that's my list.  What did YOU discover in 2019 that we should know about?

Dewey's Pizza

Dewey's Pizza, in Edwardsville, IL, is one of my family's favorite pizza places.  Good food, super service, cool atmosphere.  Pretty much perfect in all regards, except it can be a little busy sometimes.  So we tend to go on the early side to beat the crowd.

On this day, I was struck by the early sunset, and the clouds, and the store sign.  So I stopped for a quick photo.  I like this enough to tweak it while waiting for our pizza, then decided to post it to the book-of-face as a "check in".   I was overly excited when I quickly received a "like" from Dewey's themselves, along with a nice comment.

Not that it means anything in the overall scheme of things, but I got a kick out of it.

Taken w/ my iPhone., tweaked using snapseed ap.

Compare And Contrast

Just a little something, the kind of thing I notice in day to day life.  This was taken at a rest stop along interstate I-74, just north of the NC / VA line.  I rather liked the lines of the tree vs the blocks of stone on the wall, accentuated by the shadows...  All spiced up by the shades of tan/brown...

I don't know, it is probably a little "busy"...  but I still like it.