Monday, January 21, 2008

The Words of a Prophet

Today is Martin Luther King's birthday and I was reminded how important this day is by fellow blogger Kansas Bob Thanks Bob for reminding me of the significance of King's vision. I don't really have anything to add about King that probably hasn't been said by others so I'll add my tribute by leaving you to ponder some of my favorite quotes by Martin Luther King.

The words of a modern day Prophet......

A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.

A riot is the language of the unheard.

All progress is precarious, and the solution of one problem brings us face to face with another problem.

Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better.

Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can't ride you unless your back is bent.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.

Have we not come to such an impasse in the modern world that we must love our enemies - or else? The chain reaction of evil - hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars - must be broken, or else we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.

I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.

It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can keep him from lynching me, and I think that's pretty important.

Means we use must be as pure as the ends we seek.

Nonviolence means avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him.

The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: "If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?" But... the good Samaritan reversed the question: "If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?"

The question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be... The nation and the world are in dire need of creative extremists.

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

My new Camera

Well, today I took the big plunge and bought me a new SLR camera. Specially, I purchased a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTI with a telephoto 17-85 IS Image Stabilizer lens. I've been thinking about buying an SLR camera for some time I have a hard time letting go of my cash for something that is essentially a hobby interest of mine...and...I almost couldn't bring myself to buy this camera, "until", I went on line and found the camera for half the price all the local camera shops were asking...and...I got a deluxe carrying case and tri-pod, to boot, for free. Thank God, for the internet....I am also going to take a photography class at a local camera shop to learn how to use the camera. It's not particularly difficult to use an SLR, especially if you operate it on Auto focus but I want to learn about exposure, shutter speeds, and how to use the camera manually...I am really excited about this new purchase and hope to post some pictures on this blog and my photo blog in the weeks and months to come....

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Bilbo's New Blog

Today I launched a new blog called Bilbo's World in pictures. I am very excited and proud of what I have put together. It is a collection of some of my best photographs that I have taken over the years. Many of these photographs have appeared on this blog from time to time but I have decided to put them together in a one place for others to observe and enjoy. I was inspired by fellow blogger Julie Bogart who launched her own photography bl. og project last year called Julie Unplugged 365...Thanks Julie...I will be adding new pictures on a regular basis. I currently have a rather extensive collection of photographs I intend to post in the days and weeks to come...and...I will adding to my old pictures with new pictures whenever I take a photograph that I consider worthy of my blog. Also, because I am excited and inspired about what I am doing I am also thinking about purchasing a new camera. Right now I am considering either purchasing a Canon Sure Shot SD87V15 with 8.1 pixels or a EOS Digital Rebel XTI SLR. The Rebel model is much more expensive but I feel ready to move up to the big boys because I really do enjoy taking pictures....so...if you are so inclined check out Bilbo's World in Pictures and let me know what you think....

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

A Sleeper

At the recommendation of film critic Michael Phillips I watched the movie Once last night. Phillips listed this movie as one of his top ten films of the year and even asserts it is one of the great music movies of all time. I wouldn't go this far but I did really, really, like this film and recommend it for anyone who likes an independent film with some really great music. The story is set in Ireland and is a story about a blue collar Irishman who works for his dad during the day fixing vacuum cleaners while playing music at night on the streets. It is his dream to one day record a couple of songs in an attempt to make a living as a musician. One day he meets a young woman who loves his music and inspires him to follow his dream. And the rest of the story is about the two working together to make his dream come true. The movie has a lot of music but I wouldn't consider it a musical in the traditional sense because all the songs flow with the story line. If you like Irish, folksy, meat and potatoes music I suspect you might like this film. This is the second musical film I have seen this year, the other, Across the Universe. These two films are very different and both are great in their own way but I think I like this film better... and...for whatever it is worth, this film received a 98% approval rating over at Rottentomatoes...and...I really love the soundtrack which I bought yesterday.

Pillow Talk

I've been working on my bachelor pad today. I went out and bought some decorative pillows for my bed. Left to my own devices I probably wouldn't have gotten such fancy pillows but I know the "Daughters of Eve" like this sort of thing. So, if you are a Daughter of Eve who happens to stumble across this blog entry these pictures are for your eyes only. The guys can check it out too but I suspect they won't be as impressed...Just call it a hobbit hunch.