So tonight was one of those perfect nights where nothing was planned but wonderful happened. The wind has been 10G20 all day and Sheila and I were caught up in minutia. I had a little foot surgery on Thursday and have been under orders to take it easy for a few days (no chuckling allowed please..............). Chandler called me late this afternoon to see if I might be coming to the hangar and that was all the motivation I needed. We hung out for a while between his hangar and mine and then the winds calmed a bit and we couldn't resist the call to slip the surly bonds.
We launched out to the northwest and made a bee line for the Tioga property where his Mom and siblings were working away at the ranch. The air was as smooth as velvet as we made multiple low passes over the girls who were jumping and waving. Chandler took the stick for the homeward leg and night rapidly approached. We talked a little, mostly just took in the moment as a full moon rose into the eastern Texas sky and the magic of a Grandfather and Grandson immersed in, and bound by the wondrous experience of flight, floated over The Lone Star landscape.
Like "Unanswered Prayers..........", sometimes unplanned events are also amongst God's greatest gifts...............
Douglas L wrote:
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By and large, Asians in the U.S. have strong families and push their kids to excel academically. This allows them to make a comfortable living that most of them could not even dream of back in the countries where they come from, even though they may have to work a little harder to get there. We usually don't carry that victim-hood mentality, except when the ivy league schools artificially create higher hurdles for Asians in admission. Asians, especially those who were not born here, like me, are mostly grateful for being able to live in this country, despite all the flaws it has.
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Over my lifetime, I have worked and done business with many Asian-Americans. I have found them to be very hard working, honorable, family-oriented people who were a joy to know.
My wish would be that a much greater percentage of our population demonstrated those same characteristics.
Douglas L wrote:
I appreciate your thoughtfulness, Jim. No doubt there is more anti-Asian sentiment due to the devastating COVID that has destroyed so many lives and livelihood worldwide. I have not personally or directly encountered such acts but I am aware of it, and let me say it here, there are not just white bigots, there are black bigots, Asian bigots too, surprise, surprise! It's unfortunate that some folks see everything through the race prism.
By and large, Asians in the U.S. have strong families and push their kids to excel academically. This allows them to make a comfortable living that most of them could not even dream of back in the countries where they come from, even though they may have to work a little harder to get there. We usually don't carry that victim-hood mentality, except when the ivy league schools artificially create higher hurdles for Asians in admission. Asians, especially those who were not born here, like me, are mostly grateful for being able to live in this country, despite all the flaws it has.
Thank you, Jim. I treasure your friendship.
A few shots from this morning in Washington DC. I am dipping my toes in infrared photography.
Douglas
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Beautiful Douglas! Just superb!!!!
IR eh? Looking forward to your new endeavour!
On the above quote..."ignorance is bliss" for some people!
Dan
"Black parents have long had “The Talk” with their children on how they should behave when pulled over by the police: Hands out of your pockets, do what they say, no sudden moves. Now many Asian Americans, for the first time, are having similar conversations with their children on how to gird themselves against a wave of anti-Asian sentiment, violence, and bullying. "
Don't be too sure it isn't happening. Those running around saying "Kung Flu" and "China virus" fanned the flames. Just because one network doesn't report on it, doesn't make it true for those suffering the bullying, hatred, and violence.
JWilsonphoto wrote:
I thought of Douglas this morning when I rolled up on a block long demonstration against the Communist Chinese Party. Very well organized, hundreds of feet of banners, Chinese Americans all over talking with people and handing out informational brochures on the misinformation re: COVID and the terrible treatment of Chinese citizens by the CCP. Contrary to all the garbage one hears about hatred and violence toward Asians, these folks were receiving nothing but warm support for their cause.
And just because the other "news" outlets inundate us with hate and division doesn't mean it is happening either. All part of the agenda, God forbid we would pull together under the banner that life matters! The "news" outlets your refer to as reliable, would those be the ones that turned a tragedy perpetrated by a deranged, self proclaimed, sex addict who confessed that his actions had nothing whatsoever to do with race/ethnicity, into a hate crime against asians? Yeah, I'd sure put a lot of stock in what they are peddling.
I don't think it's even the snowflakes, they are, (like Mongo), just pawns in the game of life. This whole thing is being run by far more sinister forces that the Dementia Administration and their snowflakes and the media puppets.
JWilsonphoto wrote:
I don't think it's even the snowflakes, they are, (like Mongo), just pawns in the game of life. This whole thing is being run by far more sinister forces that the Dementia Administration and their snowflakes and the media puppets.
I agree but didn’t want to go into it more deeply because then we would have to mention the CCP and their hooks into the present administration and certain members of Congress, the Soros/globalist control, etc. etc. That would make this a political discussion rather than photographic.
In the meantime, I am loving the Canon R5. It is a definite leap forward ....
JDE1 wrote:
Over my lifetime, I have worked and done business with many Asian-Americans. I have found them to be very hard working, honorable, family-oriented people who were a joy to know.
My wish would be that a much greater percentage of our population demonstrated those same characteristics.
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Danpbphoto wrote:
Beautiful Douglas! Just superb!!!!
IR eh? Looking forward to your new endeavour!
On the above quote..."ignorance is bliss" for some people!
Dan
Thank you for making me feel welcome! Most Asians who left their homeland to come to the the US came for the opportunities and freedom and many of them came with nothing.They didn't come here to trash talk the host country. This country owes us nothing. Sure we have complaints too...
A few more infrared pictures of the famed Washington DC cherry blossoms from yesterday afternoon. Can't wait for the airshows to start in our region!
The Not Yet Removed Washington Monument and Cherry Blossoms
Douglas L wrote:
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Thank you for make me feel welcome! Most Asians who left their homeland to come to the the US came for the opportunities and freedom and many of them came with nothing.They didn't come here to trash talk the host country. This country owes us nothing. Sure we have complaints too...
A few more infrared pictures of the famed Washington DC cherry blossoms from yesterday afternoon. Can't wait for the airshows to start in our region!
Just beautiful Douglas!!! Really a fine set of images!
The cultural diversity throughout the US is a result of people seeking to better themselves.The signs of America's ethnic diversity can be discerned across the Country . . . Chinatown, Harlem, South Boston, the Lower East Side, places with Spanish names like Los Angeles and San Antonio or Indian names like Massachusetts and Iowa. Much of what is familiar in America's cultural landscape actually has ethnic origins. The Bing cherry was developed by an early Chinese immigrant named Ah Bing! And the Cherry trees Douglas so eloquently posted came from our brothers/sisters in Japan.
Seems our best allies were once our worst enemies!
With the exception of our Native Americans, we are all immigrants of some ethnicity!
JWilsonphoto wrote:
I don't think it's even the snowflakes, they are, (like Mongo), just pawns in the game of life. This whole thing is being run by far more sinister forces that the Dementia Administration and their snowflakes and the media puppets.
EGrav wrote:
I agree but didn’t want to go into it more deeply because then we would have to mention the CCP and their hooks into the present administration and certain members of Congress, the Soros/globalist control, etc. etc. That would make this a political discussion rather than photographic..
That ship sailed so long ago it's over the horizon.
Well, under the heading of one never knows what is around the corner, an opportunity has landed squarely on my doorstep that I find extremely exciting. We have secured this land and have decided to develop it into a unique residential community. The property is 105 acres, perfectly situated in the most desirable growth path in the DFW Metroplex. The plan is to develop 35 high end residential parcels ranging from 1 to 5 acres. I'm meeting with one of my top residential building clients in the next few days to see if they would have an interest in being the exclusive builder in the community.
This land is in such a desirable location, and we bought it before it actually hit the market so no one knew about it's availability. The opportunity to double our money just flipping it has already come up, we considered it, but the immediate and long term advantages of developing it are so much more appealing that we have chosen that course. All this means that my grass strip will have to find another spot, but this is just too exciting to ignore. Never thought I'd be shooting my own development, you just never know..................
A while back I was wondering about JIII’s fascination with the toy – and real - construction equipment. The aeroplane fascination was easy to understand – the construction equipment, not so much. Now all is made clear. The young chap will be on a D8, pushing earth in no time. Apparently they start them young in Texas! No problem with the grass strip – just get yourself a Twotter with floats and land on the lake! Sorry, I have to go now – something about it being time for my meds……
I love Ya Nick, but you already know that! Yes, you can bet JIII will be riding on a double barrel Cat scraper, and every other piece of equipment as we turn that dirt into a development. I'm not upset about the grass strip given the upside of doing this development deal, "Good things come to those who wait...........and hustle!" This looks like it is going to be the first in a series of projects like this, we have another one under contract just 20 miles east of the McKinney airport. The ground fo that one is not nearly as beautiful as the current one but our acreage sits right in the middle of a parcel that is being developed by the largest tract home builder in the country, and they want our section really badly.............
