Hawaiian bee

Hawaiian bee, originally uploaded by Belanos.

Botanical Gardens at Kaneohe, Oahu.

Ko'olou Mountains

Ko'olou Mountains, originally uploaded by Belanos.

Kaneohe, Oahu. Last Summer.

surfer dude

surfer dude, originally uploaded by Belanos.

Some guy walking from the beach through the Ukulele festival at Waikiki.

Some views of Portland

KOIN Tower

The MAX line

6th and Washington

Can you tell I got a new fisheye lens?

the CHRISTmas Strawman.

The vast majority of Americans who are Christians...who have churches on every other corner, and Bible/Christian references everywhere in our culture, are feeling oppressed and persecuted. What??  

We want everyone (people of other religions or beliefs who have other holidays at this time) to feel included in holiday wishes.   So instead of only saying "Merry Christmas" to the general public, some say "Happy Holidays". (to include everyone.)  But no...people who do so are evil Christian-haters who are one step away from destroying Christianity completely tomorrow at noon with their mighty non-Christ wishes.
 
Listen Jesus-people....no one is trying to take Christmas away, no one is trying to take the CHRIST out of CHRISTMAS, no one is telling you to stop enjoying Christmas...so RELAX!  You are building a Strawman argument.   Relax and build a snowman instead...with a cross around his neck if you like.    The whole point is, it's just not nice to say Merry Christmas to a Jewish person.  Many don't care,  or won't get freaked out if you do....but it's just not nice.  Not the end of the world...just not nice.  So why does the non-Christian here have to remind you "filled with Christ's love" people ....how to love people??   

As a non-believer, I have no problem wishing you "Merry Christmas" if you do indeed celebrate Christmas.  But if you don't...then I won't wish you "Merry Christmas".   It's not complicated. 

S.W. 4th and Washington. 1946 and 2010

VOTE!

I was watching Bill Mahar who had a couple of Conservative/Republicans on his panel.  He was trying to point out to them the type of person the Republican/Tea Party attracts. (Crazies)  They got very upset and defensive.  OK, I get it, YOU are not a toothless slack-jawed-snake-handlin'-Jesus-freak...YOU are intelligent ...I get it.  But that wasn't the point.  Of course there are many educated, intelligent people who are Republicans.  But you need to come to terms with the fact that this party attracts ....a certain type of person.  Ok, I can hear it now..."Oh yeah, just like the Democrats/Liberals attract the pot-smoking-dreadlocked-un showered hippy!"   Right right right right...yes, there are crazy people and intelligent people who are Liberals...but do you see what I just did there???  I Don't DENY it!!!    Republicans....Conservatives....Tea Party people...You attract crazy loony kookoo people.  I would consider more of  your candidates if it didn't mean giving power to Glen Beck Parrots who don't know what they are talking about....actual toothless slack-jawed yokels....gun-totin' rednecks who are completely ignorant of diplomacy and just want 'merica to blow everyone up...the EXTREMELY un-educated...and the Ultra-religious person who would vote right now to make the U.S.A. a Christian Theocracy....to start tomorrow.   I'd rather take my chances with the idiot pot-smoking hippies.   I would have more respect for the Republican Party if they didn't put Puppets like Chris Dudley up for election...or a dumb-as-a-bag-of-hammers hottie like Sarah Palin up for VICE FREAKIN' PRESIDENT!?!?!?   You have intelligent people who have experience....use THEM!   I'm stickin' with the tree-huggers.