Category Archives: inspiration

Five Quotes from Jack Kerouac

  Image found here.  Jean-Louis “Jack” Kerouac March 12, 1922 – October 21, 1969 I can say with all seriousness that the first time that I read On The Road, and later The Dharma Bums, it changed my life; changed my way of thinking. I was in college at the time (culinary school) and myContinue reading “Five Quotes from Jack Kerouac”

A Few Photos of a Rainy Day

I had a crazy chaotic day at work today…just one of those days. Busy all day. And when I left at around 4pm I was surprised to see that it was raining…a light but steady mist. It looked almost like fog. And after rushing around a kitchen all morning and afternoon it felt good toContinue reading “A Few Photos of a Rainy Day”

Barcelona 1908

I’ve posted this video in the past but not in a while. I thought I’d re-post in the event you haven’t seen it. When I first came across it I was mesmerized…I still am. I think it’s beautiful. Maybe it’s the music, I’m not sure. It captures the street scene more than a hundred yearsContinue reading “Barcelona 1908”

The Tao of Pug

If you’ve been to this blog before you know that besides riding bikes, cooking, taking photos, and looking up at the sky and wondering what it’s all about….I am also a “dog person.” That’s Maxwell (the blond one) and Franklin (the black one) pictured above. They’re brothers from the same parents but separate litters (MaxwellContinue reading “The Tao of Pug”

Looking Up

Well this is interesting. The above photo is a zoomed in version of one I posted yesterday (scroll down one post). It was one of a few photos I took at dusk, and in the post I referred to it as the moon with a star visible. A reader of this blog commented that itContinue reading “Looking Up”

A Few Things I Saw Today

From Top to Bottom: A waxing crescent moon with a star in view.A side view of Temple Beth Zion.  Twigs in melting snow.Dusk over Buffalo’s West Side. Urban Simplicity.

Five Quotes from W.E.B. Du Boise

To read more about W.E.B. Du Boise, click here; to read more about the Niagara Movement, click here. To read more in the Five Quotes series, click here. “One is astonished in the study of history at the recurrence of the idea that evil must be forgotten, distorted, skimmed over. We must not remember thatContinue reading “Five Quotes from W.E.B. Du Boise”

A Few Comments on Size

I knew the title of this post would capture your attention…but it’s not what you think. I’m of course talking about the above video which moves from the size of a molecule to a galaxy in just over two minutes. I find myself looking skyward a lot these days…not sure why, I just do. ItContinue reading “A Few Comments on Size”

Four Unrelated Photos and a Few Words to Describe Them

The only way these photos have any relation to one another is that they were all taken today. Other than the one  directly below–which was taken earlier in the day while at work–the other three were all taken within about 20 minutes of one another. Here’s a bit about them, from top to bottom: IContinue reading “Four Unrelated Photos and a Few Words to Describe Them”

Things I Saw within an Arm’s Reach of Each Other

It’s interesting what a few hours make. I took these photos this morning as I was arriving at work. It looked and felt like a beautiful pre-spring morning. Later in the evening I took these photos and posted them here….now it’s been snowing for hours. Anyhow, as I approached work today I anticipated a busyContinue reading “Things I Saw within an Arm’s Reach of Each Other”

Playing with Light and Snow….Two Trees; Eight Views

It was snowing lightly early in the evening tonight as I pedaled to the health club…big slushy flakes. And when I came out it was really coming down (it still is)…large wet flakes that stick to everything (including a camera and a person riding a bike). Anyhow, I snapped a few photos of two differentContinue reading “Playing with Light and Snow….Two Trees; Eight Views”

A Solitary Walk (Playing with Angle and Light: Three Street Scenes)

I like to walk; it clears my head. When I’m on a bike I have to pay attention to my surroundings but when I walk I can do just that…walk. Tonight I had some thoughts that were troubling me so I thought I’d go for a brisk walk on this chilly (32F/0C) and wet FebruaryContinue reading “A Solitary Walk (Playing with Angle and Light: Three Street Scenes)”

The Man Who Lived on His Bike

This short film (3 minutes) is excellent. I loved it. Whether you ride a bike or not it will undoubtedly make you smile…and  the music is good, too. Here’s a description from the author: I love being on a bike. It helps me feel free. I get it from my dad. After 382 days spentContinue reading “The Man Who Lived on His Bike”

Buffalo Soldiers

Well first off, the title of this post has nothing to do with soldiers in the city where I was born and live, Buffalo, NY.  It’s referring to the Twenty-fifth United States Infantry Regiment, also known as Buffalo Soldiers, which was at the time a racially segregated regiment. I’ve posted the above picture before andContinue reading “Buffalo Soldiers”

Five Quotes That Inspire Me

“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.”  —Albert Einstein “A life is either all spiritual or not spiritual at all. No man can serve two masters. Your life is shaped by the end you live for. You are made in the image of what you desire.” —Thomas Merton “Non-violence beginsContinue reading “Five Quotes That Inspire Me”

Five Photos of Snow and Cold

As mentioned in a previous post, we got a good taste of winter last night and today…frigid temperatures and a fair amount of snow. I wasn’t out a great deal–just enough to enjoy it–but I did snap a few photos. Even though the above photo was the last I took I chose to place itContinue reading “Five Photos of Snow and Cold”

Five Quotes from Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass    February 1818 – February 20, 1895 “I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence.” “It is not light that we need, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We needContinue reading “Five Quotes from Frederick Douglass”