But ne’ertheless reflect, the little mouse, how sage a brute it is! Who never trusts its safety to one hole : for when it finds one entrance is block’d up, it has secure some other outlet.
Plautus
Author: photog
22JUN2025 – Photo of the Day
Tom’s World – 21JUN2025 – Perspective
I like the lighthouse shot too. Perspective.
i think everything has a great or interesting shot build into it if only I can perceive it.
The Beatings Will Continue Until Morale Improves
Today is the first day of the new OCF editorial regime. I’ve noticed over the last year that the quality of my posts has been inconsistent. And I believe the reason for this problem is that sometimes I’m covering old ground again. I’ve said about all there is to say about some of the political issues of the day and I’m just banging the drum, so to speak.
And this is not a good thing to be doing. In addition, I really need to finish my book and get it published and see if fiction writing is something I want to do. So these two separate situations point me to a change in the way I run my website. I’ll continue to post the photo and quote of the day, same as always. As far as a daily post, I’ll put something up but if I don’t have a topic that’s truly crying out to be covered then I’ll put something else up. Maybe some photos that I like or a link to a song or a video that caught my attention. This will free up more of my time for fiction writing and it will prevent me repeating myself and boring the readers.
I think this is a good idea and I expect it to improve the site significantly. Anyway, I’ll give it a try and see how it goes.
21JUN2025 – Photo of the Day
21JUN2025 – Quote of the Day
You cannot eat your cake and have it too, unless you think your money is immortal. The fool too late, his substance eaten up, reckons the cost.
Plautus
ArthurinCali Has a Post on California Illegals
Arthur discusses the dysfunctional California policy toward illegals and its consequences.
“Platitudes about the “Rule of Law” regarding due process and expedited deportations sound comical from a state like California that has the most sanctuary cities and routinely flout federal immigration law. A state that spent over $9 billion in 2024 on healthcare coverage for illegals and is on track to spend nearly $11 billion this year. Adding in additional costs from illegals in the areas of education, housing, and law enforcement pushes this figure even higher. One does not need a degree in economics to know this is unsustainable for the long-term, and will continue to add tension around the immigration issue.”
And he includes some nice photos of some of California’s natural wonders.
Summer Solstice 2025
June 20, 2025 at 10:42 PM EDT is the Summer Solstice. This is a point of inflection for my year. For the last couple of months, the longer days temporarily color my mood brighter. Added to this is the knowledge that the days are still getting even longer. Even if the weather is often not optimal, I revel in the astronomical ascendancy of the Sun.
But starting on June 21st the days will be growing shorter. Now granted this is the fairest time of the year. The sun is tropical and the heat sears into my soul. And this is like an elixir of youth for my tired old bones. But psychologically I recognize that the rollercoaster has reached the top of the highest peak and for a split second it is poised between rising and falling. Just long enough for us to look around and see heaven around us just before the bottom drops out of the ride and we plummet back to Earth.
And so, for the next two months I drink in every photon of sunlight and revel in kids free from school and looking to fill up their time with play. I see that there’s a new Superman movie coming out soon. Maybe it’s a woke nightmare. Maybe Superman is a Biden/Harris supporter. But maybe he’s still fighting for truth, justice and the American way. I’ll find out. And if it’s any good I’ll bring the kids. We’ll spend way too much money on lousy popcorn and watery soda. But We’ll get to debate the strengths and weaknesses of the 2025 son of Krypton. Who knows, maybe he’ll surprise me. Or maybe we won’t see it because the reviews are terrible. But we’ll find stuff to do.
I have a feeling this is the summer we do some fishing. Dunwich is mostly soggy so there are plenty of lakes and ponds full of what pass for bass and trout. I think I can get most of them to cast a line in the water. I haven’t been fishing in twenty-five years. That’s a long time. I think it’s time I did.
Objectively speaking, I’m a relic. I’m much closer to the end of my life than the beginning and now I can actually feel it. Even maintaining my present vitality requires discipline and work. And even that is a matter of delaying the inevitable.
And yet, every day is a gift. We interact with our fellow creatures and try to be useful and positive. Encouraging the young and facilitating the efforts of those trying to make it a better place. Those are things that even a relic can accomplish.
So, here’s the official beginning of Summer 2025. I will do my darndest to make this a successful season for me and Camera Girl and the rest of the clan. I’m looking forward to all of my rituals and all of the little joys of summer. Barbecues, local baseball, fireworks, the Dunwich Fair, Fourth of July, Labor Day and all the rest. We’ll make sure we feel the sun before it retreats back into the hell that is New England Winter.
At least, that’s my plan. Enjoy.
20JUN2025 – Quote of the Day
Courage is the very best gift of all; courage stands before everything, it does, it does! It is what maintains and preserves our liberty, safety, life, and our homes and parents, our country and children. Courage comprises all things: a man with courage has every blessing.
Plautus
20JUN2025 – Photo of the Day
