lowrider bikes at the beach

I spent the day Sunday hanging out at my cousin’s birthday party at her home in Newport Beach. Her house sits right on the boardwalk near 35th. I spent the day snapping pictures of the locals and want-to-be's ridding by on their low-rider and beach cruiser bikes. I have put my expanded collection up at my flickr blog.

I'm disappointed in the quality of these shots. I had difficulty shooting in the bright afternoon sun while standing in the shade of a porch. I need many more days of practice to get this type of shot down.

My friends Neil and Craig had a running conversation about if some of these bikes are stock or custom . Look at this bike and let me know what you think.

Technorati Tags: photography, lowrider bikes, Beach, Newport Beach

Top 4 Common Misconceptions About The Big Bang

An explanation of what the Big Bang is, and isn't, for the rest of us. Jon Voisey at Angry Astronomer has put a great deal of effort into explaining what the Big Bang theory really is while debunking some common misconceptions.

The 4th misconception is my favorite: The Big Bang doesn’t leave room for God

This isn’t a scientific argument, but rather a philosophical one which is completely beside the point. However, since I see it used frequently, I’ll go ahead and address it.

The Big Bang, like all science, doesn’t have any implications either for or against God. What it may do, it place constraints on how God did things and these may run contrary to scripture. However, there’s two important questions here:

First off, is the scripture right in the first place? And, second, assuming it is, are you interpreting it correctly?

Voisey closes with:

I hope that clears up a few of the misconceptions people have been having, and I’m pretty sure that most people reading this blog were already familiar with all that, but perhaps this has given you a bit more detailed information that you can use next time someone throws out their strawman Big Bang

Technorati Tags: Science, Big Bang, Religion
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Conservative Pastor Punished For Avoiding Politics

After advocating that the church essentially stay out of partisan politics, pastors in his own denomination, the Baptist General Conference, mounted an effort to evict him from the denomination.

It is a small world - Pastor Brad at 21st Century Reformation just posted on the same controversial topic, followed by an even more in-depth post further expanding his ideas (also posted at redbluechristian). Theocracy is a bad thing - only, pastor Brad says it much better than I ever could. Of course, that could be because I'm and Atheist and he's a pastor.

Pastor Brad posted in large part because of an argument er... make that a discussion, we had last week. My position is that the Conservative theocracy is dangerous and must be opposed by Christians who recognize the danger. Atheists have no credibility inside the Christian community; they can only say "look at the problem". Other Christians can say "this is wrong". So Pastor Brad has said its wrong - I wonder how long it will take before the backlash starts?

Technorati Tags: Christianity, Politics, Religion, Theocracy

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Debunking The 9/11 Myths

This link proves that something good can come from being on a Libertarian email distribution list. Popular Mechanics - Debunking The 9/11 Myths is a good layman's look at the lunatic fringe conspiracy theories surrounding 9/11. Heck, normally it is fringe libertarians spreading these types of conspiracy rants.

Technorati Tags: 9/11, science

Stencil on Sunset

I shot a few pictures of Stencil, Sticker, and graffiti on Saturday. I've posted a few other shots to my Flickr account.

I have a funny story associated with this picture. I parked in a loading zone to shoot this. Sunset was empty so I figured nobody would care. I took a dozen photo's in about 10 minutes, then left. As I was sitting in my truck changing lenses, a parking enforcement officer tapped on my window. He wanted to write me a parking ticket. A lied and said I had been taking a cell phone call. He busted me - he had been watching me take this photo. We talked for a few more minutes. I did my best "cut me a break" act. It worked! He ended up saying, "I'll cut you a break, and here it is. No ticket if you give me your cell phone number.” I gave him a friend’s number and booked it out of there.

Note to friend - when Jeff calls, be nice. I think he’s your type.


Technorati Tags: Street Photography, Photography, Graffiti, Stencils

Not in Waco

There is one thing that I can be absolutely take to the bank. This NWS billboard will never be displayed in Waco, Texas. The product advertised is Joe's Jeans. I just wish Joe would put his jeans back on. I mean, who needs to see Joe’s ass while driving down Sunset Blvd?

Why "not in Waco?". If you have ever been there, you would understand.

See the full set of six picture here.

Technorati Tags: Photography, joesjeans, billboards, advertising

TOP News Photos of Past Decade

I love photography. It has the ability to capture the heart and soul of a moment and then burn it into your psyche, indelibly branding a moment in time. It does not have to be a picture by a trained photographer. A picture my sister took of her daughter will always say Christine at six to me. A picture I took of my great-grandmother will always evoke a memory of show tunes played by piano with infinite patience on hot summer days. Photography is powerful – these photos are some of the best of the best.

My favorite is "God help us". I felt helpless watching the Katrina mess. I still do.

Technorati Tags: Photography, News

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The Roller Rapper was spotted in Hollywood today

This is wrong on so many levels. First, what the hell is the Roller Rapper? To my horror, I found that Robby Love a.k.a. the Roller Rapper, is on tour across American. I happened to run into his film shoot on Hollywood blvd this afternoon. He was skating near my truck, or more accurately, moving his feet and wiggling his ass within a few feet of my widow. Like I said, wrong on so many levels. My second thought was “gay”.

I was stuck in traffic and forced to endure his show. The “film crew” tried to wave me off when they saw my Nikon, but I persisted. It took five minutes to clear this rolling mess, yet I could not put it behind me. Something nagged at my mind the rest of the day. Who is this guy? Accourding to his website, Robby Love says he combines his love of roller-skating with '70s-style funk to create pop music that celebrates fun without sex, drugs and violence.

I checked his website, he likes the ladies, or so his says, wink wink. If you don't believe me, watch his video (warning, it will burn your eyes). Think bad rapping, roller disco, 3rd grade lyrics, and an even worse video. Bobby Love is no singer, or a rapper, or even American as far as I can tell. He can skate, but so what. He is just creepy strange - the kind of person I keep away from my kids.

A few choice quotes from iFilm:

The Roller Rapper- In another bold move destined to set white culture back two decades, Robbie "Roller Rapper" Love is out on a mission to make music child friendly by removing everything cool and substituting it with an overbearing sense of terribleness. Watch him spin around and sing poorly over generic beats while looking like a bad joke of a human being. I guess that's something. Strangely, for a guy wanting to remove sex from music, his music video has a lot of scantly clad women, not to mention a fair share of baffled black people."

I watched this video. I'd rather watch the late Chris Farely take a dump after eatting burritos all day. This guy is an idiot. No sex in his videos? Check out the girls in his music video. Scantily dressed, and almost as idiotic as Roller Rapper is. Here's a tip for you, Roller Rapper. Move your dumb 42 year old ass out of your parents' basement, get a REAL job, and quit embarrassing yourself. Please.

A few links:
Rapper rolls in to cheer up kids
Hanging out with ... Roller Rapper Robby Love
Roller Rapper' encourages teens to enjoy positive fun

Technorati Tags: Roller Rapper, Hollywood, Nutballs

A photography day

I took my wife and cousin to see Beowulf and Grendel in west LA today. While they were watching the movie, I took some time to travel the area looking for interesting things to shoot. I found this shot under a bridge near Giant Robot on Sawtelle. I was looking for graffiti or stencil art, but ended up just doing some people watching.

I also went into an open house in Beverly Hills. It was such fun to see how the other half lives. They were asking 3.5 million for the house. I would have been happy with the maids quarters.

I'll post a few more pictures here soon. I shot over 100 pictures today. A good rule of thumb for me is one keeper for every 40 shot. I like a few pictures from todays batch, so I may post some here and some to my flicr blog.


Technorati Tags: Photography, Art

Speaking of collecting odd things

This random blog "next blogged" to my blog. He collects bandanas - I think. Visit Coleccion de bufandas to see for yourself.

Technorati Tags: Collecting

Do you like signs?

Then mycrazyhobby.com is for you! This photographer collects street signs. His blog is full of them, and so is his house. I understand the obsession, I collect pictures of bumper sticker photo's myself - he collects the real signs.

...collecting street signs and traffic lights — the legal way. I buy them from eBay; I dig for them at antique stores and flea markets; and once in a while, a highway department is generous enough to hook me up (albiet not very often).

Bottom line: I don't steal them. So don't call the cops on me.

Technorati Tags: Art, Photography, Collecting

Our dogs are fed on Jehovah's Witnesses

I must file this one under; thank god I don't live in the UK. A British woman was ordered to remove a sign that had been in her garden for 30 years. Our dogs are fed on Jehovah's Witnesses. It is a clear case of political correctness gone way to far. Should we really be worried about offending Jehovah's Witnesses? They are second only to Mormon missionaries in total annoyance factor. The JWs are good for at least four early Saturday morning visits per year here at the Mojoey household (that’s 40 visits in the last ten years folks). A sign to discourage unwanted solicitors is much better than answering the door in ones unmentionables. What is this world coming too?

I have a stork in my garden.

Technorati Tags: Humor, Religion, JW

Trouble talking to god?

Well now you too can buy the Prayer Antenna. For three simple payments of 75.99, the Prayer Antenna will be shipped directly to your doublewide.. With this unique prayer amplifier, god is sure to hear every word of your prayers. Hurry, order now, supplies are limited.

If you order today and say you heard here on Deep Thoughts, we will include special prayer recording software at no extra cost. A $100 value if you order within the next 12 hours. Simply record a prayer, then schedule it to be delivered at various times throughout the day. Hit rate tracking is available for a small additional charge.

OK - for those of you with no sense of humor - it is supposed to be art. Bad art, but art nonetheless, so like piss Christ, it must be ok. The prayer software is real – unbelievable, but real.

Hat Tip Presurfer
Technorati Tags: Art, humor, religion

Artist Makes Children Cry to Remind Her of Bush

Photographer Jill Greenberg has whipped up a storm of controversy with her new exhibition, End Times. Her concern was to depict what she says reminded her of the "helplessness and anger I feel about our current political and social situation."

-So let me get this straight - because she feels helpless and hates GWB, she briefly tortured toddlers in an attempt to make them cry so she could take their pictures, exploit their pain to get a show, and then make some dough. She sounds like a peach.

Her pictures are nice.

Technorati Tags: Photography, Bush, Art

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Jesus in a Hawaiian food container

Call me crazy, but when I opened my Hawaiian fried chicken combo tonight, the special sauce had formed an image of Jesus in the lid. My inner Ferengi told me to calculate how much it would be worth to sell this apparition on eBay before I had even reached for my camera. I thought about saving the food too, but I figured it was a mere vessel for this miracle, so I ate it; except for the sticky rice, too many carbs.

My wife could not see it. I traced the outline of the jaw, showed the lips, eyes and nose. I even showed her the outline of his hair. He parts his hair on the right. I’m going to be rich!

Now that I look at Jesus, he could be the Virgin Mary too, or maybe Bob Marley, he was a demigod, that could be worth something. In a certain light, it could be Vishnu. I wonder if Vishnu appears to his believers in fast food containers? It was Hawaiian food after all, I think Vishnu prefers Indian food, oh heck, I could say it was Indian food. Muhammad is out. I undertand Muslims don't like pictures (or cartoons) of the prophet. Muslims please note, this image looks nothing like the prophet Mohammad. I see big money coming my way. Yep big money - or a letter bomb.

Rich I tell you, I’m going to be rich!

Technorati Tags: Apparitions, Jesus, Virgin Mary, miracles,