Happy Halloween !!

I wanted a picture of something kind of odd or different or maybe spooky for the Halloween Blog entry. Then I wanted to use a particular photo because I think it looks kind of cool and Halloween seems to be the best day to show if off. But then decided to highlight some pictures of people in costumes, Halloween or otherwise. Some pictures are cuter than others and some are more amusing than others. If you think the Christmas Tree looks a lot like the Artist from posts such as the Artist or the Artist redux, then you are probably right. As for tin foil hats, I still wear them, but only at work to ward of the radiation of idiots and to avoid mind control beams. I'm beginning to think that the tin foil isn't working too well. Enjoy the photos! And if you are in one of these photos, congratulations you have made it to America's Finest Blog.

Dan

Snowball and the Waterfall

This is a photo of my sister, at Yellowstone Park. It seems that the snowball must be particularly cold. Wow, aren't you glad you checked this blog today.

Dan

Friends

Nothing much to say about this shot, other than Laurel and Eowyn are couple of friends of mine, from back in the Ellensburg days. The photo was taken in the Roslyn Cemetery one fall day back in 1994. If you have never been to the Roslyn Cemetery you should check it out, it is quite interesting, if you enjoy cemeteries.

Enjoy

Dan

Another Reason to Vote on November 4th

It has recently come to my attention, thanks to the Naked Loon, that Mother's Cookies has been a victim of the recent economic downturn. I sure you have many questions, let me answer a couple. First the Naked Loon is not aviary porn, but a Puget Sound version of The Onion (see links below). Second Mother's Cookies makes, or made, those delicious sweet and waxy animal cookies, you know the white and pink ones with the candy sprinkles.

I really like those tasty animal cookies and I have for years. Thus I'm very sad. Ironically, the same day I found out the terrible news, the family and I had just returned from Wenatchee and pleasant visit with dear ol' Dad. For our visit Dad bought animal cookies for my son. These were the first animal cookies Quin had ever had. And thanks to the jerks in Washington, D.C., probably the last. You see apparently the owners of Mother's Cookies could not procure credit to keep operations going. A very sad time indeed. This sort of manifestation of economic peril, is so much more real and painful than watching my 401k dwindle away. So I ask the new most important question of the day; which candidate will bring back my animal cookies? Until that question can be answered I suggest everyone take a good long look at anyone who holds elected office right now and then vote them to the unemployment lines, on November 4th.

Here is the the link to the Naked Loon. Check it out, it's fun. http://nakedloon.com/ or if your Internet filter thinks you are looking at porn try, http://censoredloon.com/ .

Anyway today's photo is of Quin eating what could be his last animal cookie. It is all of America's fault, that my boy will not get to eat these things always and forever. That said, he'll probably live to be 125.

Finally, I promise to get back to more interesting stuff late this week.

Dan

Ted's Ridge

This is picture of Ted's Ridge. Where is Ted's Ridge, you my ask. Well it is at the end of the Sky Trail (a tram ride), at the Trees of Mystery. The cool thing about the Sky Trail is that you are climbing through beautiful redwood trees and if you have a dog, the amusement of the dog's reaction to the glass floor of the tram. However when you get to the top, Ted's Ridge is just about the only thing there. Or at least that's how I remember it.

Oh Well.

Dan

Autumn Colors the Second Edition

The trees are so very pretty. Now go spend $150,000.00 on some sassy new clothes, and when you have done that enjoy this photo. Now if you do not find yourself enjoying this photo, you have not spend enough money on sassy new clothes.

Buy more, worry less

Dan

Autumn Colors

Autumn colors are really a wonderful time of year. As the days get cooler and the nights longer the deciduous trees give quite a show. Before their leaves find the ground, they turn yellow, red and brown, it's so very pretty. Today's photos are from old highway 10, between Ellensburg and Cle Elum.

Enjoy

Dan

A Photo a Palin Could Love (Trish you might not want to look at this)

I say, who needs a truck or SUV when you have '54 Oldsmobile? Not Grandpa! I believe most people could not get away with this sort of shenanigan in our modern world. Well maybe in "Real America" you could, but for the rest of us, the F150 would be a better means of transportation for Mr. Joe the Deer.

Sorry Trish

Dan

Pumpkins and Voters' Pamphlet

As mentioned, this was pumpkin patch weekend. Come to find out, the average Joe Pumpkin is fed up with politics as usual in the other Washington too. That is why the average Joe Pumpkin urges you to read your Voters' Pamphlet, so you can find the best candidate so we can vote the bums out of the peoples' and pumpkins' government.

When I checked out the pamphlet, I was struck by the Socialist Workers Party, not only is their Candidate an African American, but the VP is white women, its like combining the best parts of the Democratic and Republican tickets. SWP's guy is a meat packer and an union man, so unlike the major party jerks and Joe the Plumber, he has an actual job (so Joe the Plumber, may actually work, facts and the truth has no place in a political discussion). The SWP says, that the billionaire ruling families are trumpeting their successes in screwing the rest of us into poverty. The SWP also wants a four day work week at current wages. So by voting SWP you are sticking it to the billionaires and getting an extra day off! The pamphlet has something for everyone, so you think you would rather vote for a woman President, who has an African American VP? Then the Socialism & Liberation Party is for you. They want to put peoples' needs ahead of balanced budgets and highway up keep, oh and the don't like police brutality. Those are but two gems within the pages of your voters' pamphlet, so check it out.

Finally Joe and Jane Pumpkin want you to get out and vote. Because they cannot, even though ACORN did sign up Joe and Jane Pumpkin in eleven states. You see Joe and Jane will be either smashed or plowed under by election day. In honor of Joe and Jane Pumpkin, I've created a Picasa Web Album the best of the Pumpkin Patch fun, check it out here: http://picasaweb.google.com/rustedvan/PumpkinPatch#

Today's photots are from the pumpkin patch, or near by. The photo of Cicely and I, is by my sister, with a bit of photo-shopping, thanks Jerrie. The other photos are by me.

Enjoy

Dan

The Pumpkin Patch

The annual visit to the pumpkin patch, as become something of a tradition in the Williams' household. Each year we try to meet up with my sister and enjoy the good times that a pumpkin patch will bring. And not to mention the glorious late October light. So tonight pictures of previous pumpkin patch trips.

Enjoy

Dan

Discovery Park

The city of Seattle owes a debt to Cleveland. President Cleveland that is, for if he did not think Seattle was ripe for revolt after the Panic of 1893, Discovery Park would not be. Instead it would be high end real estate. But lucky for Seattle, President Cleveland ordered a garrison watch over the city. Then in 1896, the site was selected for an artillery battery intended to defend Seattle from Naval attack.

Discovery Park is one of, if not my favorite place in Seattle. It is very large and very different from the city. It is a sanctuary and real treasure. It is the one place in the city that I actually miss. These photos come mostly from 2000-2001.

Enjoy

Dan

Fun With Photoshop

I'm a believer, fan and practitioner of straight photography. The straight photographer, relies on subject and composition to create a memorable photo, not darkroom magic. That said, it is kind of fun to go into a darkroom and manipulate a photograph to hell and back. Sometimes it looks great, sometimes it looks really manipulated. Spending hours in the darkroom is what I miss the most about 35mm photography that and my Cannon T50. Photoshop, is the darkroom of the digital age and like the darkroom sometimes it fun to mess around with a photo to see what you get. I'm a novice at the wonders of photoshop, so mostly I ruin photos, not enhance them. Keeping all this in mind, today's entry is a recent photo I took at Gas Works Park, in Seattle and then given the old one two Photoshop hatchet job, a la The Dan.

Dan

In Honor of...

Unfortunately, I do not have any photo's of Columbus "discovering" America. Then again we are told Columbus really didn't "discover" anything anyway. Poor old Columbus a villain only banks could love, or at least use as a reason for closing.

So instead, in honor of it being hunting season and my having to work at 5 AM, Monday morning, today we have a hunting photo and a lonely hi-way shot. Both shots by my Grandmother. The hunting shot is from 1946 and the lonely hi-way is actually the Garden of the Gods, in Colorado Springs, CO, date unknown.

Enjoy

Dan

Watch Out!

Who needs bears and cougars when you have hunters like this. October 11th, is the opening day of hunting season, so be real careful out there. Guys like this are everywhere.

Sundown at Carkeek Park

Carkeek Park is in Seattle's Broadview neighborhood, north of Ballard and west of Northgate. These photos were taken by my dad, in 1967 or 1968. I can remember going to Carkeek Park as a little kid, and going down the slide there. And I can remember crossing the railroad tracks to get to the beach. Oddly, I don't think I remember the beach itself.
Enjoy

Dan

Super Exciting 101st Post

This being the 101st post, means that yesterday's post, "Now Fold Your Arms and Cast your Gaze Upon this Shrubbery," was the 100th. Which had I paid attention, probably would have been called something like, "Super Exciting 100th Post." Now this discussion is super exciting. I thought that the best way to ignore, the world financial crisis, and all the other current disappointments; the Seahawks, my 401k, your 401k, not having a 401k, the bailout, the election, our current leadership, our future leadership, well the list is pretty much endless so I'll stop. Anyway the best way to ignore the current goings on, would be to post a bunch of pictures of me. But then I thought that, one the pictures could include somebody in the background that at some point broke the law. So not wanting Sarah Pallin to attack, "America's Finest Blog," with accusations that I love felons and other enemies of the state, I have chosen two pictures of Reno, NV instead. Once again, pushing the limits of blogging.

Enjoy

Dan

Now Fold Your Arms and Cast Your Gaze Upon this Shrubbery

One must consider this shrubbery to be a powerful attention getter. It also appears to be a very serious shrubbery and cannot be gazed upon lightly or without serious and meaningful contemplation.

Please enjoy with only the utmost seriousness and meaningful contemplation.

Dan

Tippy Begs for the Camera

Pictures of dogs are much better than thinking about the uncertainty of the current world. Oh and that's my mom in the background.

Enjoy

Dan