Category: Fourre-tout

“Nothing happens by chance, by fate. You create your own fate by your own actions.”

  

The idea of karma always appealed to me.
Karma as I understand it, keeps track of a person’s deeds and records everything in a big accounting ledger in the sky.
So always keep in mind that your actions, whether good or bad, will have consequences.

I often imagine karma as a big shaggy dog snoozing in the shade.
He has a keen hear and a very sensitive nose, even when he seems to be sleeping. He is very patient, but if some people try to camouflage some inconvenient truths, this big hound is very likely to sink his teeth in their derrière.

That’s why so many people are recusing themselves from pursuing a political career.
The rattling noise or the smell of hidden skeletons might wake up Karma and as the saying goes, it is better to let sleeping dogs lie.
Skeletons you see, feel very uncomfortable in the limelight.

It is definitely a bad idea for public figures, criminals, or politicians to seek higher office if they have something to hide.
The vetting process (or pesky journalists) will most probably unearth some long forgotten misdeeds and force them to beat a hasty retreat.
They then will quit running “to devote more time with their families”.

Some people (like former Nazis) have managed to camouflage their past and keep their shady or criminal deeds in the past.
It is ambition that usually brings them down.
When they seek higher office the harsh glare of public scrutiny shines on them and unmask them. And they are often unable to keep the lid on the sometimes-putrid smell of their past actions.

A few years ago an Austrian man named Kurt Waldheim who had a successful military and political career was suddenly accused of being a war criminal.
Although he strenuously denied it, “throughout his term as President (1986–1992), Kurt Waldheim and his wife Elisabeth were officially deemed ”persona non grata” by the United States.”

Similarly, the Donald  who was always thought (or promoted himself) to be an astute businessman is suddenly revealed as an ignorant, unscrupulous blowhard.

So watch what you do or say. If you don’t you might wake up Karma and his big teeth at the most inopportune moment.

Alain

Once in a while, when my blog’s ratings are sagging (yes it sometimes happens), I grab my cameras and go hunting.
I don’t stalk animals mind you. I love the critters too much to do such abhorring thing.

When I hunt, I pursue images; I creep like a ninja toward my intended prey and silently do the deed.
To me, a good photograph is always a candid snapshot: when the subject is not aware of the proceedings.
The minute the wind shifts and the target gets aware of my presence everything changes. The subject freezes and becomes a different person.

The minute I  post pictures on my site, the vertical bar of my popularity graph shoots straight up proving that nobody can resist the lure of a good photograph. It is often the hook that attracts hesitant readers.

People are basically curious, and no matter how good a story, the picture is what coaxes people to read the accompanying story.
A good tale can bring about some comments but a good picture can generate a storm.

Napoleon supposedly said: a good sketch is better than a long speech.
I have no doubt that if he were living today the Corsican Fiend would be running around carrying a camera around his neck.

If you have ever logged into a dating site, the first thing you would look for would be the photograph of the postulant. No matter what the person would say about himself/herself the picture is always the deal clincher.

I believe that if Trump changed his haircut (switch to a crew-cut or a Mohawk) and kept his mouth tightly shut he would vastly improve his dismal ratings.
It is the mop man, the hair!

Somebody said “Once photography enters your bloodstream, it is like a disease.”
I agree.
I was infected a long time ago and even though it is a serious disorder I have learned to live with it, even enjoy it.

Next time you visit my site, take a leisurely walk through my “pic patch”. I think that you will like it.

Alain

PS: Warning: when you least expect it, you could be the target of a candid shot.

Curse you Red Baron Petaluma!

Every year contestants from all the local Bay Area pétanque clubs converge to Marin to brawl for the honor of having their names engraved on the Interclub Cup.

This year the participating clubs were: La Pétanque Marinière (Marin County), La Boule d’Or (San Francisco), Valley of the Moon (Sonoma), Lamorinda (Contra Costa), Sunrise (San Francisco), Petaluma Valley (Sonoma County).

Due to the nature of this this tournament it is unlike a regular event.
The organizers have to keep track of all individual scores and tally all the results in order to determine which players will represent their clubs in the final phases of this event.
It is a tedious and time-consuming task.

Tournament Director Verena Rytter, Liv Kraft and Christine Cragg did an excellent job doing this and deserve a big hand for this thankless assignment.
Clap! Clap!

Among the contestants from the various clubs I spotted with pleasure seldom seen Pascal Gravier, steady Bill Hansen, Beth Lysten and adorable Rosa, young Noah Sonnet, and for the first time JoAnne Easton, newly minted member of the San Francisco club.
A big hello to all the other participants.

A tournament is often a humbling and sobering experience. A big fish in a small pond often finds himself small fry in a larger pond.

I would have loved to regale you about my own gig, but I produced such an abysmal performance that I would rather bury it discreetly (at night) in some isolated corner of my garden.

Three randomly drawn doublettes were played in the morning. The best scoring individuals would then represent their clubs in the following games.

At noon, in an emotionally charged moment, Marin club president Christine Cragg presented a commemorative plaque to Mireille Di Maio honoring René Di Maio who passed away last April. RIP René.

After lunch, the elimination process started. The highest scoring players from each club played each other in triplette formations.

In a memorable semi-final contest Lamorinda’s George Zolinski, Carlos Couto and Bill Hansen faced Antoine Lofaro, Jean-Claude Etallaz and Mireille Di Maio.
It was an evenly matched contest whose results were in doubt until the end.
George Zolinski’s team offered a dogged resistance to the Marin Club. George’s unorthodox shooting style was amazingly efficient but Antoine barely overpowered him with an even better performance.
Marin won 13/11.

In the Finals, the Marin Club faced Petaluma.

Petaluma fielded a very strong formation: Ed Porto, Jim Donahue and Dennis Casad.
On the Marin side: Antoine Lofaro, Jean-Claude Etallaz and Mireille Di Maio.

It was an interesting match full of emotional rebounds. Mireille Di Maio (Marin’s pointer) did a very good job but was outperformed by the steady efforts of both Jim Donahue and Dennis Casad.
Interestingly enough, I understand that Jim has been playing pétanque for only 5 months. Great show Jim. I see a great future for you.

Antoine played with the emotional bravura of a matador but missed a few crucial shots while Ed Porto remained coolheaded and almost error free.

Final results:

Concours:
1st prize: Petaluma
Ed Porto, Jim Donahue, Dennis Casad             Final score: 13/8
$125.00 to the club. + bottle of Champagne each.

2nd prize: Marin
Antoine Lofaro, J-C Etallaz, Mireille Di Maio
$60.00 to the club. + bottle of Champagne each.

Consolante:
1st prize: Lamorinda
Beth Lysten, Pascal Gravier, Serge Hanne                  Final score: 13/6
$60.00 to the club.

2nd prize: Petaluma
Rob Everett, Doug Colville, Les Stone
Bottle of Champagne each.

Hasta la vista Petaluma. We will meet again.
Revenge is a dish best eaten cold.

Alain

 To look at photos of this event and listen to the accompanying background music, turn your computer’s sound on, and click on the link “My Photos” located on the right side of this page. For best viewing, go Full Screen.