Comments by Bobby Tony | Eastern NC Now

You are dead on right. Photoshop is one of the tools used now a days to create an illusion rather than a work of art. I use it extensively as a technical tool but realize that it will never replace the depth of a well composed and properly lighted original.

Commented: Wednesday, August 9th, 2017 @ 9:58 am By: Bobby Tony

Stan, you images are proof that you have attained a "Level of Oneness" that the philosophers talk about with your subject matter. A perfect photograph is as much a statement about the photographer as it is about the picture.
As one who has had a long fascination with photography, but did not possess the "Mind's Eye" to capture the deeper emotional content of a scene or image, I often fell back on the crutch of after the fact doctoring an image in the darkroom. Capturing the subject matter involves the technique and competence with the equipment, but it is more than technical competence that matters.
One lesson in photography that I was never able to master was the patience to wait for just the right moment to capture the moment. Of course, the first lesson for amateurs is to take plenty of pictures for later review and selection.
I also fell into the trap of trying to mimic one of the great landscape photographers, based on a book I read about him. Long before computers made GIGO a catch phrase, photographers depended on the crutch of after the fact manipulation.

"Ansel Adams is well known for spending a whole day in the darkroom, just to produce one print. 50% of the Creative Process Occurred in the Dark Room"

expertphotography.com

Keep up the good work, screen images do not do justice to your work and I am glad you are offering them as hard copy prints.

Commented: Wednesday, August 9th, 2017 @ 8:49 am By: Bobby Tony

Dad also had a good head for numbers and was a great card player. He was an avid reader and if he took it in his mind to learn something he plowed right in. My wife says I have the same tenacity once on a subject without the brains to go with it.

At dad's funeral, one of my old neighborhood buddies told me that he always thought dad was the most accomplished successful man he ever knew given his education. He was the neighborhood go to man for kids to fix their bikes etc.

Commented: Monday, August 7th, 2017 @ 6:59 pm By: Bobby Tony

For a guy who hides behind a phony pseudonym I have no clue what the hook is with this article. I could understand if I had written about Fire and Rain or Bridge over Troubled Water.

Commented: Monday, August 7th, 2017 @ 10:52 am By: Bobby Tony

Dictated on the iPhone so may not have complete clarity of though.

I don't disagree with your assessment at all, but I am finding more antidotal evidence amount my circle (mostly conservative) of a shift in the good will away from this Drum Major. If the band loses track of the musical score, both he and the country maybe toast.
I estimate that his solid base is at best 40% The opposition's solid base is about 40%. That leaves 20% that are somewhat ambivalent or at least within persuasive territory.
That 20% broke down roughly half and half which left neither side with a clear majority mandate.
If the deal maker spent more time persuading that 20% he may gather more than a 52/48 vote in the senate.
If Trump can get past his own EGO and stop denigrating the "RINO"s who at least lean his way, he might gain a few supporters who will sway their Democrat senators. Who the hell cares what the media thinks anymore? Their position is cast along clear ideological lines.

People vote on emotions as much if not more than reason. Senators vote with an eye on the wind sock.

I think LBJ gave the best summation.

izquotes.com

Commented: Sunday, August 6th, 2017 @ 10:23 am By: Bobby Tony

I had an article in the stack about survival skills vs Job skills which is along the same lines.
John McCain has good survival skills which is to resist the guards at all cost. I think he has a built in chip on his shoulder regarding Trump and sees himself as champion of the mavericks . It worked great for his captivity but not too well as a Senator. His first instinct it to resist authority. Any study of his life will show that he resist discipline most likely as a result of his Admiral Father and Grandfather. I have the utmost admiration for that trait in his POW survival but think he it does not go well in governing. But is is possible to admire one character trait and at the same time criticize that same trait in regards to other job requirements.

I have no doubt that Gen Kelly will stand up well or he will tell the "D" where to stick it in true Marine fashion.

As the most famous Marine Chesty Puller once said when he came to a Marine base.

"Take me to the brig, I want to see the real Marines."

Commented: Saturday, July 29th, 2017 @ 3:11 pm By: Bobby Tony

Stan, My learning process has been slow and often interrupted by the need to make a living, but I finally gained a modicum of knowledge if not the talent to play or make a guitar.

Classical guitars are not designed for bar chords but individual notes and finger picking styles. I always thought it was just Nylon vs Steel Strings. I did not realize this until I attempted to make my own guitar years ago and found that the fretboard radius differed between many different manufacturers and styles. I found that design and construction is much more than a body and neck and strings. I never got out of the batter's box but I did learn to appreciate a luthier's talent. As one whose skill set was basically anchored in "BS," I have always admired the craftsman who could create something from an image in his mind.

"A radius is better for chords and flat is better for single note runs. A compound radius neck is a popular upgrade. Radius down at the nut gradually lessens toward the bridge."
Here is a link on the life of a luthier guitar maker.

www.artofmanliness.com

Commented: Thursday, July 27th, 2017 @ 9:24 am By: Bobby Tony

The local Flea Market in Braselton has a Music room with various Guitars and Ukes. I visit there often to browse. He has both a Taylor and Martin Baby Guitar. I told "Bob The Music" man I was to old to still be collecting but not too old to look. He said "Are we still talking about Guitars?"

The Baby Martin is second one from left and the Taylor is forth from left.

Commented: Wednesday, July 26th, 2017 @ 10:11 am By: Bobby Tony

Here is an interesting history of the coin. Jefferson Davis was not included in the design on the coin so Jackson and Lee could be enlarged to better fit the round coin.

When the coin design was presented the Secretary of the Treasury asked Gutson Borglum why he placed the motto "In God We Trust" over the head of Robert E. Lee.

Borglum said: "Because they did trust Him, and were sincere in their belief that they were right."

Then Borglum was asked what the significance of the thirteen stars.

Borglum replied with a chuckle according to the folklore: "It depends on which side of Mason Dixon's line you happen to live. They could, of course, stand for the thirteen rebellious Colonies."

Carved in Stone ISBN: 0-89554-547-2 [Mercer University Press 1968]

Commented: Wednesday, July 26th, 2017 @ 8:33 am By: Bobby Tony

You have pointed out another absurd abuse of government money. I nominate Rand Paul as the least powerful Senator . Not only was he so bold as to suggest that we Repeal the Affordable Healthcare Act PERIOD, he also found some problems with the way the National Nuclear Security Agency wanted to spend more money on treadmills for its agents.

Surely he qualifies as the least powerful Senator merely because he seems to make some sense. If not him then the Senator Leader from the same state may qualify for least effective.

See the link below for his statement on the Treadmill Gambit by the NNSA.

www.paul.senate.gov

Commented: Tuesday, July 18th, 2017 @ 7:09 pm By: Bobby Tony

The Democrats are much better at governing than the Republicans. That may be in large part because they put their faith in government while Republicans tend to put their faith in individuals.

They are the masters of Incrementalism. You are correct, they knew what they were doing. Now we are stuck with trying to take the candy from the baby, a most difficult task which is easily demonized as MEAN AND HATEFUL.

Commented: Monday, July 10th, 2017 @ 7:36 am By: Bobby Tony

I order to properly respond to the comments I will have to break my answer into two sections.

I. I make my coffee in 20oz cup at a time using dark brew and it does rev up my motor to the point that I can't slow down at times when I have more than one thing going on that I am responsible for. According to my wife I am responsible for just about everything including global warming. However, I was fortunate in my choice of the wife model. My model has a repeat cycle, which repeats everything I need to do until it is done. It saves me so much time trying to write things down.

II. TMc – I solved the dilemma in the YouTube video long ago. I use a string tied around my finger to remember what I stared out to do. Each time I get distracted, I wrap the string around the current object and move on. It gives a completely new meaning to Charlotte's Web when I try to unravel myself from the string. and retrace back to my first project.

Commented: Sunday, July 9th, 2017 @ 4:16 pm By: Bobby Tony

Stan you are right, but TMc left out the longest running war of all.

The War of the Roses (Still being fought throughout the land.)

beaufortcountynow.com

Commented: Thursday, July 6th, 2017 @ 6:15 pm By: Bobby Tony

In an effort to be "FAIR AND BALANCED," I offer this screen shot of my morning News Scan of the political left.

youtu.be

Commented: Wednesday, July 5th, 2017 @ 8:50 am By: Bobby Tony

We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid. Benjamin Franklin

Commented: Tuesday, July 4th, 2017 @ 6:24 am By: Bobby Tony

Do you think a 17-year-old Donald Trump learned about Sherman while at the New York Military Academy?

If I had my choice I would kill every reporter in the world, but I am sure we would be getting reports from Hell before breakfast. William Tecumseh Sherman

I hate newspapermen. They come into camp and pick up their camp rumors and print them as facts. I regard them as spies, which, in truth, they are. William Tecumseh Sherman

Limbaugh says the Trump is using his Twitter pronouncements like a laser pen is used to tease a cat. They will run into the wall chasing the red dot.

Commented: Monday, July 3rd, 2017 @ 5:23 pm By: Bobby Tony

Most people think that was a staged picture. Actually it was taken after he had plowed the garden and we were just laying the rows in the soft plowed ground. I did have a picture of my mom doing the same thing when I came by one day and I and caught them plowing. I took the picture and gave him hell about it. I hung the picture in his shop and everybody got a good laugh out of it. His only response was, "Well hook up and your mom can rest." My brother took this picture and I used it as an example about me pulling my share of the load for a while. After she passed he threw the her picture away saying it was not a joke anymore. But I kept the negative and still have it. He was a hard CEO to work for but I learned a bunch from the ole man.

Commented: Sunday, July 2nd, 2017 @ 6:03 pm By: Bobby Tony