Synthetic Marijuana - Not good

Albert Einstein once stated, "Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." I think he was correct. 

I went to Hippie Hill today and simply sat and relaxed for a few hours this evening. As I sat on a lawn chair at the bottom of the hill I talked with Hippie Tom and Dwight Teagarden about life and the problem we are facing in Murfreesboro over synthetic drug use. Without a doubt, they agreed how dangerous synthetics are on our youth and adults who assume they are just like real marijuana. Their words… “They’re not!!! [They are in no way similar and much more dangerous].” 

Meet THE CHAMP

He weighed 165 pounds in 1972 when he won the 1972 National AAU Welterweight Championship. At that time, he lived in Chicago and trained in the C.Y.O. Gym. C.Y.O. stands for the Catholic Youth Organization. He was only 20 years old at the peak of his championship award and he hung up his boxing gloves for good at the age of 25. 

Tonight I had the pleasure of giving Freddie Washington, Jr. a tent and water. Freddie, who is known on the streets of Nashville, Tennessee as “Champ,” was one of the nicest homeless men I have ever met. He was extremely polite and humble.

The Chicago Times wrote in 1972, “In three rounds for the 165-pound championship, Freddie Washington of Chicago Heights, 111., and the Army defeated Ed Gregory of Brooklyn, N.Y.” 

Champ told me he took some major blows to the head over his boxing career and at one point, thought he would never be able to speak again. He proved the doctors wrong and put forth the same effort that he did during his training years to re-learn the process of speaking. 

In the 1970’s he trained with greats like Billy Boy Thompson, Floyd Smith, and Warren Thunder. Tonight, I was in the midst of a legend. 

In addition to boxing, Champ was also known for running. In his teen years, he was one of the fastest kids in Chicago wining numerous races. 

Tonight was a great night. 

"Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing." - Camille Pissarro

On the outside of the fence

It was interesting, I walked inside the fence and outside the fence of the Gay Pride event in Nashville today. What I saw on the inside were the kids who were picked on in 7th grade, but grown up now. I saw the guys who took art class serious and took creativity to a whole new level, but were not accepted by the jocks. I saw the girls who were not part of the stylish clique of the week in high school. I saw the men who had fathers that abused them... I saw they had a place to fit in while inside the fence. I saw they were fully accepted no matter their size, dress or attitude while inside the confines of the fence.

On the outside of the fence I saw only three people arguing with those on the inside about the choices made on the "other side" of the fence, as if the choices I make (or they make) on the outside of the fence are always 100% perfect or positive in some way - - It was like those on the outside were looking into what they viewed as chaos that they failed to somehow control or capture.

Sometimes it's helpful to walk on the inside of the fence to see the outside.

"Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to cast a stone." - Jesus Christ

Girl Scout Cookies offer a big smile to the homeless

A little note cheered Kevin up… The handwritten note on the box of Girl Scout Cookies donated to homeless men and women stated, “You are Awesome.”

The cookies were donated by Girl Scout Troop 6212 in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. The second grade girls took the time to attach a special note to each and every box that was handed out under bridges, on the street and along railroad tracks.

Kevin is a U.S. Army Veteran who was once stationed in Panama. He battles with schizophrenia and currently lives under a bridge. He is working with Wounded Warriors and the VA to hopefully secure group housing and further help with the voices that torment him nightly. 

Meet Queen Andrea

While touring the Bonnaroo grounds on Thursday to see how the set-up process is turning out, I met Queen Andrea. You are probably scratching your head thinking, “She is not really a queen is she?”

While Andrea von Bujdoss is not actually royalty, she is known as the queen of graffiti. Because of her artwork, she is called Queen Andrea. Evidenlty, the graphic designer from New York, learned from some of the most prolific old school graffiti writers in our era.

The New York based artist was chosen to design and paint a massive water feature on the 700-acres that make up Bonnaroo in Manchester, Tennessee. Her design, complete with black lights at night, will be in the round watering basin where concert goers will cool off during the heat of the event which takes place June 11th through the 14th.

Each year, the festival brings in about 100,000 visitors from as far away as Japan and as close as Nashville. This year, some of the big names include Billy Joel, Mumford and Sons, Ben Folds and even Slayer. 

Airline service workers want 5-cent fee added to tickets to cover insurance costs

Commercial aviation helps to create some 11-million jobs in America. If that is not enough to get your attention, I don’t know what will?

While in Washington D.C., I stumbled upon a major protest on Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House. The wind was blistering cold and I struggled to take photos without my gloves on, but I wanted to make sure I captured the emotion that was stirred up by the workers who were asking for help to cover the cost of their personal medical insurance.

The group of airline industry service workers were asking for the airline companies they work for to add a nickel to the cost of every ticket sold in hopes of acquiring better health insurance for their families. The group suggested that an additional 5-cents added to every ticket would cover the cost of their family medical insurance plan, which right now is unaffordable for many. Their website stated, “We will be forced to pay the Obama Care Income Tax Fine for declining to purchase this un-affordable insurance.” That 5-cents per ticket, according to the protestors, would cover their expense.  

I walked in close for these shots as I was using my small 23mm fixed lens Fuji X100s. Those who were protesting seemed to be too busy shouting what they felt was needed for their family to even notice my encroachment into their personal space. Several police officers asked me to step back as they began making arrests while the crowd deliberately blocked the flow of traffic in the area of Pennsylvania Avenue.

After 15 or more protestors were arrested, the chants continued. The big question that lingers, will that additional 5-cents be added to the cost of an airline ticket and if so, will it be noticed by the traveling public? Only time will tell.

Break away from the norm - Go to the races

This photo was captured in the area of Huntsville, AL. 

“If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough.” ― Mario Andretti

Best salesman ever? Possibly!

A retired vinyl siding salesman who is now 85-years old is finding joy in helping others. M.C. Radford quietly lives in a small home located behind his daughters' house in Woodbury, TN. Mr. Radford is a big believer in Cybernetics and possibly one of the best salesman ever, at least that's what you will think after visiting with him.

While the word Cybernetics sounds like something out of a sci-fi novel, it actually means the science of control and communication. Others describe it as the science of effective organization or the science of understanding. It is used by salesmen far and wide.

Read the entire story and hear soundbytes of Mr. Radford HERE. 

Trail of Tears

79-Year old Gene Glasscock and his wife Noqah Elisi are taking a trip, but not just any vacation. They are traveling by covered wagon along the Cherokees’ Trail of Tears. The trip is to memorialize the thousands of Indians who died on the route in the 1800’s. The Glasscock’s have Cherokee ancestry in their blood. Noqah Elisi is also taking the trip as a way to remember her son Johnny who died the year before in Alaska. Johnny died in an accidental shooting, according to Noqah Elisi. She had planned to take the trip with him four years ago. That never happened. 

About 16,000 Cherokee Indians were driven from their lands by the US Army under the command of Andrew Jackson. They were forced to walk about 1,000 miles to an area that was titled “Indian Territory.” Some 4,000 died along the Trail of Tears that is also called “The trail where they cried.” The Glasscock’s will end their travel in Oklahoma, which is where the Cherokee also ended their trip.

I captured this shot when they stopped at MTSU in Murfreesboro, TN to spend the night. 

Photo shoot with the General Lee

For this little journey, I followed a man from Rockvale, Tennessee all the way to Georgia where we captured his General Lee / Dodge Charger in original filming locations of the Dukes of Hazard. The popular American television show was aired from 1979 to 1985. Re-runs soon followed for years. Most of the show was filmed in small communities all around Atlanta. 

Food Not Bombs

The group Food Not Bombs set up shop in a small Atlanta park on a sunny Sunday afternoon and served food to the homeless, the addicted and the less fortunate. It was a very positive event with smiling faces and live music for all to enjoy. 

According to the groups website, "Even though we provide meals and groceries to thousands of people we are not a charity. Food Not Bombs is trying to inspire the public to participate in changing society and focus our resources on solving problems like hunger, homelessness and poverty while seeking an end to war and the destruction of the environment."

Empty Places: Got Milk?

I was honored to tour the old Flagship Atlanta Dairy, LLC in Georgia, thanks to the generosity of a local government worker at the property that is now used as a parking lot for Government of Atlanta vehicles. 

In these photos, I decided to make the exterior shots in black and white and the interior ones in color. Why, you ask? Who knows?

I do not know why the Flagship Atlanta Dairy, LLC closed, but I have to admit that I found data from the federal government quite interesting. Evidently, the company had a Food Service Contract with the Department of Defense. 

In 2005, the dairy had a contract with the Department of Defense that added up to $98,037. By 2008, that number grew to $2.28 million. In 2009, the contracted amount dropped significantly to a mere $3,225.