Southern California fires: what a view

This is an amazing view from space of the fires that are raging in Southern California right now. The red dots indicate significant fires. What a view from NASA - it's so stark, I almost thought for a second that this picture was Photoshopped, but a quick look at the news certainly gives this photo an aire of authenticity.

Time's redesign has some seeing red

This week, Time Magazine unveils a redesign of its cover as well as the internal presentation of the news weekly. I haven't had much, ahem, time to read this week's issue yet, but I have put some thought into this week's cover photograph.

I received my copy (above) of this week's issue in the mail on Saturday. The cover caught my eye - it's a striking example of the pitfalls and ethics involved with "Photoshopping" a picture in the digital age.

Already, President Reagan's son, Michael, is decrying the use of his father with an artificial tear on the cover. While I can see Michael's point and sensitivity that it's in poor taste, my outrage doesn't match his.

This is simply a picture that has been altered for dramatic effect, and I gather that most people will know this when they look at it. Maybe in the digital age, I've just become so used to this sort of thing that it doesn't get my attention as much anymore. I'm not sure, but I just don't see what the big deal is here.

And, most importantly from an ethical point of view, Time didn't present it as an original picture, although I find the way they credited the photograph sort of weird. The table of contents lists it this way: "On the cover: Photograph by David Hume Kennerly; Tear by Tim O'Brien."

Anyway, Repubes have many, many more important things to worry about than how their folk hero (I will never not laugh typing that, by the way), Ronald Reagan, is depicted on the cover of Time Magazine.

Too good not to pass on

I got this in an e-mail forward this morning. I don't even know if it's real or not, but it's too good to not pass on. The point is, even if it's Photoshopped, you can still conceive of the President doing something like this.

Actually, the above forward sent me down memory lane. A few years ago, Bush flew to Iraq for a surprise Thanksgiving visit. The worst photo-op president in history was a bit embarrassed when it was revealed...



...that the turkey he was holding in the photo was fake. Total humiliation? No, but it underscores the fact that he wanted to be portrayed as the self-described "Wartime President" entertaining the troops during Thanksgiving. What a sham.

Still think I'm exaggerating about Bush's photo-op flops? Here's a few more great examples...



This one leaves me speechless. Washington, Jefferson, TR, Lincoln and... and... Bush?!? This photo leaves me breathless with laughter whenever I look at it.

Okay, the real reason I'm on the photo-op kick this morning, is Bush's address yesterday to the NAACP. A quick trip down memory lane: In 2004, Bush became the first sitting U.S. president since Herbert Hoover (also a Republican) to decline an invitation to address the NAACP. His comments at the time included the remark that his relationship with the current leadership of the organization was "nonexistent," while whining about "the names they've called me." I never realized a president could have such a thin skin.

But, I have to give Bush some credit. It takes a pretty big set of balls to appear before the civil rights organization after comments like that. Anyway, out he went yesterday, and it's safe to say the speech could have gone better. On to the photos...



"Look! Over here! I'm with my black Secretary of State! Guess where we are going?" This was taken yesterday morning. You can almost read the body language here - he's making sure he gets the press's attention with that stupid, stupid wave he always does before embarking on Marine One. Rice was headed to the Middle East to deal with the building crisis between Israel and Lebanon, while Bush's busy day included his speech to the NAACP.



Jessie Jackson (whom I'm no huge fan of) sits enthralled with other members of the audience during Bush's address yesterday to the NAACP. Big deal, and not an unexpected reaction, right?
Well, the photographer panned left, and look who was sitting in the audience?



I'm glad Condi could take the time out of her schedule to help solve the Mid-East crisis to hear Bush speak. People are getting slaughtered in the Middle East by the minute, and the whole area is on the brink of war, but that would not take priority over a Karl Rove photo op. Priorities are evidentally not the strong suit of this administration.