Where Do I Live?

 In years past I felt like my fellow citizens were all a cohesive set of Americans. Increasingly, let's say since Y2K, we have become two America's. I used to have differences with my friends on the nuances of certain policies or politicians. Now it seems the differences are on the very foundation of America and our way of life. It's as if an infection has spread throughout the country. An infection of socialist thought.

I would directly blame our educational institutions for this infection. Initially, I would say there is low-level subversion (or at least lower) in the elementary, middle, and high schools. Colleges and Universities are the metastasizing force behind this cancer. Children's minds are prepped for this infection in their early education and then fully indoctrinated at the upper levels. These institutions have instilled a foundation of cynical denial of the truth as it has been rewritten to conform to the socialist's version of events. There is no longer any objective truth. What disturbs me is when I hear someone utter the catchphrase, "my truth". Truth has now become relative. Men and women are not necessarily what they appear to be. We all can be "gender-fluid", or non-binary, or whatever we want to call ourselves because truth is no longer objective. Historical truths have been twisted to be something else. 

Secondarily, the media is the most in-your-face conspirator in today's world. The days of old where news outlets provided information so the people could come to their own conclusions are long gone. Corporate media is now actively distributing false information as well as lying by omission. One of the most harmful lies of omission recently has been the misrepresentation of Donald Trump's words after the ill-fated Charlottesville, VA rally where a person was killed. This misrepresentation has been regurgitated so many times by dishonest media outlets that a casual political media viewer (ie: the vast majority of Americans) believe it to be factual. In 1943 the Communist Party issued a book of directives to Communist Party members in the United States. One directive was the use of misinformation. This is where the phrase "a lie repeated often enough becomes the truth" is derived from. The media has taken that advice and run with it. They erroneously tout themselves as "speaking truth to power". A laughable notion if you see what they are actually doing. Most of the public is still somehow lulled into believing that news organizations are presenting factual truths. There is nothing farther from the truth. The only way to find the actual truth of a "news" story is to spend inordinate amounts of time hunting for the actual truth. It IS out there but it is getting more difficult to find as both sides of the political spectrum are injecting themselves with desperation into media. Both sides vying for eyeballs and clicks and the almighty dollar.

Trains Magazine Contribution

Recently I submitted one of my pictures to Trains Magazine for their "Trackside with Trains" feature. It's a 'vote for your favorite' kind of feature. The theme was titled "Yellow". The idea is to submit a rail related photo that has something to do with the color yellow. I went through my portfolio and narrowed it down to a couple of pictures. After agonizing over the decision (well, not really) I chose a picture I took in Alviso. My entry tallied enough votes for a respectable third place.

Back in the mid to late 1800's Alviso was destined to be a port city. Shipping from San Francisco and beyond would arrive in Alviso for distribution throughout the south San Francisco bay area. At the time the area was a large agricultural region. However, the hopes of it becoming a booming port city were dashed when the San Francisco and San Jose Railroad bypassed Alviso. The growth in transporting commodities by rail was the death knell for Alviso. The building captured in the image is the former Laine's Grocery in the late 1800's. The building was in use up until major flooding caused severe damage in 1983.

4.4 Earthquake 3/30/09

We had an earthquake this morning at 10:40am. It's epicenter was about five miles southeast of where I live. At first I thought it was the wind rattling the windows since it's blowing pretty good today. When it kept rattling and I started feeling it sitting at the kitchen table I knew it wasn't the wind! It seemed to last for about 5seconds. While that doesn't seem like a long time, try counting to five (using the Mississippi counting style) and consider that during that period of time your entire house is shaking and rattling. That is a virtual eternity.

Fortunately 4.4 is a mild quake. The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake was a 6.9 on the Richter Scale and lasted for fifteen seconds. Each incremental increase in the size of the quake is ten times stronger. For example a 4.0 quake is ten times stronger than a 3.0 quake. The jump from today's 4.4 quake to the 6.9 Loma Prieta quake is an increase in magnitude of about twenty five times in strength. Gotta love living in California!

Nearly 150 Years of Stories

The abandoned Laine's Grocery Store in Alviso originally built in 1865 could tell a few tales, I'm sure. Today it sits crumbling and decayed next to the railroad tracks. It's facade nearing the point of no return.

Laine's Grocery Store, Alviso

Laine's Grocery Store
Originally uploaded by sharkzfan

I was really quite pleased with the way this one turned out. I was not sure how the sodium vapor streetlight and it's orange glow would affect the image. Turns out it created a nice surreal look. Click on the Flickr link and then above the picture click an the "All Sizes" button. It's best viewed large!.

Atmosphere Pictures

I really like this shot. It's sunrise at the Santa Clara train station and there is a lone pedestrian walking the platform. The haze of smoke from the southern California wildfires hangs over the valley and washes out the photo. I think it adds a monochromatic "flavor" of loneliness. These shots are few and far between but they are the ones you try the hardest to take!


This is an old brick warehouse in Alviso. On the south side of the building it has the name "H.G. Wade" painted and fading away. I've tried to research the history of the building but have not found much other than a reference to the name as the owner.

Long Time No Post

I have been chastised by Joe for my lack of posting hence this post.


Here is a picture I took near the NUMMI plant in Fremont. Waiting for the next batch of new Toyota's to be completed.


The entrance to the "Ghost Marina" in Alviso.


The former Laine's Grocery Store. Abandoned since the floods of the 1980's El Nino's


I don't think these boats would even float at high tide.