Portal to hell, spotted under bridge on Linden St. in Normal, Illinois a few blocks South of the Police Station.
Face of the werewolf Elvis, spotted in a stain on a bathroom fixture.
Spotted on the desk of a professor who upgraded to a Blackberry or an iPhone or something. This bit of sculpture/performance-art perfectly captures my feelings about Palm devices.
Invisible ambulance is invisible
The historic Normal Theater plays foreign, independent and classic films. It's a nonprofit movie house in a restored 1930's theater that almost got torn down; now it's one of the best things about our community. See the next picture for the interior. http://www.normaltheater.com/
Inside the historic Normal theater.
Macintosh keyboard looks filthy, but it's no dirtier than the Dell keyboard across the aisle.
Prairie grass, and late afternoon sun
The mulching mower is right up there with the light bulb and the integrated circuit as the greatest invention of all time.
Mural, Bloomington, Illinois. Two Stevensons.
Lonely road, Sep '09. Use your imagination to hear this location.
Cornfield from road, Sep '09
"The physical impossibility of falling in the mind of someone safely on the ground"
Childhood, on the curb. To the homeowner's credit, they did remove the lead-acid battery from the electric toy car.
I have no idea why Christmas tree ornaments were lying in the street over this storm drain. But on close examination, someone had poured motor oil into the drain; a horrible, very-bad, no-good thing to do.
Death of Skittles
Death of Skittles, detail
My friend Pete, doing some serious computing. Some really, really serious computing.
Paving bricks from a short footpath between an old mansion and Lake Michigan
Just a sampling of the thousands of different minerals that our planet has produced. Geology is full of complexities, so I lose patience with creationists when they dream up simple explanations with the intention of throwing science out the window.
One bright leaf
Elephant dollar that my boss carries in his wallet
Acme Comics in Normal, Illinois. Linus can waste his time searching for the world's most sincere pumpkin patch, but this is the world's most sincere comic book store. And the owner is a great guy too. Might be some correlation between those two realities.
Hanging file folders in perfect condition. These are completely re-usable, pretty much forever. I hope nobody from that building is buying new hanging file folders. I must recommend the practice of "shopping in your closet".
My grandmother Rose turns 100 this week; this is the card I made for her. The inscription on the front reads; "Too much of a good thing can be wonderful" - Mae West
Peace blanket, handmade, on sale with tables full of beautiful handmade blankets, jackets and hats by an old couple on the library plaza.
My friend Wes, looking as eligible as any bachelor ever could...
Bring me... A SHRUBBERY! (I have no idea how a shrubbery ended up on some dude's car. A prank?)
Historical mural, Bloomington, IL
Found humor; a toilet in an alleyway. But the funny part is the headline on the newspaper bundle, which I did not notice until I got ready to upload the photo and saw the enlarged view. The headline reads; "Take it from me, not a bathroom stall"
Two Stevensons, Adlai and his grandfather, Adlai.
When sculptors start welding together random gears that don't actually mesh, it bugs me.
Bloomington has several murals of local historical figures. Can you identify any of these individuals?
Historical mural
Plaque commemorating the Bloomington, IL fire of 1900
Dark alley. Note cast iron work on left side. Detail image follows.
Cast ironwork hidden in a dark alley
Ensenberger building
Ensenberger building, detail
Courthouse dome in Bloomington, IL
Lions at the Lafayette Hotel in Bloomington, IL
One of the lions at the Lafayette building in Bloomington, IL
One of the lions at the Lafayette building, in Bloomington, IL. Do you suppose the sculptor had ever really looked at a lion?
Official ice cream of NASCAR. The guy in the picture is a top athlete so I guess when he gets to eat some ice cream, he wants the good stuff.
I found this Dale Earnhardt, Jr. brand shotgun shell in a parking lot where it must have been run over by a number of cars. 2 views shown here next to a normal shotgun shell for comparison. I don't know what auto racing has to do with ammunition but there you go.
I love this painting, which hangs in the waiting area of an Italian restaurant here in Normal. It is provocative to me because it clearly depicts an advanced stage of civilization, and yet if you dropped me in that plaza at the time shown in the painting, I wouldn't know how to do the first thing. Many good time-travel stories have been written on just that observation. Many, involving paintings. _-_ UPDATE: The author of an archeology blog that I read has a post that explores this idea: http://scienceblogs.com/aardvarchaeology/2009/12/fear_of_time_travel.php ((Also a reader on that thread revealed the artist and title below)
New sink basket. Threads are treated with plumber's silicone grease. Flange is bonded to sink with aquarium silicone. It's a very well-made basket that should last the life of the sink.
Diane looking into hole in cabinet. A whole new perspective.
Old sink after pulling up from hole in cabinet. Ancient Delta faucet broke, is a mass of rust. Replaced with high-end Moen faucet (and new sink)
New sink, preassembled to drop into counter and connect.
New sink installation. Used new ball-type shutoff valves. Was some complication getting the new plastic drain to talk to the old metal pipe, but I fabricated a fairly elegant solution that will be easy to service and won't leak.
View into drain trap showing dishwasher drain.
The floor of an old mansion on the shore of Lake Michigan
Wave extent pattern 1.
My sister noticed this canine trio and their pet making their way up the shore of lake Michigan. (Canon S5-IS)
Sand and rocks. How many VGA-resolution compositions can you crop from this image?
Sand and rocks 2. How many VGA-resolution compositions can you crop from this image?
Sand and water. Not to engage in cliches or anything...
The complications of preparing breakfast. I should have also moved the spray non-stick and the spatula into the group.
Go ahead; put plastic chains across the stairs during the winter to keep people from using them...
A dam near Spokane, Wa. This panorama is from five prints taped together, back in the pre-digital days.
Dr. Tyrone Hayes lecturing at Illinois State University, on his research findings about developmental consequences of environmental Atrazine
Of the Westward Journey series of US nickles
The total relief of this sculpture is only about six thousandths of an inch (0.15mm)
Ed Begley, Jr., at Illinois State University on 14 April 2010
Keep your ideas FRESH! (But not, apparently, your gender stereotypes)
Hey, it's toxic-waste pickup day! Uh, I mean it's trash day. This stuff is headed right for the landfill. In this country, we don't really have very good control of residential toxics.
Just accept it: not even the library book sale wants your old encyclopedias or National Geographic magazines.
I'm old enough to remember when it was amazing to have your own copy of a movie on VHS tape. Here's an early DVD: EXPERIENCE MGM DVD! Discover all the high-tech action and high-powered excitement of Hackers on DVD - the state-of-the-art entertainment format that brings theatre-quality audio and video right into your home! SPECIAL FEATURES: 8-page booklet featuring Trivia, Production Notes And A Revealing Look At The Making Of The Film Theatrical Trailer
John Rhys-Davies* in the movie; "Raiders Of The Lost Ark", rendered in pencil on the back of an envelope
From Larry Gonick's "Cartoon History of the Universe, Vol. III", page 11
Weight-loss graph looks a lot more impressive with iPod in vertical position.
Seen on the ground between McDonald's and campus (a route that I frequently walk). I think someone is doing scientific experiments.
How Prejudice Works (It doesn't take long for cognitive filters to bend reality.)
Cigarette butts in hot water. (It was 90 degrees and the rim of this ashtray was uncomfortably hot to touch)
Beck touts return of American traditions (like using newspaper to line the cat litter box...)
"I'm already against the next war." This requires advance planning, including but not limited to voting for candidates who foster international relationships even with our enemies, and who review US foreign policy with a critical eye.
Bumper sticker: "Drop bones, not bombs obey the chihuahua!"
Postmodernist Pete playing "The Lying Down Game"
This truck went right through downtown. 1017 is chlorine, and 1079 is liquified sulfur dioxide.
Adam Kinzinger for Congress: A pilot to take us back in the right direction. (Do you even need to ask what political party this jackass is?)
Sexual Assault Awareness Month at Illinois State University
Edward James Olmos at Braden Auditorium, Illinois State University
Interesting that Google Photos frames these visages with little boxes that invite me to "Click to name". Identity derives from at least a little bit of individuality.
US Presidents through 44, copyright Greenbrier/Scentex. (Note to copyright holder: This is a picture of a laminated placemat that I bought somewhere. I tried to find a store link for this caption. At your request I will gladly link to your online store where others can purchase their own full-resolution copy, or remove the image if you prefer.
SUBMERGED A visual gag about flash-flood warnings (Seriously if you see water running across the road, or if the water is deep enough so you can't see the road, don't chance it)
My new titanium dental implant anchor. See also: the little ratchet used to screw it into my upper jaw https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ZiGNEDS7tTet4kvEffOIdQ?feat=directlink and the special xray machine used to create this panoramic picture https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_Triufn03qL98EEHV4zzZA?feat=directlink
Pete Juvinall, our network administrator
"Nothing to Undo" - if only that were so.
Too bad the energy drink didn't give them enough "wings" to throw out their damn trash
Dan Savage at Illinois State University, 14 September 2011
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An Occupy tent had been left - with the University's permission - under the canopy as a symbol. It was frequently vandalized and repaired, but last night someone set fire to it. 22 April, 2012.
Gee, dad... can I foreclose on the next one?
This curl of maple I shaved off with my pocketknife is 12cm long. There was a slight mismatch between the top surface of a desk I was making and the trim. I could have scrounged up a chisel and shaved it that way but the pocketknife was right there.
Once upon a time, people were actually freaking out at the idea of male and female college students living in the same dorm. Egad! Do you suppose that they, you know... WITHOUT BENEFIT OF MARRIAGE?!
Femisapien. Does she nurse little robots with those?
Is that neck part of the ideal that little girls should aspire to?
"Sarge, did you ever watch the Twilight Zone?"
Anti Monkey-Butt powder. And new, LADY Anti Monkey-butt powder!
Actually, after 0.4 seconds, it would be going just a little less than 9 miles an hour. Discounting air resistance.
The garage window
Attendees at the "Hearts At Home" conference at Illinois State University
Cars parked for the Hearts At Home convention at Illinois State University.
HOMR
MORG
"BART"
MARO
SHORTS
You are loved. I promise.
MONKO VS SHREK ON A SKATEBOARD "ART"
MONKEY
Love your optimism...
Awesome chalk art on Stevenson Hall at Illinois State University Note the banana (Unfortunately they got the web address wrong) REVOLUTION RAINFOREST RESCUE COALITION www.RainforestRescueCoalition.org JOIN THE FIGHT
NATURAL GAS "SMARTER POWER IN OUR HANDS" DID YOU KNOW... NATURAL GAS will suppoRT SUPPORT 1.6 MILLION jobs by 2035
It wasn't so lucky for the rabbit...
An ignominious end for some kid's little stuffed animal. "Mommy! Where's cuddle?"
Hope they at least didn't leave the baby here... (My son says it most likely fell out of a car with a baby in it - there not being much rave culture around here)
Laser in the rain, 15 April 2012. I have no idea why the raindrop hits appear so regular in this shot - none of the other shots showed that effect.
The actual clog is seven feet to your left and behind you, but this is what you see when you take off the drain access plug. Clearing it is NOT a fun job, especially because it is overhead.
What the auger looks like after clearing a drain. You bet I wear nitrile gloves when I'm using this thing. Then I take a long, long shower.
Our poster in support of marriage equality. Go to diy.despair.com and make your own!
