This is MORE about our Society than the Economy. Far fewer "fans", can afford to see people like this, at this level. Same with Sports Events, like the Super Bowl, etc.

The Wealth Inequality in America hasn't been this bad, since the year BEFORE the Great Depression!

Orlando Sentinel reported that UF was going to pay their 3 football "coordinators".......A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR!!! COLLEGE LEVEL!!!  

It's OUT OF CONTROL! SHOW me any example like this for WAGES across America!!!

Rich Franco https://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/guest-commentary/os-op-tony-norman-price-gouging-on-the-edge-of-town-20220727-uplgvrdczjf5fdxxifxworly74-story.html?utm_source=kw&kwp_0=2161304&kwp_4=6169897&kwp_1=2655298&fbclid=IwAR0RQBb2UWSqNep3FnADQJmtsAwEgEQQLAGseHfsZ14Drphw_zXYTuR82fw

                                     

America, THE World Power, NOPE! 

So when did America become "A" World Power and not "THE" World Power? My guess, the late 50's, or early 60's. After WWII, there were NO NATIONS that could stand up to us, NONE. Today, even our "friends" in South America, show disdain. China, Russia, North Korea, even European Countries now, no longer "follow our lead"!

We've become what England became AFTER WWII, an "also ran"....

We've become "equals", for better or worse.....

Rich Franco

 

Golly! Ain't America JUST THE BEST???

Billionaires, 735, Americans, 0! In 1990, there were 66 "billionaires" in America, quite the small group, could almost get them all on a large bus! Today, we would need more than 10 buses, probably 12 to carry these people around. So far, 735 billionaires, up from 2020s 614! On the other hand, and there is ALWAYS the "other hand", just over 37 MILLION AMERICANS are living in POVERTY! 10%+ of our Nation is living in poverty and looking to grow that number, due to "inflation" (GREED) and Republican leadership! Not sure which is worse, but my guess, is Republicans.... Stagnant wages and ever-increasing wealth inequality, are not a good recipe for stability, as we found out, as a NATION in 1929.... Rich Franco

                         

Night Lighting of your Backyards! 

 Hello to All! I posted this on another thread, but wanted more to see this. Enjoy your Garden, day OR night! Remember to use Solar or electric "christmas" or rope lights to help show off your garden at night! No more looking out the window at BLACK!

Sam's has the best "Solar", 5 Path lights for $20! Well made, Metal and glass, not plastic! Rope lights make great path lights for paths too. "White Christmas Tree" lights are great for large areas, bushes, and shrubs....squirrels will enjoy them too! Get some wire cutters and electrical tape ready! Here's my backyard from a few months ago, nice sunset.... Let me know if you have any questions.. Rich Franco

 Let's Save the World!

Okay, maybe not the ENTIRE WORLD, but some of it. On a LONG LIST of stuff Americans throw out, these plastic jugs are right up on top of that list! Some hold food products, others, maybe cat litter, but still PERFECT to be reused somewhere! And not just sent to the landfills. We of course "recycle" our stuff, but the "reality", is that much isn't re-used, here in the United States, about 9%!!! Just NO MARKET for this recycled plastic! Another issue for another day!

These big, clean jugs have some value to SOMEBODY, manufacturing companies or overseas maybe, for individuals needing clean "containers"!

WE, WE just need to put our heads together and find out WHO could use these and then START that company to distribute these jugs.

I KNOW, Rich, you're such a nut and I agree, but not on this! And here's WHY! Here, years ago, a buddy of mine, an Art Director, was hired by a local company to help with their marketing/sales. Their "PRODUCT"???? RECYCLED HOTEL SOAP!!! YES, USED AND UNUSED SOAP bars. They are now World-Wide, recycling MILLIONS of bars of hotel soap and then sending to People all around the World!

https://cleantheworld.org/

So, here we go BUDDIES! Let's create a "think tank" and solve this simple problem, like the soap guy did when he first started!!!

Let me know if you have any thoughts about this and let's see where this goes!

Rich Franco

HOW'D HE DO THAT???

Here's what to remember about this image, how it started and then the final product.

1. Original was a standard format, 4480 x 6720
2. Cropped square, 4480 x 4480
3. Processed through ACR
4. Enlarged through ACR to 8960 x 8960
5. Reduced to under 25 mbs and uploaded!

THAT'S WHY this to me is an amazing file now! So for FAA, this is beyond standards. I rarely sell huge prints, but did sell in May, a 4-foot x 6-foot image, a much older file and more than likely UNDER 6720 on the long side. So the quality is there, for this purpose. Now, according to the printer's guidelines, this image could be cropped DOWN on the top/bottom, into a horizontal and then "technically" produce a 90" print on the long side....

So this combination of these "tools", new camera AND ACR, enables me and I would hope others, to almost ALWAYS upload the largest dimensional files to FAA, for potential sales! Understanding fully, that just because it BIG, don't mean it's gonna sell! LOL!

 Another Reason To Shoot Raw!

MANY reasons to shoot Camera RAW images, if your tool of choice offers it, and of course, helps if you have Photoshop or something like it! Just shot this in my backyard garden, was out testing ISO speeds and came across this lovely Zebra Longwing Butterfly, here in Central Florida. Wasn't THAT interested in ME taking HER image and I needed to chase her around a bit, but using ISO of 12,800 and a shutter speed of 1/4000th second, got her as she briefly set down.

ONLY used Photoshop Adobe Camera RAW(ACR) and came out with a nice HUGE file!

HERE WE GO!!!

The finished product, original capture, 1/4000th, F5.6, ISO 12,800!!! Now looks great, thanks to shooting RAW and running it through Adobe Camera RAW, ACR, and removing most if not all noise! 12,800 ISO!!!???

Some may notice it's a bit larger now too....first image is "before", no noise removed...

                                         

Second image is "After", removing "noise" in Adobe Camera Raw(ACR). Camera is a new/old Canon 5D MK IV

Rich