jetBlue 691: BOS to DCA

Gate C40

But where's the giant donut?

Harvest dinner for EOL

Sadly, they didn't not include binomials on the menu.

Nathan and David, hanging at the @EOL after meeting relaxing

Presentation for the EOL Team meeting, Cambridge, MA, 29 November 2012

Presentation for the EOL Team meeting, Cambridge, MA, 29 November 2012:

The Biodiversity Heritage Library: EOL Team Report: November 2012. Martin R. Kalfatovic. EOL Team Meeting. Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, MA, 29 November 2012.

The Biodiversity Heritage Library: EOL Team Report: November 2012 from Martin Kalfatovic

Jetblue 1790: DCA to BOS

Gate A1. Actually ended up on a different flight (B6 620) since this one was delayed by de-icing and then a problem with one of the engines. De-planed and popped over to the other flight, about 2 hours late.

Where does security end and paranoia begin?

My first sighting of security shakedowns on the DC metro.

I hate to think of life without The Guardians (in Plato's sense) but worry when clear and present danger turns to paranoia.

In 1987 I was appalled to see heavily armed soldiers on street corners in Cairo. Now, for the past 11 years it's common in Washington and my own DC suburban community.

NE Regional 165: BAL to WAS

Washington Monument, Baltimore

Baltimore sunset

Charm City silos

On the way to Ft McHenry

Northeast Regional 154: WAS to BAL

Alice's Restaurant Anti-Massacre Movement ... Here it comes ...

So, well, first off, this isn't Alice's Restaurant in the picture. No, of course it's Tom's, as in the Suzanne Vega song. And a fine NYC restaurant it is with an iconic wrap around sign.

But what I really wanted to talk about is the draft, whoops, no, yes, that's Alice's.

But what I really wanted to talk about was 27 8x10 glossy photos. Yes, that could be my favorite part of the song we're talking about. Yes indeed, it's those 27 photos that I regularly reference in conversation whenever the subject of evidence some comes up, and yes my friends, if only enough of you reference those 27 photographs, well, you know, well it might just become a movement. So, next time it comes around, I want you to all join in and reference those 27 8x10 color glossy photos what with the arrows and ... well, you know the story, it's Thanksgiving. Watch where you put your trash and keep an eye out for Officer Obie. And here it comes ... "You can get anything you want ..."

"... and they took twenty seven eight-by-ten color glossy photographs with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one explaining what each one was to be used as evidence against us. Took pictures of the approach, the getaway, the northwest corner the southwest corner and that's not to mention the aerial photography." - Arlo Guthrie, "Alice's Restaurant" 

“President Kennedy has been shot.” – Walter Cronkite, November 22, 1963

View from the "grassy knoll" in Dallas, Texas, where President Kennedy was assassinated on 22 November 1961.

The full text of Cronkite's reporting of the events is here, but a short excerpt follows:

"Here is a bulletin from CBS News. Further details on an assassination attempt against President Kennedy in Dallas, Texas. President Kennedy was shot as he drove from Dallas Airport to downtown Dallas; Governor Connally of Texas, in the car with him, was also shot. It is reported that three bullets rang out. A Secret Service man has been...was heard to shout from the car, "He's dead." Whether he referred to President Kennedy or not is not yet known. The President, cradled in the arms of his wife Mrs. Kennedy, was carried to an ambulance and the car rushed to Parkland Hospital outside Dallas, the President was taken to an emergency room in the hospital. Other White House officials were in doubt in the corridors of the hospital as to the condition of President Kennedy. Repeating this bulletin: President Kennedy shot while driving in an open car from the airport in Dallas, Texas, to downtown Dallas."

My first authentic dodo!

My first authentic dodo - via a wood carving - of a dodo directly from Mauritius!

Thanks to John at the Atlas of Living Australia for thinking about me while in the Home of the Dodo!

View from the American History Museum terrace

Taking a break a meeting with some fresh air and a great view of the National Mall.
Site of new African American History and Culture Museum

Seriously? Xmas trees before Thanksgiving? Really!

US Airways 2181: LGA to DCA

Gate 41

Starbucks #7558, Madison and 96th

Martin R. Kalfatovic
udcmrk.org | udc793.org | @udcmrk

Starbucks #7407, 3rd and Lex Ave.

Me and Abe at the NY Historical Society

US Airways 2162: DCA to LGA

Gate 40

QotD: A Mariachi band begins to play ...

Up in the Gold Hotel
The money hits the table
The heavies all are there
That's why the deal's goin' down
Beautiful women all dressed in
Diamonds and sable
Down upon the street
Beside a garbage heap
A Mariachi band begins to play.
- Neil Young, "El Dorado"

Happy Birthday, Neil!

Xmas decorations arrived at local Starbucks

7 November 2012: Washington Post

I never lied to you, I've always been cool,
I wanna be elected,
I gotta get the vote, and I told you 'bout school,
I wanna be elected, elected, elected,
Hallelujah, I wanna be selected,
Everyone in the United States of America.

We're gonna win this one, take the country by storm,
We're gonna be elected,
You and me together, young and strong,
We're gonna be elected, elected, elected,
Respected, selected, call collected,
I wanna be elected, elected.
- Alice Cooper, "Elected"

Voting line 2 blocks long at 18:17, Arlington, VA

I am here: DCA

Frontier 724: DEN to DCA

Gate A38

Tattered Cover Book Store (@TatteredCover) a polling place in Denver

Interesting, and kinda cool, that the Tattered Cover Book Store in Denver is a polling place!

Tattered Cover is one of the best bookstores that I've been into in quite a while. If you're in Denver, do drop by.

 Get out there and vote today!

Perhaps the most important election of our time ... (or not)

1972, a very important election (aren't they all!). The late George McGovern vs. the incumbent Richard M. Nixon. The people go to the polls and it's a landslide for the soon to be disgraced President.

But, that year also so the very important and landmark election for 6th grade class president at South Lake Tahoe Elementary School. For some bizarre and uncharacteristic reason, I ran and was selected as the candidate from Mr. Wade's class.

At the school assembly where I gave my position speech, the most memorable moment for me was standing at the podium and not knowing whether to stand on the stepstool. So I was on the step, then down, then up, then down. I was later told it looked really odd from the audience.

What did I say? Who were my opponents? Don't have a clue.

Did I win? Well, no (though I doubt I lost as badly as McGovern).

All Creatures Great and Small, #BHLib presentation by Trish Rose-Sandler at #DLFForum

Cock and Bull at Green Russell, Denver

#BHLib button goes to #DLFForum

Presentation by BHL Missouri Botanical Garden's Trish Rose-Sandler on Monday

#DPLA Digital Hubs poster by @marymolinaro at #DLFForum

DPLA Digital Hubs Pilot Program poster by Mary Molinaro (U of Kentucky) at the Digital Library Federation Forum in Denver (4 November 2012).

You can learn more about the DPLA Hubs program by watching Emily Gore's recent presentation at the DPLA Midwest Plenary (October 2012) or reading the recent interview with Emily at the DPLA website.

@RLFrick Kicking off the DLF Forum #dlfforum

Colorado State Capitol-- Christo Wrapped?

Frontier 1041: OMA to DEN

Frontier 1753: DCA to OMA