500,000 and counting ... Flickr views that is ... (and my top 5 viewed pics)

Earlier today, my Flickr stream hit it's 500,000th view! A member since March 2006, I've put around 27,458 pictures (and a few videos) on Flickr. That includes lots of cameraphone pics and a few years of old scanned items.

Hope all of you out there have enjoyed them.

Here are the top five most viewed images:

Angry Fish: 4,911 views


2009 pre-inauguration motorcade: 979 views


TDWG STL 2006: 943 views


Martin & Nastasia Kinski, Madame Tussaud's: 873 views


Random shoe: 714 views

Inaugurations, from Reagan one to Obama two

Inauguration 2013

This year I attended my eighth  Presidential Inauguration, well, technically it was my seventh, since Ronald Reagan's second was a private affair, the public elements mostly cancelled due to the extreme cold (was it for the benefit of the attending crowd and parade participants or for the 74 year old president?).

Like last time, we walked from our home in Arlington, down to the Rosslyn Starbucks (for refreshment) and then down past the Marine Corps Memorial and across the Memorial Bridge.

It was much less crowded than in 2009, but there were also less jumbotrons and more security. We walked down past the Washington Monument and camped out at a jumbotron for a bit, then tried to get into the public standing space beyond 14th Street, but weren't allowed to pass. Went back to our jumbotron (F1) but it was breaking up (a la Max Headroom). It tuned in in time for the swearing in, but half way through the inaugural address, started breaking up again. Headed back down the Lincoln Reflecting Pool, over Memorial Bridge, back to Starbucks and then home.

Barack Obama, 2009

This year seemed a little anti-climactic. Maybe it was because it was a second term; maybe it was because the first Obama inauguration was such a huge affair. Another reason, for me, was the massive, and intrusive security in place for this 57th inauguration.

George W. Bush, 2005

• 1981: Ronald Reagan
• 1985: Ronald Reagan
• 1989: George H.W. Bush
• 1993: Bill Clinton
• 1997: Bill Clinton
• 2001: George W. Bush
• 2005: George W. Bush
• 2009: Barack Obama
• 2013: Barack Obama

George H.W. Bush, 1989

Obamabilia

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"

Obama v McCain as cats: 2008 debate

Doing some cleaning and found this pic by my then 7 year old

Obama Bobbleheads are "here"

2010-12-27-IMG_1117
Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

Took the Suncoast Trolley up north from St. Pete's Beach to John's Pass. A "historic fishing village" that now seems to be focused on selling tee-shirts, candles, and craft jewelry (as well as smoked alligator and other treats). Couple of interesting eating spots, we chose Sculley's and had some good fish, but it was pretty chilly (since it's been CHILLY outside).

Walked a bit on the boardwalk afterwards and found a shop, sadly closed, selling Obama Bobbleheads, so, yes, they are "here" and here's one of them:

Obama-Bieber '12

Obama-Bieber '12
Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

This is so wrong, it shows a complete ignorance of the Article 2 of the U.S. Constitution. Bieber is neither old enough nor born in the U.S., hence ineligible to be Vice President.

Seven years later ...

Arlington Exodus
Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

On September 11, 2001, myself and a group of co-workers left our offices at the National Museum of Natural History. It was a beautiful later morning, just about an hour after the second town fell in New York City.

With downtown in a mess, unclear reports about whether the subway was working, and jammed phone lines, we decided to walk the 2 miles from the museum to my house, just across the river in Arlington.

Five of us (one of whom we've since lost) left the museum and uncertainly tramped towards Arlington. It was a grim walk in the cool clear day as we watched smoke rising from the Pentagon. Streams of people were converging on the two nearest bridges (Roosevelt and Memorial), and heading into Arlington. Overhead, fighter jets criss-crossed the sky. We still hadn't heard what happened to United 93 in Pennsylvania.

This morning, January 20, 2009, I went out for coffee before waking up the family and gathering some friends for a later walk to the Mall. It was like 9/11 again. But in reverse.

19 degrees with a wind chill down to 8. Crowds of people streaming through Arlington, but in the other direction. And even with the cold, they were all happy, laughing and smiling.

Can anyone live up to the expectations the country and the world have for President Obama?

Good Luck Mr. President!

Obama cookies

Obama

New York Times. 11.5.08

New Hampshire Primary "Victory" Songs!

Watching the various "victory" speeches after the New Hampshire primary - since no one, not even Mike Gravel "lost", I was intrigued by the choice of "fade out" music by the various candidates. What can we make of the following:

• Hillary Clinton. "American Girl" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
• Barack Obama. "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" by Stevie Wonder
• John Edwards. "Our Country" by John Mellencamp
• Mitt Romney. "Dirty Water" by the Standells (my vote for oddest choice! What are we to make of his choice of a song about breaking college curfews by frustrated 1960 coeds!?!?!)
• John McCain. (Didn't catch his)