We need a Constitutional Amendment:

Let's amend the constitution:

PROPOSED AMENDMENT: Pay and benefits for the elected legislative branch must be set once a decade by national referendum. There shall be no interim raises, no government funded healthcare, and most especially > no retirement plans for elected or appointed congressmen and senators unless they have served in office for 20 years.

What do you think - can we get it passed in 50 states?

We need to invert the power distribution in this country. Siphon it off from our egomanical congress and senate and take it to ourselves via NATIONAL REFERENDUM!!!

Unexpected results

Sometimes, you take a picture and get odd results. This photo, if you tip it landscape fashion, is actually of the side of a car with an ascending asphalt driveway, all bathed in sun and shadow. With a little tweaking, not much, the pavement turned to purple which contrasted nicely with the reflections of trees in the window. I like it much better tipped on its side - because it removes the visual cues and it makes it easier to see as an abstract composition.

Photo: The Shattering

Another everyday item has deteriorated into an odd state due to a lack of house-keeping will.  The fractal pattern is formed by cracks in dried cocoa on the bottom of a white mug. A few days after I drank the cocoa, I came across the mug, carried it to the sink and looked down inside it, thought wow, gotta take a picture of that. I obscured the cup rim and edge with the vignette effect in iPhoto.

Flash fluke - Cat with burning eyes

This is one of those accidental photos that I could never take on purpose, because as a point-and-click photog, I just don't have the skill.  Miet walked right up to the camera and got caught in the flash closeup..  The photo was taken at night, and the lamp in the background has one of those new fangled energy-saving bulbs