After talking with Chris Wage & Emily Ramsey last night, I'm motivated to work on my digital photography skill sets.
Things like ISO and manual settings escape me; I just need to break open the manual and dive deep into the finer aspects, while learning and observing from others.
I'm proud of this shot and composition (click to embiggen): 
The "accidental" shots are the best; I just need to document the settings.
VivalaLesley!
I wish I had a flying vehicle to jet me around Thursday night as I motored from West Nashville to Cool Springs to the Flying Saucer downtown.
I've been part of a great team working hard to finalize all of the logistics to host the upcoming Promise Keepers Men's Conference at the GEC (sorry, Sommet Center) July 20 -21. Lots of details and planning with the 700 or so volunteers from retail, registration, ushers, security... to host 14,500 men that weekend. But it's all been worth it to see the positive impact Promise Keepers has had for the last seventeen years on families. I know, as I'm a direct receipient. Very honored to be lock arms with the local leadership team giving of their time.
I've set up a Promise Keepers local blog which is a very effective tool to keep to keep all the volunteers and leaders up to date, in the loop and honoring their time.
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Speaking of honor, a slice of the local blogging community came out to celebrate Brittney Gilbert at the Flying Saucer for "all her efforts on behalf of Nashville is Talking for the past two-plus years."
Thanks Brittney for engaging us to have a voice via weblogs and build a community. We've come too far to see Nashville Is Talking grow with the richness of relationships not to be silenced.
--
It's impossible to take good pictures in the dark, even with a flash!
I was able to carve out seven shots - posted at Flickr
What a sad day for the community of bloggers here in Nashville. The very platform that gave several hundred voices the freedom to share, discuss, encourage, challenge and to the surprise of many, introduced to a deep sense of community and friendships has been hijacked.
Brittney Gilbert - who has been on the face of WKRN's Nashville Is Talking has been verbally dishonored and carpetbombed into submission. 
- just like that, she's gone -
Your host is simply not cut from strong enough cloth. This is the internet. People are vicious. They are even more vicious when they fail to make any distinction between you and a feelingless, faceless media company. It’s easier to justify the venom that way. And while some people may get off on feeding those frenzies of hate, I do not. I tried to not let it affect me but it does. Every day. The tears and the stress are just not worth it.
Nashville is Talking is more than just an aggregator of local weblogs in the greater Nashville area; under the daily watch of Brittney Gilbert, without question, the greatest byproduct has been building a robust and deeply relational community not only via words, but connected friendships via the blogger meetups hosted by WKRN.
My personal life has been greatly enriched over the past two years via this whole blogging _____ (I'm not even sure what to call it). Let's just say I have never been so stretched and challenged in so many ways; I'm not political, but I love listening to people spar over differing viewpoints, meeting techno geeks, being inspired by great photographers and writers, knowing that others have bizarre humor, and yes, having the readily available support when burdens need bearing with one another.
"The site is produced and hosted by WKRN-TV, but the author is Nashville native and long-time blogger, Brittney Gilbert. Working inside the News 2 newsroom, Brittney tracks numerous sources throughout the work day, including blogs, daily publications, wire services, as well as reporters and photographers." It's a tough job culling content on a tiny monitor while occasionally playing dodge ball.
The producer and brain trust of all this community is WKRN GM Mike Sechrist. Thanks Mike for embracing the vision of new media.
Happy Second Birthday - I, as many others, celebrate this growing and vibrant community... next time there's a meetup, jump in - each of our lives need enriching and you can bring your part and add to the tapesty of community.
See what others are saying about Nashville Is Talking
With all of the storm that blew in over the weblogs over the Kirk / Kat ---- , I'm not guaranteeing the authenticity of the document above. (click to embiggen)
The Right To Say What We Want To Say
Everybody's favorite Sista
....she won't be your Maggie May
....the one you loved and then forgot *
... Happy Birthday
* Suzanne Vega
True confession time -
I'm not real keen on going to baby showers. My kids are grown and while I celebrate a newborn babe or even twins, showers are not my type of party as they generally don't involve a television or shooting pool. I did accompanied Mrs. WonderDawg to one at a church for a youth pastor. Youth pastors and generally most people like to make babies when insurance coverage and a steady salary are for certain. Just my general observation.
Anyway, baby showers generally run a 10 to 1 ratio of guys to girls. The guys are there to provide transportation and sitting outside in a car alone or saying I'll be back in an hour are not acceptable manners. However, I proud of the fact that I can sense a guy's baby shower limitation and be the first guy to rise and say it's been fun. The greatest compliment I ever received at a baby shower while leading an exit of men was, "Kerry, thanks for your leadership!". A fond memory indeed.
Times have certainly changed from twenty six years ago. Today I went to a baby shower for a dude.
No kidding.
Today I went to a baby shower for a dude.
Thing is we didn't know his wife, but since dude was a blogger, all of the baby shower protocol was tossed out of the window. Turned out to be a great time, filled with good conversations over Mothership BBQ.
I didn't take a lot of photos especially of pregnant woman present and others dieting...
But I like this photo of the proud Poppa with the glowing loins: (his pregnant wife is to the right - cropped out)
Buddy, I celebrate you!
The orgin of the Bodacious Blogger Baby Blowout
The Proud Poppa Sarcasto humbled by it all !
It's Amazing!
Bar-B-Que has been very, very good to me!
It's Like Going to the Mall!
From the CBS affiliate in Savannah, Georgia (WTOC)
Here's my ideal work station for hours at the computer if I were a full time blogger...
Link: officeorganix
Hat tip: SlashGear
