Category Archives: Photos
TBT: Former President Jimmy Carter at SFA State University – Great Beginning Lecture Series – 1989
Let’s get this blog restarted – throwback Thursday time!
Back in 1989, former President Jimmy Carter came to visit Stephen F. Austin State University as part of the “Great Beginning” lecture series. I had just started as a reporter for “The Pine Log” university newspaper and, even though I was just a “fish”, got the OK to attend the lecture with chief photographer, Robert Seale.
Unfortunately I didn’t get cleared in time to interview former President Carter, but somewhere in the 14-chest pile are my notes, recording of the lecture, and the story I wrote up for The Pine Log. As soon as I find those, I’ll add them to this post.
I took a few photos of the event with my single-focus 35mm camera, but I didn’t know I had loaded it with Black and White film until they were developed.
First, the walk in…
Former President Carter arriving on stage (and Robert in the foreground with his professional 35mm camera)…
Former President Jimmy Carter waving to the audience, Robert getting his photo, and a “no, really, I’m not secret service” agent taking a photo of everyone taking a photo…
A photo I took of the audience in attendance…
The SFA President introducing former President Jimmy Carter (my apologies but I do not recall who the SFA President was at the time)…
Former President Jimmy Carter starting his speech…
Former President Jimmy Carter continuing his speech…
Former President Jimmy Carter continuing his speech (I couldn’t to anything about that scratch on the negative)…
Former President Jimmy Carter continuing his speech. (I remember he took the time to pause and answer questions from the audience.)…
The SFA President starting his closing remarks…
Former President Carter taking a few more questions at the end…
The SFA President’s thanks and farewell…
…and the final handshake and official close of speech.
President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan apparently showing Sec of State John Kerry the nuances of TOO SLOW (NYT Pic)

Somebody didn’t do their market research [PHOTO]
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Whoever decided to try and sell something named KuKui near Mexico has either (a) never done any market research in their life or (b) has a particularly vicious sense of humor.

KuKui photo
For the rest of the world that has no idea what a KuKui is, it’s a very famous folktale monster told to misbehaving kids around Mexico. “You better behave, or the KuKui will get you!”
The closest thing to a KuKui in the US is the “boogeyman”, but saying “you better behave, or the boogeyman will get you” isn’t even close to the kind of terror mentioning a KuKui can bring.
You know, now that I’m thinking about it, maybe I should have bought a bottle. For research purposes, of course.
Pastel (Bread) Shop [PHOTO]
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Brooks County [Photos]
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The plaque reads…
Brooks County. Formed from Hidalgo, Starr and Zapata counties. Created March 11, 1911. Organized September 2, 1911. Named in honor of JAMES ABIJAH BROOKS, Captain of Texas Rangers, 1882-1906, Member of Texas legislature, County Judge, Brooks County. Since 1911 Falfurrias, the county seat.
Best. Baby. Pacifier. Ever. [PHOTO]
A look inside a self-serve cappuccino machine
You know those self-serve “cappuccino” machines that vend all different kinds of flavored coffees? The ones that look like this…
I saw one that was left open yesterday. While I wasn’t expecting a barista on duty, I wasn’t expecting to see this either…
It’s all powdered mix.
The powdered mix is apparently measured out and sprinkled over a hot water tube and, at least at this location, dispensed through never-cleaned spigots.
Yummy!
Oh, and that spinning whirring noise when you press the button before the “coffee” flows? It’s not a coffee bean grinder revving up – it is just a special effect to sell the product.
I don’t know why I had assumed there were actual coffee beans somewhere in those devices. From now on, I’m sticking to the real stuff.