There are many times I set up
barriers and walls,
invisible unless you come too close,
And then you hit them.
You wonder what happened.
You didn’t know,
I can’t let you in.
I’ve lost the key to open the doors
in the walls, and
I don’t know how
To take them down.
Fran Watson
Copyright 2003
For more poetry and stories you can go to Fran’s webpage http://www.franwatson.ca
I cannot bear to think
of when you will be gone.
I do not understand
how I will get along.
Your love has been my resting place,
the place that I would go,
no matter what,
no matter where
your love would always flow.
A simple call
a quick hello,
Where have you been?
What do you know?
Just to touch base
and share a laugh
a smile or two,
a joke or gaffe.
What will I do when you are gone?
Who will I call?
There is no other quite like you
no other love that’s half as true.
no one could do the things you’ve done,
no other one could be my sun,
shining brightly as I get your call,
“I’m home now dear,
what’s going on?”
Copyright August 2003
Fran Watson
For more poetry and stories you can go to Fran’s webpage http://www.franwatson.ca
I am not the one I was before yesterday.
I cannot go back.
I am not the one I will be
tomorrow.
I can not see that far ahead.
I am who I am now,
today.
The person I see in the mirror
changing so subtly,
but changing,
becoming a new person
minute by minute
day by day.
The possibilities are endless,
but I must choose which way I will change,
each decision I make changes me in some way,
positively or negatively.
Let me open myself to good changes,
to positive steps, happy feelings.
Let me open my heart to others
that their joy and experiences
may change me in a positive manner
into the person I will become
Copyright 2002
Fran Watson
For more poetry and stories you can go to Fran’s webpage http://www.franwatson.ca
You can do and you can be
whatever you want.
You have the power,
and the right,
to make the changes.
There are many choices to be made
as daily life goes by.
There are changes in our world
and choices in our lives.
There are those who come
and those who go.
There are those who enrich,
and those who drain.
There are thoughts
which improve our daily grind,
and there are thoughts
that depress us and bring us down.
Every chance meeting,
every friendship,
every love,
every choice we make,
changes us inside and out
in ways we neither see
nor notice
until sometime later.
All of a sudden we encounter
an old circumstance,
but we handle it in a new way
a better way.
The choices and the changes we made
have caused us to grow,
to improve,
and we can move on
unafraid.
You have one life to live,
don’t let it count for naught.
You have too much to give,
Choose to give it!
Copyright 2004
Fran Watson
For more poetry and stories you can go to Fran’s webpage http://www.franwatson.ca
Do not be afraid to shine.
This world needs what you have to give.
Open up the areas of your being;
expose them to yourself – to others.
You are valuable.
You are unique.
You have much to give.
Do not be afraid to give it.
As we risk ourselves, we grow.
Each new experience is a risk:
we can try, and maybe fail,
and as a result, grow -
or hold back and stagnate.
You have the potential
to be anything you want to be!
You are free to choose.
You are limited only by your fears.
Let your dreams take over,
fly with the eagles,
soar into life,
the world is waiting for you!
Copyright 1987
Fran Watson
This poem was selected to be included the Motivational Poems at Words of Wisdom 4U.
For more poetry and stories you can go to Fran’s webpage http://www.franwatson.ca
now is not the time to open
open that great door again
not the time to be more tolerant
not the time to play to win
now is not the time for justice
evolution mercy choices
not the time to pet the puppies
yipping with pathetic voices
now is not the time for kindness
not the time for compromise
not the time for loving blindness
not the time to close my eyes
now for one too many people
not that i have gained no good
heart has sown but flesh is reaping
tears to mind and wasted blood
now my inner wolf seeks equals
only those whose chords can howl
deadly whether lone or social
defending young or on the prowl
tell me not that you would die
upon the spines of my displeasure
live for me and for you will i
cherish each cell as if a treasure
put me not inside a cage
but roam with me through snow and sun
be by my side or breathe my dust
for i shall bleed again for none
Niki Lasher Artist, Writer, and Webmatron http://www.kthulah.com
What is it with these performers and their politics? Do they really think that people who pay $100 or more to hear them sing want to hear them utter political opinions? The audience pays hundreds of thousands of dollars to see and hear a performer PERFORM. You want to spout politics, run for freakin office, you moron! When performers use a paid venue to play politics they are abusing the paying audience, the venue, the sponsors and everyone connected to their artistic performance. It’s an inappropriate venue and inapproprite behavior to voice your political viewpoint, you jerk! And they wonder why people boo.
Somebody pays a small fortune for their ticket to see them perform and ends up being subjected to a political opinion from someone who makes millions of dollars a year but doesn’t have a real job, doesn’t have to live in reality and doesn’t have a clue about the real world! Yeah, right, tell me about your political views while I’m sitting here waiting to be entertained by you. That’s why I came here and that’s what I paid for isn’t it, you ungrateful clueless idiot. You want to spout off, do it for free. Yes, free. Why don’t you perform for free then you can say anything you want to your audience. Then it’s fair and balanced. Then the audience gets what it pays for.
And what about the incident in Orange County, CA where the performer makes a comment about Linda Ronstadt and audience starts booing and the performer responds with how America used to be a place where you could openly discuss your views. Ha! Twenty thousand people and he’s the only one with a microphone! Open discussion, my ass.
So, a word to the wise. You want to keep performing, keep making millions, keep living in your fantasy world? Shut up and sing.
Maya Pinion is a freelance writer and contributing editor for News4Net. Article inspired by radio talk show host, Dennis Prager, who has a brain in his head and a heart in his chest.
So you have this great new camera. Now youre standing in front of a display of more film that youve ever seen. All you want to do is take some great family photos but you dont know where to start. Heres short guide to help you get started.
Film speed is a number that represents the films sensitively to light. The higher the number the more sensitive to light, in that the less light is needed to take a well exposed photo. The number is also an indicator of the detail you will receive from the negative. The higher the number the more likely that youll see a graininess to the print when enlarged. Film speed goes from 25 to 1600 speed film.
25 to 200 Best for still life and portrait work, in studio conditions where the lighting is controlled. This is not the film for family shots indoors even with a camera mounted flash. Youd really need a complete lighting set up to use this film effectively. 200 speed film is very good for outdoor sunny conditions when youre trying to get a shot of a beautiful landscape. It offers excellent detail and color saturation.
400 Considered the all purpose film. Most films touted as all subject or general purpose are really 400 speed film. When in doubt use 400 speed film. Though you may still be using your camera mounted flash in room lighting conditions. Also good for outdoor conditions, will give you some flexibility in darker conditions and where you are trying to capture a moving subject.
800 to 1200 Made for capturing fast moving subjects in all types of lighting situations. People running, playing ball, etc. This is the film you want if you want to freeze frame the action of a baseball game. This film speed can be used for capturing fast moving wildlife, like birds, but you will see less detail if you enlarge above a 16 by 20 size.
1600 This film is for super high speed shots. Unless you shooting a car or boat race you probably wont need this film. Dont use this for nature and landscape images the lack of detail will be obvious in enlargements.
Most of the time youll only need a 400 speed film for basic snapshots. But it doesnt hurt to use the other speeds for special occasions, youll notice a difference.
Copyright 2004 Kelly Paal Kelly Paal is a Freelance Nature and Landscape Photographer, exhibiting nationally and internationally. Recently she started her own business Kelly Paal Photography (http://www.kellypaalphotography.com). She has an educational background in photography, business, and commercial art. She enjoys applying graphic design and photography principles to her web design.
Its hard to find sometimes but its making a resurgence, black and white film. If youve never used this film now is the time to try it out. Here are some tips to using b&w film and what you can expect from the results.
1. Forget color. This is the hardest thing to do and the number one reason that you will not get good results with b&w film.
2. Look for contrast. Once you can ignore color look for contrast. You will want your image to have a bit more contrast than you would normally want in a color image.
3. Consider shooting situations that are more formal. Black and white film gives such a wonderful timelessness to an image and its perfect for formal situations.
4. Keep your photos simple. Black and white film simplifies so dont fight it. Keep the images simple by keeping close to your subject or place your subject against a simple back drop.
5. Babies and pets look great on b&w film. Place the pet or baby on a white background and youll be stunned at the beautiful results.
Black and white film creates a timeless simple look. Its wonderful for portraits and formal events. After shooting a few rolls of b&w youll notice that you start to pay attention to composition of your image more, since you dont have to worry about color. If youre just learned photography try using b&w film for awhile it will help you teach yourself good composition. Think of light and dark, black and white, and good composition and youll find that b&w film could be a whole new hobby for you.
Copyright 2004 Kelly Paal Kelly Paal is a Freelance Nature and Landscape Photographer, exhibiting nationally and internationally. Recently she started her own business Kelly Paal Photography (http://www.kellypaalphotography.com). She has an educational background in photography, business, and commercial art. She enjoys applying graphic design and photography principles to her web design.