The answer, my friend, might not be blowin' in the wind...

The thought of digging coal out of the Earth for the next 750 years just seems a little destructive to me. So, a few years ago I decided to change power companies to supply my electricity. Being an old ex sailor, I am very aware of the constant unlimited supply of wind around me. The company I chose uses 100% renewable sources (wind, sun). So, other than the really bright, surging lights on gusty days, it seemed like a perfect choice.

As I approached this particular wind farm, I was at first very intrigued. But as I drove further and further into it, and after about an HOUR of non stop spinning mechanical giant pinwheels, I became a little alarmed. I know there are probably hundreds of arguments for and against coal fired vs. wind/sun, but Holy Endless Eyesore, Batman, these go on FOREVER!

I Waited Seventeen Years For THIS?

In 1993 a friend of mine made the trek to Guadalupe Mountains National Park. He came back with all these great stories about the highest point in Texas and how challenging the hike was and all that jazz. Since then I have been anticipating visiting this far flung place myself. So I was very excited when my wife agreed for us to swing by here on our way back from New Mexico.

Now, keep in mind, Texas has been in it's worst drought in history for the last three years. So I had mixed emotions when we finally pulled into the park and were presented with a ceiling so low we couldn't even see the foothills of the mountain. A long way to drive to snap a picture of the entrance sign. Somewhere up in those clouds is this. At least they didn't charge us.

England? Thailand? Egypt? Las Vegas?

Nope.

Odessa.

This is a scaled down model of Stonehenge on The University of Texas, Permian Basin campus. We stopped by here to shoot some Americana on our last vacation. But mainly to get out of the stupid truck after seven hours on Interstate 20.

This is apparently some rich kid's graduate school thesis project. Pretty cool, except it was darn near impossible to shoot it without a sign, building, light plole, SUV, or McDonalds in the background.

Well, Sun Of A Gun

There is this highway in New Mexico that meanders through the mountains and ends up in Sunspot, a small community that studies... the Sun. They have quite an impressive campus full of exotic telescopes on top of the mountain, overlooking White Sands National Monument.

6563 is the wavelength for visible sunlight. It is also the white balance I used to tweak this image. Beautiful drive if you ever find yourself in the Cloudcroft, NM area. But bring your rain gear, because there is more clouds than sun.

Huh?

I can't imagine this kind of signage is conducive to attracting a large congregation.

WARNING WILL ROBINSON!

Since when did using an extension cord become so dangerous that we have to endure four (4) stupid labels? Is plugging in the Christmas Tree really this risky? Is there something different with electricity from 20 years ago? Have any of you ever read one of these labels?