Art of Preparedness

Our political system, to those in power since Watergate, is nothing more then a joke. A plaything to be toyed with until we all cry out, “Jenga!!!” And now we are asked to buy into the McCain/Palin atrocity. I think, in the spirit of joking, SNL is doing a fine job commenting on our current dilemma. Enjoy.

SNL skit

I’ve been a bit crazed the last couple of weeks: lots of work!!! This is a good thing. So these photos are late in posting, but here’s a quick taste of a morning in Ojai with Heather Larabee!

Heath at the Ojai Farmer’s Market

Waiting for a booth at Bonnie Lu’s

Kiya grubbing on waffles and toast

Satisfaction

Symbol of the Great Wild West: Horses or Dog Food?

Jorge Ortiz Nava is on his way to Ft. Worth to compete in the Extreme Mustang Makeover competition. Nava received his mustang in June and has only had 80 days to take a wild horse, never saddled, and turn him into a competitor. On Sunday he proved he’s up to the task. With three blue ribbons, four second place ribbons, three third place ribbons, and two heritage ribbons, his first competition was a huge success.

But this competition is more then a cliché for reality television. It is a chance for the American Mustang to make its case known. Many horse advocates and animal rights groups are outraged over a recent decision by the Bureau of Land Management. In 2004 Republican Senator from Montana Conrad Burns snuck a one-page amendment, known as the “Burns rider,” into the 2005 House Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which comes in at a daunting 3,300 pages. It was entered in the final hour before voting, with virtually no chance of anyone ever knowing about it. It basically guts the 1971 law that banned the inhumane treatment of wild horses and allows for mass slaughter of wild mustangs.

On azcentral.com’s website a report posted July 8, 2008, states the BLM wants to euthanize, “some 33,000 horses that have already been rounded up and are currently being held in long-term facilities.” Henri Bisson, BLM Deputy Director, told the Associated Press that $22 million of the $39 million budget is spent on housing the un-adoptable horses. Bisson also states that the overall budget is being trimmed next year, and that, “[h]igher food and fuel costs are blamed.”

The BLM is stating that 30,000 Mustangs are simply too much for public lands to support. Under the Government and Legal affairs section of the Animal Welfare Institute website, it is estimated that during the 1800’s, “more than two million wild horses and burros roam[ed] the West.”  The land in question is the same land that the nation’s largest grazing permit holders run their cattle on. Some of these permit holders include J.R. Simplot, supplier of french fries for McDonald’s, and the Hilton family trust. 

The present mind set of the BLM is to house and care for “un-adoptable” horses, those over 10 years old or unsuccessfully offered for adoption three times, for several years. They are then turned over to slaughter houses. A post on the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign website complains, “What an incredible waste of tax-dollars it would be to spend millions rounding up horses by the thousands and feeding them for years, and then to just turn around and kill them.” Wild Mustang advocates are calling for the use of PZP, a contraceptive vaccine.

In a report released by the Washington Post, writer Brian Faler states, “adopters pay a minimum of $125 and are required to hold on to the animals for a year. During that time, the horses are still considered government property, cannot be sold or slaughtered, and are monitored by BLM officials to ensure they are receiving adequate care.” Faler also states that, “the agency has sold some for $1 — and selling them to slaughterhouses for $300 apiece.”

Seems like $1 bid doesn’t stand to change much in the way of a depressed budget.

The BLM claims that their National Wild Horse and Burro Program was esablished to, “increase the number of successful adoptions.” With the Extreme Mustang Makeover competition, they just might accomplish this task. This year’s competition in Ft. Worth, TX has $50,000 in prize money waiting and the trainers stand to make a percentage of the sale of their horse.

BLM and their tactics aside, seeing Mr. Nava with Humble, the poise and grounded focus the two held together, is awe inspiring. Add in the fact that this dynamic team has only been together a few months and one wonders at the grace extended to the rider/horse combination. Poetry. 

Good luck Jorge Ortiz Nava.

For a detailed article on the Wild Mustang topic, click here.

To bid on a mustang, or for other information regarding the BLM Mustang adoption program, click here.

For more information on the Extreme Mustang Makeover, click here.

Also click here for information on the Mustang Heritage Foundation.

It began with a celebration of traditional hula, a thank you for ten years of faithful teaching by Sylvia Puanani-ha-a-heo (Beautiful Proud Flower) Edgar at Libbey Bowl. The celebration sought to honor traditional Hula practices by emulating teachings past down for generations of teachers and students and to mark the end of Edgar’s traditional training by Hula teacher and guru Loea Kawaiapuokalani, who flew from Hawaii to officiate the event. To the right is Miyo Breton, a Hawaii native, during a one of the dances.

During the festival Daniel Ho joined Sienna Lee and Toast Tajiri of the band “Makena”, mixing healing islands grooves with the gentle breeze of the day.
 

In the evening Ojai was graced by Lorna Luft, daughter of famed actress Judy Garland. She brought the bold and audacious pizzaz of Broadway and Times Square to a delighted Ojai Arts Center audience. All proceeds go to benefit the Art Center. Opening for the set was local favorite Alan Thornhill.

While shooting a grass fire recently I was warned by a Commander to be careful. “No worries,” I told him, “I’m watching for hotspots, keeping out of your way. Thanks for the heads up though.” “Not that” he says, “it just burned up a huge stand of poison oak!”

Needles to say when I got home I stripped down and hit the shower!

TIP FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS: when encountering poison oak, be sure to shower in COLD water, not hot. Hot water opens your pores and allows the oil to soak into your blood stream, wherein the itchies will get’cha! Rinse several times, then soap several times, then hit the hot water if you must. Personally I love hot showers!
Another good idea is to wipe down your cameras with some baby wipes, making sure to be thorough, as smoke gets everywhere, carrying along the oil that makes you itch. It is also recommended to use a water/rubbing alcohol mixture to remove the oil. This does not deactivate the oil however, so be wary of where and how you dispose of the rag.

Of special note is the danger of smoke inhalation. If too much oil vapor enters your lungs you could encounter blistering and lesions in your lungs. This can be extremely dangerous. It is difficult for the oil to enter your lungs, as it doesn’t enter as vapor but must travel on droplets or dust and ash particles. However, if you encounter extreme difficulty i breathing even five to six days after covering the fire, you should probably see a doctor.

Alas, after two years and change Jennifer Emerling, photog lady extraordinaire is leaving us. Graduation from a school like Brooks Institute of Photography is a challenge, and for those of us like Jen, we prefer to make it incredibly demanding. But she graduated. With two print shows in the works and as (unkown to her at the time) winner of an award for Best up and coming artists to watch, or something like that. Way to go Emerling lady, we wish you well.

Jen looks forward to her bright future.

Though overcome with the joy of picture making

she is quite glad to be done with Brooks.

Chris and Michelle think Jen is a rock star,

and Steph was so happy she developed super powers!

Kiya just felt cool being there.

This guy won the “at-a-boy” award for cool costume design.

Brunch was fun

Lots of fun!

We all love you tons Jen! And we know that you’re gonna take the world by storm. Good luck in Portland lady (or where ever you go)!