The Photo Ranger

The Texas Statehouse

Ed michalski — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:31:41 GMT

On a recent trip to Austin, Texas I had the opportunity to take these images. For those who have not seen the Texas state capital it is arguably one of the most beautiful, sitting upon one of the highest locations in Austin—and only a few minutes walk from the music scene. The image should follow below, if you do not see it click here and scroll down.

Candy McCain and The Obama bar (Now with 30% more flavor)

Ed michalski — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 03:27:05 GMT

If your disbelief was not unsettling enough, please hold on, because you are now downwind of the sweet delectable candy factories. We find ourselves in a maelstrom of tasty confections, each one of us being nearly impaled by the potential pleasures and flavors concocted by our two houses of sugary goodness.

If you did not think the Candy McCain had enough peppermint punch – did you think the Obama bar was not filling enough? Are you puzzled by your lack of political caloric intake? Wait no more it is time for the drinks.

As with any true confection only one thing could make it better. Is anyone in the mood for coffee or tea? John Edwards had the potential to be transmogrified into a perfect cup of Orange Pekoe – one nearly fit for dunking the sweetly seraphic comfit ‘the Obama bar’. Whether or not his staff knew it, this orange pekoe would cause serious acid reflux – nix that option. Mitt Romney’s metamorphose into a cup of coffee would not be unsettling as time to time I would put a stick of peppermint in my coffee. Save for the fact that it is such a strong cup—I could see people staying up for weeks after having just a couple. Worthy of law enforcement and truck drivers—I could see this duo a good combination for ‘the untouchables’ when the mob needed cleaned up in the windy city.   This, like the orange pekoe, is too full of heart burn potential.   Although on the radar both flavors made them outliers.

Hillary Clinton’s transubstantiation into a warm cup of Irish coffee does seem the most intriguing. Very good for dunking, consuming, but like a good cup of Irish coffee, can stand alone. And if you are trying to sell Obama bars you would hate to lose sales to those Irish coffee drinkers who might not care less.   The problem with the Obama bar is that most of the drinks which may help it go down, might be so time honored that they might leave a person wondering what they just ate with the drink.

Unlike the Obama bar, Candy McCain has a significant peppermint punch – although the level of which is disputed amongst its consumers.   Whatever the ideal drink is with the McCain—ideally it must be mellow and visually appealing. Kay Bailey Hutchison might be the julep for McCain’s peppermint; of course, it would be served cold for those hot days ahead.

The Ohio Statehouse

Ed michalski — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 01:08:13 GMT

Everyweek, and practically everytime I am working in downtown Columbus I manage to take a walk further south on High Street and visit the state house. This day I was lucky enough to meet a few people from the house and catch the water sprinklers in action.

See my capture below in its much scaled down form.

(Click on my politics tab if you do not see it)

Candy McCain vs. The Obama Bar

Ed michalski — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 20:39:48 GMT

For a moment or two I would like you all to suspend your disbelief and treat yourself to a metaphor in which each candidate is in fact a confection. On a recent walk through the state capital I was reminded by a guide of how often our past elect loved candy and how it to some extent their choice of confection could be a reflection of their character.

Enter Candy McCain – peppermint – with a bite. Pretty long lasting with a lot of history, time honored, but by no means an extreme confection unless one is allergic to peppermint. The McCain appeals to a lot of middle of the road people with enough of the fringes willing to give it a lick. On the other side of the candy isle is the new comer to the scene ‘The Obama bar’ a luscious exotic mix of ingredients in a quickly edible form which Oprah gave for free to her audience. We do not know how it will digest but we are constantly told we should try one. You can not taste the Obama bar by licking it, it must be consumed – consumed now – as often as possible and the joy inside will be released—very popular in Europe!

As a registered independent I can not make any party happy unless I tell them I am leaning towards their candidate. McCain is a known quantity and Obama for the moment appears to have all his ingredients created by his staff—and they have a increasingly difficult balancing act to maintain—they must add the right amount of political flavor while retaining the soy level desired by their liberal customers.