DANCING BORDER COLLIES

A friend sent me this video this morning. It's a real toe tapper and day en richer.

While I was sitting here enjoying the video dreaming how this could be Molly in a few years, Molly was in the mudroom stealing all her training treats. Guess she won't be dancing to my tune soon. :)

HIKING THE NORTH COAST TRAIL

Enjoy the hike!

WHITNEY HOUSTON FAREWELL

I was truly saddened to learn of Whitney Houston's passing. What an incredible talent.

I'm not a celebrity watcher so I really don't know that much about her beyond her music. I do know she had problems with drugs and a very volatile relationship with her husband.

According to an article I read this morning she has recently had some very bad reviews and a concert where the audience walked out on her. Hard to imagine. Sounds like a movie script.

Houston's story holds some important life lessons. You can be rich, you can be beautiful and you can be famous but that is no guarantee you can be happy.

Unless you have walked in another's shoes, you cannot know why they make the choices that they do. Still, no one has the right to judge Whitney Houston even though I think it's fairly clear that she made some less than optimal choices. But, it was her life to live and so she did. It wasn't the right way nor was it the wrong way. It was just her way. I just wish she had chosen a different way because at the age of forty eight she could have gifted us with a lot more of that extraordinary voice. Ciao bella!



©Kinsey Barnard

WILD WOMAN

 This morning a fan sent me this video because it made her think of me. It makes me think of me too. It also makes me sad for the wolves.

It is a beautiful video as far as I'm concerned but here in Montana such thinking is considered heresy. Wolves are predators you see. They kill,  maim and harass. They take what they want even when they don't necessarily need it. Hmm, who does that remind you of?

Ranchers want wolves destroyed because they kill their herds. Hunters want wolves destroyed because they kill the game. That humans hate the wolf for killing domestic animals and wildlife is a real irony to me. Why?  Because the reason people want to wipe out the wolf is so they can be the ones doing the killing.  Wolves do what comes naturally. What's man's excuse?

If one took the time to study wolves they would find they are not much different than humans. Only we don't like to admit it and humans are probably a lot more violent toward their own species. We like to hold ourselves above the animals. That is a societal fantasy.

©Kinsey Barnard

Quantitative Easing "QE" Explained.

I realize this is once again off the subject of photography. But, I think everyone needs to watch and listen to this video if you are in any doubt as to what exactly Quantitative Easing is and what it means to our country and future lifestyle.

As many of you know I am a former investment banker and not entirely out to lunch when it comes to economics and finance. We are in some serious trouble people. As hard and awful as it may be to believe, this economic downturn is far from over. Unless I miss my guess we haven't even seen the worst of it. I know it's no fun to look at truth when the truth is ugly but there is no other way to prepare yourself. They say the truth will set you free. It will also knock you flat if you try to deny it either by will or ignorance. Please watch this video. It explains QE in layman's terms.




Meanwhile, here at the ranch it's snowing and in the twenties. They say that we will get into negative territory by Monday. I am toiling away on a new gallery of Jasper National Park. Many of the images have never been made public before. I hope to get it finished in the next few days. Here's one of my favorites so far.




Don't forget the holiday sale going on at my Outdoor Photography site. Just enter this code: KOTY BEAR CARES 2010 in the coupon code box for a full 15% discount.

©Kinsey Barnard Photography

Guns and Gold

This morning I'm doing something a little different. One of my subscribers e-mailed me the video that you see below. It's a very good little primer on why one would want to own gold and what a financial and economic pickle this once great country has gotten itself into. It saddens me greatly.

When I was a kid back in the sixties and seventies I was fortunate that I was able to travel abroad. In those days everywhere you went people begged for dollars. American dollars were as good as gold. Not anymore. Today people are more likely to spit on them. Once upon a time we were a can do, self reliant bunch But, today our entitlement and something for nothing attitudes have bankrupted us and the rest of the world knows it.

The conversation is a little like listening to a couple of droids but I recommend you watch this video.



A number of people have had difficulty subscribing to this blog. I have a private subscribers list that I send notification out to each time I post to the blog. If you would like to be added to this list please contact me.

©Kinsey Barnard

A Country Boy Can Survive

..... and country girls too!

This song by Hank Williams, Jr. tells a very true story.

For Baby Boomers Only

Ok, what I'm posting today is a little bit different. But, I was sent this music video and enjoyed it so much I wanted to pass it along.

If you are not a Baby Boomer the whole thing may escape you, then again, maybe not. Give a look you may enjoy it too. The presentation is accompanied by Willie Nelson and his music so be sure to have your music on if you can.

Back in the day cowboys weren't only in Montana. They were in everyone's living room. Frankly, I think we could use more heroes. Click on the link below.

My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys

Enjoy!

Koty Bear