OPERATION: Respect for the Heroes

I went to the premiere release of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and when the movie was over the whole audience roared with cheer and applause.  This past weekend I went to see another movie, Lone Survivor.  At the end of the movie there was no applause.  This movie is based on real events, on real people.  It is based on the courage and bravery all military members possess.  They put their lives on the line, literally, for us.  For our freedom.  For our safety.

At the end of the movie they begin to show pictures and videos of the men the movie was based on.  I have to tell you, it angered me that some people began to walk out.  And it wasn't just a couple people.  These men risked their lives for our country and most died the least you can do is give them 5 more minutes. (Disclaimer: I don't think this is a spoiler since the name of the movie kind of gives that away.)

When the movie was over and as the pictures faded across the screen I wanted to applaud for their courage and salute to their bravery.  Sadly, I was sidetracked by the people leaving.  The men and women of all branches of military deserve more respect than we as a country give them.

As I was watching the movie another thought that upset me was how little they are compensated for what they do.  In my eyes, based on what they do and put on the line, they should be paid what the "stars" make.  Movie stars, sports stars, the Kardashians, etc. are getting what they should get.  I think it's messed up that a 30 second spot for a "big game" commercial costs $4 million, I think a company would get just as much publicity if they put that money towards supporting the military, but that's a different subject.

Movie and sports stars do what they do for all of us too, but for our entertainment.  The troops are doing it for our safety, and loosing their lives in the meantime.  During a combination of all the wars the United States have fought in, there have been 1,305,836 casualties during war, according to Wikipedia.  That isn't just a number, these are lives.  One or more of those could have been your father, brother, grandfather, sister, mother, uncle, aunt, grandmother, etc!  I have a lot of family members that have been in the military and it could have been one of them, if not in this mission then another one.  

If you don't watch the new movies or TV shows that came out this week- will you die?  No.  If you don't watch this weekend's game- will you die?  No.  If there was no military, would you die? Maybe, maybe not but statistically you'd be more likely to without that defense in place.  We'd most likely all risk loosing our freedom and safety.  If we had no military we could be taken over by who knows who.

The least we can do is show these men and woman they have our respect.  I know some people who will say "thank you" when they see someone in uniform.  Let's make this a thing of the norm!  So much so, it becomes as natural as saying "Good morning."

Not everyone will agree politically with every military action or war- but you can show some respect for the brave men and women who are defending our country while risking their lives.

Until the time of world peace comes around, let's practice Operation: Respect for the Heroes!  And it's as simple as that, show military members some respect if you see them.

THANK YOU TO ANYONE AND EVERYONE THAT HAS SERVED/ARE SERVING/WILL BE SERVING IN THE MILITARY IF YOU ARE READING THIS!

TV Tuesday: Casting

As I was watching Once Upon A Time this week I realized once again how great they are at casting!  This week the special character was Ariel from the Little Mermaid.  She was played by Joanna Garcia.  Joanna used to be Reba's daughter on the show Reba and she's been in various other things.   She's another Florida girl representing!  Tampa!

Emilie de Ravin has been great as Belle.  Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite Disney movies so I'm glad they've done her well.

The guy that plays Mr. Gold is pure genius.

The spin off show Once Upon a Time in Wonderland has been pretty good at casting too.  I like Alice and the Genie, I'm just not understanding the Queen of Hearts yet.  Maybe because Cora was perfect as the Queen in Once.  Will be interesting to see how that played out and she became the Queen of Hearts.

This is just casting for one series, what casting on which show have you thought was perfect?

TV Tuesday: Supernatural Live Blog

I'm on the road-in Texas to be exact SO for this week's TV Tuesday I figured I would "live"blog as I watch Supernatural in my hotel room. 

Don't read if you haven't watched and don't want spoilers.

this weeks episode is the return of Charlie-Felicia Day/ and is Wizard of 02 themed.  I loved the opening with the men of letters -it looks like it also flashes back to it.  I love learning More about the Men of letters and when Dean and Sam are in the bunker.

Dean & Sam + 50's Computer = LOL Charlie Hacker to the rescue.

The Supernatural books come back to haunt them LOL

"Whoa Whoa whoa! No Spoilers I haven't read the book Yet!"  "you're going to read the book?" "Yea Dean,I read books."  Love when Sam is nerdy lol

"Pace Yourself Toto."

"What's wrong Darling, Cowardly Lion got your tongue?"

"You were nicer in the book!"

"Something along the lines Of eeeeeeeeeeee . "

"I told You to stay in the Dugeon" "I bet You Say that to all the girls. "

"Is that your Batman voice?"

"There's no place like home ."

Great episode!

0MG Dean as a dog! Can't wait for next week.

Throwback Thursday: Cat in a Tree Continued

I found the other pictures I was looking for last week so I figured I would post them for this week.  I love these pictures because they were with my point and shoot back before I fully grasped concepts of photography such as composition.

Prissy

Stormy Jeanne

Champagne

I also got a picture of

A cat in a bag

and a

cat as a hat.

TV Tuesday: The Voice [Battle Rounds]

I'm personally glad that the battle rounds are over on The Voice.  I think it's because some of the choices the judges are making are annoying me lol.  Not necessarily who they are choosing as the winner of each battle, but who they are deciding to choose to steal.  They steal one person, but then in the next battle no one steals someone who should go on because of how awesome they did!  There are so many suspenseful action/drama shows right now that the singing shows have moved down on my list lol.  Though they are really nice to listen to while editing pictures.  There's some great talent on The Voice, and on X Factor so far...I guess I'm just ready for the live shows!  Do any of you watch these shows- who do you hope makes it?  From the Voice I love Jacquie Lee and Grey (whoohoo Jacksonville represent!)   I think it's awesome that on both shows there are people that are from my state Florida, specifically up here in N. Florida! :c)

Throwback Thursday: Cat in a Tree

Silhouette of Tiger

 If I could pinpoint the first picture I took with a camera that wasn't 'just a snapshot' it would be this one I took when I was younger with a point and shoot camera in my grandma's backyard of one of the kittens we had at the time, Tiger.  I remember being so excited at how this picture came out and I love it to this day.  While I can only imagine what kind of picture I would have gotten with the DSLR camera, I love the simplistic point and shoot quality of this silhouette.

That wasn't the last time I took a picture of a cat in the tree.  This is one of my Grandma's cat Precious.  This one was also with a point and shoot camera.  I have some more pictures of some other cats in trees but I can't find my digital copies, maybe one other TBT!

If you are a photographer, what's the first non-"snapshot" you took?

TV Time Tuesday

The 2013 Fall TV season is heating up with all the premieres, and we still have some to come!  I think this is one of the best years for TV so far.  I can barely keep up with all the awesome shows.  Though it is nice to have a selection of awesome shows to have on the TV while I'm editing pictures.  I decided to do a blog to list some of the TV shows I'm watching.   I'd love feedback on the shows you're watching too and what you think of them!

Just a warning: this is a long post!  I've put the title of my Top 5 shows in bold (which include Supernatural, Once Upon a Time, The Walking Dead, How I Met Your Mother, and the Big Bang Theory) and the title of the new shows in italics.  They are listed by the day the appear on TV, and then the reality shows separate.