Clancy Tucker's Blog, page 163

25 January 2018 - STILL LIFE PHOTOGRAPHY

STILL LIFE 
PHOTOGRAPHY
G'day folks,
Cameras are almost a thing of the past now that we have mobile phones, which do take a great photo by the way. However, I love having a magnificent piece of engineering in my hand, and normally it's always a Nikon. So, what is still life? Sounds like some people I've worked with from time to time. But, generally it is as per this definition: A still life (plural: still lifes) is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects are either natural (food, flowers, dead animals, plants, rocks, shells, etc.) or man-made (drinking glasses, books, vases, jewelry, coins, pipes, etc.).
Now, check out these fine samples:












































Clancy's comment: I've just finished landscaping my courtyard and it includes two water features. Mind you, in a year's time I might need a machete to get around. Throughout the courtyard I have a plethora of potted plants of all types, colours and leaf shape. I will include a few shots of it at the end of this post. However, I often head out there at different times of the day to capture a snap of some leaf with the sun shining on it. But, here's a tip for you. Often I'm sneaky, and I spray a flower or leaf with a spray bottle of water. The end result is often staggering. Yep, it's a bit like writing novels. Look outside the box. 
 MAIN WATER FEATURE AS SEEN FROM MY KITCHEN




 A PALM FERN
 AH, THE SYMBOLISM OF A WRITER. I FOUND THIS AT A GARAGE SALE BUT I KNEW THE GUY HAVING THE SALE AND HE GAVE IT TO ME FOR FREE.






LEAF AND FLOWER WITH FINE MIST SPRAY





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24 January 2018 - COMMON GRAMMAR MISTAKES

 COMMON GRAMMAR MISTAKES
G'day folks,
Well, here we go again. I make heaps of mistakes with grammar. What about you? Here are some classics, courtesy of  Jon Gingerich. I hope they help some of you.

Since and Because 
“Since” refers to time. “Because” refers to causation. e.g., Since I quit drinking I’ve married and had two children. e.g., Because I quit drinking I no longer wake up in my own vomit.  Disinterested and Uninterested 
Contrary to popular usage, these words aren’t synonymous. A “disinterested” person is someone who’s impartial. For example, a hedge fund manager might take interest in a headline regarding the performance of a popular stock, even if he's never invested in it. He’s “disinterested,” i.e., he doesn’t seek to gain financially from the transaction he’s witnessed. Judges and referees are supposed to be "disinterested." If the sentence you’re using implies someone who couldn't care less, chances are you’ll want to use “uninterested.” 
 Anxious  Unless you’re frightened of them, you shouldn’t say you’re “anxious to see your friends.” You’re actually “eager,” or "excited." To be “anxious” implies a looming fear, dread or anxiety. It doesn’t mean you’re looking forward to something. 
Different Than and Different From 
This is a tough one. Words like “rather” and “faster” are comparative adjectives, and are used to show comparison with the preposition “than,” (e.g., greater than, less than, faster than, rather than). The adjective “different” is used to draw distinction. So, when “different” is followed by a  preposition, it should be “from,” similar to “separate from,” “distinct from,” or “away from.” e.g., My living situation in New York was different from home. There are rare cases where “different than” is appropriate, if “than” operates as a conjunction. e.g., Development is different in New York than in Los Angeles. When in doubt, use “different from.” 
Bring and Take 
In order to employ proper usage of “bring” or “take,” the writer must know whether the object is being moved toward or away from the subject. If it is toward, use “bring.” If it is away, use “take.” Your spouse may tell you to “take your clothes to the cleaners.” The owner of the dry cleaners would say “bring your clothes to the cleaners.” 
 Impactful  It isn't a word. "Impact" can be used as a noun (e.g., The impact of the crash was severe) or a transitive verb (e.g., The crash impacted my ability to walk or hold a job). "Impactful" is a made-up buzzword, colligated by the modern marketing industry in their endless attempts to decode the innumerable nuances of human behavior into a string of mindless metrics. Seriously, stop saying this. 
Affect and Effect 
Here’s a trick to help you remember: “Affect” is almost always a verb (e.g., Facebook affects people’s attention spans), and “effect” is almost always a noun (e.g., Facebook's effects can also be positive). “Affect” means to influence or produce an impression — to cause hence, an effect. “Effect” is the thing produced by the affecting agent; it describes the result or outcome. There are some exceptions. “Effect” may be used as a transitive verb, which means to bring about or make happen. e.g., My new computer effected a much-needed transition from magazines to Web porn. There are similarly rare examples where “affect” can be a noun. e.g., His lack of affect made him seem like a shallow person.   Irony and Coincidence
Too many people claim something is the former when they actually mean the latter. For example, it’s not “ironic” that “Barbara moved from California to New York, where she ended up meeting and falling in love with a fellow Californian.” The fact that they’re both from California is a "coincidence." "Irony" is the incongruity in a series of events between the expected results and the actual results. "Coincidence" is a series of events that appear planned when they’re actually accidental. So, it would be "ironic" if “Barbara moved from California to New York to escape California men, but the first man she ended up meeting and falling in love with was a fellow Californian.” 
Nauseous 
Undoubtedly the most common mistake I encounter. Contrary to almost ubiquitous misuse, to be “nauseous” doesn’t mean you’ve been sickened: it actually means you possess the ability to produce nausea in others. e.g., That week-old hot dog is nauseous. When you find yourself disgusted or made ill by a nauseating agent, you are actually “nauseated.” e.g., I was nauseated after falling into that dumpster behind the Planned Parenthood. Stop embarrassing yourself.


Clancy's comment: Mm ... When I first learnt the Thai language, several words kept popping up that caused me grief. It's a tonal language so you have to do your best to get it right. One such word was khao, which can have up to nine different meanings from glass and rice; even mountain. However, over time I quickly learnt to restructure what I was about to say very quickly to avoid any embarrassment on my part, or confusion on the part of my listener. Hence, when I'm writing, if I come across some confusing grammars such as above, I quickly learn an easier way to say it. Makes for a better book, and your reader unknowingly appreciates it. I hope!
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23 January 2018 - THE BLACK-FOOTED FERRET

THE BLACK-FOOTED FERRET
G'day folks,
Welcome to another interesting member of our wildlife. Black-footed ferrets have a variety of vocalizations, including chatters, chuckles, barks, and hisses.





Facts About the Black-Footed FerretThe endangered black-footed ferret is a member of the weasil family. It is the only ferret native to North America.It is roughly the size of a mink, and differs from the European polecat by the greater contrast between its dark limbs and pale body and the shorter length of its black tail-tip.These solitary animals live alone, and in May and June females give birth to litters of one to six kits that they raise alone.Kits are born blind and helpless and stay below ground until they are about 2 months old. At this age, the female begins to take her young on hunting forays and separates the kits into different burrows.Black-footed ferrets are nocturnal and primarily hunt for sleeping prairie dogs in their burrows. They are most active above ground from dusk to midnight and 4 a.m. to mid-morning. Above ground activity is greatest during late summer and early autumn when juveniles become independent.Climate generally does not limit black-footed ferret activity, but it may remain inactive inside burrows for up to 6 days at a time during winter.Up to 91% of the ferret’s diet is composed of prairie dogs which are essential to their survival, though they will sometimes eat squirrels, mice and other rodents.A ferret may eat more than 100 prairie dogs in one year.Black-footed ferrets once numbered in the tens of thousands, but widespread destruction of their habitat and exotic diseases in the 1900s brought them to the brink of extinction. Only 18 remained in 1986.The animals were once found on black-tailed prairie dog colonies across the Great Plains from southern Canada to northern Mexico, and on white-tailed and Gunnison’s prairie dog colonies across the intermountain west. By 1986, they were completely gone from the wild.Today, they have been reintroduced to 15 locations within their former range in Wyoming, South Dakota, Montana, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Kansas and Chihuahua, Mexico.Ferret reintroduction efforts have been mixed. Populations need viable prairie dog towns to survive, but they also face threats from predators such as golden eagles, owls, and coyotes. Reintroduced animals lack survival skills so their mortality rate is high. Quick FactsType: MammalDiet: CarnivoreLifespan: 3-4 yearsSize: Head and body 30-50cm, tail 11-13cmHabitat: Short grass and mixed grass prairie.Range: Wyoming, South Dakota, Montana, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Kansas and Chihuahua, Mexico.Scientific name: Mustela nigripes







Clancy's comment: Wow, this character can eat up to 100 prairie dogs in one year!
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22 January 2018 - SECRET AMERICAN AIRLINE SEEKING FLIGHT ATTENDANTS

SECRET AMERICAN AIRLINE SEEKING FLIGHT ATTENDANTS
G'day folks,
Now, here could be a great opportunity for some of you.

N o amount of air miles will get you seat aboard “Janet”– the US government’s top secret airline that runs a daily service ferrying secret government workers to and from their jobs at the National Security Site also known as Area 51. The secret passenger fleet operates out of Las Vegas from a restricted terminal and consists of 18 planes, including six Boeing 737s, all painted white with a thin red stripe down the fuselage and no other markings. The “Janet” call sign is thought to stand for “Just Another Non-Existent Terminal” or “Joint Air Network for Employee Transportation”– nobody knows, and the organisation has been shrouded in mystery ever since the service began in 1972. But every once in a while, just like any other airline, Area 51 Airways is looking for a new flight attendant.

I found the unusual job offer on the official careers website AECOM, a private defence contractor that operates the highly classified government shuttle service for the US Air Force. Flight attendants must have top secret security clearance, which is clearly stated in the posting, alongside the standard duties you would expect for a flight attendant position. The job would require flying in and out of Las Vegas’ McCarran Airport (picture a secret door at the end of the luggage belt to access the secret terminal). 



Here are a few highlights from the job posting:
 Position Title: Flight AttendantBusiness Line: GovernmentUnited States of America – Nevada, Las Vegas
Job Summary:
Performs Flight Attendant duties aboard Company operated aircraft. Reports to Operations one (1) hour before scheduled flight or as otherwise assigned by supervisor.
Briefs passengers on aircraft emergency equipment and procedures and ensures passenger compliance with all safety regulations.
Manifests flights as necessary and ensures security practices and procedures are followed.
Must be willing and able to provide leadership, direction, and assistance during an emergency, including aircraft evacuation.
Must be level-headed and clear thinking while handling unusual incidents and situations.
Perform light cleaning of aircraft interiors.
May perform additional duties as directed within the terminal area, or at other company office locations.
Minimum Requirements:
Possess basic math knowledge and basic computer skills. Must qualify for and maintain a top secret government security clearance and associated work location access. Possess a current State issued driver’s license.
Preferred Qualifications:
Local Candidates Preferred
Prior Flight Attendant Experience Preferred
Active Top Secret Clearance Highly Desired
 Other fun facts (of the very few we know) about Janet: all the 737-600 aircraft are ex-Air China and the now defunct China Southwest Airlines before being acquired for US Air Force Operations. The highly classified airline has only had one crash on record in 2004, when an aircraft crashed upon landing at the Tonopah Test Range Airport (Area 51) after the pilot suffered sudden cardiac arrest, killing five people, including the pilot.  


Clancy's comment: Well, get cracking. You can do it.
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21 January 2018 - BOY SLEPT FOR 11 DAYS STRAIGHT

BOY SLEPT FOR 11 DAYS STRAIGHT
G'day folks,
Here is an interesting story that has baffled doctors.


7-year-old Wyatt Shaw, a 7-year-old boy from Elizabethtown, Kentucky, recently woke up from an 11-day slumber that left doctors scratching their heads. When he finally woke up, the second-grader had trouble speaking and moving around, but has since made good progress and is expected to make a full recovery.

After attending his aunt’s wedding and being the life of the party, Wyatt’s mother, Amy, expected him to sleep in the next day, but she never imagined that it would take 11 days for him to finally wake up. She tried waking him up several times, but Wyatt just couldn’t stay awake, and even though he sometimes opened his eyes, it just seemed like he wasn’t really aware of anything.



 “He was awesome, he stole the show. He stole the last dance — he took the bride away from the groom,” Amy Thompson recalled about the wedding before her son’s mysterious sleep marathon. “Monday I tried to wake him up, and he fell back to sleep. I’d say, ‘Wyatt, Wyatt, Wyatt!’ And he fell back to sleep again. It was horrible.

Realising that there was something wrong with her son, Thompson took him to a doctor, who, after hearing her story, immediately sent them to Norton Children’s Hospital in Louisville, where the boy continued to sleep for 10 straight days. Doctors initially suspected a virus or bacteria, since the boy had apparently complained of stomach pain and headaches before falling into the deep sleep, but all the tests came back clean.

Thompson told USA Today that Wyatt “was just having electric misfires in his brain and it was just causing him to stay in a constant sleep,” so doctors used new medication usually used for helping with seizures to wake him up, and after 11 days, the boy finally came out of his unusual slumber.



The second-grader couldn’t move or speak, at first, but with the help of the medical staff and the support of his family, he has made great strides on his road to a full recovery. He still has problems speaking some words and can only walk with the help of his mother, but he is getting better every day.

  But the mystery surrounding the cause of Wyatt Thompson’s 11-day slumber still remains, and doctors say that we may never know what happened, so they and the boy’s family are focusing on his recovery now.

The bizarre case is just as bizarre as the mysterious “sleeping syndrome” that has been plaguing Kalachi village, in Kazakhstan, where people routinely fall into a deep sleep for up to six days in a row.






Clancy's comment: Mm ... Wish I could do that some days.
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20 January 2018 - INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT DUCKS

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT DUCKS
G'day folks,
Did you know that duck feathers have evolved to be highly waterproof? Even when they dive underwater, their underlayer of downy feathers will remain dry.


Facts About the DuckAll domesticated ducks, except the Muscovy duck, descend from the wild mallard Anas platyrhynchos.Ducks have rows of small bristles lining their mouth which allow them to filter water out of their beaks without losing their food. This filtering system is very similar to that of the blue whale.Despite the stereotype, not all ducks “quack”. It tends to be only the females that actually quack. All ducks do, however, have a range of communicative calls, including grunts, yodels and whistles.Ducks are perfectly adapted to water-life. Beyond their filtering system, their webbed feet are excellent for allowing them to move with ease in water as well as permitting them to easily walk on slippery river banks.Ducks use their beaks for feeding and for grooming themselves. They will pick dirt or debris out of their feathers.. Female ducks will lead their young ducklings up to half a mile from their nest site over land to find a suitable water area for swimming and feeding.Ducks’ feathers have evolved to be highly waterproof. Even when they dive underwater, their underlayer of downy feathers will remain dry.When building a nest, female ducks will line the nest with soft down feathers which they pluck from their own breast. These soft feathers provide the best possible insulation and cushioning for the eggs.Many duck species will migrate for thousands of miles. Some can reach speeds beyond 60 mph when flying.In Celtic Mythology, the duck represents honesty, simplicity and resourcefulness. They are also viewed as sensitive, graceful and respected for their beauty and adaptation to nature Quick FactsType: Aves (Bird)Diet: OmnivoreLifespan: 4-12 yearsSize: 30-50 cmWeight: 0.7-1.4 kgHabitat: Rivers, lakes, woodland and wetlandsRange: Global except AntarticaScientific name: Anatidae






Clancy's comment: Not far from my home you can easily find heaps of wild ducks, and other forms of wildlife. This time of year is great to find many families of ducks to photograph. Look below ...I'm ...

19 January 2018 - MOVING PICTURES

MOVING PICTURES
G'day folks,
Welcome to some more rolling pictures.















































Clancy's comment: Some are brilliant, eh?I'm ...

18 January 2018 - SNOW-WHITE AUSTRALIAN BEACH IS MADE UP OF BILLIONS OF COCKLE SHELLS

SNOW-WHITE AUSTRALIAN BEACH IS MADE UP OF BILLIONS OF COCKLE SHELLS
G'day folks,
Here is another amazing feature. However, not so amazing coming from this great continent.

Australia’s Shark Bay World Heritage Area is home to Shell Beach, one of only two places around the world where beach sand is completely replaced by sea shells.

Imagine billions of white cockle shells stretching out as far as the eye can see, and you get a pretty good idea of how amazing Shell Beach looks. Located on the western edge of the Australian continent, this unique tourist attraction stretches for a whopping 70 km, which makes it look like an endless sea of shells meeting the ocean. And if you’re thinking that the shells only make up a superficial layer, we’ll have you know that in some places, they reach 10 meters deep.



Interestingly, the billions of cockle shells that make up Shell Beach come from a single species of mollusk that thrives in the area due to two important factors. First, there is the location of Shell Beach in the innermost part of the horseshoe-shaped Sharky Bay, with the world’s largest seagrass bank blocking the tide. And then there’s the hypersalinity of the area – double the level of salinity of the Indian Ocean – due to to a climate with less precipitation than evaporation. The high salt concentration keep predators at bay, allowing the Shark Bay cockle (Fragum erugatum) to thrive.

Unhindered by the tide and natural predators, the small cockles were able to live and breed on the ocean seabed, with billions of their shells washing up on the shore over thousands of years. Though small – only a few millimeters in size – cockle shells make up the entire beach.



  Cockle shells are so abundantly available in the Shark Bay area that over the years, people have used them to build houses, restaurants and churches, by compacting them into building blocks. The practice was very popular during the 19th and 20th centuries, but it has since been discontinued after Shark Bay was awarded UNESCO world heritage status in 1991.   

Clancy's comment: Amazing, eh? Ah ... Nature.
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17 January 2018 - 'LOVE YA WORK!' - NEW RELEASE - CLANCY TUCKER

'LOVE YA WORK!'- NEW RELEASE -CLANCY TUCKER


G'day folks,
Time to release a new book - LOVE YA WORK! It is my tenth book, and it's a collection of short stories, bush poetry and anecdotes from my life on the run. I guarantee one thing: you will laugh and cry. It is a sizeable book, so you will certainly get your money's worth, and you will learn a lot about me. Oh, where did the title come from? Simple. I've become famous for this term, so why not use it?
ORIGINS OF THIS BOOK:
Having been a full time writer for a long time, I decided not to write any more until I had published what I'd written. Too often, great stuff sits on our computers and never sees the light of day. So, here it is, folks. Some of the short stories will move you; so will some of the anecdotes. 

ISSUES INCLUDED IN THIS BOOK:

 Me, my childhood, my travels and life experiences, people I've met along the way, some of the greatest folks I've ever met, bush poetry, short stories from all over the world, Christmas in New York, Wartime in England, Anzac Day, death and dying, South East Asia ... And many other issues, including some humour.

HERE IS THE BLURB:

Clancy Tucker is an award-winning author, photographer, poet and screenwriter who writes young adult fiction. He has lived in four countries, speaks three languages, has photography published in the USA, photographic work registered with the International Library of Photography, and included in literary magazines. He has also written more than 140 short stories and an anthology of bush poetry.


Clancy’s been short-listed, commended and highly-commended in many writing contests, and had short stories and poems published in literary magazines. He has been a political speechwriter, public servant, farmer and vocal advocate for human rights, social justice and independent authors. Clancy has worked with street kids, currently mentors aspiring writers, and draws on life’s experiences to write stories for young adults.


This is a collection of Clancy’s short stories, bush poetry and anecdotes from a ‘Life on the run’. Many of the stories are based on true-life. So, get in, buckle up and hold on. This book will make you laugh and cry.
  
Clancy's comment: Okay. So, brace yourselves and buy a copy. You will not be disappointed. Don't be shy. Head up to the right-hand side of this page and purchase a paperback or e-Book. All paperbacks will be signed and they come with a matching bookmark. Trust me. You won't regret it. Yes, the cover photographs are mine. The back cover was my one and only 'selfie', taken in a mirror in Bangkok
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16 January 2018 - GREAT QUOTES TO READ

GREAT QUOTES TO READ
G'day folks,
Check these pearlers ...













































Clancy's comment: Wow.  
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