clock reset needed

Primary Childrens Hospital
Originally uploaded by rfin.

Guess I need to reset the clock in my camera. I shot this at about nine this morning, but the time stamp says 5:33 p.m.

top ten killers - how we doin?

Pulled out my old paper-based planner tonight to get some old phone numbers. Found a yellowed newspaper clipping I'd taped onto one of the pages...

Top Ten Killers Number of deaths in 1991 per 100,000 people. Heart disease 286 Cancer 204 Stroke 57 Lung diseases 36 Accidents (non-auto) 35 Pneumonia, flu 31 Diabetes 19 Suicide 12 AIDS 12 Homicide 10 Source: National Center for Health Statistics I wondered how the stats have changed over the years so I googled NCHS and found this page with similar stats. Although it has much more detail, here's how the newer numbers (from 2000-2002) match against the older ones. cause/1991/2000-2002/+- Heart disease 286/247 -39 Cancer 204/196 -8 Stroke 57/58 +1 Lung diseases 36/43 +7 Accidents (non-auto) 35/35 0 Pneumonia, flu 31/22 -9 Diabetes 19/25.2 +16.2 Suicide 12/10.7 -1.3 AIDS 12/5 -7 Homicide 10/6 -4 So it's a mixed bag, with some progress in reducing deaths from heart disease, cancer, pneumonia-flu, AIDS and homicide. Not much change in non-auto accidents, stroke and suicide rates. And increased death rates from diabetes and lung disease.

Before Sunset

Sugar House Park
Originally uploaded by rfin.

There's a time when it doesn't seem like it's that late in the afternoon. Oh, you can tell if you look at the shadows, but it's so easy to get lost in the moment and assume the blue sky and bright light will last longer. But it is winter. The days are shorter. And it's much colder than it appears. I'm grateful for today's sunshine and the hope that each longer day brings as we move toward spring and summer. When the days are long and hot, I hope I'll also remember some of these short, crisp, sunny days of January.

seeing and listening

Huntsman Center Originally uploaded by rfin.

"Hey, I dare you not to notice the sunset. I know other people are driving home and it seems that they're not going ga-ga over this. But you're not them. You're noticing. You do have a camera with you. It's not going to take but two minutes for you to pull into the parking lot and then you'll have something to remember this. True enough, I'll paint you another one tomorrow and the next night and every night after that for as long as you live and beyond. But I promise you this -- just as there's only one you, this sunset is just as unique as you are, or a snowflake or anyone of a million other custom designs. Hey, I'm not into cloning. That's a human thing. All my work's the real thing. Bonafide originals. But you knew that. Your eye knew even before you thought of the time or the camera. Now get your photo. You won't regret it. And thanks for thinking of me."