Thomas W.P. Slatin

A 1 +/- second exposure in black & white taken at the corner of Railroad Avenue and Main Street in the Village of Stamford, New York.

Take a step back and look at what America has become…  A throwaway society built upon the ideals of big corporations who’s only goal is to sell as much product as they can, as quickly as possible.

It all started with capitalism, the concept upon which the American dream is built.  Everything you ever want is out there, and it’s waiting to become yours.  Everything is there for the purchasing.  Capitalism is built upon money, and to get it, you either work a job or better yet, start your own business.

In the early days of the Industrial revolution, products started to become mass-produced.  Instead of everything being a one-of-a-kind item which had to be made by hand, we now have a multitude of exact copies of a specific product.  The brain child behind this new concept was the introduction of interchangeable parts, which when assembled, made these clone-like products.  Along with it came the assembly line, which not only provided many jobs, but allowed companies to produce products like never before.

Later on, the American dream gradually shifted towards including material possessions.  Shopping eventually became a popular past time, and we began to spend money on things we wanted in addition to things that we needed.

Then came the era of chain stores that purchased mass-produced products in such a huge quanity that they could then be sold at a very low price.  Low prices are ideals in American society because it means that not only can we save more of our money, but we can still afford to buy the things we want (a.k.a. luxury items).

In recent times we have seen the formation of huge corporations such as Wal-Mart and Target, two of the biggest chain stores that ever existed.  This is a prime example of capitalism gone crazy; stores that could afford to buy enormous quantities of product, sell it for less cost than their neighboring competitor stores, and stay open 24 hours a day.

For large corporations and their suppliers, selling product just wasn’t enough.  There had to be a way to force consumers to come back to purchase more product.  A solution was devised that would not only cut costs, but would force the consumer to return to the store to buy more product.  The solution was to begin to introduce disposable products.

Now, instead of consumers coming to buy just one piece of product, companies forced consumers to use their product for a short time, throw it away, and come back to the store to buy more of their product.  The problem was first voiced by environmentalists once landfills began to fill up beyond capacity.

Recycling soon became the obvious solution, so companies again took advantage and started producing products that could be recycled instead of ending up in landfills.  The problem with this scenario is that in reality, very few people recycle their waste because it is easier to just throw it away.

Once the garbage business was in full swing and demand became high, so did the cost of disposal.  As is the American way, money is more important than our environment.  Instead of recycling, or at the very least, proper disposal, people just went outside and threw their garbage wherever was most convenient.  Rivers, lakes, and steams were the most popular because they had a tendency to wash away garbage; out of sight, out of mind, and someone elses’ problem became the mindset.

Large companies, who had spent a small portion of their end profits on disposal of the waste created by manufacturing got into the habit of dumping hazardous materials into nearby bodies of water.  New York City’s Hudson River is a prime example of this; the water is contaminated with all sorts of chemicals like PCB’s.

It has unfortunately reached the level where one need not look far to see what others left behind.  Drive down any roadway and you will see styrofoam cups and plastic bags strewn all over the place.  Walk deep enough into the woods, and you might encounter a junked car or two that is riddled with bullet holes.

Sadly, the stream behind my property has become a local dumping ground.  It began with a car rim last Summer.  Then a red car door.  Finally, a couple of weeks ago, someone let an old ride-on lawnmower roll down an embankment by itself.  I’m not trying to figure out who is responsible for these irresponsible acts, but I do plan to do some extra cleanup during the spring and summer months in a feeble attempt to discourage this activity.

I’ll probably post a video or two of the cleanup to document the progress.  Unfortunately, due to the size and location of the lawnmower, it is too heavy for me to remove, and it is also on private property so I couldn’t access and remove it even if I devised a plan to do so.

As always, more to come.  In the meantime, please do yourself and everyone else a favor by encouraging your community to recycle and keep litter and garbage out of all the places where it doesn’t belong, even if it’s your own property.

Since beginning my so-called career of in the dot com biz by launching this flagship website almost ten years ago, I’ve become the lucky recipient of a lot of complaints.  Most complaints involve things like folks disagreeing with the “content” on this website.

One such example was an email message about PriceChopper that I posted on the website for a short time sent to me by some lady in Canada.  For months she sent me harassing email messages about how I had to remove her email from the site immediately or face legal action.  Gradually, the emails got to the point where they began hinting towards physical attacks against me, so I suppressed the email from being shown.  About a week later, she called me (long distance) from Montreal, Canada, demanding that I delete the email message instead of suppressing it.

I promised I’d fire the person responsible for the mishap, but little did she know that I was the person running the entire show, sort to speak.  Two weeks went by and another email surfaced, this one threatening international terrorism.  Fearing that this lady was a crazy lunatic about to snap, I deleted the email once and for all.  I haven’t heard anything since.

That was back in 2003 and since then, I haven’t gotten any more complaints about the website.

Apparently, what happened was that a few folks heard from some other people that there was pornography on my blog.  Specifically, one person claimed that they saw a picture which contained 4 naked women posing and having lesbian sex.  Apparently these folks were visiting a website that was not mine because I do not have any photos of people showing nudity in any shape or form, let alone 4 nude lesbians having sex all in one photo.

So anyway, this prompted me to add yet another warning, in addition to my disclaimer…

Explicit Content Warning
Please be advised that the TomSlatin.com website is uncensored.  Therefore, you may read words that may be objectionable.  These are only words.  There is no nudity or pornography on this website.

I took this sunset photo just outside Stamford, New York.
(Click For Original Full-Resolution)

What is so great about the iPhone that everywhere you look on the internet, there is some idiot talking about what they did with their iPhone. Not only that, but these Apple-obsessed geeks also have ads for the iPhone along side these outrageous claims as if by writing about the iPhone that their readers will be compelled to actually buy one.

There has been so much hype, media coverage, and advertising about the iPhone that website owners are beginning to optimize their websites to be readable by the iPhone. It is almost as if these folks haven’t yet realized that the internet was built and designed for use with computers, not one of Apple’s little fortune-building gadgets.

You never have to worry, dear reader, I’m a passionate Apple HATER and if this website ever becomes mobile compatable, it will be for cell phones in general, not just the iPhone. So far, the admin area is mobile-enabled, but the rest of the site will be soon (hopefully).

Here’s the low-down on the iPhone. I’ve heard reports of folks spending upwards of $600 for the iPhone, then (after getting the voice, data plans, and extras) getting stuck with a monthly bill of $500 or more.  To me, that’s just plain retarded, considering that $500 can buy you a halfway decent computer (without the monitor), pay a month worth of rent, or fill your car with gas (twice).  The iPhone is HUGE waste of time and money.

Lastly, let me set the record straight and say that I have a cell phone.  I have the LG Env through Verizon Wireless.  I have both the unlimited data plans and a 500-minute voice plan.  The phone was free with a 2-year contract, and I pay $89 a month.  It’s a bargain compared to the $600 iPhone and $500+ a month, considering that I can do just about the same things with my Env as someone could do with the iPhone.

Those Apple commercials where they compare a Mac to a PC, combined with the commercials that tell you you can’t be cool unless you have an iPhone are really getting to me, which is why I wrote this post.  If you agree that Apple products and what Apple is trying way too hard to stand for is getting annoying, please show your support by posting a comment and linking to this post from you blog or website.

The Story:  She saw me taking this photo, then looked away. She never spoke or made any indication that she didn’t want her picture with the tree taken.  I snapped several photos, this one was the best of them all.

I’m on a Photo Stamp!  If you are looking to send letters, postcards, or anything through the United States Postal Service, and you want to do it in style, my stamp is the way to go!  Click the stamp for more info and to order.  Different sizes and values are always available, depending on what you wish to send.

The events in the world have turned ugly.  So ugly in fact that they’re beginning to change Christmas.  Christmas to me is one of the best days of the year because it’s the one day where I have an excuse to do nothing, and I get rewarded for doing nothing with tons of free gifts.

So far, this Christmas there will be two changes made.  First of all, Santa Claus will no longer say Ho Ho Ho [Merry Christmas] because it is offensive to women.  Instead, he will say Ha Ha Ha [Merry Christmas], which is so fucking lame and stupid it makes absolutely no sense.  Apparently, the word ho is offensive to a few select women who accuse Santa of using the slang word ho to refer to women as sluts.

Secondly, Santa will have to be on a diet because he has been accused of promoting unhealthy eating habits.  I think it’s funny that we blame a guy who, since the beginning of time, was fat for promoting unhealthy eating habits whom we see only once a year, yet Ronald McDonald, a clown with an unhealthy (almost pedophilic) fascination with children, encourages them to eat fast food everyday after school.  It just doesn’t make sense.

Anyhow, from now on, Santa will have to slim down before he plans to make a public appearance.  This stupid idea that the whole population in the United States suffers from obesity has gotten so out of control that instead of blaming ourselves for eating junk food, playing video games, and not getting outside enough, we have to place the blame on a guy who brings happiness and joy to the world once a year on Christmas.

It makes me sick.

 Related Video:
No More Ho Ho Ho
Santa’s Diet

The following is a journal entry from April 23, 2005.

I’ve been doing lots of thinking, remembering a lot of turning points in my life so far.

Life seems all straight forward at times, then out of nowhere, your life can change forever at an instant and sometimes even without warning.  Live for the moment, try to freeze and hold it and grab hold to these precious moments as they pass beyond your control before you.  There is no turning back, except in your mind.  Let go of old upsets and grudges, live for today and follow your dreams and in doing so, let them shape the future.  Money isn’t everything, and cannot buy happiness, as happiness only comes from within.  Also remember that happiness comes in small doses; too much and you may lose sight of what’s really important.  Think deeper, speak clearer, and seek the truth; don’t rely on others to seek the truth for you, for truth is found by taking evidence into perspective and drawing ones own conclusions.  Don’t claim religion simply because you believe that in doing so you will go to Heaven; be a good person, help others in their times of need and if you start to go astray consider the concept of reciprocity.  Do no harm to animals or yourself; kill animals only if you intend to eat them because you are hungry.  Do not spend too much time dwelling over the negative opinions of others, instead be optimistic; the glass is never half empty.  There are no problems, only solutions to challenges that are placed in your path towards a common goal.  Take risks in your life; nobody got anywhere being afraid to take a chance.  Many people wonder if their journey in life has come to an end; if you’re still alive, it hasn’t.  Do one thing and do it well, a jack of all trades is a master of none.  Always have a back-up plan.  Don’t succumb to routines or look at life as one endless loop of repetitive tasks or events.  Document and photograph everything; nothing lasts forever but the Earth and sky and this process can yield a bit of much-appreciated nostalgia later on in life.  Steer clear of all that is evil in the world and emancipate yourself from the gravitational pull of evil people.  Lose yourself in a good book or listen to some music; in times like these, everybody needs an escape every once in awhile.  Be self-reliant as you cannot rely upon anyone else to take full care of you.  Don’t settle for second best if the best is within your means.  Not everything can be explained and sometimes for good reason.  Nothing just happens, everything happens for a reason and is both the effect of another action and the cause for another.  Life is an ongoing process; things change, people change.  Not everyone is always who they claim or appear to be.  Life is not fair, and nothing is ever truly perfect.  Everybody is the same, on some level.  And finally, whenever you feel like you have it bad, remember that there is always someone else who has it much worse.

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