Contributions of the group North American Travel

Suburban Bloodshed

nobody@ipernity.com (honeyj) — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 20:29:58 +0000

honeyj has posted:

This is it, men. The final battle.
We're ready, sir!
You'll have to call on all of your training to survive.
We will, sir!
Nobody be a hero. We're in this together. Got it? This is my last test, and I want to go out on top!
You will sir!
For you rookies, these bake sales can be extremely intense. A madhouse! Be strong!
Sir! We'll make our quota sir!
And one final thing: keep your damn hands off the chocolate frosting! No exceptions! Do you read me?
Yes sir! No frosting sir!

Pay-Off

nobody@ipernity.com (honeyj) — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 02:54:44 +0000

honeyj has posted:

“Look, buddy,” the wig salesman said, “I’ve got to close. Either choose now or take a hike.” I couldn’t really blame the guy for his impertinence. After all, I’d been examining his fluffy merchandise for the better part of an hour by then, although I hadn’t told him the real reason for my visit. “Just cool it, friend. You know the customer is always right.” What I didn’t say was that, directly across the street, in plain view through the store’s plate glass window, stuffed with more cheap, tawdry goods than I had ever before encountered, was the small, greasy diner that was the actual focus of my attention.

As I fondled one last item, I spotted my quarry exiting the establishment, surrounded by his usual entourage of thieves, pimps, punks and killers. Tossing the rug aside, I hurtled through the door to the street, the owner yelling to my back, “Thanks for nothing wise guy.” As I reached the curb, the surly mob was piling into a black Escalade that had been idling in the alley. It roared off as I dove into my ‘62 British racing green MGB. Touching the ignition, the exhaust emitted the characteristic throaty growl that no other sports car in the world had ever been able to match. I slammed the shift knob into 1st and spun after the big SUV, checking to see that there were no cops in sight. I certainly didn’t want any around for what I needed to do.

I left the wig shop in the dust, the image of the shop owner pulling down his security gates rapidly receding in my rear-view mirror as I raced through the next 4 gears. I knew where the mark was heading. Perhaps I could beat him there. However, as I careened onto Lower Wacker Drive, my steel-belted Pirellis screaming in protest, I saw too late that I had been set up. The first burst of gunfire took out half the right fender, slamming me into a hard spin toward the river. Something exploded behind me, eliminating the black canvas rag top, on which I had just expended considerable capital for repairs. The thought was fleeting, however, as I now realized that my tires were no longer in contact with pavement. Rather, I was looking at a long dive into the frigid blackness of the Chicago River, rapidly rising toward me. I struggled to free myself of my constraints, silently cursing my law-abiding nature. I couldn’t get the damn seat belt unhooked. I didn’t feel a thing as the octagon MG logo hit the icy water. After that, I wouldn’t have any more complaints.

Stake-Out

nobody@ipernity.com (honeyj) — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 15:37:51 +0000

honeyj has posted:

There he is. See him?
Where?
27th floor, 2nd window to the left.
Ok, gimme a sec. Hey, forget that guy. Check out the 28th floor.
Oh man, you're right! Forget the perp! Who is she?
I don't know, but I'm putting on a longer lens.

The Nugget Creek Falls

nobody@ipernity.com (Herb Riddle) — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 10:53:37 +0000

Herb Riddle has posted:

Just outside the Alaska coastal town of Juneau in Alaska and next to the Mendenhall Glacier. This is in fact the bottom of two falls, each of 99ft (30m) dropping a total height of 115m high (377ft). An impressive sight indeed. Judge the height by the size of the people below. PiP has mapping.

Enjoy full screen

Hideaway

nobody@ipernity.com (honeyj) — Sun, 05 Jul 2026 18:47:37 +0000

honeyj has posted:

Hey, Jerry. You watch the festivities last night?
What festivities?
You know! The big rallies. The speeches. The crowds. The noise. The whole thing!
Nope.
You didn't?
I don't care about any of that and want nothing to do with it.
Why not?
I got better things to do.
Like what?
Like hanging out here.
That's not really doing anything, Jerry.
My whole point.

Talent Is an Asset

nobody@ipernity.com (honeyj) — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 17:25:08 +0000

honeyj has posted:

Great view, right, Egon?
Very impressive, Lars. Such a talent!
Thanks. Some things just come natural.
"Some things. . ."
Not for me, of course.
That's what I thought you meant.

PBF

nobody@ipernity.com (honeyj) — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 21:50:24 +0000

honeyj has posted:

The enemy is on the move, Perkins. Intelligence says there's millions of 'em.
They do, sir?
Foreign invaders who want to destroy our civilization. Well I'm not gonna let 'em. Are the charges set?
They are, sir, but. . .
Blow the bridge when they reach mid-point.
Blow the bridge? The Golden Gate?
You heard me.
But. . . are you sure, sir? I mean, it's a national treasure!
You want to lose your humanity son? Your family? Your very soul?
No sir. I don't. but. . .
War is too important to be left to the politicians. I can no longer sit back and allow the communists to infiltrate, indoctrinate and subvert us.
No sir. of course not, sir. But don't you mean 'commuters,' sir?
What's that?
You said 'communists.' Aren't the people coming over the bridge, aren't they, you know, commuters?
Hell, don't try and confuse me with rhetoric, Perkins! No way am I going to allow the international communist conspiracy to sap and impurify our precious bodily fluids!
No sir. Of course not, sir.

Kompromat

nobody@ipernity.com (honeyj) — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 21:17:31 +0000

honeyj has posted:

Good morning, sir.
I hope it is, Yevgeny. Anything to report on our favorite asset?
It's better than we could have hoped: it's been years but he is still following our instructions to the letter.
Well, he knows what will happen if he doesn't. Nothing like the threat of a few 8 by 10 color glossies to get things done. In fact, if he continues we may have to award him a Hero of the Russian Federation medal.
Ha ha! It's pathetic how he'll do almost anything to get a medal, or any kind of trinket. No matter who gives it to him.
Especially if it's gold, eh, Yevgeny?
No mystery there, sir.

Desert colors

nobody@ipernity.com (Esther) — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 20:40:21 +0000

Esther has posted:

Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix, Arizona

AP1123946

Saguaro landscape

nobody@ipernity.com (Esther) — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 20:40:18 +0000

Esther has posted:

Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix, Arizona

AP1123961

Crested saguaro

nobody@ipernity.com (Esther) — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 20:40:13 +0000

Esther has posted:

Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix, Arizona

"Some saguaros grow in rare formations called a cristate, or "crested" saguaro. This growth formation is believed to be found in one in roughly 10,000 saguaros, with 2,743 known crested saguaros documented. The crest formation, caused by fasciation, creates a seam of abnormal growth along the top or top of the arm of the saguaro."

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saguaro

AP1123964

Crested saguaro head

nobody@ipernity.com (Esther) — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 20:40:09 +0000

Esther has posted:

Aloe flower with bees

nobody@ipernity.com (Esther) — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 20:40:03 +0000

Esther has posted:

Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix, Arizona

AP1123958

Mourning doves

nobody@ipernity.com (Esther) — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 02:37:04 +0000

Esther has posted:

Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix, Arizona

AP1123904

A pop of red

nobody@ipernity.com (Esther) — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 02:37:01 +0000

Esther has posted:

Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix, Arizona

AP1123903

American snout butterfly

nobody@ipernity.com (Esther) — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 02:36:58 +0000

Esther has posted:

Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix, Arizona

AP1123900

Castle Bravo

nobody@ipernity.com (honeyj) — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 17:30:15 +0000

honeyj has posted:

Aren't we too close?
Nah. It's only gonna be 6 megatons. No biggie.
I dunno. Lithium-7 can be kind of unpredictable. Could produce a much bigger blast. And then. . .
Then I guess we better not forget to duck, right my man?
You really think they know what they're doing?
It's 1954! The atomic age! What could go wrong?

Blind Chance

nobody@ipernity.com (honeyj) — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 01:08:52 +0000

honeyj has posted:

Boss, that posse is closin' in fast. You got a plan?
I surely do, Slim: we keep a-riding through this here arroyo. Come out the other side. We'll be long gone afore they figure out where we went.
Good idea, boss, except for one thing.
What's that?
This here's a blind canyon. Only one way in, and one way out.
You don't say?
That's a fack.
Well sir, I wish you'd a-told me that before we led the horses all the way in, what with that posse breathing down our necks.
I was fixin' to, but figured you knew what you were doin', you know, bein' the boss 'n all.
I guess that's natural. Truth is, though, this is my first bank job.
Is that so? You never mentioned that in the job interview.
Well sir, it is. And from the look of it, it's gonna be my last.
That's just a darn shame. I truly thought this gang had potential.
Looks like it's gonna be the end of a rope for us, Slim.
A cruel fate, and I am truly sorry to hear you say it.
That makes for the two of us, I'm sure.

Majestic Saguaro

nobody@ipernity.com (Esther) — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 02:34:55 +0000

Esther has posted:

Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix, Arizona

"Life Span With the right growing conditions, it is estimated that saguaros can live to be as much as 150-200 years old. Size Saguaro are very slow growing cactus. A 10 year old plant might only be 1.5 inches tall. Saguaro can grow to be between 40-60 feet tall (12-18m). When rain is plentiful and the saguaro is fully hydrated it can weigh between 3200-4800 pounds. Quick Facts • The saguaro is the largest cactus in the United States. • Most of the saguaros roots are only 4-6 inches deep and radiate out as far from the plant as it is tall. There is one deep root, or tap root that extends down into the ground more than 2 feet. • After the saguaro dies its woody ribs can be used to build roofs, fences, and parts of furniture. The holes that birds nested in or "saguaro boots" can be found among the dead saguaros. Native Americans used these as water containers long before the canteen was available. "

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.azed.gov/sites/default/files/2019/02/Saguaro%20Fun%20Facts.pdf

AP1123896

Not an easy landing

nobody@ipernity.com (Esther) — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 02:34:50 +0000

Esther has posted:

Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix, Arizona

AP1123894