Balldiver

Elite receivers do not make spectacular diving catches by accident.  They actually practice various methods and techniques on a regular basis.  During gametime with all the distractions, muscle memory kicks-in and the catch itself is second-nature. 

Draggin'

A little known species, the Alpine Reptile, is seen with the same frequency as the Yeti, Nessie, Elvis, and a hard-working congressman.  

Paws Pause

 

Partway into their distant journey, the companions rested briefly to contemplate their location and direction, their status in life, and, oh, they actually forgot why.
 

Moat Float

Ensuring the safety of the marina is but one of the many duties assigned to the US Coast Guard.  This highly-trained sentry can outrun a jetski within the confines of the harbor, and he can silently ambush an illegal transaction of marbles or trading cards.  Don't ask for a ride, though, since he must be vigilant and responsive on short notice. 

Pool of Fools

It seems like you cannot escape them.  Everywhere you go, indoors or out, inner city or suburb, there they are -- gangs.  Intimidating, menacing, unpredictable, volatile.  Will they threaten or cajole?  Harass or disregard?  Group behavior of juvenile male primates -- one of the mysteries of the universe.

Mr. Bojingle

The best way to kick-off the season is to play a tune that reminds everyone of the great joy it can bring in gathering with family and friends, renewing acquaintances with certain mountaintops, remembering why our makeup includes hefty quadriceps, and appreciating many blessings from Mother Nature.

Light Night

As long as the snow is not piled-up (yet), there's a built-in excuse for taking-in a ride.  Long daytime hours advising the President can defer such fun until late in the evening, so it's just a matter of preparation with the right gear.

Need for Speed

Pro skiers find ways to train, even when the offseason facilities are shut-down before the big snowpack arrives.  All the major resorts are wooing him for training camp, offering perks and no-fee services.  His mere presence would triple their earnings, but he remains loyal to his local ski hill and would rather dance with the one who brought him this far. 

Stealth Elf

This year he's not getting away with it.  Ole St. Nick is not going to sneak-in and then sneak-out undetected, no sir.  Camping under the tree is the ideal solution for finally getting a glimpse and maybe reviewing the prior conversation at the department store. 

Hitchbiker

From the safety and comfort of domestic bases, military drone pilots are able to direct their craft that fly on the other side of the world.  The concept is extensible, and now international spy agencies are able to utilize talents of their Maxwell Smarts, Inspector Clouseaus, James Bonds, Napoleon Solos, Jim Phelps, et al. from their local facilities.  Here we see their lead instructor demonstrating a special two-wheeled device.

Stick Kick

America is finally catching-up to China in the earthquake prediction department.  US scientists have developed a valid sensing mechanism using one of the oldest materials ever used for a tool:  wood.  Certain well-trained individuals can acquire and interpret the harmonic oscillation of seismic signals and broadcast their findings.  It requires great concentration in a sensory-deprived environment, but the results are earth shattering.

Surreptitious Confabulation

No one on the planet can effectuate an under-the-table deal better than the master.

Gas Morass

In media interviews with fan club representatives, Liam likes to add a bit of levity.

Electroderm

Taking a clue from ID implant chips for pets and hand-held application technology, scientists have developed a method to install a complete integrated circuit -- using human skin!  It can bridge the network between human nerve impulse and any bluetooth device to provide extremely high bandwidth with boundless storage capacity.  Just think of the tune, and your car plays it.

Said a Mouthful

All bets are off at the training table; the cuisine doesn't stand a chance.  But given the choices from the menu, one item stands out above all others.

Brake Aweigh

One must be careful with sudden acceleration.  As the first derivative of velocity, it can surprise even highly trained athletes.  Here we see a near-miss with a section of PVC.  It can also cause opponents to misjudge things like an intentional tripping and leave them with a grass stain and a bruised ego. 

Currently

In a remarkable single burst, one man solved the power outage problem for his neighborhood, if only for an hour.

Take Flight

Sometimes one simply needs to levitate in order to score the victory.

Benched

Waiting patiently and checking the scoreboard to see how the judges rated their performance.  They had trained almost daily for three years, and this was the culmination of all that hard work.  It was the last photo of the Dancing Half Dozen before they became infamous stars and established their careers.

Man Down

This was no ordinary opponent, not some contender working his way up the ranks.  It was Red Skull!  Too bad for him, though, since our hero became incensed with the sight of him.  It was Tyson vs. Spinks all over again.  The villain got his bell rung.

Paws Pause

St. Francis d'Assisi stops to meet some new friends before resuming his journey. 

Kick Pick

He's after Tom Dempsey's record.  Sure, a couple of others have tied it, one dude beat it by a yard, but no one knows their names.  Dempsey is the man, the one to beat.

Panultimate

The leader of the Lost Boys swings by to get a glimpse of Wendy.

Pedal to the Meddle

After securing the Tour Trophy this past summer, Liam makes his obligatory appearances around the country as the season winds down.  It is a gesture of appreciation for the fans, patriotism, and a reinforcement that one can achieve victory without the use of unnatural or illegal substances. 

Soon a Tune

Rogers and Hammerstein, Lennon and McCartney, George and Ira, Garfunkel and Simon, they all took their lessons from somewhere.  Now the world knows where their inspiration originated.

Strive Dive

From a long line of ama divers comes a new breed, fitting for our modern civilization.  They eschew the grab for organic gems in favor of valuable produce.  A rare few are able to discriminate quality while still in the drink, and only the most successful dare to release an early catch in favor of the finest specimens.

For the Hail of It

Who knew clouds could lay eggs so indiscriminately?  They didn't seem to care much about placement, but that's probably what any species will do when unloading about a half million of them in 7 minutes. 

Blanket Party

Effectively transmitting useful smoke signals is a far cry from some casual effort by amateurs.  Generations of ancestry have practiced it through the millennia.  Here we see the elders providing a lesson for the next in line.

Caved In

In order to coax the native species out of its dwelling, one must be extremely patient.  It requires unique soft, soothing sounds to draw their attention and other techniques that appeal to their senses.  The sound of mutilating candy bar wrappers, the pop of a soda can opening, the cheers from a portable sports video game.  If those fail, the starting-up of a familiar automobile engine will always do the trick. 

Bed Head

It was supposed to be just a short happy-hour gathering of friends who had other obligations later that evening.  But things just got out of hand as they fed off each other's energy, and once the dancing started there was no stopping.  That is, until they all collapsed into a deep slumber.  At that point, it was a matter of grabbing any spot that was available. 

Rare Air

Once in a while he likes to break-open the hangar and let the entire fleet out on the lawn for some fresh air, great food, good times.  It helps him choose which one to jump in for a flight.

Prone, but not Alone

World class astrophysicists must seize opportunities to view their favorite celestial bodies, even if it means blowing off football practice.  A quick slip out of the locker room and voilà, let the research continue.

Fab Four

Equipment testing continues during autumn in advance of the first sign of flying flakes.  It's a team effort; everyone contributes to make it a safe, fun-filled adventure every day of operations.

Fair Chair

Many years ago, a wonderful season had ended, but there was still skiable snow and Liam just couldn't get enough.  Easily solved with a quick hike up the hill and some reminiscing from the vantage of a cushion-less chair.  

What They Saw

They only needed a few sharp tools to generate a full truck bed, as long as beverages were available.  Extra fuzz on this summer's woolly worms portends a long cold winter, just the ticket for a cozy fire.

Towering Ivories

The audience was captivated by the beauty and elegance of the maestro at his craft.

Landed, not Stranded

The Squadron Commander brings his trusty steed to rest after a lengthy jaunt out East -- Missouri, Tennessee, and beyond. 

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, --and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of --Wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air...
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark or even eagle flew --
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

John Gillespie Magee, Jr

Camera Angle

Precision punting is the craft of a rare few.  Beware the unwanted photographer.

Behind the Wheel

Driving in China is a completely different experience from western nations.  It can evoke a range of emotions from a vehicle operator while attempting to simply relocate from point A to point B.

Lucky Foot

Hase, Conejo, call it what you want but it still makes for a great friendship.

Shoeless Foe

When you are fed-up with warding-off shot attempts, take the ball, drop a shoe, and punch it in.

Ridin' the Rail

Secret Service detail monitoring a large crowd at sunset.  They received a tip that the bad guys might be doing their thing, but they neutralized the perpetrator before anyone noticed.

Stuff Enough

With a big trip ahead, there is no margin for error -- only the absolute necessities can tag along.  Even so, adequate packing takes rare talent to defy the law of Conservation of Mass.

Bode Road

It was a long journey for anyone, on a road less traveled*, even for such a globetrotter.  He knew it would be full of unexpected hazards, wonderful adventures, loneliness, inspiration, bewilderment, and uncertainty.  But he had to go; he felt the calling and knew that deep in his marrow he could only be content with movement.

(*Courtesy of Robert Frost)

Witless Witness

Successful restaurant critics normally articulate in a very nuanced way.  Exceptions occur when the fare is not quite up to par or when some sort of corruption seeps into the system.

Standing Landing

After a bit of a bumpy landing, the three astronauts emerged from their Self-Contained-Atmospheric-Vehicle (SCAV) to soak-in whatever infrared and ultraviolet offerings emanated from the nearest star.

Net Set

They met briefly on a Sunday afternoon, felt a strong bond and enjoyed each other's company.  But ultimately they each went their separate ways, back to home and family, and unlikely to ever make acquaintances again.

Chunk 'n Dunk

If your aim is to stay dry, then you don't want to be anywhere in the vicinity.

Pre-night Checklist

He was just thinking how fortunate we are as a species to be able to see color.  Something about a sunset makes people stand up and take notice -- right before running off to go dance.

Improvisable

Sometimes the mood strikes and it's time to hammer-out a tune. 

Wrong Brother

On their way to Kitty Hawk, Liam inspired Orville and Wilbur with innovation and creativity, but swore them to secrecy with his method for heavier-than-air mobility.  Despite its superior design, Liam's flying machine stayed in the barn to allow the brothers a chance to integrate the internal combustion engine within their alternative aircraft.  His remains a relatively unknown method of transportation due to frustration with the FAA and Liam's unwillingness to blow immense wads of cash on lobbyists. 

Color Code

World Cup marketing executives have been largely immune from investigations of corruption and underhanded deals.  They have been quietly effective in expanding their audience, broadening their appeal, and attracting new followers.  Here we see their senior marketing VP rolling up his sleeves and pitching-in with the new 2018 campaign.

Whip It

Sure, you can give it a casual shake, a moderate churn, or maybe you think you've really mixed it up.  Well you have never seen a severe agitation until today.

Flip Out

Greg Louganis's mentor occasionally likes to step out on the board and give himself a little treat.

Stream Scene

If you are a trout, ya gotta keep a wary eye out for the stealthy angler and be very choosy about what passes your lips.   

Bucking Breakers

It's that time of year again for two-a-days.  These franchise players don't always get into full contact, but their work ethic inspires the whole team.  It's rare to catch them taking a break.

Poolside

There was a brief period in their careers when they earned gold at synchronized swimming but ultimately discovered that it lacked the thrill of contact sports. 

Track Jack

After an arduous ascent up the beanstalk, he caught-up with Jack and they had quite a time horsing around before the local resident discovered the visitors. 

Hardly Davidson

After catching a glimpse of the purse-snatching while on a leisurely cruise, he hopped-off his big hog and made things right.  No one got hurt, the woman had her purse returned with an apology, and everyone peacefully went about their business. 

Found Floundering

It's every boy's lifelong dream to catch a mermaid. 

Log Flog

Resourcefulness is a trademark of the habitually successful. 

Yak and Sack

In summer workouts, premier NFL quarterbacks retain muscle memory and sharp skills with endless training and drills.  This translates into effectiveness during the regular season -- eluding defenders, maintaining field vision, and focusing on coverage pattern development without having to interrupt one's concentration.  To achieve success, only the subconscious can direct the footwork, mobility, posture, and throwing-motion mechanics.   

Lats of Fun

In many competitive sporting events, the winner is not always the biggest and strongest.  It is ultimately the best strength-to-weight ratio coupled with a sustained rigorous preparation schedule that achieves victory.

Meet the Beetles

In a show of compassion, the Chief Entomologist isolated warring parties with sufficient time to recover, replenish, and rejuvenate before being reintroduced to their new habitat environment.

Washed Up

Everyone knows that a car rides 10% better when it's clean.

Wheel Feel

As a Master Therapist, Liam employs creative techniques to assist his many clients with post-trauma rehabilitation.  In this example, he uses a special tool for that perfect guidance in the Advanced Strolling class.  His knee surgery patient is able to successfully take multiple laps on foot around the track with a bit of his help -- remarkable progress in just a few days.

Roll Up

Sometimes in the summer, Liam and gravity just don't get along.

Rocket Docket

The next crew headed to the International Space Station is in training and eagerly awaiting their departure.  That doesn't stop them from the occasional PR activity.

Sand Man

The US Army Corps of Engineers has accumulated a century of knowledge and developed a deep toolbox to contain the mighty waters that work their way into the oceans.  However, there are still many projects that are best tackled with ingenuity and good old fashioned elbow grease.

High Rideoar

The local electric co-op always staffs-up for the summer months, but it's only the more experienced linemen who are authorized to service the hard-to-reach transmission lines.

Castaway

A record snowpack chose to settle in central Colorado well after ski season ended for most lift-served areas.  As a result, the Arkansas river has seen record flows, blowing-out twenty-year and forty-year marks on a daily basis in June.  Unfortunate for outdoor enthusiasts, but the good news is that humans are quite adaptable to the challenges imposed by mother nature.

Webbing It

Spiderman's mentor likes to slip into the training course periodically to architect updates, perform safety checks, and keep the crew on top of their game.

Stick Trick

The off-days during the Stanley Cup Finals are important to rest the musculoskeletal system, hone skills, and refocus one's mental tenacity.  A light workout is the perfect prescription, dodging other players and puncturing the back of the net.

Better Fly

The principal entomologist at Carnegie Mellon performs extensive field studies in the wild before ever starting lab work, genetic experimentation, and eventually publishing. 

Nailed It

One can bask in unprecedented luxury within the penthouse at the Intercontinental.

Atta Paddle

The 2015 Table Tennis Champions react when tournament officials announce their victory.

Noon Dune

Today's Park Ranger was less than enthusiastic once he realized the skis were back at the house.

The Angle on It

Great news, we get to have lunch today.

Kitchen Compost

It is a dark substance conveying magical powers such that none may abide its strength, its tactile resistance, or digestive turbulence.

Runaway Plain

It's a test of ultimate will
The heartbreak climb uphill
Got to pick up the pace
If you want to stay in the race
More than just blind ambition
More than just simple greed
More than just a finish line
Must feed this burning need
In the long run..

You can do a lot in a lifetime
If you don't burn out too fast
You can make the most of the distance
First you need endurance
First you've got to last...

(Neil Peart, 1985.)

Whispering Finds

Lead scientists from SETI take their turn deciphering audio signals from deep space.  It's never a question of "if," but always a "when?"  Afterward, what will we learn from them?  Will we consider them intelligent? 

Hummingfriender

After a hearty game of tag in the backyard, the two buddies pause for some refreshments.

Blue Man Coup

Physicians from Hopkins, Mayo, Harvard, et al still have not managed to diagnose the enigmatic and confounding malady that alters human behavior and causes intense pigment transformations.  Their leading theory is that the patient inadvertently swallowed a radioactive chameleon that caused the human host to adopt similar characteristics to its parasite.

Dog Snatcher

After the big game, some teams like to chill out and relax.  Others prefer to hit the spa, the bar, maybe take a nap.  To each his own.

Swingin' Scene

The Experts at the golf course learned all their storytelling techniques from a couple of guys around the corner in the play lot.  They could captivate an audience for hours while they spun a good yarn.

Swim Into It

When your club football game gets cancelled due to some wonderful blast of precipitation, well heck, that's just an excuse to celebrate.  Pop on the goggles, drop a needle on the vinyl, and get on out there!

Tip 'o the Hat

Test scores came in, and it's time for a little jig.

Eight-wheel Drive

Through modeling and simulation, computational physicists can estimate a precise outcome of an automobile race.  Empirical results are coupled with theoretical to design simulations, both virtual and tactile.  Results are crunched on large-scale high performance computing platforms to achieve surprising accuracy.  It is just a matter of time before the oddsmakers in 'Vegas get their hands on some serious computational power.

Wrinkle in Time

Curators of the National Archives uncovered a reel of film from the early 20th century, then managed to digitize it and improve its fidelity.  After extensive research, they traced it to a pair of young homeless lads in their early 20s and lacking career options.  A movie camera found them in the Army recruiting center for a moment of levity just before swearing-in.  They were there to join the American infantry, face the Teutonic threat, and end the Great War to End All Wars in Europe.

After meeting in the orphanage as toddlers, they became steadfast friends through thick and thin, protected each other in the streets of the big, heartless city, taught each other to read and write, and survived through many encounters with gangs, the mob, occasional street riots, the Panic of 1907, et al.  During their military induction, they came to the realization that they were not actually siblings.  The camera was a remarkable novelty, and they were not quite sure what to make of this new technology.

It would turn out to be their last moment together.

Talk the Walk

It's a great way to start your day, take a pleasant stroll with some favorite companions.

Dream Team

They walked-in as unknowns from a little town in the mountains, and walked out with the title.  A generation of club football fans will remember the day they first saw the team, where they were, what they wore, and especially how they felt.  For decades they will retain total recall of that moment and relish their first glimpse of history.

Breeze Keys

With a renowned virtuoso in town this week, the Dean at Juliard just had to arrange for a private recital.  She was thrilled to acquire ideas for new techniques and innovative sounds.  It is always a blessing to freshen-up one's repertoire. 

Gooder'n Grits

There is no higher reward known to man than the Blue Ribbon, even more so when it comes from the Rio Arriba County Fair.  Nothing can compare to the sensation of accomplishment when recognized by one's peers.  Icing on the cake is the acceptance from the community at large.  It feels just fine, finer than a frog's hair split three times, happy as a clam at high tide, enough to make a hound dog smile.

Rode Hard, Put up Dry

A rare glimpse of Mad Max's mentor, conserving fuel with every mile, surviving into old age.

Damp Champ

Awakened by a phone call about postponement, the star striker from the US National Team steps outside in his jammies to inspect conditions for today's tryouts and drills.  How could the coaches even *think* about a delay?  The fields will be just fine, visibility is not all that bad, and there are plenty of dry balls to choose from. 

Winterlust

Reminiscing about last month, and Liam wonders how it all went by in a flash. 

Tenpin Alley

Often imitated, never successfully, the Intergalactic Bowling Champion shows a bit of flair executing an attempted spare.  Do not let the calm, approachable demeanor fool you -- he is a ruthless competitor who would knock down your house if it meant winning. 

Hot Shot

All those evenings and weekends at the skeet range pay off when it's time for supper.  The feathers fly and then the charcoal glows.

Sound Around

In his most recent appearance at Carnegie Hall, the crowd was captivated.  You could hear a pin drop in-between notes.  This is what musicians live for, even such experienced, seasoned performers.

Brickyard

Indy is less than two months away, so preparations are getting more intense.  Top drivers in this racing class use track time every chance they get.  It is too important to know the car and understand its strengths, idiosyncrasies, and responses to commands. 

Overt Dessert

In the extremely competitive processed-food industry, consumer retail businesses constantly experiment with innovation to attract a loyal customer base.  Couple that compulsion with emerging contemporary interest in organic fare and nutrition, and one can envision great potential in an accessible buffet that includes cleverly fabricated fruit, vegetable, and whole grain products. 

Stretch Out

A seldom used ancient Estonian technique for rejuvenating the musculoskeletal system requires a unique application of salt water and sand.  One of the unfortunate side-effects includes appendage elongation.  Thus it has never reached mainstream acceptance.

Drive Alive

It may seem odd, but elite professional athletes rarely get to drive.  Between the flights, limos, bus rides, et al.  The few times it happens, they go with the smaller car -- much easier to park in a city.

Book Look

Training a purple bear is not your average endeavor.  It requires careful attention to the owner's manual, and one cannot skip any chapters.

Gator Baiter

Hunting and wrestling large amphibian reptiles requires great patience, a stealth approach, and well chosen native camouflage.  Here we see the master at his craft, just minutes before his latest conquest.  Biologists prefer this method to darting -- they can get measurements, samples, and apply tracking devices without the use of any drugs that make the animal vulnerable immediately after release.  Instead, the big animals dash off full of vigor, embarrassed and incensed. 

Wave Crave

After giving Kelly Slater a 1-on-1 refresher course, the instructor takes a little downtime to relax and cool-down. 

Jamming

Those people from the mountains always have a tough time adjusting to the fast paced city life.  Even a premature departure to the fieldhouse for an early start on weights and drills doesn't seem to avoid the traffic.  It never works out -- sneaking through the back way, departing before sunrise, taking the little convertible to slip through unnoticed, no such luck.  

How Would YOU Feel?

So why are they green, anyway?  Honestly, does that sound at all appealing to the palate? 

Spring Into It

There is a certain inevitability that happens around this time every year.  Melancholy sets-in with a deep sense of finality in the passage of time.  Although our optimistic subconscious reminds us of another winter season approaching in the distant horizon, it is difficult to confront the reality of that long, agonizing wait.   So make the best of it.  Rather than sidle around moping -- ditch the ski pants, pack on the sunscreen, and get out there for one last jaunt and enjoy Mother Nature's greatest gifts before it is too late.  If winter lasted longer, we would take it for granted and not appreciate it so much.  Some people actually enjoy the in-between seasons.

Rare Air

During the World Cup qualifiers, each contestant gets to make two jumps.  Judges retain the highest score.  So it can be an interesting psychological challenge.  If you nail the first one, you can take a bigger risk on the second.  If not, then what approach do you take?  Do you play it safe?  Maybe you toss a snowball up in the air for good luck.

Coasting

When the American Physical Society meets annually, it's not all papers, debates, and slideshows.  The conference includes segments for realtime experimentation, discovery, and innovation.  Recently they endeavored to gain a better understanding of kinetic energy, momentum as the product of mass and velocity (and later its derivative -- acceleration), friction, the influence of gravity, and sudden deceleration.  Ultimately, this research benefits all of mankind. 

Lineless

After serving in the 10th Mountain Division during the war, then later buying land and building his own ski area, the owner certainly deserves to skip the line and go straight up to the chairlift.

Instructions Not Included

Grannie's toothache remedy always works like a charm.  Nothing beats Old School.