North Hollywood Shootout

These pictures are mainly for me. They aren’t particularily interesting without the back story, and the back story might be a little weird. When I was younger I often stumbled upon subjects that I would end up learning a lot about. For example, for some reason, I learned a ton about D.B. Cooper when I was younger. I probably saw a half dozen documentaries or other TV shows about him and his heist. I couldn’t be called an actual expert, but maybe a “casual expert.”

Another topic that I happened to learn a lot about was the North Hollywood shootout. In 1997 two people armed with assault rifles and full body armor robbed a bank in North Hollywood. When they exited the bank, dozens of LAPD officers were waiting and a shootout ensued. The police were severely outgunned and even resorted to going to a local gun shop to commandeer heavier artillery. Eventually the robbers were stopped, but not before a huge gunfight in the streets. It was really quite an exciting story, and much was caught on camera from helicopters.

I had seen a number of documentaries about this in the late 90’s so one morning when I decided to go to visit Hollywood, I realized that I really needed to stop by that bank. It took just a little googling on my phone, but I found it and stopped by to snap a few pictures.

Anymore anyone can be a casual expert on anything, thanks to the internet and websites like Wikipedia. I feel like it was more of an accomplishment in the old days.

Hold Still!

This is the first of two mini-posts I have coming. I’m working on posting all of my remaining pictures from 2010 and I always kind of liked the one of the cat, but never really enough to post it on Flickr; the eyes freaked me out a little. Last year I snapped a picture of my cousin Matthew, and wouldn’t you know, he turned his head precisely as I was pressing the shutter. I don’t have any other pictures like this, so a full post isn’t warranted, but I did want to post what I had. Why did Matthew turn his head? I have no idea. Why did Lucky turn her head? The shutter startled her (she’s kind of a spaz).

Farmers Market

I decided late last year that I needed to post all of the film from 2010 that I wanted to share, because why have such old film just sitting there? I took a number of pictures in 2010 in various farmers markets across the country; Hollywood, Portland, Kansas City, Wichita, to name a few.

I really like a good farmers market. I've mentioned before that I used to live in the River Market in Kansas City, which is where the City Market is located; Kansas City's biggest farmers market. Back then, I would just wander down to the market on a Saturday morning and people watch for a while.

I haven't always liked farmers markets though. I remember being dragged to farmers markets in St. Louis when I was younger. I didn't care much for them back then, but my aunt sure did. All I remember was it was hot and boring, and I just wanted to go to a baseball game, or another St. Louis area attraction with a little more pizazz than the farmers market. These days though, I'll go to a farmers market. And I'll take my camera.