Earworm Courtesy of CIGNA

I can't get a song out of my head this morning. It's the hold music inflicted on customers by CIGNA Health Insurance Company. They drilled it deep over the last two days. They cheerfully announce "Your call is important to us." Then, after 20 minutes, or 42 minutes, or 33 minutes, they hang up on you. They also asked whether I'd like a call back. I twice indicated "yes." They they hung up on me the first time, never called back the second time. I finally got a CIGNA guy on the phone and he clarified the incoherent CIGNA letters I just received. He then indicated no, they don't have email, so they cannot confirm in writing. And the hold music is now the gift that keeps on giving . . .

Continue ReadingEarworm Courtesy of CIGNA

Your Inner Fish For the Holidays!

You've seen all of those standard fare Christmas shoes over and over.  It's time to shake things up this holiday season.  Instead of watching predictable shows, or a show with a ghastly ending, the Grinch that Stole Christmas, open your mind and take a look at this much-stranger-than-fiction trilogy created by biologist Neil Shubin. These informative and entertaining shows are available at no charge at PBS.

Episode I - Your Inner Fish
https://www.pbs.org/video/your-inner-fish-program-your-inner-fish-2/

Episode 2 - Your Inner Reptile
https://www.pbs.org/video/your-inner-fish-program-your-inner-reptile/

Episode 3 - Your Inner Monkey
https://www.pbs.org/video/your-inner-fish-your-inner-monkey/

Continue ReadingYour Inner Fish For the Holidays!

Cappadocia, Turkey, From the Air

Tonight I found many digital negatives I had previously overlooked and used them as fodder for new photography software I'm learning (Luminar AI). I'm really happy with the results. These images are from a balloon ride in 2017 in Cappadocia, Turkey. This has got to be one of the most beautiful and historically interesting places in the world, southeast of Istanbul and 300 miles north of the Syrian border. Enjoy the ride!

[Click through for a gallery of photos from Cappadocia, Turkey]

Continue ReadingCappadocia, Turkey, From the Air

More Images From Istanbul

I've been learning a new software package for digital images (Luminar AI). More on that software soon. In the meantime, I've been reworking more images from my prior trips to Istanbul. I've recently posted these images. Here are a few more that I reworked today. This was a working vacation--I taught at two Turkish Law Schools, one of which was Kadir Has University. My friend Olguz--a student at Kadir Has--arranged for me to give the lecture. He indicated that I would be treated to lunch prior to the lecture and that it was a beautiful view. And, indeed, it was:

The next photo is from the lecture at Kadir Has:

I'll add two more photos from the inside of Hagia Sofia. I walked past this amazing structure almost every day I was living in Istanbul. I worked hard to get images that captured the size and splendor, but most of my photos failed.  Here are two that I liked.  First, here's a shot of the 2nd level of Hagia Sofia from a 2nd floor balcony:

Here's the last photo in this series: I shot through a big ornate light figure to capture the ceiling of the structure.  I liked this enough to blow it up - - it's currently hanging on my bedroom wall.

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