Security comes in different forms. Many find the thought of an armored truck full of cash appealing, but the wise will find greater and more lasting security in faith (represented here by the handsome old red brick edifice of Good Shepherd UCC on Route 61 north of Reading).

 

Tulpehocken Creek above its confluence with the the Schuylkill River at Reading. The Union Canal which was constructed between 1792 and 1828 followed the Tulpehocken Creek westward, then through a tunnel, to connect via the Swatara Creek flowing westward to the Susquehanna River at Middletown below Harrisburg. This was one of several efforts in that era to divert coal and farm produce to markets in Philadelphia whose merchants were in competition with those of Baltimore.

 

Schuylkill River above confluence with Tulpehocken Creek.

 

Cat's Eyes - four sets reflect the camera's flash in five colors. [Click on the image to see it full screen.]

 

Winter Sunset - December 30 - with, I believe, Venus above and left of the Moon.

  Cheshire Cat fading from view, except the flash makes the eyes rather than the grin the last to go. When a flash picture makes a cat's eyes shine brightly green or yellow, do you still call the photographic effect red eye?

  Cat D8H - my latest investment in heavy equipment - money sitting in the bank isn't paying anything to speak of, so this looks like a good time to buy up potentially productive assets on the cheap. The general economic slowdown and the the drop in commodity prices have pushed down the price of items like this. By the time the government's stimulus plans get to the point of actually constructing roads and other public works or getting the banks to finance new factories or shopping centers, there will be more work for machines like this and prices should rebound. There are also some fairly smart analysts who see a huge inflation coming soon and, there again, things rather than cash will prove to be the better store of value. As a last resort, there is always a market overseas for Caterpillar equipment in good condition and this dozer, despite having been manufactured about the time I got out of high school, is in very good condition.