Zombie Cheerleaders

Zombie Cheerleaders
Originally uploaded by gamp

The Halloween party at The Bomb Factory in Denver featured many zombies and some cheerleaders.

Rooftop Snipers

Rooftop Snipers
Originally uploaded by gamp

Here we see some secret service snipers and spotters. These guys were visibile to everyone. At one point though a hidden sniper came out of a roof top to my right and pointed his rifle in my general direction. As soon as I saw him he walked back away on the rooftop. Maybe I look scary with my zoom lens. This is the Obama rally in Denver on 10/226/2008. I believe there were over 100,000 people there.

It snowed

I looked out of my door this morning and saw snow

Santiago Mill

Waldorf Mill
Originally uploaded by gamp

This is a part of Waldorf, Colorado - Ghost Town

Their are abandoned ruins, gold mining history, and one of the best preserved gold mining mills that is accessible (via 4wd)

other sites that discuss Waldorf:
home.comcast.net/~TommyPages/Waldorf.htm l
travel.webshots.com/album/554536618fuGnQ W
www.flickr.com/photos/carpeoreo/26025775 80/

The image here is an "autostitched" image created by combining multiple images of the site into one distorted cool looking and ominous photo.

More Belize photos, featuring the evil gutter crab! click click click http://ping.fm/hCpUI

Tonight's confluence park fire spinning pictures are up, rear curtain flash style http://ping.fm/zBakc

Tonight's confluence park fire spinning pictures are up, rear curtain flash style http://ping.fm/zBakc

Posted some photos from Belize, here is a photo and photosynth of the Jaguar Temple http://ping.fm/jTIED

Skaguay Revisited

3D Pelton Wheel
Originally uploaded by gamp

I went back to the skaguay hydroelectric plant, the abandoned power plant that is only reachable by 5 miles of the worst hiking I can imagine. This time I attempted to take the easiest and wettest route I could find, and it was much better and less deadly. I also went with another explorer, jmt3x. We got farther than I had before, going beyond the power plant up the hill through the tunnel, across a bridge that won't be there for long, and to the site that used to have a large trestle. I'm still sore from the trip, but hopefully I have some good photos to show for it. Pictured here is a 3D anaglyph of one of the pelton wheels.

first visit: http://redphone.blogspot.com/2007/07/skagway-power-plant-found.html

Cheeseburger Monument

I've been reading through Ramble Colorado by Eric Peterson and I came across a cheeseburger monument. Apparently one of the places credited with the first cheeseburger, and the place that got the trademark was the Humpty Dumpty Barrel Drive-In. It was also Colorado's frist drive-in. Louis E. Ballast trademarked "cheeseburger" on March 5, 1935. That's apparently the last that was heard about it. The site of the bbq and burger restaurant is now a key bank. You too can find the stone at 2776 N Speer Blvd in Denver.

Ramble Colorado: A Wanderer's Guide to the Offbeat, Overlooked, and Outrageous
New: $9.99 (47% savings)
Used: $6.99 (63% savings)
Rating: 0 of 5, review(s)

Jami and I

Jami and I
Originally uploaded by gamp

Jami came up for the weekend and we saw as much of Colorado as we could. Here we are near the Aspen visitors center at Rocky Mountain National Park. We also drove up Mt Evans, rode the motorcycle along the South Platte River, ate sushi at Fontana, pub fare at Tommyknockers, and crab at my house.

Apogaea 2008

Fire Kiss
Originally uploaded by gamp

I'm still uploading photos from this years Apogaea festival, but I think most of the best are already up. This one I've title "Fire Kiss" and is a silhouette of a Erica kissing another reveler while spinning flaming poi.

It was a great event this year, lots of people (not sure how many but hundreds, lots of dancing and fire, and what more could you ask for?

The Bohners also burned their whole shack front after the giant squid effigy was torched. Good times.

Destroying a car

The car the next day
Originally uploaded by gamp

At Apogaea this year, Colorado's regional burning man event, there was a camp called Metal Camp. Metal Camp appeared to mostly be sponsored by the Iron Anvil, a Denver steel fabrication and art shop. Well, they had an "art car" of sorts. No, it didn't drive. But what it did do was provide lots of entertainment.

They set up the car on a tarp and laid several tools of destruction around the perimeter. At first only one person was allowed to hack at the car at a time, but eventually pandemoniam took over. The tools included sledgehammers, a double headed axe, an about 60 pound gear on a swining pole, and a 100 pound splitting device.

On Friday the pounding began, and people took turns destroying the vehicle. At first I was napping in my tent and I heard windows shattering. I eventually made it over and learned the ways of the double headed axe. After trying to knock some car parts off I decided to make a nice cut through the bumper, then I went on the roof and did what I could to split the entire thing in half. It was then finished off with the 100 pound splitter. I also had some fun with the big gear tool.

The destruction actually continued into Saturday, when at some point some over ambitious people flipped the car, spilling gasoline into the pristine earth. This ended everyones fun.

Actuall later some people hacked at other parts and even a neighboring car. Joy!

If you head by the Iron Anvil on a first friday you may be able to break something smaller with these tools. Have fun.

Circle of Fire

Circle of Fire
Originally uploaded by gamp

Last night at confluence park there were more people in attendance than ever before. Dragon even made a speech about it. Unfortunately they didn't want to leave when the park closed at 11 and that could become a problem. Mostly the problem is with some new drummers who don't seem to care if neighbors complain, and in fact invited the police to come and stop them. So we may not have fire spinning at the park for long.

Mountain Goat

Mountain Goat
Originally uploaded by gamp

I rode up Mount Evans on my motorcycle and saw a mountain goat. Picture that, or wait, you don't have to because I also had my camera. I actually saw it twice, or I saw two goats. Once at the summit next to the bathrooms, then again at summit lake next to the, uhm, bathrooms. I think he liked the salt on the walkways. At one point he was charging down the path at me but then saw me and decided to pose for this shot.

Windsor Tornado Damage

Windsor Tornado Damage
Originally uploaded by gamp

Windsor got hit pretty hard with a recent tornado. This shows some damage near the daycare that made it in the news. I walked around town on May 25th and took some photos, although I had the camera set on the wrong iso (was set for fire spinning).

Here's some details about the tornado http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windsor%2C_CO
hit on May 22, 2008

Fire Spinning at Zoolander

Pyro Pixie
Originally uploaded by gamp

I got some great shots of (a fire spinner who wishes to remain nameless):edited at a little party called Zoolander: The Return of Mugato on Saturday. The party marks the return of the gog at the new gog which is called The Bomb Factory. It's also known as the former residence of ManiaTV.

This shot is another attempt at combining flash with the slow shutter photo to capture fire spinning. I think I'm getting better at it.

Also I had a significant number of girls that wanted to show me their boobs for photos. I'm not sure what it says about my ethics or taste but I can't complain.

Fire Spinning at Confluence Park

_IGP5034.JPG
Originally uploaded by gamp

It's getting warm and the fire spinners are back at Confluence Park in Denver again. Last week the cops showed up and stopped it, right when it was stopping anyway. Spinners have been practicing their art at the park for 7 years now, and have been featured on CNN national news, and the local Westword magazine. The spin poi, hula hoops, staff, darts, swords, and juggle. Luckily no cops showed up last night, maybe because it was Cinqo De Mayo and they were busy in other parts of town.

Last night I also tried some new techniques with a flash towards the end of the night, and had one ok photo as a result. (not this photo, this one is just ambient light)

Double Cheeseburger Spicy McChicken

Double Cheeseburger Spicy McChicken
Originally uploaded by gamp

Ok so the only interesting thing I've done in the past week was make and eat a double cheeseburger double McChicken sandwich. It was good.

It wasn't my idea either, it was inspired by a blog post http://groceryeats.com/2008/02/28/big-macchicken/

Ordway Fire Aftermath

Panorama - Ordway Fire Aftermath
Originally uploaded by gamp

I was visiting family in the area and so I went over to Ordway this morning. They had a large fire last Tuesday that killed two firefighters and destroyed 24 homes. This is an autostitched panorama of a field that used to contain some of those homes. I also have some photos taken from where the wooden bridge was that collapsed, a railroad bridge just north of there that would collapse if anything went on it, and some industrial stuff. My uncle is a firefighter in nearby Fowler and he was there driving a truck too. Incidentally he was told that the bridge was on fire so he avoided it, but apparently the two firefighters that died didn't know about its condition and they attempted to drive over it. It sounds like there must have been much mayhem and miscommunication at the time.

Church Bell Handles

Church Bell Handles
Originally uploaded by gamp

The 150th year of Denver's architecture was celebrated this weekend with Doors Open Denver. I didn't get to very many places this weekend, but this gem of a photo was taken in one of the towers of St. John's Episcopal Cathedral. I refer to it as my flickr whore shot. I think I framed it a little too low, but I predict that it will still get more views than the other photos I shot at doors open denver. We'll see if I'm beginning to understand flickr.

Playing Guitar Hero

Playing Guitar Hero
Originally uploaded by gamp

I stayed up too late last night playing guitar hero with some friends from work. At least I did the best considering I was the least drunk, if at all. Of course I still got a hangover.

Shown playing here is Lynne Craig, who is now in the leadership too program at work. We're real role models.

Sixteen to One Mine

Sixteen to One Mine
Originally uploaded by gamp

I went looking for waterfalls around Central City this weekend. I tried to get to one called Missouri Falls in Missouri Canyon but it was on private property. It also didn't seem to have much water coming from where it was supposed to be, but I bet it had some kind of ice trickle going on. Maybe some other time I'll check it out somehow.

Across the street though I found this mine, which my map said was called sixteen to one. It is locked up with a permanent iron gate, but I managed to get this cool photo of the inside, showing the iron rails still intact. It doesn't look like it ran for long from the size of the tailings, but it's one of the better ones I've seen up close. I believe it is a tungsten mine.

I also looked around nevadaville and some of the cemeteries. Tomtom showed me some picture places west of Central City, one of which was called "Queen's Chair" but all the roads it showed to the location were private trails. Apparently if you're a Gilpin County resident you can get a permit to hike there, but I'm not.

World Pillow Fight Day - Easter Bunny Pummeling

World Pillow Fight Day
Originally uploaded by gamp

The cacophony society hosted Denver's pillow fight for world pillow fight day. They usually host zombie jesus and easter bunny day but got a little surprised by the early easter this year, so combined the pillow fight with easter bunnies. Without the zombie jesii it must have appeared a more civil and faith based event, because it got on the cover of the Denver Post (at least the online edition) on an article about being faithful and celebrating easter early in the year. http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_8664897

For more on Denver's Cacophony Society see their page:
http://denver.cacophony.org/

And yes, the Denver Post misspelled cacophony.

Holly and her Fireman

Holly and her Fireman
Originally uploaded by gamp

Holly has a thing for fire fighters. Yesterday we had a fire alarm and she got to get her picture taken with one, by me.

Go Holly.

She works in the cubicle next to mine, so I get to hear about things.

Delia

Dahlia
Originally uploaded by gamp

I bought a print at kitchen's ink, art gallery and tattoos, 757 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, CO

The print was Delia 07 by Trevor Alyn, mouseskull.com

This is Delia, the model, and she's looking lovely but different from the photo I purchased. Too bad I only had my point and shoot camera.


Also tonight, which of course is the first Friday art walk, I ran into Daud and the art bus, Ms. Terious, Nat the bat, and Valerie. The steel shop and location of many fire sculptures and dj shows on 8th and santa fe was still open, to my surprise. Next month they should still have shows but it will be a gallery and not a steel fabricating studio.

DU Hockey Game

Daychief Down
Originally uploaded by gamp

I'm not much of a sports fan, but I was given some tickets to last nights game and I went and checked it out. Being close to the ice really helps keep me interested, but having a long and fast lens helps too. I snapped some shots and ended up staying for the whole game.

Darden

Darden
Originally uploaded by gamp

I went to the Birds of a Feather show at the Oriental Theater on Friday. It was a great show with burlesque acts, aerial rope acts, bands, and DJ's. Here is a photo of Darden that I took, and like.

Conifer

It warmed up to almost 60 in Denver today. I got on my ninja and rode down 285 until I got too cold and turned around. I made it to about Conifer. I was going to take a picture, but I didn't.

ESM Holiday Party 2007 (2008)

ESM Holiday Party 2007 (2008)
Originally uploaded by gamp

We have a really late holiday party at my company (January 19th). Here's Lynne and Sophia doing some kind of dancing.

Geeks Who Drink

I went and played trivia last night with some classmates from DU's library program. We won.

Here's the blog entry from the group that runs the trivia at www.geekswhodrink.com/blog/

I look weird, like I have a sweaty big brain or something. I don't know what was wrong with me. I didn't even get any questions right.

And in 1st place, newbies The Organization. They mentioned something about being librarians. They are smart.

SCORES:

The Organization                 71 
Occam's Razor                         65( + 1 )
That Burning Sensation                 65 
Brat Pack                         64 
Still Sore From the Stock Show         64 
Merle Funk Effect                 61 
Flogged Infidels                 56 
Handsome, But Not Too Bright         55 
Bomb.com                         54 
Satan's Pets                         54 
"I'll Take The Rapists for 200, Alex" 47 
Elvis                                 27

Mclovin

Get your own Mclovin ID

Been there, done that, loved it!

Projector Light

Projector Light
Originally uploaded by gamp

New Years morning I eventually made it to the Bubbledubdub party on 3330 Larimer St. in Denver. I was so tired from moving all weekend and sick with some nasty sinus cold thing, that I didn't do much partying. I did see Valerie and Ryan as well as Leaf and other burners. Some burner guy was giving out beers with red bull in them, which is a horrible waste of shitty beer. Red bull y vodka however = happy times, although Valerie said it was bad for you. Tell that to Ibiza!

So the party was named with the bubbles because of some inflatables from liquidluxworks. While a cool idea, and maybe a cool thing to touch if you were on massive trippy hipno drugs, I wasn't and couldn't even find the inspiration to take a photo of them. The other room was the steampunk / industrial area. There the decorations consisted of the paper with a victorian sort of logo with a gear in it, some plastic candle holders, and a plast tubing made to look like brass tubing that had no function sculpture. The one cool art piece was a rose lamp thing, but it wasn't photogenic. I think the decorations would have been better if instead of decorating they just held it in a basement with an old boiler.

In both rooms though there were projectors and cool suspended screens, and I do like projectors and light beams.