Happy New Year 2026

May this year brings you joy, peace, and prosperity, offering fresh chances for growth, new adventures, and meaninful moments with loved ones. 

¡Acho! , Pe Erre Es Otra Cosa

Estaba leyendo que de acuerdo a las estadisticas de esta pasada temporada de beisbol, menos fanaticos asistieron a los parques de pelota profesional en Puerto Rico comparados con la temporada pasada. Me sorprendio leer que muchos de los comentarios le echan la culpa a la poca asistencia al parque Isidoro Cholo Garcia, a el aumento del alto costo de taquilla para los juegos, a la pobre economia del pais y al bajo salario que ganan los fanaticos. 

Otras personas expresaron que el puertorriqueño esta como siempre, llorando y quejandose. Y que muchos de estos fanaticos que se estan quejando son de los que solo van al parque cuando Mayaguez esta ganando.

Algunas personas alegan que para ir a ver la Residencia de Bad Bunny, en Pe Erre no hay problema de economia. Entre julio y septiembre Bad Bunny lleno sus 30 conciertos todas las noches. Con mas de medio millon de asistentes. 

Me podria alguien explicar, ¿si en Pe Erre tenemos una pobre economia y los puertorriqueños enfrentamos grandes desafios economicos, como es posible que los centros comerciales siempre estan llenos? ¿Y que me dicen de los chinchorros, las barras y los come y vete que estan abarrotados de personas todos los fines de semana?

Hoy puedo decir con orgullo que hace 30 años decidi abandonar el consumo del alcohol. Estoy curioso por saber,  ¿cuanto cuesta una cerveza o un trago en un chinchorro, en una barra o en un come y vete en Puerto Rico?

Nos Vemos En La Proxima Temporada

Gracias a los Indios de nuestro pueblo y al legendario Parque Isidoro "Cholo" Garcia, disfrutamos otra temporada de fantastico beisbol en Mayaguez, la cuna del beisbol profesional en Puerto Rico.

En Mayaguez, el beisbol es mas que un deporte; es una parte de la identidad de nuestro pueblo. Los Indios no se quitan, nos vemos en la proxima temporada! Indios ahi !

Del Arbol Caído Todos Hacen Leña

No me sorprende leer los comentarios negativos de muchos de los dizque fanaticos de los Indios de Mayaguez. Me imagino, muchos de ellos son los que van a ver los juegos solo cuando Mayaguez esta en primer lugar. 

La temporada pasada Mayaguez gano el campeonato, y puedo contar con una mano las pocas veces que el parque se lleno de publico. Estas personas siempre tienen una excusa para quejarse. Que si los jugadores no sirven, el dirigente hizo o dejo de hacer, las facilidades del parque necesita esto o aquello, se quejan de los precios de las taquillas, etc. 

Espepitan tanta negatividad, que lei a ciertas personas pidiendole a los fanaticos de Mayaguez que no vayan hoy al parque Isidoro Cholo Garcia a ver el ultimo juego de la temporada regular.

Si Mayaguez se elimina hoy, ganen o pierdan, los Indios de mi pueblo han sido, son y siempre seran mi equipo de beisbol favorito en Puerto Rico. Indios ahi !!!!

Last Motorcycle Ride Before Year Ends

As you probably already know, is a tradition for many motorcyclists to squeeze in a motorcycle ride before winter weather makes riding unsafe. Unfortunately, I am kind of late since winter is already here.

There is a winter weather advisory for the entire weekend in the Philadelphia area. It hit 23 degrees Fahrenheit today, with icy roads, snow, freezing rain and sleet until at least Tuesday. We are expecting rain, icy mix and drizzle the next three days.

I am hoping for warmer weather on New Year's Eve; hope springs eternal. My poor bike probably thinks she's been abandoned; I'll be stopping by the garage this week to check on her. I detest winter with a passion, but I got the itching to get on the bike again for a last ride before 2026. 

Motorcycle Insurance Snafu

Yesterday, I received a voicemail message from my motorcycle insurance agent. He stated my insurance company will discontinue covering insurance for motorcycles and I will be needing scheduling an appointment to get new motorcycle insurance with a different provider. 

Today, instead of calling my insurance agent, I contacted the insurance company directly to find out what is going on since I always pay my insurance in full at the beginning of the year. As of right now, I am supposed to be insured until April of next year. 

The woman on the other line reported that my insurance company will not be accepting new motorcycle clients, but that since I am a long-standing customer (being a customer for over 14 years) they will continue honoring my membership unless I decide to change insurance companies. I was reassured that my insurance agent misunderstood, which is why he provided the wrong coverage information. It pays to go directly to the source.

Playa Buye Throwback - Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico

My Top 5 Favorite Photos of 2025

Remember To Poop

Photography Adjustments To Change Things Around

I think that when I am taking pictures of the architecture inside a Cathedral or a Museum using a Platypod, I am doing it all wrong. Most likely I am making the mistake of keeping the architecture background in focus, especially when taking photos of the Cathedral Basilica. Same situation happened when I recently photographed the Tyrannosaurus Rex at the Academy of Natural Sciences museum.  

I am currently using a Sigma 10-20 wideangle zoom lens for these type of images. Maybe I need to keep doing what I am doing for the (BTS - behind the scene image), and work on keeping the final edited image a little less sharp. I guess I'll need to work in the blur and focus later. Obviously, I need to make photography adjustments to change things around.

El Crimen Nos Arropa. Y los Cristianos, Bien Gracias.

Que mucho abuso se comete en nuestro pais. ¿Porque hay tanta criminalidad en Puerto Rico? Acabo de leer un reportaje de abuso de animales en el pueblo de San German. Al parecer unos jovenes en motoras amarraron un perro y lo arrastraron. Los rescatistas trataron de ayudar al perro pero lo encontraron muerto, junto a otros animales en deplorable condicion.

En septiembre pasado, un sexagenario mato a ladron dentro de su casa en un caso de autodefensa luego de que el individuo entro a la casa y lo agrediera con un palo para robarle. En un acto de represalia, unos vecinos y quizas familiares de el pillo, escalaron y quemaron la casa de Carlos Antonio Bermudez de 66 años. 

Segun las estadisticas de nuestra isla, la gran mayoria de los puertorriqueños son predominantemente cristianos. Yo me pregunto, ¿como es posible que una isla tan pequeña como Puerto Rico, digan que la gran mayoria de los puertorriqueños son cristianos cuando todos los dias escuchamos de muertes violentas hacia la mujer, delitos de indole se%ual hacia los menores, masacres, asesinatos, violaciones, abuso de animales, carjacking, fraude, corrupcion, etc. 

En mi opinion, la falta de empatia hacia el projimo no existe. El crimen nos arropa. Y los cristianos, bien gracias.

Part 3: Restauracion de la 1978 Kawasaki KZ 1000

En estos dias finalmente consegui el aro/rueda de atras de 18" pulgadas, para la 1978 Kawasaki KZ 1000 LTD. La persona me lo vendio a un buen precio. Que dificil se ha hecho conseguir las piezas para convertir esta Kawasaki LTD en una Kawasaki modelo regular. Lo interesante no es tanto lo dificil que es conseguir las piezas para esta motora, es lo carisimo que se han disparado los precios.

Ya instale el manubrio y el asiento; los consegui nuevos en Ebay. Recientemente me llego el  aro/rueda de atras de 18" pulgadas. Por ahora voy a esperar a estar en Puerto Rico para instalarlo.

Lo unico que me falta es conseguir el tanque de gasolina de la KZ-1000, ya que es mas grande. Tambien me falta el guardalodo de al frente e instalarle el header Kerker (4-into-1). Todos estos cambios seran cuando tenga la motora en la isla.

Me han preguntado porque hacerle todos estos cambios a la moto. La realidad es que nunca me ha gustado el estilo LTD de estas Kawasakis, prefiero el modelo original de la  1977-78 Kawasaki KZ-1000. Tan pronto tenga la moto en Puerto Rico, voy a tratar de tenerla al dia lo mas pronto posible. Ya lo dice el refran, Roma no se hizo en un dia. 

Getting High Is No Fun At My Age

Savoring Mouth-Watering Japanese Teriyaki Grill

Yesterday, I visited the Christmas Village around City Hall and LOVE Park to peruse dozens of decorated wooden vendor booths and to capture a short video of the double decker Carousel. While I was there, I had lunch at my favorite Japanese restaurant located at the Shops in Liberty Place, FUWA Japanese Teriyaki Grill. My mouth began salivating just thinking of the delicious Japanese Teriyaki chicken. Yummy !!!!

December 1, 2025 is . . . World AIDS Day

December 1st every year is an international day to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, honor those who have died from the disease, and show support for people living with HIV.

First Time Using a Platypod eXtreme In a Museum

After weeks of trying to figure out how to best capture photos of a Tyrannosaurus rex (one of the most ferocious predators to ever walk the earth) at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia using a Platypod eXtreme, I ventured out to the museum on the coldest day of this winter season.

With the blistering windy weather outside, as expected, the museum was almost empty. Not to mention that it was the day after Thanksgiving. Lots of families are still relaxing from the Thanksgiving holiday, getting ready for Black Friday and starting early Christmas preparations.

Having the museum practically all by myself has its benefits. Like taking my time finding the best composition to make Tyrannosaurus rex more impactful without having to worry about families pushing strollers in front of my camera. Especially when I am trying to capture low-angle ground level photos. Thankfully, I was able to work the scene and took as many pictures as I could, while experimenting with multiple compositions of the same T-Rex. 

Not bad for being the first time using the Platypod eXtreme in a museum. At the end, I was very pleased with the final result.

Happy Thanksgiving !!!!

 Feliz Dia Accion de Gracias !!!!

Disfruta La Vida Porque Hoy Estamos Y Mañana No Sabemos

Ayer me llamo Payo para compartir que nuestro compañero motociclista de la vieja guardia, el gran Orlando Pagan fallecio ayer.  El servicio funebre se realizara en Juana Diaz el proximo sabado. Tan pronto tenga mas detalles compartire la informacion. 

Voy a compartir una anecdota graciosa que me paso con la Triumph de Orlando en el 1983. Para ese tiempo yo trabajaba con Payo en el negocio de mecanica de motos de la Calle Guayama en Hato Rey. 

Se acercaba el Maraton de San Blas en Coamo, y yo sin motora, ya que habia vendido una 1974 Kawasaki Z1 900 que yo tenia. Tengo que admitir, hasta ese dia yo nunca habia corrido una motora Triumph y tampoco nunca me ha interesado la mecanica de Triumph. Orlando me ofrecio que usara su Triumph para ir al maraton de  Coamo; el unico problema era que la motora quemaba las bujias en un cilindro. 

Yo no manejo Triumph, pero no queria perderme el maraton. Compre dos cajas de "spark plugs" y me tire la corrida en la Triumph. A mitad de camino hacia Coamo, me canse de estar cambiando las bujias cada rato, y nos paramos en casa de una persona que bregaba en Triumph en un campo entre Aguas Buenas y Aibonito. 

El muchacho dijo que el problema era el carburador y lo cambio por otro que el tenia de respuesta. La motora de Orlando siguio quemando las bujias a pesar que se habia cambiado el carburador. Para regresar a San Juan tuve que volver a comprar dos cajas mas de bujias para no quedarme corriendo la Triumph en un solo cilindro. 

Gracias a Orlando pude disfrutar mi ultimo maraton de Coamo ya que el verano de ese año me mude para Brooklyn. Despues de 42 años, me encontre a Orlando las navidades pasadas cuando el estuvo en el taller de Payo en el hangar del Combate. En la foto, Orlando Pagan es el primero sentado de izquierda a derecha.

La motora Triumph de Orlando, es la que tiene hoy en dia nuestro pana Gary Leon; experto Kayakero y cantante salsero de la mata. Foto de la motora Triumph al final de este escrito.

Veterans Day

VETERAN'S DAY

A picture of my Army veteran father during the Korean War, when he was stationed in Panama.

DIA DEL VETERANO

Esta foto fue tomada durante la guerra de Korea, cuando mi papa estaba en el ejercito en una base militar en Panama. 

Ganaron los Indios de Mayaguez

Gracias a la jugada de Eddie Rosario con el tiro al home plate en la novena entrada, los Indios de Mayaguez derrotan a los Leones de Ponce con el marcador 1-0 para lograr su segunda victoria en esta temporada 2025-26. 

Los Indios de Mayaguez Derrotan a Senadores de San Juan

Los Campeones Indios de Mayaguez, arrancan la temporada 2025-26 con victoria de 4-1 entre los Indios de Mayaguez y los Senadores de San Juan en el Parque Isidoro Cholo Garcia.

Behind The Scenes Pt. 2 : Smartphone on a Platypod eXtreme

For the time being, these images will be the last one's taken inside the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia. 

I am planning to travel to New York City and Washington DC soon, to photograph inside other cathedrals and churches. Some of these buildings offer spectacular architecture, which can translate to unique and interesting compositions. 

Platypod will never replace my trusty tripod. But have earned a permanent home in my camera bag if I am using a DSLR, a GoPro action camera or my smartphone.

Feliz Cumpleaños A Nuestra Querida Madre!

Este mes de octubre es el natalicio de la mejor madre del mundo, nuestra querida madre; cariñosamente conocida por Doña Tere. Ya han pasado 40 años desde el dia que mami fue a morar con el señor. 

El dia 3 de octubre, mami hubiera cumplido 89 años. La extrañamos demasiado, algun dia volveremos a estar juntos. Hasta que nos volvamos a encontrar, que Dios te sostenga en la palma de su mano. 

No hay despedidas para nosotros. Dondequiera que estes, siempre estaras en nuestro corazon. Feliz cumpleaños en el cielo.

I was Bought And Paid By George Soros - [insert sarcasm here]

Open Your Mouth And Say .... Ahhh

Yesterday was my first visit to the dentist this year. It feels like the other day, but in reality, I met this doctor in 2010 when my regular dentist almost damaged one of my front teeth. 

My former employer's health insurance recommended this doctor after I contacted them to report my dissatisfaction with my regular dentist. After the initial visit he assessed the situation, made recommendations and was able to save the tooth through a root canal. The work was completed in less than one hour, during my lunch break. To my surprise, the job was completed painlessly. 

Despite being traumatized as a child by a dentist, during the initial visit this one eased all my fears away and gained my trust. I can honestly say that I feel like I've won the lottery; my dentist is the best. 

Platypods Behind the Scenes

The more I experiment with the Platypod eXtreme, the better the images look. As I mentioned a couple of days ago, Platypod is becoming a great addition to my photography arsenal. They can be used with DSLR's, GoPro action cameras, and smartphones.

Platypods are excellent photography tools because they are compact, versatile, and stable alternatives to traditional tripods, especially in situations where tripods are impractical, such as in tight spaces or areas where they are not allowed.  Since Platypod offers unlimited creativity, I am looking forward as to what the future holds during this phase to get new and unique shots.

It Was A Nightmare

Original photo created by John Wilhelm the photoholic

It's been a while since I had a nightmare. It is 2:40 am, and I just forced myself to wake up from this dream, now I can't sleep.

One of the top things on my bucket list is to ride a motorcycle in Europe. 

On this particular nightmare, I am gathered with a group of people somewhere in a strange European country. Everyone around me is speaking with a British accent.

In the meantime, I am worried and began talking out loud that we needed to hurry up and get moving soon in order for me to get out of there before sunset. In the nightmare, I am not sure where we are, and where are we headed. I am also concerned because I am riding a scooter that I've never ridden before, and don't know how to turn the lights on. 

All of a sudden, without any warning, everyone gets in a bus, and I am left outside. The bus starts moving and I had to grab a pole to avoid being stranded on the road. All our scooters are secured on a trailer using straps, and attached to the bus. While the bus is running down the road, I am standing on the bus rear fender holding for dear life.

After arriving to the next destination, I kept reminding everyone, that soon will get darker and I don't feel comfortable riding a scooter without lights. 

By the time I get out of the building my biggest fear has come true. It's already pitch dark, and is also raining. And to make things worse, everyone is gone. I am alone with the scooter without lights, standing in the parking lot without a rainsuit. I have no idea where am I, or where I am headed next. 

I did the most logical thing I could think of, I forced myself to wake up.  

And Yes, The Ice Cream Was Delicious

The forecast for Philadelphia includes a wet weekend, with showers and steady rain continuing into Monday. Yesterday, before the rain arrived, I decided to head on over to one of my favorite spots, the Schuylkill River near Boathouse Row.

This is a historic and scenic area in Philadelphia known for its row of 15 Victorian boathouses, which house rowing clubs and are a popular spot for rowing, walking, and viewing the illuminated lights at night.

I was hoping to capture a few behind-the-scene images of my GoPro Hero on a Platypod eXtreme. Surprisingly, maybe because of the weather conditions, the area was empty. Faster than the blink of an eye, I took all the pictures I needed, just in time before the rain arrived.

Before heading home, and to celebrate the successful photo walk, I purchased a "Swirl" from the ice cream truck parked in front of the Philadelphia Art Museum. A "swirl" is a combination of vanilla and chocolate ice cream in a cone. And yes, the ice cream was delicious. 

Behind The Scenes: Platypod Ultra and the Top of the Rock

For my birthday, to celebrate myself indulging on my interest and passion of photography at my own pace, I went on a NYC photo walk. Visiting NYC was not only a photo excursion, but more of a way to celebrate my birthday in one of my favorite cities in the world. 

Crowded locations often prohibit tripods for several reasons. The Rockefeller Center Top of the Rock observation deck is no exception. On this photo walk I took with me the old trusty Platypod Ultra since I know tripods are not allowed at Top of the Rock. 

This was one of those rare occasions where I was able to remember to take a couple of "behind the scene" images. The only difference is that this time I used a smartphone to do it. I hate to admit, but I was in the group of people who always denigrated smartphones as a tool to take photos. That way of thinking changed for me that day. 

On my way to the exit elevator, I took four or five pictures handheld using my cell phone. The images were captured through glass windows. Glass can be one of the hardest things to take photos through. Out of those images, I blended three pictures and created a panorama image of NYC. Some of these smartphone images can rival those taken by my digital Nikon DSLR. 

The moral of the story is, don't knock it until you've tried it. Let me humbly say that I learned a valuable lesson.