{"id":131232,"date":"2023-03-06T05:50:55","date_gmt":"2023-03-06T12:50:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/?p=131232"},"modified":"2023-03-06T13:59:13","modified_gmt":"2023-03-06T20:59:13","slug":"questions-i-get-lots-of-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2023\/03\/06\/questions-i-get-lots-of-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"Questions, I Get Lots Of Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today I provide answers. Some questions have been answered before but it’s obvious that many readers have never seen those answers because I keep getting the same questions.<\/p>\n

I don’t necessarily answer questions in the comments because they can also originate on social media or in private emails or messages. You might be surprised by how many of my readers are reluctant to comment publicly (shyness?) so they email or message me instead.<\/p>\n

Here are some of the questions I get most often and my answers. I’ve paraphrased some of them to improve clarity and\/or make them more concise. A few readers may not like some of my answers but they’re honest, probably to a fault.<\/p>\n

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Why do you make the effort to respond to the vast majority of the comments made on your blog. Most bloggers don’t.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It would seem impolite, even rude, if I didn’t. If folks can take the time to comment on my blog, why can’t I respond briefly in kind? Besides, I enjoy interacting with my readers and I learn stuff when I do. Many of my regular commenters have become my friends and friends don’t ignore friends.<\/p>\n

You don’t ever seem to get rude comments on your blog. Why is that? Do you delete them? Or not approve them?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I get them occasionally but not very often – only a handful of times each year. If they have a valid point to make, even if their comment is borderline rude, I typically approve it and respond. If they’re nasty, or an obvious troll, I never approve their comment. I actually got a rude and ignorant comment on my Bald Eagle post a few days ago. I didn’t approve it but I may (or may not) include it in a post about the same eagle in a day or two. I’m still mulling it over.<\/p>\n

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Farmhouses and outbuildings of the two Dudley farms. Just ignore the colored arrows.<\/em><\/p>\n

Is the Montana farm you grew up on still in the family?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes, but not my immediate family. When I graduated from high school we sold our farm to my dad’s brother, my Uncle Floyd. Today most of the land of the original two joint Dudley farms, something like 3200 acres, is owned by the siblings of my cousin Ken Dudley<\/a><\/span><\/span>. Ken’s brother Jim owns the remaining farmhouse. And some of the land, as do two of his sisters.<\/p>\n

Most folks consider a pickup to be a truck so that’s what they call it – a truck. Why do you avoid “truck” and always call yours a pickup?<\/strong><\/p>\n

On a farm the distinction is an important one. We had pickups and we had trucks (grain trucks) and I’d damn well better know which was which. There’d be hell to pay if I didn’t so the lesson stuck with me.<\/p>\n

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Lorenzo Snow, my great-great grandfather and President of the LDS (Mormon) Church from 1898 – 1901<\/em><\/p>\n

In your family history posts you sometimes make reference to your Mormon ancestors. Are you a Mormon?<\/strong><\/p>\n

No. Both my paternal and maternal family lines are steeped in Mormonism all the way back to the pioneers and beyond and I was raised a Mormon but I began to break those ties in my late teens. The transition was complete by the end of my freshman year in college. I’m fascinated by the details of the lives of my Mormon ancestors and I admire their pluck but their religion isn’t for me. Nor is any religion. I’m a devout atheist.<\/p>\n

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You used to go camping, especially in Montana and southern Utah, and post bird, wildlife and travel photos taken on those trips. Why don’t you do it anymore?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A bad back and three major surgeries got in the way. I’ve been putting off making the decision of whether I should keep my camping trailer or sell it. Having a camping trailer that you don’t use makes absolutely no sense. It’ll be a hard decision to make.<\/p>\n

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Photo taken in 2019, four years after Shannon’s accident<\/em><\/p>\n

How’s Shannon doing?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I’m delighted to report that Shannon (my daughter) is thriving. It was touch and go for 5 years after her nearly fatal accident that resulted in severe brain damage (a TBI) but today her only remaining symptom of any significance is aphasia that takes a toll on her short-term memory. But she’s learned to adapt and today she seems happier than she’s ever been in her life. Her ol’ dad is extremely proud of her.<\/p>\n

Are you married?<\/strong><\/p>\n

No, I’m twice divorced and have been since the late 80’s (can’t remember the exact year). Like religion, married life apparently isn’t for me. I prefer it that way – being single took a lot of stress out of my life. I have oodles of female companionship, including but not limited to my second ex-wife Diane who remains a very good friend to this day.<\/p>\n

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Are you pleased with your new camera, the Canon R5, after owning it for about a year?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Extremely pleased, when camera, lens and operator are all functioning at their best, which isn’t always. When I’ve had problems it’s usually been my fault. The R5 is a complicated beast and when it comes to electronics I can be pretty dense at times. But I’ll say this, I’m getting sharp shots that I had no chance of getting with any of my previous cameras.<\/p>\n

In your posts you often make reference to cussing when you’re frustrated by birds or situations. Do you really curse a lot?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hell yes.<\/p>\n

Mormon Church President Spencer W. Kimball once said “\u201cProfanity is the effort of a feeble brain to express itself forcibly.\u201d In contrast, American author and humorist David Sedaris has this to say about one example of cussing and profanity in general: “<\/span>\u201cShit is the tofu of cursing and can be molded to whichever condition the speaker desires. Hot as shit. Windy as shit. I myself was confounded as shit…\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

I much prefer the linguistic flexibility provided by Sedaris’s philosophy over Kimball’s self-righteous proclamation. For me cussing, like being single, relieves stress. Besides, I’ve become emotionally attached to my feeble brain.<\/p>\n

Ron<\/p>\n

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Note: Yes, I’m aware that Mormon (LDS) Church leaders have now dictated that their church, and its members, not be referred to as “Mormon”. Don’t get me going on that one.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Today I provide some answers. (5 photos)<\/p>\n

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