Sometimes you have to change the world to make art.

Ripples in the reflection
Originally uploaded by JohnPlatt

Funny story about this photo.

Yesterday, while taking a quick lunch-hour walk, I came across some amazing fall foliage down at the nearby lake. The lake, meanwhile, was as still as glass. Not the slightest ripple as far as the eye could see. Looking out across the water, the trees on the other shore melded into their reflections so perfectly you could barely make out the water line.

I took about 50 photos of what I dubbed Lake Reflecto (click through to see some of the best), but then I got bored.

I wanted some variety. Something more artistic.

So I stood on the edge of the dock and gently flexed my knees a couple of times.

Just me. Just one 10x10 dock. The barest exertion of my muscles. And within 60 seconds, the entire lake was covered in ripples.

Did I feel guilty about disturbing the peaceful serenity? Heck no. I just took more photographs. And then I came home and posted them online.

We make our own art. Sometimes art makes ripples. Sometimes our lives make ripples. And sometimes the ripples make the art.

Red white yellow - FALL!

Red white yellow - FALL!
Originally uploaded by JohnPlatt

That's the meanest electricity I've ever seen

That's the meanest electricity I've ever seen
Originally uploaded by JohnPlatt

Life on the lake is sometimes like staring into the breach between universes

Life on the lake is sometimes like staring into the breach between universes
Originally uploaded by JohnPlatt

Click through for lots more fall foliage fotos on Flickr.

(And more weird titles.)

Water, water everywhere

In honor of Blog Action Day, here are links to several of my articles about water:

Three Simple Ways to Save Water

The Race to Save Mexico's Water Monster


21 percent of Africa's freshwater species threatened with extinction

Mediterranean dragonflies and damselflies disappearing with region's freshwater

Coral reefs: Vital to the oceans, vital to humans

Royalties are good (aka, the Great Die Laughing Experiment, Part II)

Amazon.com sent along the first royalties for the e-book version of Die Laughing the other day. Not bad. I won't get rich off this book, but then again, I never expected to. I will, however, be able to get a nice burger and a beer, which is pretty good for an eight-year-old book.

(Truth in terminology: "royalties" isn't quite the word here, since I'm getting the lion's share of the "cover price," but I can live with it.)

To continue the Die Laughing experiment, I have now lowered the price of the e-book by a buck, to $2.99. This seems to be a popular price point for Kindle books. Maybe it will increase sales a bit. We'll see.

So, want to help me buy another burger? You can read this e-book on a Kindle, your PC or a smart phone. (Or if you'd like, I still have copies of the old-fashioned paperback edition of the book. Drop me a line.)