The Yngwie

Had the pleasure of covering Roland's 2011 Loop Station International finals recently, followed by a performance from Yngwie Malmsteen. The consummate performer, Yngwie knows how to put on a show. It was loud...even with earplugs. Rock on.

Shlomo, the beat boxin' madman and loop station finals winner from the UK. This performance isn't posted yet, but check out www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqCM36DDyI8 to see him in action. Pretty cool stuff!

Cannon Beach

The Canyon

Upon planning a family trip to the Grand Canyon over the phone, my Mom, an Arizona resident, kindly informed me that it's simply referred to as 'The Canyon' by those in the know. The 'Grand' part apparently, is understood.

Photographically, The Canyon is an impossible spectacle to capture. I say that because I didn't have the remainder of 2011 to stay and do it justice. A combination of time, talent, patience, physicality, warm clothes and luck is required, but mostly time. The Canyon is a living testament to the smallness of man.

"In 1910 George Collingwood, a young forest ranger, traveled with friends to the South rim. 'All we could do was to look,' he wrote home, 'and then we all swore sort of softly, and in between the curses we would speak of the wonders of God.'"

--The Incredible Grand Canyon, by Scott Thybony

Happy New Year to all!