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In recent decades, increased attention has been focused on the impact of disabilities and medicinal drug use on road safety. The aim of our study was to investigate the association between prescription medicines and the risk of road traffic crashes, and estimate the attributable fraction.
Methods and Findings
We extracted and matched data from three French nationwide databases: the national health care insurance database, police reports, and the national police database of injurious crashes. Drivers identified by their national health care number involved in an injurious crash in France, between July 2005 and May 2008, were included in the study. Medicines were grouped according to the four risk levels of the French classification system (from 0 [no risk] to 3 [high risk]). We included 72,685 drivers involved in injurious crashes. Users of level 2 (odds ratio [OR] = 1.31 [1.24–1.40]) and level 3 (OR = 1.25 [1.12–1.40]) prescription medicines were at higher risk of being responsible for a crash. The association remained after adjustment for the presence of a long-term chronic disease. The fraction of road traffic crashes attributable to levels 2 and 3 medications was 3.3% [2.7%–3.9%]. A within-person case-crossover analysis showed that drivers were more likely to be exposed to level 3 medications on the crash day than on a control day, 30 days earlier (OR = 1.15 [1.05–1.27]).
The use of prescription medicines is associated with a substantial number of road traffic crashes in France. In light of the results, warning messages appear to be relevant for level 2 and 3 medications and questionable for level 1 medications. A follow-up study is needed to evaluate the impact of the warning labeling system on road traffic crash prevention.
Citation: Orriols L, Delorme B, Gadegbeku B, Tricotel A, Contrand B, Laumon B, et al. (2010) Prescription Medicines and the Risk of Road Traffic Crashes: A French Registry-Based Study. PLoS Med 7(11): e1000366. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000366
Academic Editor: Munir Pirmohamed, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom
Received: March 18, 2010; Accepted: September 28, 2010; Published: November 16, 2010
Copyright: © 2010 Orriols et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Funding: The CESIR-A project was funded by the Afssaps, the French National Research Agency (ANR, DAA n° 0766CO204), the French Medical Research Foundation (Equipe FRM), the French National Medical Research Institute (Equipe INSERM Avenir) and the French Direction Générale de la Santé (DGS). LO is the recipient of a doctoral grant from the French National Institute for Medical Research (INSERM) and the Aquitaine region. Members of the Afssaps participated in data collection, interpretation and review of the manuscript. Neither individual from the CESIR research group received any compensation for their assistance. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Competing interests: Emmanuel Lagarde is on the Editorial Board of PLoS Medicine.
Abbreviations: ATC, Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical; CI, confidence interval; OR, odds ratio
Editors' Summary
About 1.3 million people die each year on the world's road. 90% of road traffic deaths occur in developing countries, with pedestrians, cyclists, and users of two-wheel vehicles (scooters, motorbikes) the most vulnerable road users. Although the use of prescribed benzodiazepines has already been documented to be associated with road traffic accidents in industrialized countries, the effects of other medicines have not been well studied or have inconsistent results (for example opioids and antidepressant medications). In the European Union, it is mandatory for pharmaceutical companies to provide data about the effect of a medicine on ability to drive. In France, a multidisciplinary group of experts was appointed to classify all medicines into four levels of risk (from level 0, no or negligible risk, to level 3, major risk), in terms of their effect on driving performances. In 2006, the International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety proposed a classification list similar to the French classification system.
Why Was This Study Done? There is a pressing need to understand the association between prescribed medicines and the risk of road traffic crashes and also to have a more accurate picture of the fraction of road traffic crashes that are attributable to the use of prescribed medicines. This large French study aimed to advance knowledge in this important area.
What Did the Researchers Do and Find? The researchers used three data sources to find the information they needed: the national health care insurance database (which covers the whole French population and includes data on reimbursed prescription medicines), police reports, and the national police database of injurious road traffic crashes. Drivers involved in road traffic crashes (identified by their national healthcare number) between July 2005 and May 2008 were included in the study. The researchers used a statistical model to conduct a responsibility analysis, which determined factors associated with each driver responsible for the road traffic crash and each driver who was not responsible (controls). In addition, the researchers compared medicine exposure during a period immediately before the crash (case period) with exposure during an earlier period (control period) for each driver involved in a crash. The researchers retrieved data on reimbursed medicines, dispensed within six months of the road traffic crash, by linking included drivers to the national health care insurance database using their national ID, gender, and date of birth and grouped all prescribed medicines according to the four risk levels of the French classification system.
During the study period, 72,685 drivers involved in injurious road traffic crashes were included. The researchers found that drivers who had been prescribed level 2 and level 3 medicines were at higher risk (odds ratio 1.31 and OR 1.25, respectively) of being responsible for the road traffic crash, an association that remained after the researchers adjusted for the presence of chronic diseases. Furthermore, the researchers found that the fraction of road traffic crashes attributable to the use of (prescriptions for) level 2 and 3 medicines was 3.3% and that drivers were more likely to be exposed to level 3 medicines on the day of the road traffic crash than on a control day.
What Do These Findings Mean? This study provides strong evidence for the contribution of medicines to the risk of experiencing a road traffic crash. The French drug risk classification scheme seems accurate for medicines classified as levels 2 and 3 of risk for road traffic crashes. The effect on driving abilities of level 2 medicines depends both on the pharmacodynamics of the drug and on individual susceptibility, whereas for level 3 medicines, the pharmacodynamic effect seems to be predominant. The effects of level 1 medicines seem to be so dependent on individual susceptibility that effects on driving abilities are rare, which raises questions about the relevance of the labels for these medicines. However, some limitations with the study methodology might affect the interpretation of these findings. For example, the researchers used dispensing dates for medications as a surrogate for ingestion and were not able to check for noncompliance.
However, this study provides some of the strongest evidence to date of the need for health care workers to provide patients with proper information on the potential effect of any medicine that they are prescribed (or take) on their driving abilities.
Additional Information Please access these Web sites via the online version of this summary at http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000366.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information on road traffic accidents
- Two Web sites provide information for drivers about drugs that could affect their ability to drive
- The US National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health has an information sheet on drugged driving
The association between the use of benzodiazepines and the risk of road traffic crashes has now been documented with consistent results in several studies [1]–[13], but the effect of other medicines has been less assessed and results of available studies are often inconsistent [14]. This lack of assessment is particularly true for opioids [2],[8],[9],[12],[15],[16] and antidepressants [1],[12],[16],[17]. Psychoactive medicines may impair driving abilities owing to their action on the central nervous system (e.g., sedation in the morning following administration of a hypnotic), whereas other medicines may affect psychomotor functions by their action on physiological functions (e.g., hypoglycaemic seizures related to diabetic treatment) or because of centralised side effects (e.g., the depressant potential of carisoprodol on the central nervous system). In the European Union, it is mandatory for pharmaceutical companies to provide data about the effects of a medicine on the ability to drive and to use machinery prior to the medicine being allowed on the market. In 2003, the European Medicine Agency requested the standardized classification of medicines according to four levels of driving impairment risk, from level 0 (no or negligible risk) to level 3 (major risk), in order to provide health care professionals and patients with full information on the effects of medicines on driving abilities. The European DRUID project (Driving Under the Influence of Drugs, alcohol and medicines) identified 16 classification systems worldwide [18]. In 2006, the International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety (ICADTS) proposed a medication classification system on the basis of the Belgium, Spanish, and French classification systems. In France, a multidisciplinary group of experts was appointed to classify all medicines according to four levels of risk in terms of their effect on driving performance [19]. A graded pictogram was designed to be printed on the outer packaging of all level 1 to 3 medicines (Figure 1). Pharmaceutical companies gradually implemented this policy from 2005 to 2008. Level 1, 2, and 3 medications are labeled with instructions that are relevant to driving for patients. The aim of our study was to estimate the association between medicine use, as estimated using prescribed medicine dispensation data from a health care reimbursement database, and the risk of injurious road traffic crashes, as well as the fraction of crashes attributable to medicine use in France.
Data Sources
The study used three databases: the national health care insurance database, and two police databases referring to the same road traffic crash events but with different format and content.
Police reports.
French police forces are required to fill out a police report for each injurious crash occurring in the country (about 70,000 reports each year). For some of the drivers involved in these injurious road traffic crashes, the national health care number (national ID) is recorded in the police report and can later be matched with medication dispensing records in the health care insurance database. Police reports are scanned and stored as image files. All available police reports in France were gathered over the study period.
National police database of injurious road traffic crashes.
Police forces also collect details on each injurious crash event, which are stored in the national police database of injurious crashes (Bulletins d'Analyse d'Accident Corporel [BAAC]). This standardized database contains descriptive variables on the crash characteristics, the vehicles, and the people involved in the crash. Police forces also conduct additional investigations regarding injury severity from hospital records and categorize the people involved into four groups: unhurt, slightly injured, seriously injured (hospitalized more than 24 h), or killed (in the 30 d following the crash). All drivers involved in a road traffic crash are supposed to be tested for the presence of alcohol using a breath test. If this test is positive (≥0.5 g/l), the driver refuses to take the test, or the severity of the crash makes the test impossible, then the blood alcohol concentration is measured. If the breath test is negative, then the driver is registered as not being under the influence of alcohol. Missing data on alcohol impairment correspond to the following situations: the result of the blood measurement was unknown at the time of data entry in the database; the blood measurement could not be done (e.g., insufficient blood); the breath test was not done by the police; the breath test was positive but the blood alcohol concentration was not measured; or the breath test was negative but it was not coded in the database.
Health care insurance database.
The national health care insurance database (Système National d'Informations Inter Régimes de l'Assurance Maladie [SNIIR-AM]) covers the entire French population (in 2008, 64,000,000 people) and includes data on reimbursed prescription medicines. A record is entered into the database each time a prescription medicine is dispensed to an outpatient at the pharmacy, including the national ID, the date dispensed, and the seven-digit code (CIP code) assigned to the medicine at the time of its marketing authorization. Data on long-term chronic diseases are also registered in this database, with the International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition (ICD-10) code), start, and end dates of the disease. In France, patients are fully reimbursed for health care expenses, including medicines, related to 30 recognized long-term chronic diseases [20].
National ID Extraction and Matching Procedures
The first step of the study was extracting and matching data from the comprehensive French nationwide databases described above. Drivers involved in an injurious crash in France, between July 2005 and May 2008, were included through their national ID, gender, and date of birth, as extracted from police reports. An application, based on optical character recognition (OCR), was developed to automatically extract, from the image files, the crash date, an individual's national ID, gender, and date of birth. The extraction procedure was validated on a subsample of 293 police reports, which were printed and manually coded. A procedure was implemented to match each individual whose ID was extracted from police reports with the corresponding record from the national police database of injurious crashes. Two records were considered matched if six descriptive variables were in agreement. If a pair had three or more discordant variables, it was considered unmatched. For pairs with concordance for fewer than six variables and more than three variables, a probabilistic linkage method was developed [21]. When a decision could not be made automatically, pairs were reviewed by hand. Data on reimbursed medicines dispensed within 6 mo before the crash were obtained by linking included drivers to the national health care insurance database using their national ID, gender, and date of birth. Confidentiality was ensured by using the personal information anonymization function of the national health care insurance system [22].
Medicines and Exposure Periods
Daily medication exposure was estimated for each pharmacotherapeutic class, according to the WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification. Medication exposure was calculated as starting one day after dispensing, and exposure duration was estimated from median values reported within a survey on medicine prescription in France [23]. This survey was conducted among 800 practitioners, representative of French physicians, three times a year, over a 7-d period. To ensure that prescribed medicines were not a consequence of the crash, medications dispensed on the crash day were not included in the analysis. We studied all dispensed and reimbursed prescription medicines grouped according to the French risk classification system [24].
A multidisciplinary group of experts developed the four-level risk classification system. The grading method analysed all available data: pharmacodynamic and kinetic effects, individual sensitivity, the conditions of use of each medicine, pharmacovigilance data, and experimental and crash study data [25]. This classification system ranks the four levels of driving impairment risk from level 0 (no or negligible risk) to level 3 (major risk). A graded pictogram is printed on the outer packaging of all level 1 to 3 medicines, accompanied by a written warning (Figure 1): level 0, medicines with no pharmacodynamic effect likely to alter the ability to drive, according to current information (6,282 medicines); level 1, medicines that do not generally impact on ability to drive, but require patient information (1,190 medicines); level 2, medicines that could affect the ability to drive and require medical advice before use (1,601 medicines); level 3, medicines that are known to affect the ability to drive during use (194 medicines).
Determining Crash Responsibility
Responsibility levels in the crash were determined by a standardized method adapted from Robertson and Drummer [26]. This method, recently validated in France using the national police database of fatal crashes [27], takes into consideration the different factors likely to reduce driver responsibility: road, vehicle and driving conditions, type of accident, traffic rule obedience, and difficulty of the task involved. A score is assigned to each driver for each of these factors from 1 (favourable to driving) to 4 (not favourable to driving). The higher the sum of the scores, the more unfavourable the driving conditions, and thus the more likely it is that the driver will be considered not-responsible (nonresponsible) for the crash. Drivers were further grouped into two levels of crash responsibility: responsible (score <15) or nonresponsible (score ≥15).
This method of determining the driver's crash responsibility was approved by an independent expert responsibility evaluation (kappa = 0.71).
Participant inclusion.
Individuals whose police reports did not contain their national ID were not included. Drivers were censored at their first involvement in a road traffic crash in order to mitigate the impact of previous crashes on medicine exposure. We compared, by logistic regression, age, gender, injury severity, vehicle type, crash location, type of police force filing the police report, alcohol level, and responsibility status between included and nonincluded individuals.
Responsibility analysis.
The purpose of the responsibility analysis is to compare exposure probabilities on the day of crash between responsible drivers (cases) and nonresponsible drivers (controls) [26]. This method ensures that both cases and controls are selected from the same driving population.
Statistical analyses were conducted using logistic regression. The associations between responsibility and age, gender, socioeconomic category, year, month, day of week, time of day, location, vehicle type, alcohol level, and injury severity were initially investigated using bivariate analysis; associated variables were included in the multivariate model when the p-value was less than 20% (Chi-squared test). This value was the case for all variables except for the year of crash, which was forced into the model because prescription patterns may have changed between the 2005–2006 and 2007–2008 periods. Further analyses adjusted for the presence of long-term chronic diseases. We tested the interactions between exposure and each of the adjustment variables.
Attributable fractions were estimated from the adjusted odds ratio (OR) estimates and the prevalence of exposure in responsible drivers [28]. Confidence intervals (CIs) were computed using the bootstrap method [29],[30], estimated from the 2.5th and the 97.5th percentiles of the distribution resulting from 500 simulations.
Case-crossover analysis.
The case-crossover analysis consisted of a pair-matched analytical approach to compare medicine exposure during a period immediately before the crash (case period) with exposure during an earlier period (control period) for the same person [31]. We compared medicine exposure on the crash day with medicine exposure on the control day. The washout period between the case and control periods prevents any residual effect of an exposure in the control period on the case period. In France, the duration of a pharmacy-dispensed treatment cannot usually exceed 30 d (almost without exception, i.e., contraceptive pills), so the duration of the washout period was determined at 30 d. ORs were estimated by conditional logistic regression, using the PHREG procedure in SAS.
Data were analyzed using the SAS statistical software package, version 9.0 (SAS Institute Inc.).
Study Population
The validation study conducted on 293 police reports showed that the national ID was recorded for 140 of the 455 drivers involved (28%). The automatic optical character recognition (OCR) software extracted 110 of these 140 national IDs (extraction rate = 79%). Matching with the police national database of injurious crashes was possible for 90% of the IDs. The driver inclusion rate was thus expected to be about 20%.
Results of the overall extraction and matching procedures for the study are illustrated in Figure 2. We extracted 109,078 national IDs/gender/date of birth, from 210,818 police reports available from July 2005 to May 2008, corresponding to any individual involved in an injurious road traffic crash. Ninety percent of these individuals were matched with a corresponding record in the national police database of injurious crashes (72.8% fitted on all variables, 14.0% were matched by the probabilistic linkage method, and 3.1% manually). The linkage failed for 10% of the individuals, because the ID corresponded either to a driver involved in the crash but not captured in the national police database, or to an individual not involved in the crash (e.g., a witness, the owner of a vehicle involved).
*The discrepancy between the number of police reports and the number of records in the national police database of injurious crashes is explained by the fact that a small proportion of unavailable reports were being used for on-going further legal investigations.
This procedure led to the inclusion of 72,685 drivers (34,896 responsible and 37,789 nonresponsible drivers), i.e.,18.5% of the 392,169 drivers registered in the national police database of injurious crashes. Baseline characteristics of the study population are presented in Table 1. Injury severity was the main factor associated with the probability of being part of the study (OR = 3.43 [3.29–3.58] for seriously injured drivers and OR = 2.67 [2.57–2.77] for slightly injured drivers), thus explaining higher rates of inclusion for bicycle (OR = 1.24 [1.16–1.33] and scooter drivers (OR = 1.09 [1.03–1.16]) and drivers involved in nonurban accidents (OR = 1.14 [1.10–1.18]), all of whom have been consistently documented in the literature to be more seriously injured. The inclusion rate was slightly lower for responsible drivers than for nonresponsible drivers (OR = 0.91 [0.88–0.94]).
Exposure to Medicines
Twenty seven percent (n = 19,777) of the drivers included in the study were exposed to at least one prescribed medicine on the crash day. The proportion of drivers exposed to level 0, level 1, level 2, and level 3 medicines were respectively 21.6%, 10.2%, 11.4%, and 2.7%. There were 13,167 drivers (18%) exposed to at least one prescribed medicine of level 1, 2, or 3 (Table 2).
Table 3 shows the main pharmacotherapeutic drug classes used on the crash day among level 2 and 3 medicines by ATC class (third level of the ATC system).
When adjusted for variables found to be associated with responsibility in the crash (age, gender, socioeconomic category, year, month, day of week, time of day, location, vehicle type, alcohol level, injury severity) and for medicines of others levels, the use of at least one level 2 or level 3 medicine was associated with the risk of being responsible for a crash (OR = 1.31 [1.24–1.40] and OR = 1.25 [1.12–1.40]). The use of level 0 medicines was associated with a decreased risk of being responsible for a crash (OR = 0.92 [0.88–0.97]). The risk of being responsible was not significant for level 1 medicines (Table 4). The fraction of road traffic crashes attributable to use of levels 2 and 3 medicines was 3.0% [2.4%–3.5%] and 0.7% [0.4%–0.9%], respectively. The global fraction attributable to both level 2 and 3 medicines (considering exposure to level 2 or level 3 medicines on the crash day) was 3.3% [2.7%–3.9%]. The associations remained after adjustment for long-term chronic diseases (OR = 0.92 [0.88–0.97] for level 0, OR = 1.30 [1.22–1.38] for level 2, and OR = 1.24 [1.11–1.39] for level 3). There was no interaction of medicine use with alcohol consumption (p = 0.84 for level 2 and p = 0.23 for level 3). The information on alcohol level was missing for 9,919 individuals (13.6%). Excluding these individuals from the univariate analysis led to no significant change in estimated ORs. We did not find any interaction between the use of level 2 or level 3 medicines and the adjustment variables.
Among level 2 medicines, the risk of being responsible for a crash was significantly higher for drugs used in diabetes (A10), antiepileptics (N03), psycholeptics (N05), psychoanaleptics (N06), and other nervous system drugs (N07). However, after Bonferroni correction for multiple testing, the association remained significant for the last four classes only (Table 5). The Benjamini and Yekutieli procedure based on the false discovery rate led to the same conclusions. The OR for level 3 psycholeptics was similar to the OR estimated for all level 3 medicines.
The risk of being responsible for a crash gradually increased from 1.14 [1.06–1.22] for users of one medicine of level 2 or 3 to 1.88 [1.58–2.25] for users of more than three medicines of level 2 or 3 (Table 6). Results from the case-crossover analysis showed a statistically significant association between the use of level 3 medicines and the risk of road traffic crash. There was no association with level 0, level 1, and level 2 medicines (Table 7).
We found evidence for an increased risk of being responsible for a road traffic crash for users of prescribed medicines defined as presenting a level 2 or level 3 risk of driving impairment according to the French medication classification system. The fraction of road traffic crashes attributable to levels 2 and 3 medicine use was 3.3% [2.7%–3.9%].
The study protocol planned for the inclusion of a large range of descriptive variables related to the crash and to the drivers involved. In particular, we were able to determine the responsibility status of the driver in the crash and to adjust for key confounding factors. The responsibility analysis is a real strength of the study as it allows for the comparisons of cases and controls that share the same characteristic of being drivers. In a previous study on the impact of illegal drug consumption, using the same national police database but limited to fatal crashes [27], the same method used to determine responsibility was approved by an independent expert evaluation of responsibility. Furthermore, because the responsibility analysis relies on the assumption that nonresponsible drivers are representative of the driving population, the authors of the previous study validated the comparison of a subset of the nonresponsible individuals with the driving population in France [27]. Finally, the strong dose-effect relationship found in our study between alcohol level and responsibility is a further indirect validation of the method. Importantly, responsibility levels were calculated independently of alcohol and illicit drug use because of their potential interactions with medicine use.
Medicine exposure was ascertained from computerized records of reimbursed prescriptions filled at the pharmacy. These data were not subject to underreporting, a major problem encountered when medicine exposure data is self-reported [5]. On the other hand, it is one of the study limitations that dispensing dates were considered in this study as a surrogate for actual consumption. We did not know whether the medicines were actually ingested or not. Noncompliance, which we were not able to check, would therefore result in exposure misclassification. Other studies using patient-derived data and the same dispensation database showed that the health care insurance data are reliable indicators of actual exposure for medicines used over a long time frame, less so for episodically used medicines [32]. We assumed that the exposure period started on the day after dispensing, as medicine dispensation on the day of crash may have been a consequence of the crash. Another limitation was that exposure to nonprescribed drugs can also not be estimated from the health care insurance database. However, less than 15% of medicines sold in France correspond to nonreimbursable medicines and most of these products have either no or negligible influence on the ability to drive.
The comparison between included drivers by means of their national ID and nonincluded drivers showed that injury severity was associated with the probability of being part of the study. Thus severely injured drivers were more likely to be included than slightly injured drivers. Killed drivers and uninjured drivers still had lower inclusion rates. This finding can be explained by the fact that injured drivers were more likely to be admitted to hospital so their health care number was more frequently noted in the police report. Thus, our study sample slightly overrepresented drivers injured in more severe crashes.
After adjustment for crash and individual variables, including exposure to other medicines, the risk of being responsible estimate was reduced for level 3 medicines, but the association did remain significant (from 1.56 [1.42–1.71] to 1.25 [1.12–1.40]). The crude risk of being responsible measured for level 3 medicines was thus partly related to these crash and individual variables and particularly due to a co-consumption of alcohol and level 2 medicines.
The protective effect of level 0 medicines could be explained by the treatment of those minor acute diseases that might lead to an increased risk of being responsible for the crash. Indeed, a number of specific physical and/or psychological conditions are likely to influence driving ability.
Surprisingly, we found no interaction between alcohol level, as reported by police forces, and medicine use, although alcohol is known to potentiate the effects of some medicines. It should be noted, however, that as the presence of alcohol is not always tested for in drivers involved in slight-injury crashes, this variable might be underestimated. Moreover, drivers who had a negative breath test were not tested for blood alcohol concentration (the legal limit in France is less than 0.5g/l). Information about illicit drug use was not available in any database. The analysis was also unable to adjust for driving exposure. Whilst on medication, some people may drive less to compensate for a perceived risk. They may also reduce their speed, pay more attention, or alter the road types that they use. The present study therefore estimated the impact of actual consumption and driving behaviors on the risk of road crash among active drivers.
According to our results, the French risk classification seems relevant regarding medicines classified as levels 2 and 3 of risk for road traffic crashes. Even if the risk for level 2 and 3 medications is similar, we believe that it is useful to differentiate these two levels. The effects of level 2 medicines on driving abilities depends both on the pharmacodynamics of the drug and on individual susceptibility; medical advice is therefore needed to weigh the potential risk for each individual. Various medicines are classified as level 2. The risks found for psycholeptics (mainly anxiolytics) and psychoanaleptics (mainly antidepressants) are concordant with others studies [2],[10]–[12],[16],[17]. The results for antiepileptics and other nervous system drugs (in particular medicines used to treat opioid dependence) are of interest and deserve further investigation. For some of the ATC classes in level 2, the association in the responsibility analysis was not significant; however, the number of drivers exposed to antihypertensives, muscle relaxants, anti-Parkinson drugs, and antihistamines for systemic use was small. On the other hand, despite a relatively large number of individuals exposed to analgesics (including opioid analgesics), we found no association with the risk of being responsible for a crash. With level 3 medicines, the pharmacodynamic effect is predominant so all users are advised not to drive. The effects of level 1 medicines may be so dependent on individual susceptibility that an effect on driving abilities might be a rare event. Therefore, the relevance of labeling level 1 medicines is questionable.
The respective roles of disease and the medicines used to treat disease are difficult to disentangle. After adjustment for the presence of a long-term chronic disease, results from the responsibility analysis did not suggest an important confounding effect of disease. In the case-crossover method, each individual is his or her own control and confounding due to individual factors is therefore eliminated, including fixed characteristics such as long-term chronic diseases. Other studies have used this approach to examine the relationship between medicines and the risk of injury [1],[12],[33]. The use of level 3 medicines was found to be associated with an increased risk of road traffic crash both in the responsibility analysis and in the case-crossover analysis. However, the risk associated with level 2 medicines in the responsibility analysis (OR = 1.31 [1.24–1.40]) disappeared in the case-crossover analysis (OR = 1.00 [0.95–1.05]). The risk of road traffic crashes associated with chronic exposure to level 2 medicines cannot be assessed by a case-crossover design. Indeed, an individual using a medicine throughout the study period would be exposed on the crash date and on the control day. Our results on level 2 medicines are therefore likely to be related to the impact of chronic medicine consumption, i.e., mainly drugs used in diabetes, opioids, antiepileptics, anxiolytics, and antidepressants. On the other hand, hypnotics and sedatives, mainly representing level 3 medicines, can be used on an acute basis and their impact on road traffic crashes are detected with the case-crossover analysis.
Our study provides evidence of the contribution of medicines to the risk of road traffic crashes. Improving driver behaviour is one of the challenges for improving road safety. Providing patients with proper information on the potential effect of medicines on their ability to drive is the main objective of drug and risk classifications such as the French framework. The European Union is currently aiming to harmonise drug classification systems, using a reliable methodology based on scientific evidence. This epidemiological study provides sound evidence for consideration in such an endeavour. A follow-up study is now needed to evaluate the effect of the French medication labeling system on the prevention of road traffic crashes.
We thank the CESIR research group for their contribution in discussing the analysis strategy and critical revision of the manuscript: Marta Avalos (Inserm U897, Université Bordeaux 2), Fabienne Bazin (Inserm U657), Sylvie Blazejewski (CIC 0005, Bordeaux), Anne Castot (Afssaps), Geneviève Durrieu (Service de pharmacologie médicale et clinique, CHU Toulouse), Pierre-Olivier Girodet (CIC 0005, Bordeaux), Marcel Goldberg (Inserm U687-UVSQ), Dominique Lauque (CHU Toulouse), Nathalie Lecoules (CHU Toulouse), Laurence Memes (CIC 0005, Bordeaux), Louis Merle (CHU Limoges), Yvon Merlière (CNAM-TS), Jean-Louis Montastruc (Service de pharmacologie médicale et clinique, CRPV, EA 3696, Université de Toulouse, CHU Toulouse), Nicholas Moore (Inserm U657, CIC 0005, Bordeaux), Pernelle Noize (Inserm U657), Nathalie Orsoni (CHU Limoges), Antoine Pariente (Inserm U657, CIC 0005, Bordeaux), Pierre Philip (Clinique du sommeil, CHU Bordeaux), Régis Ribéreau-Gayon (CHU Bordeaux), Frantz Thiessard (LESIM).
We acknowledge the French National Health Insurance (CNAMTS), the Inter-Departmental Observatory on Road Safety (ONISR), and Agira-TransPV for providing health care and road traffic crash data, as well as the public health Research Federative Institute (IFR 99).
Author Contributions
ICMJE criteria for authorship read and met: LO BD BG AT BC BL LRS EL. Agree with the manuscript's results and conclusions: LO BD BG AT BC BL LRS EL. Designed the experiments/the study: BL LRS EL. Analyzed the data: LO BG BC LRS. Collected data/did experiments for the study: LO BG BC. Wrote the first draft of the paper: LO. Contributed to the writing of the paper: LO BD BG AT BL LRS EL.
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- 7. Longo MC, Hunter CE, Lokan RJ, White JM, White MA (2000) The prevalence of alcohol, cannabinoids, benzodiazepines and stimulants amongst injured drivers and their role in driver culpability: part ii: the relationship between drug prevalence and drug concentration, and driver culpability. Accid Anal Prev 32: 623–632.
- 8. Movig KL, Mathijssen MP, Nagel PH, van Egmond T, de Gier JJ, et al. (2004) Psychoactive substance use and the risk of motor vehicle accidents. Accid Anal Prev 36: 631–636.
- 9. Mura P, Kintz P, Ludes B, Gaulier JM, Marquet P, et al. (2003) Comparison of the prevalence of alcohol, cannabis and other drugs between 900 injured drivers and 900 control subjects: results of a French collaborative study. Forensic Sci Int 133: 79–85.
- 10. Neutel CI (1995) Risk of traffic accident injury after a prescription for a benzodiazepine. Ann Epidemiol 5: 239–244.
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- 15. Drummer OH, Gerostamoulos J, Batziris H, Chu M, Caplehorn J, et al. (2004) The involvement of drugs in drivers of motor vehicles killed in Australian road traffic crashes. Accid Anal Prev 36: 239–248.
- 16. Leveille SG, Buchner DM, Koepsell TD, McCloskey LW, Wolf ME, et al. (1994) Psychoactive medications and injurious motor vehicle collisions involving older drivers. Epidemiology 5: 591–598.
- 17. Bramness JG, Skurtveit S, Neutel CI, Morland J, Engeland A (2008) minor increase in risk of road traffic accidents after prescriptions of antidepressants: a study of population registry data in Norway. J Clin Psychiatry e1–e5.
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Castot A, Delorme B, the "Medicinal products and driving" Working GroupMedicinal products and driving: how to assess the risk ? P2T Congress Marseille 2009. Abstract 481.
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Arrêté du 8 août 2008 pris pour l'application de l'article R. 5121-139 du code de la santé publique et relatif à l'apposition d'un pictogramme sur le conditionnement extérieur de certains médicaments et produits.
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Working Group created by Afssaps: Christian Riché, Charles Caulin, Jacques Caron, Anne Chiffoleau, Christian Corbé, Bertrand Diquet, Alain Eschalier, Françoise Haramburu, Georges Lagier, Jean-Pierre Lépine, Michel Mallaret, Charles Mercier-Guyon, Louis Merle, Jean-Louis Montastruc, Pierre Philip, Francis Rodor (2009) Medicinal products and driving. Available: http://www.afssaps.fr, section Publications/Information in English. Accessed 10 September 2010.
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- 31. Maclure M (1991) The case-crossover design: a method for studying transient effects on the risk of acute events. Am J Epidemiol 133: 144–153.
- 32. Noize P, Bazin F, Dufouil C, Lechevallier-Michel N, Ancelin ML, et al. (2009) Comparison of health insurance claims and patient interviews in assessing drug use: data from the Three-City (3C) Study. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 18: 310–319.
- 33. Sorock GS, Quigley PA, Rutledge MK, Taylor J, Luo X, et al. (2009) Central nervous system medication changes and falls in nursing home residents. Geriatr Nurs 30: 334–340.


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Tea Drinking childcare provider, wife, and mom! I love to read, too!!! I guess I am not a true tea "snob", as I will drink bagged teas. Especially Celestial Seasonings (yummmm). As I am on a caffeine – free diet as per my doctor, I am constantly on the prowl to find new, delightful herbal teas.
Greenville, South Carolina, United States

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Mexico: Tulum to Sian Kaan
99 Coastal Destinations Rated: In the Balance
Score: 61
This "well-managed" stretch of Yucatan shoreline is littered with Maya ruins and bounded by the world's second-largest coral reef. Though it still provides a better view into the region's history and local culture than nearby Cancún and Playa del Carmen, the "mass-produced resorts" and "alien-to-the-environment-and-local-lifestyle approach" to tourism in those two places have unfortunately begun to creep southwards towards Tulum.
Here is a representative sampling of additional anonymous comments from the panelists. They are not necessarily the views of the National Geographic Society:
"The combination of Maya ruins, dazzling beaches, vibrant reefs, and the jungle archaeological sites has few comparisons. Rampant beach development, if unheeded, will destroy what attracts the niche tourists to this area."
"The alternative-tourism center of Mexico's Caribbean coast. The beach is beautiful, the reef is close by, and there are no high-rise hotels or mega-resorts as in Cancún or the Riviera Maya. The Maya ruins of Tulum are the northern boundary of this region. Hotel eco-complexes range from basic thatched roofs to fancy air-conditioned rooms. "
"Tourists I met were interested in Maya history and nature (the giant Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve), some of which is managed by the Maya locals themselves."
- Nat Geo Expeditions
"Mass tourism is going to eat this place alive. The transition that a village makes when a cruise ship comes is staggering. The ruins of Tulum are breathtaking, but only if you manage to get there before the next ship docks. When the hordes descend, even the iguanas run for cover."
"The hodgepodge of poorly planned development near Tulum is spreading south, likely to get worse with the new international airport opening."


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Washington Claims Marriage Equality Victory - Clean Election Sweep
Washington United for Marriage today announced victory in its fight to uphold marriage equality in Washington state, with 52% of Washington voters approving Referendum 74, and just 48% opposed. With this vote, Washington becomes the ninth state — along with the District of Columbia — to legalize same-sex marriage, and among the first to do so at the ballot box. In a landslide victory for equality on November 6, voters in Maine and Maryland also voted to legalize marriage equality, and Minnesota voters rejected a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would have banned same-sex marriage.
Washington United for Marriage today announced victory in its fight to uphold marriage equality in Washington state, with 52% of Washington voters approving Referendum 74, and just 48% opposed.
With this vote, Washington becomes the ninth state — along with the District of Columbia — to legalize same-sex marriage, and among the first to do so at the ballot box. In a landslide victory for equality on November 6, voters in Maine and Maryland also voted to legalize marriage equality, and Minnesota voters rejected a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would have banned same-sex marriage.
"This is a clear win," said WUM campaign manager Zach Silk in a statement. "We have run the numbers every which way, and we can now confidently say that we have won. This is an historic day for Washington, an historic day for our country and, most of all, for families across the state who have dreamed of this day and the wedding celebrations to come."
With 60% of the votes counted, WUM declared victory upon comfirming that it was stastically impossible for equality opponents to overcome the percentage of ballots already cast in favor of Washington's same-sex marriage bill, which was signed by Democratic Gov. Christine Gregoire in February.
"Washington voters sent a resounding message that nothing less than marriage is full equality for gay and lesbian couples," said Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin in a statement. "This victory rounds out a landslide sweep of all four marriage ballot measures this November."
According to HRC and WUM, the broad coalition to protect marriage equality raised $12.3 million to uphold the law. Because Washington votes entirely by mail-in ballot, the final results are still being tabulated.
Just in time for Valentine's Day earlier this year, Gregoire signed into law (pictured) a marriage equality bill that was introduced in the legislature just weeks before. Gregoire told supporters that February 13 would be "a day that historians will mark as a milestone for equal rights," when Washington "finally said yes to marriage equality. The sky-will-fall rhetoric is simply not true."
But equality opponents begged to differ, and within days of the bill's passage began to gather signatures to put the issue to the voters by way of a November referendum. Ultimately, the anti-equality group secured more than enough signatures to refer the issue to voters, who will see the question on their ballots as Referendum 74. In 2009, Washington legalized an expansive domestic-partnership law heralded by many as "everything but marriage."
The language of the this year's measure reads as follows: "The legislature passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6239 concerning marriage for same-sex couples, modified domestic-partnership law, and religious freedom, and voters have filed a sufficient referendum petition on this bill.
"This bill would allow same-sex couples to marry, preserve domestic partnerships only for seniors, and preserve the right of clergy or religious organizations to refuse to perform, recognize, or accommodate any marriage ceremony. Should this bill be: Approved or Rejected."
Initial polling showed a strong majority in support of marriage equality, but as the election neared — and attack ads hit the airwaves — those results tightened. In May, an independent poll found that 54% of voters approved of marriage equality, with just 33% opposed. While most polls leading up to the election saw support for the freedom to marry above the 50% margin, the most recent Elway poll, conducted from October 18 to 21, found support for Referendum 74 at just 49%, with opposition to marriage equality among likely voters at 45%.
Washington United for Marriage, the coalition working to protect marriage equality in Washington, vastly outspent its opponents, Protect Marriage Washington. According its own press release, WUM raised $12.3 million to protect marriage equality, gathered from more than 27,000 donors — 80% of whom hailed from Washington. The most frequent contribution made by supporters was $25, WUM announced. WUM also secured several major financial donations, including a half-million-dollar contribution from Bill and Melinda Gates.
A Seattle Post-Intelligencer article noted that the antigay PMW has taken in $2.1 million and spent just under $1.5 million, according to PMW's filings with the state Public Disclosure Commission. Of that money, the Human Rights Campaign reports that more than 55% came from the Catholic Church and the Catholic-affiliated National Organization for Marriage. The Catholic Church and its affiliate the Knights of Columbus donated a combined $260,000 to PMW, whereas NOM donated $675,939 to anti-equality efforts in Washington, according to HRC.
President Obama endorsed Referendum 74 along with other marriage-equality-adjacent bills, and WUM secured several major corporate endorsements. Online travel giant Expedia came out in support of Referendum 74 in September, and by October had released a touching ad in which a real-life father flies across the country to support his daughter in her same-sex wedding, with the tagline "Find Your Understanding." WUM also secured endorsements from Starbucks, Microsoft, T-Mobile, REI, Nordstrom's, Google, Nike, and more than 500 other business, political, non-profit, labor, and faith communities.
WUM came out of the gates swinging, with an early $5 million ad buy reserving time on TV screens across the state to stump for marriage equality. The coalition's numerous ads highlightedsupport for marriage equality in faith communities, by parents of gay and lesbian Washingtonians, and elected officials, including Tacoma mayor Marilyn Strickland and GOP state senator Steve Litzow.
But when PMW released a version of a misleading ad — airing in all four states considering marriage legislation — claiming that schools will be forced to teach children about same-sex marriage if the state passes marriage equality, the pro-equality camp hit back with an ad featuring parents of a gay son lamenting the fact that their son wouldn't be able to marry the person he loves.
PMW's oppositional ads generally recycled old, discredited tropes about the dangers of "redefining marriage" and violations of "religious freedom," often featuring out-of-state actors who alleged their rights had been violated when committed gay couples were allowed equality under the law. In perhaps one of the opposition's most insidious efforts, PMW actually purchased "likes" on Facebook from Thailand and Indonesia, artificially boosting the group's apparent support on the social networking site.


text:
Felix Salmon writes in this month's issue of The Atlantic that a good way to jump start the economy would be to pay the artists, who are among the very poorest citizens. "We�re living in a newly frugal world. But the rediscovered values of thrift and moderation should apply to the government as much as they do to households. No more trillion-dollar misadventures abroad: we need to spend money at home, and we need to get the maximum bang for our buck. If the Obama administration is serious about stimulating the economy and creating as many new jobs as possible, one choice is clear: it should announce a massive increase in federal arts funding. Artists are among the very poorest citizens. When they get cash, they spend it both quickly and carefully.
"That�s not what most recipients of federal largesse do, but it happens to be exactly what economists look for in any stimulus package. Arts spending is fantastic at creating employment: for every $30,000 or so spent on the arts, one more person gets a job, compared with about $1 million if you�re building a road or hospital. And such spending has a truly lasting benefit: the Works Progress Administration didn�t just create murals, it subsidized enormous leaps in graphic design, in theater (including America�s first all-black production of Macbeth), and in fine art. One painter lived off the WPA�s Federal Art Project for eight years before finally getting his first solo show in 1943. Maybe a similar program today could produce America�s next Jackson Pollock."


text:
The Whole Train
Rural Iowa with the Union Pacific.
400mm out Westbound 7500 rounds the bend in the Boyer River canyon to Woodbine Iowa, number three in the siding....the more important train headed eastbound will be coal straight from the coal fields of Wyoming or the refrigerated out of the fruit belt of southern California... the battery on the camera is going dead midway through the shoot add to that its cold and just plain crappy out.
Not what I started out looking for 7500 came into sight midway around the corner, closing speed of 75mph we are lucky to find a crossing and get set up, the camera goes dead midway to the second frame....
Thanks for looking.....Thanks for the comments.
www.photoperson.compaul bellingerimage of the dayiowarailroadunion pacific
New Tag
This is a new wall done just outside of Downtown Omaha, from the same place I got the image I call "Decorated Dumpster."
Have a great day!
grafittimuralnebraskaomahapaul bellingerwall artwww.photoperson.com
Wing Nuts
Dawn breaks above the back alleyway of Ashland Wisconsin.
Ashland has quite a few wall murals so if you are in the area swing downtown and look around, lots of small towns we drive thru have wonderful wall art of some kind, maybe it's city sponsored graffiti or a wonderful painting of a forgotten place in time.... we enjoy searching for these across America.
Another dad crop.......but alas ye mate'y yesterdays was full size........ Have a great evening....such a late post 5PM!
ashlandgrafittimuralpaul bellingerwall artwisconsinwww.photoperson.com
Colorful Canopy
Another shot from Hudson Hot Air Affair in Hudson Wisconsin
Make it a great week.
hot air affairhudsonpaul bellingerwisconsinwww.photoperson.com
Polar Plunge
Omaha had its form of the Polar Plunge today out at Lake Cunningham....
A big fundraiser for the Special Olympics. These gals are trying to take out the rescue squad boys that are there to help.
It was twenty-five degrees with two fresh inches of snow, moving in and out of overcast skies.
Make it a great weekend!
www.photoperson.compaul bellingerpolar plungelake cunninghamomaha nebraska
Crazy Sky
A clearing of the lake from our point of view with the lens at 100mm. The light is always changing as is the focal point.....plus just add the serious wow factor of nature in action and one could understand the difficulty of getting a great image from a place like this.
Please visit your Refuge soon, sign the guest book as some of these places get there funding by public participation.
Thanks for the great comments and questions....TGIF! Hi Kristy....see i can come up with those crazy wildlife images too.
www.photoperson.compaul bellingergeesesquaw creek national wildlife refugemissouriimage of the day
Clear Lake
Only the trumpeter Swans are left as the lake clears itself of Geese, another mass lift-off that send the lake to the sky. The shadow the wave of geese cast over us is much like a solar eclipse....with lots of noise.
If you have not experienced this in your lifetime go soon.....its something you don't soon forget.
I have put a new video up in my video bin on my homepage.....the geese make a tornado right before your eyes.....AMAZING....truly, go look at it!
Thanks for all your wonderful comments....visit your Refuge today.
Happy Valentines Day!
www.photoperson.compaul bellingernational wildlife refugesquaw creekgeesebirdsnaturetrumpeter swans
One Million Plus
Awarded Second Place in the "Nature Category" n4c.us in March 2013, submitted through the Omaha Camera Club.
Went down to Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge yesterday......lots to see!
These are Canadian Geese, there were over six hundred trumpeter swans too....
Just before the mass lift-off there seems to be a lot of discussion in the pond about just that......then from almost total silence they start and it sounds like a freight train coming toward you, the sky goes dim and all you hear is the birds wings flapping, totally astonishing.
Its forty degrees out and the wind is out of the south at ten to twenty MPH.
So we got two goose bombs to the windshield that was the extent of the crap.......literally, i too though it would be everywhere. Also there were no impact deaths from inflight collisions...on our part of the lake, the carnage is laying all over the place though, some caused impact craters two feet in diameter, surely would have killed a human on impact.....in all my years flying thats the scariest thing to go through, a bird strike.
Have a great day!
www.photoperson.compaul bellingersquaw creeknational wildliferefugegeeseimage of the day
Hudson Glow
This seemed like it lasted ten seconds at best, again very cold and snowing hard out in Hudson Wisconsin.
Have a great week!
www.photoperson.compaul bellingerballoonshudson wisconsinhot air balloonsnight glowimage of the day
Lakeside Sunset
Went out to Chalco Hills tonight to see how the wildlife was doing and ran across this. There were quite a few types of birds flying and the numbers are way up from the last trip out. We will be heading to Squaw Creek here soon the migration should commence any day now.
Its still cold out but we have edged past are hard freeze date with no serious stretch of below zero this winter season.
Have a great weekend and thanks for commenting.
www.photoperson.compaul bellingernebraskaomahasunsetchalco hillslakeimage of the dayyet another dad crop
Supercell Sunset
A conversion to B&W for our camera club contest this month. Weather is the subject and i will enter this in the assigned monochrome category....it is a print competition as well so i had to put it up to get a print .....let me know if the processing works for you. When i posted the color version of this i got a lot of comments about the bottom of the image being dark so let me know, i have quite a winning streak going there....i helping to teach them as well and they all do so well, it is a tuff place to win.
I gave my presentation last week at the camera club and it went well.....i hope they power vacation as i do.
Springfield Nebraska, the cold front advances across Nebraska the daylong siege of thunderstorms are pushed southward for Texas to enjoy tomorrow. The sunset explodes on the horizon behind me as the wind drives hard at my back.
paul bellingerwww.photoperson.comweathersupercellstormsthunderstormshailnebraskasringfieldwindprecipitationcumulonimbus
Colorful Smile
Looking into the balloon canopy during deployment.
I think it was so cold a bic lighter could have got this into the air!
Smile.....leave me a happy comment!
www.photoperson.compaul bellingercanopy balloonballoonslighter than airnon directional dirigiblenot a blimp
Milling Around
While in Wisconsin we went by Dells mill again for a Winter Image, enjoy the cold it's two degrees out for this one.
Thanks for the wonderful comments on the Image i call "Colorful Cold" this image was taken about a hundred miles east .
Please leave me a comment let me know how it looks, thanks!
www.photoerson.compaul bellingerdells millausustawisconsinimage of the daygristmillgus clark
Colorful Cold
At five below zero the day started me
For such wonderful sights, today we should see
The rainbow of colors leap to the sky
My fingers are so cold, i'm about to cry
The viewfinder is foggy
Much like the mind
My knees are knocking
Some global warming, we must find
Had the opportunity to chase these folks across Wisconsin this last weekend, also got out to the countryside as well and took some images....Went by Dells Mill and met Gus.....another days story.
Have a great day!
www.photoperson.compaul bellingerballoonshudson wisconsinfrostbiteImage of the day
Hot Air Affair
Hudson Wisconsin this weekend had the Ballooners parade thru town and let off some hot air.....it's five below zero and snowing.
A six second exposure, my fingers are frozen.
From here we went to the shoreline to watch the fireworks over the frozen river.
Happy Monday, thanks for your comment.
www.photoperson.compaul bellingerhudson wisconsinhot air affair2013my fingers hurt
Milling Around
Rising quickly over a horizon of fall foliage the sun reflects the forest of of color that surrounds Dells Millpond as Bridge Creek flows across the dam. The aroma of hickory bacon frying on the millers stove escapes the open windows of the Mill while the hound bays he has treed the raccoon where the river enters the millpond just a short distance away. The bald eagle circles above as I sip my last swig of coffee, i'm amazed that the algae has formed an image of an Indian crossing the pond below the dam. Our Winter journey deep into badger country brought us by Dells Mill again. While collecting my images a gentle smoke started out of the vent pipe from the wooden stove in the store. I sent my trusty sidekick in to scout it out, Master Miller Gus had stopped in to work a bit, a wonderful Mill with an amazing story chock full of American History....would be a wonderful place to retire.
Have a great day, please leave me a comment, let me know your thoughts.
paul bellingerwww.photoperson.comdells millfall foliageindianwisconsingristmillbaconbald eagle
Scenic Silos
These banners are hung on the side of a now closed grain elevator just southwest of downtown Omaha Nebraska. The banners are about a hundred feet long by twenty feet wide.
Happy Birthday goes out to my brother Tom today.
It took me a bit to process this, quite a challenging place to shoot. Please let me know if i'm on the right track, leave me a comment.
www.photoperson.compaul bellingeromahanebraskagrain elevatorsilosbannersbwmonochromewhat would Ansel Adams do here
Holy Mackerel
Thanks again go out to the staff at St.Cecelia Cathedral in Omaha Nebraska for allowing the Omaha Camera Club access to all those wonderful flower displays during the Flower Festival last weekend.
I thought the rays of sun on yesterdays Image I call "Snake pit" were cool too. The sun is there only about a week then it's to many degrees above the horizon and is cut off by the road above......cool huh.
Please leave me a comment let me know how this looks.
flower festivalnebraskaomahapaul bellingerst. cecilia cathedralwww.photoperson.com
Snake Pit
Found this on a bridge abutment next to the police department. The railroad tracks run just on the other side, I am looking for an easy way to get to an old trestle up the tracks a piece.....Heavily posted and being in broad daylight I curbed my thirst for the ultimate Union Pacific Railroad shot for the day....I'll be back!
Thanks for the wonderful comments on the Image I call "Idle Time" we were down on the riverfront that was flooded by the Missouri River a year ago to see how the area reclamation and rehabilitation is coming along, we saw some good progress. Omaha is a railroad town and I actively hunt for railroad images out and about the area, so more to come.
What.....no dad crop, twice in three days!
Make it a great week....what Image are you hunting for?
Please leave me a comment, thanks!
www.photoperson.compaul bellingeromahagraffitinebraska
Idle Time
Two of the heartlands locomotives at idle awaiting the fuel truck.
Have a great weekend.
www.photoperson.compaul bellingeromahanebraskalocomotivessante fe railroadburlington railroadrailroaddiesel enginetrain
Flower Festival
St Cecilia Cathedral here in Omaha Nebraska has it's annual flower festival all weekend long. The Omaha Camera Club got a cart blanch treatment up until the doors opened to get any Images our club members wanted....Many thanks to the great folks that work there they were quite friendly and helpful.
Look Mom.....no dad crop!!!!
Thanks for the awesome comments on my image yesterday I call "Decorated Dumpster"......got some great Images today it was warm and sunny , ice and snow with the cold returning tomorrow though.
Have a great weekend!
Decorated Dumpster
Some of the local graffiti here in Omaha Nebraska. Our midwest town all but promotes these in certain areas so that the city can call it urban art and even has a contest each year to find the best people. Some of the locations are known as art centers.....this happens to be a test wall outside one of the firms that does them for hire. While most are interesting to look at the messages sometimes can be deplorable and or graphic in nature.
Single shot dad crop for y'all!
Thanks for the great comments on my Image I call "Changing Time" yesterday, that was quite a storm that blew in and turned those windmills of western Nebraska around.
Its Friday,Yea! Thanks for letting me know your thoughts on this Image, have a great day.
omahanebraskagraffitiwww.photoperson.compaul bellingerdumpster
Changing Time
A cold front approaches from the North.
Western Nebraska almost as far away from Omaha as you can get and still be in the State.
Thanks for all the wonderful comments on the Image I call "National Flight" the gondola of those three balloons carried more people than the others that flew that day combined.
Single shot Image......ah The Good Life!
Its all downhill from here, this week is going by so quick.....Nisha will be back home today with more exciting stories! Thanks for your comments on my dad crops!
paul bellingerwww.photoperson.comwindmillscloudswesternnebraska
National Flight
A full basket lifts off of the field in Indianola Iowa during the National Balloon Festival in 2012.
Thanks for all the wonderful comments.
paul bellingerwww.photoperson.comiowaindianolanational balloon festivalballoonslighter than air
Angry Bay
The wall of water soon to envelop us is but a short distance away.....
Single shot I took near the base of the Currituck Island Lighthouse. Busy day today, kind of feeling sick and my ear hurts.....I'm grumpy.
Be well.
www.photoperson.compaul bellingernorth carolinacurrituck islandbaysunsetmy ear feels as if it was infected
Nebraska Sunset
This is the awesome sunset we saw just south of Omaha Friday night.
Thanks for all the wonderful comments on my Image I called "Final Sunset" with the geese flying towards the Platte River.
This was just stunning in person to see......thanks for your comments.
www.photoperson.compaul bellingeromahanebraskasunset
Final Flight
The last flight fly's into the sunset toward the still moving Platte River.
Tomorrow I post the crazy sunset that develops before our eyes Friday night....it was staggering.....thanks for all the wonderful comments on the Image I call "Downtown Lights" I enter it in this months photo contest at our local camera club ....the category is night shots.
Hope this weekend finds you well....enjoy the rest of it!
www.photoperson.compaul bellingersunsetgeesebirdsomahanebraska
Downtown Lights
A festive view of a vacant downtown on Christmas Eve.
This is a single shot twenty second image.
Thanks for leaving me a comment, have a wonderful weekend.
www.photoperson.compaul bellingeromahanebraskaholiday lightsdowntown
Rolling Sunset
This is the start of an incredible sunset we chased out of Omaha. Trying to find some clear ground or a reflection so close to sunset we stop just south of town in the river bottom....light fading fast the evening sky is about to go crazy.
I am on the edge of a very populated road and people are honking or yelling just behind me as they drive by.....they to were watching too!
www.photoperson.compaul bellingersunsetomahanebraska
Blades for a Cause
The ice arena is set up on the ConAgra campus just east of downtown Omaha Nebraska, seems like its there about a month during the Holidays....it's cold and the blue hour.
Thanks for all the comments yesterday on my Image I call "Omaha Blues" Jr. and I have quite a bit of style variance for sure, some day he will come around to the good ole dad crop.....lol.
It's all downhill from here the rest of the week.....great sunset here tonight in Omaha hope you enjoy my Image, let me know!
www.photoperson.compaul bellingeromahanebraskaice skatingsunsetholiday lights
Omaha Blues
Had to take the young gun over to the Bluffs for a shoot tonight.
Got a lot of great Images tonight .....hope you enjoy this.
Thanks for all the comments on my latest Image I call "Yard Play" I have some great railroad images in the works, just need some cool weather and the train to come by as needed....hows that happen.
Thanks for looking .....let me know how we did!
omahanebraskapedestrian bridgewww.photoperson.compaul bellinger
Yard Art
A long way from home this Frenchie sat too long in the siding out east.
Look close at the small drawings around the masters....the artist taunt the railroad.
Holidays over i'm now back to work, hope you had a wonderful holiday season. Thanks for your comments!
www.photoperson.compaul bellingerrailroadboxcarunion pacificomahanebraska
Childs Play
The warm glow of the sunset is calling the children out to the playground......its twelve degrees out, the icicles are dripping.
Happy New Year!
www.photoperson.compaul bellinger srnebraskawall muralday careomaha
Omaha Lights
Not much of a sunset tonight but its a new spot to shoot from.
Happy New Year....drive safe!
www.photoperson.comdowntown omahanebraskapaul bellinger
Merry Christmas.........(I am catching up)
This is one of the Holiday window displays in the Midtown Crossing area of Omaha Nebraska. I tried to make it look like an ornament as a thumbnail.....the buildings reflecting on the glass are the mid-rise buildings across the street all lit up for the Holidays.
Thanks for the comments on the Image I call "Sound Of Music" an image I actually went and found Christmas Eve....Hope your day today is blessed.
paul bellingerwww.photoperson.comomaha nebraskaomahamidtown crossingjesus is the reason for the seasonholiday windowChristmas
Sound Of Music
Bitterly cold the town seemed empty except for the everstreaming sounds of praise and glory coming from the open door of the Orpheum as I passed by searching for long exposure night images of downtown Omaha Nebraska. The Orpheum is over a hundred years old and still has live broadway theater, performance rentals and children's dance productions....and of course Caroling.
Just a quick note to say thanks to all the wonderful people who stop here to look at some of my images this year.....your comments help me get better, thank you for sharing your work.....not only have I got better at Image composition but processing as well, wishing you all a great year in digital photography!
My Image yesterday "Log Cabin Lake".....a dad crop from Wisconsin can be found in Marinette County about a mile south of Hwy. 8 on Lily Lake road.
Merry Christmas ......and to all a good night.
nebraskaomahaorpheumcarolingdowntown omaha16th st
Log Cabin Lake
The kids back in school the old boat dock makes it through to another fall season. A lone loon wrestles the remaining crawfish on the lakeshore sending ripples across the lakes fall reflections.
Have a wonderful day and thanks for all your comments on yesterdays image I call "Omaha Blues." Jr and I never seem to collect images together although we rode in the same vehicle to downtown last night I struck out on my own... I was trying to find that new iconic image location other photographers will want in their portfolio.
Happy Holidays to you and yours!
paul bellingerwww.photoperson.comwisconsinlakefall foliagelog cabin
Omaha Blues
The ConAgra campus on the east side of downtown Omaha Nebraska. With a low in the single digits last night the lake has a clear sheen of ice on it.
Thanks for your comment, have a great day.
nebraskaomahaconagra campuswww.photoperson.compaul bellinger
Golden Sunset
This is the third image from our sunset last week. As the sun set upon the horizon the golden glow lights up the sky, this is the start of the sunset, my image "Rings of Fire" was shot after this then the geese flew over later in the sunset and I took the image I call "Sunset Flight".....quite a night.
Thanks so much for looking at my images and commenting....our Winter storm is upon us and we soon will be shoveling....Ho Ho Ho, Merry Christmas!
Fascinated Female
She sit in line at the food court while her mate jets around the yard with his counterpart...unhappy she has had to come out of the big blue spruce we call "the condo" her mate is fending off another suitors charge.
Most always her mate caters her food from the food court, her only time out normally is shortly after sunset when it is to dark to get a nice image. We have snow now and the temperatures are not climbing above freezing for the near future, the food chain lines up at the food court....size mostly wins, she is slightly bigger than a sparrow.
Thanks for the wonderful comments on my image "Rings of Fire" yesterday, that was quite a sunset, what a memory!
Have a great day....we get a round of measurable snow tonight and Wednesday.
www.photoperson.compaul bellingercardinalbirdanimalfemale cardinal
Rings of Fire
Looks like an Angel in the Sky....sideways.
Another wonderful sunset here in Midwest America....make it a great week!
Please..... leave me a comment, and thanks for all the wonderful comments on yesterdays image "Reflecting Omaha."
www.photoperson.compaul bellingersunsetring of firenebraskaomahaangel in the sky
Reflecting Omaha
Some holiday color off the lake......Merry Christmas to you and yours, we have a drizzle of light snow this morning.
Have a great day!
www.photoperson.compaul bellingeromahanebraskalights of downtowndowntown
Midtown Omaha
A festive view of midtown at rush hour. We got done last night at the lakeshore and wandered through town to get home. The lights around town are starting to glow, the high temperatures we have had for the past two weeks have allowed people more time in the outdoors.
Thanks for all the wonderful comments on my "Sunset Flight" image yesterday....Have a wonderful day!
www.photoperson.compaul bellingermidtownomahanebraskaholiday lights
Sunset Flight
This was the only set of waterfowl that came over tonight and I was semi set up for their movement across the sky. Downtown Omaha in the distance the lake is starting to ice over, our low temperature the other night of four degrees above zero has placed big patches of ice in the middle of the lake just behind me, the geese have commandeered the floating islands to roost for the night.
Our high temperature today was fifty four degrees....one of the best sunsets I have seen in a while.....just staggering!
Hope you enjoy this image, my neck is hurting from being down on the rocky icy lakeshore for an hour or so...Please leave me a comment, thanks for all the wonderful comments on my B&W Gristmill yesterday!
www.photoperson.compaul bellingersunsetomahaiowanebraskageesewaterfowl
Milling Around
Yankee Smith Mill is one of the many buildings in the Shoal Creek Living History Museum inside Hodge Park, Kansas City Kansas.
Were on the downhill side of the week .... Hunting some holiday lights here inOmaha the next few nights.
Wow....thanks for all the wonderful comments on "Hodgson Spring Falls" I worked hard on that image. I have found these black and white images are a bit of work as well please let me know what you think of this image, Thanks again, hope the Holiday Season is upon you and yours, be merry!
www.photoperson.compaul bellingeryankee smith millkansaskansas citygristmillmillwaterwheelhodge parkshoal creek living history museum
Hodgson Spring Falls
Another remake with my new processing skills. The same crop as the other one I did, the blue tint to the water is so much more apparent in this one. Its the small attention to details that bring out the best color.
Let me know what you think, have a great Wednesday!
hodgson water millgristmillmissouriwww.photoperson.compaul bellingerwaterfallfalls
Battleship USS North Carolina
One of my grandfathers died onboard this ship as it sat in the Staten Island New York shipyards, he was a carpenters mate. He did however own a camera and took some stunning images off this vessel as it took him around the World. It is now dry-docked in Wilmington North Carolina.
Thanks for all those wonderful "Dad Crop" comments on yesterdays Hodgson Mill image.....I put things where I feel they should be, a crop is just another tool in the belt of composition....use it! So leave me a message and let me know how this Dad Crop looks....thanks!
uss north carolinawilmingtonnorth carolinabattleshipwww.photoperson.compaul bellinger
Hodgson Mill and Spring
30 Something.....remember when that was a hit.... Paul Jr. is thirty today, I was going to do a photo of him in his younger years but thought twice, I know deep inside he just loves these old gristmills so I reset this shot from one I had already processed and what a change! In fact we have been to this one multiple times. Next time we all go I think I will get a shot of all of us sitting on the wall.
Thanks son for all the wonderful times, I'm blessed...... looking forward to you guys coming in town.
Watched what seemed like a few college courses on CreativeLive this weekend....So the look and feel of my images will be changing quite drastically from now on, thanks Paul Jr. for the great advice to make time for the great workshops that were free this weekend. I think I now understand how to do lightroom better! This is the first application of what I was able to retain.
Please let me know how this image looks, and have a great week!
hodgson water millmissourigrist millpaul bellingerwww.photoperson.comhodgson springfalls


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Reading Born Standing Up recently for Silly Little Show-Biz Book Club recently reanimated my long-dormant respect and admiration for Steve Martin, sometimes comic genius, full-time paycheck-chaser, as did his hilarious supporting performance in Baby Mama, where he played an eccentric businessman/millionaire. Tonight's episode of 30 Rock found Martin once again playing an eccentric businessman/millionaire opposite Fey. Or did it? Yes, it did. Or maybe did not.
30 Rock has been piling on the big name guest stars this year, with attention-grabbing appearances from everyone from the guy who played Mack on Night Court to the guy who played Harry on Night Court. It apparently hasn't done wonders for the show's ratings, which are slightly up from last year but still much lower than you'd expect and way, way lower than the show deserves. It's unfathomably perverse that Tina Fey has become the most beloved, popular actress in the history of the universe yet her masterpiece continues to struggle ratings-wise.
In tonight's episode of 30 Rock, Jack brings Liz to a dinner party held by Martin's eccentric business-person, Gavin Volure, a name that sounds suspiciously like that of a gay European porn star. It was quite the eclectic gathering: my favorite guest was one John McEnroe, who was there to represent both yelling and art appreciation. He more than lived up to his billing by yelling very loudly and angrily about the lack of great art on display: Cajun-style. Like the rest of America and also Martin Scorsese, Volure was quite taken with Liz and asks her out on the housebound agoraphobic equivalent of a date. He even offers to have his helicopter pick Liz up and then fly her to the train station.
For Liz such a bizarre arrangement proves strangely ideal. It is well established that when it comes to relationships Liz is all about comfort and ease. She wants to skip giddily pass the whole can't-get-enough-of-each-other wild debauched non-stop sex honeymoon phase and go straight to the asexual, sitting-around-in-sweatpants-watching-Top Chef and taking-each-other-for-granted stage. Since Volure ostensibly can't touch people and has nothing to do better to do with his time than sit around watching TV he more or less fits Liz's conception of the ultimate sorta O.K quasi Dream Guy.
In a related plot thread Jack decides to invest heavily in Volure's latest business venture and bring Kenneth and his four thousand dollars in non-Confederate money along with him. I worry sometimes that 30 Rock will bleed Kenneth dry but he was fucking hilarious tonight. I could have watched him robo-dance spastically to "Axel F" for a good half hour and his unshakable faith in humanity is oddly touching. Despite everything, Kenneth really does believe that people are really good at heart.
Alas, Volure is not quite what he seems. He turns out to be a white-collar criminal who uses the whole agoraphobia thing to cover up being on house arrest. Meanwhile Tracy Jordan becomes convinced that his children are planning to kill him so he creates a trap using his life-sized Japanese sex doll as bait. I don't think it takes anything away from Martin's amusing performance to say that Tracy's creepily realistic Japanese sex doll pretty much stole the episode and ultimately emerged as a hero.
Tonight's episode wasn't one of the all-time greats but it brought the funny at a rapid clip and Liz was looking damned fine on her date with Volure. She makes the prospect of a sexless life of eating and watching television seem disconcertingly attractive.
Grade: B+ Stray Observations– –I once again neglected to write down choice lines. There were a whole mess of them, like "Don't worry. It's just a Japanese sex doll in daddy's bed" –Hey, we got to see the writer's room again. How novel. –I'm really glad everything worked out with Jenna's dad. –Tracy Jr. was played by Bobb'e J. Thompson, the pint-sized scene-stealer of Role Models and Human Giant fame. Keep an eye out for him. He's going places. –Hornberger! –There certainly were times Kenneth's family ate rock soup and squirrel tails. But there were lean times as well –Jack seems to have a thing for the brothers. Who can blame him? That Taye Diggs certainly is a handsome man.


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A weekly look at Wyoming business questions from the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (WSBDC), part of WyomingEntrepreneur.Biz, a collection of business assistance programs at the University of Wyoming.
By Debbie Gorski, Wyoming Entrepreneur social media community manager, with contributor Brent Hardy, Extra Space Storage. He manages sustainability programs.
"We are looking to be more sustainable. What ideas do you have in mind for reducing our electricity consumption?" Mary, Gillette
In today's economy, every penny counts. Whether you are a business owner maintaining multiple facilities, or simply trying to cut costs at home, effective lighting techniques are crucial -- and that goes beyond just switching to the curly-cue CFL bulbs or the newer LED options.
These simple, cost-effective tips not only will help with the electric bill, but will ensure cleaner, greener facilities.
Consider de-lamping. "De-lamping" refers simply to the removal of excess bulbs or tubes within specific light fixtures. This basic technique can save a bundle on energy consumption, and costs little or nothing to carry out. Of course, a variety of factors must be considered.
Existing natural light color schemes (see below), and task/purpose of the space should be taken into account. The IESNA (Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, www.iesna.org) has developed a set of comprehensive guidelines which should be consulted before carrying out such a task. It's always a safe bet to consult your specific manufacturer for details on the type of ballast a light fixture has.
Pay attention to your color scheme. When considering how to maximize output from a light source, reflectivity plays an important role. For this reason, the color of a room is crucial. White rooms naturally reflect more light, requiring less output from a light source. If white just doesn't suit you, try sticking with bright colors. Also, do your best to take advantage of whatever natural light might be available -- a white room plus sunlight equals savings.
Install motion sensors. It's amazing how much energy from a light source is wasted. In addition to cutting back substantially on this waste, motion sensors are efficient, inexpensive and easy to install.
These can be purchased up at most hardware stores or ordered online. The installation is surprisingly straightforward and rarely more difficult than putting in a light switch, although an electrician could easily take on the task. Whether used outdoors or in day or night, motion sensors are bound to save you big bucks in the end.
When it comes to lighting efficiency, it never hurts to think "outside the bulb." These cost-efficient, energy-saving practices show how a little effort can go a long way.
Consider all the factors of your unique facility. Compare ideas with those who share a similar vision. Look at what changes you can make; put some of them into place; and see how much of a difference it makes to your monthly utility bill.
A blog version of this article and an opportunity to post comments is available at http://www.wyomingentrepreneur.typepad.com/blog/.
The WSBDC is a partnership of the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Wyoming Business Council and the University of Wyoming. To ask a question, call 1-800-348-5194, email email@example.com or write 1000 E. University Ave., Dept. 3922, Laramie, WY, 82071-3922.


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Classic shot with de adirondak chairs, this time around at Lake Quinault Lodge, celebrating mother's day 2012
Olympic peninsulalake quinaultadirondaknikkor 1635washingtonlake quinault lodge
The ocean
Victoria enjoying a day trip to the Squim bay in the Olympic peninsula
olympic peninsulavictoriaoceanenvironmentalnikkor 1635Washingtonpeople
La abuela Alicia circa 2011
Octabank & Nikkor 50 f1.4
low keyportraitnikkor 50octabank
From Caldera Garage Studio
Octabanklow keyportraitnikkor 50 f1.4
La tia Magui circa 2011
Octabank & Nikkor 70-200 f2.8
low keyportraitnikkor 70200octabank
El tio Fran circa 2011
Octabank & Nikkor 70-200 f2.8
low keyportraitoctabanknikkor 70200
Cepillao (Ice cone)
When temperature rises above the 80s, is time to enjoy some shaved ice with sweet juices!!! This one at Spokane downtown ...
Ice conespokanecepillaovictoriasummernikkor 1635mm
Victoria at the pool.
poolVictoriaspokanenikkor 1635people
Nostalgic canyon lodge
As good and fun as is hiking around Yellowstone, it was also fun to visit the lodges and spend time dining ... I love buildings, buildings thought was put on the use of the space, on symmetries and use of lines ... the Canyon lodge cafeteria had tall ceilings and big windows, with designs that have been intact since it was remodeled back in 1958 ...
Yellowstonecanyon lodgecanyon lodge cafeteriafamily lunch
Rowing at park lake
Handheld panoramic taken around park lake at the Sun Lakes/Dry Falls State Park
Sun lakesDry fallsstate parkwashingtonNikkor 1635mmpanoramic
My beautiful wife
7' Octabank camera right. One strobe behind camera left. Carboard back background :-). Nikkor 105mm f2.8. 1/250th @ f8.
7' Octabank camera right. 1/250th @ f8. Nikkor 105mm f2.8. B&W with CS4.
octabanknikkor 105bwandres caldera photographypeople
Today we visited Seward park in Seattle and got a bit dizzy at the roundabout ...
Nikkor 16-35
1/40 - f16
Daniel Ignacio Caldera Milesseward parkroundaboutseattlepeople
Daniel celebrating Dr. Seuss birthday #105 reading some of his books at the Sammamish library on 3/2/2011
Andres Caldera PhotographyDr. SeussDaniel CalderaSammamish library
Our Future Memories
With this photo I try to express why I love photography so much ... This frozen moment in time will forever tell the story of this holiday spent together in this amazing and unique place in the world called Mt Rainier National Park and the beautiful cabins of Stone Creek Lodge.
From the front row and left to right: Sissy (the stuffed animal, the yongest but managed to stay still for 2 seconds for this shot), Daniel, Lucas, Chino, Heidi, Susanne, Andres, Yayo & Victoria.
We had a great time in the great outdoors, as well as in the great indoors of this single room wooden cabin at http://www.stonecreeklodge.net/. We will come back soon for more table games, peace and photos!
Andres Caldera PhotographyStone Creek Lodge
Alter Ego
This is another one from our halloween series
halloweenandres caldera photography
Happy Halloween 2010 - Extended Family Shot
Andres Caldera PhotographyHalloween
Family Profile
This is another from the fall series - trying something different, not quite what i wanted but is hard to pose and get the right shot when you are running back & forth using the self-timer, will try again in the future ...
Andres CalderaSusanne MilesVictoria ElisaDaniel Ignacio
Fall 2010 Family Shot
Fall is definitelly the best time of the year to do family shots, at least in Seattle ... the sun is always sort of low in the horizon, the lighting is amazing, add to that the freaking out of these world leave colors and the leave covered grounds and no other time of the year can beat that ... Opportunities are very limited as is always raining, and you only have a few weekends to go out and try, but if you're lucky you can get some decent stuff put together while having fun ...
This was taken in our favorite spot at the Seattle Arboretum, a family tradition in fall ( It just started in 2009 ;-) )
Anyways, this short turned out to look better in sepia, rather than color but anyways, i just wanted to tell a story here :-)
Andres Caldera PhotographyFamily shot
Puyallup fair
Slow shutter speed and movement can turn something boring into a cool shot
Andres Caldera PhotographyPuyallup fair
Calderas meet the Oregon trail
On a visit to the Walla Walla wine country we couldn't miss a visit to the Withman mission and the Oregon trail that goes by ... Here my historic photo of my family hanging out at this historic place ...
If you want to learn more about this amazing place visit www.nps.gov/whmi/
Andres Caldera Photographyoregon trailWithman missionPanoramaFamily panorama
From Panoramas
Family Poster at Kalaloch Resort
KalalochPanoramaandres calderaolympic peninsula
Quality time
Is hard to know how much we miss from life in our crazy (and potentially meaningless) busy lives ... just as night defines day, busy life defines quality life ...
I can't remember a better time in my recent life spent with the ones I love, but this winter weekend in a tiny wood cabin, with no TV, no cell phone reception, no electronic games, having dinner in a small table by the window and playing board games ... maybe is just my childhood memories being lived again ...
Anyways, this is from february, was made out of two exposures, one for the inside and one for the outside, overlapped in CS4 and masked ... frustrated with the crappy masking of the windows borders didn't posted before but i guess a need a class on masking, with my brand new Bamboo tablet (to ensure I keep a busy life) hopefully I'll get better at this ...
Andres Caldera Photography
Snowshoeing Reflection Lake @ Mt Rainier National Park
Nikkor 10-24 & Gorillapod
Familymt rainier
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2010!
Daniel as the thin man (Wizard of Oz play)
Seattle Arboretum
Nikkor 10-24
Top of Spray Park
This is my wife contemplating an amazing sunset from top of Spray Park at Mount Rainier National Park.
This was her first ever overnight hike and was a success, so next summer will do a few of these :-)
The other reason this was a success is because I just learned this photo won second place in this year's Washington Trails Association (WTA) 2009 Photo contest, Northwest Exposure 2009 "Hikers in action" category. It was a nice surprise on the mail as they didn't send an e-mail to notify. I got a pretty cool book to enjoy more our hikes, a 6 month suscription to "picknic" and my photo was published in WTA's physical bimonthly magazine. This is my wife contemplating an amazing sunset from top of Spray Park at Mount Rainier National Park.
update: WTA has their own flickr stream and they also posted my photo, here www.flickr.com/photos/29468641@N04/4015472309/in/set-7215...
Andres Calderaseattlesmugsitelandscape
From Environmental
Having a "Cepillao" (ice cone) from "El Popular Jesus Rios" (Open since 1930) in Santa Lucia - Maracaibo, Venezuela
CepilladoCepillaoMaracaiboFamilyAndres Caldera
I Lost My First Tooth Daddy! -
Daniel, lost his first tooth last weekend, he was really excited as the tooth fairy was going to come visit and of course, leave some money for him to treat himselft :-)
The bone tooth was already growing so is hard to see which one he lost ... lower left central insisor ...
I undusted my 50 f1.4 for this shot and realized i should use it more often .. what a great lens ... i have to admit thought that i don't have a very steady hand, so shooting at 1/6 i got some blur and PS's smart sharpening/lens blur worked really nice on the eyes ...
Natural light, coming from my window, check the catchlights for a square shape ...
Familyolympic peninsula
Andres Calderaolympic peninsulapeople
Adirondack at Alderbrook -
This is now one of my classic photos, Adirondack chairs by the water ... this time around is me and wife at the alderbrook resort looking at the hood canal ...
Format 1:3 is also a favorite of mine.


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DAVID KOENIG, AP Business Writer DALLAS (AP) — Mark Cuban won a years-long fight with the federal government Wednesday when jurors said that the billionaire basketball owner did not commit insider-trading when he sold his shares in an Internet company in 2004. The jury in federal district court in Dallas found that the Securities and Exchange Commission failed to prove several key elements of its case, including that Cuban traded on nonpublic information.
The nine-member jury deliberated for about four hours. The trial spanned three weeks.
The SEC accused Cuban of using inside information to sell $7.9 million of stock in Mamma.com Inc. in 2004 after he learned confidentially of a stock offering that would send the share price down. The agency wanted Cuban to repay $750,000 in losses that he avoided, plus pay a penalty. It was a civil lawsuit, so the Dallas Mavericks owner and regular on the ABC reality show "Shark Tank" didn't face criminal charges.
Cuban testified that he never agreed to keep information about the stock deal private and told the company that he would sell his shares.
The SEC sued Cuban more than four years after he sold his stake in Mamma.com, a search engine company that was based in Canada. The company's CEO testified by video that Cuban agreed not to disclose information the CEO told him in 2004 about a pending stock offering that would lessen the value of Cuban's 6 percent stake in the company.
The CEO said that Cuban, the company's largest shareholder, acknowledged that he couldn't sell his shares on the news. He sold them a few hours later, however, before the company announced the stock offering to the public.
The jury foreman was an older woman from the Dallas suburb of Rockwall who works for an insurance company and previously worked for a Texas state judge.
The woman said during juror questioning that she had served on a jury that acquitted a defendant charged with fraud. She gave no other details of the case.
When the SEC sued Cuban in 2008, he went after the regulators. He accused SEC staff of bias — targeting him because of his political views and wealth. He and his lawyers argued that insider-trading laws didn't prohibit him from selling his shares.
U.S. District Judge Sidney Fitzwater agreed and dismissed the lawsuit in 2009, but his ruling was overturned by an appeals court, which sent the case back to Fitzwater for the trial that ended Wednesday.
Sports Illustrated listed Cuban among the 50 most powerful people in sports. He's known for building the Mavericks into a winner and drawing at least $1.5 million in league fines, mostly for berating referees.