Saturday, February 27, 2010
Just can't seem to do it
I intended to do a lot of procrastination today, but it just seems I don't get around to it.
Richard Hammond's Engineering Connections
A program I can get on TV On Demand in HD is "Richard Hammond's Engineering Connections". I find it very interesting. Richard Hammond goes around the world to look at very big engineering feats, like an aircraft carrier or the Sidney Opera House, and looks at the engineering which makes it possible. What's cool is that he finds the inspiration of the engineering solutions, and looks at the technologies which came before it and gets them demonstrated in entertaining ways so we get the basic principles. For instance the aircraft carrier uses technology connected to a boomerang, gyroscope, reverse osmosis, Tower Bridge, hydraulics accumulaters...
I'm impressed with Hammond's energy, he seems willing to go anywhere and climb anything to make a good program. And the little things too: For example, he pronounced Sidney Opera House's Danish architect Jørn Utzon's name in good Danish, not something many journalists would care to take the effort to learn.
Interview. YouTube videos.
... It's very much a show for the males... every time there is an explosion or something gets destroyed 'in the name of science', they make sure to film it from several angles and to show them all. :-)
I'm impressed with Hammond's energy, he seems willing to go anywhere and climb anything to make a good program. And the little things too: For example, he pronounced Sidney Opera House's Danish architect Jørn Utzon's name in good Danish, not something many journalists would care to take the effort to learn.
Interview. YouTube videos.
... It's very much a show for the males... every time there is an explosion or something gets destroyed 'in the name of science', they make sure to film it from several angles and to show them all. :-)
On Pornography By Roger C
On Pornography
By Roger C
There are many definitions of pornography. So many in fact that I hesitate to add one more. But not having seen this definition before, I will hazard yet another definition and then provide rationale for it's use.
Pornography is the term used to demean the beautiful women and their supporters for the production and distribution of either partially clad, or fully undressed beautiful young women celebrating their beauty in various poses.
Rationale:
1. The use of the term pornography is pejorative. There is not a single instance that I can think of where the term is used to describe beauty, art, or celebration of women in any positive sense. Since this is universally true without regard to those using the term it follows directly that.
2. The only possible reason for pejorative use is to demean the women. Ironic isn't it? They decry the use of pictures of beautiful nude women as demeaning to the women. Huh? Let's run that one by again. They demean the women and the pictures of them and claim that it is the self abasement of the women and their colleges in production and distribution. That is a double standard if one ever existed. It is not a long path of tortuous logic. It is by inspection.
3. The irony extends even further. If Sports Illustrated puts out an issue where the women are clad only in paint that looks like a bikini, that is not porn. No, that is art and the women are acclaimed beautiful models and paid handsomely. I do not begrudge either those who create these ideas, the magazine or the models. I only ask for some level of parity in the standard. If it OK to pose nude, with a bit of paint on, for Sports Illustrated, then what is the difference between that and posing for Domai? It is clear to the most uncritical observer that there is no difference. Perhaps it is the poses they are in, not the state of undress.
4. While it doesn't take a rocket scientist or a professional artist to say that the painted Sports Illustrated nudes are professionally and tastefully presented. May I ask, how did you expect the organization of any capitalist magazine to present the models? Your suggestion of anything else would be met with derision and laughter by the publishers. Now that we have broached the topic of poses, let's examine poses in more detail.
5. Pose is very much a matter of personal taste. As a parallel example, I remember clearly when the miniskirt became popular. Before that, women in general thought it unbecoming to be so UNclad as to present themselves publicly in an abbreviated mini skirt. Today, the only negative comments I have heard about the miniskirt is the appropriateness to display a given pair of legs. If the legs are too heavy or disfigured, then it is considered inappropriate. My, my, how things change. So if clothes and legs are a matter of personal taste, is it possible that the poses assumed by the wearer are also a matter of personal taste?
6. For an older generation among us, the presentation of legs (especially well formed legs) in the crossed position is far preferred. The position of having the legs together and parallel or even slightly spread is to be avoided. I presume that the appearance of an undergarment will cause uncontrollable rage in the observing males? :-7 While it may be presumed, it is like other unvalidated theories. The predicted behavior has not been observed.
7. Since it is not observed to cause untoward reactions, one can legitimately question. What about poses without the miniskirt or the undergarments? Without any question there is no area more in controversy than the poses of nude, beautiful women. The assumption is that some poses are not acceptable. This fallacy of thinking was long promoted by the magazine Playboy, who for years wound not display the pubic hair of a woman on their pages. Getting to the point, some believe that the display of a woman's labia and vulva is vulgar. While I can personally testify that a woman's vulva is attractive, I can accept that some may not hold to that standard. On the other hand, large breasts to me are unattractive and should not be displayed without careful thought. Yet, I venture that most observers find the appearance of large breasts attractive. My personal view is that if large breasts are the standard of beauty, that you and Hugh Heffner both have your taste all in your mouths.
Which brings me to the final point, if we differ on the display of large breasts, is it any surprise that we differ on the display of other parts of the beautiful nude woman? And if we differ legitimately as purely a matter of taste, how is it that one pose gets labeled pornography and the other art? I suggest a truce. I won't call your large breasted women gross if you don't call my women's labia pornography.
Jan said:
Interesting discussion.
To me the question is, does the intention of the producer matter, or the effect on the consumer?
I personally think porn is content produced to sexually arouse (and doesn't have to feature beautiful women or even women at all).
I don't see anything bad or wrong with material that is designed to arouse. Enjoying sexual arousal is key to the survival of species like ours.
But because a lot of people aren't confortable with sexuality, the more porn is explicit, the greater the number of people will be that won't be able to handle it.
Now what is art? I suppose art is what's produced to provide aesthetical pleasure.
But even in art anything that may arouse will freak out prudes. The line between porn and art is thin/grey anyway. Who knows why it has been produced? And God knows artists are often very horny guys/gals. :-)
I like porn. Porn has always been there for me. And art makes the world more beautiful. Doesn't matter to me which is which.
"To me the question is, does the intention of the producer matter, or the effect on the consumer?"
I agree, that is indeed important. To me, the intention of the producer must be paramount. I have seen much porn which is not exciting to me at all, but I know it is intended to be, and so I know it's porn.
A documentary about nudism may not be intended as porn, but for some mere nudity is exciting, pleasantly or unpleasantly, so to them it's like porn.
So in the end, it's majority rule mostly. So in some countries, like Hong Kong I believe, mere nudity is prohibited. But in some countries in Northern Europe, it's not something generally made a big deal out of.
By Roger C
There are many definitions of pornography. So many in fact that I hesitate to add one more. But not having seen this definition before, I will hazard yet another definition and then provide rationale for it's use.
Pornography is the term used to demean the beautiful women and their supporters for the production and distribution of either partially clad, or fully undressed beautiful young women celebrating their beauty in various poses.
Rationale:
1. The use of the term pornography is pejorative. There is not a single instance that I can think of where the term is used to describe beauty, art, or celebration of women in any positive sense. Since this is universally true without regard to those using the term it follows directly that.
2. The only possible reason for pejorative use is to demean the women. Ironic isn't it? They decry the use of pictures of beautiful nude women as demeaning to the women. Huh? Let's run that one by again. They demean the women and the pictures of them and claim that it is the self abasement of the women and their colleges in production and distribution. That is a double standard if one ever existed. It is not a long path of tortuous logic. It is by inspection.
3. The irony extends even further. If Sports Illustrated puts out an issue where the women are clad only in paint that looks like a bikini, that is not porn. No, that is art and the women are acclaimed beautiful models and paid handsomely. I do not begrudge either those who create these ideas, the magazine or the models. I only ask for some level of parity in the standard. If it OK to pose nude, with a bit of paint on, for Sports Illustrated, then what is the difference between that and posing for Domai? It is clear to the most uncritical observer that there is no difference. Perhaps it is the poses they are in, not the state of undress.
4. While it doesn't take a rocket scientist or a professional artist to say that the painted Sports Illustrated nudes are professionally and tastefully presented. May I ask, how did you expect the organization of any capitalist magazine to present the models? Your suggestion of anything else would be met with derision and laughter by the publishers. Now that we have broached the topic of poses, let's examine poses in more detail.
5. Pose is very much a matter of personal taste. As a parallel example, I remember clearly when the miniskirt became popular. Before that, women in general thought it unbecoming to be so UNclad as to present themselves publicly in an abbreviated mini skirt. Today, the only negative comments I have heard about the miniskirt is the appropriateness to display a given pair of legs. If the legs are too heavy or disfigured, then it is considered inappropriate. My, my, how things change. So if clothes and legs are a matter of personal taste, is it possible that the poses assumed by the wearer are also a matter of personal taste?
6. For an older generation among us, the presentation of legs (especially well formed legs) in the crossed position is far preferred. The position of having the legs together and parallel or even slightly spread is to be avoided. I presume that the appearance of an undergarment will cause uncontrollable rage in the observing males? :-7 While it may be presumed, it is like other unvalidated theories. The predicted behavior has not been observed.
7. Since it is not observed to cause untoward reactions, one can legitimately question. What about poses without the miniskirt or the undergarments? Without any question there is no area more in controversy than the poses of nude, beautiful women. The assumption is that some poses are not acceptable. This fallacy of thinking was long promoted by the magazine Playboy, who for years wound not display the pubic hair of a woman on their pages. Getting to the point, some believe that the display of a woman's labia and vulva is vulgar. While I can personally testify that a woman's vulva is attractive, I can accept that some may not hold to that standard. On the other hand, large breasts to me are unattractive and should not be displayed without careful thought. Yet, I venture that most observers find the appearance of large breasts attractive. My personal view is that if large breasts are the standard of beauty, that you and Hugh Heffner both have your taste all in your mouths.
Which brings me to the final point, if we differ on the display of large breasts, is it any surprise that we differ on the display of other parts of the beautiful nude woman? And if we differ legitimately as purely a matter of taste, how is it that one pose gets labeled pornography and the other art? I suggest a truce. I won't call your large breasted women gross if you don't call my women's labia pornography.
-----------
Jan said:
Interesting discussion.
To me the question is, does the intention of the producer matter, or the effect on the consumer?
I personally think porn is content produced to sexually arouse (and doesn't have to feature beautiful women or even women at all).
I don't see anything bad or wrong with material that is designed to arouse. Enjoying sexual arousal is key to the survival of species like ours.
But because a lot of people aren't confortable with sexuality, the more porn is explicit, the greater the number of people will be that won't be able to handle it.
Now what is art? I suppose art is what's produced to provide aesthetical pleasure.
But even in art anything that may arouse will freak out prudes. The line between porn and art is thin/grey anyway. Who knows why it has been produced? And God knows artists are often very horny guys/gals. :-)
I like porn. Porn has always been there for me. And art makes the world more beautiful. Doesn't matter to me which is which.
"To me the question is, does the intention of the producer matter, or the effect on the consumer?"
I agree, that is indeed important. To me, the intention of the producer must be paramount. I have seen much porn which is not exciting to me at all, but I know it is intended to be, and so I know it's porn.
A documentary about nudism may not be intended as porn, but for some mere nudity is exciting, pleasantly or unpleasantly, so to them it's like porn.
So in the end, it's majority rule mostly. So in some countries, like Hong Kong I believe, mere nudity is prohibited. But in some countries in Northern Europe, it's not something generally made a big deal out of.
On Pornography By Roger C
On Pornography
By Roger C
There are many definitions of pornography. So many in fact that I hesitate to add one more. But not having seen this definition before, I will hazard yet another definition and then provide rationale for it's use.
Pornography is the term used to demean the beautiful women and their supporters for the production and distribution of either partially clad, or fully undressed beautiful young women celebrating their beauty in various poses.
Rationale:
1. The use of the term pornography is pejorative. There is not a single instance that I can think of where the term is used to describe beauty, art, or celebration of women in any positive sense. Since this is universally true without regard to those using the term it follows directly that.
2. The only possible reason for pejorative use is to demean the women. Ironic isn't it? They decry the use of pictures of beautiful nude women as demeaning to the women. Huh? Let's run that one by again. They demean the women and the pictures of them and claim that it is the self abasement of the women and their colleges in production and distribution. That is a double standard if one ever existed. It is not a long path of tortuous logic. It is by inspection.
3. The irony extends even further. If Sports Illustrated puts out an issue where the women are clad only in paint that looks like a bikini, that is not porn. No, that is art and the women are acclaimed beautiful models and paid handsomely. I do not begrudge either those who create these ideas, the magazine or the models. I only ask for some level of parity in the standard. If it OK to pose nude, with a bit of paint on, for Sports Illustrated, then what is the difference between that and posing for Domai? It is clear to the most uncritical observer that there is no difference. Perhaps it is the poses they are in, not the state of undress.
4. While it doesn't take a rocket scientist or a professional artist to say that the painted Sports Illustrated nudes are professionally and tastefully presented. May I ask, how did you expect the organization of any capitalist magazine to present the models? Your suggestion of anything else would be met with derision and laughter by the publishers. Now that we have broached the topic of poses, let's examine poses in more detail.
5. Pose is very much a matter of personal taste. As a parallel example, I remember clearly when the miniskirt became popular. Before that, women in general thought it unbecoming to be so UNclad as to present themselves publicly in an abbreviated mini skirt. Today, the only negative comments I have heard about the miniskirt is the appropriateness to display a given pair of legs. If the legs are too heavy or disfigured, then it is considered inappropriate. My, my, how things change. So if clothes and legs are a matter of personal taste, is it possible that the poses assumed by the wearer are also a matter of personal taste?
6. For an older generation among us, the presentation of legs (especially well formed legs) in the crossed position is far preferred. The position of having the legs together and parallel or even slightly spread is to be avoided. I presume that the appearance of an undergarment will cause uncontrollable rage in the observing males? :-7 While it may be presumed, it is like other unvalidated theories. The predicted behavior has not been observed.
7. Since it is not observed to cause untoward reactions, one can legitimately question. What about poses without the miniskirt or the undergarments? Without any question there is no area more in controversy than the poses of nude, beautiful women. The assumption is that some poses are not acceptable. This fallacy of thinking was long promoted by the magazine Playboy, who for years wound not display the pubic hair of a woman on their pages. Getting to the point, some believe that the display of a woman's labia and vulva is vulgar. While I can personally testify that a woman's vulva is attractive, I can accept that some may not hold to that standard. On the other hand, large breasts to me are unattractive and should not be displayed without careful thought. Yet, I venture that most observers find the appearance of large breasts attractive. My personal view is that if large breasts are the standard of beauty, that you and Hugh Heffner both have your taste all in your mouths.
Which brings me to the final point, if we differ on the display of large breasts, is it any surprise that we differ on the display of other parts of the beautiful nude woman? And if we differ legitimately as purely a matter of taste, how is it that one pose gets labeled pornography and the other art? I suggest a truce. I won't call your large breasted women gross if you don't call my women's labia pornography.
By Roger C
There are many definitions of pornography. So many in fact that I hesitate to add one more. But not having seen this definition before, I will hazard yet another definition and then provide rationale for it's use.
Pornography is the term used to demean the beautiful women and their supporters for the production and distribution of either partially clad, or fully undressed beautiful young women celebrating their beauty in various poses.
Rationale:
1. The use of the term pornography is pejorative. There is not a single instance that I can think of where the term is used to describe beauty, art, or celebration of women in any positive sense. Since this is universally true without regard to those using the term it follows directly that.
2. The only possible reason for pejorative use is to demean the women. Ironic isn't it? They decry the use of pictures of beautiful nude women as demeaning to the women. Huh? Let's run that one by again. They demean the women and the pictures of them and claim that it is the self abasement of the women and their colleges in production and distribution. That is a double standard if one ever existed. It is not a long path of tortuous logic. It is by inspection.
3. The irony extends even further. If Sports Illustrated puts out an issue where the women are clad only in paint that looks like a bikini, that is not porn. No, that is art and the women are acclaimed beautiful models and paid handsomely. I do not begrudge either those who create these ideas, the magazine or the models. I only ask for some level of parity in the standard. If it OK to pose nude, with a bit of paint on, for Sports Illustrated, then what is the difference between that and posing for Domai? It is clear to the most uncritical observer that there is no difference. Perhaps it is the poses they are in, not the state of undress.
4. While it doesn't take a rocket scientist or a professional artist to say that the painted Sports Illustrated nudes are professionally and tastefully presented. May I ask, how did you expect the organization of any capitalist magazine to present the models? Your suggestion of anything else would be met with derision and laughter by the publishers. Now that we have broached the topic of poses, let's examine poses in more detail.
5. Pose is very much a matter of personal taste. As a parallel example, I remember clearly when the miniskirt became popular. Before that, women in general thought it unbecoming to be so UNclad as to present themselves publicly in an abbreviated mini skirt. Today, the only negative comments I have heard about the miniskirt is the appropriateness to display a given pair of legs. If the legs are too heavy or disfigured, then it is considered inappropriate. My, my, how things change. So if clothes and legs are a matter of personal taste, is it possible that the poses assumed by the wearer are also a matter of personal taste?
6. For an older generation among us, the presentation of legs (especially well formed legs) in the crossed position is far preferred. The position of having the legs together and parallel or even slightly spread is to be avoided. I presume that the appearance of an undergarment will cause uncontrollable rage in the observing males? :-7 While it may be presumed, it is like other unvalidated theories. The predicted behavior has not been observed.
7. Since it is not observed to cause untoward reactions, one can legitimately question. What about poses without the miniskirt or the undergarments? Without any question there is no area more in controversy than the poses of nude, beautiful women. The assumption is that some poses are not acceptable. This fallacy of thinking was long promoted by the magazine Playboy, who for years wound not display the pubic hair of a woman on their pages. Getting to the point, some believe that the display of a woman's labia and vulva is vulgar. While I can personally testify that a woman's vulva is attractive, I can accept that some may not hold to that standard. On the other hand, large breasts to me are unattractive and should not be displayed without careful thought. Yet, I venture that most observers find the appearance of large breasts attractive. My personal view is that if large breasts are the standard of beauty, that you and Hugh Heffner both have your taste all in your mouths.
Which brings me to the final point, if we differ on the display of large breasts, is it any surprise that we differ on the display of other parts of the beautiful nude woman? And if we differ legitimately as purely a matter of taste, how is it that one pose gets labeled pornography and the other art? I suggest a truce. I won't call your large breasted women gross if you don't call my women's labia pornography.
Duffy - Rain On Your Parade
Just a pop song, and I didn't even know her before, but look at those fake dimples! Ugly. It looks like they have tied fishing line to her cheeks from the inside.
If this trend continues, in 50 years nobody will remember how an actual human face looks. Already I see no comments about it on YouTube, I think very few notice.
If this trend continues, in 50 years nobody will remember how an actual human face looks. Already I see no comments about it on YouTube, I think very few notice.
Miserere joined in:
"The surgical procedure used to create dimples is, in itself, a fairly simple one and is commonly done on an outpatient basis. The procedure involves simulating the natural way a dimple is formed, by forming a connection between the skin and the cheek muscle, such that when the muscle contracts, it pulls the skin inwards to form a dimple."
Friday, February 26, 2010
Watching ads
Hah, Homer Simpson shushed his family because "the commercials are on". They looked at him incredulously, and he said: "well, if we don't watch these, it's like we're stealing TV!"
And it's sort of true, isn't it? The people who have a hard-liner stance on any kind of sharing being "stealing" (I hope they don't borrow any books ever), must surely watch the ads regularly on TV, otherwise how do they justify it?
Me, I'm sorta flexible. I have an evaluation copy of Stuffit Expander which I've been using for years on end, just because I tried to pay, and they'd made it too difficult somehow, I forget exactly how. And I don't feel bad about that. But on the other hand, almost all of the other software I have, I've paid for, gladly. I even paid extra for GraphicConverter once, because for years he did not charge for updates, and I felt it was just too valuable for me. And I've donated to many web sites I found delightful or very useful, or worth supporting.
And it's sort of true, isn't it? The people who have a hard-liner stance on any kind of sharing being "stealing" (I hope they don't borrow any books ever), must surely watch the ads regularly on TV, otherwise how do they justify it?
Me, I'm sorta flexible. I have an evaluation copy of Stuffit Expander which I've been using for years on end, just because I tried to pay, and they'd made it too difficult somehow, I forget exactly how. And I don't feel bad about that. But on the other hand, almost all of the other software I have, I've paid for, gladly. I even paid extra for GraphicConverter once, because for years he did not charge for updates, and I felt it was just too valuable for me. And I've donated to many web sites I found delightful or very useful, or worth supporting.
A nation wakes up
U.S. Economy Grinds To Halt As Nation Realizes Money Just A Symbolic, Mutually Shared Illusion, The Onion article.
As news of the nation's collectively held delusion spread, the economy ground to a halt, with dumbfounded citizens everywhere walking out on their jobs as they contemplated the little green drawings of buildings and dead white men they once used to measure their adequacy and importance as human beings.
Like my ol' friend Irv says: "The Onion, that visionary organ that has often managed to say something more profound than anyone could take seriously, offers this wonderful scenario of how it is going to (someday soon) happen!"
-
As news of the nation's collectively held delusion spread, the economy ground to a halt, with dumbfounded citizens everywhere walking out on their jobs as they contemplated the little green drawings of buildings and dead white men they once used to measure their adequacy and importance as human beings.
Like my ol' friend Irv says: "The Onion, that visionary organ that has often managed to say something more profound than anyone could take seriously, offers this wonderful scenario of how it is going to (someday soon) happen!"
-
What Makes a Great Photograph
What Makes a Great Photograph, satiric article.
A Photograph Taken with a Medium or Large Format Camera
©Ansel Adams
This is a double-whammy, because using a medium/large format camera not only produces Great Photographs, but you also get to call them, and sell them as, Fine Art. Fine Art is just like Standard Art, except the prices paid have 3 or 4 extra zeroes added on. For example, had the above image been made with a P&S, nobody would pay more than $6 for a print; but because that photo was taken with either a 4×5 or 8×10 view camera… the print costs $60,000. Of course, it was also taken by somebody famous, which overlaps with, and brings us to, the next category.
-
A Photograph Taken with a Medium or Large Format Camera
©Ansel Adams
This is a double-whammy, because using a medium/large format camera not only produces Great Photographs, but you also get to call them, and sell them as, Fine Art. Fine Art is just like Standard Art, except the prices paid have 3 or 4 extra zeroes added on. For example, had the above image been made with a P&S, nobody would pay more than $6 for a print; but because that photo was taken with either a 4×5 or 8×10 view camera… the print costs $60,000. Of course, it was also taken by somebody famous, which overlaps with, and brings us to, the next category.-
"Renting" films time limits
So I'm trying out the UK Virgin's pay-per-view Movie service. It's pretty good, apart from trying to find a movie again if you have paused it to watch TV for a bit. You'd think they'd make it easy to find, but the only way I've found so far is navigating the whole buying system again until you find it.
Anyway, just a thought here: if it were me, I would not put a 24-hour time limit on the pretty expensive movie "rental" service (5 pounds sterling for premium movies!). I would not even put a 48-hour limit on it, or a week. I would not put a time limit on it at all, merely specify one viewing (maybe two for a small extra fee).
I think people would buy more films. Since there's no pressure to finish a movie, they can rent a second one before having finished the first one if they feel like a different type of movie at the moment. But when you have a time limit, you'll want to finish the movie you have bought, otherwise it'll expire and you've wasted money.
I don't see any upside to the time limits, either for the audience or the providers.
----
It seems I can record two HD programs, while watching a third, and at the same time keep my very fast broadband connection going. I think that's pretty impressive bandwidth there.
Anyway, just a thought here: if it were me, I would not put a 24-hour time limit on the pretty expensive movie "rental" service (5 pounds sterling for premium movies!). I would not even put a 48-hour limit on it, or a week. I would not put a time limit on it at all, merely specify one viewing (maybe two for a small extra fee).
I think people would buy more films. Since there's no pressure to finish a movie, they can rent a second one before having finished the first one if they feel like a different type of movie at the moment. But when you have a time limit, you'll want to finish the movie you have bought, otherwise it'll expire and you've wasted money.
I don't see any upside to the time limits, either for the audience or the providers.
----
It seems I can record two HD programs, while watching a third, and at the same time keep my very fast broadband connection going. I think that's pretty impressive bandwidth there.
"Words Create Worlds"
This was a successful ad campaign for a Prague bookshop called Anagram. Kewl idea.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
X-ray glasses
Long live Wikipedia. As I'd figured, they have a page about those "x-ray glasses" which conned so many kids in the Western World. (I'm not really kidding, it is a con when the kid believes that they really work.)
I was amazed that some of my friends actually looked at their hand and said "ew, I can see the bones!" I guess they didn't know what bones look like.
Licorice
Occasionally I could kill for some good licorice. Back in Denmark, every newsstand has lots of good licorice products, but it seems that dang UK has barely heard of it. You have to look long and hard for it, and then it's likely imported.
I forget to find and buy it though, because it's only on occasion that I have the craving. I don't know, there must be something in it which is a stimulant of a certain kind.
It's hard being me though, because I'm very picky. Or as I prefer to see it: discerning. :-)
It is actually only a couple of the products I miss. For some reason most of the popular products seem to be either salted licorice (weird idea) or very spicy licorice (also a bit weird, why do people want to feel like their skull is exploding?).
I forget to find and buy it though, because it's only on occasion that I have the craving. I don't know, there must be something in it which is a stimulant of a certain kind.
It's hard being me though, because I'm very picky. Or as I prefer to see it: discerning. :-)
It is actually only a couple of the products I miss. For some reason most of the popular products seem to be either salted licorice (weird idea) or very spicy licorice (also a bit weird, why do people want to feel like their skull is exploding?).
Commas and catastrophes
In the letters I get e-mailed for publication, for some reason some of them have all their apostrophes replaced with commas, in some text conversion error along the way. I'm not sure where or how it happens. Here's a sample from a recent letter:
"There‚s nothing that says we can‚t... If you‚re willing, I‚m able."
Now, if I do a straight find/replace, all the commas are replaced too!
OK, I can replace ,s with 's, ,m with 'm, and so on. This works because there's no space after the commas/apostrophes. But it makes for tedious work.
I found a way, though: first I replace all the actual commas, including the space after it! with a random string, like +++. Then I replace all the fake commas with apostrophes. And then I replace +++ with comma-space. Dom-dimmi-done.
"There‚s nothing that says we can‚t... If you‚re willing, I‚m able."
Now, if I do a straight find/replace, all the commas are replaced too!
OK, I can replace ,s with 's, ,m with 'm, and so on. This works because there's no space after the commas/apostrophes. But it makes for tedious work.
I found a way, though: first I replace all the actual commas, including the space after it! with a random string, like +++. Then I replace all the fake commas with apostrophes. And then I replace +++ with comma-space. Dom-dimmi-done.
Dr. Nakamats, inventor
TTL said:
Following the example of my idol, Dr. NakaMats, nowadays I do all my camera buying decisions based on the smell of the camera.
“Good smell is good camera. Bad smell or no smell, that is bad camera.” —Dr. Nakamats
Obviously he is roughly three times as great as Thomas Edison, based on his number of inventions.
Following the example of my idol, Dr. NakaMats, nowadays I do all my camera buying decisions based on the smell of the camera.
“Good smell is good camera. Bad smell or no smell, that is bad camera.” —Dr. Nakamats
Obviously he is roughly three times as great as Thomas Edison, based on his number of inventions.
New Sigma 85mm 1.4
Enticing the Light, new gear round-up article.
I almost wrote about those very promising new Sigma lenses, including the much-desired portrait (and many other things) configuration, 85mm F:1.4. This will be interesting for many, not the least users of full-frame cameras. Nikon and Canon have their own great lenses here, but this may be cheaper (though not dead-cheap, it's a pro lens), and for Sony full-frame users, I think the only option otherwise has been a Zeiss lens, which is brilliant, but expensive and is not autofocus.
Sigma says they have aimed at making it better than "original" lenses, but I think this, unlike with budget 50mm lenses, will be difficult, since the 85mm lenses out there are traditionally of top-notch quality.
So far as I'm aware, Sigma has made many good lenses, but I have often heard complaints of lax quality-control, and this was confirmed when I bought a 35mm 14 Sigma a couple years ago, it was so unsharp in the middle that I had to return it, something which is rare for me.
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Like many male photographers, I'm enchanted by swinging around big chunks of metal and glass, it feels like you're doing something very Real and Important. :-)
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There is also an upcoming Samsung compact
... Which has a tiltable screen, too rare in compacts. And has a very fast lens, and just looks really good (click for big pic). Promising.
Miserere said:
I think the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 is going to sell very well. I wonder how it will compare to the Canon 85mm f/1.4... Wait, there isn't one! And the f/1.2 is very expensive.
Nikon's 85mm f/1.4 is very long in the tooth by now, and also more expensive than the Sigma.
Sony's 85mm f/1.4 is probably ~50% more expensive than the Sigma will be. On the other hand, it is a Zeiss lens.
Pentax don't have a currently produced 85mm f/1.4.
Neither do Olympus.
In short, this lens can, and will, appeal to shooters from all brands, and when you're designing a lens as a 3rd party lens maker, you want the largest possible pool of buyers possible. (Having said that, Sigma haven't included 4/3 in the list of mounts they're planning to make available.)
I almost wrote about those very promising new Sigma lenses, including the much-desired portrait (and many other things) configuration, 85mm F:1.4. This will be interesting for many, not the least users of full-frame cameras. Nikon and Canon have their own great lenses here, but this may be cheaper (though not dead-cheap, it's a pro lens), and for Sony full-frame users, I think the only option otherwise has been a Zeiss lens, which is brilliant, but expensive and is not autofocus.
Sigma says they have aimed at making it better than "original" lenses, but I think this, unlike with budget 50mm lenses, will be difficult, since the 85mm lenses out there are traditionally of top-notch quality.
So far as I'm aware, Sigma has made many good lenses, but I have often heard complaints of lax quality-control, and this was confirmed when I bought a 35mm 14 Sigma a couple years ago, it was so unsharp in the middle that I had to return it, something which is rare for me.
---
Like many male photographers, I'm enchanted by swinging around big chunks of metal and glass, it feels like you're doing something very Real and Important. :-)
---
There is also an upcoming Samsung compact
... Which has a tiltable screen, too rare in compacts. And has a very fast lens, and just looks really good (click for big pic). Promising.Miserere said:
I think the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 is going to sell very well. I wonder how it will compare to the Canon 85mm f/1.4... Wait, there isn't one! And the f/1.2 is very expensive.
Nikon's 85mm f/1.4 is very long in the tooth by now, and also more expensive than the Sigma.
Sony's 85mm f/1.4 is probably ~50% more expensive than the Sigma will be. On the other hand, it is a Zeiss lens.
Pentax don't have a currently produced 85mm f/1.4.
Neither do Olympus.
In short, this lens can, and will, appeal to shooters from all brands, and when you're designing a lens as a 3rd party lens maker, you want the largest possible pool of buyers possible. (Having said that, Sigma haven't included 4/3 in the list of mounts they're planning to make available.)
Grammar
Devotees of grammatical studies have not been distinguished for any very remarkable felicities of expression.
-- Amos Bronson Alcott
It's true, innit?
I've noticed that when I'm very concerned abut crect grammer and speling, it comes from fear of being criticized, not concern over being understood.
I think that if Shakespeer (noted for spelling his name differently all the time) had been very concerned with Correctness, we would not have had the expressive plays we have. I'm sure, for instance, that his ol' school teacher would have had some harsh words to say about his penchant for making up his own words.
I'm not saying correct grammar and such is not worth learning, so you know what you're doing, but if it doesn't stand in the way of becoming the worlds most popular and respected scribe, then in the end it may not be worthy of losing sleep over.
-- Amos Bronson Alcott
It's true, innit?
I've noticed that when I'm very concerned abut crect grammer and speling, it comes from fear of being criticized, not concern over being understood.
I think that if Shakespeer (noted for spelling his name differently all the time) had been very concerned with Correctness, we would not have had the expressive plays we have. I'm sure, for instance, that his ol' school teacher would have had some harsh words to say about his penchant for making up his own words.
I'm not saying correct grammar and such is not worth learning, so you know what you're doing, but if it doesn't stand in the way of becoming the worlds most popular and respected scribe, then in the end it may not be worthy of losing sleep over.
Update:
emptyspaces sez:
The funny thing is, I am a professional writer (ok, hack copywriter, but still), and I can assure all of you aspiring writers that conveying a thought clearly is far more important than being an accurate typist or the grammar queen.
Yes, and perhaps harder too. Grammar is just a set of rules, but clear conveyance demands a feel for how millions of people think, and to fit the writing into that effectively.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
A virus?
Here's one of the rare spam viruses which actually made it through my various defenses. I buy enough online to forget the occasional item, so I opened the zip file. If I'd been running Windows and been slightly less educated, I might actually have opened the "postal label", which turned out to be a .exe file.
Thank you for shopping at Amazon.com
We have successfully received your payment.
Your order has been shipped to your billing address.
You have ordered " Velocity Micro Edge Gx635 "
You can find your tracking number in attached to the e-mail document.
Print the postal label to get your package.
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Thank you for shopping at Amazon.com
We have successfully received your payment.
Your order has been shipped to your billing address.
You have ordered " Velocity Micro Edge Gx635 "
You can find your tracking number in attached to the e-mail document.
Print the postal label to get your package.
-
Banana Protector
The banana protector and other inventions from the sublime to the widicuwous.
Anti-Theft Coffee Cup. Are you tired of others stealing your coffee cup? Well now there's a solution. The Lock - Cup has a hole which prevents most people from using it. Only the owner of the cup can use his/hers shaped key to close the hole.
Anti-Theft Coffee Cup. Are you tired of others stealing your coffee cup? Well now there's a solution. The Lock - Cup has a hole which prevents most people from using it. Only the owner of the cup can use his/hers shaped key to close the hole.
Cable on two TV sets (updated)
After five years without TV (only discs), I'm getting cable again. Maybe it's HD beckoning, but also that the modern boxes will record and let you fast-forward through ads and so on. And I'll probably save lots of money on DVDs. Amazingly, over a hundred channels and HD was only 14 GBP/month ($20) more expensive than zero! (I already was using Virgin's broadband and phone service.)
Now, I also have a TV in the bedroom which I'd like to use sometimes in addition to the one in the living room. I imagine it's not a big deal to hook it up to the cable box (which will be installed this Friday), but how do I make the remote work? It's no further than one strategically placed mirror could do it, but I guess that's hardly practical.
Update:
The installer told me the only way to get it on the second TV is to get a box more. I find the pricing reasonable: £5 more per month, and £35 for installing it. But maybe I just won't bother, and will keep that TV for disc only. One reason is that if I want to record anything (and that's part and parcel of the whole experience these days, I have to keep the device on, it is not loud but you can hear it, and I'm quite sensitive to noise when I wanna sleep.
... Of course I could just use the living room box for recording, but I suspect I'd get tired of zipping out there and navigate to whatever took my flighty fancy.
Now, I also have a TV in the bedroom which I'd like to use sometimes in addition to the one in the living room. I imagine it's not a big deal to hook it up to the cable box (which will be installed this Friday), but how do I make the remote work? It's no further than one strategically placed mirror could do it, but I guess that's hardly practical.
Update:
The installer told me the only way to get it on the second TV is to get a box more. I find the pricing reasonable: £5 more per month, and £35 for installing it. But maybe I just won't bother, and will keep that TV for disc only. One reason is that if I want to record anything (and that's part and parcel of the whole experience these days, I have to keep the device on, it is not loud but you can hear it, and I'm quite sensitive to noise when I wanna sleep.
... Of course I could just use the living room box for recording, but I suspect I'd get tired of zipping out there and navigate to whatever took my flighty fancy.
Terry Fator ventriloquist
Singing, ventriloquism, and impressions, all the same time...
(There's tons of Terry Fator on Ytoob.)
(There's tons of Terry Fator on Ytoob.)
Smoker boobs
Young women seem to smoke a lot. I'll bet the threat of cancer does nothing to help, but I think this may:
(From here.)
(From here.)
Xray iPhone
Xray iPhone. If you buy this, I'll bet you also bought those "xray glasses" when you were young. (Actually I did. Rather disappointing.)
Elena Kalis again
Elena Kalis photography. Lyrical fantasy. Many clearly Alice In Wonderland-inspired.
I've blogged Elena before.
Sadly the Flickr pics are pretty small, but TCGirl found this slide show.
I've blogged Elena before.
Sadly the Flickr pics are pretty small, but TCGirl found this slide show.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Shadowplay
Cool low-light video made with the Panasonic GH1 and Zeiss and Canon lenses.
BTW, I like Vimeo. It has a nice, simple, good-looking interface, and always good content, no spam and crap.
Shadowplay (Panasonic GH1 & Carl Zeiss 85mm F1.4 lens) from Andrew Reid on Vimeo.
Longshan's People - Taiwan - Panasonic GH1 from Andrew Reid on Vimeo.
Andrew is behind the video enthusiast site EOSHD, and I hope to get a mini-interview from him on that subject. (Heck, it seems like he lives close, Manchester, so maybe even on video.)BTW, I like Vimeo. It has a nice, simple, good-looking interface, and always good content, no spam and crap.
One fine morning in Buenos Aires
[Thanks to Marcelo]
Record rainfall in Argentina in the past week. See the amazing aqua-train, video from yesterday. Hokey shite, I'm amazed it could keep going, seems like good engineering.
Movie slider
[Thanks to EOSHD]
A guy built a dirt-cheap movie "slider" ("camera dolly", Mike says it's called) for his Panasonic GH1 still/video camera. The resulting moving-camera vids look very nice. Not a long track, though.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Thermos designs (updated)
Update: Got mine today. So far, I really like it. Takes the stress out of drinking tea. There's nothing in the world so stressing as worrying if your tea will get cold before you finish it. (OK, maybe one or two things.)
And by the way, I tried with a cappuccino today, and unlike what I thought, it works fine, so long as I pre-heat it thoroughly.
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If Thermos products are as good as they look, I may have found a new product to over-buy.
See the designs below. This is exactly what I was talking about (but hadn't seen anywhere yet) regarding Apple products, especially laptops. I would love to have a laptop in Apple's simple aluminium design, but with a choice of a few designs like this. It doesn't have to be flowers and butterflies (though I like them), there could also be some MANLY options, like, uhm, a bull... or a skull... or a dagger and blood... I dunno.
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By the way, did you know designers are this cute?
Or that coffee drinkers are this heroic?
And by the way, I tried with a cappuccino today, and unlike what I thought, it works fine, so long as I pre-heat it thoroughly.
---
If Thermos products are as good as they look, I may have found a new product to over-buy.
See the designs below. This is exactly what I was talking about (but hadn't seen anywhere yet) regarding Apple products, especially laptops. I would love to have a laptop in Apple's simple aluminium design, but with a choice of a few designs like this. It doesn't have to be flowers and butterflies (though I like them), there could also be some MANLY options, like, uhm, a bull... or a skull... or a dagger and blood... I dunno.
---
By the way, did you know designers are this cute?
Or that coffee drinkers are this heroic?
Gasolin'
Gasolin' was the "Worlds biggest band" in Scandinavia in the seventies. They had fans from age 3 to 103, and still have, even though they split up over 30 years ago.
Franz Beckerlee on guitar.
MP3 file of one of my faves: Good Time Charlie.
The one below was hot amongst my school pals back when, but it was a bit too rocky for me then. It was only as an adult that I came to appreciate hard rock.
They attempted to crack the US market, and did a couple songs in English...
This I'd not seen before: here they playing each other, in playback.
Gasolin' is so famous in Scandinavia that their first drummer, Bjørn Uglebjerg, is famous still today, even though he was replaced before their first LP came out! Here's a very early concert, before they started playing mainly in Danish.
Franz Beckerlee on guitar.
MP3 file of one of my faves: Good Time Charlie.
The one below was hot amongst my school pals back when, but it was a bit too rocky for me then. It was only as an adult that I came to appreciate hard rock.
They attempted to crack the US market, and did a couple songs in English...
This I'd not seen before: here they playing each other, in playback.
Gasolin' is so famous in Scandinavia that their first drummer, Bjørn Uglebjerg, is famous still today, even though he was replaced before their first LP came out! Here's a very early concert, before they started playing mainly in Danish.
Kitty jokes
Like Penny on The Big Bang Theory says, "who doesn't like LOL cats? They are cute and funny and they can't spell right, because they're, you know, cats."
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Crack in a windshield
... So this is a flash photo of a crack in a windshield, yes? Wrong, to quote Joey, it's London, baby! More space pics here.
Church ceiling
[Thanks TCGirl]
Photo by Cynicole B.
And on quite the opposite end of the spectrum of tastefulness, TCG also found a short video of "the tightest pants ever".
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