Saturday, July 14, 2012
Update on Photo Contest
Re my photo contest "Light From A Low Sun": only one day left to enter!
(Deadline is the global end of Sunday, 15 July, 2012.)
I'm pleased with the entries so far. It'll be a nice gallery of the finalists/winners.
I want to also post it in a photo gallery form which will make it easier for visitors to enjoy the works in near-screen-size. I am considering just using Dropbox, which has improved its gallery functions recently. But maybe somebody has alternative suggestions?
A comic on superhero movies
Fun little comic which discusses the appeal of superhero movies. I like the art, funny and lively.
(In large, beautiful PDF version here.)
(In large, beautiful PDF version here.)
Friday, July 13, 2012
Kickstarter to UK
Kickstarter comes to UK soon. That's cool.
Also, they've become a major force in the publishing market. Here's an article from The Guardian.
Not all of Kickstarter's comics projects are graphic novels, but the majority are. Even with these caveats, Kickstarter is in the conversation for the number two publisher of graphic novels. Clearly, crowdfunding is making a huge impact in the graphic novel market," said Publishers Weekly. [...]
"I really like pre-selling things as a way of bringing them into the world – it means we're making enough for the people who want them, we can afford to make them as well as we want, and it means that people are getting something real. We aren't worrying about marketing costs. We don't have to get a record label, and then try to persuade them to make the thing we want. We just do it," Gaiman has said.
Couldn't agree more. Crowd-funding is a hugely exciting invention which is levelling the playing field more than anything else since the Web itself.
Of course I'm sure most Kickstarter projects are less successful than, say, Amanda Palmer's record, as is true in all the world, and I have a sneaky feeling we will never actually find out the real causes of what makes one a flop or a hit. I also have a feeling we will never stop trying!
Also, they've become a major force in the publishing market. Here's an article from The Guardian.
Not all of Kickstarter's comics projects are graphic novels, but the majority are. Even with these caveats, Kickstarter is in the conversation for the number two publisher of graphic novels. Clearly, crowdfunding is making a huge impact in the graphic novel market," said Publishers Weekly. [...]
"I really like pre-selling things as a way of bringing them into the world – it means we're making enough for the people who want them, we can afford to make them as well as we want, and it means that people are getting something real. We aren't worrying about marketing costs. We don't have to get a record label, and then try to persuade them to make the thing we want. We just do it," Gaiman has said.
Couldn't agree more. Crowd-funding is a hugely exciting invention which is levelling the playing field more than anything else since the Web itself.
Of course I'm sure most Kickstarter projects are less successful than, say, Amanda Palmer's record, as is true in all the world, and I have a sneaky feeling we will never actually find out the real causes of what makes one a flop or a hit. I also have a feeling we will never stop trying!
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Matt dances, 2012
Matt has made a new dancing-around-the-world video.
I think I may like the outtakes video better, actually. It even has Copenhagen in it.
David Pogue interviews Matt (again).
I think I may like the outtakes video better, actually. It even has Copenhagen in it.
David Pogue interviews Matt (again).
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
"iPhone Swivl"
Might be pretty cool for video bloggers.
(Sarah seems to think you need to hold it in your hand all the time instead of using a clip or a pocket. Maybe this was an earlier model.)
The iPhone Swivl
(Sarah seems to think you need to hold it in your hand all the time instead of using a clip or a pocket. Maybe this was an earlier model.)
The iPhone Swivl
Monday, July 09, 2012
Overworked Eyes
Overworked Eyes, article.
In an effort to reduce the amount of energy consumed, screen manufacturers use very narrow bands of the visual spectrum to light the screen. Combined with overhead fluorescent office light, the harsh artificial light is far from full spectrum daylight that the eye likes to see.
[...] Dr. Anshel suggests, "Make sure you have your computer far enough away to comfortably see it. Ideally, the center of the screen is 7-10 inches below your horizontal line of sight. Move your lights to where they don't cause any glare and to where you don't have any bright objects, like a window, in your field of view when viewing the screen." He also suggests a series of breaks during the workday. The smallest should occur every 10 minutes and can be as short as 10 or 20 seconds. To properly relax the eye muscles, you must look at least 20 feet away. At least once each hour, take a bigger break that includes standing and stretching.
I have found that reducing contrast helps. Computer-, TV-, and tablet-screens should not be much, much brighter than the room. So turn down the brightness of the screens (since a while now I have my big computer screens at about 50% setting), and adjust the room light so there's not a big gap in brightness.
Also, like they say, variation is important. Don't glare at the same screen at the same distance for hours at a stretch. Break it up with breaks or with other things you need to do, where you use your eyes differently.
In an effort to reduce the amount of energy consumed, screen manufacturers use very narrow bands of the visual spectrum to light the screen. Combined with overhead fluorescent office light, the harsh artificial light is far from full spectrum daylight that the eye likes to see.
[...] Dr. Anshel suggests, "Make sure you have your computer far enough away to comfortably see it. Ideally, the center of the screen is 7-10 inches below your horizontal line of sight. Move your lights to where they don't cause any glare and to where you don't have any bright objects, like a window, in your field of view when viewing the screen." He also suggests a series of breaks during the workday. The smallest should occur every 10 minutes and can be as short as 10 or 20 seconds. To properly relax the eye muscles, you must look at least 20 feet away. At least once each hour, take a bigger break that includes standing and stretching.
I have found that reducing contrast helps. Computer-, TV-, and tablet-screens should not be much, much brighter than the room. So turn down the brightness of the screens (since a while now I have my big computer screens at about 50% setting), and adjust the room light so there's not a big gap in brightness.
Also, like they say, variation is important. Don't glare at the same screen at the same distance for hours at a stretch. Break it up with breaks or with other things you need to do, where you use your eyes differently.
Sunday, July 08, 2012
Railroaded into Swedish prison by Big Content
Railroaded into Swedish prison by Big Content, article.
and then a trial that included a judge and multiple jurors who were literally getting paychecks from the large copyright industry associations.
"Big Content", I haven't heard that before, but it's a useful term.
I remember from a pre-Internet book, the main character was offended by the use of the word "content" to refer to the foodstuffs inside tubes or boxes. He said: "at least nobody yet has had the sheer brass balls to refer to artistic creations as 'content'." Well, he didn't have long to wait. Citizen Kane and Hamlet are now officially "content".
and then a trial that included a judge and multiple jurors who were literally getting paychecks from the large copyright industry associations.
"Big Content", I haven't heard that before, but it's a useful term.
I remember from a pre-Internet book, the main character was offended by the use of the word "content" to refer to the foodstuffs inside tubes or boxes. He said: "at least nobody yet has had the sheer brass balls to refer to artistic creations as 'content'." Well, he didn't have long to wait. Citizen Kane and Hamlet are now officially "content".
Saturday, July 07, 2012
OJ in tea
Some people like milk in their tea, some like lemon juice. But you can't use both, the milk will curdle.
But I've discovered that you can combine orange juice with milk in the tea. Just a surprisingly small amount will do it, like one or two tea-spoon-fulls, but it is really delicious. It really adds some lift and freshness to it.
It may make a difference if you use the normal stuff made from concentrate, or the fancy "fresh" OJ.
But I've discovered that you can combine orange juice with milk in the tea. Just a surprisingly small amount will do it, like one or two tea-spoon-fulls, but it is really delicious. It really adds some lift and freshness to it.
It may make a difference if you use the normal stuff made from concentrate, or the fancy "fresh" OJ.
Rancher's car
[Thanks to Cap Kirk]
... Well, here's a bit of a change from the super-aesthetic cars we sometimes enjoy around here...
Friday, July 06, 2012
Anna Faris in Just Friends
Anna Faris in Just Friends.
I love Anna. I've seen her in everything I could find, and it's all good.
(... Uhm, with a few possible exceptions, like Brokeback Mountain. I don't think I even made it through to the parts she were in. A drama/romance with two guys? Two cowboys? That's a worse idea than Titanic.)
I also recently saw her in Observe And Report, which is one of those modern comedies where they try to push all the gag levels (as in "I almost gagged when I watched that") to the max. But it was funny, if you can stomach it. (Wow, prices on DVDs have dropped! This one is $3.61 on Amazon right now. I wonder if that's because of blu-ray?)
I love Anna. I've seen her in everything I could find, and it's all good.
(... Uhm, with a few possible exceptions, like Brokeback Mountain. I don't think I even made it through to the parts she were in. A drama/romance with two guys? Two cowboys? That's a worse idea than Titanic.)
I also recently saw her in Observe And Report, which is one of those modern comedies where they try to push all the gag levels (as in "I almost gagged when I watched that") to the max. But it was funny, if you can stomach it. (Wow, prices on DVDs have dropped! This one is $3.61 on Amazon right now. I wonder if that's because of blu-ray?)
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