Daniel's profilePhlargo's Reform Service...PhotosBlogListsMore  |  Tools Help |
|
25 January Pictures!Two new albums are being posted, as we speak. Now that 2008 has come to a close, it is time for the second annual installment of my Picture Favorites! The new 2008 collection has now been posted. It was a great year for photos. So many to choose from. As with last year, I'll remind everyone that these are not the 'best' pictures, they are my favorites.
Further, another album has just been posted which was taken during a photographic walk yesterday. It was a long walk (probably close to 9 miles) and the idea as that I could get a chance to see where I'm living and show the rest of you. I borrowed my roommate Liz Atkin's (
 ) Canon xti DSLR (file picture not found) and took nearly 500 pictures. I don't know if it was my inexperience with the camera or some equipment problems (she bought a cheap polarizing filter and I was using a mediocre, if versitile lense) but every picture I took into the light had terrible chromatic abberation, resulting in a drastic reduction in the number of shots which were worth keeping. I normally get about a 60-70% recovery rate on pictures taken.. but this collection only ended up with about 100. I'm gonna do some more shooting with the camera. It was a lot of fun to use a fancy camera, however, and I even more look forward to having a DSLR of my very own. You'll notice that some of the pictures have some strange fuzziness/haloing - I kept some of the funky ones that were worth keeping. It was a little sad as I thought it was a fantastic shoot. I'll run some more experiments to try and hone my skills and determine whether it was me or the camera ;-) Enough excuses. Enjoy the collection that survived. Each enjoyed a certain amount of post-processing, including color-temp changes, contrast enhancement, etc. I think it was a better product for it.
There are several pictures of the house, my car, and the cool commercial street that's only a block away. Notice the picture with 3 coffee places in frame. Starbucks on one corner, Pete's on the other, and an independant place called Cafe Ladro two doors down. Across the street is the tea place and the chocolate place is like 4 blocks down the road. It's a busy street: nice to live near! 19 January Gritty Kitty Gifties! Now with Birthday-Style updates!UPDATED FOR BIRTHDAY! Updates are in bold and
identified with an UPDATE! prefix. Btw.. Gritty Kitty was the brand of cat
litter that Stimpy liked. Also.. you don't need to send me anything, ever.
I'll just cry. Enjoy my fun little update narratives. Maybe I'll post this on
my website as well. (UPDATED! Now posted to website, with bonus content!)
 I'll post this on my website as an entry as well... Hopefully this will help family and friends in addressing the upcoming holiday and birthday season. Please forward this to other people as you see fit Higher Priority
Gifts:
1. UPDATE! Leah got me some good stuff for
repairing my razor burn, which seems to be a good thick moisturizing cream I'm
putting on after each shave and it's too soon to tell how much it's doing for
me. I'm still having some problems, but I'm checking it out. I might still
want to tweak my shaving system more, but I've gone to better shaving cream
after enjoying the Anthony shave cream (I purchased a <cough, gasp,
wheeze> $10 5oz thing of Zia's shaving cream at our local PCC Natural
Markets.) For now, I'm going to do some more experimentation but I may want
that badger brush at some point...
New shaving solution. I've been having a lot of
trouble with sensitivity and my neck and a lot of redness (and I still haven't
been shaving every day). Maybe a new razor type and one of those cool shaving
applicators (badger shaving brush - I've heard they alone may be able to solve
this problem) and some good shave cream (the TJs stuff just isn't working for me
anymore). Maybe some new technology. I don't know. I do know that my neck
gets very red when I wear a tie (turning your head with a tight collar
facilitates significant chafing, augmented by any shaving failure) Here's an
article to consider: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6886845/
2. UPDATE! Chris got me a pot for Christmas. I'll eventually want
a second one (gotta have one for greener oolongs and one for darker oolongs, of
course, but for now I'm sated.
YiXing tea pot. Ideally, I'd eventually like 2 or
3 of these for different types of oolong. I'd like to buy it from Mad Hat, if I
can - so I'll probably pick one up locally and someone can sponsor me. The
ones he has are about $25 (some of these pots go up to several hundred
dollars). Here's some information about them: http://cart.greenteapots.co.uk/index.php?p=page&page_id=guide
I want one that has really tight tolerances, so the lid fits perfectly - some
are made really nicely. With this size pot, I'll probably want some small tea
cups - regular mugs won't do it justice (as they are typically a small capacity
tea pot). Let's start with one. Sanction it and I'll pick one out and bring it
back. -
3. UPDATE! I found a sweet chocolate shop
near me. Joe gave me a healthy pile of chocolate and there is a special bag of
Santander chocolate sitting ready for fancy hot chocolate. I suspect I'm good
for now.
Chocolate. Specifically something from Pralus,
Bonnat, or Domori. See www.seventypercent.com for more
ideas.
4. UPDATE: I have purchased Mass Effect on
my Steam Account - it was on sale this weekend. I can't wait to play it. I'll
still will definitely want the others, but I can wait 'til they drop in price -
and they may wait until I have some new computer upgrades (likely happening
within 6 months)
Computer games. I know we had an informal
moratorium on computer game gifts in the past.. but the reality is I haven't
bought myself a game in nearly 2 years. There are a few I specifically want and
have been waiting for. I know I mentioned Mass Effect. I'll also be looking
for Fallout 3 in the next year. Mass Effect is the one I want first as Fallout
I'll likely wait with until I upgrade my hardware. Here is some information
about and pictures of the games I want:
Mass Effect: http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/masseffect/index.html
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky: http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/stalkerclearsky/index.html
5. UPDATE! My lovely mother got me a
notebook back for my computer. I don't know if it'll be enough to carry around
the ridiculous amount of deposition exhibits I may be expected to tote around
town, but for now, it's a great start. As the firm gets more on the technology
train, this kind of solution is going to be increasingly
important.
Work document storage and portability solution.
Think shoulder mounted device which will allow me to carry more than a small
folder to a work event. Right now I have to walk across town and have to carry
my notebook or whatever. If I need to bring discovery materials or my computer
along (or the occasional something to eat), I need something that'll protect
them against the elements and will be easier than carrying it without aid.
Don't need to be fancy.
6. UPDATE! Problem solved! Mom got me a
wonderful bag for Christmas. It's perfect for storing my stuff in during the
day and keeping my work clothes in for the trip home. Now I need to figure out
a way to keep it from getting stinky from having my shoes in it
Gym bag. I currently use a plastic bag left over
from a supermarket trip. I managed to lose my small lock from a small hole in
the bag. I need something better so I can store my stuff in my car or have a
place to put my clothes, food, or a towel before/after I work out.
7. Sunglasses. My sunglasses are terrible -
scratched, twisted and losing structural integrity. I'm tempted to creep up the
sunglasses ladder again to something more decent. The $25 sunglasses have had
very poor longevity, partly because I don't care enough about them to put them
in a hard case.
8. UPDATE! I got pictures. I might want
one of Dad too, but my desk is now family-laden.
Analog pictures of my family. I have one framed
picture of Leah. And one paper-housed picture of Mom and I from a Royce
Christmas Party 5 or 6 years ago. It'd be nice to have a few pictures of you
guys - maybe to have at my office or in my home. Maybe something that shows you
in your full adult glory!
9. UPDATE! I haven't purchased anything,
but I'm considering a small player that does some sort of video (sure my current
one does it.. it just looks terrible and is very small). For now I'm going to
hold off on this one.
Fitness-time-media-player-retention-device. I'm
sick of carrying my portable media player in one hand while working out. It
gets in the way and I end up not using it on the days I don't have my 1 pair of
workout pants with pockets. I'm not sure of the solution - use your brain! If
form factor is a question, my current player is a Sandisk Sansa
E280.
10. UPDATE! I purchased the replacement
headphone cable for my IEMs. It was $20, but it appears they might have
engineered a slightly more durable solution. Let's hope this one lasts (I mean,
I guess I can't complain too much - the last one lasted like 3
years)
Headphones cable. My little IEMs are working
great, but the cable is starting to tear through the shielding at one place.
Ultimate Ears offers replacement cables on their accessories page: http://www.ultimateears.com/_ultimateears/products/accessories/universal.php
It isn't super high priority because it's still
working - but once it stops working, I'll be sad.
Lower Priority
Gifts:
1. Digital Camera and Optics money. Within 12
months, I'll likely be trying to get a new digital SLR. Or at least a used one
and start building up my lens collection (and, if used, a new camera in the 2-3
year time frame). $1000+ lenses are expensive but you can always get a newer,
better camera - but lens technology doesn't change much - so I plan to buy good
ones. I might start with a few cheapies just to get some practice, but good
lenses are the goal.
2. Knife money. You all know, I'm going to buy
knives. It may be 3 months off, it may be a year off.
3. Shoes or shoe money or a belt/belt money. I
need one more pair of fancier brown dress shoes and another belt or two to
complete my professional wardrobe
4. UPDATE! I think this should
wait.
Kindle or other electric reader. I'd like to
switch to a digital reader at some point.. I don't know if it's going to happen
now or in a few years
5. Money for the furniture and furnishings fund.
I don't know how long it's going to be, but I'm going to be buying furniture and
more housewares within 6 months. It will require endless funds... contribute
6. Specialty foods gifts. You know I enjoy
quality chocolate, cheese, coffee, tea, wine, and beer. I accept any and all
gifts that facilitate my furthering of these interests, holiday or
no.
7. UPDATE! I'm looking towards something
that has more of a screen and can decode videos. I think one way squeeze more
into my day is to get at least one show in while I'm at the gym. There are
several good choices - but I'll need to do more research - contributions towards
this end will push my decision-making process along.
Contributions toward replacing my digital media
player. Technology marches on - my Sansa still works perfectly.. it's just not
fast enough or sufficiently capacious to handle all the new opportunities I
could be enjoying.
See you guys in a few millennia
(UPDATED!)! |
|
|
