forward, with caution
Polaroid: IT'S ALIVE!!!
The Impossible Project is impossible no more.
and there was beer
FIVE YEARS
I don't write on here as frequently as I used to (just...so...dang...busy), but it's worth pausing to say that today is my fifth wedding anniversary!
Valerie, you continue to be a more amazing wife than I could ever have hoped, and I will love you for years to come :-)
Valerie, you continue to be a more amazing wife than I could ever have hoped, and I will love you for years to come :-)
we will become silhouettes
The Unrestricted Flow of the Internet
It appears that the FCC is on the cusp of implementing Net Neutrality regulations that would prevent Internet service providers, or ISPs, (like Comcast or AT&T's mobile broadband) from charging more money to serve bandwidth-intensive content like video and other media. The ISPs don't like this, and these choice quotes underscore a fundamental problem of letting some industries run unchecked (all quotes from the BBC's coverage):
This reminds me of a fantastic article I read on Rands In Repose back in March about the Brooklyn Bridge. I think this describes the ISPs fairly well:
AT&T and other wireless carriers will only increase their data capacity as much as they have to. Perhaps the FCC's new rules will light a fire under their collective butt.
"...a new set of regulations that will limit customer choices and affect content providers, application developers, device manufacturers and network builders..." - Verizon
"...so it's still fair to ask whether increased regulation of the internet is a solution in search of a problem." - Comcast
"We are concerned the FCC appears ready to extend the entire array of net neutrality requirements to what is perhaps the most competitive consumer market in America - wireless services." - AT&T
This reminds me of a fantastic article I read on Rands In Repose back in March about the Brooklyn Bridge. I think this describes the ISPs fairly well:
When Brooklyn and New York’s population was booming at the end of the 19th century, the best way to get to and from Brooklyn was via ferries. As solutions were considered, I’m sure there were those who simply thought, “More boats!” These ardent defenders of the status quo were not engineers — they were the business. Their goal was not to build something great, but to make a profit.
AT&T and other wireless carriers will only increase their data capacity as much as they have to. Perhaps the FCC's new rules will light a fire under their collective butt.
brighter when I'm gone
Flickr Galleries
Today Flickr announced a new Galleries feature. Now there's a way for users to create their own curated collections of photos from the site and add commentary to the group. I suppose it's essentially a specialized Set for other people's photos (up to 18). I think this is going to prove distracting while I attempt to get some homework done this evening...
no longer receiving
let the wild rumpus start
Ze Frank on Health Care
Can anybody be simultaneously insightful and entertaining the way Ze Frank can, especially about serious topics like health care? Fantastic:
http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/29650554001?isVid=1&publisherID=293884104
http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/29650554001?isVid=1&publisherID=293884104
span
A N T S
On a Molecular Level
Incredible! The BBC reports on IBM's research that has led to the imaging of a single molecule and its bonds! Just as fascinating (to nerds like me) is the imaging methodology:
Their version of the device acts like a tiny tuning fork, with one of the prongs of the fork passing incredibly close to the sample and the other farther away.
When the fork is set vibrating, the prong nearest the sample will experience a minuscule shift in the frequency of its vibration, simply because it is getting close to the molecule.
Comparing the frequencies of the two prongs gives a measure of just how close the nearer prong is, effectively mapping out the molecule's structure.
Nothing Left to Destroy
Take a look, it's in a book...
Tomorrow, sadly, marks the end of a childhood institution, Reading Rainbow.
Giving Union Hill the Business
This is exactly the type of story I like to see: After years of decay, Union Hill has been rezoned to allow some commercial property under special circumstances. Let's hope this stems the tide of dilapidation and attracts more interest in what I think is an interesting and overlooked corner of the city.
everybody to the limit
Hayashi Sushi replaces Akida in the West End
So it seems as if Akida's West End location as been replaced by Hayashi Sushi.
I'm a big fan of Akida on Robinson St. in The Fan, but despite its superior ambiance, I always thought the West End location (conveniently close to my office) edged them out on the preparation/flavor front. So what I'm left to wonder is whether a) the West End Akida couldn't stay open, b) the operators of that location bought out the location, or c) something else I'm not considering happened.
Richmond Biz Sense reported the business license for Hayashi on 6/11, and the earliest review online that I can see is from July 17th. Oh yeah, and so far no website to be found.
Anybody know what happened? Anybody been to Hayashi? I may have to go there next week to give it a shot.
I'm a big fan of Akida on Robinson St. in The Fan, but despite its superior ambiance, I always thought the West End location (conveniently close to my office) edged them out on the preparation/flavor front. So what I'm left to wonder is whether a) the West End Akida couldn't stay open, b) the operators of that location bought out the location, or c) something else I'm not considering happened.
Richmond Biz Sense reported the business license for Hayashi on 6/11, and the earliest review online that I can see is from July 17th. Oh yeah, and so far no website to be found.
Anybody know what happened? Anybody been to Hayashi? I may have to go there next week to give it a shot.
great DOF and tones!
It's probably pretty clear that I never went to art school.
I've explained before how, in my formative years, I was on the fence deciding between my creative and analytical sides. Having chosen the analytical school and (so far) job path there's one are of my artistic life that seems to be missing - criticism. I've not, that is, participated in, dealt, received, nor studied formal art criticism (okay, so a really easy voice jury when I took singing lessons as a non-major...I don't think that counts). My photography class in the summer of 2008 was supposed to include two critiques but did not.
The thing is, I believe there's at least some value to deeper investigation of creative output. I just don't really know where to start and how far to go. On the one hand there's the high-minded bloviating found, tragically, all-too-often in the mainstream art world. On the other, there are comments like this post's title and scads like it that I see on Flickr every day that say little more than the obvious.
NOW...
I'm not suggesting that all verbose criticism is overwrought nonsense. Certainly complex and personal reactions to great art can elicit complex responses. I do not, additionally, dismiss all simple gut-reactions as empty commentary. It's still complimentary for somebody to suggest that your photo's composition is nice, or that the architecture of a concert hall has pretty windows. I guess I just want a middle ground.
I've been trying, as much as possible, to really slow down and examine photographs I see on Flickr before (if at all) commenting. On such occasion that I post something, I've tried to add something of value - some detail about how I react to the picture. There are plenty of "Wow, sweet" comments left in my wake, but when I feel like a picture is worth prolonged staring, I like to say why in a bit more detail than "Great angle and colors."
I'm not terribly worried about the grad-school-style diatribes because, frankly, I don't think I'm that intricate a writer.
I've explained before how, in my formative years, I was on the fence deciding between my creative and analytical sides. Having chosen the analytical school and (so far) job path there's one are of my artistic life that seems to be missing - criticism. I've not, that is, participated in, dealt, received, nor studied formal art criticism (okay, so a really easy voice jury when I took singing lessons as a non-major...I don't think that counts). My photography class in the summer of 2008 was supposed to include two critiques but did not.
The thing is, I believe there's at least some value to deeper investigation of creative output. I just don't really know where to start and how far to go. On the one hand there's the high-minded bloviating found, tragically, all-too-often in the mainstream art world. On the other, there are comments like this post's title and scads like it that I see on Flickr every day that say little more than the obvious.
NOW...
I'm not suggesting that all verbose criticism is overwrought nonsense. Certainly complex and personal reactions to great art can elicit complex responses. I do not, additionally, dismiss all simple gut-reactions as empty commentary. It's still complimentary for somebody to suggest that your photo's composition is nice, or that the architecture of a concert hall has pretty windows. I guess I just want a middle ground.
I've been trying, as much as possible, to really slow down and examine photographs I see on Flickr before (if at all) commenting. On such occasion that I post something, I've tried to add something of value - some detail about how I react to the picture. There are plenty of "Wow, sweet" comments left in my wake, but when I feel like a picture is worth prolonged staring, I like to say why in a bit more detail than "Great angle and colors."
I'm not terribly worried about the grad-school-style diatribes because, frankly, I don't think I'm that intricate a writer.
Imaginariotron
Vicky Christina Barcelona
Vicky Christina Barcelona is Woody Allen's 2008 romantic comedy and, man, it was kind of a snooze.
Valerie's latest arrival from Netflix gave me mixed feelings; on the one hand I was looking forward to wading in a bit more to Allen's catalog, but I wasn't particularly excited about this flick going in. I don't think that later sentiment interfered with my viewing experience. I think, rather, that a number of elements of the film got in the way...
It was no help that the film started off giving me more than a few bad first impressions. Intrusive and awkwardly-voiced narration. Characters who are more concept than real. An image of Barcelona that I might see in a tourist guide. Add to all that a script that felt like it was written by an advertising copywriter and acting like a community theater audition, and you have a recipe for a mostly wasted movie.
Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz both acted quite well and saved it a bit, but I was repeatedly dragged back to negativity by cheesy scene transitions (an awkwardly jarring dissolve...oi) and Scarlett Johanssen's bland rendering of the screenplay.
Maybe I just need to bump Annie Hall to the top of my list to see what the real fuss over Woody Allen is about.
2/5
Valerie's latest arrival from Netflix gave me mixed feelings; on the one hand I was looking forward to wading in a bit more to Allen's catalog, but I wasn't particularly excited about this flick going in. I don't think that later sentiment interfered with my viewing experience. I think, rather, that a number of elements of the film got in the way...
It was no help that the film started off giving me more than a few bad first impressions. Intrusive and awkwardly-voiced narration. Characters who are more concept than real. An image of Barcelona that I might see in a tourist guide. Add to all that a script that felt like it was written by an advertising copywriter and acting like a community theater audition, and you have a recipe for a mostly wasted movie.
Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz both acted quite well and saved it a bit, but I was repeatedly dragged back to negativity by cheesy scene transitions (an awkwardly jarring dissolve...oi) and Scarlett Johanssen's bland rendering of the screenplay.
Maybe I just need to bump Annie Hall to the top of my list to see what the real fuss over Woody Allen is about.
2/5
two coca cola bottles
To have, to realize that two Coca Cola bottles are not identical and what makes them not identical is that they're not at the same point. They can't be at the same point in space. Since they're not at the same point in space they automatically receive - each one receives light differently than the other, so that it can be as fascinating as going to a museum to look carefully, attentively at two Coca Cola bottles, hmm? And something of that is implicit in a great deal of 20th century art.
John Cage in an interview with Terry Gross on WHYY's Fresh Air.
more federal photography insanity
It's bad enough that there's paranoid ambiguity around whether you can photograph a Federal Reserve building, but now the Secretary of Homeland Security has suggested that continually photographing a vaguely-described "critical piece of infrastructure" is grounds for calling the cops.
Complete idiocy.
Complete idiocy.
repose
