I stopped on the way home today to take some photos on Connecticut Ave NW near work. It's always fun to experiment and tonight one of the things I played around with was motion blur/tracking. I got this photo here that I was pretty happy with. I put up 3 others on Flickr. I took almost 80 photos, but whittled it down to my favorite 4 for you to see.
I hope you enjoy.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
What is Good for Ya?
To all you Joe Six-Packs out there who are tired of people tellin' ya what ya OUGHT to do and what ya SHOULD do, I've found your spokesman…Frank Sodolak.
It's time to eschew, er ignore, those people who tell us that craving something isn't enough justification to do it. I mean, as Frank likes to say: “You know? What is good for ya? It's your own body can tell what's good for ya.” Apparently Frank’s customers agree on one thing - battering bacon strips then deep frying them and serving with gravy is good for your body. Your poor…Poor body.
Supporting Frank is supporting all those good ol boys who say, “Hey, eating this, or drinking that may not be good for me but, maybe it IS good for me and all you nay-sayers out there are simply trying to take away my choices.”
I agree with Ol Frank’s assertion that no one should be able to keep him from serving up multiple rounds of deep-fried, battered, bacon and a side of gravy “sauce”. However, it’s his instance that “your own body can tell what’s good for [you]” that I find the most refreshing. Frank, I think most of America’s bodies, mine included, are telling us that our modern food and exercise habits are not “good for ya”.
Still, we have to defend the rights of Americans to royally screw our bodies over. It may be ugly, and it may be frightening, but it goes along with the territory. Call it natural selection, call it gluttony, or simply call it "Loving Freedom". We have to embrace our freedom to choose with all the best intentions and all the worst results. Either way, here’s to you Frank Sodolak, a scary, true, American.
Monday, September 22, 2008
CVC "Virtual Tour"...first steps
It’s been awhile since I’d updated my Flickr but hopefully you’ll agree it was worth the wait. I finally got around to rough processing some of the photos I’ve taken around the CVC lately and I picked a few of my favorites to post. Once the CVC opens (allegedly this December to visitors) it’s certainly going to be the buzz around town. The sheer volume of the space is almost without precedent on the Hill, which is certainly a meaningful statement given the nature of monumental architecture.
One of the most impressive spaces is the newly dubbed “Emancipation Hall”, previously the “Great Hall”. They have started moving statues in and included in the list of sculpture and statuary is the original model for the “Freedom Statue” as sculpted by Thomas Crawford himself. This is the plaster model that was transported to the US on a leaky ship and used for casting the actual bronze statue atop the US Capitol Dome. Even given the massive size of the statue, when trying to view it from ground level the detail is hard to make out at the top of the dome. About all you can gather is that it appears to be some kind of Indian. Well it isn’t. You can get a much closer look at all the detail by checking out the statue from right at it’s feet in Emancipation Hall.
If you can’t wait until December though, go check out my Flickr site for a few shots of the “Freedom Statue” being reassembled in Emancipation Hall. You’ll also see some of the other statues they’ve already brought in, catch a glimpse of the visitor’s auditorium, and if you’re still not impressed, check out the whole CVC set including some of my past CVC shots.
Hopefully I’ll be adding more CVC photos as I have the chance. Lastly, I took some fun pictures at the Sackler and the Freer Smithsonian museums this weekend that I hope to be editing and posting soon. If you're going to be in the area soon I recommend seeing the "Seascapes" exhibit by Tryon and Sugimoto on display until January 25, 2009. Very calming and maybe slightly inspiring. Worthy of contemplation.
I Love DC!
Stay Tuned!!!
Mike
One of the most impressive spaces is the newly dubbed “Emancipation Hall”, previously the “Great Hall”. They have started moving statues in and included in the list of sculpture and statuary is the original model for the “Freedom Statue” as sculpted by Thomas Crawford himself. This is the plaster model that was transported to the US on a leaky ship and used for casting the actual bronze statue atop the US Capitol Dome. Even given the massive size of the statue, when trying to view it from ground level the detail is hard to make out at the top of the dome. About all you can gather is that it appears to be some kind of Indian. Well it isn’t. You can get a much closer look at all the detail by checking out the statue from right at it’s feet in Emancipation Hall.
If you can’t wait until December though, go check out my Flickr site for a few shots of the “Freedom Statue” being reassembled in Emancipation Hall. You’ll also see some of the other statues they’ve already brought in, catch a glimpse of the visitor’s auditorium, and if you’re still not impressed, check out the whole CVC set including some of my past CVC shots.
Hopefully I’ll be adding more CVC photos as I have the chance. Lastly, I took some fun pictures at the Sackler and the Freer Smithsonian museums this weekend that I hope to be editing and posting soon. If you're going to be in the area soon I recommend seeing the "Seascapes" exhibit by Tryon and Sugimoto on display until January 25, 2009. Very calming and maybe slightly inspiring. Worthy of contemplation.
I Love DC!
Stay Tuned!!!
Mike
Friday, September 19, 2008
Just to Say Hi
I was checking the pages on my bookmarks tab when I realized it had been almost a month since I posted an updated. In an effort to not offend the sea of readers hitting my page every day desperately or hopefully awaiting the next bit of news, I’ll offer the following minutiae. It’s good to go back to the blog’s roots sometimes, otherwise I’d be forced to change that banner catch-line.
Though it’s 3 days early, I’m welcoming emissaries and ambassadors autumn’s already sent our way. Yes, in a few weeks I’m sure you’ll get yet another post about what I love about Fall, until then simply content yourselves with knowing that this year we tried to embrace summer as best we could. No sense in regretting the present season for loyalty to an absent fall.
Things are good at the Colburn house and this summer saw quite a bit of activity. Amon got some serious progress made on her scrap books, which you probably got a chance to see in draft form if you were one of the folks who lived along the route of our summer odyssey. I got new software for our Mac that makes processing/editing photos easier; many thanks to our friend Tom with the hook up at Adobe. We had friends over for meals, got to be guests at friends tables, read some good books, and in general got a lot done. Of course there’s never enough time and Amon continues to have so many ideas of fun and productive things to do, that we should never have an excuse to be bored.
I attended back to school night with Amon yesterday, and once again was confronted with how unfair it is for teachers to get to work by 6:30am, work all day have an hour break, and have to be back at school to start another “day” of open-house-classes at 7:30pm. But they do it, and a few parents come to meet their child’s teacher, see the amazing class room they’ve set up and appreciate things in general. A few more parents come, show up late for the period, skip out early, and in general feel that they don’t have the time to be bothered listening to the teacher’s talk about what their child is going to learn in the class; they need to see all the teachers before the first period is over so they can leave early. I wonder where their kids learn their bad habits. Must be TV.
Well, I’ll leave my ranting to the professionals as there will be enough negativity on the TV, radio, and printed page between now and November to world of blogs into the ground.
I’ll leave you with this thought…pick the more challenging of the two:
“If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give.” - George MacDonald
“I do not think that the road to contentment lies in despising what we have not got. Let us acknowledge all good, all delight that the world holds, and be content without it.” - George MacDonald
Though it’s 3 days early, I’m welcoming emissaries and ambassadors autumn’s already sent our way. Yes, in a few weeks I’m sure you’ll get yet another post about what I love about Fall, until then simply content yourselves with knowing that this year we tried to embrace summer as best we could. No sense in regretting the present season for loyalty to an absent fall.
Things are good at the Colburn house and this summer saw quite a bit of activity. Amon got some serious progress made on her scrap books, which you probably got a chance to see in draft form if you were one of the folks who lived along the route of our summer odyssey. I got new software for our Mac that makes processing/editing photos easier; many thanks to our friend Tom with the hook up at Adobe. We had friends over for meals, got to be guests at friends tables, read some good books, and in general got a lot done. Of course there’s never enough time and Amon continues to have so many ideas of fun and productive things to do, that we should never have an excuse to be bored.
I attended back to school night with Amon yesterday, and once again was confronted with how unfair it is for teachers to get to work by 6:30am, work all day have an hour break, and have to be back at school to start another “day” of open-house-classes at 7:30pm. But they do it, and a few parents come to meet their child’s teacher, see the amazing class room they’ve set up and appreciate things in general. A few more parents come, show up late for the period, skip out early, and in general feel that they don’t have the time to be bothered listening to the teacher’s talk about what their child is going to learn in the class; they need to see all the teachers before the first period is over so they can leave early. I wonder where their kids learn their bad habits. Must be TV.
Well, I’ll leave my ranting to the professionals as there will be enough negativity on the TV, radio, and printed page between now and November to world of blogs into the ground.
I’ll leave you with this thought…pick the more challenging of the two:
“If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give.” - George MacDonald
“I do not think that the road to contentment lies in despising what we have not got. Let us acknowledge all good, all delight that the world holds, and be content without it.” - George MacDonald
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Oatmeal with Caramelized Sugar
This is a recipe I made up one morning when I wanted to have a nice breakfast but didn’t have a lot around the kitchen. Everything in this recipe can sit on a shelf for months without going bad, which greatly enhances your chances of having the ingredients when you need them. The sugar discs add crunch to the smooth texture of the oatmeal, and as they slowly dissolve will provide pockets of extra flavor.
Ingredients:
Oats – 1 cup per serving
Salt – ¼ tsp for every cup of oats
Sugar – 2 tsp per cup of oats
Cinnamon – ½ tsp per cup of oats
Raisins – ¼ cup raisins, more to taste
Water – portioned per the directions on the oats
Directions:
-Dissolve salt into water and set on high heat.
-Cover an aluminum or steel baking sheet with a layer of heavy duty aluminum foil. Spoon out sugar into a desired shape (circular, strips, etc), 1 tsp. per cup of oats. Using food torch, caramelize the sugar into discs being careful not to burn the sugar. Let cool. After the sugar has cooled, carefully peel away from the aluminum foil. Carefully set aside.
-Once water boils, remove from heat. Combine the oats, remaining tsp of sugar and raisins, mixing thoroughly. Slowly add the hot water to the oat mixture gently stirring until all water is absorbed.
-To serve, portion the oatmeal into bowls and arrange the sugar discs around the oatmeal.
Alternatives:
-For some variety, try using brown sugar instead of white, and experiment with other fruits.
-Dried fruits, such as raisins and dried cranberries work well as they absorb some of the water and thus flavor as the hot water is mixed in.
-The sugar discs add crunch to the smooth texture of the oatmeal, and as they slowly dissolve will provide pockets of extra flavor.
-The salt helps add savory-ness to the dish, but can be lowered or left out if watching sodium intake.
Ingredients:
Oats – 1 cup per serving
Salt – ¼ tsp for every cup of oats
Sugar – 2 tsp per cup of oats
Cinnamon – ½ tsp per cup of oats
Raisins – ¼ cup raisins, more to taste
Water – portioned per the directions on the oats
Directions:
-Dissolve salt into water and set on high heat.
-Cover an aluminum or steel baking sheet with a layer of heavy duty aluminum foil. Spoon out sugar into a desired shape (circular, strips, etc), 1 tsp. per cup of oats. Using food torch, caramelize the sugar into discs being careful not to burn the sugar. Let cool. After the sugar has cooled, carefully peel away from the aluminum foil. Carefully set aside.
-Once water boils, remove from heat. Combine the oats, remaining tsp of sugar and raisins, mixing thoroughly. Slowly add the hot water to the oat mixture gently stirring until all water is absorbed.
-To serve, portion the oatmeal into bowls and arrange the sugar discs around the oatmeal.
Alternatives:
-For some variety, try using brown sugar instead of white, and experiment with other fruits.
-Dried fruits, such as raisins and dried cranberries work well as they absorb some of the water and thus flavor as the hot water is mixed in.
-The sugar discs add crunch to the smooth texture of the oatmeal, and as they slowly dissolve will provide pockets of extra flavor.
-The salt helps add savory-ness to the dish, but can be lowered or left out if watching sodium intake.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Books Now!
Books, books, books, books. One big advantage to commuting to work via train is a guaranteed time each day that you are going to be able to read, assuming you bring a book. One disadvantage to commuting to work via train is getting 20 to 30 minutes into a good book and having to stop, assuming you bring a book with you. However painful it may be to tear yourself out of the book at the proper stop, it all hinges on having the right book with you. I’ve made it through quite a few books that I read primarily in my commute time.
When I first moved to DC I was living in La Plata Maryland with the Milster’s and had about 45 minutes (1hour plus on bad days) of train ride both ways every day. During that time I read all three of the Lord of the Rings books. My commute is shorter now, but I’ve read books from Agatha Christie (Then There Was One), to C.S. Lewis, to Heat (a cooking book about Mario Batali, sort of), to my most recently finished book Every Earthly Blessing. Reading all these books happens naturally when you have the time set aside each day; the hard part is building up a good reserve of books to choose from.
Choosing books is much easier when you have a running list you can refer to. That’s probably my favorite thing about Goodreads.com. By having my “to read” list online I can access it from anywhere I have internet connectivity. Also, by using Goodreads, I’m able to pilfer ideas from others people whether like minded or more diverse.
I just used Goodreads to put together a book order, together with Amon, from Amazon using a gift certificate we got by sorting all of our spare change from last year. I’m pretty excited about the incoming new books, it feels like a slightly self-indulgent Christmas in August.
In the meantime I’m re-reading some parts of the Old Testament (any favorite sections I should check out?) and considering reading Pride and Prejudice. Amon’s got the Jane Austen Book Club thing going on, and it’s a good “excuse” to read some books I might get thrown out of the Guy’s Club for reading.
So now I’m waiting for Amazon and the US Postal Service to get my new books to me so I can ensure that daily hour of commute gets put to good use. You hear me Amazon? I’m talking to you!
When I first moved to DC I was living in La Plata Maryland with the Milster’s and had about 45 minutes (1hour plus on bad days) of train ride both ways every day. During that time I read all three of the Lord of the Rings books. My commute is shorter now, but I’ve read books from Agatha Christie (Then There Was One), to C.S. Lewis, to Heat (a cooking book about Mario Batali, sort of), to my most recently finished book Every Earthly Blessing. Reading all these books happens naturally when you have the time set aside each day; the hard part is building up a good reserve of books to choose from.
Choosing books is much easier when you have a running list you can refer to. That’s probably my favorite thing about Goodreads.com. By having my “to read” list online I can access it from anywhere I have internet connectivity. Also, by using Goodreads, I’m able to pilfer ideas from others people whether like minded or more diverse.
I just used Goodreads to put together a book order, together with Amon, from Amazon using a gift certificate we got by sorting all of our spare change from last year. I’m pretty excited about the incoming new books, it feels like a slightly self-indulgent Christmas in August.
In the meantime I’m re-reading some parts of the Old Testament (any favorite sections I should check out?) and considering reading Pride and Prejudice. Amon’s got the Jane Austen Book Club thing going on, and it’s a good “excuse” to read some books I might get thrown out of the Guy’s Club for reading.
So now I’m waiting for Amazon and the US Postal Service to get my new books to me so I can ensure that daily hour of commute gets put to good use. You hear me Amazon? I’m talking to you!
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Attention Span
Interesting commentary on male attention spans? I sort of feel bad for the two blondes decked out in their skimpy bikinis, relegated to the boat's stern and obviously very bored while the guys are all in the front of the boat so engrossed in the airshow they seem to have forgotten the other two members of their party. I'm sure that once the last contrail had dissipated the proper center of attention was restored.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Back in the States
So long out of the States, but we crossed back into Michigan on the 12th. Pictures will be posted once we get home but Tobermory was beautiful.
We've been staying with friends for the last few days and will head to Amon's Mom's tomorrow. I've heard good things about the parks in Ft. Wayne.
Hope everyone is doing well.
Mike
Saturday, July 05, 2008
4th and 5th of July
After dinner we headed over to see fireworks. I got some pictures I was happy with that will be posted to Flickr as soon as I have computer access.
Right now I'm in a boat on Lake Michigan, Grand Traverse Bay, heading from Omena to Traverse City to watch the Blue Angels air show. Attached is a picture taken with my work phone. Sorry for the quality.
Will update again soon.
Mike and Amon
Friday, July 04, 2008
En-route
Mike and Amon's
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Oncoming Odyssey
Although it seems pertinent to avoid writing about our up-coming trip in Odyssey-esque terms, I have to say it is very tempting. If you don’t hear from Amon or me for a week or two, it’s probably due to our long road trip.
As if anyone needed more reason to take a vacation than the beginning of summer, Amon and I decided that the culmination of the Independence day, our anniversary, and my birthday combined with a friend’s wedding was pretty good reason to cast off on our own many Odyssey.
We’ll leave for Michigan and be in Omena by the 4th of July, be on Mackinac Island by the 7th, and in Tobermory Ontario by the 10th. From there we’ll make our way to Indianapolis to see Amon’s mom, and St. Louis to see my family. Finally on the 19th I’ll be in my friend Andrew’s wedding, and the 20th will see us driving all day back from Missouri to Maryland.
I just bought 6 Gigabyte more flash memory for my camera, so hopefully armed with that and some amazing landscape I’ll have a few pictures up on this blog or Flickr along the way.
Any prayers you’d like to send our way for safe travels, cheap gas, and good weather would be much appreciated.
Stay tuned for updates when we have internet access.
Mike
As if anyone needed more reason to take a vacation than the beginning of summer, Amon and I decided that the culmination of the Independence day, our anniversary, and my birthday combined with a friend’s wedding was pretty good reason to cast off on our own many Odyssey.
We’ll leave for Michigan and be in Omena by the 4th of July, be on Mackinac Island by the 7th, and in Tobermory Ontario by the 10th. From there we’ll make our way to Indianapolis to see Amon’s mom, and St. Louis to see my family. Finally on the 19th I’ll be in my friend Andrew’s wedding, and the 20th will see us driving all day back from Missouri to Maryland.
I just bought 6 Gigabyte more flash memory for my camera, so hopefully armed with that and some amazing landscape I’ll have a few pictures up on this blog or Flickr along the way.
Any prayers you’d like to send our way for safe travels, cheap gas, and good weather would be much appreciated.
Stay tuned for updates when we have internet access.
Mike
Monday, June 30, 2008
Test Picture
Test body 123.
This was sent from my cell phone while on the train. It managed to actually post to the blog properly, which means that you're significantly more likely to actually get updates and pictures posted here while I'm on vacation. Excellent.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Desert Suburbs
New pictures up taken during my flight back from Infocomm 08 in Las Vegas, plus some other updated photos. Go check them out.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcolburn
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcolburn
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
DSLRs under $600
Seriously folks. If you’re looking to start exploring DSLR photography, this is a great way to do it.
A quick google search for reviews of this camera ought to reveal many indepth camera reviews including a couple of great sites, dpreview is more brief and factual, and Ken Rockwell is prolific if nothing else and loves his Nikon D40. Trust the technical information Rockwell gives, but keep in mind that he is pretty opinionated about preferences between one camera and another. I’ll give you the nitty gritty of it here:
Nikon D40 Quick Review:
Body: Compact and Light (for an SLR)
Lens Compatibility: ONLY AF-S lenses (Autofocus drive built into lens)
Memory: Accepts SD and SDHC
File Format: Raw, JPG, or Combination
Sensor: 6 Megapixel
Personal Experience
I’ve been using the Nikon D40 for a few months shy of a year now so I can officially tell you something useful about it. The Nikon D40 is not a Hasselblad H3DII-39MS, it is not a Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III SLR nor is it a Nikon D3. If you don’t know what any of those specific cameras are, or even recognize the brand Hasselblad, then chances are you don’t need a $44,000 39 Megapixel camera, an $8,000 21 Megapixel camera, or even a $5,000 12 Megapixel camera (top Hasselblad, Canon, and Nikon DSLR respectively).
I’ve written before about the right way versus the wrong way to chose a digital camera. It was a long drawn out article that may or may not have been useful. Quick synopsis: if you just want a camera to make a good looking image for you anytime you pull it out of your pocket, then stick with a point and shoot. If you are looking to have maximum control over the look and feel of the image (how bright/dark it is, what’s crisp and what’s out of focus) and the ability to change the zoom range of your camera without buying/learning about a whole new camera then consider a DSLR. As far as megapixels: look for something with at least 6 Megapixels and then forget about it (unless you plan on regularly printing posters larger than 11 x 14).
So IF you think a DSLR might be worth playing around with AND you don’t plan on regularly printing larger than 11x14 consider the Nikon D40.
You can check out my Flickr site to see pictures taken with it, both casually as well as more intentional “photography”. You can also check out any number of groups on Flickr that are composed entirely of D40 photos.
Look into it and if you decide to get a DSLR, use it. Don’t just stick it on a shelf somewhere. If you don’t decide to get a DSLR, then get your point and shoot and go take photos of the world and people around you. Either way, it’s up to you. Just don’t waste the technology you are lucky enough to have.
A quick google search for reviews of this camera ought to reveal many indepth camera reviews including a couple of great sites, dpreview is more brief and factual, and Ken Rockwell is prolific if nothing else and loves his Nikon D40. Trust the technical information Rockwell gives, but keep in mind that he is pretty opinionated about preferences between one camera and another. I’ll give you the nitty gritty of it here:
Nikon D40 Quick Review:
Body: Compact and Light (for an SLR)
Lens Compatibility: ONLY AF-S lenses (Autofocus drive built into lens)
Memory: Accepts SD and SDHC
File Format: Raw, JPG, or Combination
Sensor: 6 Megapixel
Personal Experience
I’ve been using the Nikon D40 for a few months shy of a year now so I can officially tell you something useful about it. The Nikon D40 is not a Hasselblad H3DII-39MS, it is not a Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III SLR nor is it a Nikon D3. If you don’t know what any of those specific cameras are, or even recognize the brand Hasselblad, then chances are you don’t need a $44,000 39 Megapixel camera, an $8,000 21 Megapixel camera, or even a $5,000 12 Megapixel camera (top Hasselblad, Canon, and Nikon DSLR respectively).
I’ve written before about the right way versus the wrong way to chose a digital camera. It was a long drawn out article that may or may not have been useful. Quick synopsis: if you just want a camera to make a good looking image for you anytime you pull it out of your pocket, then stick with a point and shoot. If you are looking to have maximum control over the look and feel of the image (how bright/dark it is, what’s crisp and what’s out of focus) and the ability to change the zoom range of your camera without buying/learning about a whole new camera then consider a DSLR. As far as megapixels: look for something with at least 6 Megapixels and then forget about it (unless you plan on regularly printing posters larger than 11 x 14).
So IF you think a DSLR might be worth playing around with AND you don’t plan on regularly printing larger than 11x14 consider the Nikon D40.
You can check out my Flickr site to see pictures taken with it, both casually as well as more intentional “photography”. You can also check out any number of groups on Flickr that are composed entirely of D40 photos.
Look into it and if you decide to get a DSLR, use it. Don’t just stick it on a shelf somewhere. If you don’t decide to get a DSLR, then get your point and shoot and go take photos of the world and people around you. Either way, it’s up to you. Just don’t waste the technology you are lucky enough to have.
Saturday, June 07, 2008
First Lightning Photo
My first time catching a lightning bolt in a photo. I'll have to keep working on this one.
Sunday, June 01, 2008
OK A Little Wet
Went to the National Zoo with our friend PT who is in town this weekend. It was a blast, though a wee bit wet. OK. Honestly it stormed (thunder, lighting, and torrential downpours) for the better part of the visit but it was still lots of fun. Probably resulted in some more unique photos. I can say this in such good spirits because my camera survived. Somehow.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Friday, May 30, 2008
Too Bluetooth or Not
Given the massive market penetration of this device and associated service, what do you know about your phone? Do you know how GSM works? No? How about terms like 3G or Edge networks? No? Ok, something simple, Bluetooth. Ah, at least you’ve heard of that one. Last term: SAR? Nothing? Well this one might be worth learning about: Specific Aborption Rate. SAR is the amount of radiation your body is exposed to from any given device.
Cell phones are largely taken for granted. There are a few who resist the technology either out of some fear of consequences to health or society, or out of a longing to maintain some distance or boundaries. With the exception of these remaining 2 or 3 people the rest of the world’s population, are eating it up. According to the International Telecommunications Union, in 2006 over 90% of the developed world’s population subscribed to a cellphone service. Oh, sure but no one in the developing world has a cell phone though, right? Well the ITU statistics estimate that in 2006 more than 1 in 3 people had a cellphone in the developing world.
Well all these people out there talking on their cellphones, the FCC is looking out for us with a rating that says whether a device can be sold in the US. In order to get FCC approval, a cellphone has to have meet a level deemed safe by the US, a level that corresponds to a SAR of 1.6W/kg. This measure of radiation is a measurement of how much energy from your mobile device is getting into your body. For comparison purposes Europe has the SAR capped at 2.0W/kg and Canada has the SAR capped at 1.6W/kg as in the US.
The level reported on the phone manual or a given website is likely to be the maximum value, with lesser values being possible on phones that offer multiple signal strength levels for battery performance issues, or based on how the phone is used. Even given this allowance, the maximum values for some of todays phones range from (10 lowest) .14-.4 to the 10 highest at 1.5-1.6. My phone, the Samsung Upstage falls in the high range of “safe” at 1.4W/kg.
The goodnews is that, if the FCC is right and 1.6 is a safe level, everyone in the US is safe, right? That assumes that the FCC is right on about what a safe level is. Whether I should or not, I trust that the FCC is making the most educated decision they can, however since cellular phones have not been around terribly long, anything they do is going to be best on projections, analysis of similar themes from previous knowledge bases, and other very scientific methods. The problem seems to be that we just don’t really know right now, and that we are making a very educated guess but it is ultimately a guess, a guideline.
For today’s cellphone users, you can either rest assured that any device sold is below the threshold of radiation that the FCC has deemed safe, or you can take a further step in considering the SAR of the various phones you are considering purchasing and weighing that data along with all the other. Another option is Bluetooth, again a new technology but similar in concept to cellular. You have a radio transmitter in your cellphone and one in the Bluetooth headset. The difference between cellular and Bluetooth is the distance and the associated power levels.
It takes significantly less power to send a radio wave 5 meters than it does 5 kilometers. As a result it shouldn’t be surprising that while the typical rating of the 10 lowest SAR values for cellphones is 0.2W/kg, the typical rating of a Bluetooth headset is closer to 0.002W/kg. That translates to a Bluetooth device having approximately 1/100th the SAR level of a “low” rated cell phone.
So save some money while avoiding the lunatic/cyborg look of the Bluetooth headset and rest assured that the FDA is doing their best to look out for you. Or, conversely, pick up a Bluetooth headset for anywhere from $20-$120 dollars and add a bit of peace of mind to your potentially paranoid arsenal of ways to live a longer happier life. I’m happy to have a Bluetooth headset now, and quite glad to have my wife using one.
Links
How Stuff Works – Cellular Radiation:
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/cell-phone-radiation3.htm
FCC SAR Page:
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/sar/
Cell Phone Radiation Levels Discusion and Charts:
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6602_7-5020355-1.html
ITU Statistics:
http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/statistics/maps.html
Bluetooth SAR Information:
http://www.bag.admin.ch/themen/strahlung/00053/00673/03571/index.html?lang=en#sprungmarke3_5
Cell phones are largely taken for granted. There are a few who resist the technology either out of some fear of consequences to health or society, or out of a longing to maintain some distance or boundaries. With the exception of these remaining 2 or 3 people the rest of the world’s population, are eating it up. According to the International Telecommunications Union, in 2006 over 90% of the developed world’s population subscribed to a cellphone service. Oh, sure but no one in the developing world has a cell phone though, right? Well the ITU statistics estimate that in 2006 more than 1 in 3 people had a cellphone in the developing world.
Well all these people out there talking on their cellphones, the FCC is looking out for us with a rating that says whether a device can be sold in the US. In order to get FCC approval, a cellphone has to have meet a level deemed safe by the US, a level that corresponds to a SAR of 1.6W/kg. This measure of radiation is a measurement of how much energy from your mobile device is getting into your body. For comparison purposes Europe has the SAR capped at 2.0W/kg and Canada has the SAR capped at 1.6W/kg as in the US.
The level reported on the phone manual or a given website is likely to be the maximum value, with lesser values being possible on phones that offer multiple signal strength levels for battery performance issues, or based on how the phone is used. Even given this allowance, the maximum values for some of todays phones range from (10 lowest) .14-.4 to the 10 highest at 1.5-1.6. My phone, the Samsung Upstage falls in the high range of “safe” at 1.4W/kg.
The goodnews is that, if the FCC is right and 1.6 is a safe level, everyone in the US is safe, right? That assumes that the FCC is right on about what a safe level is. Whether I should or not, I trust that the FCC is making the most educated decision they can, however since cellular phones have not been around terribly long, anything they do is going to be best on projections, analysis of similar themes from previous knowledge bases, and other very scientific methods. The problem seems to be that we just don’t really know right now, and that we are making a very educated guess but it is ultimately a guess, a guideline.
For today’s cellphone users, you can either rest assured that any device sold is below the threshold of radiation that the FCC has deemed safe, or you can take a further step in considering the SAR of the various phones you are considering purchasing and weighing that data along with all the other. Another option is Bluetooth, again a new technology but similar in concept to cellular. You have a radio transmitter in your cellphone and one in the Bluetooth headset. The difference between cellular and Bluetooth is the distance and the associated power levels.
It takes significantly less power to send a radio wave 5 meters than it does 5 kilometers. As a result it shouldn’t be surprising that while the typical rating of the 10 lowest SAR values for cellphones is 0.2W/kg, the typical rating of a Bluetooth headset is closer to 0.002W/kg. That translates to a Bluetooth device having approximately 1/100th the SAR level of a “low” rated cell phone.
So save some money while avoiding the lunatic/cyborg look of the Bluetooth headset and rest assured that the FDA is doing their best to look out for you. Or, conversely, pick up a Bluetooth headset for anywhere from $20-$120 dollars and add a bit of peace of mind to your potentially paranoid arsenal of ways to live a longer happier life. I’m happy to have a Bluetooth headset now, and quite glad to have my wife using one.
Links
How Stuff Works – Cellular Radiation:
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/cell-phone-radiation3.htm
FCC SAR Page:
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/sar/
Cell Phone Radiation Levels Discusion and Charts:
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6602_7-5020355-1.html
ITU Statistics:
http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/statistics/maps.html
Bluetooth SAR Information:
http://www.bag.admin.ch/themen/strahlung/00053/00673/03571/index.html?lang=en#sprungmarke3_5
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Amon and Mike with Liberty Bell
Just got back from Philly seeing Patti, and the various sights. I think my favorite part was the food. Marathon Grille was a nicer place, Lemon Grass was the best curry I've ever eaten (and at a Prix Fixe $9.95 for appetizer, soup, and entree very reasonable), and the cheesesteak was decent.
Click through HERE to see my 32 favorite photos from the weekend.
Click through HERE to see my 32 favorite photos from the weekend.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Amon Odessey
Got a picture of Amon so I could at least prove SHE was there ;)
It was her time to chaperone the 2008 Prom for her school. It was a good opportunity to get the camera out. You can see more pictures at my Flickr account:
Prom Kids
A few kids at the Prom. Thought the colors and ghostly images of the fluttering dresses were nice against the uniformity of the white rails.
Balcony scene by Night II
Amon was required to chaperone the 2008 Prom at her school. Fortunately the Prom was on a dinner cruise boat, giving me some opportunities to take some interesting photos.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Cooking Healthier
Audio quote of the day:
“Because I like to eat, is that such a crime?” – School of Rock (click above for audio)
Yeah, I’m sorta on a diet. I really want to go on a diet, but unfortunately, I’m at this point where I’ve really started loving to cook. I sit at work and when I’m not drafting in Autocad, writing up meeting minutes, or walking around the US Capitol, all I can think about or talk about is cooking. I just read Soul of a Chef, which was probably not the best book to read if you're wanting to stop cooking so much.
For the first time in my life I actually have good things to cook with AND someone to cook for. I had to have the basics of oven cooking and sautéing down from when I cooked for 50 guys every week in college. Now that I’m scaling back the cooking though, I’m learning about pan frying, starting things on the stove and finishing them in the oven, broiling, making pan sauces and gravies, seasoning, and all sorts of other fun activities.
Cooking is actually relaxing for me, assuming I’m not trying a recipe I made up for the first time with 20 people eating. I like that when I’m cooking my brain doesn’t start thinking about work, bills, or any of life’s other little attention grabbers. I’m focused on the done-ness of the meat, whether the water is boiling yet, when I should start steaming the vegetables and making sure the pasta isn’t going past al dente. The kitchen is full of the fragrance of onion, garlic, oregano, chilli powder, or whichever other aromatics are being used in the nights meal.
And absolutely best of all, when it's over I get to enjoy a nice meal and the satisfaction that “I made this.” Honestly, it’s a great feeling knowing that the meal your eating might cost you 20 or 30 bucks in a restaurant.
However, it’s also a great way to NOT lose weight. Originally, I would make too much, and then it would all get eaten because it tasted good and was there. The last few weeks though, I’ve started portioning out the “left overs” before I even plate up the meal, this makes it less tempting to eat too much.
Now, I’m trying to come up with recipes that are fun to cook (lots of chopping, cooking, seasoning, etc.) but are healthier. Amon isn’t a big fan of fish, which would be one easy method for making things healthier, but she does like quite a few vegetables so I’m going to start trying to feature the vegetables more prominently with the carbs as more of an accent and make sure to use chicken and turkey more than fatty cuts of beef. I noticed that ground turkey seems to be much cheaper than ground beef so we’ve been using more of that recently.
So now you all know, my evil secret’s out. I like to cook, is that such a crime? Now I just need to balance loving to cook, with cooking healthier.
“Because I like to eat, is that such a crime?” – School of Rock (click above for audio)
Yeah, I’m sorta on a diet. I really want to go on a diet, but unfortunately, I’m at this point where I’ve really started loving to cook. I sit at work and when I’m not drafting in Autocad, writing up meeting minutes, or walking around the US Capitol, all I can think about or talk about is cooking. I just read Soul of a Chef, which was probably not the best book to read if you're wanting to stop cooking so much.
For the first time in my life I actually have good things to cook with AND someone to cook for. I had to have the basics of oven cooking and sautéing down from when I cooked for 50 guys every week in college. Now that I’m scaling back the cooking though, I’m learning about pan frying, starting things on the stove and finishing them in the oven, broiling, making pan sauces and gravies, seasoning, and all sorts of other fun activities.
Cooking is actually relaxing for me, assuming I’m not trying a recipe I made up for the first time with 20 people eating. I like that when I’m cooking my brain doesn’t start thinking about work, bills, or any of life’s other little attention grabbers. I’m focused on the done-ness of the meat, whether the water is boiling yet, when I should start steaming the vegetables and making sure the pasta isn’t going past al dente. The kitchen is full of the fragrance of onion, garlic, oregano, chilli powder, or whichever other aromatics are being used in the nights meal.
And absolutely best of all, when it's over I get to enjoy a nice meal and the satisfaction that “I made this.” Honestly, it’s a great feeling knowing that the meal your eating might cost you 20 or 30 bucks in a restaurant.
However, it’s also a great way to NOT lose weight. Originally, I would make too much, and then it would all get eaten because it tasted good and was there. The last few weeks though, I’ve started portioning out the “left overs” before I even plate up the meal, this makes it less tempting to eat too much.
Now, I’m trying to come up with recipes that are fun to cook (lots of chopping, cooking, seasoning, etc.) but are healthier. Amon isn’t a big fan of fish, which would be one easy method for making things healthier, but she does like quite a few vegetables so I’m going to start trying to feature the vegetables more prominently with the carbs as more of an accent and make sure to use chicken and turkey more than fatty cuts of beef. I noticed that ground turkey seems to be much cheaper than ground beef so we’ve been using more of that recently.
So now you all know, my evil secret’s out. I like to cook, is that such a crime? Now I just need to balance loving to cook, with cooking healthier.
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Cherry Blossom Kiss
Yes, the pandamonium that is the yearly Cherry Blossom Festival is upon us. This means that it's time for people who never come into DC to break out the bikes, the strollers, and the group T-shirts and clog the metro system. Smithsonian is once again hung with the banner, "Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here (have ticket ready when entering and exiting, stand back - doors closing)".
Little bit of cheesy romance for the sheer fun of it.
As usual, head over to my Flickr account (a link now lives permenantly over on the right hand side of this page with the other links) to see the rest of the pictures from this year's Cherry Blossom Festival outing, as well as all my other pics I've posted to Flickr.
CHEERS!
Jefferson Airplane II
I also never realized that the flight path from DCA (Regan International Airport) took the planes in such a great route. I'll have to keep this in mind for future night photographs.
Abstract Cherry Blossoms II
Ok, you don't say that, but when you see what you accidently did while playing around with the white balance settings, and you realize WHY it did it, you start tweaking things a bit and get the resulting picture. And now you've answered your original question. "There's at least one more way to photograph a cherry blossom."
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Family Fun
Amon and I had the pleasure of hosting my Dad in town a couple weekends back. Schedules being what they are I wasn't able to get around to posting any pictures until today, but it was a lot of fun having him here. He got a cross-country ride from our friends the Milsters (Thanks Mark!) and was in town Friday through Sunday morning. Early morning. We dropped him off with the Milsters at 6:00am on Sunday. They had the hard work though, driving from DC to St. Louis straight through. Ugh. I'm glad they were up to it, because I wouldn't have been.
It was entirely too short, but short's better than not at all. It was great having you out here Dad.
Mike
It was entirely too short, but short's better than not at all. It was great having you out here Dad.
Mike
Dad at the National Archives
The first place we went once Dad was in town was the National Archives. This is the building featured in the first National Treasure movie; it's where they store/display the Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence, and other significant "archive-worthy" documents and artifacts of our country.
Library of Congress
Amon had the idea to go to the Library of Congress. If you know my Dad, the you know there couldn't be a better idea than that.
Amon in front of Supreme Court
Amon in front of the Supreme Court after we left the Library of Congress.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Experimental Photography Set
I've added a new set to my Flickr account for some experimenting I'm doing with my new camera. It's nothing new in the photography world so don't get excited. I could tell you were starting to. I'm just practicing some techniques that people have been doing for awhile but that I haven't tried before. The photos that are in the set right now are for motion tracking. I was encouraged to do this by checking out the Flickr account of an acquaintance from NCC, David Russel. He made some suggestions for this type of image and I thought I’d give it a go.
The images will likely be familiar to anyone who’s seen photos from a race or seen a single car advertisement. The idea is that while a subject is moving you pan with them. You are then able to use a slightly longer shutter speed because, relative to the frame, they aren’t moving much. However, because the background IS moving, relative to the frame, it gets blurred out. The result is an image where the main subject is relatively sharp, and the background gives a feel of movement.
This is nice for two reasons. One reason is the aforementioned sense of motion. It’s great for giving a picture a sense of dynamics and energy. The second reason has to do with the blurring of the background. Just like using a large aperture (f/3.5-f/1.4) the motion tracking technique results in the desired subject being clear while everything else around it is blurry. Using aperture for this technique results in an out of focus background, puddles of color, while the motion tracking technique results in an environment that is, well, blurred, often with trails instead of puddles. It’s hard to describe, but definitely a different feel.
Mike's motion tracking experiment:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcolburn/sets/72157604088917873/
Also, note the difference between motion tracking blur…
And aperture/out of focus blur (lamps), (Amon)
The images will likely be familiar to anyone who’s seen photos from a race or seen a single car advertisement. The idea is that while a subject is moving you pan with them. You are then able to use a slightly longer shutter speed because, relative to the frame, they aren’t moving much. However, because the background IS moving, relative to the frame, it gets blurred out. The result is an image where the main subject is relatively sharp, and the background gives a feel of movement.
This is nice for two reasons. One reason is the aforementioned sense of motion. It’s great for giving a picture a sense of dynamics and energy. The second reason has to do with the blurring of the background. Just like using a large aperture (f/3.5-f/1.4) the motion tracking technique results in the desired subject being clear while everything else around it is blurry. Using aperture for this technique results in an out of focus background, puddles of color, while the motion tracking technique results in an environment that is, well, blurred, often with trails instead of puddles. It’s hard to describe, but definitely a different feel.
Mike's motion tracking experiment:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcolburn/sets/72157604088917873/
Also, note the difference between motion tracking blur…
And aperture/out of focus blur (lamps), (Amon)
Friday, March 07, 2008
Potent Potables for 1000
Wanted to share two examples of authors treating/dealing with words as powerful things. As we listen to sound-bite upon sound-bite from various Presidential candidates and endless commentators, it doesn't hurt to remember what powerful things words are.
"...we should become aware of what we are doing when we speak, of the ancient, fragile, and (well used) immensely potent instruments that words are." - Lewis, Studies in Words
"He chanted a song of wizardry,
Of piercing, opening, of treachery,
Revealing, uncovering, betraying.
Then sudden Felagund there swaying
Sang in answer a song of staying,
Resisting, battling against power,
Of secrets kept, strength like a tower,
And trust unbroken, freedom, escape;
Of changing and of shifting shape
Of snares eluded, broken traps,
The prison opening, the chain that snaps." - Tolkien, Silmarillion
"...we should become aware of what we are doing when we speak, of the ancient, fragile, and (well used) immensely potent instruments that words are." - Lewis, Studies in Words
"He chanted a song of wizardry,
Of piercing, opening, of treachery,
Revealing, uncovering, betraying.
Then sudden Felagund there swaying
Sang in answer a song of staying,
Resisting, battling against power,
Of secrets kept, strength like a tower,
And trust unbroken, freedom, escape;
Of changing and of shifting shape
Of snares eluded, broken traps,
The prison opening, the chain that snaps." - Tolkien, Silmarillion
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Effects of Technology
As I was sitting at my desk trying to figure out the answer to this latest word problem one thought ran through my mind, I wish my teacher would let me use a calculator. In eighth grade, my teacher wouldn’t let us use a calculator to figure out the math problems because she had a firm grasp on a very important principle: when we no longer NEED to do a task ourselves, we typically don’t. At the very beginning I want to point out that I understand this is not a hard and fast rule and that I realize there will be eager souls that don’t fall for this laziness, and that there will be some who keep doing a task even after they could pawn it of on someone or something else purely because they enjoy it. The point is, those people are absolutely in the minority, they are the exception.
Calculators, the internet, and cell phones, have had dramatic impact to the progress of knowledge, the advancement of business, and the altering of the fundamentals of human interaction. Think about it, when was the last time you did long division or solved a quadratic equation by hand, went to the library to research the history of some topic of debate among friends, or dialed a number from memory? Maybe you’ve done one or two of these things, but most likely, thinking about it made you realize how much different it is now than when you were younger. The times they are a changing, and now even faster than ever before.
When technology comes along that makes our life easier, it is a simple thing to embrace that and thank the R&D firms for the wonderful gifts they’ve given us: we can listen to any song we own, instantly, wherever we are, find pictures and videos for free at home or on the go, talk to almost anyone we want to whether we are in a park, a car, or the bathroom, and the only time I’ve solved a complex equation by hand in the last 4 years was because I wanted to see if I still could.
It’s great that I no longer have to remember the phone numbers of every relative, friend, and random person I meet. However, it’s a bit frightening that the only 3 numbers I can think of right now are my personal cell number, my work number, and my parent’s home number. Two of those three are because they haven’t changed in 8 years and one because I have to give it out on a daily basis. Other than those three numbers I couldn’t tell you a single cell phone number, not even my wife’s and, personally, that scares me.
The future of “technology” reads more like a fantasy novel than a science fiction novel every day. In Hogwarts the pictures in the newspaper and in peoples frames move about – and advances in thin displays and flexible displays mean this type of technology is less than 10 years away; early adopter technology can be purchased today. Magic bought with money is called technology, and the bounds between science and science fiction is wearing thinner every day.
The question is, what consequences are we willing to live with, even embrace as the outcome of progress? Hopefully, we all enter into the new world only after having thought very carefully about what kind of life we want to have, and where our priorities are.
Contact Lenses for super human vision/real time information updates?
Flexible displays “printed” into the rest of the newspaper?
Calculators, the internet, and cell phones, have had dramatic impact to the progress of knowledge, the advancement of business, and the altering of the fundamentals of human interaction. Think about it, when was the last time you did long division or solved a quadratic equation by hand, went to the library to research the history of some topic of debate among friends, or dialed a number from memory? Maybe you’ve done one or two of these things, but most likely, thinking about it made you realize how much different it is now than when you were younger. The times they are a changing, and now even faster than ever before.
When technology comes along that makes our life easier, it is a simple thing to embrace that and thank the R&D firms for the wonderful gifts they’ve given us: we can listen to any song we own, instantly, wherever we are, find pictures and videos for free at home or on the go, talk to almost anyone we want to whether we are in a park, a car, or the bathroom, and the only time I’ve solved a complex equation by hand in the last 4 years was because I wanted to see if I still could.
It’s great that I no longer have to remember the phone numbers of every relative, friend, and random person I meet. However, it’s a bit frightening that the only 3 numbers I can think of right now are my personal cell number, my work number, and my parent’s home number. Two of those three are because they haven’t changed in 8 years and one because I have to give it out on a daily basis. Other than those three numbers I couldn’t tell you a single cell phone number, not even my wife’s and, personally, that scares me.
The future of “technology” reads more like a fantasy novel than a science fiction novel every day. In Hogwarts the pictures in the newspaper and in peoples frames move about – and advances in thin displays and flexible displays mean this type of technology is less than 10 years away; early adopter technology can be purchased today. Magic bought with money is called technology, and the bounds between science and science fiction is wearing thinner every day.
The question is, what consequences are we willing to live with, even embrace as the outcome of progress? Hopefully, we all enter into the new world only after having thought very carefully about what kind of life we want to have, and where our priorities are.
Contact Lenses for super human vision/real time information updates?
Flexible displays “printed” into the rest of the newspaper?
Monday, February 25, 2008
Emerging Technology
Being a good little cog in the machine, most of us have probably heard talk about "HDTV", "Digital TV", Blu-ray, HDMI, DVI, and all sorts of other terms fly around that seem to amount to "Buy more TVs and black boxes".
Thought I'd put together the following summary for anyone curious. Of course Wikipedia is a great place to go for these sorts of questions, regardles of how you feel about using it for higher brow subjects like literary criticism.
The "Idiot's Guide to Emerging AV technology" might read something like this (un-edited):
Difference between Digital and HD
HDTV is short for High Definition TV and can be either a digital or analog signal. You can send a "HD" signal over the same 15 pin cable that has been used to hook up computer monitors for the last umpteen years. This is analog HD. You can also send an "HD" signal over a digital cable, such as a DVI-d cable or an HDMI cable.
DIGITAL TV or a DIGITAL broadcast is simply a signal that is binary, 1/0, like computer information. This is different from standard, analog, TV simply by being digital. Standard TV was sent with waves of energy, lots of different frequencies. As the radio wave changed shape (taller, longer, etc.) the image on your TV changed shape. With Digital TV the information for each pixel is sent using binary information, data, and then your TV or monitor creates the image by setting each pixel to the desired color and brightness. It updates this image so many times per second that the image moves.
Digital TV doesn't NECESSARILY equal better image or higher resolution. Digital TV can be either standard definition (what you see on DVDs or cable TV right now) or high definition (see below).
Digital TV Switchover - In February 2009 the federal government has mandated that all broadcasters switch over to purely digital signals. Don't worry. This means absolutely nothing for you unless you get your TV "off the air", which is fancy language for "I use an antenna". If you use an antenna, then you WILL be affected. People who only have an antenna will have to use a digital tuner to get the signal. If you purchased a TV in the last 2 years, chances are you have this tuner. If not, you can get a coupon from the government for $40.00 off the price of a digital tuner. If you have a TV capable of displaying HD content, the good news is that the switch to digital broadcasts means you can now pick up HD content for free off the air, when the broadcaster chooses to send it.
The old "off the air" system was refered to by the acronym NTSC and the new system is called ATSC. That is what you're looking for on your TV to know whether or not you'll need a separate tuner after Feb. 2009 to view TV with an antenna. Keep in mind that if you get cable or satellite, then the provider and their set top box will take care of this switch over for you.
My new TV has a digital (ATSC) tuner and with a basic set of rabbit ears I've been able to watch glorious HD content, for free, from PBS and networks like ABC...including Lost in HD. PBS has some of the most gorgeous free HD content out there. They have an entire channel dedicated to HD that includes beautiful on-site travel programs, science, and lots of other stuff.Blu-ray - Yes, Blu-ray has won this current format war. What does that mean? If you have an HD capable TV (at least 720p) then you can purchase a Blu-ray player, re-purchase all your movies (or just start buying Blu-ray), and watch better looking movies. Yes it's a noticeable difference, mostly on larger TVs. If you have a TV less than 25", it probably won't be an earth shattering experience. Keep in mind that with the pace technology is evolving, the next "Big" shift in technology will likely be streaming or downloaded HD, and unless you are chomping at the bits to have the latest in HD home entertainment, you're probably better suited to wait a year or so. If nothing else, prices should come down from over $400.00 for a player to closer to the $150-$200 mark.
Emerging Technologies - What's coming in the next few years? Well, the early adopter technology is out now which means that, if successful, more widespread devices should be out within 2 years (right around the time Blu-ray COULD be hitting its stride). I'm talking about streaming HD. The benefits? Imagine being able to sit down on your couch and, with access to the entire Netflix or Blockbuster library, pick what movie you want to rent/buy. In less time than it takes to heat up the popcorn, the movie is at your TV and ready to watch. Yes, in HD and with all the control (play/pause/FF/RW/Chapters/Etc) that DVD has spoiled you with. Right now this takes the form of either a TiVo box or AppleTV, however with Blockbuster and Netflix both wanting in on the action, it's likely there will be significantly more options within 2 years.
Essentially, you would be downloading the movie either permenantly (buying), or temporarily (renting) to a hard drive in a box sitting under your TV. The key here is interface. Most consumers don't want to have to operate a computer while watching a movie. They want any computer involved to be as transparent as possible. They want to sit down with a remote, and watch a movie. Period. If the companies involved can grasp this, it will make Blu-ray a moot point as people won't have to go out and buy a physical disc whenever they want to watch a movie.
-edit 3/5/08-
Apply here for a DTV Tuner if you have an old TV AND use an antenna.
-end edit-
Wikipedia on Blu-ray
Wikipedia on HD-TV
Wikipedia on Digital TV
Thought I'd put together the following summary for anyone curious. Of course Wikipedia is a great place to go for these sorts of questions, regardles of how you feel about using it for higher brow subjects like literary criticism.
The "Idiot's Guide to Emerging AV technology" might read something like this (un-edited):
Difference between Digital and HD
HDTV is short for High Definition TV and can be either a digital or analog signal. You can send a "HD" signal over the same 15 pin cable that has been used to hook up computer monitors for the last umpteen years. This is analog HD. You can also send an "HD" signal over a digital cable, such as a DVI-d cable or an HDMI cable.
DIGITAL TV or a DIGITAL broadcast is simply a signal that is binary, 1/0, like computer information. This is different from standard, analog, TV simply by being digital. Standard TV was sent with waves of energy, lots of different frequencies. As the radio wave changed shape (taller, longer, etc.) the image on your TV changed shape. With Digital TV the information for each pixel is sent using binary information, data, and then your TV or monitor creates the image by setting each pixel to the desired color and brightness. It updates this image so many times per second that the image moves.
Digital TV doesn't NECESSARILY equal better image or higher resolution. Digital TV can be either standard definition (what you see on DVDs or cable TV right now) or high definition (see below).
Digital TV Switchover - In February 2009 the federal government has mandated that all broadcasters switch over to purely digital signals. Don't worry. This means absolutely nothing for you unless you get your TV "off the air", which is fancy language for "I use an antenna". If you use an antenna, then you WILL be affected. People who only have an antenna will have to use a digital tuner to get the signal. If you purchased a TV in the last 2 years, chances are you have this tuner. If not, you can get a coupon from the government for $40.00 off the price of a digital tuner. If you have a TV capable of displaying HD content, the good news is that the switch to digital broadcasts means you can now pick up HD content for free off the air, when the broadcaster chooses to send it.
The old "off the air" system was refered to by the acronym NTSC and the new system is called ATSC. That is what you're looking for on your TV to know whether or not you'll need a separate tuner after Feb. 2009 to view TV with an antenna. Keep in mind that if you get cable or satellite, then the provider and their set top box will take care of this switch over for you.
My new TV has a digital (ATSC) tuner and with a basic set of rabbit ears I've been able to watch glorious HD content, for free, from PBS and networks like ABC...including Lost in HD. PBS has some of the most gorgeous free HD content out there. They have an entire channel dedicated to HD that includes beautiful on-site travel programs, science, and lots of other stuff.Blu-ray - Yes, Blu-ray has won this current format war. What does that mean? If you have an HD capable TV (at least 720p) then you can purchase a Blu-ray player, re-purchase all your movies (or just start buying Blu-ray), and watch better looking movies. Yes it's a noticeable difference, mostly on larger TVs. If you have a TV less than 25", it probably won't be an earth shattering experience. Keep in mind that with the pace technology is evolving, the next "Big" shift in technology will likely be streaming or downloaded HD, and unless you are chomping at the bits to have the latest in HD home entertainment, you're probably better suited to wait a year or so. If nothing else, prices should come down from over $400.00 for a player to closer to the $150-$200 mark.
Emerging Technologies - What's coming in the next few years? Well, the early adopter technology is out now which means that, if successful, more widespread devices should be out within 2 years (right around the time Blu-ray COULD be hitting its stride). I'm talking about streaming HD. The benefits? Imagine being able to sit down on your couch and, with access to the entire Netflix or Blockbuster library, pick what movie you want to rent/buy. In less time than it takes to heat up the popcorn, the movie is at your TV and ready to watch. Yes, in HD and with all the control (play/pause/FF/RW/Chapters/Etc) that DVD has spoiled you with. Right now this takes the form of either a TiVo box or AppleTV, however with Blockbuster and Netflix both wanting in on the action, it's likely there will be significantly more options within 2 years.
Essentially, you would be downloading the movie either permenantly (buying), or temporarily (renting) to a hard drive in a box sitting under your TV. The key here is interface. Most consumers don't want to have to operate a computer while watching a movie. They want any computer involved to be as transparent as possible. They want to sit down with a remote, and watch a movie. Period. If the companies involved can grasp this, it will make Blu-ray a moot point as people won't have to go out and buy a physical disc whenever they want to watch a movie.
-edit 3/5/08-
Apply here for a DTV Tuner if you have an old TV AND use an antenna.
-end edit-
Wikipedia on Blu-ray
Wikipedia on HD-TV
Wikipedia on Digital TV
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Amon at Discovery Building II
Went for a walk with Amon and our wonderful friend Katherine around Silver Spring. Walking by the Discovery building, I wanted to use the great colors of the mural as a backdrop. Amon agreed.
More pictures from the film camera posted on my Flickr account.
More pictures from the film camera posted on my Flickr account.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Frozen Tree through the Living Room Window this Morning
Wanted to try the Flickr "Blog This" feature out and thought I'd share this photo I took out my window a couple mornings ago when I was getting ready for work.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Base Camp 2008
Base Camp 2008 convened at Adrienne's house this weekend. It was good time spent eating pizza in tents, drinking beverages, and watching insane people push their bodies to the limit in an attempt to stand on the top of the world. I won't tell you how many people died or how many fingers/toes were lost (in the real Everst event, not our pizza eating Base Camp). You can watch the documentary yourself for that. Or you can click on over to my Flickr Account to see the pretty lights and witness Malcom and Mary's stare off...
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Nikon D40 Review
So far soo happy.
Allright thus far I've taken several thousand pictures with my new Nikon DSLR (digital SLR) and wanted to take this chance to make some comments.
Background (Skip if you're simply interested in why I like my camera):
(just a summary, go to Wikipedia for full articles about each)
Cameras come in all sizes and shapes. One way of classifying cameras is by how the light or image gets from the outside world onto the recording surface (either film or digital sensor). The original cameras were merely boxes with a bit of film stuck to the inside and a tiny pinhole on the opposite end of the box that allowed a tiny image to be "projected" onto the film. Because the hole was so small it took a long time to expose the film, but the image usually had equally crisp lines from the closest objects to the furthest (large depth of field). This was rather an unwieldy instrument though since you could only take one photo before having to change the film, and couldn't really preview what you aiming at.
Over time other camera designs sprang up including the twin lens reflex (TLR), the single lens reflex (SLR), and the point and shoot. The "reflex" in the SLR and TLR name is in reference to a surface that remains closed until you depress the shutter release at which point the surface moves out of the way to allow the light to hit the recording surface. A TLR uses two lenses, so the scene you are shooting is always visible though one lens that is dedicated to giving you a preview (often at the top of the camera and you look down onto a preview surface), and the light for the exposure is only let through the second lens when you depress the shutter release. The benefit of the TLR is that there is no point where the scene in the preview is blocked.
An SLR only has one lens, so when the shutter release isn't being triggered the light hits a mirror on the blocking surface and the image is directed to the eyepiece. When yhou press the shutter release on an SLR, the blocking surface and mirror (they are together) swing out of the way to allow the light to hit the recording surface, however this results in a temporary black out of the eye piece. This black out with the SLR is only for the time that the shutter is set for, most often less than 1/30th of a second. The advantage of the SLR is that the image you see in the eye piece is EXACTLY what is going to be recording, no paralax or offset view. Many SLRs even have an image preview that will show you what the depth of field will look like so you can predict very accurately what the scene will look like.
The other type of camera is a point and shoot. Like the TLR the view in the eye piece is slightly offset from the lens that makes the image, however there typically isn't a lens for the preview, simply a glass window from the front of the camera to the back where the photographer looks to see roughly where the camera is pointed. TLR and SLRs most often have interchangable lenses whereas point and shoot cameras usually have a single dedicated lens.
DSLR or Point and Shoot
If you primarily want a camera to take candid snap shoots where ever you might find yourself and do the occassional artistic photo, don't get a DSLR. They are still way bigger than the standard point and shoot, and absurdly larger than the smallest point and shoot. I always have my Canon digital Elph, SD400, with me. Well, anytime I'm with messenger bag. Because this camera is so small I can pack it anywhere and always have something to take decent pictures with. A picture you can take because you actually had your camera with you is always going to be better than one you couldn't take because you didn't have your huge DSLR with you.
Now that's a bit of an exageration to make a point, because I OFTEN have my DSLR in my messenger bag as well...just not as often as my Elph. And the fact that I carry my DSLR around in my messenger bag is probably the exception. However the reason I'm willing to carry around the larger DSLR is that it can take phenomenally better pictures. It has a wider range or zoom on the lens, the lens is faster (allows more light through it allowing quicker shutter times), has a better sensor that looks decent at higher ISO settings, is a higher megapixel sensor, and I'll some day be able to afford more or better lenses.
There are just some things you can't do with a point and shoot, such as crank the ISO up to 3200 and take photos in relative dark with no flash and relatively little camera shake. Also, I can put my DSLR in to fully manual mode and control literally every aspect of the camera from zoom to focus, to shutter speed, to aperature, to ISO, to white balance, and more. If none of that meant anything to you, then you probably want a good point and shoot camera, and they are certainly out there.
I can highly recommend the Canon Digital Elphs as I have one I love and know several other people who swear by them as well.
Hope that helped. If you have any specific questions about my experiences thus far feel free to holler at me in the comment section and I'll do my best to answer.
Mike
Allright thus far I've taken several thousand pictures with my new Nikon DSLR (digital SLR) and wanted to take this chance to make some comments.
Background (Skip if you're simply interested in why I like my camera):
(just a summary, go to Wikipedia for full articles about each)
Cameras come in all sizes and shapes. One way of classifying cameras is by how the light or image gets from the outside world onto the recording surface (either film or digital sensor). The original cameras were merely boxes with a bit of film stuck to the inside and a tiny pinhole on the opposite end of the box that allowed a tiny image to be "projected" onto the film. Because the hole was so small it took a long time to expose the film, but the image usually had equally crisp lines from the closest objects to the furthest (large depth of field). This was rather an unwieldy instrument though since you could only take one photo before having to change the film, and couldn't really preview what you aiming at.
Over time other camera designs sprang up including the twin lens reflex (TLR), the single lens reflex (SLR), and the point and shoot. The "reflex" in the SLR and TLR name is in reference to a surface that remains closed until you depress the shutter release at which point the surface moves out of the way to allow the light to hit the recording surface. A TLR uses two lenses, so the scene you are shooting is always visible though one lens that is dedicated to giving you a preview (often at the top of the camera and you look down onto a preview surface), and the light for the exposure is only let through the second lens when you depress the shutter release. The benefit of the TLR is that there is no point where the scene in the preview is blocked.
An SLR only has one lens, so when the shutter release isn't being triggered the light hits a mirror on the blocking surface and the image is directed to the eyepiece. When yhou press the shutter release on an SLR, the blocking surface and mirror (they are together) swing out of the way to allow the light to hit the recording surface, however this results in a temporary black out of the eye piece. This black out with the SLR is only for the time that the shutter is set for, most often less than 1/30th of a second. The advantage of the SLR is that the image you see in the eye piece is EXACTLY what is going to be recording, no paralax or offset view. Many SLRs even have an image preview that will show you what the depth of field will look like so you can predict very accurately what the scene will look like.
The other type of camera is a point and shoot. Like the TLR the view in the eye piece is slightly offset from the lens that makes the image, however there typically isn't a lens for the preview, simply a glass window from the front of the camera to the back where the photographer looks to see roughly where the camera is pointed. TLR and SLRs most often have interchangable lenses whereas point and shoot cameras usually have a single dedicated lens.
DSLR or Point and Shoot
If you primarily want a camera to take candid snap shoots where ever you might find yourself and do the occassional artistic photo, don't get a DSLR. They are still way bigger than the standard point and shoot, and absurdly larger than the smallest point and shoot. I always have my Canon digital Elph, SD400, with me. Well, anytime I'm with messenger bag. Because this camera is so small I can pack it anywhere and always have something to take decent pictures with. A picture you can take because you actually had your camera with you is always going to be better than one you couldn't take because you didn't have your huge DSLR with you.
Now that's a bit of an exageration to make a point, because I OFTEN have my DSLR in my messenger bag as well...just not as often as my Elph. And the fact that I carry my DSLR around in my messenger bag is probably the exception. However the reason I'm willing to carry around the larger DSLR is that it can take phenomenally better pictures. It has a wider range or zoom on the lens, the lens is faster (allows more light through it allowing quicker shutter times), has a better sensor that looks decent at higher ISO settings, is a higher megapixel sensor, and I'll some day be able to afford more or better lenses.
There are just some things you can't do with a point and shoot, such as crank the ISO up to 3200 and take photos in relative dark with no flash and relatively little camera shake. Also, I can put my DSLR in to fully manual mode and control literally every aspect of the camera from zoom to focus, to shutter speed, to aperature, to ISO, to white balance, and more. If none of that meant anything to you, then you probably want a good point and shoot camera, and they are certainly out there.
I can highly recommend the Canon Digital Elphs as I have one I love and know several other people who swear by them as well.
Hope that helped. If you have any specific questions about my experiences thus far feel free to holler at me in the comment section and I'll do my best to answer.
Mike
Thursday, January 31, 2008
True Confessions
For the first time in my life I'm really, truely excited about a season premier. True, I was looking forward to the Season 2 premier of Project Runway, but that was nothing compared to how excited I am for Lost Season 4 to premier tonight.
There, I've confessed it and you can all judge me. Or not judge me. Whatever, I can feel myself NOT being judged right now.
In a somewhat redeeming turn of events, I went to the National Community Church annual retreat last weekend. It was the second time I've been to this particular event and it was great. I've posted some new pictures on my Flickr account, a couple taken from that weekend and many that weren't.
Head over and check out the new pictures.
-Flickr Account-
Mike
There, I've confessed it and you can all judge me. Or not judge me. Whatever, I can feel myself NOT being judged right now.
In a somewhat redeeming turn of events, I went to the National Community Church annual retreat last weekend. It was the second time I've been to this particular event and it was great. I've posted some new pictures on my Flickr account, a couple taken from that weekend and many that weren't.
Head over and check out the new pictures.
-Flickr Account-
Mike
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