April 28, 2012

5 Comments

Skeptical

Daisy seems skeptical in every photo, doesn’t she?

And Badger is just the opposite.

I tried to learn how to use the Canon yesterday, going through documentation and instructional videos. Upon reaching the section pertaining to quality I went out and shot in RAW format.

Which was fine.

Until it came time to look at the RAW images I’d transferred over to my computer… Only a slight hiccup… My PC pretended to not know what they were, as did all my photo-editing programs.

Fast forward to 20 different downloaded codecs later… and Windows finally saw them. Turns out since they’re Canon, they’re different from a regular RAW; they’re ‘camera RAW’, CR2. Whatever. The quality was phenomenal, but my Adobe software turned up its nose at them. Turns out… and you’re going to love this… turns out Adobe only updates codecs for its latest version of software… so if I wanted to be able to import them into the program for editing, I’d have to upgrade. Well, my software is so old it could vote, so that means no upgrade; full price.

Not happening.

I did download a test version of Lightroom 4 and that’s how I was able to edit the two images above. It’s pretty cool in that it has all the codecs for all formats built in… along with filters for individual cameras and lenses. Lightroom will cease to function after 30 days, so I’ll enjoy it and then switch to JPG…. unless I come up with 150. Like Daisy, I’m skeptical.

Oh, the quality of the images themselves are awesome with RAW. Notice I didn’t claim the same for anything I can directly influence… although gingerly moving some of the settings and shooting in full sun didn’t blow everything out. For once.

April 27, 2012

11 Comments

Big Stick

Joe Biden, April 2012:
“I promise you, the president has a big stick. I promise you.”

The only big sticks obama carries

The only big sticks obama carries were made to hit white balls.

April 27, 2012

5 Comments

Like Weeds

Growing, they are.

April 26, 2012

13 Comments

Yertle too Political

OH, CANADA!
The quote from Dr. Suess’ Yertle the Turtle deemed too political for Canadian tots:

“I know up on top you are seeing great sights, but down here on the bottom, we too should have rights”

Dr. Seuss’s ‘Yertle the Turtle’ deemed too political for B.C. classroom

A Prince Rupert elementary teacher has been told a quote from Dr. Seuss’s Yertle the Turtle is a political statement that should not be displayed or worn on clothing in her classroom.

The teacher included the quote in material she brought to a meeting with management after she received a notice relating to union material visible in her car on school property.

The advice is in keeping with a 2011 arbitrator’s decision that found political materials must be kept out of B.C. classrooms, said Dave Stigant, who is acting director of instruction for the Prince Rupert School District and who met with the teacher to discuss what would and wouldn’t run afoul of district standards.

And while he conceded Tuesday that it might seem absurd to spend time reviewing quotes from, among others, Dr. Seuss and former Canadian prime minister John Diefenbaker, Mr. Stigant said the review is necessary to protect students from an often-bitter dispute.

The quote in question – “I know up on top you are seeing great sights, but down here on the bottom, we too should have rights” – comes from Yertle the Turtle, the tale of a turtle who climbs on the backs of other turtles to get a better view.

“I responded that in the context, it was borderline,” Mr. Stigant said. “Contextually, it was political – but it was grey and I would prefer it didn’t appear and I believe she agreed.”

Yertle’s quest for a higher vantage point ends when the turtle at the bottom of the stack – who’s pleaded, “I’ve pain in my back, my shoulders and knees – how long must we stand here, your majesty please” – burps, sending Yertle hurtling to the mud.

Mr. Stigant said he didn’t know the source of the quote when he met with the teacher. On Monday afternoon, Joanna Larson, president of the BCTF local in Prince Rupert, noted on Twitter that “teachers could be disciplined for displaying a Dr. Seuss quote.”

Seriously? Political correctness has spread far enough that DR SUESS is BANNED in Canada?

On the basis of “Contextually, it was political” they could probably ban every book ever printed!

April 26, 2012

Comments Off

Love of Theory

Afterburner!

April 26, 2012

2 Comments

Comments

Commenting seems to be broken, but in actuality that is not the case.

After leaving a comment a page pops up asking “Are you sure you want to do this?”.
No further action need be taken on your part; the comment has been left.

I’m searching for a solution, but so far no joy. Comment at will, I assure you they stick.

UPDATE: As of 4.29.12 @ 12:30, comments are working as they should. Yay!

April 25, 2012

7 Comments

Sightline

Congressman Allen West op-ed at The Hill: Critical time for ideological debate

For Joan:
Your brains, Fezzik’s strength, my steel.

We hardly knew ye, Newt: Gingrich To End Campaign In One Week

They’re real eye-openers: Federal budget in pictures at Heritage.org.

Along the same lines…

April 25, 2012

7 Comments

How to spot a Narcissist

Obama: I Can Do Every Job Better Than Those I Hire to Do It

From Jodi Kantor’s The Obamas, page 66:

Obama had always had a high estimation of his ability to cast and run his operation. When David Plouffe, his campaign manager, first interviewed for a job with him in 2006, the senator gave him a warning: “I think I could probably do every job on the campaign better than the people I’ll hire to do it,” he said. “It’s hard to give up control when that’s all I’ve known.” Obama said nearly the same thing to Patrick Gaspard, whom he hired to be the campaign’s political director. “I think I’m a better speechwriter than my speechwriters,” Obama told him. “I know more about policies on any particular issue than my policy directors. And I’ll tell you right now that I’m gonna think I’m a better political director than my political director.”

Did you spot it?

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