I have been playing around with various apps that are now “Universal” in other words built to work on the PPC mac’s (G3/G4/G5) as well as Intel based mac’s and while it doesn’t “feel” universal and I couldn’t find anywhere that said it was or wasn’t I grabbed the Lightroom Beta from Adobe - must say very happy with the results in dealing with Digital Negatives:
The left is the original “as taken by the camera” so what my settings at the time for color balance, white balance, etc. all my settings on the camera applied - the second is from the digital negative I took along with the original shot (Camera will Take Negative + JPG) - negatives are just like what’d you would have in a standard camera, raw image data, everything through the lens no processing of any kind - it does record the settings I took the picture at, so upon first viewing in Lightroom - looked just like the left, then after 3 clicks, it looked like the right - much cleaner, better white balance and saturation of some colors came out a lot better.
Very impressed to say the least, a nice way to wind down the morning/evening - whatever this time is 
Man I love it when my sleep schedule is upside down and backwards - but for a larger view of the difference see my flickr for the full deal. Okay - this time for sure, sleep…. I hope.
Oi. All day today I have honestly felt horrible - cleared up for a short bit during the day as I finished up some emails, worked on some code (more on that down the line) - but while waiting for some video to render in to iMovie (like 15 MOV files from a digital camera) I figured I’d lay down for a little while, and in doing so woke up at 9 still sore, still hurting, my arms, legs and neck just ache like crazy, going to go on a drive to the bank, and to get a quick bite to eat somewhere in a bit to stretch and put something in my stomach - hopefully this all goes away, and according to my dad it goes away in a day or so, as he or someone he knows has gone through this, man I love feeling crappy 
It really helps the prayer life, and increases the sleep time.
The “code” I was working on today was for Photobooth - for non-mac users, and those not on the newer builds, iSight camera comes built in and as a gadget/toy it comes with Photobooth, think of it just like those booth’s you sat in as a kid (or last week at the mall) you look at your computer, the camera counts down, and snap, photo - well I am working to rsync my entire library to my linux server here in the house first, if that goes well, I’m going to be changing it around to be rsync -> here - which will sync the latest php code for displaying it, as well as the latest and greatest shots, still working on it, never realized I haven’t really done much in displaying files in PHP so had to do some reading, but it’s coming along nicely, going to tie in Lightbox JS into it, should make things a tad more dynamic.
My iMovie project is a TON faster, and in under 30m what I have so far rendered and burned to DVD using iDVD, so excited - just imported another 500+ photos into iPhoto for the project, but its lookin good - showed mom and dad the just rough demo, some getting used to on both new versions of iMovie and iDVD - on the G4 they were so slow in comparison, but also I need to upgrade the ram on this soon from 512 to at least 1GB - but I think I may just get one last final purchase out of the way and max this thing out at 2GB and call it good - just trying to find affordable ram, that’s compatible, so many horror stories of folks who went with common PC brands, and ended up with bugs/errors/glitches/underclocking - so definately looking around (any Intel Mac users out there care to chime in on something OTHER than Crucial?)
Got my email out to CMC’s ownership, basically layed out what I am willing to do, but the things I must have happen to stay on board, so I honestly can’t say whats going on at this point this may be my last month, it may be the start of better things for CMC - time will tell, but as I know some of you who read this are from CMC, and you read the Xanga copy only, things will continue without me I’m sure, I do know some of you don’t even know what CMC is, or those of you who do, but choose never to speak of CMC again (kind of like Lord Voldermort from Harry Potter) - but if it is to end, such is life, it was a good run, had it’s ups and downs, but such is life, we move on, we grow, we adapt, we expand.
Anywhoo - I think tonight I may clear off the desk a bit and throw the piano on again, and maybe record something, help relax the brain a bit - we shall see, but for starters, bank, food, digest food, maybe take a call if someone’s tired, and then fire up the ol Keystation for some piano fun - might even share it here. Night folks.
Well things are progressing well, need to find my USB cables for the CF/SD card reader, so I can get my e-500 photos & A510 photos in quicker, I am currently uploading using the Flickr Uploader - which I missed, just the iBook was running out of space and the E-500 default shots average 5MB and 11+ for the digital negatives, but for now it’s working.
Must say though I really do enjoy Frontrow, really it’s cheezy, but it is nice, I do want to intergrate a TV tuner on this so I can get some love from the large screen and use it as a TV as well, granted a 20inch TV is small in some regards, but larger than nothing! So very happy - I have been having fun with Photobooth… Brace yourself:
Yeah - I’m definately having fun, some early AM work starts in about an hour though, have to start writing a email or two, as my weekend is offically over, but at this rate too my body will be ready to crash in about an hour, so emails may wait till the morning - but it’s going good - if you want to see some random photos taken today here are two sets to view, one outdoors, and one unpacking the iMac - enjoy em! Night!
Well I had been toying with the idea of a MacBook, the MacBook Pro would of been nice too - but then I got to thinking, it’d be nice to have a desktop mac for once, granted the Mac is great on the road, but I wanted a powerhouse on the desk, with the midi keyboard, so I could make music, work on a project I started DVD wise like a year ago, and various other tech type things.
So without further waiting, the new iMac 20inch 2ghz Core Duo is now on my desk (and I am using it to type this) - very excited alone about the Garage band potental, the Audio/Video on this are awesome, so crisp, definately plan to get bigger speakers though for the audio end of things, but so far so good - getting my 17GB iBook profile I backed up off and moved over - the iBook is already sold to my cousin, so she should enjoy that, this will allow me to also have a Mac in-house for support stuff as well as always - so all 3 major operating systems are now once again fully working in my room - very jazzed about this, once things are copied over, iPhoto is up and working and such, I’ll upload the photos of the unpacking, and once I get the desktop cleaned up, some screen shots if this bad boy in action, still need a name though, I have Grace (HP Laptop), BeautyfromPain (Windows Desktop), BigBoy (Linux Desktop) - what to name this though? iMac seems too simple of a name, like naming your Tabby cat “Tabby” So must come up with something clever.
Also got some new organizational tools for projects, and client interaction, very excited about them, considering them as part of my purposal for staying on at CMC, some strict Guidelines for how I interact, and ensuring that EVERYONE is on board vs. me having to play catchup with Brenten when he learns something is going on I don’t know of, or vice versa - lots of restructuring, but it’ll also come in handy for other projects as well.
Anywhoo - back to getting things setup, tweaked, configured, etc. Very very excited, Photobooth should offer some fun:
When I started out in this business many years ago (web junk) - I started on my own, small scale, doing a site which has long since gone called Singles4Jesus - my work on my own personal websites like JCNET and JCNEWS both got me misc. job offers which lead up to knowledge of some coding, design, website related tricks, it was awesome - which in turn had my good friend Dan get me hired with his boss - which lead to about a year or so of employement specializing in e-commerce, and Miva programming as well as general support/setup/server config etc.
While working with Dan, Ron, Tom, Javier, and Adam we had some good fun, the company grew, we moved into a new location, and setup shop in a 9-5 job, twas crazy indeed - we got some major deals, made some crazy project plans, and expanded by leaps and bounds, but stress (or at least from our perspective) got the better of our boss, and he turned to what we heard through the rumor mill was drugs to cope - at the time, I could never understand why someone would go to that extreme, or how it could be so much work that you’d need that method of unwinding - but this last 6 months has been proof of the insanity that can insue in running your own business - while I don’t think Drugs/Drinking will ever be my “cooldown” of choice, for some it may be.
I have been in talks with CMC for a few weeks about my continued role at CMC - I am one of the last few original crew from back in the Robin days, and I have myself pretty intwinded at the site, my code powers a good portion of the site, I keep a eye on the servers, and such - and my role has of late become a mixed bag, I am not saying that I too have not been at fault, but I think I am hitting the same wall as my old boss, finding that balance between relaxing and working, but also life outside of work, not making work my 24/7 thing anymore, granted there are days I get the 4am SMS, or the panic calls in the afternoons while trying to catch up on a few winks, but my role at CMC is switching from one of a personal nature to a professional only, if I decide to stay, definately a thing on my prayer list lately - and not 100% sure I am going to stay to be honest, and maybe it is time to go, CMC by default the last year has had more issues - so time shall tell, but definately going to be praying about it, not even from a money standpoint (which is on the table as well) but just in the timeframe of things.
I am greatful for friends though - folks who tell me JAHOYFT - to those who drag me out to movies, food, baseball games, not only are some of these folks great friends, but some are very understanding clients as well - I can definately say I am blessed, and I thank God for my friends - but the one thing I keep getting around every turn lately is, while I look at who I am, what I have become in business, I need to remember who I am, the other talents I have been given, and the other loves I enjoy doing, biking, music, photography, cooking - all things of which I don’t do a TON anymore, but I think its part of the puzzle in finding that balance, getting those elements back in my life a bit.
So I have a plan, I think I am going to skip the MacBook purchase, I already have a buyer for the iBook - and going to invest in a new desk, and a iMac 17inch Core Duo - and make it for managing my photos & for expanding my music - I have a bike rack, and the weather in the early AM and late evening are both awesome for bike riding, and I have been trying to eat mildly healthier some lately, granted there’s no way 100% of the time out I can, stupid Jack in the Box killed the Ceaser Salad - so one less fast food place I can eat semi-healthy at and enjoy it - but get some food going back here at home - and maybe work in at least 2 photo things a month - all of which I think will help balance me back out and really help get my mind to shut off of work for more than a evening - throw piano thoughts in the mix, photography ideas, cooking creations etc. Lots of possiblities for a brain that one way or the other never stops
And to those who go back to the JAHOYFT note - I think even though its a question that weighs on my mind, its a matter of things all in due time, and it’s not time, as much as I’d love to throw it out there, and hope for the best, life still has some things for me to work out, God has some plans for me as well - but I think when the time is right I’ll definately be chatting with her openly and honestly, could be tomorrow, could be in a month, but I don’t think I’m truly ready yet. But for once above all I just wrote, for once again I feel excited about work, about jobs, about things coming up, I am starting to use my Palm a tad more wisely, need to get a few more tools for project management installed and setup, especially if I do bring on another person to help finish some projects sooner than later - but its all good. God is Good, life is good.
But thanks for your continued prayers, thanks for the ocasional chats, calls, etc. I really do appriciate it - this week will most likely bring about some more changes, hopefully all for the best. Well, I am going to go measure an area and see what size desk I need for the iMac/Piano, have a wonderful evening, and a blessed Sunday folks. Night.
Well tonight my plan is to go see Curious George - been a while since I have gone to see a movie in theatres, at least that I can remember - but it should be a pleasent evening, be nice to relax, and be some place cool. Granting its not really hot yet (well for some 93 is hot) but humidity has been gross (44% right now @ 83 degrees) tons of sticky fun, should be taking my 12th shower of the day here in a bit - but its all good, nice relaxing evening to look forward to alone is a pleasing thought.
A interesting day today - got an email asking to buy the rights to my company name essientally, no formal offers have come in yet, so we shall see how serious they are about it, not a simple choice, nor in my mind an cheap one, as the costs involved alone in making a new business identity, swapping bank accounts, etc. etc. etc. - would be very time consuming, and costly - so we shall see what becomes of it.
Work work work - ah how I love it. Testing more stuff today during the day on the test server I have setup - things are going smoothly on the server I setup for my brother, no major issues to speak of, email is flowin, reverse DNS is active and in-place, it all seems good - if this new server setup works, I can re-arrange some servers to better accomidate the continued flow of customers - as lately more and more sign-ups - and word of mouth has definately picked up on the FH side of things, so majorly blessed, some good projects coming across the desk too - so who knows!
Quiet Weekend? Not sure about it entirely, part of me would REALLY like to cruise up to the mountains, camera, maybe even bike, just unwind, hotel, mom-n-pop diner - the works - but as many folks are holding prayer vigils for me tonight, who knwos how that’ll turn out (long story) - but getting away soon does sound/feel good - still want to get to the road trip level of things, but all in due time, don’t wanna rush it and have to come back early, don’t wanna hold up too long and simply never go… so always back to the balance of things! (just wish I had one!)
Anywhoo - thats it, gonna go hit the shower, current 81F in my room right now (keyboard has a temperature gague.. kinda cool!) but who knows tomorrow may bring some new cool things on many levels - until then. Night folks.
I have never claimed to know what I am doing when it comes to photography, I just know what I have learned by trial and error - I mean 1GB SD/CF cards can let you practice a LOT! So when it came to ISO settings, white balance, etc. it was a lot of trial and error, what looked natural, what didn’t blur, what looked good! But today I saw a great tutorial listed on LifeHacker which pointed to a great article on PhotographyJam.com I gave it a read - and must say laid things out in simple terms, no “The camera needs to be held at a 23 degree angle so your flapper lens can capture as much photons and leptons as possible, in turn providing you with the perfect shot” - simple, easy, good explination and good visual example of the terms at work. Definately helps me a bit more in getting the most out of my E-500 which did get un-dusted the other night, but need to work on my late night shots and it heating up pixels in the black areas.
