Andrew P Watson

Indy car pulls up to Dunkin drive-thru? There’s something you don’t see everyday!

Andrew — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 11:54:47 +0000

I’m driving up the seacoast this morning, listening the The Morning BUZZ as I usually do. They mentioned they had a “street-legal” Indy car in the station parking lot, and it would only be there for a couple of minutes. I drive right past the station on my way to work, so I went to check it out.

Laura (from The BUZZ) got to go for a ride in this thing. It’s unreal. I expected a sports car, sort of beefed up to look like an Indy car… but no.. this is the real deal!

Check this sucker out;

For Sale – 2 kayaks, 2 paddles, 2 life jackets, and 2 Thule kayak racks!

Andrew — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 22:21:02 +0000

I bought these a couple years ago and only used them maybe four or five time. Now I have two kids, no time, and no car to carry these around.

If you are looking for a couple of Kayaks, take a second to check this out – it’s a great deal

Complete Package:

TWO Wilderness Systems Pamlico 100 kayaks. One red, one orange. Condition is nearly perfect, only used a few times.
TWO Aqua-Bound paddles. These still have the stickers on the paddle, showing how little they have been used. These also collapse into two pieces and have two settings for paddle angles.
TWO MTI Adventurewear life jackets, one blue and one red.
TWO sets of THULE kayak racks. These are crazy expensive to buy, but I have no use for them anymore. NOTE: I am keeping the straps, so they are not included.

If you were to buy all this new it would cost around $1700. I’m looking for $1100 for the lot. I know the value of all this, and the price is firm. Please don’t contact me ready to haggle.

Sunrise From Salisbury Reservation – March 02

Andrew — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 13:03:21 +0000

Every so often I go through these fairly stubborn insomnia phases. Well seeing that I was up at 3am again today (with no chance of falling back asleep), I got a little bored moping around the house while everyone was asleep. To that end, I packed up and headed out for a drive before work. I stopped at Dunks for the obligatory large regular, and headed down to the Salisbury Reservation to chill for a bit and catch the sunrise.

I ended up getting there at like 5am, so I sipped my coffee, listened to the radio, and enjoyed the scenery. The sun finally came up around 6:20, and I got some pictures with my Nikon Coolpix p100. It was so inspiring, and just amazing. I mean, when’s the last time you took the time to just sit and enjoy a sunrise? Do it…

Finishing a Stone Wall Basement – First Room Done

Andrew — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 13:25:45 +0000

I’ve had some people email me questions about my basement project. Specifically, how I decided to frame walls over a stone wall foundation. Well the project is not complete yet, but I have at least one room that is 95% finished. I wanted to post a couple pictures and explain what I did. So far, I’m very pleased with the results. It took a long time, but it was primarily me doing all the work (occasional help from friends) when I could find time.

First off, when I bought the house the basement was a completely open chamber. It had a semi-finished ceiling, but otherwise no walls, outlets or anything. It was cold, dingy, and full of cobwebs. When we looked at the property, I saw through it – and knew I could make something of it.

Pic 1 (Above) – The basement just before we purchased. It’s a blurry picture (cam phone), but I think it gets across the basic feel and layout. The window in the near-center of the room is important, use that as reference.

Pic 2 (Above) – I started framing walls around the exterior of the basement. The walls do not contact the stone wall at all. There is a cavity ranging from 4inches to 8inches all the way around the room. I did this because I’m installing a ventilation system (fan) near one of the windows that can be switched on to move the air and vent the airspace between the stone and insulated wall. It should be noted that I do not get any water in my basement. In three years, I’ve had one minor “seepage” and addressed that issue. I just want to be able to let the stone wall foundation breath, and change the air out every now and then. The window in this picture is the aforementioned window above.

Pic 3 (Above) – The nearly finished studio room (230 square feet). The walls and ceiling are insulated with r-13 (with vapor barrier), and both have 5/8 firecode drywall. I did all this because of the sound-insulating properties. I wanted to be able to play music in this room, so I planned ahead. Wiring includes 7 outlets, and two switched recessed lights. The flooring is a sheet of poly (6mil) with carpet padding and cheap carpet. After all said and done, the floor is soft, the lights are bright, and the room holds heat VERY well.

Good Stuff!

Nikon Coolpix P100 – Part Deux

Andrew — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 18:24:45 +0000

I wanted to follow up on a post I made recently where I tried to find out what a non-photographer could do with a so-called “easy to use” point and click camera (Nikon Coolpix p100). The problem is, I feel like on my previous attempt I was trying too hard to fiddle with all the settings. This sort of negated my original goal of finding out how the camera performed in a real-world application.

I wanted to do another post, but only use the camera on the “auto” settings mode. This way, all my pictures could basically be reproduced by anyone using the camera – regardless of their ability to fine-tune the settings.

Over the past few weekends I’ve been taking my daughter out for drives in the morning (sometimes very early) when she wakes up. I figured I could get some pictures, and let my wife sleep for a bit. The pictures below are just a few from these drives.

All pictures were taken using the AUTO mode, with AUTO focus enabled. I did use the zoom. In fact, most of these are zoomed WAY in. I didn’t do anything to the pictures, aside from scaling them way down for use on the web. After all said and done, I think you’ll see that the Nikon Coolpix p100 is in fact a great product for the price. Even the complete amateur (me) can get somewhat decent pictures without need to tinker too much with the settings.

These two pics are of a turkey vulture in West Newbury. I was probably 80 – 100 feet away.

This guy was super cool. It’s a wild turkey that ran across the road in Byfield

I was just parked at the Salisbury Reservation and wanted to see how much detail I could get from maybe 20 feet away. Pretty good, I think.

I got these while walking along the north jetty in Salisbury. Nothing crazy, it just caught my eye.

Seagulls where flying around everywhere. Sorry guys, I don’t have any french fries.

This picture of the needle in the Merrimack was from pretty far away. I had the zoom nearly all the way in.

I included this picture because of the distance. I’m driving along Crane Kneck Beach road, and that’s Plum Island… across the water. Even when zoomed in that far, the quality is decent.

I took this very early from the last ocean parking lot at the Salisbury reservation. I like the colors.

Again, the reason this is included is becuase the zoom was fully extended. These geese were litteraly tiny specs. I can’t believe it got this much detail from so far away.

I stopped near the Parker River to take this picture. I like the colors.

I saw this coyote in Newbury, driving along the marsh. He ran off pretty quick, but I was able to take a few pictures before he dashed into the woods. I thought this was a good example of how quick the camera is to operate.

This blue jay was near the lower artichoke, Newburyport. It’s nothing special, but I thought the color was good.

Another example of zoom; this bird was tiny, and far away.

I really wish this came out with a little more focus. It was probably 50 or 60 feet away, but the focus just wouldn’t nail it down. I’m sure with a little “tinkering” I could have taken a crisper image.

Using WordPress as a CMS – Posts & Pages

Andrew — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 14:18:05 +0000

I seem to be building numerous websites lately that clients want to be able to manage themselves, and I’ve been using WordPress to power them. For years WordPress was considered a blogging tool only, but within the past few releases it’s definitely proving itself as a very capable, light-weight Content Management System (CMS). In fact, aside from a more advanced permissions model, there really isn’t anything I can think of that WordPress can’t be configured to do right out of the box. For a normal, basic website WordPress allows non-developers to manage their own content easily, using an interface that is not too challenging or technically demanding.

For developers, building templates for WordPress just takes a little understanding about what the content of the website is going to be. It’s important to understand when to use the post type “Page” and when to use the post type “Post”. After a lengthy discussion with a client of mine, I wrote out an overview that I figured I’d share in case anyone else was trying to figure out how to use WordPress as more than a blogging tool.

Difference between Posts and Pages in WordPress (or any cms).

At the end of the day, Posts and Pages are just content and do nearly the same thing. However, think about it this way:

Pages are generally static, non-threaded content. Pages are the main sections on a website.

Basic Examples of “Pages”

About Us
Directions To Our Offices
Contact Us
History

Posts are designed to act as collections of content that are related to each other.

For example, Posts may be used like this:

Events (page)
- Event 1 (post)
- Event 2 (post)
- Event 3 (post)
- Event 4 (post)

Now, if there are groups of content – categories of Posts are used:

Product Reviews (page)
- Cars (category)
  - Review 1 (post)
  - Review 2 (post)
  - Review 3 (post)
- Televisions (category)
  - Review 1 (post)
  - Review 2 (post)
  - Review 3 (post)

Both Pages and Posts use hierarchy for organization:

Content topic -> more specific topic -> even more specific topic -> content

Posts share the distinction of being able to be assigned to multiple “parent categories”, and are able to be horizontally related using “tags”. For example, if you look at this content structure:

Articles -> Technology -> Computers -> Software -> Antivirus -> Content
Articles -> Technology -> Computers -> Software -> Media Players -> Content
Articles -> Technology -> Computers -> Software -> Image Editing -> Content

These three articles are all similar, but live in different categories. But here’s the thing, all of these Posts could be “tagged” with the term “Microsoft.” This creates the horizontal association. It may seem like “Microsoft” could simply be a category, but if you think of tags as being Post “keywords” you can see how one Post could be related to other Posts via a “tag”, but does not share any other similarities. To show another example of how “tags” are different, take this content:

Articles -> Business Management -> Employee Training -> Help desk -> Content

Like the three previous bits of content, this may refer to “Microsoft”, but does not fit in the same category as any of them. Tags allow for this sort of relationship.

In summary:

Pages are top-level, mostly static content.
Posts are used for growing collections of data (events, press items, reviews, articles)
- categories group posts in like content
- tags “relate” content to each other via keywords.
Posts are associated with chronological content, such as content that would need a date associated with it (news items, events, press).
Posts are also generally used if you want to offer any sort of user interaction, such as comments.

Once you have a decent grasp your site’s content, and where to use Posts and Pages, you can develop WordPress templates that really show off the CMS abilities for authoring and editing content. Web development seems to be leaning toward CMS-driven sites, and moving away from the static, webmaster controlled sites.

Nikon Coolpix P100 – Real world, non-photographer use and examples.

Andrew — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:45:33 +0000

This summer I picked up the Nikon Coolpix p100 digital camera. I wanted something decent, but not overly challenging for an average, non-camera savoy user. I had been using the Cannon PowerShot A540 with fair results, but after it took a swim in a local river as I pulled my kayak out – it just hasn’t been the same. Besides, the Cannon was old technology. I wanted something a little newer.

I pondered getting a real camera (dSLR), but truth be told… I’m just not that into it. I figured I would do better getting decent pictures from a good point-and-click, rather than getting frustrated and crappy pictures with an expensive “do it all yourself” SLR. I went to a Ritz Camera and talked to a salesperson for like an hour over what I should get. We settled on the Nikon Coolpix p100.

It has 10.3 megapixels, full 1080p HD video, and a crazy 26x zoom. What the heck would I need more camera than that for? All I’m going to be doing is catching birthdays, random wildlife sightings, or events. For the price, it made sense.

My Goal: I am a complete photography novice, trying to use a camera that is marketed as super easy to use. Basically, from what I read, you don’t need to be an expert to use this machine. And if the commercials are anything to go by, I’ll be getting incredible shots right out of the box. Yeah.. we’ll see about that.

I just get tired of “skewed” marketing tactics. You know, product advertisements that show models, living in a perfect world, dancing around and using some product, effortlessly providing outstanding results. Or fast food commercials showing a “picture perfect” meal being enjoyed by slim, smiling, happy people.

We all know, or least I do, that no meal EVER looks like that. And we’ve all seen the REAL people that eat them. I also know that no product produces the perfect bliss that it’s marketing seems to suggest. I realize that there are some great products out there, I just get frustrated when bombarded by advertisements that sell improbable, or even impossible results…

Anyways…

This weekend I had a go at actually “learning” the settings on the camera. Prior to this model, and even with this model up to this point, all I would do is turn the thing, make sure it’s on auto, point.. and click. I had no clue what any of the settings where. Actually I’m still pretty baffled by them, but I did get some cool results tinkering with some of the options. I wanted to share in case anyone else was pondering this machine.

Nikon Coolpix p100 – real life, non-photographer pictures.

This shot is my favorite. I was literally like ten feet away. It took a few tries, but I got this one using the “shutter speed priority” setting and manual focus.

One big problem I have when using the auto-mode is focusing on the item I actually want to focus on. I tried to get this spider into focus, but even on the macro setting the camera tried to focus on the tree in the background. Finally, using the manual focus, I was able to get this. The spider is really small, maybe half an inch long.

This shot did basically what I wanted it to do; get the flower in focus while the background blurs out. I used the shutter speed setting and manual focus. It’s a little dark, but if I’d adjusted the shutter speed it would have been a great picture.

I had the same goal with this picture, to have the bloom in focus and the rest out. The colors are only fair, but overall I thinks it’s decent.

I really dig the colors on this shot. I had the shutter open a little longer than the other shots, and again used manual focus. At this point I was getting the hang of it.

This was a test of low-ish light. I wanted the main focus to be a little sharper, but every time I slowed down the shutter to let more light it – I found it very hard to hold the camera steady enough to get the picture I wanted.

I’m a little surprised at the color of this one. In the woods these mushrooms were a vibrant yellow, but in the picture they look a little washed out. Like I said, I really don’t know what I’m doing. I’m sure with a little more practice I’d know what button to push in order to get better outdoor colors.

This picture is interesting for a couple reasons. The one reason I leaned towards point and click camera was because they are just easy to use. But, seeing that I’m trying to actually learn to use the settings correctly, when I saw this little guy in the woods it was like a race. I had to power-up the camera, select the setting, adjust the shutter speed, focus, and zoom quicker than I’ve ever needed to. It was a test for sure. I’d like to have been a little sharper, but he was like ten feet away and I was fumbling over what settings to adjust.

I wanted this picture to be crisper than it is. The colors out in the open where really slick. The picture just looks a little bland. Again, maybe if I knew what I was doing. Still, it’s a better than my Cannon did – of course I never used any of the custom settings on that.

Again, this is an example of how settings can effect the picture (well, duh). In the woods, this was an awesome shot. Apparently, I had the shutter open too long because the light is all washed out. I should say, for the record, I did try one shot of this on the full-auto mode and it came out a little worse.

Finally, another example of how using the manual focus can allow you to take a picture that you simply can’t with the auto focus. I tried both ways on this, but the auto focus just adjusted in on the tree in the background (on macro). With the manual, I was able to bring the web into focus fairly painlessly.

Blue Angels – Airshow practice right over my head (litterally)

Andrew — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:57:48 +0000

This is super cool. The Blue Angels are performing at an airshow this weekend in New Hampshire. Well, for the last couple of days they have been practicing right over my office. I don’t mean “near” my office – I work a third of a mile from the airstrip – they are directly overhead! I sat in the parking lot for a while and watched them doing all those signature stunts and crazy formations.

Here are some shots (click to enlarge):

Kayaking the Powow River – Downtown Amesbury to the Merrimack River… and then some

Andrew — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 21:56:25 +0000

I went Kayaking today with a friend of mine. We didn’t have a ton of time, so we decided on someplace close to both of us – The Powow River. I’ve lived in Amesbury for a few years, and lived in the area (Newburyport) for something like 25 years. When Justin (friend I went with) said we should try the Powow, and put in near the center of downtown Amesbury, I was a little less than excited. I know that the Powow runs through downtown Amesbury, and ends up in the Merrimack River, but I honestly thought the section from downtown Amesbury, to the Merrimack was little more than a dirty, short, urban slog until it spills into the Merrimack.

So, I was excited to get out, but not at all expecting anything grand from the Powow. At least not this section of it. I’ve done some of the Powow upstream from downtown Amesbury and it’s pretty decent. But, like I said, I didn’t think the “lower” part of the river could possibly be any good. It’s surrounded by highways, shopping centers, apartments, old mill buildings and all the other dirty characteristics that define a blue-collar historic New England town.

Ok, all that said…

I was absolutely taken aback by how far, open, scenic, and awesome it was. The river ran for a long stretches through areas of thick vegetation that look more like a wilderness refuge than a city.

Kayaking the Powow River – From downtown Amesbury to the Merrimack River

Click any image to enlarge

We launched the kayaks directly in the center of downtown Amesbury. After paddling around a bit, and exploring what little “upstream” there was (a hundred feet or so), we turned around and headed off.

Right from the start, the river opened up a lot wider than I expected. There were ducks all over, and I could hardly see any houses on the shore. It was excellent. The water was calm, there was not a lot of city noise, and the air felt great. I know there are shopping centers, highways and construction all around me – but none of that was apparent on the water.

About ten minutes into the trip, I had a hilarious encounter with two huge birds. There was an enormous Blue Heron that flew over us. As I grabbed my little camera to try and take it’s picture, I heard some loud commotion in the water in front of me. A big (being so close, monstrously huge) Commerran was taking off from the water in front of me. I must have spooked it, but I was too busy trying to photograph the Heron to notice. It was bearing down on me, as if trying to “buzz me.” He changed course within a few feet, but still managed to get my adrenaline going. If you’ve never been very close to one of these birds – they really are pretty big. While focusing on not going in the drink, I was able to get at least one shot (not a great one).

Further upstream we came to the first bridge for route 110. From the street side, it’s noisy and full of construction. From the water, it was really kinda cool. Cars whizzed by, but we just casually floated by. The second bridge was 495, and again it was actually neat to go under. I was amazed at how much “nature” was actually down there.

Finally we came to the last bridge (Main St.), and the entrance to the Merrimack River. I was looking forward to this section, and hung around under the bridge for a bit, listening to the booms of cars passing overhead. I guess I never really thought about it, but the bridge used to rotate open. I don’t why, but I found this very interesting and took a picture of mechanism.

Suddenly the landscape (well, “waterscape”) changed as we entered the Merrimack. No longer were we in a mellow tranquil river. The water in the Merrimack was choppier, the current stronger, and the wind was blowing. I had only planned on checking out the marina at the opening a bit, but after getting adjusted to the new conditions, we felt confident enough close to shore. We headed down river a bit. It was absolutely gorgeous.

We paddled down the shoreline for a while, checking out the boats. When I turned around, I was shocked at how far from Powow we had gone. Not only had we gone a little further than planned, we had been paddling “with” the current… than meant we now had to battle… uhg, “against” it to return. It took a bit, but we got back to the marina and entrance to the Powow.

Trip back upstream was as pleasant as the before. Around each bend I found myself thinking “wow, this is literally in my back yard.” I had no idea. I had previously assumed the Powow River from downtown Amesbury to the Merrimack was short and dirty. Not by a long shot.

Finally, we rounded the last corner and saw the brick mill buildings where we had initially put in. I like these pictures the most.

All in all, I’m impressed. It’s not miles of wilderness, with moose and bears, but it’s definitely a great way to get out for a couple hours. I’m probably going to do it again this weekend. After all, I can nearly hit the launching spot with a rock from my house.

1840 Phelps & Ensign’s Travellers Guide and Map of the United States

Andrew — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 12:22:25 +0000

This map came out of the attic of a 19th century farmhouse. I personally found it, under a ton of other crap. It was under an eve, and probably not handled in decades. The quality is obviously not great, but the map itself is super-cool.