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Dear Diary...

So, it's been a long time since we really sat down to chat, hasn't it? I mean, we got back from the honeymoon, and it's been a couple weeks, other than posting some photos of cool clocks and a video here and there (complete with misspellings in captions) I haven't really talked much about life in general.

First of all, let me say, there were a couple of people who read my blog who sent us wedding gifts. You are wonderful, and that was completely unexpected. I promise, we are working on Thank You notes to individuals, because you certainly deserve our appreciation. You are awesome, and we love what you got us.

On July 1st, there were some changes at work, but I still don't know whether I can talk about them or not, because there hasn't been an "official" announcement yet. Hopefully I can say this without it being a problem - I have some more responsibilities, and there are some positive things that go along with that. Read between them lines.

Since I got the new camera, I haven't had enough free time to actually sit down and learn how to take the thing off auto mode, partly because of the above-mentioned job-related thingy. I hope to get to that... sometime.

I haven't been exercising enough, and I've been eating too much. That needs to change. On June 25, I planned to take 21 days and not have any caffeine or meat, just to see whether I could have enough discipline to make a change in my lifestyle. They say if you can do something for 21 days, it will become a permanent habit. I got as far as 9 days, and the July 4th weekend tanked me. That's... well, decent for me. I need to try again, because making a change would help improve my life in lots and lots of ways.

As you could probably tell from the recent photos, I was in Columbus, Ohio for a business trip for a couple days this week. Columbus looks pretty much just about like Indianapolis, from what little I got to see. We were in either a hotel or an office park the whole time. I'm sure it's a lovely city.

It's quite hot here at the homestead, and our downstairs air conditioner is on the fritz. That's caused a bit of consternation in the last couple days. I would like to order up some better weather, but my weather machine is not working because IU stole my 10-ton magnet. I would have gotten away with it, if it hadn't been for those meddling kids. At least I still have my mind reading helmet and my teleportation gun hidden away.

Stephanie has made good progress on the Art Car, without a whole lot of help from me because I've been too busy trying to decompress. Of course, you can't see the most complete photos yet, because I haven't had time to take them off the camera. Sigh.

In two weeks, we're going to Louisville with the car to attend the Kentucky Art Car Weekend. I hope to Maude I have learned some stuff about my camera by then, because that is one cool event at which to take pictures.

No, I haven't seen Dr. Horrible, yet, or Mamma Mia, or The Dark Knight. I will get to all of it. Someday. I swear.

How Jedi am I? Not Very.

How Jedi are you?

Giant Corms, Dublin, OH

Steph Mineart http://www.commonplacebook.com steph.mineart@gmail.com

Cool clock

At Smith and Wollensky's in Columbus, Ohio. It wasn't running, though,
which drove me crazy.

links for 2008-07-14

Anti-Gay Alabama A.G. Caught Being Gay

No really? C'mon, this stuff is getting really old now. Can't we just call all homophobes as gay and be done with it? That's where we're going anyway.

(tags: homophobia politics equality)
Global warming his the North Pole | Herald Sun

FOR the first time in human history, the North Pole may be briefly ice-free by September as global warming melts away Arctic sea ice. Seasoned polar scientists believe the chances of a totally ice-free North Pole this northern summer are greater than 50-5

(tags: green environment)

links for 2008-07-13

Bng Bng

you has been disenvoweled. We will now unpublish yew.

(tags: funny parody)

Peach Sangria

courtesy of Dine Magazine (Jul/Aug 2006 issue). Passed along by a friend who made a batch and enjoyed it.

4 firm, ripe peaches, cut into thin wedges
1 cup peach schnapps
2/3 cup superfine granulated sugar
6 cups chilled rosé wine
4 cups chilled sparkling water

1. Stir together peaches, schnapps and sugar in a large pitcher until sugar dissolves. 2. Let stand for 1 hour. 3. Stir in wine, sparkling water, and ice. Serve. Serves 10 (allegedly, although it won't really, according to my friend.)

links for 2008-07-12

Bush to G8: 'Goodbye from the world's biggest polluter'

After rejecting global climate-change targets, George Bush's parting shot to the G8 summit. Yes, because the imminent collapse of our climate and destruction of human life is super funny.

(tags: government news Bush corruption green)
Quintessential TSA stupidity: taking airline cutlery away from a pilot

yeah - the pilot of the plane doesn't need to use a knife to hijack it.

(tags: stupid idiots theater)
Gay boycott urged of 2 San Diego hotels - San Jose Mercury News

Doug Manchester, who owns the Manchester Grand Hyatt in downtown San Diego and the Grand Del Mar golf resort near La Jolla, donated $125,000 to a group backing a California ballot initiative to ban gay marriage.

(tags: lgbt rights marriage equality)
Hoegaarden Original White Ale - Brouwerij van Hoegaarden - Beer Advocate

I like this beer a lot. I had some Thursday, and it was delish.

(tags: food beer)

Steph Mineart for President

I've decided I'm throwing my hat into the ring. It's never to late, I think...

links for 2008-07-11

Cocoia Blog » Cream of the App Store crop.

(tags: iphone software)

Cool Clock

Steph Mineart http://www.commonplacebook.com steph.mineart@gmail.com

links for 2008-07-10

Handwritten Typographers

Comparing typographer's handwriting with the fonts they created.

(tags: typography design handwriting)
Rick Shenkman and The Truth About the American Voter

Nearly half (49%) of Americans think the president has the authority to suspend the Constitution. No, he doesn't, you idiots.

(tags: book statistics government)
Senate Rejects Amendments That Would Have Stripped Telecom Amnesty From Spy Bill | Threat Level from Wired.com

FISA will get passed. The President is now allowed to spy on you, with the help of your phone and cable companies. Goodbye, civil rights. Good bye freedom. 232 years was a good run.

(tags: corruption politics crime rights)
63rd Homicide in Indianapolis | IndyStar.com

12th murder in Indianapolis since June 28, 63 homicides so far in 2008. In 2007, Indianapolis had 64 homicides.

(tags: Indianapolis homicides crime)
Santa Paravia en Fiumaccio Online

ou are the ambitious ruler of a 15th century Italian city-state. Rule well and you will promoted to King - and win the game. Rule poorly, and you will die less successful.

(tags: gamesOnline g)
Video: Hilarious Song About How Scientists Copy DNA Molecules | Wired Science from Wired.com

(tags: awesome science video)
Eppendorf International - It's called epMotion

More funny videos about science.

(tags: awesome science video)

links for 2008-07-09

Arianna Huffington: Surge Amnesia: The Media's Newest Affliction

John McCain and his supporters are going to claim again and again that the surge has worked. And it looks like the media are going to let that patently false assertion go unchecked.

(tags: politics war Iraq Bush)
Open Left:: Perfectly Logical Calculations, and Why They're Actually Not

Brilliant writing in the article. In the comments, really not so much. A lovely display of sexism democrats.

(tags: feminism politics misogyny)
Motivator: Create your own customized motivational poster

(tags: flickr photos funny)
Indy.com | The Cool List '08

A list of things to do around Indianapolis this summer.

(tags: toread Indianapolis entertainment)
Avant Game: Hide and Seek 08 Rules Me – and why real-world players are so game

A list of really cool social games that I'd love to try.

(tags: games creative gamesPublic social)
louisgray.com: The Importance Of Blog Linking Seems to Be Declining

(tags: blogging internet traffic)
Design Observer: Mad Men: Pitch Perfect

(tags: design process)
Warren Ellis » The Patchwork Years

(tags: links web theory blogging)

links for 2008-07-08

The Associated Press: FDA reports more cases of salmonella illnesses

(tags: news health)
Tiptoeing on Bush and Convention - NYTimes.com

GOP doesn't know what to do with Bush at the convention, given how unpopular he is, will he tank McCain?

(tags: republicans election 2008)
FOX News Doctors NY Times Photos - Political Machine

Fox News alters photos of NY Times columnists that it doesn't like - giving them bigger noses, yellow teeth, and circles under their eyes. What unprofessional assholes.

(tags: media corruption)
Obama Supporters Take His Middle Name as Their Own - NYTimes.com

Now that's a nice idea.

(tags: election 2008)

Olympus Evolt e420 Camera

Steph Mineart http://www.commonplacebook.com steph.mineart@gmail.com Journal Photos

For my 40th birthday, Stephanie got me a great new DSLR camera. I've been dithering around about wanting one for quite a while, but hesitated for a couple reasons; I just got a new camera in 2006 and kinda felt guilty about wanting another so soon. I also couldn't decide what I wanted - compact or DSLR. I carry my point and shoot everywhere with me, and take tons of photos, and was afraid a DSLR would be too bulky to have with me at all times. I was also hesitant because it's been 20 years since I last took a photography class and taxed my brainz with apertures and shutter speeds and such.

But at the same time, I've really been feeling the limitations of my point and shoot camera, and wanted to take better pictures; to shoot photos with greater depth of field or in low light situations that compact cameras really don't handle well.

For a long time I've been reading reviews, looking at stats on Flickr about camera usage, and lurking around the websites of photographers that I like and learning about what equipment they carry.

For a long time I had my eye on the Canon G9, a high-quality point and shoot. I also considered the widely popular Canon Digital Rebel series, but never could quite bring myself to go that route, given the $800+ price tag. That's quite a bit beyond what we spend on birthdays or Christmas, and is hard to justify spending on something recreational when we're trying save all we can.

But my birthday rolled around, and Stephanie completely vetoed my campaign for a new toilet for the upstairs bathroom. I couldn't decide what I wanted at all. And then Digital Photography Review came out with this review on the Olympus Evolt e420 DSLR Camera. It was highly rated, small and light-weight, but a real DSLR. And it was under $600. That's still a lot of money for a birthday, but I only turn 40 once. And it's cheaper than a mid-life crisis sports car.

The e420 is pretty great so far. It's quite light and easy to carry around, although bigger than point and shoots. There's a lot I need to learn about it, but it takes some pretty great photos so far. This is a shot I could never have gotten with my old camera, which would have flattened out:

A nice night shot that wouldn't have come out:

And the colors are really rich:

I'm looking forward to really digging in and learning how to use it.