CircleCount helps you better understand Google+

2013-06-13 21:53:38 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

OMG, my stomach hurts from laughing so hard reading this. But so great she is sticking with it. 

+Neila Rey 

#marathontraining  

2013-06-11 09:52:37 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Macbin Pro?

#apple  
#macpro  
#wwdc  

2013-06-10 12:06:10 (1 comments, 2 reshares, 3 +1s)

Infinite USB #productdesign  
The Infinite USB concept is a wonderful USB cable concept using one USB jack. Theoretically, Infinite USB can supply unlimited USB ports for us and one or more USB jacks are inserted at the end of the socket for various USB devices. Moreover, when too many USB devices connected to your computer through the Infinite USB sockets, you also can plug in another infinite USB socket with AC adapter for external power.
http://gadgetsin.com/infiniteusb-gives-you-unlimited-usb-ports.htm

2013-06-06 10:00:15 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Is Google+ turning into another Facebook?
Let me start by saying that there are a lot of simply amazing photographers here on G+. I see photos in my stream that are simply amazing and I wish I could be as good to produce such work.

But lately, I see more and more photos come by that are compositionally weak, out of focus, simply not sharp or motion blurred and over-processed in an attempt to compensate. They are even tagged under the #HQSP moniker, which is supposed to be High Quality stuff.

And, here comes the Facebook stuff, when people posting this stuff have large follower counts, people tumble all over each other to praise the poster and tell them how great the shot is and what a wonderful photographer they are, while they are basically posting total crap that shouldn't have survived the initial culling.

What gives?

I love photography. I love... more »

2013-05-29 11:20:32 (18 comments, 1 reshares, 55 +1s)

Decision made, new lens
Well, since I asked the question here (https://plus.google.com/100798612570123483594/posts/aezAYdUj1BT) I didn't get much of a response, but I made a decision.

I essentially said, 'screw it, you only live once' and got me the AF-S 14-24/f2.8G ED. It is an expensive beast, but it is worth the money and I don't want to keep wondering the 'what if' question.

2013-05-29 11:22:08 (3 comments, 2 reshares, 1 +1s)

Decision made, new lens
Well, since I asked the question here (https://plus.google.com/100798612570123483594/posts/aezAYdUj1BT) I didn't get much of a response, but I made a decision.

I essentially said, 'screw it, you only live once' and got me the AF-S 14-24/f2.8G ED. It is an expensive beast, but it is worth the money and I don't want to keep wondering the 'what if' question. Besides, the D800 deserves good glass.

#nikon  
#nikonphotographers  
#nikond800  
#d800  

2013-05-28 15:56:39 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Decision time on UWA Nikkor

I am about to bite the bullet on a UWA lens to bolt to my D800 and like many, I am hesitant between 3:

- AF-S 18-35G
- AF-S 16-35G
- AF-S 14-24G

My walkaround lens is the 24-120/4, which I love, but a lot of the time I would like wider. Obviously the above 3 are hugely different with a massive price difference.

AF-S 18-35G:
Pros: Good quality, cheap, decent range, lightweight

Cons: Maybe not wide enough - when I shot Canon, I sometimes felt the 17-40 was not wide enough - especially after lens correction

AF-S 16-36G:
Pros: Really wide, takes filters (although my most/only used filter is a CPL which doesn't work all that well wider than 24mm), good range

Cons: Heavy, quite a bit of distortion between 16-20mm (most important range for me)

AF-S 14-24G:
Pros:... more »

2013-05-28 15:55:43 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Decision time on UWA Nikkor

I am about to bite the bullet on a UWA lens to bolt to my D800 and like many, I am hesitant between 3:

- AF-S 18-35G
- AF-S 16-35G
- AF-S 14-24G

My walkaround lens is the 24-120/4, which I love, but a lot of the time I would like wider. Obviously the above 3 are hugely different with a massive price difference.

AF-S 18-35G:
Pros: Good quality, cheap, decent range, lightweight

Cons: Maybe not wide enough - when I shot Canon, I sometimes felt the 17-40 was not wide enough - especially after lens correction

AF-S 16-36G:
Pros: Really wide, takes filters (although my most/only used filter is a CPL which doesn't work all that well wider than 24mm), good range

Cons: Heavy, quite a bit of distortion between 16-20mm (most important range for me)

AF-S 14-24G:
Pros:... more »

2013-05-22 12:01:56 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Sometimes I really wonder if people write things and then sit there laughing their butts off at the ones taking them seriously, or if they are truly serious and mean what they write.

Using a special $349 stand for a Mac Mini that has no mechanical parts improves sound quality? Electrical signals are influenced by mechanical vibration, really? What's next?

I guess pigs do fly.

Anyone want to buy some ocean view property Arizona?

#highend  
#hifi  
#audio  
#hilarious  

2013-05-22 08:27:50 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

My BMW K1200S in Spain near the Portugese border. I am so ready for summer. If we get any, cause spring so far looks and feels more like winter except greener.

2013-05-22 08:04:42 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

I am mucking around with my website and some new RapidWeaver templates so I can display more of my photos. Don't miss the Travel Reports section where some slideshows are incorporated in different ways.

Comments appreciated. 

#rapidweaver  
#webdesign  

2013-05-17 18:39:32 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Formula 1 is a joke

F1 is becoming a joke. RedBull whines because they can't manage their tires and the tires change. Why not just give Mr. Finger the trophy right now and be done with it? At least then we don't have to watch that farce they call F1 racing.

Everybody had the same tires available to them starting last year after the last race. Everybody developed their car around those same tires. Last race, everybody knew on Friday a 4-stop strategy was the only right one.

And of course some teams need to go whining and complaining because 3 stops did not work and they lost. Losers.

I am done with F1.

#formula1  
#f1  
#pirelli  

2013-05-14 09:51:48 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

For our Canon friends in the UK, the Canon Pro Lens roadshow will let you try the new EF200-400mm f/4L IS USM EXTENDER 1.4x zoom lens.

#photography  
#canon  
#canonusers  
#cpn  
#ukphotography  
#professionalphotography  

2013-05-04 12:00:00 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Mind bending performance by +Miyoko SHIDA 

I shake just watching this. She had me at the white feather.

http://youtu.be/dnDeo0yhIws

Hat tip +Denis Labelle 

#HolyKaw  

2013-04-28 22:04:02 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

What to do with your vacation

This year's motorcycle trip with have the following itinerary in store for me:
- Verdun WW1 monument
- Vosges
- Swiss Alps including Grand Bernard, Petit Bernard
- French Alps including Col de l'Iseran, Col de Mont Cenis, Col d'Izboard, Col de Var, Col de la Bonnette and Gorges Du Cains
- Monaco
- Cinque Terre and La Spezia
- Tuscany including Florance
- Bologna including tour of the Ducati factories
- Dolomites including Passo Stelvio
- Austrian Alps including Reschenpass, Silvretta Hochalpenstrasse
- Switzerland including the waterfalls at Schaffhausen
- Black Forrest
- Hunsrück
- Eifel

Sounds interesting? It does to me and it is going to be lots and lots of nice curved roads to make life on a motorcycle wonderful and a little bit of culture and relaxation. It also... more »

2013-04-26 12:10:51 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Just got confirmation this week: we'll be getting a tour through the Ducati factory when we are there this summer on our Italy trip. Way cool.

Too bad taking photos is not allowed inside the production facilities.

We'll need to park our bikes at the curb though, as the confirmation specifically mentioned "Parking: Ducati motorbikes only are allowed to enter the company". :P

I'm sure our #BMW 's will get over it.

#ducati  
#motorcycle  
#travel  
#italy  

2013-04-21 08:02:06 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

2013-04-18 10:00:45 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

2013-04-18 06:18:52 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Limelight - Take II

Prologue:
For sometime now, I have been quiet. I haven't written as much, but I have been reading plenty. Recently I had noticed a significant up-tic in the Mob mentality on G+ and how people can use their position or influence to incite a digital riot, or some significant bashing of people for expressing a difference of opinion.

So much for the "Social" in social media.

The thing that really staggers my imagination is that I am watching adults do this.... to one another, over the very fundamental premise of a social media platform... sharing opinions and thoughts.

While reviewing other posts, I realized that I addressed my approach to this once already in a post released over a year ago (funny to see not much has changed) and thought I would re-post it.

So I thought I would share my original post.... itss... more »

2013-04-15 19:27:46 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

The fastest data transfer rate, is also pretty fun...

2013-04-12 18:23:47 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Without Steve Jobs (February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011) we would have:
• No iProducts.
• No over expensive laptops.

✔ Without Dennis Ritchie (September 9, 1941 – October 9, 2011) we would have:
• No Windows.
• No Unix.
• No C.
• No Programs.
• A large setback in computing.
• No Generic-text Languages.
• We would all read in Binary.

✔ They died in the same year and the same month but it seems only few notice the death of Dennis Ritchie compared to Steve Jobs.
✔ It won't cost you anything to press the share button so spread it ! :)

2013-04-12 13:15:49 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

The earth is getting greener!

2013-04-09 10:27:10 (7 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

Today we honor the memory and legacy of Margaret Thatcher. Rest in peace.

#MargaretThatcher

2013-04-02 21:44:57 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Particle Accelerator Electron Tube
This photo is of a 5C22 Thyratron electron tube. It is currently sitting on a little wood stand in my living room, but in it's previous life it was a part of a linear particle accelerator or linac. Linac's are used for fundamental research, as well as medical applications, amongst other things. An example of a (big) particle accelerator is the LHR at CERN, which is being used to find the Higgs-Boson particle.

This tube comes from a somewhat smaller linac, in particular one that was located in hospital specialized in cancer research and treatment. A medical linac is used to generate high energy electron and X-rays for cancer radiation therapy. Obviously, today we don't need electron tubes anymore and this is a small piece of history: this tube was used in the '70's for cancer treatments and there can still be people walking around... more »

2013-03-25 11:24:34 (3 comments, 2 reshares, 5 +1s)

The Most Heroic Motorcycle Rider

Pierlucio ‘Spadino’ Tinazzi was killed in the 1999 Mont Blanc Tunnel inferno, after having saved a dozen or so people from the tunnel on his motorcycle. He died trying to save an unconscious truck driver he couldn't get on the back of his bike.

2013-03-24 17:03:29 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

The most heroic motorcycle rider

#motorcycle

2013-03-24 00:15:26 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

Eyes.

#caturday   #photography  

2013-03-22 19:31:35 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

I have a quickshifter on the way for the PowerCommander-V on my BMW K1200S. Should be arriving Monday. I very much look forward to installing it and trying it out.

The quickshifter works by cutting the fuel injection for 60ms (or what timing you set it to use), allowing for lightning fast clutchless upshifts.

Is this necessary for a street bike? Nope. But it sure is fun. :)

#dynojet   #bmw   #motorcycle   #powercommander   #k1200s   

2013-03-22 19:12:28 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Brrr! It's too cold for me.

2013-03-17 18:39:31 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 4 +1s)

#StPatricksDay  

2013-03-05 21:13:14 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Give +1 and share if you agree! 
#womoco   #lethal   #weapon   #lethalweapon   

2013-02-27 22:59:38 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 1 +1s)

Heaven & Hell

ping

+Giselle Minoli +Jack C Crawford +Gary S. Hart +Anita Law +jane mizrahi 

2013-02-10 10:15:45 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Here's an oldie (2009) to see how my post processing skills have changed. It's the Högakustenbron near Härnösand, Sweden. I shot this on my way to the Nordkapp.

+#BridgesAroundTheWorld  #sweden   #europeanphotography  

2013-02-02 23:41:39 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 15 +1s)

More close-up than macro, but this is the best place to put it I think. Shot of some orchids I made today with the D800 and 50/f1.8G.

2013-02-02 19:17:41 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Another pretty one.

#photography   #europeanphoto   #d800   #orchids   #flowers  

2013-02-02 19:07:16 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

There ain't much color outside until spring, but these ones have plenty. I am really liking that D800.

#photography   #europeanphoto   #d800   #orchids  

2013-02-02 19:05:07 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 2 +1s)

I think she wants something from me....

#caturday  

2013-02-02 18:06:12 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

http://caterina.net/2013/01/31/conversation-in-a-cab-in-san-francisco/ | If you, like me, don't follow sports: caterina.net/2013/01/31/conversation-in-a-cab-in-san-francisco/

2013-02-02 10:08:29 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

So...  Where is Google+?

2013-01-28 22:33:18 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Sharpening on Macbook Pro Retina

How can you tell when you are over sharpening photos in LR4 while working on a Macbook Pro Retina? It seems like I can sharpen my D800 files endlessly without the tell take signs of over sharpening.

Is this because the MBR display has such a huge resolution, and tiny little pixels to go with it so you just can't see, or because the D800 files are so high resolution and clean you can actually sharpen more than lesser files?

#photography   #lightroom   #d800   #nikon   #europeanphoto   #confused  

2013-01-20 22:09:27 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

I am soooo ready for Spring.

2013-01-20 19:51:22 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

I am so ready for Spring and have some color in life again.

2013-01-18 07:19:56 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 2 +1s)

I haven't bothered to mention the whole sad Aaron Swartz saga, because it's been covered elsewhere. 

But having the involved US attorney then basically lie about it all in a very public statement is something that I find particularly offensive. Compare these two statements - one from July 2011, one from yesterday, and tell me Carmen Ortiz isn't lying..

Yesterday (as reported by the Wall Street Journal and elsewhere):

 "At no time did this office ever seek – or ever tell Mr. Swartz’s attorneys that it intended to seek – maximum penalties under the law."

And July 2011 (as posted by justice.gov itself):

 "SWARTZ faces up to 35 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, restitution, forfeiture and a fine of up to $1 million"

Maybe that official and very public PR thing wasn't"te... more »

2013-01-15 11:38:10 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

I am just experimenting with geotagging photos and finding out, Google does not read the EXIF location tags forcing you to manually place photos on a map. Why Google, why??

If SmugMug can auto-populate maps based on EXIF information, why can't you?

#google   #picasa   #fail   #geolocation   #photography   #geotagging  

2013-01-11 23:35:54 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

The galaxy note 2 is amazing, not in the least because of the amazing battery life. Try this on your normal smartphone.

2013-01-05 14:15:16 (6 comments, 1 reshares, 1 +1s)

Do no evil?

Google actively blocks Windows Phone devices from accessing Google Maps, based on user-agent string. Google claims a Webkit browser is required to view the site, despite WP having the same render engine as the desktop IE.

What happened to "do no evil" Google?

It's about time Google gets a good kick in the nuts for uncompetitive behavior.

And no, I am an Android user.

2013-01-04 10:57:04 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Got... to.... stop....

Somehow I felt the need to add the small AF-S 50/f1.8 to the collection. Gotta stop this, because if I keep going I will be broke very quick.

2013-01-03 17:57:55 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Absence of proof is not proof of absence
 
During 2012, I wrote several times about the notion of origin and about the fact that Buddhism leaves the question unanswered, for logical valid reasons (cf. e.g. http://gplus.wallez.name/BxTtzEByFNt). In several conversations (in relation to my posts or to others'), irrational atheists made the claim that absence of proof of the existence of God is equivalent to a proof of absence of existence of God. Finally, I mentioned a few times during 2012 that Gödel and Tarski had made clear that, within formal systems, there could be undecidable propositions (which can be logically true but without us being able to prove so). So let's go back to logic and to reality checks, for if we want to use reason in a spiritual context, it might be relevant to know how to reason correctly.
 
Logic
 
If A and B are two logicalpro... more »

2013-01-02 21:56:14 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

It was a nice day today. A bit chilly, but nothing that can't be fixed by proper gear. So... first ride of the year is in. And of course I had to bring my new camera as well.

#motorcycle   #photography   #bmwmotorcycles   #k1200s   #travel  

2012-12-31 11:17:33 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

I am in search of a small photo bag

I am in search of a small photo bag that can hold my D800 w/ grip and lens, but that is very small so that it will fit easily in a 18l motorcycle side case.

The ideal inner dimensions are (H) 15cm x (W) 22cm x (D) 17cm (5.9" x 8.6" x  6.7")

I've searched and it's proven not so easy..

Looking for tips, any and all suggestions are welcome!