Thomas On Rails: Category Ruminations

Masters of Doom

Codejoy — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:01:00 -0400

So it is rare I will admit that I read a book straight through, but I am pleased to announce I can add one more book to my list of "have reads" and that book is: "Masters of doom". It was a pretty good read and made me long for the days of creating a game in the garage with a few good friends. I was lucky enough to get a taste of this (Though it didn't yield any Ferraris) but it was fun and even got some notoriety out of it.

Hard Times...

Codejoy — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:32:00 -0400

You know, its like that time of year where all the fit-hits-the-shan so to speak and crap just goes to hell in a handbasket. Everyone has these times of year, perhaps sometimes even more than once a year unfortunately. Its just hard times I guess, and in such times I turn to things that make me happy. Like my beloved Seagull TLR camera.

The odd thing about it is, it was purchased off Ebay and I realize I have no clue who the person who sold this camera was, and why someone would sell such a fine camera. Then I wonder if it was that persons hard times, like did I inherit their hard times? Or help them by purchasing this lovely camera in their hard times? I dunno...just the random crap I think I guess.

Reboot day 1.

Codejoy — Thu, 29 May 2008 21:05:00 -0400

CHKSUM

POST

printf("Step one to rebooting for the week\n");

printf("have fun with kiddo and exercise!\n");

End of the semester

Codejoy — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:19:00 -0400

I learned a lot in the photography class I took this semester. Primarily how to make a good print on both Resin Coated (RC) paper and Fiber Base paper (FB). To me there is something very special about making a picture by hand from start to finish. From the moment you click the shutter, to developing the negative to the enlarging process to even pressing and mounting the final print. Here is my final project, as to which the teacher said it was one of the best final projects he has seen in a photo I class. Mission accomplished. I am now actively working on my next goal.

Best commercial ever

Codejoy — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:13:55 -0400

Oh my god:

For your viewing pleasure (you photogs)

Codejoy — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 13:51:00 -0400

It's photography, it's new york city, it's from a cool guy whom I had the pleasure of meeting...and the little video has a cool soundtrack. Have fun: NYC Street Studio Video

Sex! And social ills...

Codejoy — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 13:51:00 -0400

Now that I got your attention with the Sex part, I would like to share a discussion I had with a friend this lunch hour. On the news was a report of a middle school offering the pill to students without parent consent. He asked what I thought of it, and I said I think its great! But I retracted quickly stating, I think the pill is the wrong thing to offer, ESPECIALLY without parent consent as it is a drug, it changes a woman’s body. Though in that same sentence I told him that I thought they should offer condoms in school. Well this is where the discussion started. I wish I could transcribe it word for word, but now it being almost an hour ago I will just state meat of the whole thing.

Essentially, my friend had a huge problem with the idea that schools would offer condoms even without the parents consent. I thought it was a good idea and a step in perhaps bringing down teen pregnancy. His argument was that its not the job of the schools (And there by the government and taxpayers) to be telling kids what to do. To me just offering a way to do something they will probably do anyway safely was a great stop gap measure for a growing problem, and in no way is suggesting or telling kids how to behave. He insisted this isn't the case, and that schools shouldn't do that as their only job is to teach kids reading, math, science etc. While agree with him that schools only job should be that, in reality it isn't. A lot of kids go to school for 8 hours a day to get away from their crappy family lives, so schools have taken on a role unfortunately which they originally intended to do.

He tried to use the argument that if they legalized weed then schools should provide weed to students cause "They are going to do that anyway", another analogy he used was putting brochures for Christianity and denominations within the counseling office as well, which he knew I would disagree with. I'm curious what others, that is you all think? No right or wrong answer, but just curious. I guess his biggest argument is that it takes away any and all say of the parent and government especially schools shouldn't do that. He also thinks its schools saying its okay to do stuff behind the parents back. I just don't see it that way. Thoughts???

The 25th wow, whatta day.

Codejoy — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 22:17:00 -0400

What a day, halo3, got some negatives processed, got my yard cleared, got some photographic materials, and saw "the Unit"''s season premier tonight in HD. Ohhh life is beautiful. Though the halo3 I could go on about all day, though id like to say one thing about the unit. Awesome show, but they changed for this season the intro song and it sucks, so much so I actually submitted feedback to CBS:

Okay I doubt anyone checks this, or cares but the unit is awesome and its the only show on tv i watch anymore, though I have to say the new seasons opening theme song sucks, almost ruins it all. Bring back the old intro music, I waited for that almost as much as I waited for the whole show....seriously. I hope millions of others who watched it tonight send in a few saying the same thing, and does anyone really check this? why the lame intro song for the new season its gone all Emo.

Pro-Photographer Wannabe?

Codejoy — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:21:00 -0400

I found this through my feed today: Is a Pro Photographer Wannabe Cutting Into Your Business?

It speaks of Uncle-Joe Digitals cutting into the profitability of pro wedding photographers. I have studied this area a lot and one of the first things I learned is not to underbid what the rest of the community (other pro photographers) are charging for a wedding. Common mindset for anew photographer might be "well my portfolio isn't as fleshed out as others so I should charge less to just get jobs." This really pisses off other pro photographers cause under bidding takes jobs awy from them and in the end drives the market down cause its what prices people begin to expect. This is true I would say everywhere but where I live. I live in a city of modest size where high paying jobs seem to be very rare, therefore I suspect the majority of the populace here wouldn't have the $5,000 to spend on a wedding photographer (which is what I gather other pro wedding photographers are charging in areas with clients more likely and able to pay such a fee). But I digress, the entire article speaks briefly of underbidding and mostly just makes a point that anyone with a digital camera thinks they are a pro, or near pro. I have a digital camera? Am I pro? Or am I wannabe? Its almost like a foot-in-the-door catch 22, if getting your first paid gig that you turn out great work for makes you a pro, then at some point all pros were wannabes until they got that first gig.

I love iGoogle...

Codejoy — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 14:35:00 -0400

Particularly I like their themes, especially the ones that show off the niftyness that is the weather. I mean this bus stop theme, that shows rain when its raining in my zip code, how cute is that?