Kindle

Santa got our family a Kindle Touch for Christmas. I was until recently not sold on the ebook/e-reader concept as I am a book lover. I have loved reading since I got hooked at about 4th or 5th grade. I read constantly till I got out of collage. Then my time got limited with a full time job, computer games to play and then later a family. I have a few book shelves full of books, mostly sci-fi and fiction, but still quite the collection.

I love how books smell, the feel of good paper (in most cases for hard cover books), and the heft of a book in your hands. I always thought that an e-reader was for people who wanted to show off their new tech at coffee shops. I had not really played with one other then an iPad at an electronics store and did not want to throw down about 6 bills for it.

The Kindle is downright amazing. The e-ink screen is super easy to read and the screen is just as sensitive as my HTC Incredible's touch screen. It has a built in dictionary that I have to say makes your reading experience that much better. Just hold down your finger on that word and it will give you a definition. You can book mark and highlight what you want and then if you have a social network like Facebook or twitter you can share it with others.

Books will sync across platforms as well. (this seems to be limited to purchased material not your personal documents) We can access books on our phones, the pc or the Kindle.

I still will read physical books and don't think physical books are by any means on the way out but now their is one more person that is now a fan of the ebook.

Fun at Detroit Lakes

Finally.

I am excited due to the fact that I finally took a decent night shot. I have been wanting to get one of these since my 35mm film SLR days.

I was privileged to go camping for a day or so at Detroit Lakes. I have to say the stars are just awesome with so little light pollution. I with the naked eye could see the Milky Way. Totally awesome. Made me miss growing up in the country.

I pulled out my camera, cable release and tripod. I spent about an hour shooting and got a couple good shots. (It takes a good formula to get shots at night and lots of patience) The shot you see here is an 8 min exposure at about f11. I am still working on perfecting this for how I shoot but am happy with the outcome.

Photography

So I am in recent ownership of a DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) Camera, after many years of wanting one. A Nikon D3100 camera body with a couple lenses. (I own too older Nikkor lens from my 35mm Nikon N65 SLR days) My lens are at the moment are:

• AF Nikkor 35-70mm 1:2.2-4.5


• AF Nikkor 28-80mm 1:3.3-5.6G


• AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6G (with VR)

I have really been enjoying this camera and forgot how much I have missed shooting a decent SLR. I have thrown some of my shots up on Facebook and Google+ and the links are later in the post.

My current project is figuring out how to shoot stars with the right combo of aperture and exposure time. It is a really tricky thing (specially in town where light pollution is rampant) and I am close but still not quite where I have a decent shot. The best tool for shooting stars at night I have found is Google Sky app. Gives you a great idea of where constellations are or specific stars (north star for example)

I have gotten lucky this summer and seen quite a few great sunsets. It has been a rainy summer here in the Pacific NW and that has led to lots of sunsets with interesting cloud structures.

Here are links to my Facebook album of a few shots I have taken so far. Been re-learning some of the principles again and having a great time. I have always looked at the things around me in ways of how would that make a good picture. There is something about freezing something in time that has always drawn me in. Hope you enjoy these and feel free to give me any feedback you want.

Facebook Photography Album
Google+ Photography Album

Go Caleb!

My nephew Caleb is in San Antonio for Spring Break but he is not getting much of a break. He is competing in the Paralympics Swimming Can-Am Championships. He placed 4th in both events he was in yesterday and knocked off a bunch of time on his personal best for both events. You can read more about him on his blog as well. He has more events today and tomorrow and is very relaxed and doing well. He has a good cheering team as well. Grandma, Grandpa, Audrey and the girls flew down to San Antonio on Tuesday of this week to cheer him and give him support.

Gaming Update

Well it has been a while since I last posted so I will do a gaming update. I have not had a ton of time in recent weeks to do much gaming due to work and family stuff. Audrey is in school and has been utilizing the office for studying. I do not honestly mind her taking over that space and using it to it's full advantage so she can get some quiet to get her papers and studying done.

I do tend to game on the weekends and recently have played some TF2, Bioshock (Trying to finish this for Bioshock 2), Borderlands (Walkthrough 2 and I may pick up an add-on here soon), and just started Mass Effect. (Quite good and in the same vein of KOTOR, though a bit more FPS).

If anyone is interested in doing Borderlands add me in game or on steam and we will get to it. I heard one of the add-on's has a safe so you can store guns in it which is awesome. I have a few I would like to keep so I can swap out sets etc.

Anyway I am still gaming just doing a bit less during the week.

The future of Radio

So here in PDX we have had a an upheaval in good Radio DJ's. The main Rock station KUFO Friday, Oct 23rd fired all morning and afternoon staff as well as a ton of other DJ's. Honestly in this listeners view it was the largest mistake they could have done. The Rick Emerson Show (mornings) and Cort and Fatboy (Afternoons) were staple listening for the ride to and from work.

I just saw the new site and dj line up and man they look lame. Good job KUFO and Alpha Broadcasting to go an ruin a good think. If it is not broken don't fix it. These guys don't look like they can tie there shoes between the lot of them. Take a gander at the KUFO.com page and you will see what I mean.

If you like good radio do your self a favor and let KUFO programming managers know what you think.

Again a huge hand to KUFO and Alpha for screwing up a perfectly great radio station.

{UPDATE:}
A great article on the situation Here.

Sorry KUFO your new DJ line up after I got a listen this morning seriously suck. Good job at keeping your talent "Local" by hiring ID10T's from out of town.

Vikings/Twins

Ok the last couple days have been awesome for Minnesota Sports. This last monday the Vikings (With #4 at the helm) smoked Green Bay in a Titan battle that will go down in the ages of sports. Farve was in top form and it is so great to see the Vikings doing well for once early on in a season.

That was then overshadowed by the Twins and Americas Pastime game of the year. Game 163 of regular season to see who goes to the playoffs and who goes back to Detroit. Yes the Twins came back to win it to grab the Division Championship out of the Tigers Claws. It was an amazing game and went to 12 innings.

I have not been this happy for Minnesota Sports since '87 and '91. I would love to see the Twins take down the Yankee's as they are a team to truly hate.

Go Twins! We believe in you!