Seer's blog

I've been using Wikipedia since it was released, and have downloaded and used Mediawiki for 4 years now as well. I love the idea of wiki's, and have used quite a few different programs including a good 12.8% of the software listed on this list. There are some nice features on some of them that make the better suited for different functions, like home use or sales. I liked the Ruby driven for global "ToDo" lists for (by use of a ToDo tag you could put on any page, and see all items on the "ToDo" page) as well as the Mind Map feature it has.

But, as they've never said, "Home is where the Data lives" and Wikipedia has it. Because of that, we all have to live with Mediawiki and it's way of doing things. Or do we? I've been thinking about creating a Firefox plugin for Wikipedia that will remix the page to include a live history on the page. (Click below to see the goal documentation for my Firefox plugin idea)

Oldtown brickwall setup shot
Originally uploaded by Jackal of all trades

So, early Saturday I had some ants in my pants and I just wanted to go out and do something. I took my new LP120 along with all my other gear, now packed into just my LowPro and a lighting bag (that came from my first "Strobist Kit" purchase) and I went down to Old Town to take some photos.

I've always loved the brick walls in the alley between Bon Bonier and St. Vinnie's, and I thought it would make a wonderful backdrop for some portraits. Check out the rest of the set on this slideshow

What it's for?
by Yoko Kanno

I'm not to sure I can go much further
A million not sure things are even getting better
I'm so tired of the me that has to disagree
I'm so tired of the me that's in control

I woke up to see the
Sun shining all around me
How could it shine down on me?
You'd think that it would notice that I can't take anymore
Had to ask myself, "What's it really for?"

Everything I tried to do it didn't matter
Now I might be better off just rolling over
'cause you know I tried to hard but couldn't change a thing
and it hurts so much I might as well let go

I can't really take the Sun shining all around me Why would it shine down on me? You'd it would notice that I no longer believe can't help telling myself, "It don't mean a thing"
I woke up to see the
Sun shining all around me
How could it shine down on me?
Sun shining all it's beauty
Why would it shine down on me?
You'd think it notice I can't take any more

Baby, Sepia, Dress & Cheeks

Originally uploaded by Jackal of all trades

I'm proud of how this shot turned out. I was a little worried at first, since the parent had a photo she wanted to emulate. Since this was my first true "photo shoot" for someone I didn't know before hand, I was a little nervous about how it might turn out.

It ended up better than I expected. I have to say that her wonderful smile makes this shot for me. That, and the natural reflection in her eyes of the umbrella. I'm hooked on taking portraits now.

Do a search over at Wikipedia for list of common and you'll find some interesting articles. I was really enjoying List of Common Misconceptions, and I had to share it. So I did a search for "list of common" and found lots of really amazing lists. Wikipedia is also good for looking up current TV shows, with things like List of Merlin Episodes and The Office

Also, I love how random and eclectic the list is. Where else are you going to get Common Misnomers and bean diseases in the same list? Why a list of lists, of course!

If the newspapers and websites aren't cutting it for you, I've found that Wikipedia often has amazingly comprehensive articles about on going issues. Global Financial Crisis of 2008 is Wikipedia's good history of what's been happening to the financial markets recently. It is divided in weeks, giving the details that emerged that week, as well as government reactions at the time. For a larger overview, check out the Wikipedia entry for the Financial Crisis of 2007-2008 Also, the chart on this page on CNBC is giving a running total of the cost of all parts of the bailout. Right now it's at $7.9 trillion, for the U.S. Government.

Click below to read my thoughts on the new form of consensus building via Wikipedia, and the social science possibilities of studying a fully archived conversation that leads to consensus.

According to the New York Times, we shouldn't be holding people with no review, making up courts as we go along, and making people disappear because we thought they might have looked kinda terroristic. Where was the sudden outbreak of common sense 7 years ago?

"If the ruling stands, presidents would be able to throw out due process, habeas corpus and other basic constitutional and statutory rights for anyone they declared to have terrorist ties. That is an intolerable reading of the law — and one that the Supreme Court should quickly reverse."

So I wake up on Saturday after sleeping all the way in to 9am, and put on this weeks Threadbanger from my TiVo. And near the end, they start showing off their users projects, and bam! There's the quilt I made for Kyra. That's Threadbangers! Keep up the DIY!

(My Dog) Kyra's Blanket

Originally uploaded by Jackal of all trades

This is my homemade quilt I made for my dog, Kyra. It's the first quilt I've ever made, and was more a test of our new-to-us Elna sewing machine. (Thanks Errol and Donna!)

This photo was taken with my thrift store Cimko 28mm 2.8f lens, with a strobe bounced off my bedroom ceiling.

I think it's time for a fresh start, so I'm going to start putting some thoughts on these pages. I'm not sure how often I'll do it, but there are times I wish I could publicly comment on life, show off some nice photos, or just shout out loud, if not in that hallways of power, at least in the alleyways of my adopted home town.