McSweeney’s, that wellspring of wit, has a new take on Yo Mama humor from Lucas Klauss. Exempli gratia:
Yo mama is so attractive she could be on the cover of Prevention.
Yo Mama (is nice!)
May 12th, 2009Foldex
May 11th, 2009I grabbed a new-old toy at an estate sale on Saturday, and it seems to work for the most part:
This camera, the Foldex 20, is a little quirky partly by design and partly by this particular example’s wear and tear. The only real damage that affects the performance seems to be a bend in the lens platform that creates a mild tilt affect (the plane of focus is not parallel to the film plane) and some strange cropping where the bellows interfere with the image.
The rest of the weirdness comes from the cheap consumer nature of this machine. The focus is non-adjustable, the aperture is fixed at what I calculated to be between f/12 and f/13, the focal length is fixed at 86 mm, and the shutter speed is either 1/50 seconds, or “time” mode where you can hold it open as long as you like. The lens design also creates its own issues; it’s a simple meniscus design behind the shutter with only a thin piece of glass in front. The resulting images have fairly low sharpness and contrast (though I boosted the contrast of the outdoor shots above) which, perhaps, adds to the vintage feel.
Over all it’s a pretty cool camera, and I plan to shoot a roll of portraits next.
Definitive
May 9th, 2009Look, I’m pretty pumped about the new Star Trek movie, but I think it’s time something was settled once and for all:
Always a Blind Tasting
May 8th, 2009I know I’ve covered this ground before, but the New York Times’ series of audio/photo essays about various NYC citizens, One In 8 Million, is infinitely fascinating whether the subject is mundane or extraordinary.
Today’s entry is about a wine taster, blinded by diabetes in the mid-90’s, who continues her wine-selection work despite her loss of sight.
It’s easier when the decision is made for you.
May 8th, 2009When you really want something and it doesn’t materialize, disappointment comes easily. I experienced that, not for the first time, this morning. To be honest, I’m a little more bummed about it than I thought I’d be, and I’m trying to rest in the knowledge that what happens isn’t a surprise to God, but mostly I’m just feeling gloomy to the point where I’m distracted at work.
I think all of that will wear off by the end of the day, because the alternatives to what I really wanted are both very good things, each with their own distinct advantages. I could just use a little Novocaine for the ego right now, preferably in the form of no more rain, time for photography, and a visit to Penny Lane pub with friends. Maybe at least some of that will be in the cards this weekend 
All the President’s Men (film)
May 5th, 2009You’d think it would be difficult to make a story intriguing when the outcome is a certainty. You’d think that way until you watched All the President’s Men. The visuals were decent (though not groundbreaking), but the pacing, acting, and writing easily kept me riveted through nearly 2.5 hours.
4/5
Camp
May 4th, 2009This weekend was a quiet one for me on the internet because I was camping at the White Rocks campground near Pembroke, VA.
Per’aps you’d care to see some snaps:
Ruining the Art of Julia Child
April 29th, 2009This does NOT look promising:
Why is it that a movie partially concerning one of the most important figures in America’s food landscape is coming from the same abysmal writer who struck out with a trifecta of crap in her last three movies (Bewitched, Hanging Up, and You’ve Got Mail)?
(via kottke)
City Church of Richmond: April 2009 Men’s Weekend
April 28th, 2009Just don’t call it a retreat
This past weekend I had the pleasure of joining fifteen other gentlemen out in King and Queen county for what I believe was the first Men’s Weekend for City Church of Richmond. We all chilled out on the grounds of an 18th century home while enjoying the likes of a bonfire, impromptu music, and the fresh air so alien to us city-dwellers. I played the part of a Pork Roll salesman, an ATV was stuck hub-deep in some mud, and, of course, there was some mighty fellowship time.
Oh yeah, and I took some pictures:
Horseshoes and Hand Grenades
April 27th, 2009After surviving several storms during its 10-month voyage, the junk broke in two and sank after it was rammed by a freighter just off Taiwan’s coast.
I disagree, though, with the captain’s proclamation of failure. I consider Taiwan easily close enough to maintain the plausibility of the historical claim, and it’s not as if the ship sank because of its design. I doubt many contemporary vessels would survive that kind of collision.
You can find more information about the ship’s construction and history on the project’s website. The English is a little spotty but clear enough, and the details are fascinating.