The Pnebleu Blog

So I just installed WordPress for Android; it took about one minute to install both this self-host blog and my WordPress.com hosted blog.  Since I bought my Motorola Xoom I’ve been having a blast with Android.  To be honest, I wasn’t sure how much I’d use a tablet, but now that I have one I use it more than my phone.  For me, the 10 inch screen is just about right and I definitely like it being widescreen rather than 4:3.  I like having the 3G, soon to be 4G.  I just bought the car charger and I’m anticipating the next opportunity to use the tablet as a GPS.

The Android platform has so much potential even with its weaknesses.  If they could component-ize and make available on the Market every part of the OS, Google would be able to get around the update issues caused by the manufacturers and mobile carriers (customized UI, additional apps, etc).  Then the user of the phone would be able to swap out the Samsung TouchWiz interface or HTC Sense camera app for the stock Android interface and application.  Users could also easily upgrade most parts of the phone (keyboard, UI, apps) even if they were on an older OS version.

I think the Market is Android’s greatest strength, but it has plenty of room to improve.  The ability to create lists of  installed apps and easily separate them by device would be wonderful for me.  I have the Xoom and I have the Samsung Galaxy S Captivate.  Each has different sets of applications installed with some apps overlapping on both devices.  The Market is great at keeping track of my purchased apps, but it didn’t remember my free apps when I installed a new ROM on my phone.  On the bright side, having single marketplace to install apps on phones and tablets from many different vendors with a few clicks of the mouse on a browser is a really powerful advantage.  I think we’re going to have a long future with the Android OS.

So, I’ve finally reached the goal amount I was saving for a down payment on a car, a Honda Civic to be exact. But now I’ve started to think about getting a different car. The Ford Edge 2011 Limited has really grabbed my attention. The price however is substantially higher, so I’ll have to save for quite a bit longer. I think the wait will be worth it. Gas mileage will be about the same if not a little better for the Edge than my current car and ’95 Toyota Camry. But the real improvement is cargo space and passenger comfort. I do a lot of driving with others in my car, and I would be nice to take them around more comfortably. The extra room for cargo is a big advantage, because I tend to take a lot of equipment when I go on trips (camping, etc.). The interior features are pretty nice too; it has a sophisticated entertainment and control system that definitely interests me as a tech enthusiast.

Depending on how long I have to save up for the down payment, I might even be able to get a used model and save a big percentage on the value of the car. That would be perfectly fine with me!

This year for Thanksgiving week my family (including Aunt, Uncle, Cousins, and Grandparents) went to Disney World in Florida. I have a good time, but I don’t see myself returning to Disney World for many years, or until absolutely necessary. It’s a park designed for kids and Disney fanatics, neither of which describe me. Though it was a lot of fun to see my younger siblings and cousins have so much fun.

On the drive to Florida, we were able to take a detour through George, so now I’ve been to a total of 30 states! It was good to take a vacation with the family again. Now I’m looking to February to go see one of the last shuttle launches.

So I’ve only had my Canon Rebel T1i DSLR for one year, but I’m ready to move up to a higher quality camera. I’m getting frustrated with the noise in the pictures. I’ve also been fighting discolored tint within pictures caused by different lighting. I’m also on the lookout for a higher quality zoom lens; the current one I use is slower to focus and I’m getting more blurry shots than I’d like.

I have absolutely no budget for these, so they will just have to wait. The heart wants, but my wallet is in control. I have other more pressing purchases coming up (car, house, etc).

I think I’m going to save up for a EOS 5D Mark II or its replacement model. Not quite top of the line, but pretty far up there. It will unfortunately be a couple years before I’m going to take the plunge and upgrade, unless a bag of money falls in my lap.

Someone recently told me they didn’t get into photography because they didn’t have a good camera.  That took me aback.  Yes, a good DSLR takes great pictures, but it is more about the person behind the camera than the camera itself.  From 2002 until 2009, I was using the lower end Kodak snap and shoot cameras for all of my pictures.  I have so many great pictures from those years.  The quality of the photo (grain, resolution, focus, exposure, etc.) may not be superb, but for most of the pictures it doesn’t have to be.

This picture, for example, isn’t of the greatest quality, but it conveys a feeling, an emotion.  The photo’s job is done. Photography is the art of conveying a story, feeling, emotion, or event to others visually and empathetically.

Another thing she said was that she didn’t have the artistic skill to take good photos.  That may be, she might not be the next Ansel Adams, but you don’t have to be.  With the abundance of digital photography, most people taking pictures aren’t going to be great photographers.  But the pictures you take have meaning to you and the people you are with.  That is what’s important. Does your picture remind you of the emotion of the moment?

The picture below is probably my favorite picture I’ve taken recently.  It’s not that great a picture, but when I look at it, I’m flooded with memories of my Dad and the opportunities we have to share going forward.

So, no matter your skill or camera, get out there and take some pictures!  Because they are for you and your loved ones, it doesn’t matter how good they are!

So, it took several months but I finally purchased a .22 caliber pistol.  It is a Smith & Wesson 22A model: 107412.  I was able to go shoot it this weekend.  I quite enjoyed the semi-automatic rapid fire!

Smith & Wesson 22A

The main purpose for my purchase of this gun is target practice.  I wanted an inexpensive gun with inexpensive ammo to go plinking.  We have a wooden snowman setup on my Dad’s Back 40 to use as a target.  He’s pretty hole-y at this point.  .22LR, .30-06, .338, and 12-gauge ammunition have all be fired at the snowman.  (I’ll take a picture the next time I’m out there.)  I plan to bring some cans the next time I go.  The should make for a more satisfying target; maybe some water balloons, too.

I’m not a terrible shot, but I definitely need some practice.  I bought 1575 rounds for about $60 when I got the gun, so this is a relatively cheap hobby.  I’m looking forward to the cooler temperatures of autumn to go out an practice more regularly.

Summer doesn’t seem to be so hot this year.  Not that it is cool, but we haven’t had our 100°F+ days.  Maybe they will come with August.  I’m not complaining; I much prefer winter to summer.  It is just interesting to notice.  Also, summer seems to be progressing faster.  I’m sure this is just my perception of time speeding up.  The longer I’ve lived, the smaller the percentage of time a day will be within my life.

There have been no major hurricanes as of yet.  It will be interesting to see if the oil spill will have any effect on the Gulf’s ability to evaporate, there by release heat.

I’ve been trying to eat better food for the past couple months.  I’ve successfully reduced my soda intake, increased vegetable and fruit consumption, and decrease my primarily meat dinners.  As a result, I’ve felt better and leveled out my weight gain at a healthy level.

I haven’t take a lot of pictures lately.  Maybe I’ll have some material to shoot this weekend!

I’ve been a little burnt out lately.  I think I may be take a vacation very soon.