Mother Ship Unveiled... For some reason I'll wait til version 20

You know, when a new version of Windows comes out, I'm not the first guy in line to buy it. Like most people I will wait for a few upgrades to be released before I dish out more bucks to those guys at Microsoft. Of course the reason is most new operating system releases are buggy and it takes some time to get the kinks out.

I think this is probably what I'll do on Richard Branson's new Mother Ship unveiled for his business venture named Virgin Galactic. Also I don't really have $200k to lay down for a few minutes in space.

Commercial space travel is somewhere in our future but I don't plan to be one of the first ones sitting on a rocket hanging from an airplane waiting to be blasted into space. I wonder if Richard has booked his ticket?

Mother Ship Unveiled for $200,000 Place in Space - washingtonpost.com

Read more...

Does Global Warming cause ED?

Now there's a "real" reason to fight global warming. I have been been so reluctant to believe the global warming theory but the fact it could cause more kidney stones is just not worth the risk. I know rainforest's, millions of species, ice caps, and possibly the human race could be in jeopardy but more kidney stones is the tipping point for me. This article is a huge breakthrough in scientific research.

If sweating causes kidney stones it's reason to fight climate change :: Naperville Sun :: Tim West

The more I've thought about this maybe it's also the cause for men's hair loss and the increasing ED (erectile dysfunction) problem. If that's the case then that leads to more spam in my inbox and using unnecessary bandwidth.

When you put two and two together, maybe it's a conspiracy theory. What if v.i.a.g.r.a or Roga1ne are actually major perpetrators of global warming to further their cause? I can't believe no one has ever figured this out!

Men, if you are over 40, experiencing ED or thinning hair it's time to start the new movement, the over 40 bald, limp and green group.

Read more...

Upset Stormtropper

Even stormtroopers have feelings.

Read more...

Police: Man Attempts To Cash $360 Billion Check - News- msnbc.com

Police: Man Attempts To Cash $360 Billion Check - News- msnbc.com

You really gotta hand it to the guy. You should always think BIG!

Read more...

Crap... Telemarketers

I thought telemarketing went away, or was against the law or something. But low and behold I am sitting here writing an "important" blog entry (The Oprah book blah blah) and my phone rings.

Well really it's not even my home phone. It's a place, or OK a condo, I rent to people and I'm staying here this week. No I'm not in trouble.

The telemarketer starts out "Hey this is Scott and do I..blah blah blah". This guy was trying to sell me satellite TV which I'm sure the condo association would go for. Of course after a few seconds I hung up and got about my business.

As I sat back down I hadn't saved that important Oprah blog entry and I've had them magically disappear sometimes. Luckily it was still there but if the worst had happened man I don't know what I would have done. Maybe just got a shot of Jager and moved on.

Done -

Read more...

What's all the HuBub about Oprah

Giant Disclaimer here: I do not watch Oprah nor sway either way on her views. But...

I was reading the book "A New Earth - Awakening to Your Life's Purpose" by Eckhart Tolle and received an email (FW: watch this...stuff) about the book. Normally those type emails go straight to the trash bin and the sender to Internet Hell, but in this case I read it because it had something about the book.

The video was something about Oprah getting in to it on her show about Christianity, believing in God and so forth. Second Disclaimer: I am a Christian so don't start jumping my case - yet.

Anyway, IMHO and that's what counts here, the book is not about believing in one specific faith. You can apply it to any religion or way of life. The fact he talks about Christianity, Islam, Bhuddism and so forth doesn't really try to "covert" you one way or another.

The book is really just a view on life. I am not saying that I agree with everything but it certainly is not denouncing or promoting any one religion.

Feel free to let me have it!

Read more...

Would Leonardo Da Vinci use Photoshop?

Classic painting, art etc... is great. One thing that makes it great is not only the quality of work, but the fact they had to make their own materials. Michael Angelo didn't run down to Michael's and buy a block of stone (do they sell that?) and whack out a naked guy in his backyard.

While I loved my art history classes and the old school craft, I hate when people say, "Well Leonardo didn't do it that way" or "Beethoven didn't write that way".

Fact is, if Leonardo Da Vinci were alive today he would probably be a beta tester for Adobe if not writing the code himself! Beethoven would have a freakin kick ass Pro Tools rig, the latest version of Reason and talking smack with Peter Gabriel.

Come on people. These guys were ahead of their time back in the day so just imagine what they could do with the tools we have today.

Hell they may even have their own blog... "The Nude Statue Blog"

Food for thought.

EB

Read more...

The Ken Burns Effect

Have you ever watched a documentary that used stills (photos) with music for drama? Maybe the stills faded into (crossfade) one another, or slowly panned across the screen. Well this is known as the Ken Burns effect.

It is called that because the famous documentary filmmaker Ken Burns uses the effect, I hate to say effect, in many of his films. His most recent film was entitled "The War", a seven part documentary that aired on PBS.

As I got into film making I used a lot of my photos in my work. At the time I didn't realize I was using the Ken Burns effect.

For photographers though it opens up new ways to express your photographic creativity. With inexpensive video editing tools you can take your images to a new level. You will even begin to shoot differently.

To show off your work you can burn them to DVDs for playing on large screen TVs or use YouTube or Flickr's new video function to display your work.

Keep the old camera clicking. There's nothing like a moment captured in time. But look for new ways to display those moments.

In some of my upcoming posts I will offer tutorials on how to do the Ken Burns effect and tools you can use.

As always please comment or visit and connect with me socially at
http://www.earlb.com/

Read more...

Video now on Flickr

Flickr has made the leap to video...sort of. As I write this I am renderin a short sneek-peek of a documentary I am working on to upload to Flickr.

The first thing to note is that Flickr is not becoming a YouTube. You can only upload 90 seconds of video. While YouTube, MetaCafe, etc... users may find this useless for video I think it will be useful in the photography world.

Why? Because a lot of my documentaries have photos with music. This can take photographers into a new realm of people "seeing" their images. The old "Ken Burns" effect could possibly take over Flickr. Hmmm maybe I should start a Ken Burns group real quick...

Anyway if photographers grasp this concept I think they can take their photos to a new level.

Earl B

Read more...

Thousands hit by Brazil outbreak of dengue - CNN.com

Thousands hit by Brazil outbreak of dengue - CNN.com

I can certainly feel for these people. I am still recovering from my bout with Dengue fever.

In Sepetember of 2007 I caught Dengue fever in Jamaica shooting some humanitarian documentary footage in eastern Jamaica. I did not get 'sick' til I got home and ran high fevers and severe body aches.

It took me researching the CDC website to find out what I had. After I got home the CDC issued an alert about Dengue fever in Jamaica 'after' I was there. Apparently the outbreak occurred due to the water and mosquito problems after Hurricane Dean.

Anyway, I am still slowly recovering from Dengue. It can take many months to fully get over the disease.

Earl B

visit http://www.earlb.com/ for my travel documentary and dispatches

Read more...

Wanted Dead or Alive

Sorry Richie I couldn't resist...

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/mugshots/samboramug1.html

Read more...

Cock Fighter

Cock Fighter
Originally uploaded by ...jager

Even though it is cruel, cockfighting is popular in the Philippines. Large arenas with cock fighting rings host matches daily with prizes and gambling. Of course the prize for the rooster is that it lives.

Large razor like blades or gaffs are placed on the roosters leg during the fight. Owners make the rooster taunt each other before the fight to get them mad. Fights last anywhere form 20 seconds to several minutes.

In most Filipino homes you will find a cock. They are treated almost as good as humans. They are conditioned and given vitamins.

Cockfighting is a Philippine national sport.

Read more...

MySpace Profiles - Be creative

Before you read
Do not start flaming me for using MySpace. Yes I have a Facebook account too but I also find MySpace useful as will, juvenile at times, but I have my reasons for using it.

Now...

Why don't people get more creative with MySpace profiles than just "look at me mugshots"? That's great but I the profile can be somewhat a creative outlet and show more personality. I have seen a few but for the most part profiles are just mugshots.

I try to be a little creative when updating old Jager. The image here is a profile I created and of course put the Rocky theme on my page for added effect.

If you want to stop by I am here:
http://www.myspace.com/jagersan

later

Read more...

Big Lightning Strike - Photo Tip

Big Lightning Strike
Originally uploaded by jagerBB

This image is getting a lot of activity on Flickr. Most of it is because it shows up under "extreme weather" #1 on yahoo images. It's not particularly my favorite but it is dramatic and I can see why people like it.

How it was taken
There is no magic here. Just find a storm and open the shutter for 20-30 seconds. The less the better so that noise doesn't build up if you shoot digital. Also shoot a few shots and adjust your F stop for the surrounding lightning. I wanted the house and euipment to show up in image as well so I adjusted F stop and maybe some shutter to guesstimate on exposure.

The lightning itself though pretty much takes the picture. Think of it as a big flash.

Also you will need a tripod of course. In some cases I've used bench tops, rails etc... when one was not available.

I also check direction of storm/s before going out so I can plan the shot and know where the storm is headed.

Disclaimer: Remember this can be dangerous and you should do this at your own risk.

Read more...

Standing While Working

I am embarking on a new venture of standing while working. Now this isn't a big deal if you are a airline stewardess, football referee, etc... but if most of your work is done at a computer then this may be different.

I will regress in that I try not to make all my work at the computer. But for the times I have to work on the computer I am going to try standing.

After doing a little research it seems many people are doing this. It makes sense. It seems like it would be healthier rather than all slouched down in a cushy chair. They key is to get everything setup properly.

Getting your monitor and keyboard set the right height is a must. I would think and have read if they are not it could lead to problems. Also a stool or high chair for occasional sitting.

I am going to give it a shot. I may post tomorrow that I threw in the towel and back to my cushy chair. For now my cat has taken over my chair and I am standing here conducting the web.

later

EB

Read more...

The Destin Log - Local News Article

Someone writing an article like this needs a little more meat to substantiate their claims. I would love to have a high school in Destin and would like to hear more about why we can't have a "healthy" high school...whatever that means.

The Destin Log - Local News Article

Contact me via Social Media and see my travel dispatches at:
earlb.com

Read more...

Girl with Guitar

Girl with Guitar
Originally uploaded by jagerBB

This girl lives in a village called the Dumpsite. I do not know where she got the guitar but she had one and could play a few songs. I sat down and showed her Hotel California.

Location: Dumpsite Antipolo, Philippines
Nikon D-70

See more at
earlb.com

Read more...

Old Man in Philippines - short essay

Old Man in Philippines - short essay
Originally uploaded by jagerBB

I met this guy in a small farming village in the Philippines. He was making a three rock fire outside his small bamboo house for cooking rice.

This was his first portrait.

See my latest travel dispatches at:
earlb.com

Read more...

We've been caught 'Squirrels detained'!

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the squirrels that were recently captured by Iran. The work they were performing was some of the most dangerous and courageous in the history of our country.

Hopefully we can arrange a peaceful swap and have them released. All small rodents in the country are at threat level 'red' and are ceasing operations.

Many countries have condemned the arrest of the squirrels and demand them released. Iran's head of rodent counter-espionage response was "Your nuts".

www.earlb.com

Read more...

The Mobile Web - Part I

The mobile web. The term sounds cool but what exactly is it?

Really it could be different things to different people. I'll throw out what I use it for.

First my tool - A T-Mobile MDA phone. It's a PDA style phone with a hidden keyboard. It also has a stylus and touchscreen. The phone is nice and runs on Windows Mobile platform. My main complaints are boot up time and not having a manual keypad. The keypad really can't be changed and the boot up problem is solved by leaving the phone on.

I've had several people tell me "I hate that phone." I can see that. It's almost a love or hate item. The more I use it the more I like it.

Email-
First I use it to check email. The phone will go out and grab the first bits of your email so you can check your email from anywhere. This is nice and saves time in finding a computer to check email and lets you get back quickly to urgent messages.

Text Messaging
I also use text messaging. At first this seemed like a teeny-bopper application. But text messaging has it's place. Think about it. If you call someone to ask a quick question the call usually turns into various chit-chat. A quick text message can get you an answer without all the baggage. Also out of the country I've used it to stay in touch where it was to costly to call.

Picture Messaging
This also has a teen fell to it but I try to use it in a more "mature" manner. Some may disagree. I can update one of my blogs with an image and text. I've had to purchase something and sent an image to make sure I was getting the right thing. You can also use them for fun such as keeping friends and family updated with a quick picture.

Stayed tuned for next article where we dig deeper into the Mobile Web.
EB

Read more...