|
|
| The new NEW Jedi's Lair | | Date Created: Mar 02, 2006, 11:02 PM |
 I've changed my blogging software to RapidWeaver, and have archived this old site. You can find the NEW Jedi's Lair here. |
| Lots of changes coming down the pipe | | Date Created: Jan 31, 2006, 12:11 PM |
Sorry for the lack of updates... I've got multiple excuses:
- Work has been very time consuming lately and though I like updating this blog with reviews and daily doses of geekiness, I like my paycheck even more.
- I've been investigating alternatives to my blogging software (BlogWave Studio's developer has been MIA for a long time, with next version release being pushed back everytime I check his site). Until then, I've been wanting to limit what I post here. Ultimately, I'd like something easy to use, creates cleanly designed sites, allows input of custom HTML in the HEAD tag and within pages themselves (that knocks out iWeb from Apple's iLife suite), allow comment capability through Haloscan, and of course allow me to serve up the RickyCam in a nice manner. So far SandVox may be the ticket.
|
| More Holiday Photos | | Date Created: Jan 12, 2006, 12:43 AM |
I have a few more updates to my Holiday photo galleries: Christmas 2005 - Friends, New Year's Day 2006, and Statues have new photos.
Check them all out here.
|
| Christmas Photos '05 | | Date Created: Dec 26, 2005, 04:20 PM |
We spent Christmas Eve at my parent's house in central New Jersey this year and I was able to take quite a few photos. I've updated the Statues and Ricky galleries with a few of these, and made a new gallery for Christmas shots.
Check them out here:
|
| Back to the Future 4??? | | Date Created: Dec 21, 2005, 10:27 AM |
 According to IMDB, Michael J. Fox is in negotiations to time travel one more time in a final Back to the Future movie. The upshot is that this time he actually wants to play the "Doc Brown" character immortalized by Christopher Lloyd since he's pushing 44. Ummm... somehow I don't see that working... maybe as the new "Doc McFly" yeah...but as "Doc Brown"? I don't think so. |
| MI3 - YAWN? | | Date Created: Dec 12, 2005, 02:20 PM |
 The Mission Impossible 3 trailer is now available on the official site. With old pal Ving Rhames and a new cast including Philip Seymour Hoffman, Laurence Fishburn, Billy Crudup, Michelle Monaghan, and Keri Russell... will Tom Cruise be able to pull off another blockbuster or will this one be a good cure for insomnia. We'll find out what Joe Public says on May 5 2006. The poster doesn't inspire much confidence. |
| Foot | | Date Created: Dec 08, 2005, 09:26 AM |
 Looks like I may have time to do my delayed reviews today... and transcode some vacation videos for the in-laws. I hurt my left foot yesterday and it's steadily gotten worse. This morning I could barely stand on it and had to hobble around so I decided it wouldn't be a good idea to go to work today.
I've had a cold compress on it since my wife left for work this morning (she thinks it may be broken, but I hope not). The pain is actually between the ball of the foot and where the big toe meets the foot. It's pretty swollen, but no black and blue bruising or other indications. When she gets home from work, I'm probably going to ask her to take me to our doctor to check it out.
Ricky's been licking my foot everytime I take the compress off to switch it to another one from the freezer. I don't know if it's because he's trying to make it feel better, or perhaps he just likes the cold.
UPDATE: Well, my foot isn't broken, but I do have an acute case of Metatarsalgia (Doctor speak for foot pain with an unknown cause). I was prescribed some heavy pain killers and told to stay off the foot for awhile so I took it easy this past weekend. I am at work again today because the foot's feeling better and the swelling has gone down. |
| X-Men 3 Photos | | Date Created: Dec 05, 2005, 12:07 PM |
| Who wants to be Battle Angel Alita? | | Date Created: Dec 03, 2005, 07:50 PM |
There's an open casting call out for the lead character in James Cameron's version of Battle Angel Alita (Gunnm). More info at AICN.
|
 JAMES CAMERON SEEKS NEW TALENT FOR A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE
Mali Finn Casting (Titanic, The Matrix, 8 Mile) is looking for fresh faces to star in a James Cameron film that begins principal photography Spring 2006.
No prior film experience necessary. However, voice, movement, and actor training are imperative.
SEEKING: FEMALE LEAD. 16-mid 20s. Any ethnicity, including Caucasian.
She moves and behaves with confidence and a sense of nobility. Lithe as a cat. Athletic and agile, she is a warrior. Graceful movement and an ear for languages and dialects are essential.
Sound like you? Interested in starring in a Hollywood feature film?
Visit our website and fill out an application: MaliFinnCasting.Com
Please include two recent snapshots or Polaroids (one close up / one full body shot). Also include the following information on the back of each photo: NAME ? CONTACT # - HEIGHT ? WEIGHT ? D.O.B.
Mail completed application and photos to:
Mali Finn Casting
8284 Santa Monica Blvd
W. Hollywood, CA 90046
Attn: UNTITLED PROJECT
APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY DEC. 19, 2005
|
| They may say it's untitled.... but it's DEFINITELY Battle Angel Alita. So if anyone out there thinks they look like an Anime/Manga girl, here's your chance to prove it. |
| Gallery and Equip/Software Update | | Date Created: Nov 29, 2005, 04:10 PM |
| This was actually the first batch of photos that have been through my new digital workflow using Apple's Pro Photographer software Aperture. The new software is pretty sweet (if a bit slow on my G4 Alu Powerbook), and it definitely does a competent job of replacing what I used Adobe Raw and iView Media Pro for. It also integrates fairly well with Adobe Photoshop CS2 for any heavy editing or composite work though I'll rarely need to do that for the majority of my shots which only need a bit of sharpening and color correction. Expect a full Aperture review in the coming weeks (along with the delayed Samsung 950 DVD player and Logitech Harmony Remote review). |
 I have also recently received my long awaited Canon 24-105L f/4 USM IS lens the other day. It was recalled a few months ago and my order for it had to wait, but I now have the post-fix version and hope to test it out over the next few weeks. If all goes well, this will be my new "walk-around" lens replacing the Sigma 18-50EX f/2.8. It will also take care of the range my Sigma 55-200mm used to cover. So along with providing sharper images, better color, and 3rd Gen Image Stabilization, it will also reduce the amount of lenses I have to carry with me. Then again, it's quite a bit heavier than the previous 18-50 and 55-200 due to the IS mechanism. I'm selling the two Sigmas mentioned above so contact me if you're willing to buy. They fit the Canon EOS EF-S system (not for full frame). |
| Upcoming Tech Reviews | | Date Created: Nov 15, 2005, 10:17 AM |
I've been a little remiss regarding tech reviews lately so I thought I'd give a little update.
There are two reviews I have planned over the next few weeks. The first will be for the Logitech Harmony 520 remote control and the other is the Samsung HD-950 upconverting DVD player. |
|
| My wife and I have been wanting a DVD player for our bedroom for awhile especially one that could upconvert to HD level 1080i or 720p rather than just the usual progressive 480p output. What drew me to the Samsung HD-950 was the ability to hack it to provide an HD upconvert signal through the Component Video connection. Most upconverters are locked into just HDMI and DVI-HDCP upconvert due to Macrovision and Copy Protection issues. There are others that you can "hack as well" but the Samsung allows you to do it through remote control key codes. Another sidebenefit of the "upconvert Unlock" is that it will turn off region lock as well, allowing me to play the multitude of non US region 1 DVD's (Import Asian DVD's come to mind for FAAF purposes). The features promised for this DVD player were so enticing that I ordered 2, so that I can have one to supplement my Panasonic Home Theater System's 5 disc DVD changer in the living room which only does Progressive output. The huge upside here is that I will be able to have a 720p signal going through component to my Projector in the living room which solves a major problem with watching DVD's I've had. With my current DVD system, I had to manually switch from 4:3 to 16:9 through the tedious Dell Projector's menu system since the 480p signal was usually set to 4:3 for my standard def content. With my 720p HD cable output already in memory for widescreen, I wouldn't have to go to my Projector's menu anymore when setting up for DVD viewing (which would be a godsend to my friends, Faafers, and my wife who've been frustrated with my Dell menu fumbling everytime we wanted to watch a DVD). Hopefully video quality will match what many reviews have been claiming for the unit. I'll be receiving the two Samsung units this week so I'll let you know how it works with a 720p front projector to a 120" diag screen and an LCD HD at 1080i. |
 We've had the Logitech Harmony 520 for awhile now so I have a good basis for that review. Once I program it for the new DVD player I'll be ready to put together the review for it. |
| Die Harder... for a cool $Mill | | Date Created: Nov 14, 2005, 01:32 PM |
 Bruce Willis is offering $1Million to anyone that can turn in the top Al-Qaeda leaders including Osama Bin Laden and Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi. The Die Hard actor also laments media coverage of the Iraq war recently on the Rita Cosby: Live and Direct show where he wonders where the stories of the good things that are happening in Iraq are being reported.
|
| Gallery Update Nov. 11 | | Date Created: Nov 11, 2005, 01:57 AM |
 I finally lucked out with a very clear and crisp night (at least until later) and a nice partially lit moon. I was only able to get a full moon previously, and that phase doesn't allow for detailed crater shots. This time it was just enough lit side to get some great detail.
I used my 100-400L f4 IS USM with the 2x TeleConverter and Viewfinder attachment to allow me to manually focus better. It was of course sitting on my tripod firmly though the wind was blowing pretty briskly at times and I had the IS on mode 1. I actually took 26 shots but reduced it to 2 good specimens. It actually looked like I had a telescope instead of a camera with all the gear attached. With the 2x TC attached, the 400mm zoom became an 800mm, but lost the ability to autofocus.
Updates are in the Astrophotography/The Moon gallery. |
| Gallery Update Nov. 9 | | Date Created: Nov 09, 2005, 05:03 PM |
 This weekend was a relatively "ok" weekend for photos. The overcast sky on Sunday was great for birding but horrible for taking shots of NY, the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island from Liberty State Park. Instead I have one good silhouette shot during sundown and a few shots of seagulls (I don't know their types). I was also able to take some nice nighttime photos of NY using my wide angle in Weehawken. Updates are in the Cityscape and Animals/Birds galleries. |
| Megatron vs. Vader? | | Date Created: Nov 09, 2005, 11:35 AM |
|
| Hasbro in association with Lucasfilm has released to market new crossover toys: Star Wars Transformers. According to the Star Wars offical website, a DarthVader/Tie Advanced x1, Obi Wan Kenobi/Jedi Starfighter, General Grievous/Wheelbike, and Luke Skywalker/X-wing Fighter figures will be available on the retail market soon. They actually look pretty cool! No word on when they'll have an Anakin/TeenAngstDeathStar available. |
|
|
|
|
|
