The Wide-Angle Lens

Cactus Flower

2011-05-30T16:09:00.000-07:00

Biking with Andrew through the Stanford Arboretum

2011-05-30T16:07:00.000-07:00

Best Beach & Sport Sunscreens | EWG's 2011 Sunscreen Report | EWG's Skin Deep

2011-05-26T21:29:00.000-07:00

Best Beach & Sport Sunscreens | EWG's 2011 Sunscreen Report | EWG's Skin Deep

The boldness of asking deep questions

2009-05-20T08:22:00.000-07:00

The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.

- Brian Greene, The Elegant Universe

Ian's Shoelace Site

2009-04-18T21:13:00.001-07:00

You probably haven't given too much thought to your shoelaces since you were about five. You probably didn't think there was much to give any thought to. I certainly didn't.

Well, check out Ian's Shoelace Site, a quirky treasure trove of information related to the humble shoelace. Looking for some stylish alternatives to the basic pattern you use on every pair of shoes you own? Wonder what method is best for hiking or biking or hacky sacking? Want to remedy a sore spot? Eager for a shortcut to speed up the lengthy process of tying a standard shoelace knot? Need a solution if you can use only one hand? The answers are all here.

Detailed instructions and illustrations are accompanied by hundreds of user photographs. You may be surprised by how much time you end up perusing this site.

Fast Food: Ads vs. Reality

2009-04-16T19:46:00.000-07:00

These days, I wouldn't touch this stuff even if the real thing looked like the ads. But this series of side-by-side comparisons is amusing whatever your tastes may be.

Must see video clip

2009-04-15T12:07:00.000-07:00

You may be one of the 7 million or so who have already seen Susan Boyle's recent appearance on Britain's Got Talent. But in case you aren't, you must check this out...

(If the video above doesn't work, you can watch it directly on YouTube, which does not allow its version of this clip to be embedded here.)

Yogi Berra Explains Jazz

2009-04-14T09:22:00.000-07:00

Excerpts from an interview published in 2004 at AllAboutJazz.com.

Interviewer: Can you explain jazz?

Yogi: I can't, but I will. 90% of all jazz is half improvisation. The other half is the part people play while others are playing something they never played with anyone who played that part. So if you play the wrong part, it's right. If you play the right part, it might be right if you play it wrong enough. But if you play it too right, it's wrong.

Interviewer: I don't understand.

Yogi: Anyone who understands jazz knows that you can't understand it. It's too complicated. That's whats so simple about it.

Interviewer: Do you understand it?

Yogi: No. That's why I can explain it. If I understood it, I wouldn't know anything about it.

Interviewer: Are there any great jazz players alive today?

Yogi: No. All the great jazz players alive today are dead. Except for the ones that are still alive. But so many of them are dead, that the ones that are still alive are dying to be like the ones that are dead. Some would kill for it.

Interviewer: What is syncopation?

Yogi: That's when the note that you should hear now happens either before or after you hear it. In jazz, you don't hear notes when they happen because that would be some other type of music. Other types of music can be jazz, but only if they're the same as something different from those other kinds.

Interviewer: Now I really don't understand.

Yogi: I haven't taught you enough for you to not understand jazz that well.

Backyard fun

2009-04-13T09:27:00.000-07:00

Ambivalence is a bigger nuisance than schizophrenia

2009-04-11T09:11:00.000-07:00

Ambivalence is a bigger nuisance than schizophrenia. When you're schizoid each of your two personalities is blissfully ignorant of the other, but when you're ambivalent each half of you is painfully aware of the conflicting half, and if you aren't careful your whole life can turn into a taffy pull.

- Tom Robbins, Another Roadside Attraction

Magic

2009-03-17T13:45:00.000-07:00

Children see magic because they look for it.

- Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal

New View Of The Inauguration

2009-01-22T11:03:00.000-08:00

I admire photographers who go to incredible lengths to capture unique images. While many great photographs come simply from being in the right place at the right time, others are the result of much planning, patience and perseverance. The picture above (by Chuck Kennedy from the McClatchy-Tribune Photo Service) is a salient example of the latter, as explained in this article.

Upgrade your pantry

2009-01-07T08:53:00.000-08:00

I've mentioned Michael Pollan in several posts below. I loved his book, Omnivore's Dilemma. But, like many, I wasn't sure where to go with it in terms of my own diet and eating habits.

I found that his follow-up book, In Defense of Food, provided a great overall philosophy of eating and framework for a healthy diet (summarized by his catch phrase: "Eat Food. Mostly Plants. Not Too Much."). But the question remained: how do I actually parlay this approach into interesting, varied and reasonably convenient meals on the table?

There's a new book out by Mark Bittman (Food Maters: A Guide to Conscious Eating with More Than 75 Recipes) that I hope will help answer this question. My copy arrived just yesterday; so I haven't had a chance to read it. But I did see a related article by Bittman in today's New York Times that seems on point, offering some very specific suggestions on how to stock your pantry to support fresher, tastier and healthier eating. I look forward to putting his ideas into action.

Snow trip

2009-01-04T09:44:00.000-08:00

I've been determined for a while to take the family on a trip to the snow. It was perhaps a bit foolish, as cold, wet conditions can be absolutely miserable for little ones. But Laurel (who is no great fan of snow herself) rallied big time, and we kicked off the new year with a last-minute road-trip to the mountains.

As expected, the kids' first foray into the white was a mix of excitement and tears: the thrill of saucer and toboggan rides was promptly pierced by the discomfort of snow-stuffed boots and sleeves. An outing on Day 2 to a snow park for kids lasted all of about 15 minutes. By the second sled run, Julia was as miserable as she's ever been.

I was extremely frustrated and disappointed, as I had wanted desperately for this to be a positive experience for everyone. Laurel, to her credit, managed best to maintain good spirits as we piled back into the car for the long drive home.

On the way, having already peeled the outer layers of winter garb from the kids, I decided we should give it one more try. I spotted a good place to pull off the road near an open meadow of soft, fresh snow. We re-bundled the kids and ventured out one more time.

Andrew was a good sport, but it's just plain tough for a two year old to stay comfortable for long in the snow.

Julia on the other hand, who an hour earlier I feared would have an ineradicable dread of snow, was having the time of her life. While Laurel and Andrew waited patiently in the car for about half an hour, Julia and I made a snow man, had a snowball fight, made snow angels, had "swim lessons," went hunting for Christmas trees, and on and on. "No, no, no, not yet!" she pled every time I suggested we start making our way back to the car.

The doubts I had about the "success" of the trip were erased. Julia can't wait to go back again. Things will be much easier for Andrew in a year or so. Laurel discovered that snow can in fact be fun. And I got myself a little mountain "fix."

The Musician's Way

2008-12-23T09:01:00.000-08:00

I think the main thing a musician would like to do is give a picture to the listener of the many wonderful things he knows and senses in the universe. That's what music is to me—it's just another way of saying this is a big, beautiful universe we live in, that's been given to us, and here's an example of just how magnificent and encompassing it is. That's what I would like to do. I think that's one of the greatest things you can do in life, and we all try to do it in some way. The musician's is through his music.

- John Coltrane, quoted in Ascension: John Coltrane and his Quest

How to listen to music with your whole body

2008-11-30T09:03:00.000-08:00

For the first time in a while, I watched a few TED talks last night. I really enjoyed two in particular, both centered around music.

In the first, deaf percussionist Evelyn Glennie powerfully demonstrates how music can (and should) be experienced with much more than just listening with your ears.

In the second, renowned conductor Benjamin Zander leads a passionate and entertaining tour of a Chopin prelude, and then parlays this exercise into some broader lessons on leadership and life.

Here they are...

Amazon's new frustration-free packaging

2008-11-12T09:49:00.000-08:00

I've long been a huge fan of Amazon.com, although I've also questioned the merits of online shopping in terms of its impact on the environment (not to mention the effect it has on local businesses and city and state sales tax revenues).

In any event, I'm glad to see that Amazon is rolling out a new "Frustration-free-packaging program," highlighted today in this Terrapass blog post. The products currently available are extremely limited, but I expect this will change quickly. As noted, it's a win-win-win (except, of course, for local businesses and public budgets).

Along the Boardwalk, Pajaro Dunes

2008-11-11T14:47:00.000-08:00

Foodscapes

2008-11-07T12:03:00.001-08:00

I just learned (from a fellow member of the Palo Alto Camera Club) about a British photographer, Carl Warner, who, among other things, produces spectacular "landscape" images made entirely from food. For example, the water in the image above is made from salmon fillets, the rocks are bread and potatoes, and the little boat is a pea pod.

To see more foodscapes, go to his website and click on the orange box for "Fotographics."

Easing Your Way Into Jazz (Part 2)

2008-10-25T09:35:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since my Part 1 post, but here are the rest of my top 10 recommended albums to ease your way into jazz:

Chairman of the Board by Count Basie. A swinging taste of the big band era (although it was recorded in 1958, long after that genre's heyday).

Blues Walk by Lou Donaldson. Relaxed bebop with an inviting mix of blues and swing (and a hint of latin rhythm at times).

Midnight Blue by Kenny Burrell. A moody, bluesy collection led by guitarist Kenny Burrell.

Back at the Chicken Shack by Jimmy Smith. Fun, funky, groovin' soul-jazz featuring innovative organist Jimmy Smith.

Jazz Samba by Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd. Quintessential bossa nova, combining the smooth saxophone of Stan Getz with the delicate guitar work of Charlie Byrd. A beautiful collection.

Check back later for a list of a few incredible albums that didn't make my "easing your way into the genre" list but are absolute must-haves for anyone who enjoys jazz.

Farmer in Chief

2008-10-24T15:55:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned at least once below Michael Pollan and his most recent book, In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto. This book and its predecessor, The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals have had a tremendous impact on my views about food, on both a personal and societal level.

I discovered today an article by Pollan titled Farmer in Chief that appeared several weeks ago in the New York Times Magazine. It's an open letter to our next President outlining how our national food policies will drastically affect other much-discussed issues such as health, the environment, energy independence, foreign policy and overall national security.

I was encouraged to see that Obama has not only read Pollan's article, but seems able to digest (pardon the pun) and appreciate its significance:

"I was just reading an article in the New York Times by Michael Pollen about food and the fact that our entire agricultural system is built on cheap oil. As a consequence, our agriculture sector actually is contributing more greenhouse gases than our transportation sector. And in the mean time, it's creating monocultures that are vulnerable to national security threats, are now vulnerable to sky-high food prices or crashes in food prices, huge swings in commodity prices, and are partly responsible for the explosion in our healthcare costs because they're contributing to type 2 diabetes, stroke and heart disease, obesity, all the things that are driving our huge explosion in healthcare costs. That's just one sector of the economy. You think about the same thing is true on transportation. The same thing is true on how we construct our buildings. The same is true across the board."

- Barack Obama, from interview with Time's Joe Klein

Earthquake preparedness

2008-10-15T13:25:00.001-07:00

As his activity with the Tournament of Roses wanes, my dad has gotten involved with the Red Cross. As a director of special projects, he is currently working with various southern California municipalities to help them improve their residents' readiness for major disasters. He pointed me to this very informative guide to living in earthquake country which I wanted to pass along.

A number of other great resources are available on the USGS Earthquake Preparedness & Response web page.

Time for a quiz

2008-10-14T17:27:00.000-07:00

Here's a probability problem for you to chew on…

A contestant on a game show gets to pick 1 of 3 doors. Behind one door is a car. There is nothing behind the other two doors. The contestant chooses Door 1. The host, who knows where the car is, opens Door 3 to reveal to the contestant that there is nothing behind Door 3. He then asks the contestant if she now wants to pick Door 2 instead of Door 1.

Is it to the contestant's advantage to switch her choice?

I'm Surprised We Didn't Find Fossett's Wreckage

2008-10-02T11:55:00.000-07:00

The wreckage of Steve Fossett's plane was just found, very close to where I went backpacking several weeks ago.

Below are a news photo of a member of the sheriff's search and rescue team and a snapshot taken during our trip. We stopped for lunch at Lake Cecile, right under the Minarets you see in the background of the news photo.

September madness

2008-09-30T19:36:00.000-07:00

Gotta love this one...

Click on the image to view larger.

Sarah Palin Fictional Quote Generator

2008-09-30T12:32:00.000-07:00

We can't afford to lose a multi-faceted solution where it is the taxpayers.

- Sarah Palin Fictional Quote Generator v1.0

NetFlix Origami

2008-09-20T21:21:00.000-07:00

If you're ever stumped about what to do with the leftover red-and-white tear-off sheets from your NetFlix DVD envelopes (or if you're on the lookout for some really cheap gifts), check out NetFlix Origami.

The site provides detailed instructions for how to make about a dozen different kinds of animals, planes and other items.

If you're not already sold on NetFlix, this seems like a pretty compelling reason to sign up.

What if life is a dot?

2008-09-20T05:17:00.000-07:00

In a post titled "What is the Meaning of Life?" blogger Mary Jaksch asks:

What if life isn’t a path? What if life is a dot?

A dot doesn’t have dimension. There is no before and after. The dot is now. This moment. Now.

What if this moment right now is the pinnacle of our life? What if each moment is the pinnacle? That is, if we actually live it and don’t miss it through dreaming of the future.

What if the smell of fresh ground coffee is the pinnacle? What if the hug at the door as you go to work is the pinnacle?

I just discovered Mary's blog: Goodlife Zen - Personal growth for intelligent people. It looks like there's quite a bit of interesting and inspiring content there to explore. I'll have to add that to my list of RSS feeds.

Nice wine country photo slide show

2008-09-17T08:56:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to do more photography in the California wine country (perhaps starting with the fall colors over the next month or so). Seeing this video definitely made me more eager to get up there!

Undercover video of abuse at Iowa pig farm

2008-09-16T22:04:00.000-07:00

I recommend that you not watch this video. This is one of the most disturbing things I have ever seen. But it is also the only thing that has ever prompted me to exhort others to reexamine their eating and/or food purchasing practices.

If you'd prefer, you can just read a news story about this video rather than watch it.

Generic Names for Soft Drinks

2008-09-15T11:26:00.000-07:00

I found this surprisingly interesting. Click on the map to view larger.

Untitled

2008-09-10T14:12:00.001-07:00

The strangest language

2008-08-25T21:28:00.000-07:00

At their cabin in Big Bear, my parents have a little metal board and a box of magnetized plastic letters like many people post on their refrigerators. During recent visit, we took turns spelling out various messages on the board.

Inspired by who-knows-what, one morning I filled the board with words that end with a differently-spelled "aff" sound:

staff
laugh
gaffe
carafe
half
graph

This got us talking a bit about how strange the English language is and how difficult it can be to learn to recognize and spell many English words.

Recalling a puzzle she once saw, my mom wrote the following on a piece of paper and asked if I could pronounce it:

ghoti

These letters (at least as they occasionally sound in other English words) can be pronounced as a very common English word. Is anyone willing to venture a guess?

This force beyond anything that we can comprehend

2008-08-13T23:05:00.000-07:00

Try and penetrate with our limited means the secrets of nature and you will find that, behind all the discernible laws and connections, there remains something subtle, intangible and inexplicable. Veneration for this force beyond anything that we can comprehend is my religion. To that extent I am, in fact, religious.

- Albert Einstein

Bee Gathering Pollen

2008-08-11T10:48:00.000-07:00

Enthusiasm

2008-08-07T12:51:00.000-07:00

Enthusiasm is a form of social courage.

- Gretchen Rubin, from this post on her Happiness Project blog

Sierra Wildflowers

2008-08-06T10:43:00.000-07:00

Last weekend my brother and I went backpacking in the Eastern Sierra. One thing that always amazes me is the flora that appears to thrive in the seemingly barren and harsh environment of the upper elevations.

The picture here provides a sense of the general terrain. (The ridge is the Sierra crest at New Army Pass, about 12,200'. Note the horses heading up the trail my brother and I were descending.)

Now, here are several close-ups of a variety of wildflowers growing along these granite slopes. (Full disclosure: several of these images were taken about 500-700' below where I stood while taking the picture above.)

California Coastal Records Project

2008-08-04T14:56:00.000-07:00

I just discovered a very cool site: the California Coastal Records Project.

Pilot Gabrielle Adelman and her husband, photographer Kenneth Adelman, have photographed the entire California coastline, from Oregon to Mexico (excluding Vandenberg Air Force Base). They have processed and indexed over 30,000 individual photos, which you can search by location or simply "cruise" up and down the coast.

I very quickly located the beach and tidepools where we took the kids during our recent visit to Costa Noa. It's in the center of the picture, just to the south/right of where the trail leads down from the highway.

And here's the site of Julia's birthday party and the sandstone hill the kids had so much fun exploring.

Memory believes before knowing remembers

2008-07-30T14:32:00.000-07:00

Memory believes before knowing remembers. Believes longer than recollects, longer than knowing even wonders.

- William Faulkner, Light in August

Weathered Fence, Pajaro Dunes

2008-07-29T10:10:00.001-07:00

The Optical Delusion

2008-07-28T09:13:00.000-07:00

A human being is a part of the whole, called by us "Universe," a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. Nobody is able to achieve this completely, but the striving for such achievement is in itself a part of the liberation and a foundation for inner security.

- Albert Einstein

The Snow Man

2008-07-24T09:18:00.000-07:00

One must have a mind of winter
To regard the frost and the boughs
Of the pine-trees crusted with snow;

And have been cold a long time
To behold the junipers shagged with ice,
The spruces rough in the distant glitter

Of the January sun; and not to think
Of any misery in the sound of the wind,
In the sound of a few leaves,

Which is the sound of the land
Full of the same wind
That is blowing in the same bare place
For the listener, who listens in the snow,
And, nothing himself, beholds
Nothing that is not there and the nothing that is.

- Wallace Stevens

A Very Clever Ad

2008-07-23T12:29:00.000-07:00

Laurel sent this to me. Watch it...then watch it again.

Rock Formation, Point Lobos State Reserve

2008-07-21T19:08:00.000-07:00

Choosing Simplicity in Small Ways

2008-07-20T10:28:00.000-07:00

It's not a real option for me as a father of young children, a breadwinner, a husband, an oldest son to my parents, a person who cares deeply about his work to go off to one Walden Pond or another and sit under a tree for a few years, much as the impulse beckons at times. But within the organized chaos and complexity of family life and work, with all their demands and responsibilities, frustrations and unsurpassed gifts, there is ample opportunity for choosing simplicity in small ways.

- Jon Kabat-Zinn, Wherever You Go, There You Are

Judging a book by its cover

2008-07-18T22:30:00.000-07:00

I love bookstores. I can hang out in a bookstore for hours, browsing the shelves category after category. But I also appreciate the convenience, selection and price (as well as "value-added features" such as reviews, rankings, recommendations, etc.) offered by online sites such as Amazon.com.

I recently stumbled across Zoomii, an impressive site that brings much of the visual experience of a brick and mortar bookstore online.

The site is integrated with Amazon, for both browsing and purchasing. But I've come across a number of great books using the Zoomii interface that I had never seen (and don't know that I would ever have discovered) using Amazon directly.

Here's a good two-minute tour of the site:

The Still Mind That Simply Is

2008-07-17T22:15:00.000-07:00

Wisdom occurs in the mind that rests in not knowing, the still mind that simply is....In letting go of who we imagine ourselves to be, letting go of our thinking, our attempt to control the world, we come upon our natural being which has been waiting patiently all these years for us to come home.

- Stephen Levine, A Gradual Awakening

Wild Mustard at Sunset

2008-07-16T15:19:00.001-07:00

Easing Your Way into Jazz (Part 1)

2008-07-12T15:03:00.000-07:00

Over the last couple of years, I've started listening to a lot of jazz music. It's an incredibly rich and varied genre that offers a little bit of something for everybody. But it can also be difficult to get into, partly because of its breadth and diversity, and partly because much of the music is fairly "inaccessible" (i.e., hard to understand and, frankly, not very enjoyable to listen to for most people).

So, I've compiled a list of ten albums I highly recommend for newbies interested in exploring the world of jazz. These are not necessarily the greatest jazz albums of all time (whatever that means), although some of them would be right at the top of most jazz lovers' lists. But I believe they are all highly enjoyable and readily accessible to listeners approaching from more "popular" genres. I have, in the language of the day, thoroughly vetted them for mainstream musical tastes.

One thing to note about listening to jazz: be sure give every song at least a minute or two before you start to evaluate it too critically. Jazz songs frequently start with a "statement of the melody" where the band presents the basic theme or pattern of the song. This introduction is then followed by successive improvisational "solos" in which the musicians take turns interpreting and expanding on the theme. Improvisation is at the heart of jazz, and it's during these solos that the music really comes alive. So be sure to get to the good stuff before concluding that a song just isn't doing it for you.

With that, here are the first five of my recommended albums to ease your way into jazz. You'll have to check back later for the next five!

Night Train by the Oscar Peterson Trio. This toe-tappin' collection of blues and R&B standards from pianist extraordinaire Oscar Peterson and his trio is as about as accessible as music can be. (As a bonus recommendation, if you like Night Train, head right out and get Junior's Blues by the Junior Mance Trio. Don't even think about it. Just get it. Now.)

Saxophone Colossus by Sonny Rollins. This classic album makes its way onto many enthusiasts' desert island lists, and is also frequently cited as an ideal place to start a journey into the jazz world. You can't not enjoy this music! (Unfortunately, the 2006 reissue of this CD currently being sold is reported to have some technical problems with the mastering. So you might want to grab a used CD from an earlier release.)

Papa Gato by Poncho Sanchez. A spicy serving of Afro-Cuban (aka Latin) jazz. Put the kids to bed, bust out some tequila, limes and Cointreau (or, more authentically, some mojitos), and good times are guaranteed.

Soul Station by Hank Mobley. The masterful sax work on this album by the underappreciated Hank Mobley has a very laid-back feel, but will still get you snapping your fingers and feeling the groove.

Boss Tenors: Straight Ahead from Chicago 1961 by Gene Ammons & Sonny Stitt. A generally up-tempo "blowing session" by dueling saxophonists Ammons and Stitt. Denim and/or diamonds welcome.

If you're feeling trusting yet adventurous, click here to buy all five (+ the bonus recommendation).

Mathemagic

2008-07-11T15:10:00.000-07:00

Most of the TED talks I've seen so far are informative, thought-provoking or inspirational (or all of the above). This one's just plain entertaining.

"Mathemagician" Arthur Benjamin puts on an amazing display of mental calculations, racing people with calculators to solve a number of equations. Even if you hate math (like some people I know, who shall remain anonymous), you'll enjoy his amusing act.

Let Your Children Become the Teachers

2008-07-10T20:34:00.000-07:00

Children are fascinated by the ordinary
and can spend timeless moments
watching sunlight play with dust.
Their restlessness they learn from you.
It is you who are thinking of there
when you are here.
It is you who are thinking of then
instead of now.
Stop.
Let your children become the teachers,
and you become the student.

- William Martin, The Parent's Tao Te Ching

Belief-O-Matic

2008-07-09T20:51:00.000-07:00

Unfortunate name aside, the Belief-O-Matic (http://www.beliefnet.com/story/76/story_7665_1.html) is actually pretty cool. It's a personality quiz about your religious and spiritual beliefs.

You answer 20 thought-provoking questions about your concept of God, the origins of the universe, the afterlife, morality, human nature and a range of other issues. Belief-O-Matic will then give you a rank-order scoring of how 27 different and diverse faiths match your beliefs.

You should note that the site expressly disclaims legal liability for the ultimate fate of your soul.

Here's a sample question:

Old Glory

2008-07-09T16:07:00.000-07:00

This is the side of an old water tank in Mendocino, but I thought it was very suggestive of something else.

Dancing

2008-07-08T16:14:00.000-07:00

You may be one of the almost 5 million YouTube viewers who have already seen "Dancing" since it was posted several weeks ago, but if not, you should check it out. It's a 4½-minute video of a guy doing a simple, silly dance in dozens of places around the world. That's it.

But while his little jig is whimsical, his inspired video is surprisingly captivating and uplifting.

It's a testament to both individual creativity and shared spirit (not to mention the power of modern communications media) that an "ordinary" guy can so easily touch the hearts and brighten the day of millions of people around the world.

[NOTE: For a higher quality version of the video (which I recommend), follow this link to YouTube and select the "watch in high quality" option under the views counter.]

Kite at Venice Beach

2008-07-07T21:09:00.001-07:00

Previously Unreleased Photographs

2008-07-07T20:17:00.000-07:00

I have tens of thousands of images I've made that are sitting on my hard drive gathering digital dust. Frankly, that's probably the best place for most of them. But there are some I've taken over the years that I think are worth sharing and that haven't been posted on my main photography website (Fleeting Glimpse Photography) or on Laurel's blog (Set of the Sail).

I plan to use this blog as an additional avenue for displaying some of these "previously unreleased" images. At a minimum, it will give me a chance to rediscover what's in my photography archives. And perhaps it will provide an additional reason for others to visit this site from time to time.

I hope you enjoy them.

The Mind

2008-07-07T19:26:00.001-07:00

The mind is no more the contents of the mind than the sky is the clouds that pass through it.
- Stephen Levine, A Gradual Awakening

Local Harvest

2008-07-06T23:05:00.000-07:00

If you’re looking for locally-grown organic food, check out www.localharvest.org. You can enter your zip code, and the site will give you a listing of farmers’ markets, family farms and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area.

It was through this site that I discovered Eating with the Seasons, the CSA program we’re trying.

The Local Harvest site was mentioned by Michael Pollan, in In Defense of Food, a book I highly recommend.

Intrade Prediction Markets

2008-07-06T23:01:00.001-07:00

A site I’ve found myself checking almost every day the last few months is Intrade, an exchange where investors can trade on predictions about real world events just like stocks. It’s been particularly fascinating to watch the various predictions about the presidential primary contests and the upcoming general election. “Smart money” or not, Intrade investors clearly seem to think (more than 2:1) that Obama will win the White House this fall.

A Stroke of Insight

2008-07-06T22:53:00.000-07:00

I recently discovered TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design): an annual conference that “brings together the world’s most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives.”

They’ve started making a number of the talks available online at www.ted.com. I plan to post here the ones that I find most fascinating.

Here’s an absolutely amazing story to get things started. The speaker, Jill Bolte Taylor, has also authored a book about her experience: A Stroke of Insight

The Wide-Angle Lens Experiment

2008-07-06T22:49:00.000-07:00

I’m not sure exactly what The Wide-Angle Lens blog will be about, who will read it or where the whole thing will lead. But I feel like I have things I want to share from time to time, and I figured the best way to get started was just to get started.

The biggest challenge (and I think the growth opportunity) for me will be to post from the heart, rather than getting too analytical or self-conscious about what I say or how I say it.

Another challenge will be to keep the blog reasonably active despite my significant time constraints. So don’t be surprised if a lot of the posts here are just little “snippets” of thoughts or pointers to content elsewhere on the web that I find of interest.

Wish me luck.