So, last week I took a trip out to Myakka park on my bike and met up with Louis, Tori, Nkosi, and a few other friends. Above is a pano from the end-portion of our bike trip. You can click here to get the super-large version (5882×1421), which I created using Henrik Dalgaard’s $23 utility, DoubleTake.
I’ve posted a gallery too, which you can check out by clicking on Mr Butterfly:
Month: May 2007
So, last weekend I lost my glasses, the details of which won’t be repeated here *grin*. I’ll have a new pair hopefully tomorrow, but in the interim I’ve been wearing my first pair of contacts. I thought I’d compile some quick thoughts on the experience, bullet style:
-better peripheral vision than glasses
-great not having to worry about glasses when putting on clothes
-sometimes wonder where my glasses are even though i have my contacts in
-much harder to put on than glasses
-harder to take out contacts than taking off glasses
-harder to read computer screens than with glasses
-eyes sometimes burn after taking them out
-running out of solution!
-putting a drop of solution in each eye before attempting to take them out makes it much easier
-think my eyes were really dry on the first day, making it stick to my eye more (it took 1/2 hour to get them out!)
-lenses must be more durable than they look because the doctor instructs to “rub” them between my fingers to help the cleaning process
-a little tricky to tell if lens is inside out, but “if you put them in wrong, you’ll know” according to my coworker jason
-my eyes are still very sensitive to things going into them. most sucessful technique now involves placing lens somewhere on eyeball and sliding into place
-while putting them in, also helps to tilt head up and look down (makes it easier to reach top of iris)
-while taking them out, helps to tilt head down and look up (makes it easy to remove lens)
-i’m going through a lot of solution! nearly 60ml in 1 week.
-eyes hurt more with contacts after a long day than with glasses. and then they itch post-removal.
-i can get sunglasses if i wear contacts!
-people at work find it odd to see me without glasses
-i almost don’t recognize me without my glasses
-looking forward to trying out some ultimate with contacts
-glad i have two-week disposables, that are more o2 permeable than prior lenses — my eyes need the oxygen
-a box of six two-week disposables costs about $25 and should last about three months = $100/year, and longer if you take them out every night
-seems to be okay showering with them in. at least, nothing bad happened the one time I’ve tried so far 🙂
-have not slept with them in, but apparently it’s possible to do so
-on a good morning, seems to take about 10 minutes to get them in, bad, about 20 (I am told this will get easier, but so far I am not seeing it)
So, there we go. Any readers out there have any tips or tricks related to contacts? Adding some solution to my eyes just before trying to take them out was a big help — the first night, I was scared to do this, noting that that solution is supposed to be used for cleaning the lenses — so is that really something you want to put in your eyes? But, well.. that doesn’t really make a lot of sense, since they pretty much go directly from the solution into your eyes the next morning. But I hadn’t gotten that far yet 🙂
simultaneously joining Facebook. It’s kinda ridiculous…
Just discovered a Mac OS X keyboard shortcut today, completely by accident: the Option key, plus any of the media keys — Lower Volume, Raise Volume, or Mute — will take you directly to the Sound pane of System Preferences, where you can change various options related to your computer sound setup. This is a global shortcut, so it works from within any app. Neat.
So I picked up a new CD, by Canadian singer/songwriter Feist. I first heard about her from an iTunes free single of the week, way back in July 2005, called “One Evening”. It was good — every time Party Shuffle would play it, I’d think to myself, “self, this is really good” — but not quite enough to make me investigate further. Then, sometime last year, PatrÃcia asked me if I’d heard of Feist, which was enough to ring a bell and make me search my iTunes library for it — yes, there it was, I had a single from her. And I guess that made a bit of an impression — who is this Canadian artist my Portuguese friend knew about but I didn’t? But again, not enough for me to investigate further.
Which brings me to last week. I saw her album “The Reminder” was in the top ten-downloaded albums list in iTunes, which again made me go “hmmmm’. Finally, I was in Target picking up lightbulbs, and lo and behold, there in the “Artists on the Verge” section of their CD display was “The Reminder”, for $9.99.
Into the basket it went. It’s a great CD. I’ve purposely avoided reading reviews of it because I wanted to get my impressions down here first. She reminds me at times of different people: the angelic qualities of Dido, the bluesy tones of Sarah Vaughan, the quirkyness/creativity of Bjork, the folkyness and harmonies of the Barenaked Ladies, and Metric’s keyboards. That’s some pretty good company. Needless to say I recommend you go out and pick up the album.
Top of the headlines: celebrating Joe’s 2nd birthday on Wed; watching Slither on Friday (classic horror, made last year); Saturday, work in the morning, picture-taking expedition in the afternoon, and Rob’s birthday at a dog-track (!) (sadly, no pics; dead batteries) in the evening; Sunday, spending all day at Adventure Island Water Park with Cam, Joe and Melissa (writeup and pics; includes my uncle-ization). Oh and tonight I managed to watch the very funny Nacho Libre.
All she wrote! Thank you Vancouver!
I’ve only watched since the playoffs began, but what a ride.
And Luongo. I don’t know what to say, other than, WOW, and “I hope they pay you well”. You had an incredible game tonight (56 saves?) and for that matter, the whole playoff run. Thanks for helping the team get as far as it did.
Here’s to a well-deserved break. Looking forward to next season!
Remember me mentioning in a footnote that internet radio is facing a serious crisis, with operating costs set to go through the roof thanks to a new ruling by the Copyright Review Board (CRB)?
Well, here’s a more in-depth article about what’s going on, by Rusty Hodge, the general manager of my favorite internet radio station, soma.fm: The crisis facing internet radio.
So, shortly before the footnote post, I decided I’d try to contact my congressperson about the matter. There’s a slim chance he might read it and think about it, right?
Well guess what appeared in my inbox today?
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May 2, 2007
Dear Mr. Greenwell:
Thank you for contacting me in support of Internet radio. It is good to hear from you.
As you know, starting May 15th, many music webcasters and radio stations across the country will end music broadcasts on the web because of a recent decision by the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB).
You will be pleased to know that I recently became a cosponsor of H.R. 2060, the “Internet Radio Equality Act.”
This legislation will reverse the recent CRB decision and change the royalty rate-setting standard that applies to commercial Internet radio royalty arbitrations so that it is the same standard that applies to satellite radio. For public radio, the bill sets a royalty standard designed for noncommercial entities.
Congress can prevent the CRB royalty from drowning Internet radio. It is my hope that we pass the Internet Radio Equality Act into law.
Thanks again for contacting me. Should you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call on me again.
Sincerely,
Vern Buchanan
Member of Congress
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How freaking cool is that?
Turns out a number of congresspeoples are going to be co-sponsoring the bill, which is great news. If your congressperson isn’t listed and you enjoy internet radio, get in touch and ask them to support H.R. 2060, the “Internet Radio Equality Act”.
Canucks now trail the Anaheim Ducks 3 games to 1 after blowing a 2-0 lead going into the 3rd period of tonight’s game. Can I cry now?