Book reviews for August 2020

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann

4/5

 

The Man Who Played with Fire: Stieg Larsson's Lost Files and the Hunt for an Assassin by Jan Stocklassa

The Man Who Played with Fire: Stieg Larsson's Lost Files and the Hunt for an Assassin by Jan Stocklassa

3/5

 

Fake Truth (Ian Ludlow Thrillers #3) by Lee Goldberg

Fake Truth (Ian Ludlow Thrillers #3) by Lee Goldberg

4/5

 

Killer Thriller (Ian Ludlow Thrillers #2) by Lee Goldberg

Killer Thriller (Ian Ludlow Thrillers #2) by Lee Goldberg

3/5

 

True Fiction (Ian Ludlow Thrillers #1) by Lee Goldberg

True Fiction (Ian Ludlow Thrillers #1) by Lee Goldberg

3/5

 

The Last Human by Zack  Jordan

The Last Human by Zack Jordan

5/5

 

Afterland by Lauren Beukes

Afterland by Lauren Beukes

4/5

 

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Red-Tailed Hawk vs Gopher

By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, January 18, 2025.

Red-Tailed Hawk vs Gopher

Red-Tailed Hawk vs Gopher

Red-Tailed Hawk vs Gopher

A red-tailed hawk catches a gopher at Crissy Field.

(Previously: Red-Tailed Hawk)

Updated 2020-10-20 17:40:

Red-Tailed Hawk vs Gopher

Another day, possibly the same hawk, for sure not the same gopher.

The photograph captures a dramatic moment in nature as a Red-Tailed Hawk stands dominantly over a patch of grass, its wings majestically unfurled in a poised, triumphant pose. The earth-toned plumage of the hawk blends seamlessly with the soft greens of the grass, creating a harmonious color palette that speaks to the elegance of predator and prey in their natural setting. The hawk's piercing gaze is directed downward, perhaps toward its quarry—a gopher hidden amongst the foliage. The blurred background of the open field allows the viewer's full attention to focus on this breathtaking display of survival and instinct.

The composition of the photograph artfully employs the rule of thirds, placing the hawk slightly off-center to create a dynamic balance that guides the viewer’s eye across the image. The use of depth of field is adept, as the background fades softly, allowing the bird's intricate feather detail and intense posture to stand in stark relief. I appreciate the timing of the capture—capturing the hawk at the height of anticipation adds tension and narrative to the image. However, the scene might benefit from a slightly brighter exposure to enhance the shadowed areas beneath the wings, offering even more texture and depth to the already captivating visual story.

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(Published to the Fediverse as: Red-Tailed Hawk vs Gopher #photo #hawk #crissyfield Red-Tailed Hawk catches and eats a gopher at Crissy Field in San Francisco, California. )

Coronavirus Hikes: July 2020

Coronavirus Hikes: July 2020

Coronavirus Hikes: July 2020

Hike starts at: 37.742189, -122.471394. View in Google Earth.

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(Hike Map)

(Published to the Fediverse as: Coronavirus Hikes: July 2020 #hike #coronavirus #map Lockdown hikes around San Francisco for July 2020. )

San Francisco PM2.5

By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, November 18, 2023.

This doesn't work any more as Purple is charging for their API. Sorry.

San Francisco PM2.5

This post is updated hourly with a PM2.5 (2.5 micrometer or smaller particulate matter) map of San Francisco.

The video below shows the past 48 hours at six frames per second.

 

The PM2.5 data comes from the Purple Air API. The map uses one hour average readings from outdoor sensors and interpolates each point in San Francisco based on the inverse of the distance to the four closest sensors. The color scale is green to yellow (0-50), yellow to orange (50-100), orange to red (100-150) and red to purple (150-200+). San Francisco is plotted using elevation contours from DataSF.

Updated 2022-06-11 12:28:

The map is currently broken. The URL I use to download sensor data started returning a 500 error code at the end of may (Error: Server Error / The server encountered an error and could not complete your request. Please try again in 30 seconds.). This seemed like something Purple would need to fix. On closer inspection the error occurs after a redirect to https://purpleair-over-quota-2.appspot.com/ which sounds like too many requests (a 4xx error surely). With even more digging it turns out the download link is no longer supported (410 maybe then?) and so I'll need to migrate to the REST API to get this working again. I'm currently trying to get an API key and will get this fixed as soon as I can.

Updated 2022-06-13 17:28:

Purple Air were kind enough to issue me with an API key so the map is back to updating hourly.

Updated 2023-11-08 00:26:

And it's broken again. Purple have decided to start charging for their API. This is a shame, and I don't think I can pay for this just to keep this post running. I'm going to try moving to the AirNow system for some use cases, but it's not going to work for a detailed map of San Francisco as there is only one official sensor here.

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West Portal Sunset

By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, February 19, 2022.

West Portal Sunset

Spectacular sunset the other night, the kind where I really wish I'd left a timelapse running an hour earlier. This time I did! It was just a test run of a new GoPro Hero 8 Black to see what the nightlapse mode is capable of. I left everything on auto, including the interval, which I thought was an odd thing to have an auto mode for but that it might produce some interesting effects. Nope. The GoPro does a nice job of ramping down the shutter speed and ramping up the ISO, but it just randomly toggles the interval between one and two seconds occasionally which just glitches the video. So won't be using that mode again.

(Previously: Sunset sunset 4k)

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(Published to the Fediverse as: West Portal Sunset #timelapse #sunset #westportal #gopro #video Time lapse of sunset looking west over The Pacific from West Portal in San Francisco, California. )

Hazelnut Trail

By Robert Ellison. Updated on Wednesday, June 2, 2021.

Hazelnut Trail

Hazelnut Trail

Hazelnut Trail in San Pedro Valley Park, Pacifica. $6 vehicle fee. Currently one way so very socially distanced.

Hike starts at: 37.577953, -122.475309. View in Google Earth.

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(Published to the Fediverse as: Hazelnut Trail #hike #pacifica #map Loop hike on Hazelnut Trail in San Pedro Valley Park, Pacifica, California. )

Book reviews for July 2020

The Long Sunset (The Academy) by Jack McDevitt

The Long Sunset (The Academy) by Jack McDevitt

3/5

 

Near Dark (Scot Harvath #19) by Brad Thor

Near Dark (Scot Harvath #19) by Brad Thor

3/5

 

The Night Fire (Renée Ballard, #3; Harry Bosch Universe, #32) by Michael Connelly

The Night Fire (Renée Ballard, #3; Harry Bosch Universe, #32) by Michael Connelly

3/5

 

The Cormorant (Miriam Black, #3) by Chuck Wendig

The Cormorant (Miriam Black, #3) by Chuck Wendig

4/5

 

Mockingbird (Miriam Black, #2) by Chuck Wendig

Mockingbird (Miriam Black, #2) by Chuck Wendig

4/5

 

Nothing Is Wrong and Here Is Why by Alexandra Petri

Nothing Is Wrong and Here Is Why by Alexandra Petri

3/5

 

Network Effect (The Murderbot Diaries, #5) by Martha Wells

Network Effect (The Murderbot Diaries, #5) by Martha Wells

4/5

 

Exit Strategy (The Murderbot Diaries, #4) by Martha Wells

Exit Strategy (The Murderbot Diaries, #4) by Martha Wells

4/5

 

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ITHCWY Newsletter for July 2020

Humpback Whale Feasting off Rockaway Beach in Pacifica

By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, January 18, 2025.

Humpback Whale Feasting off Rockaway Beach in Pacifica

Humpback Whale Feasting off Rockaway Beach in Pacifica

Humpback Whale Feasting off Rockaway Beach in Pacifica

Humpback Whale Feasting off Rockaway Beach in Pacifica

Humpback Whale Feasting off Rockaway Beach in Pacifica

Humpback Whale Feasting off Rockaway Beach in Pacifica

Photos of a Humpback Whale shot from Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California.

In the photograph titled "Humpback Whale Feasting off Rockaway Beach in Pacifica," we are treated to an intimate glimpse of nature's majesty as a humpback whale breaks the surface of the endless ocean. The water appears vast and textured, like an unending tapestry of ripples and waves, greyish under the overcast sky. The whale emerges gracefully, its dark, glistening back breaching the water, with faint trails of sea foam hinting at the powerful movements beneath. In the distance, a solitary seabird punctuates the sky, contributing a subtle reminder of the life that thrives beyond the immediate spectacle. This image encapsulates the raw magnificence and serenity of the oceanic realm, where giants roam with elegant power.

The composition of this photograph embraces minimalism, allowing the sheer scale of the ocean and the whale's presence to take center stage. The rule of thirds is subtly employed, placing the whale just off-center, which provides a dynamic balance against the vastness of the sea. The monochromatic palette of grays and blues evokes a sense of calm and mystery, while the simplicity of the scene ensures that the focus remains solely on the whale's grandeur. However, one might find the lack of contrast and vividness a limitation, as it offers a somewhat muted visual experience. Despite this, the photograph effectively captures a fleeting moment of natural wonder, inviting viewers to contemplate the serene power of the marine world.

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(Published to the Fediverse as: Humpback Whale Feasting off Rockaway Beach in Pacifica #photo #whales #humpback Photos of a Humpback Whale feasting just off Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California. )

Bald Eagle

By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, January 18, 2025.

Bald Eagle

Photo of a Bald Eagle taken from Hat Creek Park.

The photograph titled "Bald Eagle" captures a majestic bald eagle perched high on the gnarled branches of a towering tree. The scene is set against a backdrop of a clear blue sky, offering a stark contrast to the dark hues of the eagle’s plumage and the tree's weathered bark. Surrounding the eagle, the verdant branches of the pine tree frame the composition with their feathery green needles, adding an element of softness. The eagle looks poised and vigilant, its white head gleaming in the sunlight, embodying the spirit of freedom and strength.

The composition of the photograph is striking in its simplicity, allowing the viewer's gaze to focus on the central figure of the eagle. The rule of thirds is effectively utilized, with the eagle positioned off-center to create a dynamic balance with the surrounding foliage. The diagonal lines of the tree branches guide the eye upward towards the eagle, enhancing the sense of elevation and grandeur. What I admire most is the minimalist approach; the uncluttered background ensures that the eagle remains the focal point. However, I would have preferred slightly more contrast to emphasize the textures of the bark and feathers further. Overall, the photo successfully evokes a sense of calm and majesty.

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(Published to the Fediverse as: Bald Eagle #photo #eagle Photo of a Bald Eagle at Hat Creek Park in Cassel, California. )