Book reviews for December 2018
By Robert Ellison.
The Late Show (Renée Ballard, #1; Harry Bosch Universe, #29) by Michael Connelly
4/5
The Wandering Earth by Liu Cixin
5/5
The Labyrinth Index (Laundry Files, #9) by Charles Stross
4/5
Amazon Alexa Echo Wall Clock Review
By Robert Ellison.
It has one job and it's not great at it.
I've been itching to replace my kitchen clock. I stupidly bought a self-setting atomic clock and the instructions said (this was a few years ago so I'm paraphrasing) 'Install as high up as possible on a southern facing exterior wall - ignoring these instructions may interfere with reception of the time signal.' Of course when used in my kitchen it has no idea what the time is. Due to the fancy mechanism it's extremely painful to set the time manually - you push a tiny button and try to stay awake while the hands move round and ultimately overshoot. Repeat.
It really should be illegal to sell things that tell you the time without some self-setting mechanism that works. Would it be hard to encode this in the electricity mains supply for instance? Or acquire via wifi or bluetooth? Every time I get in my car it connects to my phone but the car clock is clearly some cheap crystal that drifts daily and has no idea about daylight savings.
So the Echo Wall Clock is appealing because it should keep the right time without effort in addition to it's main role - visualizing Alexa timers. It's a stripped down implementation of the smart Glance clock but $170 cheaper at $30. It looks like most of those savings went to finding the cheapest possible plastic body. The Echo Clock also skips a face plate, which is a risk as if you touch the hands it will die.
Pairing is easy (via bluetooth) and it does manage to keep the right time. It's a decent if unattractive clock.
The timer function has taken the easy way out. If you set a five minute timer it lights up the minute marks from 12 up and then counts down. On a clock that knows what the current time is. This means that if you want to figure out when something is ready you're going to have to think. You need to look at the lit segments to see how long is left on the timer, and then add this on to the current position of the minute hand. I don't think anyone is buying a $30 timer visualizer to do minute-math. It would be a much better device if it just added the timer onto the current location of the minute hand, which is so obvious that this is what I expected to happen the first time I used it.
Overall it's cheap, cheap looking and flawed. But still a huge improvement on my kitchen's atomic age.
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(Published to the Fediverse as: Amazon Alexa Echo Wall Clock Review #etc #amazon #alexa #clock It's cheap and cheap looking. It has one job, and it's not that great at it. Still a huge improvement on my old kitchen clock. Read the full review... )
Hummingbird 2
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
A hummingbird at the Marine Cemetery in the Presidio.
In the photograph titled "Hummingbird 2," a lone hummingbird is perched delicately on a slender branch, poised with an effortless grace. The bird's iridescent green and dark plumage glisten in the soft light, offering a vivid contrast against the blurred, muted backdrop of foliage. This gentle bokeh effect creates a creamy, undulating sea of greens and grays, allowing the hummingbird to become the focal point of the image. Its tiny beak is slightly raised, suggesting a moment of contemplation or alertness. The composition captures the ephemeral beauty of nature, as the fragile leaves on the branch echo the delicate vitality of the bird itself.
This photograph exemplifies a minimalist style, with a strong emphasis on simplicity and clarity. The use of negative space is masterful, as it draws attention to the hummingbird, allowing it to stand out against the soft focus background. The rule of thirds is effectively employed here, with the bird positioned on the upper third, creating a pleasing balance and harmony within the frame. However, one aspect that might detract from the image is the slightly harsh lighting on parts of the bird's body, which could have been softened to enhance its delicate features further. Overall, the photograph is a stunning portrait of nature's elegance, capturing a moment of serene stillness in the natural world.
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(Published to the Fediverse as: Hummingbird 2 #photo #hummingbird Photo of a hummingbird at the Marine Cemetery in the Presidio, San Francisco. )
Treasure Island
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, February 19, 2022.
A timelapse from Treasure Island in the San Francisco Bay.
The first half of the video is looking west from Treasure Island and pans along the San Francisco waterfront. The second half was shot east towards Oakland and includes a storm sweeping in from the north.
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(Published to the Fediverse as: Treasure Island #timelapse #sanfrancisco #oakland #baybridge #treasureisland #video Timelapse video shot from Treasure Island featuring views to San Francisco and Oakland as well as both spans of the Bay Bridge. )
Winter Solstice 2018
By Robert Ellison.
It's the start of Winter in the Northern Hemisphere (Summer on the other side of the equator). Rendered in Catfood Earth.
(Previously, Previously, Previously, Previously, Previously)
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Pulling the plug on Facebook and Twitter, Tweet Archive
By Robert Ellison.
A year ago I uninstalled Facebook and Twitter from my phone in an effort to slim down my social media fake news diet. The idea was I'd occasionally check in from my laptop. Which I didn't. So this week I've finally taken the plunge and deleted both accounts. Or rather, deactivated, you have to wait 30 days before they actually delete anything. I also nuked Quora, because of the hack rather than any particular tendency to undermine the foundations of democracy.
This leaves me with a potential problem. As a person with a rapidly decreasing social media footprint I might be asked to host the Oscars. It would be nice to be tapped, but I really don't want to and so I've published a complete archive of all my tweets. I'm pretty sure some of them would be disqualifying. Whew.
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(Published to the Fediverse as: Pulling the plug on Facebook and Twitter, Tweet Archive #etc #twitter #facebook #quora I've deleted Facebook and Twitter. To prevent any potential invitation to host the Oscars I've also created a complete tweet archive to preserve every stupid thing I ever said on the platform. )
Elephant Seals at San Simeon
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Monday, January 20, 2025.
Elephant Seals at San Simeon (Piedras Blancas elephant seal rookery).
The photograph titled "Elephant Seals at San Simeon" captures an intensely dynamic scene where two elephant seals are enveloped by the foamy embrace of the ocean. The seals' slick, dark bodies contrast starkly with the frothy white waves that crash upon them, creating a vivid interplay of textures. The water, captured mid-splash, appears almost sculptural, frozen in time as it wraps around the creatures. The sandy background hints at the natural habitat of these majestic marine mammals, grounding the image in a sense of place, while the sunlight casts a soft glow over the scene, enhancing the natural beauty of the subjects.
The composition of the photograph is striking in its use of timing and movement. The photographer expertly utilizes the rule of thirds, placing the focal action slightly off-center, which adds dynamism and guides the viewer's eye through the image. The choice to capture the wave at its peak adds a dramatic element, with the water serving as both a backdrop and a key component of the story being told. One aspect to admire is the clarity with which the details of the seals and the water splashes are rendered, showcasing the power and elegance of nature. However, the high contrast between the dark and light areas might overshadow some of the finer details of the seals' features. Overall, the photograph is a compelling portrayal of wildlife and the raw power of the ocean.
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(Published to the Fediverse as: Elephant Seals at San Simeon #photo #elephantseal Elephant seals at the Piedras Blancas elephant seal rookery near San Simeon, California. )
Book reviews for November 2018
By Robert Ellison.
The Increment by David Ignatius
3/5
What Have You Done by Matthew Farrell
2/5
Salvation (Salvation Sequence #1) by Peter F. Hamilton
4/5
The Christmas Scorpion (Jack Reacher, #22.5) by Lee Child
1/5
Less by Andrew Sean Greer
4/5
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Grand Canyon
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Monday, January 20, 2025.
A stormy day at Grand Canyon National Park, just a few minutes later a hail / snow mix developed.
In this monochromatic portrayal of the Grand Canyon, an ethereal mist veils the ancient geological formations, casting a mysterious mood over the expansive landscape. The rugged silhouettes of the canyon walls emerge prominently in the foreground, creating a dramatic contrast against the softer, muted tones of the distant mesas and ridges. The sky is pregnant with storm clouds, hinting at imminent rain, as streaks of light break through, softly illuminating parts of the canyon. One can almost feel the quietude and grandeur of the scene, as if time has momentarily paused to appreciate nature's raw beauty.
The photograph embraces a classic black-and-white style which accentuates the dramatic contrasts and textures inherent in the Grand Canyon's topography. There is an effective use of leading lines and layering, with the dark edges of the canyon guiding the viewer's eye deeper into the scene's misty horizons. The choice to capture the scene in black and white adds a timeless quality, although it sacrifices the vibrant colors typically associated with the Grand Canyon. This artistic decision shifts the focus to form and depth. While the composition beautifully conveys the scale and atmosphere, a slight critique might be the possible loss of some details within the shadows, which could have further enriched the textures. However, the overall image powerfully encapsulates the majestic and enigmatic essence of this natural wonder.
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(Published to the Fediverse as: Grand Canyon #photo #grandcanyon A stormy and dramatic view of Grand Canyon National Park. )
Hoover Dam (Fixed)
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
The angle of an electricity transmission tower at the Hoover Dam was really bothering me until I fixed it in post.
In this striking photograph titled "Hoover Dam (Fixed)," the grandiosity of human engineering meets the vastness of nature. Dominating the foreground, the towering power lines serve as a stark reminder of the industrial age's intrusion upon the rugged, arid landscape that cradles the dam. The Hoover Dam itself looks imposing and geometrically flawless, an architectural marvel set against the rugged textures of the surrounding mountains. The angled perspective creates a dynamic sense of movement, leading the eye across the diagonal line formed by the top of the dam, guiding us toward the craggy peaks in the background. There’s an intriguing juxtaposition between the sharp, man-made lines of the infrastructure and the organic, raw contours of the rocky terrain, subtly highlighted by the play of light and shadow.
The composition of this photo is both fascinating and daring, featuring a skewed angle that defies traditional horizontal framing, imbuing the image with a sense of unease or tension. This bold choice might disorient some viewers, but it also gives the photograph energy and highlights the scale of the engineering feat. The use of lines is particularly effective; the power lines draw the eye vertically, further enhancing the sense of height while the horizontal components of the dam and the distant roads invite a visual exploration across the plane. The lighting captures the textures and details exquisitely, providing clarity to both the gritty surfaces of the mountains and the clean, smooth lines of the dam. However, the tilted perspective might not appeal to purists who prefer conventional framing. Nonetheless, it adds a contemporary flair that invites deeper reflection on the relationship between human achievement and the natural world.
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(Published to the Fediverse as: Hoover Dam (Fixed) #photo #dam Hoover Dam, corrected so the electricity transmission tower looks right. )
