Maine joins National Popular Vote

Illustration of Maine

Maine just added its four electoral college votes to the National Popular Vote project. This is a compact between states that will elect the President based on the nationwide outcome once 270 electoral college votes are committed. We're now at 209. Two thirds of Americans support this project. Americans are a sensible bunch and support a lot of things that they will never get until we fix the broken electoral system. Visit my democracy page and do the four things listed there right now.

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(Published to the Fediverse as: Maine joins National Popular Vote #politics #politicalreform #nationalpopularvote #maine #npvic Maine commits 4 electoral college votes, we're at 209/270, and four things you can do help today. )

Sandpipers

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

Sandpipers at Limantour Beach

SONY ILCE-7C 500mm f6.7 1/1,000s ISO200

Sandpipers flying past Limantour Beach in Point Reyes National Seashore.

The photograph titled "Sandpipers" captures a serene moment of these small shorebirds in graceful flight over a vast expanse of sea. The ocean, stretching endlessly in the background, is a rich azure, its surface delicately speckled with sunlight reflections. The sandpipers themselves are arranged in a loose formation, their wings a blur of motion, each bird exhibiting subtle variations in posture as if dancing to the rhythm of the wind. The image resonates with a sense of freedom and harmony, as the birds glide effortlessly against the ethereal backdrop of sky and sea.

The composition is a masterful example of how negative space can amplify the subject's presence. The sandpipers are sharply in focus, creating a striking contrast with the soft, out-of-focus texture of the water. The photographer seems to have utilized the rule of thirds, allowing the birds to occupy the upper third of the frame, which enhances the dynamic feel of the photo. This use of space not only highlights the birds' movement but also encapsulates the vastness of their natural habitat. What stands out in this photograph is the sense of motion and depth, though some might find the absence of additional elements, such as a shoreline or sky, a missed opportunity for adding contextual richness. Nevertheless, the minimalist approach draws attention solely to the elegance and fluidity of the sandpipers in flight.

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(Published to the Fediverse as: Sandpipers #photo #sandpiper #limantour #pointreyes Photo of sandpipers at Limantour Beach, Point Reyes, California. )

Curlew

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

Curlew on Limantour Beach

SONY ILCE-7C 500mm f6.7 1/800s ISO160

A Curlew on Limantour Beach in Point Reyes.

The photograph titled "Curlew" captures the serene elegance of a single curlew wading through the gentle embrace of shallow coastal waters. The bird, with its distinctive long, curved beak and intricately patterned plumage of browns and yellows, stands gracefully against the subdued backdrop of soft ocean waves. The horizon drifts into a blur where the blue sea meets the azure sky, creating an ethereal barrier between earth and air. In the distance, faint outlines of mountains loom, veiled by a gentle mist, adding depth and a sense of tranquility to the scene. The light reflects subtly off the water, casting shimmering highlights around the bird, encapsulating it in a halo of nature's gentle luminescence.

The composition of the photograph is a masterclass in simplicity and balance. The curlew is positioned using the rule of thirds, enhancing the visual interest without overwhelming the scene. This effective use of space draws the viewer’s eyes naturally towards the bird while allowing them to explore the tranquil setting around it. The depth of field is shallow, with a sharp focus on the curlew, allowing the background to fade softly, which further emphasizes the subject. The harmonious color palette of blues and earth tones creates a soothing visual experience. However, I find the background slightly too soft, potentially underplaying the visual contrast that could have further enriched the layering of the scene. Nevertheless, the overall mood and style exude a gentle elegance, perfectly capturing a fleeting moment of nature's quiet beauty.

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(Published to the Fediverse as: Curlew #photo #curlew #limantour #pointreyes Photo of a Curlew on Limantour Beach in Point Reyes, California. )

Bolinas Point Loop

Marconi Transmitting Station remnants in Bolinas

Short and fairly flat loop above Bolinas in California. Plenty of cows. Comes back past Commonweal which is a retreat center. The area used to be a Marconi Telegraph transmitting station and there are a lot of poles and concrete anchor points dating from that.

Hike starts at: 37.918301, -122.720442. View in Google Earth.

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(Published to the Fediverse as: Bolinas Point Loop #hike #bolinas #commonweal #map 2.5 mile loop trail in Bolinas, California )

Point Reyes - Divide Meadow Loop

Trees on the Divide Meadow Loop in Point Reyes

Five mile loop hike from the Bear Valley visitor center to Mount Wittenberg and back. Great day for it with clear skies and a mini heatwave. Lots of tree cover and a fairly undulating climb although it gets pretty steep towards the top. Some rewarding views over Point Reyes before scrambling back down again.

Hike starts at: 38.039678, -122.799728. View in Google Earth.

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(Published to the Fediverse as: Point Reyes - Divide Meadow Loop #hike #pointreyes #map A 5 mile, 1000 ft loop hike from the Bear Valley visitor center in Point Reyes, California. )

Reviews for April 2024

By Robert Ellison. Updated on Monday, April 15, 2024.

Spoilers!

Podcasts

Helen Lewis Has Left the Chat

Helen Lewis Has Left the Chat

Helen Lewis Has Left the Chat is a six part survey of instant messaging, from Whatsapp parents groups to Telegram. The snippets of the worst mistakes people have made in chat are worth it alone, as is the somewhat haphazard invention of xxx is typing.

TV

3 Body Problem

3 Body Problem

After some terrible adaptations of cherished books I was pretty worried about this one. I think they nailed it. Trisolarians are now San-Ti, it's set in London and there are plenty of character and plot changes. But it's a compelling narrative that so far captures the spirit of the books without their somewhat clinical style. And I didn't see a single out of place Starbucks cup. Can't wait for the next installment.

Tokyo Vice Season 2

Tokyo Vice Season 2

Season 1 was great, if based on a maybe exaggerated book. Season 2 starts off a little slow and had the feel of a writers room that ran out of source material. Then they bring back Tozawa who is on the cusp of subverting the entire nation and order needs to be restored. From that point this is as compelling and unputdownable as the first installment.

(All images included with ITHCWY reviews are the property of their respective owners and are used to illustrate reviews only.)

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Sutro Island

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

Sutro Tower from Bolinas Beach

SONY ILCE-7C 500mm f6.7 1/800s ISO100

Sutro Tower looks like it lives on a mysterious island in the fog. Shot from Bolinas Beach.

The photograph titled "Sutro Island" presents a stark and enigmatic landscape, shrouded in a gentle mist that lends an air of mystery and ethereal beauty. Centered upon a solitary landmass, the enigmatic tower extends upward, punctuating the overcast sky with its vertical linearity. The island itself seems to float on a bed of fog, its edges softened and indistinct, melding seamlessly into the surrounding haze. Below, the calm expanse of water forms a contrasting layer, grounding the view with its subtle texture and vast horizon. The monochromatic palette underscores the somber mood, rendering the scene timeless and evocative.

In terms of composition, the photograph masterfully employs a minimalist style, focusing attention on the interplay between natural and man-made elements. The rule of thirds subtly guides the composition, with the island and tower placed in the upper central third, directing the eye upwards through the mist. The balance between the open sky and the denser textures of the island and water establishes a harmonious equilibrium, drawing the viewer into this tranquil yet mysterious world. The monochrome choice enhances the mood, emphasizing form and contrast over color. While the simplicity of the scene is striking, the fog's softness might obscure finer details some viewers may desire. However, this ambiguity is also its strength, inviting contemplation and lingering intrigue.

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(Published to the Fediverse as: Sutro Island #photo #sutrotower #sanfrancisco #bolinas Photo of Sutro Tower appearing to be on a mysterious island, from Bolinas Beach in Marin County, California. )

2024 Partial Solar Eclipse from Inverness, CA

Partial solar eclipse on April 8, 2024

Timelapse of the April 8, 2024 solar eclipse. This was shot from Chicken Ranch Beach in Inverness, California where the eclipse was partial. This is one of the last places you would expect the weather to cooperate, but conditions were perfect. Sun closeups shot on a Sony A7C with the Tamron 150-500mm F/5-6.7 and an ND5 filter. Sun tracking shot from the beach is from an Insta360 X3.

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(Published to the Fediverse as: 2024 Partial Solar Eclipse from Inverness, CA #timelapse #video #sun #moon #eclipse Timelapse of the 2024 partial solar eclipse shot from Inverness, California. )

Links for April 2024

By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, April 20, 2024.
NYTimes: This Artificially Intelligent Pin Wants to Free You From Your Phone

Nope: "To unlock the device with a passcode, hold out your hand to project a green laser onto your palm. Pulling your hand outward increases the number while pulling it inward decreases it, and you select each digit by pinching two fingers on the same hand." #ml #humane

--

Why did all the Little Chefs disappear?

Little Chef promise to swap your empty plate for our lollypop. Can't have been cheap. #littlechef

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San Francisco’s Train System Still Uses Floppy Disks - and Will for Years

“The system is currently working just fine, but we know that with each increasing year, risk of data degradation on the floppy disks increases and that at some point there will be a catastrophic failure,” - maybe save $400M with a floppy emulator and a USB stick? #sfmta #muni #sanfrancisco

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Reviews for March 2024

Spoilers!

Books

Dead Fall

Dead Fall

Scot Harvath has little trouble killing some Wagner mercenaries in Ukraine. Throw the man some setbacks once in a while! Feels a little too soon as well to use this war as a backdrop. I'm a sucker for a series though and I will keep reading them.

System Collapse

Murderbot is [redacted]. This is book 7 and the concept of the reluctant hero SecUnit is not getting old yet. Continued breath of SciFi fresh air.

Movie

Expired

Expired

I can't believe it's not Blade Runner, but OK nonetheless.

Movies

Dream Scenario

Dream Scenario

Everyone starts dreaming about Nicolas Cage. Michael Cera and his agency are very funny and it's an interesting concept, but it runs out of steam and limps to a dark conclusion.

ISS

ISS

This was OK. Nuclear war breaks out on Earth, and this leads to the US and Russian crew of the ISS being ordered to kill each other and take over the station. There is some rationale for this later but it doesn't make much sense. Also, they seem pretty confused about what's going on given the obvious nuclear war. Also, the ISS isn't high enough for the view they get of the obvious war. Also, the Russians seem to be nuking Bakersfield for some reason. It's like their objective is disrupting our plans for high speed rail as if we can't do that by ourselves. Ignoring all that, it's entertaining enough.

Lift

Lift

Heist on a plane. Not very good.

Society of the Snow

Society of the Snow

It's that Uruguayan rugby team who crashed in the Andes and then ate each other. Great film to watch on a plane, which I did, awkwardly.

The Abyss

The Abyss

No, not that classic at the bottom of the ocean with early CGI living water. This abyss is a Swedish disaster movie where the disaster is the budget as most of the action is not falling into a hole inside a nondescript building. I think. I don't remember much.

Werewolves Within

Werewolves Within

This is exactly what you'd expect, it's funny and perfectly executed. Thank you.

TV

Beacon 23

Beacon 23

I had high hopes for this Hugh Howey adaptation but they were brutally dashed by leaden dialog and a lackluster story. The most interesting thing about it is that it was made by Boat Rocker Media and man,  did they make sure that their boats were not disturbed in any way.

Expats

Expats

My advice here would be to just watch the incredible feature length episode 5 and skip the rest of it. It's all nicely made although I was a little surprised at the contemporary setting instead of pre-handover glory days

(All images included with ITHCWY reviews are the property of their respective owners and are used to illustrate reviews only.)

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