News: We Need to Raise Taxes for Shareholders and Cut Them for Companies
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Sunday, November 6, 2022.
We Need to Raise Taxes for Shareholders and Cut Them for Companies
Yes - totally agree with this.
Recount
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Wednesday, February 22, 2017.
I'm on a donation spree. This time to the Jill Stein recount effort. I believe that this will change the outcome of the election as much as I believe that there are real questions about vaccines and autism. But this is clearly making Trump mad. And the madder he gets the sooner he is likely to get himself impeached. Why not help out?
Related Posts
(Published to the Fediverse as: Recount #politics #election ##resist Recount the 2016 election - not because it's going to work, just to make Trump mad. )
National Popular Vote
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Wednesday, February 1, 2017.
I just donated to the National Popular Vote campaign. The idea is that if enough states pass enabling legislation they will all throw their electoral college votes behind the popular vote winner. Electoral college neatly short-circuited without any constitutional amendment needed. California is already signed up for this. You can check your state here.
Related Posts
- Maine joins National Popular Vote
- End the Electoral College: Amendment, Compact, or Supreme Court?
- 10 Electoral College Votes Closer
- Fuck the Electoral College
- I'm with Them
(Published to the Fediverse as: National Popular Vote #politics #election ##resist Support the National Popular Vote campaign and elect the US President based on individual votes and not the Electoral College. )
Banana Slug
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
Photo of a Banana Slug at Big Basin Redwoods State Park.
In this enchanting photograph titled "Banana Slug," the camera captures a striking tableau of nature, where a vibrant yellow banana slug graces the foreground. The slug, with its glistening, moist texture, slithers along a richly textured surface covered in lush green moss. Its vibrant hue stands out against the earthy tones, drawing immediate attention. The background, softly out of focus, hints at a misty forest setting with various greens and browns, suggestive of towering trees and shadows playing in the dappled sunlight. The setting exudes a sense of serene tranquility, evoking the essence of an untouched ecosystem where the small adventures of a slug unfold quietly.
The photograph employs a shallow depth of field, skillfully drawing the viewer’s focus to the banana slug, making it the unequivocal hero of this composition. The macro perspective allows us to appreciate the slug's intricate details, from its subtle ridges to the dewy sheen on its body. This choice magnifies the beauty of the small and often overlooked. The horizontal composition echoes the slug’s path across the moss, guiding the viewer's eye naturally along its journey. While the image succeeds in illuminating the minutiae of the slug’s world, it could benefit from a slightly wider frame to contextualize its surroundings — including more of the forest would augment the narrative of the slug’s place in its environment. Nonetheless, the image's vivid colors and intimate focus allow for a delightful exploration of nature's microcosms.
Related Posts
(Published to the Fediverse as: Banana Slug #photo #bananaslug Photo of a Banana Slug at Big Basin Redwoods State Park in California. )
Sunrise
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
Inverted tiny planet rendering of an unusually red sunrise in San Francisco.
The photograph titled "Sunrise" presents a mesmerizing swirl of color and form, capturing a sky painted in hues of orange and pink with delicate wisps of cloud. These clouds, seemingly twisting into the center, create a vortex effect that draws the viewer's gaze inward, inviting contemplation. Framed by silhouettes of rooftops and antennas, the scene evokes an urban morning, yet the twisted sky offers a surreal, almost dreamlike atmosphere. The edges of the frame are dark and solid, contrasting sharply with the vibrant, fiery sky, highlighting the intricate dance of light and shadow.
The photographer employs a fisheye or spiral distortion effect, enhancing the sky's dramatic spiral and giving it an infinite depth. This creative manipulation breaks traditional composition rules, creating an intriguing and otherworldly aesthetic. The juxtaposition of the solid, static rooftops with the dynamic, swirling sky can be seen as both a strength and a limitation; while it adds contrast and interest, it may also distract from the serene beauty of a natural sunrise. The technique adds a unique perspective but might not resonate with purists who seek a more conventional representation of a sunrise. Overall, the photograph stands out for its bold interpretation and captivating use of distortion, inviting viewers to see the familiar with new eyes.
Related Posts
- Sunrise, Ulloa and 15th
- Post Storm Sunset
- Sun
- Sutro Tower, Moon, and Plane
- San Francisco from Twin Peaks
(Published to the Fediverse as: Sunrise #photo #sunrise #tinyplanet Sunrise in San Francisco, California, rendered as an inverted tiny planet. )
Trees at Lands End
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
Rain falling through trees at Lands End, San Francisco (Golden Gate National Recreation Area).
The photograph titled "Trees at Lands End" captures a serene woodland scene where towering trees stretch upwards, their branches weaving an intricate tapestry against the sunlight filtering softly through the canopy. The ground is uneven and slightly sunlit, indicating the undulating terrain typical of untamed nature. The trees, with their textured bark and twisted limbs, evoke a sense of age and resilience. Light spills through the branches, highlighting patches of greenery and casting gentle shadows, creating a sense of depth and tranquility. The overall ambiance is one of quiet mystery, as if inviting the viewer to step into this peaceful forest and explore its ancient secrets.
This photograph employs a naturalistic style that emphasizes the beauty and complexity of the forest environment. The composition is thoughtfully balanced, with the trees providing a strong vertical element that guides the viewer's gaze upward. The use of natural lighting is particularly effective, with the sunlight creating dappled patterns on the forest floor and enhancing the texture of the tree bark. I appreciate the play of light and shadow, which adds depth and dynamism to the composition. One critique, however, is that the image might benefit from a slight increase in contrast to intensify the interplay between light and dark, potentially enhancing the visual drama of the scene. Overall, the photo succeeds in capturing the timeless allure of the forest at Lands End.
Related Posts
(Published to the Fediverse as: Trees at Lands End #photo #sanfrancisco #landsend #trees Photo of rain falling through trees at Lands End, San Francisco, California (Golden Gate National Recreation Area). )
Multi-plane Camera
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
Photo of a multi-plane camera at the Walt Disney Family Museum.
The photograph titled "Multi-plane Camera" captures an intricate and historically significant piece of photographic technology from a top-down perspective. The black-and-white composition emphasizes the mechanical complexity and elegance of the multi-plane camera, a device once used in animation to create a three-dimensional effect by having multiple layers of images at varying distances. The photo presents a latticework of metal, glass, and machinery, with identifiable components such as large lamps and complex gears. The wooden flooring below adds warmth and contrast to the cold, industrial feel of the camera, juxtaposing natural texture with human-made precision. The interplay of shadows and highlights lends the image a cinematic quality, invoking a sense of nostalgia and innovation.
The photographic style leans towards a documentary-like approach, meticulously capturing the details and structure of the multi-plane camera. The composition uses a strong, central perspective that focuses on the heart of the device, drawing the viewer’s eye inward, allowing them to explore the layered intricacies and craftsmanship. The use of black and white augments the sense of timelessness, stripping away distractions and letting form and function speak for themselves. However, this same monochromatic palette could be critiqued for potentially losing some visual interest that color might bring to revealing more textural diversity. What truly stands out is the photographer's ability to evoke history and admiration for the mechanical creativity embodied in this relic, effectively bridging the gap between technology and art.
Related Posts
(Published to the Fediverse as: Multi-plane Camera #photo #presidio Photo of a multi-plane camera taken at the Walt Disney Family Museum. )
West Portal Halloween
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
Long exposure of trick or treating on Wawona street in West Portal, San Francisco.
The photograph titled "West Portal Halloween" captures a whimsical and slightly eerie nighttime scene in a suburban neighborhood. Under a golden-hued sky, the street is lined with houses casting a warm glow from their windows. One particular house catches the eye with its vivid blue-lit windows, creating a sense of mystery. The streetlights add a golden luminescence to the scene, casting their light onto a wet pavement reflecting a spectrum of colors. Tall trees frame the right side of the image, emphasizing the night's dynamic atmosphere. The scene is animated with streaks of light, likely from passing cars or wandering trick-or-treaters, which create an impression of energy and movement.
The photograph employs a bold, experimental style, utilizing long exposure to create the intriguing light trails that lead the viewer's eye across the image. The composition is slightly tilted, lending a sense of disorientation that fits well with the Halloween theme. The warm color palette contrasts with the cooler blue tones from the windows, adding depth and interest to the composition. I appreciate the dynamic nature of the image, capturing both the tranquility and mystery of a Halloween night. However, the image might benefit from a slightly sharper focus in key areas to balance the abstract elements with clearer structural elements, providing a more grounded focal point. Overall, the image succeeds in creating a vivid, atmospheric narrative.
Related Posts
(Published to the Fediverse as: West Portal Halloween #photo #westportal #halloween Photo of West Portal Halloween on Wawona Street (long exposure), San Francisco, California. )
Book reviews for October 2016
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Friday, February 24, 2017.
The Hurricane by Hugh Howey
4/5
Affecting story of a boy (and family) who are forced to disconnect thanks to a category five storm. First non sci-fi Howey that I've read and it's one of his best.
Presence by Richard MacManus
2/5
Plodding retread of VR tropes.
How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon
3/5
The Elephant in the Room by Jon Ronson
3/5
Jon Ronson visits with the Alt Right. It's good but not a revelation.
Overcomplicated: Technology at the Limits of Comprehension by Samuel Arbesman
3/5
Everything is getting more complicated. This book suggests we abandon the physics based approach of trying to understand systems in a reductionist way and switch to biological thinking - sample, study the ecology, embrace a glimpse of understanding and forget knowing everything. Gulp.
Related Posts
Securing the Internet of Things
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Wednesday, February 22, 2017.
We can’t trust manufactures to build secure connected devices and so routers need to be updated to solve this problem once per network.
The distributed denial of service (DDOS) attack on Friday, October 21 was apparently caused by dodgy webcams. But next time it will be Nest or Alexa or Hue - not picking on Google, Amazon or Philips specifically here, those just happen to be the IOT devices currently plugged into my home network. My washing machine and drier would be as well but fortunately LG’s dismal app has saved me from myself by not working for toffee. Oh, I have some DropCams too. And my car is connected. The next attack will probably just come from me.
My fix: update routers to sandbox these devices. A Nest thermostat can only talk to nest.com. If it wants to DDOS Reddit too bad, no connection allowed no matter how badly the device is compromised.
When a new device is connected the router looks it up (MAC address registry?) and then puts it in the appropriate sandbox.
If Nest needs to connect to weather.gov to check the forecast then Google would need to proxy this via nest.com. If the device goes bad it’s only got one domain to attack (so there’s a pretty good incentive for the manufacturer to make sure it doesn’t).
The only downside is new routers or new router firmware. Given the current state of IOT I’d buy one.
As usual if any of my billionaire investor readers are interested get in touch.
Related Posts
- Routers to defend against rogue IoT devices
- Air Gap
- Leaving the Nest
- Overvalidation
- Chromecast won't connect to wifi - finally found the fix
(Published to the Fediverse as: Securing the Internet of Things #etc #iot #google #philips #lg #amazon A proposal to secure the internet of things via sandboxing to manufacturer owned URL by MAC address. No more DDOS from toasters. )
