By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
Walking to work next to Andy Goldsworthy's wood line in the Presidio of San Francisco.
The photograph captures a serene, tree-lined path that seems to stretch into infinity. Tall, slender trees rise majestically on either side of the path, their bark exhibiting a rich tapestry of earthy tones, subtly kissed by soft morning light. The ground is a mosaic of fallen leaves and bark, adding texture to the foreground, while patches of vibrant green grass peek through, suggesting the vitality of spring. In the distance, the path curves gently, inviting the viewer to imagine what lies beyond. A lone dog appears on the left side, adding a touch of warmth and life to the scene, perfectly encapsulated by the photograph’s whimsical title that hints at the unexpected joy of a morning commute transformed by nature’s beauty.
This photograph employs a vanishing point perspective, effectively drawing the viewer's eye along the path towards the horizon, which creates a sense of depth and exploration. The composition is well-balanced, with the dense forest on either side framing the image naturally, while the use of leading lines enhances the sense of movement through the scene. The morning light filtering through the trees adds a dynamic range of shadows and highlights that enrich the mood of the image. One might critique the photo for its slightly soft focus, which could detract from the clarity and crispness often desired in landscape photography. However, this softness also adds an artistic, dreamlike quality that might appeal to some viewers. Overall, the image successfully conveys a sense of peace and wonder, celebrating the everyday moment with a quiet, poetic touch.
(Published to the Fediverse as:
Commute failing to suck this morning... #photo#presidio Photo of Andy Goldsworthy's wood line in the Presidio of San Francisco, California.)
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
Pre-restoration photo of the Presidio Theatre in the Presidio of San Francisco.
The photograph captures the classic façade of the Presidio Theatre, a structure that emanates a timeless charm nestled in its quiet surroundings. The building exhibits a symmetrical design with a series of well-arched doorways that invite the viewer’s gaze to explore the space within. The whitewashed exterior is complemented by a red-tiled roof, a harmonious blend of Mediterranean and early 20th-century architectural influences. Flanking the building are evergreens, their rich green hues contrasting sharply with the building's stark walls. Overhead, the sky is a blanket of soft grays, adding a calm yet slightly dramatic backdrop to this serene scene.
The photograph employs a straightforward, symmetric composition, using the building’s natural symmetry to anchor the image. The centered perspective emphasizes the theater’s architectural details and structural elegance. The slightly elevated angle provides a comprehensive view, embracing both the building and its natural surroundings. While the symmetry and balance create a pleasing sense of order and highlight the architectural beauty, the subdued sky may lack vibrancy, potentially diminishing the overall impact. However, the choice of a muted color palette complements the historical significance of the building and allows it to stand out as the focal point. The presentation is both respectful and evocative, leaving the viewer with an appreciation for the quiet dignity of this landmark.
Did you know that Windows still has a vestigial finger command with just about nothing left to talk to? One of my New Year's resolutions is to bring finger back and unlike the stalled webfinger project I need to make some progress. Here's some C# to run your own personal finger daemon... you just need to create a .plan file in your home directory (haven't done that for a while):
(Published to the Fediverse as:
Personal Finger Daemon for Windows #code#random#finger#fingerd An impractical attempt to bring finger back (the awesome UNIX utility for pinging a person, so much better than Facebook!))
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Friday, February 24, 2017.
Five Billion Years of Solitude: The Search for Life Among the Stars by Lee Billings
4/5
Epic book about the origins, frequency and long term outlook of life in the universe.
Countdown City (The Last Policeman, #2) by Ben H. Winters
4/5
A search for a missing person is the backdrop for watching society start to collapse and the plot begin to thicken in the sequel to The Last Policeman. Here's hoping that the third book will be worth the wait.
Skype for Android is finally getting there. Push support means that it is now useful for more than conditioning your battery. Conversation read status is mostly synced between different client instances which is a big time saver. I'm actually starting to use it.
There is one horrible usability crime. When you open the app you get a list of unread conversations. Your set your finger in flight to the first one and then notice an ad sliding down from the top of the screen. With horror you realize it's too late to change course and you hit the ad instead of the conversation.
I'm not complaining about Skype being ad supported here, but if you were going to try and design a UI to trick people into clicking ads you really couldn't do better than this. I expect better from Microsoft.
Other than this the only real complaint is that new posts to group messages sometimes make it through to the notification bar and sometimes don't. You have to run the app periodically to see if there is something new.
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
Panoramic photo of downtown San Francisco by night from the end of Pier 14.
This photograph, entitled "Pier 14," captures a mesmerizing nighttime cityscape. The scene unfolds with the shimmering reflections of city lights dancing across a darkened expanse of water, drawing the viewer's eye through the composition. The pier itself appears in the foreground, a pathway that leads directly into the heart of the city. On either side, it is flanked by guardrails that guide the perspective inward. The skyline dominates the background, a dazzling array of skyscrapers adorned in a constellation of lights. To the left, a bridge stretches elegantly across the frame, its outline punctuated by lights that twinkle like stars, creating a perfect balance against the nocturnal horizon.
The photograph employs a panoramic style, offering an expansive view of the cityscape that emphasizes the majesty and breadth of the scene. The composition is central, with the pier acting as a leading line directing the viewer's gaze from the forefront into the luminous urban landscape beyond. This effective use of leading lines adds a dynamic sense of depth to the image. The exposure seems deliberately long, capturing the serene glow of the city lights and their reflections on the water, which enhance the tranquil yet vibrant nocturnal ambiance. One might argue that the overall softness in focus slightly diminishes the crispness one might expect, potentially an artistic choice to evoke a dreamlike quality. I admire the photograph’s ability to evoke a sense of infinite exploration yet feel that a bit more sharpness could amplify the already captivating details.
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Thursday, November 12, 2015.
On Thursday The White House announced a trio of executive actions to fight patent trolls, most interestingly:
"Crowdsourcing Prior Art — To help ensure that U.S. patents are of the highest quality, the USPTO is announcing a new initiative focused on expanding ways for companies, experts, and the general public to help patent examiners, holders, and applicants find relevant “prior art”—that is, the technical information patent examiners need to make a determination of whether an invention is truly novel."
I've considered this for a few years as a for-profit business, paying a bounty to anyone who contributes prior art that helps take out a troll. But I have a way better idea: stop examining patents altogether.
(Published to the Fediverse as:
You won't believe this one crazy trick that would fix the broken patent system #politics#patents The best way to fix patents is to stop examining them altogether.)
The photograph titled "Fog over Twin Peaks" captures a mystic view of a cityscape shrouded in fog. In the foreground, delicate silhouettes of tree branches frame the scene, adding a sense of natural grandeur and tranquility. The slowly rolling fog blankets the urban landscape, partially concealing a towering radio tower that rises defiantly against the dim sky. Below, the lights of the city glimmer like scattered stars, creating a surreal juxtaposition between the man-made and natural elements. The image evokes a serene, otherworldly atmosphere, where the ethereal mist blurs the boundaries between land and sky.
The style of the photograph embraces a minimalist approach, focusing on a few key elements to convey its message. The composition is well-balanced, with the prominent radio tower slightly off-center, drawing the eye upwards through the layers of fog. The use of framing with the branches adds depth and a natural border, directing focus toward the central elements of the composition. The color palette is subdued, with soft grays and blues blending seamlessly, enhancing the mysterious mood. While the atmospheric quality of the fog is beautifully captured, the image could benefit from a bit more contrast to highlight the hidden details within the mist. Overall, the photograph successfully evokes a sense of calm and intrigue, inviting viewers to linger and explore its depths.
