Catfood Earth for Android 1.40
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Monday, May 31, 2021.
Catfood Earth for Android now includes the option to display earthquakes (magnitude 5.0 or higher) from the USGS feed.
GetvCard shutting down at the end of 2013
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Sunday, May 16, 2021.
GetvCard.com is a contact exchange service I put together with a friend back before the Internet was popular. You could edit a business card online and then share it via a small link that would download a vCard file that would import your details magically. We even figured out how to hack the format to kind-of-sort-of work with Outlook of that era. I haven't had time to work on the site for ages and while it still has a few dedicated fans there aren't enough regular users to justify the maintenance. As of today it's no longer possible to create a new account. The plug will be pulled entirely at the end of the year.
If you're looking for a similar service you could try about.me, although they seem to be turning into a social network rather than just a way to share your contact information. You could also try Carddrop. I'm sure there are other options as well.
When the site goes all existing contact information will be deleted, so if you need to save any details or redirect contact links please do so by the end of the year. If you need help leave a comment below.
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(Published to the Fediverse as: GetvCard shutting down at the end of 2013 #code #getvcard #vcard GetvCard, the contact information sharing service based on vCard, shut down at the end of 2013 and is no longer available. )
Venus Sets
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Sunday, September 18, 2022.
Time lapse of Venus setting as seen from Bernal Heights in San Francisco.
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(Published to the Fediverse as: Venus Sets #timelapse #venus #video Video (time lapse) of Venus setting from Bernal Heights in San Francisco, California. )
Moth
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Monday, January 20, 2025.
Photo of a moth taken with a Lytro light field camera.
The photograph, titled "Moth," captures a delicate and ethereal moment in nature, spotlighting a moth in mid-flight. The moth, primarily in hues of warm yellow and softly muted earth tones, takes center stage with its outstretched wings forming an almost geometric symmetry. The fine, velvety texture of its wings is subtly illuminated, drawing attention to their intricate details and gentle patterns. The background is softly blurred, creating a natural bokeh effect that highlights the moth’s presence while hinting at the shadowy, forest-like environment from which it emerges. Each detail, from the antennae to the contour of the wings, pulls the viewer deeper into a moment of quiet, fleeting beauty.
The photograph employs a classical approach to composition, centering the moth to emphasize its symmetrical beauty. The use of depth of field effectively isolates the subject, ensuring that our eyes remain fixed on the luminous creature, unconcerned with distractions from the background. The lighting is soft, casting a gentle glow that enhances the moth's delicate textures. However, the image could benefit from sharper focus, as some details lack crispness, potentially diminishing the visibility of finer features. Additionally, a slightly wider frame could provide context, allowing the moth's environment to share in its spotlight. Despite these minor critiques, the image succeeds in evoking a sense of wonder and tranquility.
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(Published to the Fediverse as: Moth #photo #lytro Lytro (ight field camera) photo of a Moth. )
USS Hornet
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
Photos of the USS Hornet taken with a Lytro light field camera.
The photograph titled "USS Hornet" presents a striking image of an imposing naval vessel captured from the bow, displaying its massive and angular structure. The ship is adorned with a line of patriotic bunting, adding a festive touch to its austere presence. In the foreground, a chipped and weathered blue rail adds a contrasting element, providing a sense of place and depth to the composition. The background is softly blurred, highlighting the grey silhouette of the ship against a subdued sky, casting an atmospheric mood over the scene.
The composition of the photograph is intriguing, focusing on the formidable front of the USS Hornet, emphasizing its sheer scale and grandeur. The use of a low-angle perspective gives the ship an even more monumental aspect, suggesting strength and history. The choice to include the blue rail in the foreground adds an element of texture and color contrast, although it might distract slightly from the ship's grandeur. The overall color palette is subdued, dominated by greys and blues, which complements the solemnity of the vessel. The depth of field could have been better utilized to keep both the ship and the foreground in sharper focus, which might engage the viewer more effectively. Overall, the photograph successfully conveys the power and presence of this historic ship.
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(Published to the Fediverse as: USS Hornet #photo #hornet #lytro Photos of the USS Hornet in Alameda, California. Taken with a Lytro light field camera. )
San Francisco from Alameda
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
Photo of downtown San Francisco under a lot of clouds taken from Alameda.
This photograph captures an expansive view from Alameda, with San Francisco's iconic skyline silhouetted in the distance. Above, the sky is adorned with a textured tapestry of stratocumulus clouds, casting a sense of calm and vastness over the scene. The clouds, stretching endlessly, create a quilt-like effect, merging the elements of sky and sea. Towards the right, the industrial forms of cranes punctuate the horizon, juxtaposing the natural beauty with human-made structures. The overall palette is a subdued blend of soft grays and earthly tones, grounding the vastness of the sky and aligning it with the cityscape below.
The photograph employs a panoramic composition that draws the viewer's eye across the width of the image. The horizon line is placed low, emphasizing the dramatic expanse of the sky. This choice accentuates the cloud formation, making it the focal point of the photograph. The use of silhouettes adds mystery and depth, inviting curiosity about the distant city. However, while the photograph captures a serene atmosphere, the muted color scheme and lack of vivid contrast might render the image less dynamic. The balance between the natural and industrial elements is intriguing, though a bit more detail in the foreground could enhance the composition further. Overall, the image successfully conveys a mood of tranquility and reflection.
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(Published to the Fediverse as: San Francisco from Alameda #photo #sanfrancisco San Francisco from Alameda, a photo with San Francisco in the distance under a lot of clouds. )
Number Line
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
From The Museum of Mathematics at Discovery Days (AT&T Park).
This photograph, titled "Number Line," presents an intriguing array of metallic and colorful shapes suspended against a softly blurred background. The centerpiece is a cog-like object, intricately carved and seemingly floating, its metallic surface catching a gentle light. To the right, vibrant red and orange forms add a splash of color that contrasts with the cooler tones of the metal. The left side fades into a dreamy, almost ethereal fog of whites and blues, lending a sense of mystery and infinity to the scene. The overall atmosphere is both industrial and whimsical, inviting viewers to explore the interaction between color and light.
The style of this photograph leans into abstraction, with a shallow depth of field that artfully directs focus onto the metallic centerpiece while allowing the surrounding colors to blur into an appealing bokeh. This approach underscores the beauty of form and texture, enhancing the visual narrative. The composition is well-balanced, with the sharpness and color saturation of the cog and adjacent shapes anchoring the eye amidst the softer hues. What works particularly well is the juxtaposition of hard and soft elements, creating a dynamic tension. However, the extreme blur on the left might feel a bit too diffuse, potentially distracting some viewers from the otherwise compelling focus. Overall, it's a harmonious blend of industrial and artistic elements that engages both the mind and the senses.
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(Published to the Fediverse as: Number Line #photo #lytro Lightfield photo of a number line from The Museum of Mathematics at Discovery Days. )
Lightfield Tree
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
Playing with Lytro (light field camera). A tree in Bernal Heights Park, San Francisco.
The photograph, titled "Lightfield Tree," presents a close-up view of the textured bark of a tree in sharp focus, dominating the right side of the frame. This bark's intricate patterns and cracks are captured in minute detail, inviting a tactile interaction with the viewer. In contrast, the background fades into softness, gently blurred, revealing subtle hints of greenery and distant architecture. This bokeh effect creates a dreamy, serene atmosphere, reminiscent of an inviting, shaded glade on a sunny day. The interplay of light and shadow dances across the tree's surface and the soft-focus background, infusing the photograph with a tranquil, contemplative mood.
The composition of this photograph employs a strong use of the rule of thirds, with the tree bark aligned prominently along the right third of the image. This alignment draws the viewer's eye immediately to the texture and intricate details of the bark, anchoring the scene. The shallow depth of field creates a clear separation between the foreground and the background, emphasizing the main subject while softening the context beyond. I appreciate the effective use of depth and texture, which adds interest and invites closer inspection. However, I find the blurred background slightly lacking in detail and context, which might have contributed further to the narrative of the scene. Overall, the image embodies a harmonious balance between texture and tranquility.
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(Published to the Fediverse as: Lightfield Tree #photo #lytro Photo of a tree in Bernal Heights Park, San Francisco, California. Shot with a Lytro light field camera. )
Book reviews for October 2013
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Friday, February 24, 2017.
Never Go Back (Jack Reacher, #18) by Lee Child
4/5
Exactly what you'd expect from Reacher. It's a solid thriller and totally on form.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
4/5
The fascinating, troubling and ultimately morally ambiguous story of how a ubiquitous and storied cell line (HeLa) came to be, and the impact this had on the family of Henrietta Lacks (whose cells became HeLa).
The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses by Eric Ries
3/5
The central idea of the book - better to construct small experiments and learn faster - seems right, but for a book about validated learning there is precious little data to support the hypothesis. Do Lean Startups return more money to investors or do they just pivot between slightly different ways to share photos before entering the deadpool at the same rate as Fat Startups? I want to believe Lean is better but a stack of anecdotes about IMVU just isn't enough to convince me.
Also, I hate all business books that start out by explaining how their profound ideas are applicable to all people at all times in all industries before stretching out a paragraph of insight over hundreds of turgid pages.
Lastly always read business books a few years after the peak of their popularity so you get the benefit of hindsight and a chuckle at the companies that are held up as shining examples of the author's methodology at the time but are now dead, festering or mostly incarcerated.
Having said all that I think that the approach is generally right and I appreciate that at several points in the book Ries states that there are no easy answers and no substitute for good judgement.
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Book reviews for October 2013
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Friday, February 24, 2017.
Never Go Back (Jack Reacher, #18) by Lee Child
4/5
Exactly what you'd expect from Reacher. It's a solid thriller and totally on form.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
4/5
The fascinating, troubling and ultimately morally ambiguous story of how a ubiquitous and storied cell line (HeLa) came to be, and the impact this had on the family of Henrietta Lacks (whose cells became HeLa).
The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses by Eric Ries
3/5
The central idea of the book - better to construct small experiments and learn faster - seems right, but for a book about validated learning there is precious little data to support the hypothesis. Do Lean Startups return more money to investors or do they just pivot between slightly different ways to share photos before entering the deadpool at the same rate as Fat Startups? I want to believe Lean is better but a stack of anecdotes about IMVU just isn't enough to convince me.
Also, I hate all business books that start out by explaining how their profound ideas are applicable to all people at all times in all industries before stretching out a paragraph of insight over hundreds of turgid pages.
Lastly always read business books a few years after the peak of their popularity so you get the benefit of hindsight and a chuckle at the companies that are held up as shining examples of the author's methodology at the time but are now dead, festering or mostly incarcerated.
Having said all that I think that the approach is generally right and I appreciate that at several points in the book Ries states that there are no easy answers and no substitute for good judgement.
