Museum of Jurassic Technology

I had a couple recommendations to go to the Museum of Jurrassic Technology while in LA.  Not to brag too much, but as a whole I think they're my favorite set of pictures from the trip.  Keep in mind, I took these with a point and shoot, albeit a nice one.  

There was a lot of fun stuff, but I was really excited for what I had already read about, several years ago.  That is: Ricky Jay's antique dice collection.  They're decaying, and I'm sure you'll agree, beautiful.  I've been fan of his story telling, and read about them in New Yorker.  There is a book of photographs of the collection and dice history in general.

Look at me getting all 2.0'd

Ironically, my Flickr photo Do Not Duplicate found its way into a presentation slide (slide 56) in the presentation Social Media for Communicators (Web2.0).

First Time For Everything.

Nice catch
Originally uploaded by matt semel

We celebrated Miguel's birthday by taking in the cross harbor rivalry. Despite two fierce rain storms, the game made it through nine. Most folks left after the third inning when a torrential rain came down. Those that stayed were treated to prime real estate behind home plate.

Odds of getting a souvenir increase at minor league games, and when 90% of 8000 leave... your odds get better. With improved odds, I caught my first foul ball, after bouncing off a sky box. Earlier, I asked several folks if they had ever nabbed a souvenir at a game. Next I'm going to ask people if they've ever won the lottery...

I've got Pics and so do Matt and Rebecca

Where Have I Been? I've Been Flickring

Though I haven't been writing, I have been snapping. I even upgraded to Pro at Flickr, adding new photosets to navigate easier.

Sik Muniz

Vik Muniz: Atalanta and Hippomenes, after Guido Reni (Pictures of Junk) 2006

Fall has returned, not because were in mid September, but that the calendar of things to see quickly filled up.

Friday Jen and I saw People Speak at 45 Below. People Speak is a staged presentation of Howard Zinn's Voices of a People's History of the United States and is part of the Impact Festival.

Saturday I met Joe and Gretchen to catch a few gallery shows. First I wanted to make sure Joe saw Richard Serra's show at Gagosian: Rolled and Forged. I posted a few pics in Flickr.

Then we caught the show I was really looking forward to: Vik Muniz' Pictures of Junk. Last year I met Muniz when he gave a talk about his book Reflex. In the back room were his equally astonishing pictures of pigment. Though his art speaks for itself, there, was some icing: a time lapse film of Pictures of Junk being composed. This series took up area the size of a basketball court, requiring the photograph to proportionally higher. Leaving, I just shook my head, this stuff is just sick.... it's that good.

Then yesterday, I took in the Atlantic Antic with Gretchen. I met some folks who dig up old glass and other stuff from old Brooklyn cistern wells. Jen and Denise also had a table and scored an early long sleave Raeburn Ink tee.

Max and I went to Heathers for a 78 RPM Sunday, where Ethan spun some shellaced jazz from the 30s and 40s. I learned about Slim Gaillard in particular. Max, my 18-year old cousing from Rockland County, is staying with me this month to work as a bike messenger before heading off to Paris to do the same.

Geotagging

This is how I spent my morning, geotagging my Flickr pictures. I didn't get it until I tried it, but this was really easy and amazing. Check out where my pics came from, particulary the Hay Lake photos.

Learning a New Camera

Four months after a failed camera purchase, I'm trying again, and so far with better results. Check out my Flickr page for the test results...

These are (occasionally candied) fennel seeds from Hurry and Tasty Curry, my office Indian joint. The fennel aids digestion and tames breath if you didn't know.

Testing A Shout Out

I'm fiddling with a few things.... First I haven't uploaded many of my own photos, though I know Nancy and Steve frequently do. So, to paraphrase Greg Brown, it's a picture of a picture taken and printed my good friend Annie Murdock. The original happily hangs in my apartment.

Secondly, I just installed Adium on my iMac to consolidate my IM clients (MSN, Jabber, iChat & Yahoo), and so far I'm very impressed, though I've yet to chat with anyone.

Thirdly, I just installed Skype too, which seems a bit redundant to IM, or vice versa, but you've got to use it to know... which is all to say, does anyone else here use skype? Norm & Judy have it on their Macs but I don't think they've set up accounts.

So for the geeks, what else do you use? I know there's some Flickr folks, Delicious anyone? Who's gearing up for Web2.0? I'd love to pick your brain.

From Flickr, I'm learning about posting pictures

Sam- Loring Park: july o4
Originally uploaded by 917press.

This is from last summer in Minneapolis' Loring Park