I have been way too busy! Here's what I did last night --

I reflected this morning that for as lazy as I am, I don't seem to take the easy road.  I think this speaks to human nature in general.   Each of us balances a need for stimulation with a desire to be content*.  Many times in my life I've had choices to either continue contentedly with a reasonable situation, or to take a risk with something new and exciting.  Usually I choose the risk***. 

Which has brought me to 2010 with a number of resources that could be sold/whored to others for lots of cash -- or held and explored by myself to see what interesting things may come from them.

I wonder if I'm getting to old to be an explorer, a risk-taker; but the truth is that the urge can never leave, and if I tried to kill it, I'd kill my self.

Anyway, happy new year.

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* This is why the television, RSS feeds and online social** networking are so generally destructive to the human potential.  One can be contentedly stimulated for hours and at the end of it have accomplished precisely nothing. 

** They aren't truly social because they don't have all of the components of real social interaction.  The main and most important components they miss are physical presence, and natural pauses.  Why these are important will have to be another post, probably by another poster.

*** Like any successful adaptable life form, there's a genetic call to seek out unexplored niches for the possibility of [metaphorical] riches. 

I've finished a series of 24 urban architecture shots.  They're all strong B&W shots focusing on texture and shapes.  Each one of them was shot somewhere in Uptown Waterloo (or the vicinity).  Many of them incorporate prominent features of uptown businesses or familiar landmarks, but using non-traditional framing.  Yes, they're kind of artsy.  I like them.   

Here's another "public" image from the gallery.



Now, on to the contest.  From the people who most correctly identify the location of each photo before I post the next one, I'll chose one person at random who will receive two free signed 8x10 prints of any photos in the series they wish.

Results from Round 7
Here's the previous contest image:



Where is it: Waterloo North Hydro building, 17 William St E.. 
This shot was taken while standing on the corner at Regina and William Street.
Street View

There was just one correct response, and that winner has been notified.

Round 8 Image -- Where is it? -- Ultimate Final  Showdown



Yes, this is in Uptown Waterloo!  But where? 

How to enter the contest:

1) Reply to this post.  Anonymous replies are okay -- you don't have to be an LJ member to participate.  Replies are screened; no one but myself can see them.

2) In your reply, include your name and your email address.  Unless you object, your email address will be added to my photography event mailing list, which has very light traffic -- my show and class announcements only -- and will not be shared with anyone else. 

3) Give me the street address or closest intersection of the location shown.  Provide any additional specific information that might be needed to absolutely identify what is being seen (e.g. "The roof of the Button Factory").  If your answer is not particularly specific, I'll choose a more specific answer from someone else as more correct.  Don't be lazy, this isn't a timed quiz. You have at least two days to go uptown to check -- print out the image and double-check.

4) If your entry is the selected winner, I'll email you and ask for your mailing address so I can send you the prints.  Or you can just come by my studio to pick them up.  Give me a couple of weeks to make all the prints at once after the contest is over -- it's easier that way, and you'll be able to choose from the whole set.

This is the last image in the contest, and it's a doozy.  
Please share the link to my journal to other locals who might wish to participate!
And be sure to have a look at my photography website, seanmpuckett.com

So, I'm really tardy with updating the Where is it? Waterloo contest. I wanted to give everyone one last chance to enter round seven. Actually, now that Google Maps has Street View for uptown Waterloo, the contest is much easier than it was.

As a reminder, here is the round seven image:



If you can figure out where this is in uptown Waterloo*, and are interested in winning two original photographic prints, click here to go back to the previous journal post with all the entry information: http://catbear.livejournal.com/559607.html

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* Uptown Waterloo, in this context, basically means within, or very near to the Waterloo city core.

I am sick and tired of typing.  I am sick and tired of mice.  I am sick and tired of these old-fashioned, pathetic interface methods.  I'm tired of wrist pain.  I'm tired of sitting at a desk all day.  I have a far different computer interface paradigm in my head, and it's very difficult for me to wait for it to be implemented.  I suppose it all comes from watching too many sci-fi movies.  Be that as it may however, having the course of our future technologies laid before us through the writings of sci-fi visionaries is fairly traditional.

I want a 50 inch diagonal multi-touch screen.  I want a programming interface that eliminates the reliance on strings of arcane text, instead allowing you to build nested modules of functionality that interconnects like a child's electronics kit.  I want to be able to touch, drag, link, and associate functionality with gestures.  I want to use my voice to instantiate and modify.  I want programming to be dynamic and visual*