30 September 07 - 14:30Water, Water Everywhere
That passage from 'The rime of the ancient mariner' jumped to mind when I took a look around my house last night. For the first time since moving in here, I forgot to put the hose of my washing machine in the shower. It's something that's still is on the long term planning list to get a fixed drainage system for the washing machine. It just got moved up the priority list a few notches. I got so used to it, it became normal. Until yesterday when, for some reason, I changed my routine and forgot about it until after the machine ejected its first load of water...
Water down the stairs, water dripping from the walls downstairs, water coming out of wall sockets and water coming from lightpoints in the ceiling. Water, water everywhere...
Not funny... :(
Edmond - Misc -
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20 September 07 - 00:08To catch a thief
My dear colleague Cailin pointed me to a website of a company that markets a nice piece of anti-theft software for Mac computers. Sometimes people get ideas that are just simple and brilliant at the same time.
The idea is that you install a piece of software that regularly checks whether your Mac computer or laptop is reported stolen. If it is, the computer starts collecting information on its current user at regular intervals. It uses the built in camera, takes screenshots of the thiefs activities and saves the IP network configuration. After a while, it starts sending all it has gathered to the headquarters of the company you bought the software from. They in turn notify your local police with all the stuff your Mac found on the thief. :) Very nifty.
I would have bought it if it wasn't for my paranoia. I just don't feel comfortable knowing there is software running on my Macs that is capable of sending pictures and screenshots to some company. So, I've built my own.
In just over two hours I have a working prototype, ghehe. It takes screenshots, takes pictures of the user (me, for now), gets the IP config and sends the lot to a mailbox I've whipped up on my mailserver.
Nice.
It can't compete with the software of Orbicule, but it could give me an idea about the person that is stupid enough to nick one of my Macs :)
Edmond - Tech -
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19 September 07 - 14:59Talk like a pirate day
Don't ye furget now, lads. Today is "talk like a pirate" day!
Arrrrr!!! Shiver me timbers!!
Edmond - Tech -
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17 September 07 - 12:06I've got a human in my throat
For quite a while now, I've been working hard to improve my PhotoShop skills. Not only to create better lighting, composition and color depth in my photographs, but also to manipulate pictures, retouch them, create things that aren't there and use filters and effects to create natural textures.
For the last category, I've been struggling to find the inspiration for material to practice on. As usual, the solution is staring you right in the face.
Worth1000.com is a website I frequently visit. I contains tons of images submitted by PhotoShop freaks and artists as an answer to the contests they launch every few days. This website offers all the inspiration I need! Now why did I not think of that earlier. Gosh! I'm not going to register as a submitter just yet, but I'll join the contests and see what I can come up with 
I've kicked off yesterday with the "Penguins 3" contest...
And why not order a book while I'm at it. Ghehe...
Edmond - Books -
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13 September 07 - 22:11Sobek CD and album art
Phhew! That is that!
The picture above did not end up on the album cover.
I've just finished the work on the CD cover album art for the new Sobek 'Awakening of a God' album. That was quite a challenge, I tell you!
These guys have finished recording, have mixed the master and the CD is ready for launch. Well, after the album art is ready for print, that is :) And now it is! I'm not going to reveal any of it until after the official launch.
Tomorrow, the CDROM with the graphics for the double printed booklet, the inlay, the back cover and the CD itself is shipped to the producer so he can arrange for it to go to the printers.
I'm pretty excited 'bout all this :)
Edmond - Photography -
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13 September 07 - 13:23A band apart
Well, that was quick! My folk-band project came to a sudden halt 2 days ago. :(
It has proven to be very difficult to allign the calendars of all the musicians. So difficult even that one of the band members decided to step back, because the effort that is put in is rather pointless when others have no time to rehears. I agree on that one. And with his departure, there is really no point in persuing this any further. And that's what I disagree on; when there are elements that slow down the project, you replace those elements. You do not cut out elements that are needed. So, I need to find people that do have time to rehears. Nevertheless, this whole 'crisis' sucks hairy monkey balls...
All is not lost just yet.
Edmond - Music -
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09 September 07 - 02:26Dragonboat race [upd]
The annual DragonBoat race and the "Pavlov Chicks" gave me this both ethically and photographically best picture of the day.
Right now, I'm off to bed. More will follow.
[Update] The rest of the photo's should be getting online on http://www.drakeboot.nl very soon.
Edmond - Photography -
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02 September 07 - 01:11WTF @ Zomerfeesten
At this point, the inner city is closed off by "the other police". They won't give any info. They just won't let anybody through. I barely managed to get to my house! The market square was rather panickly and quickly whiped clean. "Excuse me, but you will have to leave now". WTF???
This is freaky. Am I a sick fuck by enjoying this? As long as my house isn't TNT'd to oblivion, bring it on... (Egotistical Bastard, I am) 
[Update] Police dudes with guns and clubs are gone. Still don't know what the hell went on here.
In Gorinchem is altijd iets te doen...
Edmond - Misc -
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