tow.com

I’ve been meaning to write about some work that I’ve done which has been published recently. The September, 2001 issue of TPL Entertainment, a Colorado periodical, published a photograph from my Drug Bust! Photojournal. The panorama shot outside my house was taken one April night when I spied this apparent drug bust. I got an email from the editor a couple of months ago with a request to use one of my pictures for an upcoming article on substance abuse. How could I say no to that?

I also wrote the foreword for the recently published book on web development for Palm-powered handhelds, Palm OS Web Application Developer’s Guide. A few years ago, I started a guide of my own on web clipping development, something I have yet to complete; due to my current schedule, it’s not one of my priorities to complete these days. That being said, the guide that Ben Combee and team have produced is an excellent means to learn how to develop web-based applications for Palm-powered handhelds. I wrote in the foreword that many of the techniques that you’ll learn will also apply to designing applications for the next generation suite of Internet-connected mobile devices.

The foreword was fun to write, although there was the pressure of the deadline to make things interesting at the end. There’s something about being out there in the public’s eye, whether it’s in print or in digital 1’s and 0’s on a computer display. I rather like the feeling, however ego-centric that might sound. In a society that often tells people to stick to one thing for 40 years, I’m thankful that I have developed other options that I can pursue. Stepping on the proverbial soapbox, I encourage people to foster and cultivate those talents and interests that aren’t utilized in the day-to-day upkeep of their careers. One day, you might find out that it’s those extracurricular activities which are more interesting than the career. For many, however, the difficult thing is figuring out how to turn them into a profitable business center! Therein lies the rub.

On Monday night, Vienna came by my place for dinner and conversation. After a scrumptious meal of Ma Po Tofu, we set up my videocamera and conducted a great interview. I’m in the process of compiling and editing the video footage of Vienna. When it’s done, you’ll find it on the Official Vienna Teng Fan Club Web Site!

It was a pleasure talking with Vienna. Hearing her insight on her songs and modus operandi was invaluable. I really do get a kick out of talking with ultra-talented and motivated people like her. It makes me feel like anything is possible if you put your mind to it. Heh, it reminds me of a quote that I found on the web from MacGyver. Click here to hear my childhood hero!

On Tuesday, I played the role of the company photographer, taking some portrait shots of some Palm employees, including Greg Arnold, Julie Morrison, and Bob Harvey. I used a gray card to set the white balance of the camera before shooting them in the shade. Under auto white balance, they would have come out looking a little blue, but with a custom setting, they looked great.

I wish that I had shot Bob against the background of the foliage. The way the 50mm blurred the background foliage in the photos of Greg and Julie at f/1.4 was really quite attractive.

Finally, on Wednesday night, I stayed at home, watching Enterprise on UPN while eating some spicy garlic eggplant and pork dish. I periodically switched between Enterprise and the A’s and Yankee’s game on FOX. Will the Bronx Bombers make it four straight Worlds Series this year? I think that I saw Donald Trump sitting behind home plate with an attractive brunette by his side. Anyone else catch that one? it seemed at times that he was more interested in hearing his own voice (or the woman) than the game!

At any rate, that’s what’s been in the news for me lately… as Winnie is fond of saying on her entries, “I’m out.”