Ben Laden

I sat in The Atlanta Bread restaurant this morning waiting for class to begin at 9:00. It's easier to leave for work at 6:20 a.m. and hang out at the local coffee shop than fight the traffic and arrive just before it starts. So I now have plenty of time.

I took this shot of the rising sun and restaurant interior while having my bear claw and coffee. I use the time to study Chinese on my notebook.

But now class is over. It's been a long week here, sitting, listening, and eating. I'm ready for my desk job.

My instructor is one of the best I've ever had in my professional career. He was funny, engaging, knowledgeable, and honest. A truly entertaining guy. And that's what you have to be if you are going to hold people's attention for a week of software classes.

He's always telling some story and I'd think: What's THAT got to do with the class? But in some way he'll tie it in.

But the most interesting story, if not saddest, was one of about 20 stories about his name.

He plays in a band and often goes down to New Orleans to play the clubs. He plays the blues on accordion. Yeah, I know, kind of a strange instrument. But I guess it's the greatest thing. This year they are going down to play the Marti Gras and after passing the hat, will contribute all the proceeds to the Katrina victims.

Anyway, back when he started his band he'd do an internet search on his name and would always appear at the top. Usually on page two you'd learn about some guy that was a weapons dealer named Bin Laden. (Notice that even though the instructor spells his name differently, it's still a match using the search engines.)

After 9/11 that all changed. Now Bin Laden shows up on the top pages and Ben Laden appears somewhere on page 1800.

After the attack he got phone calls every night at 4:00 a.m. threatening his family. Some crackpot wanting to vent would call for weeks. Ben would call the police but they all thought it was a joke. Even today, some four years later, his wife got a similar call while he was away in Atlanta teaching class. It shakes her up a bit.

Ben has even changed his name to Benjamin Laden but that doesn't seem to help.

Crazy people.

...dave
Some mornings it's just not worth gnawing through the straps.

More Technical Classes

Since the Enterprise is investing millions in packaged software, I went online, found some classes, and got myself registered for a SAP class. (Note: Each letter is said S...A...P NOT "sap" as in the tree goo.)

I was able to find a class nearby so I didn't have to arrange air travel. I like driving to class instead of packing up and doing the airport/hotel thing. That way I'm home for dinner with the fam. I like that.

Anyway, the class is in a fantastic facility. A beautiful geometric building that looks like a huge Japanese folding screen hosts an entire training center. There is a fountain out front with ducks and ponds. The lobby is marble, glass and brass. (I tried my hand at some simple sketches at lunch.)

The SAP instructors and their students fly from as far as the center of Canada and others from across the states. The education center provides breakfast and lunch. Lots of rolls, bagels, fruit, yogurt, and of course, coffee, lots and lots of coffee is provided.

It's hard to sit through these things. One full week of instruction, listening to the instructor drone on about where to place your cursor, what button to push, and what menu option will give you more details in your window tray. Arrggggghhhh.

But I listen intently, taking notes on my large work journal. I really try to focus, stay engaged, and ask intelligent questions like: "Where's the bathroom?"

And that's all I do at break, put fluids in and let fluids out.

During class yesterday I did kind of zone. I noticed how the water in my water bottle reflected dark sharp edges adjacent to brilliant white highlights. And then something took over. I tried to get back to the class but then it happened. I started to draw my water bottle. I hate when that happens. My left brain tries to focus and then suddenly my right takes over. It wants to get spacial on me.

I zone out for several minutes while I draw the bottle, including the water droplets at the top. Then I hear the instructor say: "Okay, looks like you guys need a break. Let's take 15 minutes and you can go outside and watch the ducks poop on the lawn."

Sounds like fun. Let's go!

...dave
I tried to contain myself but was able to escape.

Blogging by the Chiminea

I guess sane folks don't sit out on the back porch in 50 degree weather. But we have stoked up our Chiminea and are warmed by it.

It's nice and toasty here by the fire, but I have to get real close. I'm sipping my Rex Goliath Merlot (now my standard everyday wine) and Ruth is sipping her peach ginger tea. Life is good now. You've got to enjoy the snatches of happiness as they come along.

I just tossed another log into the fire to heat things up a little. Now I don't have to sit right on top of the side opening. I think that the Chiminea should have a couple of more openings around it's sides so people can sit in a ring around the fire. Then you could see the warm glow of the fire reflected in their faces. It would be like sitting around a real camp fire.

The folks across the way must think we're nuts.

There are about twenty trees in our backyard. The back slopes down to a small stream and then an incline starts up the other side meeting rows of homes on the back side of our loop.

The homes across the way smile at us through their incandescent windows interrupted by black vertical silhouettes of tree lines. It always reminds me of a broad smile coming across the way.

The fire from the Chiminea is strong now. The flames lick up through the top. Maybe I shouldn't have tossed in the additional log. I'm backing away. My notebook is getting warm.

...dave
Go to bed by your fireplace and you'll sleep like a log.

Super cool lens

Just bought a 12-24mm lens for the D70. Wow! You could take pictures from inside a thimble! This is basically a 18mm on a regular 35mm camera. Most 35s come with a 50mm (which is like the "normal" eye).

I've always liked wide angles. It gives me a feeling of being there. I feel as though I'm right in the middle of the action.

The National Geographic photographers use a lot of wide angle lenses. You'll see an image of a guy in a row boat or people in a tight Italian street or cafe. THAT was taken by a wide. You can't shot a picture from the bow of a rowboat with any "normal" lens. It needs a wide. The wides give a feeling of intimacy.

Anyway I thought I'd upload a few images taken tonight to give a feel for the lens. This will be a great lens for the China trip. There are so many people there and lots of crowds. Should come in handy.

...dave
Yikes! In just two days, tomorrow will be yesterday!

Macro Pics

Here are some macro shots using my new D70 and a reversed 20mm Nikkor lens.

The first image is of the threads on a bolt. The others are of a quarter. If you click on the photo, you'll be able to see scratches on the quarter.

There is special mounting hardware you can get for your SLR that will allow you to reverse your lens. The wider the lens the larger the image. This lens allows me to get 12x the image size. In other words, if you lay the quarter on the film it would be 12 times the size.

With macro photography you'll need plenty of light and a small f-stop. The depth of field is narrow.

This would work for some good bug photos, as long as they are dead. I can't imagine a bug staying around long enough for me to set up the light and tripod.

It's amazing what new things you can see with a macro.

...dave

More Drawings

Some truly spectacular drawings. Click on any archive and take a look for yourself.

Whoa!

...dave

Journal Sketching

I've been on this kick lately, not sure how long it will last, of putting sketches into my journals. I might have mentioned it before?

It doesn't take much time but it calms the nerves. Not that I need to calm my nerves or anything. It's preventative medicine that's all. At least, that's what my therapist tells me.

I've always said I'm in the wrong field. If the left brain controls cognitive thinking and the right spacial, then I'm a right-brain guy stuck in a left-brain job. Of course, all I do is draw software architecture diagrams. Does that count?

Danny Gregory talks about his job in New York City as an Art Director and how sketching changed his life (or saved it, depending on how you look at it.) He sounds like he didn't make the switch but just found time in his daily schedule to sketch more. Now, years later, he has journals and sketchbooks lined along his book shelves. They are rich in color and depth. Although he claims he sketches to "get lost in the moment" he still enjoys going back and reliving his experiences through his sketches and journals.

...dave
Magnets are great for space travel because you can like, play chess on the moon and stuff.

Street Art

This is like street art you have NEVER seen. Check out rense.com.

Wow!

...dave
Rain is snow that shovels itself.

Sketching

Been doing lots of sketching these days. I bought a blank journal, a real blank journal, one without lines. So this year I'm writing and sketching. I'll post some pics later. For now you'll find these sites interesting:

Instead of a picknic, how about a SketchCrawl?

No? Well, how about these journals? Here's one by Rozworks and Danny Gregory. He's got a book out too which looks interesting.

...dave
I'm not afraid of death. What's it going to do? Kill me?