Influences

Photosynth

The Photosynth Technology Preview is a taste of the newest - and, we hope, most exciting - way to view photos on a computer. Our software takes a large collection of photos of a place or an object, analyzes them for similarities, and then displays the photos in a reconstructed three-dimensional space, showing you how each one relates to the next.

In our collections, you can access gigabytes of photos in seconds, view a scene from nearly any angle, find similar photos with a single click, and zoom in to make the smallest detail as big as your monitor.

This one rates very high on the "Wow" Meter!

Google Maps with Real Time Traffic

Google Maps shows real-time information about traffic for many US cities (like Portland). To see this, switch to the map or hybrid mode and click on the new traffic tab. Google Maps will add a layer that colors the roads in green, yellow, red, or gray.

Crosswinds

An Amazing Scam!

Interesting

A Ventriloquist Act

Sirius, XM Agree To Merger Valued At $13 Billion

In the proposed $13 billion deal -- which they'd like to go down by the end of the year but which still must pass rather daunting regulatory scrutiny and opposition from such heavyweights as the National Association of Broadcasters -- investors would get 4.6 shares of Sirius stock for each share of XM, with current Sirius CEO Mel Karmazin and XM Chairman Gary Parsons retaining those roles, respectively, in the combined entity (whose name has yet to be decided). As you might imagine, the companies are already trying to spin this as a big win for everyone from Martha Stewart on down, arguing that consumers will end up benefiting from more programming choices and better hardware, manufacturers and retailers will see increased sales, and of course shareholders would gain value through the economies of scale and elimination of redundancies realized from a merger. The new pals also took an opportunity to sneak in a mention about the growing number of choices consumers have for receiving audio content, from old school AM/FM to internet radio to the the still-nascent technologies of cellphone streaming and HD radio, clearly hoping to sway public opinion on that whole anti-trust thing. Still, keep in mind that the FCC is gonna be taking a long, hard look at this one -- in fact, current regulations would need to be changed in order for the merger to gain approval -- so don't get your celebratin' started just yet.

Gearing Up For Grilling!

Bring on the sun! As we were moving into the house in July last year we noticed a plug in the garage with a label on it that said Freezer. (We're just glad it didn't say bulldozer or airplane!) We have finally made the plug happy and purchased a Chest Freezer. Our plan is to fill it will well marbled meat for the BBQ and anything else we would like to keep really cold.

Wildcard

Deep.

Google Cheat Sheet

This two page Google Cheat Sheet lists all Google services and tools as well as background information. The Cheat Sheet offers a great reference to grasp of basic to advance Google query building concepts and ideas.

Big Wave!

Mad Intersection

Drink Too Much?

Converging Lines to Enhance Your Photography

When framing a landscape shot one of the types of environmental features that many photographers look for an like to incorporate in their shots is converging lines.

We’ve talked previously about how lines have the potential to add interest to an image - but add numerous lines that come together (or close together) and you have yet another tool to lead your viewers eye into a shot.