Blog : February 2007

Hope

Some things are going to change around here.

I'm happy to say that I have reason not to lose all hope in humanity just yet. As I was getting my mail this afternoon I noticed a kid that was walking down our street turn to walk up a neighbor's walkway. Knowing the kid didn't live in this particular house I watched to see what he was going to do.

Turns out, he noticed the little old lady of the house struggling to remove her mail from the mailbox. He walked up the stairs, asked if she needed help, helped her free the mail and handed it to her. She thanked him heartily and he continued on his walk.

I felt silly for not having seen the little lady myself, but also was able to smile at the good deed that I had just witnessed.

Simulation

I have been a fan of flight simulators and racing simulators for as long as there has been a computer in my house. I can remember playing an early version of Microsoft's Flight Simulator in the late 80's/early 90's on an IBM PC XT. I think this might have something to do with my interest in scale models, but being able to take it one step further and be in control of the action.

Lately I have found myself addicted to downloading updates and add-ons for Flight Simulator 2005. It's a whole lot of fun to enhance the realism of an airport and surrounding areas, or to load up a huge military aircraft that I can't fathom every having the opportunity to ride in real life.

As for racing, I haven't been engaged in any one game in recent months, but spent plenty of hours on Gran Turismo 1 & 2 for Playstation 1. I recently downloaded the demo of GTR 2, and have previously completed Need for Speed: Underground. The problem I have with racing simulators is the control interface. With Gran Turismo I got pretty good at using the control pad and analog joysticks. But it seems the real way to go with these games is to splurge and get a bonafide racing simulator wheel.

After reading many reviews on these control interfaces, it seems that the only way to do it right is to spend hundreds of dollars. After getting into photography as a "cheap hobby"...I'm not so sure this is a safe thing to be considering!

An Open Letter

Dear Everyone in Chicago,

I don't give a crap about football. It is not polite to assume that I do. Therefore, do not ask me if I "watched the game last night" and do not tell me "we'll get'em next year" when you are taking my money at the drive-thru window. I simply do. not. give. a. crap.

Sincerely,

bcj.

Nude or Not?

What is it with models on portfolio web sites stating in their profiles that they don't do nudes, but then include a plethora of nudes in their portfolio?!?!?

Weather Man

Holy no thank you, Batman!

Stop.Motion

It's not a photo, but rather a bunch of photos. And it's not really a video, but then again it is. So does it belong in the Photoblog or here? I'm choosing here!

This was part of the shoot I did with Ann Marie:

This American Scam

I'm a fan of This American Life on Chicago Public Radio. I have been following their Podcast religiously since they made it available for free late last year.

Last week I read on Gapers Block that This American Life is putting on a live show at the The Chicago Theatre on March 1. Very exciting! Well, it was exciting until I shopped tickets on TicketBastard. No, I won't even bother linking to them.

On a $47.50 ticket for main floor seating, row G, I would also be charged a $2.50 "Building Fee" as well as a $10.50 "Convenience Charge." That's great, a $47.50 ticket turns into $60.50. Make that for 2 people and I'm out $121.

Ok, I can play that game. What about a balcony seat for $15? That'll be $2.50 and $9.50, please. Fees that equal 80% of the ticket price?!?!? My $15 tickets turn into $27.

What a racket. I'm currently opting out of the show. If the face value of the ticket is the price I'm paying, sure, I'd go. But when I feel like I'm being bent over and violated by "service fees"...no thanks.

There's a small chance I'll show up at the box office to try to get tickets at the ticket price without fees, but something tells me that this show will sell out. Either that or they'll still charge the fees at the box office since they may have to run all of their inventory through TicketBastard.

New Wallpaper

New wallpaper posted featuring Ann Marie. Get it here.

Gallery Update

Posted one new pic in the Photoblog and a handful of new pics in the Gallery from a recent shoot with Ann Marie. Concept of the candy bondage was hers, execution was a team effort.

Click here to view the latest uploads to the photo gallery.