The Nick Baker Report

A Hiatus Explained

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:03:00 GMT

It's been a while since I blogged here. Chalk it up to several factors, including business at work, a job search, etc. But I notice when looking at the archives that the last time I had a blank month was September 2006. That's the month my relationship with Christine was really getting underway. It seems that whenever my personal life gets really interesting, the blogging falters. Well, it's happened again - I'm getting married! I proposed to Christine on 6/7/08 and she said yes! We put it out on Facebook last week, so it's official. That blank month on the archives used to bug me, but now that another blank month bookends our courtship, I can't say that I mind at all.

June 26, 2008 @ 4:03 pm [comment] [link]

Custom Tone Curves

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:47:00 GMT

I finally got around to installing a custom tone curve for my Nikon D70, and I could see the difference immediately. My only complaint about my camera was that reds often popped too much, and this custom curve fixes that, while nudging up the exposure and without blowing out the highlights.

Now to have some fun with HDR...

April 28, 2008 @ 4:47 pm [comment] [link]

Flight in Washington

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 16:51:00 GMT

On my last day at Computers in Libraries I was treated to a sight of a presidential-looking helicopter. Or actually, a series of helicopters. I caught a picture of the last one...

more...

April 12, 2008 @ 12:51 pm [comment] [link] [more]

Stencil Art Comes to Williamstown

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:43:00 GMT

This is the first stencil art I've seen in Williamstown, at the corner of Main Street and Cole Ave. I wondered if I would ever see any around here.

March 19, 2008 @ 11:43 am [comment] [link]

Once More Into The Breach!

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:34:00 GMT

I'm fascinated by this story that Prince Harry has been serving secretly in Afghanistan. I love those Brits! It's like Henry V and Kipling rolled into one, and it definitely puts this Onion article in a new light.

One paragraph stood out:
The defense ministry said in a statement that although Harry had been expected to remain in Afghanistan for a few more weeks with his unit from the Household Cavalry Regiment Battlegroup, "the situation has now clearly changed." As a result, the chief of the defense staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, had decided "to withdraw Prince Harry from Afghanistan immediately," the ministry said.
Wait, their chief of defense is named Sir Jock Stirrup? I love those Brits!

February 29, 2008 @ 10:34 am [comment] [link]

Lunar Eclipse

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 14:37:00 GMT

We were treated to a lunar eclipse last night, and I got some decent shots with my Nikon on very long exposure. The moon is a bit fuzzy, but it was moving after all.

more...

February 21, 2008 @ 10:37 am [comment] [link] [more]

I Can Has President?

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 02:56:00 GMT

Inspired by lolcats and political news...

Go Barack! Change we can believe in.

January 29, 2008 @ 10:56 pm [comment] [link]

Yay for Evolution

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:47:00 GMT

"Studying evolution has changed the way I look at nature. For knowing that all of us - oak trees and venus fly traps, starlings and brush turkeys, humans and sea urchins, not to mention bacteria harvesting light from the glowing vents at the bottom of the sea - are the products of the same ancient forces is something that brings me enormous pleasure, awe and a sense of peace. As I have learned more about other organisms, I have come to regard them (and us!) with increasing amazement and delight." -Olivia Judson

I have similar feelings after watching Blue Planet: Seas of Life. If you understand evolution, it only makes life on this planet more amazing and beautiful. Unfortunately, it appears that we're in the middle of a mass extinction. Hopefully it's not too late to change course.

January 23, 2008 @ 8:47 pm [comment] [link]