May 25, 2010: No every road can be shared between cars, trucks and bikes.
Driving back down Felton Empire rade Road after the Amgen bike race last week, I was thinking that this road isn't probably the best place riding your bike. The down hill has killed a couple of bike pilots in the last few years near the creek. A few weeks ago one inept cyclist tried to slide under a friends Range Rover scaring the hell out her. The downhill propels you to excessive speed and many spots under the trees are always wet. I was amazed at the many 2 wheelers without helmets. Is today's ride worth your life?
Worse are the appliance and furniture delivery trucks that try to use the road and end up 3 feet in my lane coming around the corner. Except for fire trucks, any thing longer than 20 feet should be banned from using Felton Empire Grade road entirely.
May 16, 2010: If you hang a camera around your neck, be kind to others with a camera or else.
Today at the De Anza Autocross, a young man stood in front of me while I was taking pictures. I waited a bit to let him get a few shots and then move on. It as obvious I was taking pictures. I had a 7D with a powerwinder and a 400mm lens. He looked at me a few times but didn't move on.
Since he must have wanted me to walk over, I did. I told him to move out of my shot. He called me a dick and a few other things. I insisted he move on. He was clueless and demonstrate my point, I stood in his way for a few of his shot attempts. I tried to explain that this was what he had been doing to me but he still didn't get it. He moved away cursing me but I managed to not pound his face in for his insults. I felt like Hancock at the end of the moviewhen Mike Epps is calling him an asshole. I saw him trying to get hit by a race car a bit later.
A few basic rules of autocross photography
Be safe. Don't stand to close to the course. Don't put your self where the car can hit you.
If you can't get close to your subject, buy a longer lens. It is cheaper than the hospital.
He who got there first gets the good spot.
Before you set up, make sure your spot doesn't ruin someone elses shot.
Don't stand in front of another photographer who is shooting with a camera in your hand or around your neck.
Be nice to an old guy. He probably knows more than you. He has been around forever after all.
April 6, 2010: Which Apple Ipad should you buy? My recommendation is the 3G Ipad.
I like the idea of an Apple Ipad. I think I would really enjoy it but right now, I wait. If I was going to pluck my money down right now, I would buy the 3G version that comes out in June. The Wi-Fi Ipad sold 300,000 units on Saturday. Those people think they will never wat to connect to the cell network. The main reason people are foregoing the 3g is probably the bad press AT&T network gets from pissed off Iphone users.
The Wi-Fi Ipad will require a $20 a month connection to use the AT&T hotspots outside your house. The 3G Ipad can connect for $15 for 250mb of data over the cell network. They throw in the wi-fi hotspots the Wi-Fi Ipad users pay $20 a month for. If you need more data, the unlimited data plan is $30 with the hotspots included. No contract is required for either 3G hookup. Sign up and use it while you are on vacation and then cancel it. No problem.
If you buy the Wi-Fi Ipad, you only get the AT&T hotspot plan or your own wi-fi at home. I think the better choice is the 3G Ipad for the extra $130. It give you more options. You can take them or leave them as you like. In the interest of full disclosure, I use Apple's Macbook Pro and an Ipod Touch. I don't have an Iphone because I use Verizon. I also think the recent Wall Street Journal article is wrong. Verizon won't get the Apple Iphone until 4G LTE rolls out.
March 15, 2010: Small Business Blues - My first bad check.
A customer from my wife's womens leads group has given me a bad check. I gave her a smoking deal on my services and she stiffed me. She wanted me to order her a new battery for her computer and I gave her a great deal on the other work. The battery for her computer cost me $170 out of pocket and now the bank dinged me for $15. I think the bank should give me the money and overdraw her account. If she doesn't pay up, I guess I will have to take her to court.
January, 11, 2010: Air Travel - Security Theater performances at the Airport
I hate to fly these days. I can or can't carry stuff on today? Do we get a meal? Will it be edible? Do I have to pay to check a bag? Why wasn't the bag fee in the ticket price so it can be fairly compared? Will there be any leg room? I always want the bulkhead or emergency exit row for the extra bit of leg room.
Mostly, it's because of the Kabuki Theater perpetrated on all of us since Sepember 11, 2001. It's not all of TSA checkpoint men I have encountered but it's too many of you TSA guys. Did some folks who couldn't get a job as a security guard get hired at the TSA airport checkpoint? Could we get some customer service and counter terrorist profiling education? The Thugish Act doesn't make anyone safer. Everyone would be better off if the TSA personnel were nice and chatted everyone up. Are you not allowed to help us get through smoothly?
We the People are not the enemy. We live here and don't want 9-11 to happen ever again, anywhere. Over 8 years later, the national security apperatus failed again in the case of the underwear bomber who wears fruit of the lunatic. Since that isn't working, wouldn't we be safer if we had our knitting needles, scissors and pocket knives? Wouldn't it make easier for US citizens to take down any terrorist highjackers and prevent any more airliners being used as bombs? Another thing, if you make the people takeoff their shoes, you need to provide benches or rails to lean against when trying to quickly put your shoes back on.
My 93 year old grandmother had to take her shoes off. She needs help to put them back on and they wouldn't let us help her. We didn't have boarding passes. She says it's too much trouble for her to come back again. I drove to Portland and back for Thanksgiving rather than fly. It's 11 hours or so each way. It was really nice to see Grandmother again. She is 95 now. We were at the restaurant when my aunt Barb pulled up and helped her out of the car and to the door. She grabbed my arm and I walked her inside. Then she turned to see whose arm she had. Her glance quickly went from my went from my face, to my wife and then her oldest daughter, my mom. We hadn't told her we were coming and boy was she surprised.
January 8, 2010: People actually read this stuff?
A new customer mentioned that he read my blog. He has a two Prius family and he knows where his gas pedal is. He also enlightened me about not all Prius's drivers being slow pokey for no apparent reason. Of course, he right. He had to mention it because of what I wrote in November. Reading those words today, it does seem a bit hyperbolic and I might even be slightly embarassed of how frustrated I let myself get. I dislike spending any more time on the road than really necessary. I have seen several hybrids that seem to capable of driving like most other cars on the road. Blaming all Prius drivers is like saying all Datsun 510 drivers are manics. Oh, but that IS true. Happy New Year, Everyone.
December 5, 2009: Visit to bird refuges near Los Banos with Cabrillo College
This trip was lead by for Fish and Game Supervisor Bruce Elliott. We went to the Los Banos and San Luis National Widlife Refuges. The star was the bald eagle that flew over while we were eating lunch. We saw white tailed kite, marsh harrier, bald eagle, golden eagle, coyote, tule elk, sand hill cranes, ross island geese, shovelers, pintail, and various teal ducks.
November 19: UFO Party planning
I have delivered the first half of the autocross awards photos to Peggy. She already printed the first half of the trophy photos for the Awards Celebration. I won't make that part of the party but I will be there later.
November 18: Driving a Prius doesn't make you St Pius of Toyota.
Why can't you drive in the right lane when you want to drive speed limit on Highway 17? Today it was city streets with really old guy. He was in a white prius driving 20 mph in a 30. I think it was because he was too busy looking me in the mirror instead of where he is going. I can tolerate 25-28 but not 20. That is too fricking slow. I hope someone gives this Prius man a stern chat or ticket. I got places to be.
Daily there seems to be someone trying show the rest of us how much better they think they are by slowing down the rest of the traffic. I remember a bumper sticker that said it right: lead, follow or get out of the way.
The roads I use are clogged enough without the daily Pius slowing down even more when anyone gets close. And then they wonder why you are on their butt. If your not driving a black and white car with a star on the door, get over yourself.It's not always possible, but you should move right sometime in the next 1/2 mile. The law is slower traffic keeps right or moves over when faster traffic approaches. The faster car won't put up with you for too long. Do you really need to make them force thier way by? If you let them go, they will be the first on to where the cops are waiting.
November 13: A Local Government Funding idea
Mike, this one is for you. My neighbor still has a Florida plate and he has been here almost 10 years. It's the second car he has had here. I see hundreds of out of state plates here. They can't all be vacationers.
My Idea: The police scan in every out of state plate they can. The way to do it is using system similar to the red light cameras. Scan plates as the vehicles pass though the busiest intersections in town. When an out of state vehicle is recorded to be here more than 30 days, ticket should be issued automatically to the register owners. If not paid, they can impound the vehicle and maybe arrest the driver. A few tickets may be get dismissed but most won't. What would their defense be? Ignorance isn't defense.
If you kids go to school here, you live here or have a job here, you are a California resident. Residents need to pay for a California license plate and drivers license within 30 days of arrival in the state. It will help the school's budget if you pay your fair share.
November 8: UFO Autocross Series for 2009 is done.
Its all over but the final scoring. UFO Autocross Series has been completed for another year. About 150 drivers enjoyed 4 laps on a beautiful day in Marina Airport. 40 drivers stayed until the end and took 4 more funs. We had the trailer packed and were ready to got by 4:30. It is the first event in quite a while when the wind didn't attempt to blow us off the place. The pictures should be in the gallery Tuesday afternoon.
I have been taking photos of all the autocrossers at the events I was able to attend for three years. Most autocrossers tell how me how much they love the photos. A few of you have supported me by purchasing a disk of photos or a print. I would like to thank each of you. You are the reason I kept going. Eventually, reality has take over.
As I think about next year, I'm afraid I will need limit my efforts to a couple of events. The sad news is the autocross photography revenue hasn't reached the level to support expenses. I spend money on gas, disk space and processing a thousand or more pictures for each event. Even if I throw in the shooting the photos for free. As I said, it seems to be my reality.
October 31
This was the weakest trick or treat crowd in the last 10 years. Usually there were at least 40 visitors. We usually give away toys or the glow-in-the-dark necklaces. This year we had some candy too. Only 12 kids came buy.
September 4 You are supposed to be driving now.
I am getting tired of following people who still holding a cell phone to their ear. Not every road is phone friendly. You should not be making calls on Felton Empire Grade, Mt Charlie Road or similar roads. In the car, your first job is to drive the car.
Your phone has voicemail and your life should be more important than a call. If you insist on talking, you need a headset. It's been almost 2 years since the law. Local Santa Cruz manufacturer, Plantronics makes wired and bluetooth headsets for every cell phone.
If drivers don't use headsets, the next step will be to ban using the phones in the car. They will just have the carrier turn off phones moving above walking speed.
Don't pull over on the side of the highway to use you phone. Pull off at the next exit. The life you save might be your own.
Texters take your eyes off the road for 4 or more seconds at a time. A lot can happen in 4 seconds at 60 miles an hour. You moved 265 feet foward. Did that just ladder fall off the truck in front of you while you were texting?