I got to thinking about photos. I’ve been using an old 2.1-megapixel camera for the last few years, and while it’s sufficient for shooting pictures at the kid’s sporting events, it is not the best camera for capturing truly beautiful photos. It was time to update. I set out to find point-and-shoot in the 7+ megapixel range that is easy to handle, has a big zoom range, good image quality, and of course, works with Linux.

The first 2 cameras I looked at were the Canon SD-750, and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T100. Both are capable cameras, but each had drawbacks. The SD-750 is a bit small for my liking, and has a fairly low 3x optical zoom. The DSC-T100 fairs slightly better with a 5x optical zoom, but since I prefer to stick with SD memory card compatible cameras, Sony’s offerings drop right off the list.

I stumbled across a Ubuntu forum post that mentioned the Panasonic Lumix, and after reading several reviews, I became interested in the DSC-FZ8 with 12x optical zoom. While this camera is smaller than it’s traditional SLR counterparts, it is much larger than other cameras I had considered. Big drawback. Then I discovered the DSC-TZ3.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 is only slightly larger than the Canon and Sony cameras I tried, but actually feels much more comfortable in my hand. The DMC-TZ3 features 7.2-megapixel resolution, image stabilization, and a Leica DC lens with 10x optical zoom (15x Extended Optical Zoom). It uses SD memory and is accessible via USB as a mass storage device or PTP interface (good for Linux). The camera offers a host of other features too numerous to mention. I picked one up at Amazon for $329 (including a free 1GB High-speed SD memory card).

Impressions so far: Very nice camera. Easy to use; takes vivid, colorful photos; awesome zoom, with incredibly effective image stabilization; very fast burst mode (3fps) for action shots.

Drawbacks: Linux support (libgphoto as Panasonic DMC-FZ20) is so-so; access is best via PTP. Picasa (my preferred photo management application) does not capture EXIF information, but fortunately, Digikam does. So for now I will use Digikam to unload into my Picasa photo folders… small price to pay I guess.

I’ll post samples soon.

On a recent trip to San Francisco, I discovered the best soda ever — it’s called GuS. It’s slightly sweet, lightly flavored, and absolutely refreshing. I tried the Dry Meyer Lemon and was hooked… I couldn’t get enough! I can’t wait to try Dry Cranberry Lime.

One small problem, it’s not sold here in Oregon. The closest place listed on the GuS website is Whole Foods in Seattle. Hmm, I wonder if the store here can order it. Must find out.

Shortly after moving to Oregon in 2005, during what seemed like a season of change in nearly every area of my life, mitch’s meanderings began life. I switched to WordPress mostly because of the positive buzz surrounding the platform, but I also had a desire to learn PHP. The overall tone was much like my original blog, once again focusing mostly on technology.

I’m not sure exactly when it happened, but somewhere along the line, blogging stopped being fun. Finding the time, and even something I felt passionate enough to write about became a chore. Days between posts became months, and soon my blog was nothing more than an automated posting of del.icio.us links. Even that came to a stop late last year. It seems I was suffering from burnout, or as I like to call it, Blogout™.

But there’s change in the air. The sun has begun to shine, and once again I feel a desire to express myself online. The posts are beginning to spring forth, and I’m full of inspiration (or something). This time things will be different. Going forward, there will still be lots of technology related topics to discuss, but I also plan to include more about the things that are important to me (family, friends, church, music), and living life here in Portland.

So come on in. Make yourself comfortable. Let’s talk.

It used to be a rare occurrence that a message I sent didn’t make it to the intended recipient’s inbox because of some overly aggressive filtering. No more. It seems to be happening on a weekly (almost daily) basis now.

What happens when messages you originate no longer make it to the inbox, but instead are dumped into a Junk mail folder with dozens (or hundreds) of other messages? Is everyone diligent about routinely scanning through spam to make sure nothing is overlooked? How can you be sure it won’t be missed among so much garbage?

It’s all fun and games until your outgoing messages are lost.

In Another War We’re Not Winning: Us vs Spam, after learning how much spam hits the servers at O’Reilly, Dave Doughtery asks,

[Is] the situation as bad as I thought it might be? In short, the answer is yes, which only makes me wonder why more people aren’t talking about it.

Why aren’t people talking about it? Because we’ve accepted it.

The email inbox is one of the most accurate virtual instances of a real life object — the traditional mail box. Junk mail has always been part of the package, and we have all been perfectly willing to sort through coupons, advertisements, credit card applications, real estate ads, catalogues (from the store we bought something at years ago), and anything else our friendly postal carrier can stuff in the box. It’s just a fact of life. Why would email be any different?

I don’t think we’ve lost the war… I don’t think it was a war. We are simply faced with a reality that comes with almost every form of communication in a world where so many vie for our attention.

I still walk to my mail box every day, I still answer my phone, and even after filtering and sifting through the spam, I still read and respond to my email. And I know that there are smart people out there that will find ways to make email more reliable. While I realize that none of the solutions proposed so far have gained much acceptance or momentum, I think things will change. As Eric Allman summarized,

I still get junk phone calls, but the phone system is reasonably usable today. I think that spam can get to that level.

I agree.

There is no doubt the system needs work. Alternate forms of communication like IM, SMS will gain mind share and acceptance, but I still like to know “I’ve got mail”.

PS. Please check your inbox, I forwarded you an email from a Nigerian prince whose father has been dethroned but has some stock tips and a large amount of Viagra he’d like to get out of the country. I think we can help him.

I met David about 17 years ago. We worked together for several years, and our families became very close during that time. It wasn’t uncommon for Jennifer and I to spend weekends hanging out with David and Mary watching a movie, or enjoying the lake (link warning: cheesy music). For years, we vacationed together at Rock Creek in the summer, and Tahoe in the winter. We’ve watched our children grow up together. As far as my boys are concerned, he’s Uncle David.

We’ve had some truly memorable times (who can forget David’s Exploding BBQ Chicken™ dinner!?) In many ways, David and his brood are the only “family” I have. Sadly since we’ve moved apart, we don’t see, or talk as often as we should. I miss them all.

This clip is from David’s past adventures as station manager at TV45 in Lake Havasu. I guess the Internet makes everyone a celebrity.

Happy Birthday, David! See you guys in April?

Jobs cites figures regarding the number of iPods sold, and the number of songs sold through the iTunes store. Perhaps most interesting is the number of songs sold online, compared to the number of songs sold on CD. According to Jobs, the figures for 2006 are:

• < 2 billion songs sold online worldwide (with DRM)
• > 20 billion songs sold completely DRM-free on unprotected on CDs by the music companies themselves

If these figures are valid, DRM is protecting less than 10% of all the songs sold last year. There is absolutely nothing to stop anyone from ripping 90% of all the music sold last year into completely DRM-free tracks, and distributing them illegally. It appears that DRM has simply managed to make it more difficult to use and enjoy a small number of legally purchased songs.

Jobs talks about the practicality and impact of DRM in it’s current state, and some of the technical problems that come with developing and maintaining a DRM system. He outlines three possible alternatives going forward, but ultimately calls on the big music companies to “abolish” DRM, saying:

Imagine a world where every online store sells DRM-free music encoded in open licensable formats. In such a world, any player can play music purchased from any store, and any store can sell music which is playable on all players. This is clearly the best alternative for consumers, and Apple would embrace it in a heartbeat.

The big question is, why should the recording industry dump DRM? The simple answer according to Jobs is, because it doesn’t work. What benefits are gained from DRM? Jobs says:

There appear to be none. If anything, the technical expertise and overhead required to create, operate and update a DRM system has limited the number of participants selling DRM protected music. If such requirements were removed, the music industry might experience an influx of new companies willing to invest in innovative new stores and players. This can only be seen as a positive by the music companies.

If that’s the case, why does the recording industry continue to shove DRM down the throats of online distributors and consumers alike?

One can assume that the music companies look forward to a day when all music will be sold exclusively online. If the recording industry never backs down, and DRM becomes firmly rooted and accepted by the consumer, they will have greater control over distribution, and personal choice than ever.

I hope that doesn’t happen.

…the internet will be shut down for cleaning for twenty-four hours from midnight on March 31 through the early hours of April 2. This cleaning is necessary to clear out the “electronic flotsam and jetsam” that has accumulated in the network.

It’s a wonder my blog is still here.

There is no “undo” button when posting a comment to someone else’s weblog.

Stumbling upon a post offering what I thought was a bad piece of advice, I felt compelled to inflict my personal opinion on the site owner. While in a particularly bad mood, I posted a rebuttal through the host’s commenting system. The comment was impersonal, terse, and quite rude. The moment I pressed the “post” button, that little voice inside my head, whispered, “What a jerk!” (I’m not entirely sure that’s what the little voice said… I was trying to ignore it).

While checking my referrer logs, I noticed 2 visits from the site where I posted the comment. The site owner added two comments to the post, the first discounting my comment, and the second blasting my site for some apparent design flaws, and a violation of my own original “advice”. The tone of the comments was deservedly not flattering. I attempted to apologize, but found myself banned from the system (a first).

I officially regret posting the original comment, not because the post’s author attacked me, but because the comment’s tone and demeanor was out of character for me. The comment was not representative of who I am (I’d like to think), or how I wish to treat people.

Here’s what I learned:

• The Internet provides a level of anonymity, even when authoring a post or comment using your real name (which I always do). This impersonal communication medium can remove inhibitions, and emotional restraints that should prevent you from writing (saying) things you would not normally say to someone in person… especially someone you just met.

• Opinions are just that, opinions. And you know what they say about opinions… right? The exchange of ideas and opinions is relevant and productive. The Internet, and especially weblogs, are designed to foster community. Discussion does not have to be personal or inflammatory, even when expressing fact in the face of falsehood or error. Discussion can and should be kept civil and tactful.

• Check your bad mood at the door. Just because you are having a bad day, doesn’ t give you the right to ruin someone else’s. Consider how your feelings might affect what you are about to post in response to someone’s thought or ideas. Good advice for the real world too.

• Weblogs are not faceless, emotionless, unfeeling nodes in the cloud. Behind each weblog is a real, emotion rich, feeling person. The author often has poured out heart and soul into each post, carefully crafting and documenting a record of their own experiences, personal thoughts and feelings, or what they believe to be good advice. Be kind, be tactful, practice the Golden Rule. Don’t be a troll, especially when that is not your intention.

To the author of that original post: If by some chance you read this, please accept my sincere apology. If my stupidity and lack of restraint hurt your feelings, I am sorry; please forgive me.

To everyone else, remember:

There is no “undo” button when posting a comment to someone else’s weblog.