Moon

Moon – from telescope

Originally uploaded by avclub.

Last night, Gardner and I used his telescope. He got it for Christmas, but I’ve discovered that locating anything other than a street light is a bit difficult, especially with a 3-year-old running into it every so often.

But last night, we lucked out. The moon was in the perfect position over the house so that we could site on the back patio and not contort ourselves to hit it. And it was a beautiful crescent… not too bright, just enough detail.

This shot was taken through the telescope’s eyepiece, with my iPhone. Tonight, I should pull out my nicer camera and give it a shot again. Who knows, maybe this can become my new hobby?

Feeling Sick? Stay Home

The New York Times Blog has an article on staying home versus going to work when you are sick. I know the funky is going around; this article brings out some good points.

You will recover faster, you won’t infect your coworkers (and therefore cost your company more time / money, and you run less risk of picking it back up yourself). So, don’t be glorious, use those sick days. I’m preaching to the crowd of one right here… I’m the worst at doing this.

RADIOHEAD Live Tour Dates

RADIOHEAD Live Tour Dates are now announced for the first leg of their US tour. Fortunately for me, Atlanta and Charlotte are in that first leg. Tickets go on sale tomorrow, and general sales begin on February 16.

My question to you concert goers out there… which is a better venue? Verizon Wireless in Charlotte or Lakewood Amphitheater in Atlanta? I can be convinced to go to either.

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Photo review

It’s been a fun past few weeks. Here’s a very incomplete photo review:

We helped DJ move
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Gardner has mastered the iPhone
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Chip painted our production hallway
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Rainey is a princess
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Gardner has devised a system of bungee cords to create a seatbelt system for his Cozy Coupe
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IKEA

I love this new campaign from IKEA. Check out The Complete Bedroom.

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DIY Photographic Emulsion

If you want to get “back to the organic,” try this photographic technique. What with the Polaroid announcement and all, maybe this will satisfy some.

Unleash questions

So, Unleash 2008 is nearly upon us. It looks to be a fun one. I’m pretty jacked to be leading a video / motion graphics breakout this year. I’ll follow in the steps of my buddy Alden and ask “What would you like to see covered?” You may submit your question ideas as a comment, or use the the contact form if you’re shy. The general scope will be in the content creation realm, but I’m sure we can bleed over into other closely related areas as well.

Fire away.

YouWorkForThem Valentine’s Mix

YouWorkForThem puts out Mike Cina’s Valentine’s Day mix. I haven’t listened to it yet (it’s currently downloading), but I look forward to checking it out.

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Also, as a side note, I have some other Hulu buddies with invites out there free for the taking. Let me know, and I’ll get you hooked up.

The Theory of Clothing Displacement

I devised this theory back in December 1995 when I returned from my first semester at Clemson. The theory goes like this:

“Upon leaving a permanent living space [ie., your parents' house] a large gap is left where your now traveling possessions resided. Typically, this space was held by clothing, CDs, and some other personal items. After a duration, I theorize that the empty space reaches an equilibrium and the remaining items [ie., clothing] in the room fill in that once empty void. This theory is proven upon return, [ie., Christmas vacation] whereby you find that the items you bring back with you from college, those items that previously fit into the room, no longer have a place.”

I saw this theory played out every time I moved into and out of a dorm or apartment. It was really quite amazing. I think it may be linked to my pack rat tendencies.

Stuck Open

We began the Stuck series this weekend. The opener was a fun one; melancholy, and the summation of our team’s collaborative efforts. I definitely think the tone works well for the message Perry’s teaching. (plus it features some great Will Rodes photography, Blankenship typography, Coleman rotoscoping, and NewSpring staff beautiful faces… all looking sad and dejected).

Stuck_Open (Quicktime)

Hulu

Heeeey…. guess whaaaa-aat? I have 10 Hulu invites, free to the first 10 commenters.

Psst… Ben has a few extra invites.

springlets

Found a nice little iPhone assastant called springlets (springlets.com). Go have a look, iPhone buddies.

iPhone SDK

So, I’ve very exited about the possibility of the iPhone SDK releasing this month (letter from Steve). What about you, fellow iPhone / iPod Touch users? What apps are you most looking forward? I’m already making my list (and Google docs / contacts / calendar sync is at the very top)

Your first Google

I don’t know what prompted this, but do you remember your first Google? As ubiquitous as Google has become in our life, I wonder if people remember where they were, when it was, and what they first searched on Google. Also, do you remember the search engine you left to join Google?

Me, it was 1999 (or maybe 1998, but that seems a touch too early). I was in college, attending North Anderson Baptist Church, and serving as a volunteer on in Perry’s youth group. There was this student named Charlie Webb. I was teaching him to play guitar each week, and he offhandedly mentioned it one day.

“Oh, you use Lycos? Hmm. I started using this thing called Google.”
“huh? Google? How to you spell that?”

After that, I went home, tried it that night. I don’t remember what I searched for, but I’m pretty sure I found it.

What about you?
- First time you used Google
- Where you heard about it
- What was your previous search engine (I’m assuming you’re all Google exclusive, might not be the case)
- What was your first search

Lowerground

Incredible, colorful, saturated. I love the reel from Lowerground.

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Stuck in process

So, what are you doing today? Me, I’m putting the finishing gloss on the Stuck open. (view it on Flickr).

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album art

I want to get in on Ben’s album art fun. Here’s my contribution.

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Hey, make your own. Here are the rules.

Brain Rot

Zenhabits posts 11 Ways To Expand Your Mind And Recover From Brain Rot.

What about you, what are some ways you defeat brain rot? I’m trying a few this year, maybe we’ll call them resolutions. Maybe they’re just “stuff I do.” First, I’m sketching more. My plan is 365/365. One sketch per day. They’re all numbered. I”m about 10-11 into the process right now, but I didn’t start until mid-January so I’m not that far behind. I’ll start filing them into an online sketchbook as I get time. Expect that to happen in batches.

Also, I’m really pushing myself to read more this year. It’s not a stretch for some people, but I’m looking to take down a minimum of six books this year. Some fiction, some non fiction, but it all needs to stretch me either spiritually, as a husband and father, or creatively. I’ll let you know how it goes.

What about you, how are you fighting brain rot?

The End, and a theory

Here’s a creative photoset of “The End” screens from various movies right here. It’s further proof that anything (1) with a common link, (2) but each individual, and (3) existing in a large enough quantity becomes interesting. Could that define a “collection?”

This brings up a thought I’m considering. As my life has progressed, I find myself theorizing. You know, “hey, I have a theory that cats will… in the air… only when the moon is full… when being tracked by a shotgun…” That’s just an example, but you get the idea. Usually, my theory is based on a real world observation, then expounded upon by my brain. Many of you may do this. I find myself saying those words, “I have a theory.”

And that’s where this begins. Would it be an interesting experiment to begin a Theories of Wilson component to the blog? It would not be unlike Blankenship’s Notes to Self. I have a lot of them, and perhaps they should be kept away from the main page as to their overly details (or under explained) nature. Or maybe they’ll just become a regular part of my post arsenal.

An example:
The Theory of “Comment Generation and I’ll Do It Anyway” – This blog author will pose a question in order to generate some discussion, and perhaps seek validation for a new feature; but in the end, he’s going to do it regardless of the community feedback.

Uh, so what do you think?

NewSpring vs. the Superbowl

I read this Twitter from DJ Wilson, one of our excellent production volunteers and all around great guy. He said it, not me. (though I fully agree with him, I’d rather someone without my bias say it). Again I say “way to go, team.”