Skeletal

02.08.2012

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I processed this photo using Snapseed, a photo editor by Nik Software. I know that many people pooh-pooh using filters on photographs, but I find it helps me get the look I want from photos where I have a concept or mood in mind that isn’t really possible straight out of the camera.

I won’t go into detail about Snapseed; Jon Armstrong wrote a great review (complete with video tutorial!), and don’t think I can add anything that he hasn’t already covered. I will say that I like it much, much better than Iconfactory’s Flare photo editor, as Snapseed offers a level of control that doesn’t seem to be possible with Flare.

If you’re a fan of Hipstamatic, Instagram, or many other vintage photo apps for your smartphone, and have wanted something that would make it easy to get similar effects from your non-phone photographs, you should give Snapseed a try. There is an iPhone version available as well.

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Successful, Friendly & Brave: Let’s Talk Mental Illness

02.08.2012

Today, February 8, is Let’s Talk day in Canada, a day for Canadians to join the conversation about mental health. Bell Canada is spearheading the initiative, and will donate 5 cents for every long distance telephone call and text message made on their networks today. Last year, the corporation donated more than a million dollars [...]

The Time for Libraries is Now

01.26.2012
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I know that a fair amount of the folks who stop by here on a regular basis aren’t librarians or information professionals, and as a result, I’ve mostly kept the library-related posts here to a minimum. Today I saw a slide deck that I wanted to share with those of you who don’t use libraries, [...]

Libraries, Here’s Your Opportunity

01.18.2012

Yesterday, on Twitter, a fellow librarian suggested that we use the hashtag #theotherwikipedia during Wikipedia’s SOPA/PIPA blackout protest to increase awareness of library services. Someone on another social network suggested that doing this is opportunistic, and that we’d be better off supporting the protest.   While I can see the truth in that point of [...]

Still Life

01.17.2012
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“OMG, all she does is post pictures of her cat these days. Her blog sucks now!” Ella was a fearful, floor dwelling cat when she came to live with me. Other than the aggressive peeing she was doing to exert dominance, for the most part, she lurked around the apartment in a half-squat/half walk stance [...]

On Fear and Cowardice

01.16.2012
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What is the difference between fear and cowardice? The dictionary definitions are somewhat similar: fear |fi(ə)r|noun an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat: cowardice |ˈkou-ərdəs|noun lack of bravery; lacking the courage to do or endure dangerous or unpleasant things If I’m feeling [...]

Like Diamonds

01.11.2012
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Last night’s ride home was clear, cool, and nearly silent. It was so quiet, I heard the sleepy quacks of a flock of ducks who were settling in for the night. Beyond that, all I could hear was the sound of my tires on pavement, the breath leaving and entering my lungs, and SkyTrain passing [...]