post-next -Ted Drake’s sketchbook

Where’s Baby Heather when you need her? Jakob Nielson gets down and dirty. He can really cut the rug. Let’s hope there are no wardrobe malfunctions.

I’ve been working on a new site for Bayside Networks, a really great IT consultation company in San Diego. The re-design uses WordPress 2.0 and the K2 theme as a backbone; a great way to build a web site.

I’ve been writing posts for this web site’s blog and wanted to point out the latest about Rollyo, a Yahoo! search-based site that allows you to gather your favorite links and build a search engine around them. I used it to build the Standardista search plugin for Firefox. This is a great way to find the information you need. Check out the post on BaysideNetworks.com for more information on how to use it.

I’m not a gadgeteer. As a photography teacher, I always pushed creativity and vision over tools. That said, it is nice to have a solid set of camera gear.

I’m a Nikon photographer. It’s not because they’re the best but the most versatile. I didn’t want to worry about having to upgrade my lenses when buying a new body. Unfortunately, this hasn’t been true lately; my N90 does not work well with my ancient micro-nikkor or my lens baby. I actually returned a D70 because I didn’t like the transition between using my film lenses on a digital camera. At this point, I’m still digital-less.

Epson and Leica

Epson makes magnificent scanners. Leica makes magnificent cameras. Together, they make one hell of a digital camera. If I had a set of Leica lenses, I would be selling the family dog and cat to make room for this camera. Of course, if I had a set of Lieca lenses, I wouldn’t need to sell the family dog, I’d probably just break open another nest egg.

It’s a digital camera that looks and feels like a film camera. It uses film lenses. It caters to its audience! Leica people are fanatics, they need this camera. They will have their faces smushed against the glass of the local camera store to get a peak at this camera. That’s what I love about this camera. It is the perfect mix of Leica styles, quality, and outrageous price tags.

Back to Nikon

So, here’s my plea to Nikon.

May the next version of the DSLR have a chip the same size as a 35mm negative. This would give my lenses the same characteristics on both cameras.

Give us full metering ability with older lenses. That is why Nikon fanatics are Nikon fanatics. If you want our undivided loyalty, give us our old lenses back. I know it can be done.

Give us something as cool as this Epson/Leica, please….. pretty please?

At this rate, half of the Republicans in Washington wil be behind bars by the next election. Claude Allen, one of Bush’s “Golden Boys” was just arrested for felony theft after repeatedly stealing from Target and other stores in a truly juvenile manner.

A true pillar of judicial theology, he was one of the wacked out judges that Bush wanted on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Bush was notified of the case on Friday, months after the initial arrest. Now that’s the hands-on president this country needs.

new info from Salon.com

White House domestic policy advisor Claude Allen — who now stands accused of felony charges that he repeatedly stole merchandise from Target and Hecht’s — was a guest in the first lady’s box at the State of the Union Speech on Jan. 31. As the New York Times reports, that was nearly a month after Allen told Andy Card and Harriet Miers that he had been issued a misdemeanor citation for theft.

Salon.com