7.01%

One of the fun things about iTunes/iPod is the ability to keep track of all sorts of statistics, and to set up “smart” playlists based on them. Recently-added, recently-played, 5-star-rated, etc.

Anyway….. recently I did a sort of my music library on iTunes, and noticed a pretty high number of songs that have never been played. There’s lots of reasons why this is, but it's mostly older CD's recently ripped to digital, and lots of various forms of free stuff. Bottom line: after cleaning up the obvious stuff (such as stuff downloaded for my wife and immediately burned to audio CDs), I was left with over 700 un-played songs out of almost 10,000 on the iPod (7.01% of my library). More than I expected....

Hmmmm, what to do?? Obviously, make a “smart” playlist of songs with a play-count of zero! Which I did, and to which I’ve been listening for the past couple of days. Lots of interesting stuff.

Loading Dock

A little "slice of life", taken at one of the local community colleges, where my son was doing AIM testing for his piano lessons. Contrinuing the BetterPhoto archives........ It is probably not too surprising that this didn't win anything, though I do like it.

Ice Behind The Falls

This is one from Charleston Falls, which is a cool little recreation area I discovered a bit north of I-70, near Dayton, OH....

Winterlong

Yet another BP shot...

Funk's Hybrid

Yet another BP shot... An old sign on a building in St. Jacobs, IL.

Handprint

Yet another BP shot... This is from several years ago, when my son (now 9 y/o) was in preschool. Just something I saw while dropping him off one day, a child's handprint in the concrete.

Yet another BP shot... This is Hocking Hills SP, not too far from Columbus OH... I ewspecially like this one, for reason....

Branches In The Lake

Yet another BP shot... This is Silver Lake, outside Highland, IL...

Leaf Rubbing

I haven't done one from the BP archives in a couple of days, so here's one! A close up of a leaf rubbing my son did. This is from 2006, when he was 6...

Photography In The Workplace

They say a picture is worth 1,000 words. And while I won’t try to figure it precisely, there is no doubt that imaging plays an ever increasing role in my workplace. Several years ago, when I got my first point-n-shoot digital, I started taking it with me on business trips. My primary goal was personal, to further my long-standing hobby as I travelled the country. But I found that it was quite useful in my work as well. Whether documenting the set-up of display for an industry conference, or evaluating a job site for upgrading controls equipment, pictures can be great tools. Even down to documenting shipping damage on crates / packages, or specific settings on legacy equipment….

Over the years, I’ve taken images that have ended up in company brochures, sales presentations, training materials, and posters for conferences / trade shows. And I’ve taken countless photos for myself, and even to sell via microstock.

My current company even provides a camera to each office, and encourages us to document projects: before, during and after. Of course, I think it’s a wonderful evolution in the world. Meanwhile, one of my employees recently had to take a quick business trip to Hawaii (I know, but somebody had to go). Along with photos documenting the business, he also took a few images on a quick run by the beach. Since he didn’t clear the memory card before turning the camera in, I’ll just post my favorite of his images here, just 'cause I can:

And:

A few examples of personal photos from Business Travel: here, here, here, here

A few examples of microstock photos from Business Triavel: here, here, here, here

(ed: meanwhile, at under 300 words, this post is barely worth a snapshot....)

One Year Ago, Pt. 2

Another image from last spring, in the Inland Northwest. Yesterday was the highs, today the lows... From atop Kamiak Butte to along the Snake River....

This was a bit further from Pullman, probably 45 min to 1 hr away. But well worth the drive.

One Year Ago

Last year in mid-April, I was living in an apartment in Pullman, Washington. Part of a 5+ month "business trip" associated with a new job. And while I hated being 1700 miles from home, it wasn't all bad. I really enjoyed the work, the people, and the scenery of the "Inland Northwest".


This image was taken atop Kamiak Butte, on 4/13/2008. A year (and a day) ago. Kamiak Butte was one of my favorite places out there, just 10 miles or so from my apartment. A great place to get away and do some trompingaround.

The Wait

Last week we made a quick visit to Atlanta... On the way out of town, we made a stop by the High Musuem of Art to see the exhibit of China's Terra-Cotta army. A bit of a wait to get in, but certainly worth it. Sadly (but nor surprisingly), they wouldn't allow any photography in the exhibit area. I took this in the ticket line, looking back out on the entryway....

Welcome

A shadow on the front porch....

Redbud Bud

Blue Door

Lakeside tree

Another image from Kentucky Lake, from my visit to Land-Between-the-Lakes a week ago...

I rather like this one, it turned out pretty much like I had hoped it would. This is using the B&W conversion built into PSE7.0. I've been thinking about investing in a "real" B&W conversion, but not sure I can bring myself to drop the dough...

Easter Fun...

One of my wife's hobbies is baking. Cookies, cakes, all that good stuff. And when she's feeling creative, I often end up with stuff to bring to work, and share with the office. This improves my popularity, and feeds my own sweet tooth. Pretty good deal, huh?
My wife took the photos, and did the above collage in Photoshop Elements... I'm going to have to figure out how to do that!!

Tress In Lake, Reflected

Kentucky Lake, Land Between The Lakes, KY...... Somewhere down towards the TN border. But not sure exactly where, I was just exploring around with my son. Headed south on "the Trace", down a random side road. Followed it from black-top to gravel, then stopped for some wandering on foot once we reached the lake.

Where the buffalo roam....

Well, Bison, to be more precise....
We were in Murray, KY, last weekend, and my son and I found some tome to wander over to Land-Between-The-Lakes. We took a spin through the Elk and Bison prairie, and found a herd! We've seen elk on previous visits, but the bison have been shy. But not this trip.

Not only were the bison "not shy", they were quite unconcerned about us. They wandered up the hill, onto the road, then stopped.... and... just... stood... there... For probably 20 minutes! Fortunately, we had plenty of time, so we just relaxed and enjoyed.

Eventually, whatever sign or signal happened, and they continued across,,,,
We did share the moment(s) with a few other folks (2 other cars), and at one point I caught this woman taking a few images....