Nikon Coolpix P100 – Real world, non-photographer use and examples.
This summer I picked up the Nikon Coolpix P100 digital camera. I wanted something decent, but not overly challenging for an average, non-camera savoy user. I had been using the Cannon PowerShot A540 with fair results, but after it took a swim in a local river as I pulled my kayak out – it just hasn’t been the same. Besides, the Cannon was old technology. I wanted something a little newer.
I pondered getting a real camera (dSLR), but truth be told… I’m just not that into it. I figured I would do better getting decent pictures from a good point-and-click, rather than getting frustrated and crappy pictures with an expensive “do it all yourself” SLR. I went to a Ritz Camera and talked to a salesperson for like an hour over what I should get. We settled on the Nikon Coolpix P100.
It has 10.3 megapixels, full 1080p HD video, and a crazy 26x zoom. What the heck would I need more camera than that for? All I’m going to be doing is catching birthdays, random wildlife sightings, or events. For the price, it made sense.
Blue Angels – Airshow practice right over my head (litterally)
This is super cool. The Blue Angels are performing at an airshow this weekend in New Hampshire. Well, for the last couple of days they have been practicing right over my office. I don’t mean “near” my office – I work a third of a mile from the airstrip – they are directly overhead! I sat in the parking lot for a while and watched them doing all those signature stunts and crazy formations.
Here are some shots (click to enlarge):
Kayaking the Powow River – Downtown Amesbury to the Merrimack River… and then some
I went Kayaking today with a friend of mine. We didn’t have a ton of time, so we decided on someplace close to both of us – The Powow River. I’ve lived in Amesbury for a few years, and lived in the area (Newburyport) for something like 25 years. When Justin (friend I went with) said we should try the Powow, and put in near the center of downtown Amesbury, I was a little less than excited. I know that the Powow runs through downtown Amesbury, and ends up in the Merrimack River, but I honestly thought the section from downtown Amesbury, to the Merrimack was little more than a dirty, short, urban slog until it spills into the Merrimack.
So, I was excited to get out, but not at all expecting anything grand from the Powow. At least not this section of it. I’ve done some of the Powow upstream from downtown Amesbury and it’s pretty decent. But, like I said, I didn’t think the “lower” part of the river could possibly be any good. It’s surrounded by highways, shopping centers, apartments, old mill buildings and all the other dirty characteristics that define a blue-collar historic New England town.
Ok, all that said…
I was absolutely taken aback by how far, open, scenic, and awesome it was. The river ran for a long stretches through areas of thick vegetation that look more like a wilderness refuge than a city.
Franklin Park Zoo – Review from a first time visitor
This past weekend my wife, daughter and I met up with some friends (Analise, Derrek and Tristan) and decided to do something “family’ish” for the afternoon. I’ve been so busy with band stuff, home projects and freelance work lately, that a day out of the house sounded great. To this end, we piled into the car and drove down to the Franklin Park Zoo. I wanted to spend the day with everyone, but would probably have picked a different venue…
It’s only fair to start this post off by making it abundantly clear that I don’t like Zoos (in general). I just don’t get wandering cement walkways past overpriced trinket stands, or shuffling through cramped exhibit hallways for a chance to glimpse at some poor critter who is forced into the spotlight so Mr. Fat American can wobble by, while his kids bang on the glass – it just doesn’t seem right to me.
I realize this makes me sound like a “Tree Hugger”, and believe me I’m not. I just find it difficult to see past the obvious. Putting a wide-area roaming creature, like say a tiger or a zebra, into an acre-sized (or less) field surrounded by electrical fence – or – taking a beautiful large bird such as a Condor or Vulture and forcing it to live in a cage or with clipped wings so it can’t fly is depressing to me. These animals need to be able to run or fly freely. If you want to see or experience them, go to where they are. You have that choice… they don’t.
Now, before you get all righteous on me, I also realize that some of these animals are “rescued” from the wild. If I’m honest, I don’t really get that either. These animals have been just fine for millions of years. It’s the humans that started mucking the whole system up.
All that said, I actually had a great time. I was fairly impressed with the displays, variety of animals, and general look and feel of the Zoo. After all, it’s located in the most improbable location – Dorchester Ma, just outside of Boston. If you’ve never been to the Franklin Park Zoo, and find it hard to believe this sort of family park could exist in Dorchester, you’re not alone. I sat in the backseat on the way down, as we drove through some pretty rough neighborhoods, thinking “are you kidding?” Then from out of nowhere, the landscape dramatically changed, the Franklin Park Zoo sign appeared, and there was even a big groomed golf course across the street. It was sort of surreal, like stepping through a portal. It’s not often one can buy drugs, play 18 holes, get shot, and feed a baboon… all within a mile or so. This area was surprisingly nice.
Custom “Peavey Renown” 160watt Guitar Amp/ Half Stack
I was looking around at some of my old gear in my basement the other night, trying to figure out what I have and what I could probably stand to replace. I came across a really, really powerful Peavey Renown combo amp that I never use because it has blown speakers and suddenly found myself reasoning this way:
In a perfect world:
- The Peavey Renown is such a great, powerful, classic amp and I would LOVE to be able to use it. I always considered this the ultimate jam-space amp and was very welcome in my guitar gear.
But there is an issue:
- It’s going to cost me more than 300 bucks to get decent, powerful enough replacement speakers. At that cost, I may as well bite the bullet and get a new amp.
Hmmm… Now, what do I have lying around?
- There is a 4×12 Peavey speaker cab that I don’t use much
- A new shiny skill saw with various other power tools that I’m itching to use
- A few pints and a Viking instinct
Ibanez JS100 – Joe Satriani signature series. Awesome guitar!
I’m a big Joe Satriani fan. In fact, most of the guitar players I know share some sort of appreciation for what he has done. Personally, “Satch” was one of the biggest influence on my playing while growing up. I spent countless hours, sitting in my bedroom, playing an old B.C. Rich over “Surfing With the Alien” and trying to make it sound like the recording. Needless to say, I’ve been playing for twenty years and still can’t do most of what he can. Joe is the man!
Anyways, being the fan that I am, I decided to pick up one of his signature-series Ibanez electric guitars a few years back. I love his tone and thought that playing that guitar would be one step closer to achieving that sound. I was not let down. The second I plugged it in, I could tell that this guitar was definitely something special.
I’ve owned many guitars. From a 70′s Gibson Flying V, to a 50′s Sears Silvertone, I’ve spent a decent amount of time paying a wide variety of instruments. The Ibanez JS100 has one of the warmest tones, and silky smooth fretboards of any guitar I have ever played. I mean it, this thing is awesome.
Green Day 21st Century Breakdown – Epic Win
If you’re a Green Day fan like me, you were probably a little hesitant to hear the new record “21st Century Breakdown”. I mean come on, the previous release “American Idiot” was such a monumentally awesome album – It seemed a tough act to follow. In fact, I’d almost say it was so good that I’d give the band a “get out of jail free card” for the follow-up record. Even if they had released “American Idiot 2 – Electric Boogaloo” I’d probably be ok with it.
Album Review: Well, I’ve had the new record “21st Century Breakdown” for a few days now, played it through in it’s entirety three times, and I just have to say…
Like American Idiot was, 21st Century Breakdown is different, melodic, catchy, and basically an awesome record!
I really, really dig this record more each time I play it. It’s not really a huge leap from American Idiot. In fact, I see it as sort of a sister record. One thing that stands out to me is that the songs seem very.. um.. mature for Green Day. The harmonies are awesome, the melodies are great, and I feel like the band reached out of their standard formula a little when writing it. I mean, I’m not saying the record is unlike any other Green Day album. That’s not the case. If I had never heard any of 21st Century Breakdown before, walked into a bar and heard another band covering one of the tunes, I would instantly know it was a Green Day song. But, the writing just seems a little more thought out.