Undecided » Personal

Converting Digital Negatives

John Williams — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 21:33:35 +0000

With the recent nuptials, I hired a photographer to take photos. He provided those photos to me in Camera Raw format, which is different from manufacturer to manufacturer. Since he uses a Canon (D2 format), and not one that is supported by my currently installed Photoshop CS3, I went looking for a solution.

Enter Adobe DNG Converter. Adobe DNG Converter is the Adobe Acrobat for camera raw files. It converts the manufacturer specific raw formats to a “universal digital negative” format supported by Adobe. And DNG is supported by CS3.

If you have Photoshop, download your own copy of DNG here:

http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=106&platform=Windows

Mayan Calendar resource

John Williams — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 05:00:57 +0000

http://www.mayacalendar.com/

Found it while trying to figure out what my wedding date was in the Maya “Long Form” notation.

I was married on: 12 . 19 . 17 . 6 . 8 __1 LAMAT 1 SIP

Frequently Flyer Difficulties

John Williams — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:48:08 +0000

For years I’ve had problems flying. Whenever I go to check in, I must always go to the ticket counter, I cannot ever use the automated kiosks. This often means delays in check in (standing in line) while others breeze through the automated system. Sometimes it means even more delays as the “helpful” ticketing agents refuse to let you enter the line for the counter until you’ve been processed by the kiosk.

I cannot say for sure, but the only thing I’ve ever done to warrant such behavior is (once) accidently forgetting I had a small screw driver in my backpack, and (once) forgetting some allan wrenches in my backback. The funny thing about the allan wrenches is that they were in my backpack for years and I flew with them all the time (I had simply forgotten I had put them in one of the many pockets) and one day, TSA demanded that I discard them.

As my honeymoon plans involved traveling out of country, the last thing I want is to be subject to delays (or heaven forbid, problems re-entering the country)!

While booking my flight to Texas for the Texas reception, I noticed that Orbitz had this new question on their form.

TSA’s Secure Flight Program

Basically, the TSA is requiring all Airlines to request a “Redress Number” from all flyers booking travel arrangements. While you are not required to submit the number, if you do, it can assist TSA in better identifying you during the booking & travel period (basically – pre-screen your identity against the various law enforcement watch lists), thus potentially reducing your chances for delays when flying.

While the program does not say that it will improve your flying experience, it does say that if you have frequently been mis-identified (confused with someone on a watch list) it may permit TSA to speed your passage through the security checkpoints. Obviously the reverse is also true, if you are on a watch list, this will only guarantee that you will get searched more carefully during each flight since they will be able to know with absolute certainty that you are the person who is on their watch list.

Smash Mouth – I Can’t Get Enough Of You Baby

John Williams — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 03:06:35 +0000

Semisonic – Closing Time

John Williams — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 03:06:18 +0000

Don’t be surprised if you hear this as the last song.

The Eagles – Love Will Keep Us Alive (Live)

John Williams — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 03:05:49 +0000

Uncle Kracker – Follow Me

John Williams — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 03:04:51 +0000

I do like the tune, even though the words are hardly appropriate for a wedding setting.

Kenny Loggins – Footloose

John Williams — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 03:02:09 +0000

C&C Music Factory – Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)

John Williams — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 03:01:16 +0000

Savage Garden – Truly Madly Deeply

John Williams — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 03:00:21 +0000