ken zirkel

I used to own a Widelux panoramic camera. I bought one in the early 1990′s, then sold it when I got a digital camera (and, truth be told, I was unemployed and needed the money). I don’t really miss it much; scanning the film was such a pain, and you can of course approximate the [...]

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Years ago I read an essay by novelist John Irving, in which he suggested that talent is overrated. That is, hard work can overcome a lack of inherent talent. I do believe that to be the case, and it was fascinating to come across a recent essay by Malcolm Gladwell that essentially expands on this [...]

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I’m not particularly happy that it was crammed into the bailout bill, but I am happy that the Bicycle Commuter Benefits Act was signed into law. The benefit — up to $20 per month — begins with the new year in 2009. Employers may reimburse employees, tax free, for “reasonable” expenses related to their bike [...]

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There are several alternatives to Photoshop that nobody seems to know about. Here are a few: Pixelmator is $59 (OSX only) Lightzoneis $129 for basic, $199 for full version (OSX and Windows) Portrait Professional is $119 but at this moment on sale for $60 (Windows only) Flying Meat Acorn, $50 (OSX only) Helicon Filter, $0-75, [...]

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Somebody on a Listserv asked if there were alternatives to Flickr. I like Flickr, but it was a good question to answer. 1) You can use desktop software like Photoshop, Lightroom, or iView (or others) to make html galleries. Then upload them to a server by hand. Example: http://www.zirkel.com/galleries/elmer/ 2) You can install a gallery [...]

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What’s the coolest, most world-changing site I’ve ever seen on the Internet? Well, I think it just might be Kiva. Kiva matches individuals across the globe and enables ordinary people to fund entrepreneurs in faraway countries. You (yes, you) can lend a small amount of money (as little as $25) to a small entrepreneur who [...]

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Wow, seven years too late, somebody in the mainstream media has written an article about how the media misreported Al Gore’s presidential candidacy in 2000. If you’re interested, the incomparable Daily Howler has been on this story for years.

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I couldn’t have said it better myself: If I told you that I was going to give you a magic device that would save you money, save the planet, and, oh yeah, firm up that flab you have been carrying around with you for the last couple of years, what would you say? http://www.blog.thesietch.org/2007/08/29/how-to-ride-your-bike-to-work/

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create your own visited states map

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This is one of the most interesting things I’ve read, from the always interesting Thomas L. Friedman, in today’s Sunday New York Times cover story. The Power of Green Basically, it’s a manifesto that environmentalism should be the “unifying political movement for the 21st Century”. An aggressive policy of pro-environmentalism will bring our country greater [...]

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