#HockeytownWinter http://t.co/ybuK0pZAQl

#HockeytownWinter pic.twitter.com/ybuK0pZAQl

— Daniel Hart (@CynicAtHart) December 28, 2013

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December 28, 2013 at 04:55PM

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A guide to street photography: Matt Stuart, manners and human autofocus

Street photography is the purest, most spontaneous way to create art with a camera. No studios, no props, no poses; all you need is the right equipment and a street with people on it. In this original series for Engadget, we'll follow three seasoned street fighters and try to glean some practical wisdom about what engages their eyes, brains and fingers in the moments before they shoot.

We learned about manual exposure in the last installment. Now we're going all in with a look at manual focusing. Our guide is Matt Stuart, a London-based photographer who's made his name with funny and quirky shots of humanity going about its business; shots that often materialize and then disappear so quickly that even the fastest autofocus system would fail to keep up. Since Stuart's style often involves stepping right up to people, almost to the point of invading their personal space, we'll also try to figure out how he manages to avoid confrontation.

Filed under: Cameras

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Report: Detroit Tigers agree to trade Prince Fielder to Texas for Ian Kinsler

Prince Fielder has spent the past two seasons in Detroit.



via Detroit Tigers http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2013/11/report_detroit_tigers_agree_to.html

USA harsh

Interesting overhang over the USA Hockey NTDP entrance http://flic.kr/p/hCixNK

Jason on the loose

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Homework

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Photo

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Make Lightroom Faster by Using DNG

A question about Lightroom that often arises is how to make it run faster. On my computer the biggest bottleneck comes when I’m looking at images in the Library module’s Loupe view or in the Develop module. Even images for which Lightroom has created 1:1 previews can take a few seconds to render properly. This […]

Post originally from: Digital Photography Tips.



Check out our more Photography Tips at Photography Tips for Beginners, Portrait Photography Tips and Wedding Photography Tips.

Make Lightroom Faster by Using DNG

The post Make Lightroom Faster by Using DNG by Andrew Gibson appeared first on Digital Photography School.

via Digital Photography School http://digital-photography-school.com/make-lightroom-faster-by-using-dng

5 Creative Ways to Find New Locations to Photograph

There’s truly nothing like visiting a location for the first time – I absolutely love it and I strive to always photograph at least one new location a month. When I started on my photography journey this wasn’t a hard challenge to meet as even my own backyard was new to me and my camera, […]

Post originally from: Digital Photography Tips.



Check out our more Photography Tips at Photography Tips for Beginners, Portrait Photography Tips and Wedding Photography Tips.

5 Creative Ways to Find New Locations to Photograph

The post 5 Creative Ways to Find New Locations to Photograph by John Davenport appeared first on Digital Photography School.

via Digital Photography School http://digital-photography-school.com/5-creative-ways-find-new-locations-photograph

New sweater, first game

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The US Has Low Taxes -- So Why Do People Feel Ripped Off? | Connecting the Dots, What Matters Today | BillMoyers.com

The US Has Low Taxes -- So Why Do People Feel Ripped Off? | Connecting the Dots, What Matters Today | BillMoyers.com

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Demand seems high for insurance exchanges

Despite glitches, the demand seems to be high for insurance on the new exchanges. The technical problems will be worked out and people finally will get help. This is the beginning of something great in America.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HEALTH_OVERHAUL?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Prepare to hear the word "storm" used as a verb in parks and federally managed facilities everywhere.

Prepare to hear the word "storm" used as a verb in parks and federally managed facilities everywhere.

— Daniel Hart (@CynicAtHart) October 1, 2013

via Twitter https://twitter.com/CynicAtHart



October 01, 2013 at 05:30PM

Speed and confidence give buckeyes the advantage. Good coaching and winning will do that.

Speed and confidence give buckeyes the advantage. Good coaching and winning will do that.

— Daniel Hart (@CynicAtHart) September 29, 2013

via Twitter https://twitter.com/CynicAtHart



September 28, 2013 at 08:27PM

Buckeyes wearing the cool helmets tonight! Go Bucks!

Buckeyes wearing the cool helmets tonight! Go Bucks!

— Daniel Hart (@CynicAtHart) September 29, 2013

via Twitter https://twitter.com/CynicAtHart



September 28, 2013 at 08:10PM

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The Homicide Loophole

As juror No. B39 notes in her recent interviews regarding the jury deliberations in the George Zimmerman criminal trial, by all standards of decent human interaction and sense of justice, Mr. Zimmerman murdered young Trayvon Martin, but under the eyes of the law as it stands in Florida, the jury had to vote for acquittal. Now, it could be argued that a jury has the discretion to rule as it sees fit, we call that jury nullification, but in this case the court's instructions were faithfully followed to an unjust end.

Much of the controversy around the verdict stems from Florida's so-called "stand your ground" law. This law purports to protect the gun-toting victims of eminent bodily harm or death from legal repercussions normally stemming from shooting another human being. If you see fit to walk among fellow humans only with the reassurance of a handgun on your hip, and you decide you're in danger from a fellow human, by all means blow their head off.  In some contexts this behavior would be cowardly. In Florida and several like-minded states this behavior is regarded as deep American virtue. I would suspect that the virtuousness of that gun-toting shoot 'em up behavior runs about as deep as your skin color and societal position. As President Obama eloquently stated, would we feel the same way about the Zimmerman situation if the roles were reversed? What if George Zimmerman were an unarmed neighborhood watch volunteer confronting an armed, for his protection of course, Trayvon Martin? What if Trayvon Martin had decided the encounter endangered his life and decided fill Mr. Zimmerman with hot lead? What if only Trayvon Martin lived to tell his side of the story? What if his story was one a gallant fight for life from a stranger with unknown intentions in the night? Whose cries for help would we hear then?

Please remember the original public controversy surrounding this murder.  At first, the police were reluctant to even arrest Mr. Zimmerman. He probably would not have faced any charges or further scrutiny if the public eye were not turned on the police or prosecutors in Sanford. Therein lies the true menace of stand your ground laws in America. Even the possibility of uneven interpretation and enforcement by front-line government employees (read police) with wide discretion makes these laws inequitable and unfair. The failure to appropriately and fairly apply the law without consideration of race, gender, income, or societal standing means the law is a corrupt means to make distinctions between homicides and vigilantism.

"Stand your ground" really means "homicide loophole".  If you are the right kind of American, you now have a loophole in the law to cover your life and liberty when you decide a fellow human deserves to die. To take advantage of the loophole you better have your gun with you at all times, be light-skinned, be middle-class, be a man, and most importantly, make sure the other guy doesn't live to tell a different side of the story.

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/25/juror-says-george-zimmerman-got-away-with-murder/?_r=0

http://blogs.lawyers.com/2013/07/syg-laws-fair-protection-or-racist/

A Concerted Effort

I like to believe that we are in the early stages of policy making which will eventually lead to a coherent and progressive full slate of Federal policies that will drive our country, and the world forward.  While it might seem that the two political parties are entrenched sharply divided camps with no hope of compromise, I think we are in the painful phase of debate and  discovery that is necessary to generate big ideas.  In this deadlocked environment, the door opens for third parties to make revolutionary arguments for bright new policy ideas.  Out of the gridlock, the American people will likely become receptive to outside voices and consider a broad range of interlocking new ideas to reinvent our economy, our politics, and our social interactions.

Major advances in the modern world require interconnected efforts and cooperation of many people and factions.  Compromise and the pursuit of a higher purpose can allow people to open their minds and consider working together for a purpose greater than individual self interests and short-term desires.  The age of consumption, inward thought, and profit seeking will yield to the deeper human desires of compassion, purpose, community, and shared prosperity.  We must work together and have grand ideas.  First, we must generate the grand ideas that can unite our country.  The link below leads to a good starting point to create the grand mission of tomorrow.

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/report/2013/06/13/66204/300-million-engines-of-growth/

Machiavelli and the Elites

Good short article on the misappropriation of Machiavelli in modern popular culture.  Those who own the methods of distribution most often control the message.

http://www.salon.com/2013/06/29/machiavelli_doesnt_belong_to_the_one_percent_partner/

The Ultimate Sideshow

How to politicize a completely mundane internal IRS method of identifying political activity in exempt organizations.  This entire exercise is only made possible in a generally low-information (read ignorant) environment.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/24/politics/irs-targeting/index.html

Changes at Flickr

Just a quick note to voice my support for the recent wholesale changes at Flickr.  Despite the moaning and groaning (and pouting) from an extremely vocal minority, the site is much better looking and easier to use.  The changes are long overdue.  Quite frankly, I was considering leaving Flickr up until the changes were rolled out.  The old site was clunky, ugly, and uninspiring.  So, just my opinion.

The IRS and the Real Scandal | Common Dreams

Just a follow-up to a previous post regarding the IRS scandal.  This continues the systemic destruction of any useful public oversight of actions and policies affecting the people of the United States.

The IRS and the Real Scandal | Common Dreams

Dan Pallotta - TED Talk

Dan Pallotta's messages in this TED Talk are powerful, persuasive, and make a lot of basic sense.  I can tell that his opinions and messages come not only from critical deep thinking, but also from painful personal experience.  The public fascination with nonprofit overhead costs is killing the sector and leaving behind shells of organizations that cannot hope to collectively cope with the needs of our world.

Unfortunately, as Dan points out, the uneven and nonsensical attitudes towards a nonprofit's ability to build capacity and truly grow to fully address the need is deep-seated in our culture and probably impossible to ever completely change.  This means we have a lot of work ahead of us.

Have a look -

http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pallotta_the_way_we_think_about_charity_is_dead_wrong.html

Mobile Marketing

Below is a great article running quickly through some strategies to tailor an online presence for mobile users.  Quite frankly, smaller screen devices probably have more impact than the desktop experience.  You will catch users when they can make time to consider your message and take action.  This time may be in the waiting room, train, lunch, or simply a work break.  It is important to design the message to reach maximum impact within seconds of viewing.  It is also a good idea to allow the user to take simple and meaningful actions immediately, without effort or very deep thought.  Your organization can then follow-up with a more in-depth response and call to action.  This is how relationships are built.

http://www.ssireview.org/blog/entry/six_essential_mobile_marketing_strategies_for_nonprofits

The Children of the Tea Party and the IRS

I find myself a bit conflicted over the latest scandal over the IRS scrutiny into "Tea Party" 501(c)(4) organizations and their exempt status.  I understand the highly political and sensitive nature of the issue, and the IRS certainly lacked the simple foresight to understand their exposure, but to say the issue is overblown is an understatement.

As the "Tea Party" and related ultra-conservative organizations spawn, the workload on the IRS to process applications increased.  Rather than boost personnel, the IRS developed a strategy to categorize applications and apply increased scrutiny.  I'm sure the strategy made sense on an organizational level, but it now seems a bit politically tone deaf.

My fear is that the consequences of this scandal will mean the IRS steps back from their watchdog and policy generation role in the nonprofit sector.  The IRS is a vital partner in ensuring the the cooperative system between nonprofits and the public is healthy, reliable, and well-regarded by the citizenry.  Pulling back on oversight presents the risk of fraud, abuse, and distrust.  New organizations will feel free to primarily engage in political activities because the IRS is shy about challenging these organizations.

The IRS needs to find a healthy way to address this issue and develop an efficient oversight system.  They play a crucial role and organizations, whether they are aware of it or not, need reliable oversight and guidance to be successful.

For more information: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-center-for-public-integrity/irs-nonprofit-division-ov_b_3272234.html

My visit with Food Gatherers

Yesterday I had the wonderful opportunity to tour the Food Gatherers distribution facility in northern Ann Arbor.  I also spent some volunteer time in the warehouse to better learn how the operation works.  Food Gatherers performs a daily miracle in distributing thousands of pounds of largely wholesome and healthy food to those in need in Washtenaw County.  It is amazing to see firsthand the logistic juggernaut it requires to collect unused food from local restaurants, grocery stores, and generous donors.  They then evaluate and repackage that food for later distribution to local soup kitchens, pantries, and nonprofit organizations in the county who offer food to their customers.

Food Gatherers takes on a monumental task, one that many of their partner organizations could not hope to fund or perform, and make life and operations easier for partners.  Due to their size and renown, Food Gatherers can leverage better bulk prices and negotiate more comprehensive donation deals.  The partner organizations can then focus on serving the food to their customers and attend to other problems they may have in life.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time, and I have a better appreciation off the effort necessary to pull off a miracle each and every day.