Apple's Aperture 3 Photo Management Software

San Rafael, California


Being a MAC guy I was pretty excited to see Apple open up the App Store, which basically mirrors the iPhone App Store, but is for the bigger machines. On the day the App Store opened Apple dumped the price of Aperture 3 from a smooth $199 to a cool $79..99. I had to have it.

This turned into a four day saga, where I spent hour upon hour trying to unsnarl the chaos that occurred in my hard drive while trying to move my photo's from iPhoto 11 to Aperture 3. Many including me, stay with Apple because up until now the MAC eco-system has worked really well across different platforms and gizmos. A really pathetic situation as Aperture 3's consumer hook is targeted toward iPhoto 11 users who are budding amateurs photographers that want to play with the big boys. Many professional photographers use Aperture to manage their work-flow. Apple is taking a run at the king of management and editing software, Adobe Photoshop. Briefly, here is what happened. Aperture didn't recognize some older video file formats that iPhoto had no problem with. This locked up Aperture over and over, resulting in me force quiting multiple times. Once I figured out a work around, Aperture completely choked on its much touted facial recognition software. Once I disabled that, the program then locked up over trying to generate the thousands of previews and thumbnail photo's. I eventually had to import all my photo's that were in iPhoto manually, and in a piecemeal fashion. 


All of this took many hours as I'm no computer expert. I had to spend time in the MAC discussion boards to learn work-arounds, and that I'm not the only one running into all these problems. The boards were on fire! I learned a ton about Aperture 3, and my MAC during this heinous time. The software upgrade is simply not ready for prime time. I can't recommend the software until Apple fixes all the bugs.


Here is the good news. Without the bugs, the software itself is awesome! I've now imported my library, and have figured out what locks the program up resulting in everything working smoothly. What a photographer can do with this software is really amazing. I almost bought it at $199, and consider it a steal at $79.99. So, for anyone who really wants the software, do some research prior to the purchase. Not everyone runs into problems. There are steps that you can take during installation to have things go smoothly, however it is more complicated than Apple would have you believe.

With all my excited over my Canon G11 and Aperture 3, I lit out and took some pictures while I was in Sausalito yesterday. Below is a sample. Enjoy!

Shot with a Canon G11

Shot with Canon G11

Shot with Canon G11

Blast From the Past 

USCGC Polar Sea WAGB 11

Big Red rolls heavily to port in the southern ocean in the fall of 1988.

CC

Starbucks Java Squatters

San Rafael, California
Mission? Squatting @ a Starbucks

I've become one of "them." A squatter, and even I'm irritated when I come into a Starbucks and see all the tables consumed by fellow java squatters. They get the stare. The same one I'm a recipient of while I'm squatting.

On July 1st of 2010 Starbucks made the bold move of providing free wi-fi to all its customers. This was/is big news for people like me. At the same time they launched the Starbucks Digital Network. The screen below is what pops up when you first connect to the wi-fi and launch your browser.

It's really pretty cool, at least for me. You can get free premium content such as a download of the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal. What Starbucks is attempting to do is mesh together social media, coffee and a type of community meeting situation. I've been coming to Starbucks for a long time, and I've observed that Starbucks coffee houses are significantly more crammed with people since its move to free wi-fi. The question becomes is whether this translates into more profit for the company. 

I can't see how linking up social media with face to face conversation is going to work. They are opposing forces. Us laptop warriors usually have earbuds crammed into our lobes oblivious to the old school human interaction taking place around us. Our main concern is the availability of an electrical outlet. 

It is interesting to observe how things are evolving. As in most things, the success of  any of this is dependent upon people doing the right thing. I spend money each time I trigger a squatting event. There is the same cast of characters I see regularly, and some could be charaterized as freeloading hippie types. What can I say. When someone comes in with a stack of DVD's, snags a free cup of water and proceeds to take up a table for an entire afternoon, all of us squatters run the risk of losing the privilege. I feel for the couple who come in who just want to sit at a table and enjoy a cup of coffee, but all tables are occupied with mobile command posts. Even more upsetting is people who step outside to take a 45 minute phone call while all their crap takes up a table. So I work to mitigate my squatter ways. I am grateful to Starbucks, as coming into the local shop is a great joy. The employee's are friendly, the place is clean, and of course I'm a coffee addict.

Blast From the Past

This shot is from Santa Cruz Island in the Channel Islands off Santa Barbara, California. Circa 96. That is John Gamble on the left. 

CC

Back Home in San Francisco

Mill Valley, California
Mission? Regrouping after a month on the move


I flew out of White Planes, New York yesterday afternoon, but just barely. With the blizzard roaring up the eastern seaboard, and the snow event occurring in Chicago, all served to create chaos in the nations flight system. I'm fortunate to have made it out of New York before the airports closed. I surely would have been stranded on the east coast for another few days. Here are some pictures of what I missed. Photo credit to my sister, and editing credit goes to the kid using my new snazzy Aperture 3 program. Saga to follow on that software update.

Sisters backporch

I'm thrilled to be back home in California. I landed at San Francisco International and took the Marin Airporter back to San Rafael. I spend the majority of my time behind the wheel while traveling. Last night I gained an even greater appreciation of my lot in life as I stared out the windows of the bus. The city skyline is a gem, and driving across the Golden Gate Bridge never ceases to amaze me. I was beeming even after 12 hours of airports and travel. Christa was as I left her, and the Green Hornet fired right up.


Today I made my noon yoga class at Red Dragon Yoga, and noticed a clear reduction in ability after slacking for a month. But this was offset by smiles and greetings from familiar folks who were happy at my return. 


Back in the saddle with the comfort of my standard routine.

Blast From the Past

Glacier National Park

This shot was taken in June of 2004. I took about 30 days of leave, and lit out for Montana from San Francisco. I once had a spur to buy a track of land in Montana, and almost did. I found 40 acres in Thompson's Falls, just over the ridge from the Bitter Roots. I really wanted the land, the price was right, and I had the scratch. I just got so freaked out about how big and far away Montana was from everything I knew. The trip was not a wash, but another grand adventure. Camping in a June blizzard, backpacking through Glacier National Park, watching a 300 pound man eat a 1/4 burger while smoking a cigarette, and continuously pouring money into and pulling the handle on a slot machine. I was in a hotel in Big Fork, Montana when I learned of Ronald Reagan's crossing the bar. The above picture was taken while backpacking with my trusty Fuji Finepix 3200.

CC

Christian Allaire's 2010 Year In Review Video

East Village, NYC
Mission? Chillackin


I had a wonderful year, and am so thankful. Do what you love. If you don't know what you love, get in gear and figure it out. If you know what you love then pursue it with gusto. Don't lock-up.


Christian Allaire's 2010 Year In Review Video from Christian Allaire on Vimeo.
A Kick Ass Year!

CC


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Racheting Up the Creativity

Williamstown, Mass
Scheduled to head back to California in a Week


My latest creations!

Shot with the Canon G11

Bricks wondering where his ball got off to

Peace Out!

Blast From the Past

My First Sailboat. A Helms 25 on Lake Tahoe in 1997

CC

Photo Traffic Enforcement is Enraging

Williamstown Ma
Mission? Visiting Friends, biding my time until school

Not long ago, in San Rafael, California, my current home, I was sifting through Patch.com when I came upon a lengthy article regarding a specific traffic light that I drive through on a regular basis. What I learned enraged me regarding the photo enforcement movement throughout the United States. It should seriously bother you too.


This topic is relevant for me as I really want to make California my permanent home. However, issues like the intersection of Irwin and 3rd street in San Rafael is indicative of a state that has mismanaged its finances so badly, supports all kinds of crazy social programs, and leans so heavily on its productive citizens, that local governments move to gather revenue anyway possible. Ultimately, this type of thing fails. The only other place I would consider relocating to is Texas. In terms of taxation, and the over all thirst of the government, Texas is a clear choice. But I really love living in Marin County California. This is why I decided to speak up about the photo enforcement thing, as it simply points to a tone that has been set in California.

The Intersection of Evil

The above intersection traffic fine levied by the Australian company, Redflex, under the authority of the San Rafael City Council is a staggering $503! This includes rolling through yellow to red, and not making a complete stop on a right or left turn. This is insanity. Check these numbers.


In one year citizens were ticketed approx 4,000 times @ $500, which amounts to about two million in revenue to a city with a population of about 55,000 (2007 census). This breaks down to approx 7 percent of the population receiving a ticket from this one intersection. Spread out amongst the total city population, this amounts to $36 per year per citizen. What really made me fly is the article not only was giving the scoop on the Irwin light, but detailed the cities plans to install cameras at three other intersections. Enough! Here is the breakout of how the revenue from one ticket is sliced and diced, and then sent to a specific budget category. This information comes from the article in patch.com.

• $139.06 – Violation fine to City of San Rafael (30% of fee)
• $ 8.92 – County General Fund
• $ 17.15 – Criminal Justice Facilities Construction Fund
• $ 13.72 – Courthouse Construction Fund
• $ 19.60 – EMS
• $ 7.20 – 2% Automation Charge for Criminal Records
• $ 9.80 – DNA Identification Penalty Assessment
• $ 13.72 – Maddy EMS
• $ 3.43 – Automated Fingerprint ID System Fund
• $ 9.80 – DNA Additional Penalty Assessment
• $ 48.02 – State Penalty; Criminal Offenses
• $ 20.58 – County Share of State Penalty
• $ 20.00 – 20% State Surcharge; Base Fines
• $ 29.40 – State Court Construction Penalty; Criminal Offenses
• $ 30.00 – Court Security Fee on Criminal Offenses
• $ 35.00 – ICNA-Conviction Assessment-Infractions
• $ 19.60 – ICNA – Court Const PA 

You can see how the state government somehow seems to think they have a right to the revenue generated from this traffic light, just by virtue of the fact the state legislature passed the law that allows local governments to erect the camera system in the first place. It makes sense to me that when a local city council person votes to remove the system, they now have to deal with push back from the state because it effects the state budget. What a scam.


In a funny twisted turn of events, progressive minded folks realized that Redflex is Australian, but is based out of Scottsdale Arizona, and thus California citizens are sending some revenue to Arizona. A state they are supposed to have boycotted. San Rafael is overflowing with illegal immigrants, and is a sanctuary city. Everyone is all up in arms over Arizona's SB 1070 immigration law, and the city is unable to cut off city contracts with Arizona unless it wants to dump the camera enforcement program. It seems that 2 million per year trumps.

I object to the use of photo enforcement on plan ole unfairness grounds. Call it ideological, I don't care. Coming near that intersection creates paranoia. The margin for any kind of error is slim. People now stop when the light is still green, and people will not make a legal right hand turn just to be super cautious. It creates road rage. At $500 beans why risk it? I now simply avoid the whole intersection. I emailed the city and let them know I won't visit any more local businesses in the downtown area. To get downtown, I have to go through the Irwin intersection, find parking at $1.25 an hour with a $38 dollar fine for exceeding your time limit. If the meter is expired more than 20 minutes the fine nearly doubles. Why bother? I also take into consideration that I still have Florida plates, as I am a Florida resident attending college in California. The state will get all kinds of herdy turdy over the fact I have not re-registered the car in California. After all they want their $300 bucks, the ease of delivering fines, and the leverage gained over me.


Furthermore, it is not clear that photo enforcement saves lives or assists in traffic flow. Motorist behavior is already heavily regulated with speed limits, stop signs and traffic lights. We have arrows pointing everywhere, red zones, white zones, bus lanes, fire lanes, taxi zones and POV lanes. It is just ridiculous, and needs to change. People squawk about distracted drivers due to smartphones and the like, but never mention the overwhelming task direction the government provides in the form of signs, and all in the name of safety. Now the safety motivator and revenue motivator have merged to really anger the population.


Here is a quick sample: Sykesville, Maryland was put to a referendum, in which 321 out of 529 voters (60.4%) voted against the cameras. The turnout for this vote was greater than the number of voters in the previous local Sykesville election for mayor where 523 residents voted" (wikipedia). Arizona operated 76 cameras and has decided to not renew its contract with Redflex. Arizona need not worry though, because apparently San Rafael, California plans to keep cash flowing to Arizona.

What can you do? You need to voice your opinion to the elected officials. Local business needs to also engage, and realize that this type of overbearing governing results in people not visiting business districts. At least today, people still have the ability to move. California, New York and Connecticut are losing big time to states like New Hampshire, Texas and Florida. When a local government has the cojones to fine someone $503 dollars for a traffic infraction something is seriously wrong. The best resource I found to gather information and fight is highwayrobbery.net.

Blast From The Past

Seaman Allaire. Heavy Weather aboard Polar Sea, circa 1988

CC

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Happy New Year and Welcome to 2011

Williamstown Mass
Mission? Visiting Friends
  

Snowshoeing in Williamstown Mass 31 Dec 10.  Shot with Canon G11

 For us lucky living, a new year is upon us. I'd have to say 2010 was a pretty kick ass year. Much has changed for me over the past year. Recall a year ago today, I had just arrived in Naples, Florida after my crossing from Grenada. You can get caught up on that situation by clicking here. Life continues to evolve as it is supposed to.


New Years Day is when many folks start thumping away at this years resolutions. That is how it should be. At the beginning of the year is when major rubber is applied to life's helm, steadying up on a new direction and then minor course corrections throughout the year to keep moving forward. But sometimes a new direction takes awhile to steady up on. The point is, it's a good time to reevaluate and make a commitment.

Breck on New Years Eve 2010. Shot with my Canon G11

 Last year is when I altered my life's direction substantially. I trucked Christa to California in June, and entered Dominican University of California in August. Now, I have minor course corrections to apply as I continue to study and transition into a new occupation at some point. All is well with me, and I've no regrets with my altering of the sailing life. I love living in the San Francisco Bay area and see myself settling out west for a good long time. I can't think of another area I'd rather live other than Austin Texas. So that is the skinny from Massachusetts on the 1st day of 2011.

Blast From the Past

Me, Jill and Lynn in Honolulu 1995

The world lost Lynn to cancer in 2006. We miss her.

CC

New York City and More Digital Photo's

East Village, NYC

I'm wrapping up my short visit to NYC, and pushing on to the Berkshires of Mass tomorrow. I shot some more pictures today. Here is a small taste.

Empire State Building

Washington Square Park is just around the corner from my brothers apartment. It is ringed by New York University in the East Village, and is about as New York as it gets. I love the movie When Harry Met Sally, and below is two stills from the movie filmed in 1989, and then a picture I took this evening. Notice the Twin Trade Towers framed in the Arch from 89. 

Enjoy!

CC

New York City and the Post Christmas Blizzard

East Village, New York City

Mission? Visiting my Brother and His Family

Jazzed? You Bet!
Still working on my digital photography

Grace Church Broadway and East 10th

 The official count is 20 inches measured in Central Park. There is something so charming about New York City during, and then after a heavy snowfall. I arrived yesterday from Shelton Connecticut just as the storm was ramping up. Here are some pictures I took over the past couple of days.

St. Marks Place shot on the iPhone4


New York City December 27th 2010 from B. Kim on Vimeo.

I love coming to New York, and this visit has been made even more special given the weather and all the photo opportunities. Just wish I was a better photographer.

Blast From The Past

Mount Rainier Washington 1989

CC


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Internships, Networking and the Business of Life

Shelton Connecticut

Mission? Visiting family

Networking

It's weird transitioning in life. Were all constantly in a state of transition or becoming. It boils down to a matter of degree.  Since I left active duty in September of 2007, and began Christian Allaire's Sailing Life and Other Adventures, I've been in near constant state of hyper transition, while never really gaining my footing. Once I determined to make a bold move to stop sailing and head out to San Francisco, I really went into a state of flux.


Since arriving in San Rafael, California last June, I've begun to find my stability. It is the first tine that I know of where I've arrived in a new town and not had the latent pressure of a move or transfer looming. This has been liberating, even more so than what one would think given I had the total freedom of sailing around the planet for as long as I wanted. That, as some know, did not turn out to be my cup of tea.


That is the business of life.


One thing the U.S. Coast Guard taught me was the value of networking. The trend of social media is one big gigantic networking tool. However, in my opinion it still boils down to personal relationships, brought on my happenstance, some luck and initiative. I am grateful to have been born with a gregarious nature which has assisted in networking. I have no problem busting a move on someone to find out what the program is.


Case in point. In October at Dominican University, I attended a job fair featuring about 50 companies looking higher college graduates. It is interesting to note that I have over a year and half before I graduate, so why would I attend? I thought it a perfect networking opportunity and a way to start learning about the mysterious world of internships. Well it worked. I gripped and grinned, schmoozed and practiced the art of informal interaction with potential employers. Worked on my 30 second "commercial" pimping out my strengths. I scored an internship interview with a big financial services company in downtown San Francisco. I went and interviewed in a high-rise with folks in suits and ties and presented very well. I was offered a position, but turned it down because I couldn't commit the time needed without jeopardizing my time spent study. What a great practice secession and learning experience.


I make it a habit of asking a lot of questions of many people, especially people who I informally determine may be succeeding in the world of work. I'm trying to learn and penetrate into a world I'm not versed in. My yoga habit is predominately about the fitness and health created. A close second would be the folks one meets, beautiful women included, but think about this statement. Losers do not have the motivation to practice yoga. What this means is that the people who attend are generally successful people, and some very very successful. During short conversations, before or after class, I've had a couple of enlightening conversations with fellow yoga folk. One girl inspired me greatly with a quick story about how she attained an art history degree, and somehow ended up making six figures selling software. She is not abnormal. This type of situation can be created with proper networking and social skills.


A few weeks back, I got to chit chatting with a guy who I bump in to at least a couple days a week. His name is David Gottesman, and he has successfully started three or four IT companies. He is a tech guy who looks like Mr. Clean. I told him my program, that I was looking for an internship to gain some exposure in different fields. He graciously agreed to meet up with me at a Starbucks, showed me what he is involved in and has agreed to take me on. Stoked. This is an informal situation, where over a period of time I start to learn about his world while not losing focus on my studies, and more importantly, hopefully, I can contribute to his enterprise.


Dave started a company called Ashburymusichall.com. When he showed me what was up, I was pretty impressed with the company. The user interface is built for music teachers to interact and teach students. But, it could be tweaked for many other situations where people need to interact and collaborate. Pretty cool stuff. With a little luck and some motivation on my part, hopefully I can maybe get involved with this company. Check out the video below, and don't forget to spend some time on Ashburymusichall.com. Take a music lesson why don't you!

Blast From The Past

That is Seaman Allaire flexing after leading the barby plucking detail from the hanger roof in 1989, aboard USCGC Polar Sea, somewhere in the south pacific.  Enjoy!

Capt Chris


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