An Incrediable Piece of Film Making and Photography

San Rafael, California

My spring semester at Dominican University of California began about 3 weeks ago. Since, I've been buried under a deluge of reading. Just this past week I was assigned reading Plato's Symposium in one class, and then  Plato's The Trial of Socrates in another. This material simply can't be skimmed. Brutal, but fascinating! Speaking of fascinating, the below film clip is simply stunning and inspiring. Enjoy!


DARK SIDE OF THE LENS from Astray Films on Vimeo.

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PS: I lifted this off of Chasejarvis.com who is a professional photographer, and a real guru.

34th America's Cup Race in San Francisco

San Rafael, California


I was laying in the V-bunks aboard Christa the other night when it occurred to me the monumental nature of the 34th running of the America's Cup being held in San Francisco. Back in the day, I received orders to be stationed in San Francisco against my will. I had no desire to be stationed in the city by the bay. I mistakenly thought it was cold and rainy all the time, and that everyone had to be gay. I was way way askew in my assessment. The first time I walked through Sausalito, California I was floored. Some readers may know I lived aboard in Sausalito for seven years. The nautical heritage of San Francisco is significant, and is one of the huge draws for me to settle back down in the Bay Area. The America's Cup being hosted here in 2013 is just another feather in the cities seafaring cap.





The craziness of these sailing machine's is hard to grasp. Computer technology has pushed the sport into the stratosphere. I will be rooting hard for the American's and can't wait to observe the trials on the bay, the hoopla that the race will bring and of course the race itself will be great. Could be time to get a telephoto lens!





I hope to bring some personal reporting and photographs to the blog as the teams start to buy up pier space along the city waterfront. When things heat up, I'll be on scene. Could be time to join the CG Auxiliary and get more involved.

Blast From the Past

Jolly Harbor, Antigua 2008

Actually, not that much in the past. I just love the picture.

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San Francisco and the Golden Gate Photo ExpedItion

San Rafael, California


Yesterday was beautiful condition here in the San Francisco Bay Area to exercise my digital photography skills. Admittedly novice skills, but skills non the less. I mean how is one to become a better photographer? You gotta get out there and snap some pictures! And so I did. Here a tiny sample of pictures I took with my Canon G11, and then retouched in Aperture 3. At the bottom of the post I provide the link to the full Album of photos in my Picasa Web Album. Please let me know what you think!

Fort Cronkite Beach

 I spent about three hours hiking and driving around, snapping away as the light conditions changed. As the sun set, the fog started to appear creating some really cool conditions. What a joy. Click here to access my Picasa Web Album where you can you see all 286 photo's.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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