My iPad lock screen
Blue Angels at NAS Oceana
Ever since I’ve watched the Blue Angels on Discover Channel (A Year in the Life of Blue Angels), I’ve always wanted to visit an air show with them demonstrating their aerobatics skills.
A few months back, we found out that the Blue Angels will be at the NAS Oceana down in Virginia Beach for the Ocean Air Show last weekend. So Leah and I decided to drive down there on Friday (with a stop at Annapolis to see the US Naval Academy). The air show was fantastic with non-stop aerobatics displays from 10AM to 4PM with the Blue Angels closing out with an hour-long demonstration. The most memorable display, however, was not when we were at the stands. Rather it was at the beginning of the day we were already in the naval air base but still in our car, in a queue to the parking lot. We were in the middle of the tarmac and a F-16C circled around to make a low-level, fast approach to the stands from the side. The flight path took it directly above us so we were treated with watching the F-16C flying towards us at 400mph+ at around 150-200 feet then passed us at 90 degree from right to left. The sound was deafening but glorious as it flew pass us overhead, its engine exhaust glowing with afterburner shooting flame out.
Knowing that we don’t get many opportunity to see the Blue Angels, I’ve rented a long telephoto lens (100-400mm) from LensRentals.com and managed to get lots of great aerial photos (570+). The best ones are on Flickr but here are a few from the collection.
More US Open photos on Flickr.
Use more of your brain while programming by using less mouse
The Book
Back in April, I finally got around to read ‘Pragmatic Thinking and Learning: Refactor Your Wetware‘ after heard about it from various co-workers. I won’t go into the details of the book itself as this is not a book review. Needless to say I highly recommend it to everyone, even to non-technical people.
One interesting topic (out of many in the book) Andy Hunt touches upon is what he calls L-mode and R-mode (L as in linear and R as in rich) of brain processing. Other similar and familiar, but not same, terms most people heard about include Left-Right brains, and Conscious-Subconscious.
Continue reading “Use more of your brain while programming by using less mouse”
Quick review of Twelve South – Compass
Ever since I got the iPad, I’ve been on the look out for a stand. There are a few out on the market but none of them take my fancy either because a) cost too much, b) too clunky, c) too flimsy. That is until I heard of the Compass from Twelve South.
Positive:
- Good price point at $39.99
- Solid metal construction
- Nice packaging
- Two orientations – Easel and Typing
- Can be folded into a carry-able shape and size
- Keep iPad high enough so connector can be attached while use in easel mode
- Include a travel case
Negative:
- Heavy due to metal construction
- Grippy “rubber” not as well-fitted/well-constructed as the metal part.
- “Rubber” is not grippy enough to hold iPad in place in Typing mode. At least with my iPad, it slides down very slowly until it reaches the desk.
Despite the heavy weight, I’ll definitely take it with me the next time I travel so I won’t need to hold the iPad with my hand to watch videos or read books.
More photos of the Compass on Flickr.
Lost in Colonisation 