kydlo.com

it’s the little things

kydlo — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:40:45 +0000

Apple released a handful of new products yesterday, many of which are incredible in their own right. Of the things announced yesterday the first any of us would be interacting with would be iTunes 10. Taking it out for it’s first spin I noticed a few really nice changes and features. Here are a few:

This is the graph of media on my iPhone. It’s so simple and yet clearly indicates what is taking up the space on my device. Previously (if I recall correctly) it was a skinnier graph, while realistically a few pixels of height in a graph don’t make the information better or relay it more quickly I find this version to be much better.

This is the new top left corner of iTunes on the mac. Apple has chosen to rearrange the orientation of ‘open-minimize-close’ buttons to a vertical stack and then moved to a volume slider that seems to represent a physical button more than a virtual one. Although this may mean nothing, I wonder if this a precursor to having a more full featured iTunes on the iPad and that buttons like this will look like physical buttons. I say this, as I think it’s a wild shot in the dark and I don’t think it’s wise. Digital interfaces shouldn’t directly resemble physical ones as that’s limiting the potential of the media, and this rant could go one for a while, best to cut it short here.

The last few weeks

kydlo — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 23:09:58 +0000

I’ve been absent for the last few weeks as my penultimate quarter of undergrad is coming to a close I’ve been working hard to finish up my capstone proposal which was presented today (3.5.10). Here’s a screen shot of my presentation about 15 hours from finality. Soon I’ll get the final presentation uploaded.

Snow Day II (Bed Jumping)

kydlo — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 04:21:27 +0000

The other day I saw this great post over at My Funny Eye about bed jumping and this past Tuesday, (on our second consecutive snow day, and for that matter the second consecutive Tuesday off from school) Al came into my room and had an impromptu bed jumping session. After the third jump/flip I got out my camera and tried to document our jumping as best I could. These are a few of favorite shots.

Snow Day

kydlo — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 21:01:07 +0000

Last Tuesday was the first snow day I’d had in college in a very long time (maybe only the second, I don’t recall) but it was a magical day, featuring an extensive snowball fight, snow jumping pictures, and fantastic hot chocolate. I haven’t played like that in a good while and I’m really happy with most of the pictures (click on any of the pictures above and will take you to the photoset on my flickr). I’m finding more and more about my camera that I really like, I wonder what other things I can buy/add to my camera to make it do even more? I’m pondering buying another lens(es?) or perhaps some filters? I hardly know how to use my camera now, but I’m feeling good about my learning. Also, big thanks to JV for taking some pictures of me that turned out really nice. I like being behind the camera, but it’s nice to have some pictures of yourself too.

There are many more pictures up at my flickr page

Weekend in Review #3

kydlo — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:40:52 +0000

This weekend was highlighted by a big party thrown at my house, where I had a good time, despite some idiot boys who got too drunk and were not being fun. Friends of friends of friends. Saturday was a full day of cleaning and working with D, Syl, and Tracy on Syl’s ukulele bag project followed up by some tasty Indian with the girls and Kandy. Sunday was easy and lazy, which was nice until somehow that afternoon I managed to get sick and haven’t been quite able to shake it yet, although I’m feeling alright as I write this (Tuesday afternoon (so late)).

Also Cooper came to stay with us this weekend (he’s that gorgeous golden-doodle in the photos), his parents were away and we happily babysat.

Unable to Load

kydlo — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:00:19 +0000

Every once in a while, I’ll get this error message while watching something on Hulu. I willingly watch the ads on Hulu, as I rarely am able/ready to watch tv shows when they are originally broadcast. I wish that Hulu would not make me feel bad about their inability to provide me with a commercial.

Also just wanted to mention some of the shows I’ve been enjoying lately (not all on Hulu) (in no particular order)

The Office (NBC)
Parks & Rec (NBC)
30 Rock (NBC)
Heroes (NBC)
Leverage (TNT)
Nurse Jackie (SHO)
Californication (SHO)
NCIS:LA (it’s so cheesy but I like it) (CBS)

Also also, the Olympics start Friday, I’m quite excited to see some speed skating and hockey.

Weekend in Review #2

kydlo — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:28:28 +0000

This weekend blew by too fast but I enjoyed it thoroughly. Friday afternoon the snow started to fall and it came down all night. This plus the all-nighter I pulled the night before working on a thesis presentation meant I was not going out. After some initial confusion I picked up Sweet D and we got some Saag Paneer which was amazing. After that we went to Tracy and Syl’s and watched ‘The Hangover’ with some of the other ID girls. Pretty easy night, but I was so tired I’m amazed I managed to watch the whole thing. I love that movie. I slept like a rock that night and didn’t get out of bed until after 12 the next day. I met up with Sweet D after a morning grocery run and ate some of her fantastic leftovers. I ate it so fast that I didn’t have a chance to take any pictures, but just imagine homemade veal meatballs, babaganouj and kalmata olive tapenade. I love kalmata olives so much. After my fantastic (and first of the day) meal Sweet D and I went to the St. Benard St. Vincent De Paul, which is increasingly becoming my favorite thrift store. I found some great mugs (like the ones I got the other day that broke) and some tea cups like Tracy’s (link). Sweet D found this etiquette book that she was very excited about and this reader’s digest compilation book from 1957 that has some beautiful illustrations in it that I’m going to try to copy. Later we went to Tracy and Syl’s for a Mexican Cantina Food Dinner Party Thing which was a blast, hilighted by moustache drawing and eventual eyeliner-tattoo-ing. I didn’t drink too much as Oued, Al and I were racing the next day. The race we ran was the Frostbite 5 Miler, back up in Dayton (not a fan of driving an hour each way to race). I ran 31:30 and got 33rd place overall. I was quite happy with my time and placing although I would’ve liked to placed a little higher, for my training it was a good race. A second weekend in a row that was fantastic.

Up All Night

kydlo — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:45:06 +0000

So I think I fell in love with In Design tonight. After years of being frustrated by the program and how it didn’t, and still doesn’t, behave like Photoshop and Illustrator, I think I have gotten a grasp on how to quickly move around and somewhat painlessly manipulate and create. Here is the title page for the first of my two capstone (senior thesis) proposals. Will show more of this after I present tomorrow afternoon. Also I think I get a free pass today. It’s 6:39 AM and I haven’t slept yet today. Who’s ready for the weekend? This guy.

(Click to enlarge)

Lil’ Wayne Observed

kydlo — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:00:18 +0000

I was watching a Lil’ Wayne music video today. There are two reasons for this, the first is that I am humored by his antics and his character, and secondly I actually like some of his “music”. I recently watched a documentary about Lil’ Wayne, through most of which he was drinking ‘syzurp’ (actually DXM) mixed with root beer or vitamin water out of a styrofoam cup. I, for one, hate styrofoam cups and avoid them as much as I can, but when I see someone else with one I wonder if they’re trying to do like Lil’ Wayne and robo-trip on the sly or in public. I took some screen shots while watching that music video earlier and here they are.

Tough Day Turnaround

kydlo — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 04:15:26 +0000

Last night after my crappy day, I went to the thrift store for the first time in months and found some great stuff and only spend $3.73. A nice way to cheer myself up on the cheap. I found this steel tripod and this petite mug. The tripod is all steel and seems super sturdy (for now) so I think I’ll keep it in my car so I always have one with me when I’m out.