Rafman’s reflections on Google street view

Thanks to my brother Frank, I got a chance to read “IMG MGMT: The Nine Eyes of Google Street View” by Jon Rafman over on Art Fag City. Mr. Rafman, whose new book entitled Sixteen Google Street Views probably contains images similar to those in this essay, has a marvelous essay discussing the images he’s found among the Google images from street view. Highly recommended.

Eye Glasses

I need ‘em. I can see things at a distance quite easily but, when it comes to near vision, I carry 2.50 magnification reading glasses. In this context, because I’d read about Freeverse’s app, Eye Glasses, it was one of the first apps I acquired.

The Eye Glasses app is ideal for farsighted individuals, those with reading glasses or bifocals, senior citizens and anyone that just needs to see more clearly. Both for convenience and in Emergencies, the Eye Glasses app is one more task the iPhone can do — and it’s always in your pocket.

Eye Glasses uses the iPhone 3GS autofocusing camera to clearly display text or imagery. To use Eye Glasses, choose between 2x, 4x, 6x or 8x magnification and hold the iPhone camera about five inches away from the item you want to see magnified!

I’ve used Eye Glasses only a few times in the first 10 days of having it on my iPhone. Most of those instances have been for the purposes of play, but I imagine I’ll be glad to have it several times in the future (e.g., removing a splinter).

I was somewhat surprised to see that I couldn’t find an information button on the app’s screens. Probably that omission is by design, but I haven’t deduced why it was designed without that function.

Link to Freeverse’s page about Eye Glasses.

apps series

As a consequence of my recent acquisition of an iPhone (3GS, 32 gb, 3.1.2), I’m learning about apps. I thought I’d post irregularly about what I’ve found interesting among these products. I’ll have to see how the series evolves, but I expect that it’ll include both quick reviews, comments, observations about the genre, and such.

Although the posts will be associated with the technology category, I’m going to give the series a category of its own, also. In keeping with what I see as current usage, I decided not to capitalize the category name.

Of course, folks are welcome to critique my observations and reviews. Note, however, that I shall monitor comments and, as I don’t want the posts to turn into an advertising opportunity for spammers (even if they are pushing good products), I’ll tag anything that looks suspicious to me. So, to keep addresses off the blacklists, I recommend that developers limit comments about their products.

Security blogger: Don’t bank on Windows

According to Brian Krebs, who writes about computer security for the Washington Post, people—especially bankers—should not use computers that have a Windows operating system for banking transactions. He explained his reasoning in a blog entry entitled, “Avoid Windows Malware: Bank on a Live CD” that appeared 12 October 2009. Here’s his lead:

An investigative series I’ve been writing about organized cyber crime gangs stealing millions of dollars from small to mid-sized businesses has generated more than a few responses from business owners who were concerned about how best to protect themselves from this type of fraud.

The simplest, most cost-effective answer I know of? Don’t use Microsoft Windows when accessing your bank account online.

Mr. Krebs’ recommendation is based on what he learned while investigating thefts of $10s to $100s of thousands around the US. He explained that all of the thefts had one common element: “They succeeded because the bad guys were able to plant malicious software that gave them complete control over the victim’s Windows computer.”

Mr. Krebs explains that he is not the only person making such recommendations and provides links to other agencies and individuals who have arrived at the same conclusion. He also offers solutions, but you should read them from this column. Get there by following this link.

Newsy

Newsy seem like a worthwhile idea: Aggregate news coverage from multiple sources, leading to a meta-level understanding.

One’s got to wonder, of course, what rules Newsy editors will follow in selecting sources to aggregate. For example, one could select only from a certain subset of sources and, thus, spin the news in that way. This was the problem with many literature reviews in science, a problem that was address by the development of methods for integrative literature reviews or meta-analyses.

More about "Newsy;" posted with vodpod.

Voting ends soon

Voting in Project 10¹⁰⁰ (i.e., “Project 10 to the 100th”), Google’s effort to promote good-doing works, ends tomorrow. Time to get over there and do the duty.

Lucinda Williams was here

Lucinda Williams

Lucinda Williams played the C’ville Pavillion 26 September, rocking the appreciative crowd and the rain. It was the third in Pat’s summer concert series, though summer’s officially ended now, and definitely worth the price of admission.

Ms. Williams ordered the set of songs chronologically by album, starting with Rambling and progressing to Little Honey, announcing each before performing it. It included “I Lost It,” “Something About What Happens When we Talk,” “Drunken Angel,” “Tears of Joy,” and “It’s a Long Way to the Top” as well as many more songs than I can remember.

She wore a multi-fabric ballcap with a bill that hid her eyes. She announced her marriage one week earlier, and she brought a couple onto the stage, where the man asked the woman to marry him.

Ms. Williams’ band, Buick 6, performed a brief set of its own before backing her. Initially I thought we were going to get an arty, indulgent rock sound, but after a couple of songs I began to enjoy their work. They were very tight and strong.

Rain fell throughout the performance. It ran off the Pavillion’s fabric roof on both sides and soaked the seating in the grassy area at the back. Probably the weather reduced the size of the crowd. Fortunately, Pat had secured row-2 seats for us.

Talent at the beginning

Emily Elbert’s talent is very impressive. I just stumbled on her because of a cover of Joni Mitchell’s “Help Me,” and I bought her debut album within minutes. Great guitar. Good lyrics. Fine singing. Sheesh! Here’s a link to her Web site, and here’s a video of her cover of Ms. Mitchell’s song, but also see her covers of others’ songs (e.g., the late M. Jackson’s “Thriller,” John Lennon’s “Oh Darling”) and then listen to her originals.