Here we go again.... :)

You know... I have to write here an article on how to make a PhD.... Just for kicks. I tell you, when I first started this thing, if I knew then what I know now..... Well, that's life :) a process of learning. And while I should be writing my thesis instead of these lines, hummm.... I'll just leave a quick compilation of some good news :D

Technology:
-Harvard spinout licenses 'black silicon' patents. This technology development brings a material that absorbs nearly twice the visible light of regular silicon and detects infrared light that is normally invisible to silicon based devices. This capability that allows for performance enhancements in applications ranging from simple light detection to advanced digital imaging and solar energy.
-Robot does household chores. I need one of these... Bad!

Science:
-Runners burn more calories – even at rest. When at rest the extra fuel was being "wasted", and turned into heat.... That explains a lot of things and why I burn so much...

Society:
World's heaviest man marries in Mexico. This is just curious...

Photography:
-Days of Autumn. Collected here are 34 photos of the season, from around the world.

Portugal:
-Colo do útero: Vacinação de adolescentes começa hoje. Isto é... dia 27 de Outubro :p
-Sócrates quer aumentar salário mínimo e diz que a sua relação com Cavaco está "excelente". Sei que sou optimista, mas gostaria de ver esses 450€....

Return of the wicked

I had a great time with my parents and sister traveling through England and Scotland. :D
I'm still not completly over the photos I took from Madrid two months ago and I already have over a 1000 to work on... :s
But to my disapointment.... when I returned I had a "revelation"... damn it!
On the Canon 350d (like most Canon cameras and other decent SLR's), you can set some parameters to increase / decrease contrast, sharpness, saturation and color tone. I completely forgot that I left that setting in the highest contrast... :s
No wonder I had always the buildings black and the clouds white! I tweeked and played with all the settings and I completely forgot that one!... arghhh....... now I have a lot of work to fix them digitally, plus I probably won't get the detail to the levels I wanted :(
The compression towards the edges of the histogram shows me no mercy.... :S School-boy errors...

The only good thing about the photos is that my style is developing towards high contrast situations anyway, hard light and such, at least in portraits....
Once I have a concret, defined style of photography, I might be known for this. :p

Here are some samples. Madrid first:

And England / Scotland, untreated:

Portfolio Update!

Finally! My first lightroom galleries are on-line!
After some long weeks, working in hiding, lurking around the net to find a decent template, costumizing it.... well, I know it doesn't look much, but it was a big effort.
I will look into customizing even further, so that it resembles more and more like my webpage.
Now on with the news!

Technology
US satellite to test missile defence technologies, and they where complaning about the chinese test when they knocked down a satelite.
Green nanotechnology is easy. "There is no need to compromise—you can get greener technologies, lower cost and higher performance simultaneously"
Paper-Thin Flatwire Disappears Under Paint. Wired world is now flat.
Condemned To Google Hell. What a scary story...

Society
A new university for women is opening in Riyadh! Now this is good news, but Saudi Arabia still remains a country where women cannot vote, drive, dress as they like or go where they please.
Can Europe combat terrorism and maintain human rights? I think so, what about you?
China to Force Rain Ahead of Olympics. I have got to see this.

Medicine
Lost memories could be restored by 'rewiring' brain.

Science
Mystery prehistoric fossil verified as giant fungus. It's a big big world....
But this one is bigger: Found 20 light years away: the New Earth.

Economy
Under $3000: The Race To Build Really Cheap Cars. I bet the chinese will invade the market with this... imagine going to a 1€ chinese store and buying a cheap car for christmas :p
Now I am concerned about the environmental impact of such iniciative...
Affordable solar power brings light to India. Since 2003, the $1.5 million programme has helped 16,600 Indians living in the southern state of Karnataka buy solar power systems for their homes and small businesses.

Humor
Today's post will reflect my cheeful mood in photography :D