tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226725282024-03-12T19:45:29.842-04:00Jason Clay's Digital BrainTrying to figure out what to do with this blog after all these years.Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13182071472814274729noreply@blogger.comBlogger174125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22672528.post-90484407837958209232013-02-02T00:14:00.002-05:002013-02-02T00:14:19.050-05:00A Long Overdue Update<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHES656Ecuw82OZGfEnUlwOthKDnGlBIOII7lsY0Ay94zCWH-eNj2g__coEe2iVX-xpk4iWoSrJQRW8uVQJCxrW6zpfare3HgmFVnCZ48W3vmoWI7lhenbrEf7Gbm5MMnumVnR/s1600/coast_to_coast_medal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHES656Ecuw82OZGfEnUlwOthKDnGlBIOII7lsY0Ay94zCWH-eNj2g__coEe2iVX-xpk4iWoSrJQRW8uVQJCxrW6zpfare3HgmFVnCZ48W3vmoWI7lhenbrEf7Gbm5MMnumVnR/s320/coast_to_coast_medal.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I won this medal for completing runDisney's<br />Coast to Coast Challenge by finishing a<br />half marathon at Walt Disney World and<br />Disneyland in the same calendar year.</td></tr>
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It's been nearly two and a half years since my last update and lots of things have changed. I figured it was finally time to do something new here. When I sat down to write a new post, I could barely even remember how to log in. Once I did, Blogger had completely changed the interface, and it even forced me to update my template because the one I had customized was apparently completely out of date it didn't even work with the system anymore.<br />
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So now that I'm finally in and typing... what's new? Well, probably the most dramatic change in the intervening years is I have become a runner. If you had told me three years ago I'd be a runner, I would have laughed squarely in your face. I've lost about 45 pounds, so I can breathe easily after walking up a flight of stairs. I've run distances on my own two feet that are even still hard for me to comprehend. I've simply taken it in stages. <br />
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In the summer of 2010, I began climbing at my favorite mountain, Stone Mountain, on a regular basis (two or three times a week, and I even stuck to it through the winter months) and that's how I shed the early bulk. In March of 2011, I kicked it up a notch to running in my own neighborhood. My first time out of the gate, I ran 1.4 miles. The next time I ran, I doubled it. From then on, it was a head game. Once I increased my distance I had no excuse to do it again because I <i>knew</i> I could do it.<br />
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I ran my first official 5K on May 14, 2011. It was the Brookhaven Bolt. I immediately wanted a bigger challenge. After buying a race bib for Atlanta's famed Peachtree Road Race (they had already sold out by the time I wanted in), I ran my first 10K just two months later on July 4. I just recently ran my first official half marathon in January of this year at Walt Disney World, and the next weekend I ran my second one at Disneyland, completing <a href="http://www.rundisney.com/" target="_blank">runDisney's</a> Coast to Coast Challenge within just eight days.<br />
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Running has changed my life. It's improved my mood and allowed me to handle stress more easily. I dare say I wouldn't be in the job I'm in now if I wasn't running regularly. I've met great people that helped to inspire me to higher and higher levels. Running has challenged me to think about other aspects of my life. If I am capable of running 13.1 miles, what else can I do? It's been an amazing two years and I will continue to go onward and upward (Excelsior!).Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13182071472814274729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22672528.post-20339536169155114462010-07-23T01:35:00.003-04:002013-02-01T23:11:02.561-05:00Ed Turner and Number 9Over the last two years I've had the pleasure of seeing the shows of this band, Ed Turner and Number 9, a Beatles cover band in Augusta, GA. About a year ago I connected with the video crew and began recording the shows. Just recently, I was given a crack at editing their March 13, 2010 show. I've had tremendous fun doing it. Take a look at their rendition of Oh! Darling, just one of many songs I've heard them play. Many thanks to Ed Turner, the band, and Lance Jones for having faith that I could put this thing together. The band will perform their last set of shows this August 13, 14 and 21 as they perform the Beatles' ultimate album, Let it Be in its entirety. Enjoy.<br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Q5GQtPVPv0M" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13182071472814274729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22672528.post-13668900535780262602010-06-09T16:42:00.005-04:002010-06-09T17:08:26.296-04:00My New iMac and Adobe Premiere Pro<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-C7SRoVCZhJ-gGlO7ksycfr2NYwG8I4InaosSiyYkwmZ8lWBXRhpVin0hsg3jnXTzmUJ1dztPzbxrdgOjPQkY50YCQtel4WFzrJ38pE51ojSqZGeBqvatp9R_ypNqlf2udstS/s1600/Screen-shot-2010-06-09-at-4.38.gif"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTp7FsAdg4AdQvR-j1CZCaRqLaQOo2bcEoGgK8iIhXynEsk4ipTCPusdWo6cFgCM7vYIPsXevmLOrrnkSRY0l1D3mRBktvSeezQzRHTPl1Z6nGv3IUz0WKZdYVO9HJvlrxNpfe/s1600/Screen-shot-2010-06-09-at-4.51.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTp7FsAdg4AdQvR-j1CZCaRqLaQOo2bcEoGgK8iIhXynEsk4ipTCPusdWo6cFgCM7vYIPsXevmLOrrnkSRY0l1D3mRBktvSeezQzRHTPl1Z6nGv3IUz0WKZdYVO9HJvlrxNpfe/s400/Screen-shot-2010-06-09-at-4.51.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480880099798582882" /></a><br />Well, I really feel like I've hit the reset button on my computer life. I'm back on a Mac for the first time in five years, so I'm learning the new (to me!) OSX operating system and figuring out how to get around generally. I also took the plunge and got the Adobe Master Collection of software, which includes the standard design programs that I use (PhotoShop, Illustrator, DreamWeaver, InDesign among others) and also includes a very important program that will propel me on in my path to video recording and editing: Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.<div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-C7SRoVCZhJ-gGlO7ksycfr2NYwG8I4InaosSiyYkwmZ8lWBXRhpVin0hsg3jnXTzmUJ1dztPzbxrdgOjPQkY50YCQtel4WFzrJ38pE51ojSqZGeBqvatp9R_ypNqlf2udstS/s1600/Screen-shot-2010-06-09-at-4.38.gif"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-C7SRoVCZhJ-gGlO7ksycfr2NYwG8I4InaosSiyYkwmZ8lWBXRhpVin0hsg3jnXTzmUJ1dztPzbxrdgOjPQkY50YCQtel4WFzrJ38pE51ojSqZGeBqvatp9R_ypNqlf2udstS/s400/Screen-shot-2010-06-09-at-4.38.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480883469191125858" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 59px; height: 56px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTp7FsAdg4AdQvR-j1CZCaRqLaQOo2bcEoGgK8iIhXynEsk4ipTCPusdWo6cFgCM7vYIPsXevmLOrrnkSRY0l1D3mRBktvSeezQzRHTPl1Z6nGv3IUz0WKZdYVO9HJvlrxNpfe/s1600/Screen-shot-2010-06-09-at-4.51.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTp7FsAdg4AdQvR-j1CZCaRqLaQOo2bcEoGgK8iIhXynEsk4ipTCPusdWo6cFgCM7vYIPsXevmLOrrnkSRY0l1D3mRBktvSeezQzRHTPl1Z6nGv3IUz0WKZdYVO9HJvlrxNpfe/s1600/Screen-shot-2010-06-09-at-4.51.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTp7FsAdg4AdQvR-j1CZCaRqLaQOo2bcEoGgK8iIhXynEsk4ipTCPusdWo6cFgCM7vYIPsXevmLOrrnkSRY0l1D3mRBktvSeezQzRHTPl1Z6nGv3IUz0WKZdYVO9HJvlrxNpfe/s1600/Screen-shot-2010-06-09-at-4.51.jpg"></a><div>Most Adobe products appear on the surface to be very simple, and easy to use, but with time you learn that the programs are deep and capable of many, many subtle functions. I found Premiere to be deep from the get-go. I suppose it has to be. Immediately, just to get video clips to load into the program, I'm dealing with sequence settings. What the heck are sequence settings?!? Thankfully, it comes with extensive support in the form of the help menu. There are also oodles of videos at <a href="http://tv.adobe.com/show/learn-premiere-pro-cs5/">Adobe TV</a> that go over the basic functions. They seem to be clips from a larger body of tutorial videos at <a href="http://www.lynda.com/">lynda.com</a>. Presumably this is a pay service to see the full length/in-depth tutorials. Perhaps I'll do that at some point, but the simple free stuff is all I need right now.</div></div>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13182071472814274729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22672528.post-25581600418475660752010-05-06T20:36:00.003-04:002010-05-06T20:57:54.094-04:00It's a Mac, Mac, Mac, Mac world?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnUhk9X8dPZyFEQEc0xXDA0u4baC_h4cNW76YLMVuijKc_NtBLBVORVhNbSLKTA6HWR7x5SuYhZKE6Q3pyhS4DruIJazl7kA9KdEDU4SwffocQyTIixtB3So_IxeguEbCQrYqp/s1600/imac.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnUhk9X8dPZyFEQEc0xXDA0u4baC_h4cNW76YLMVuijKc_NtBLBVORVhNbSLKTA6HWR7x5SuYhZKE6Q3pyhS4DruIJazl7kA9KdEDU4SwffocQyTIixtB3So_IxeguEbCQrYqp/s200/imac.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468325648709118946" border="0" /></a><br />It's official! I've ordered my first Mac and it's on the road, being shipped to me as we speak (well, as I type this anyway). I'm really excited. I never thought I would buy one for myself. On the one hand, I'm a PC person. "Why," you might ask, "in the world would you buy a Mac, then?" Well, I'm pretty comfortable using Macs. I did design work at some design agencies several years ago, and they are all pretty much Mac based. Second, I am getting into video editing. I bought an HD video camera a little over a month ago and I need a new computer with which to edit. My PC laptop that I bought back in 2005 just isn't cutting it anymore. Plus, Macs are apparently better than PCs for video editing.<br /><br />Sure there are down sides, but I made numerous trips to the local Mac store and grilled the salespeople over many, many features. I've settled on an iMac, which is basically everything built into one piece of hardware. The case you are used to sitting on the floor next to your feet, or up on your desk is built into the back of a 27" wide screen monitor. Something the salespeople clued me into in the last few days before I made my purchase was the $170 3-year service plan that covers any faults as long as there is no visible damage to the outside of the computer (for example, if you are careless and drop your computer, they won't cover that, but if a component in the computer goes bad, it's covered). I thought for three years, that wasn't half bad.<br /><br />Also, the One to One education service is a deal! For $99.00 you get one hour each week <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">for a year</span> to go into the Mac store and have one on one training for any aspect of the Mac and its software. At first I thought that was <span style="font-style: italic;">per session</span>. THAT is a deal! I'll be up there <span style="font-weight: bold;">every week</span> learning <span style="font-style: italic;">something</span>. Just learning a new shortcut, or some obscure functionality will make it worth it.<br /><br />I have some footage of my trip to St. Louis with Sarah that I can't wait to edit together, and I also have a pretty big project that's related to my job in the works. I'm pretty excited about that. I can't wait!<br /><br />Many thanks to my buddy Andy for pointing out several things I need to keep in mind as I went into my purchase.Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13182071472814274729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22672528.post-34908402733694578742010-04-23T17:23:00.004-04:002010-04-23T17:27:39.429-04:00Kitty ZaphodOn Wednesday, Sept 16th, 2009, the week of the Atlanta flooding, I added a new little friend to my life. I need to back up several days to tell the whole story, though.<br /><br />The week before the flooding, I walked out of my apartment on a bright, sunny morning, on my way to work, and small, sudden motion in my peripheral vision caught my attention. There were two little kittens, one gray and white, the other black and white, with almost identical markings. One was sitting in a shrub, the other had just leapt from it to safety under my house.<br /><br />Where the front wall of my house meets the ground, there is one layer of exposed cinder blocks. One of these blocks is turned on its side to provide ventilation under the house. Once upon a time, someone built a small concrete wall just in front the ventilation brick to box it in and keep rainwater out. This is where the little kitten jumped to for safety, and his little sibling soon followed. They scrambled under the house, and then poked their heads back out to look up at me. As soon as I approached them, they withdrew through the cinder block, under the house. They were cute, but I figured I wouldn’t interfere with nature, and proceeded on to work.<br /><br />Later that afternoon, <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHkS0i4VhwN5ARPZ8yfCq8e3KUOyzUleu1Bc79LV4_811bd8VeViRLbbdztCmK0d7nYq0qQFZ4w1v55gScyyG6gsixM9xYM-oO_Dkq7Iqu7wSnkGmD7eiyqVK-ml1I1pEdHtK/s1600/zaphod+and+sibling.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 183px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHkS0i4VhwN5ARPZ8yfCq8e3KUOyzUleu1Bc79LV4_811bd8VeViRLbbdztCmK0d7nYq0qQFZ4w1v55gScyyG6gsixM9xYM-oO_Dkq7Iqu7wSnkGmD7eiyqVK-ml1I1pEdHtK/s200/zaphod+and+sibling.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463447240695845010" border="0" /></a>I got a picture message on my cell phone from my neighbor with a note that said something like, “You have some kittens outside your house.” The picture had the black and white kitten, with a crème colored kitten I hadn’t seen before, so we were looking at a total of three.<br /><br />Over the next several days, my neighbor and I kept tabs on them, and saw the mother (who must have been wild) nursing them a few times. Anytime we approached she quickly scurried out of sight. My neighbor even set some cat food out for them.<br /><br />Then the rains came.<br /><br />And they came even more.<br /><br />Noah himself showed up and asked if there were any cats around, as he’d need them for the ark. (Just kidding.)<br /><br />One night, I was sitting in my recliner, talking on the phone and I heard these tiny, itty-bitty mews coming from outside. I set down my phone, and opened my front door to torrential rain. At this point my front yard had begun to pool up, so what should have been the “blat, blat, blat” of rain hitting solid ground was a loud trickling sound as if 30 streams were running through my front yard. I stuck my head out the door and looked to the left, down at the concrete wall surrounding the ventilation brick (henceforth known as “the box”), and didn’t see anything. I absentmindedly stepped out onto the small, square, concrete pad that is my front porch and looked at the deluge. I stood there a few seconds before I heard another mew, and when I looked back at the box I noticed a little crème kitten, almost the same color as my house (which was why I hadn’t see him to begin with) clinging to the inside of the box. He was facing away from me, and because of the rain, he hadn’t heard me. I thought to myself, “Aw. He’s never seen rain, and he’s amazed at the water pooling up around the box.” It was a good five inches deep. I don’t know why, but I still decided to let mother nature take its course, went back inside and returned to my phone call.<br /><br />About fifteen minutes passed before I heard the mewing again. I went back outside to check on the little fellow again. This time I leaned a little closer and saw the inside of the box had begun to flood. There was already an inch and a half of water pooling up. That’s when I realized the kitten was stranded on that little wall with water both outside and inside the box. He wasn’t amazed by the rain, he was terrified.<br /><br />Some sort of instinct kicked in. One that said “save him.” However, I knew I needed to lay a little groundwork first. I went back inside and found a cardboard moving box and put a towel in it. I grabbed another towel and threw it around my shoulders. I put some flip-flops on (because who knew what was lurking in the water I’d have to step in to get to him).<br /><br />Now, at this point I have to tell you that I already wanted a cat, but had put it off for a long time because of the expense, and did I really want to commit to a little life and be responsible for it for years, and years.<br /><br />So, if you will, imagine me standing there on my concrete-pad-front-porch, rain coming down all around me, with my blue jeans rolled up to my calves, flip-flops on my feet, and a towel around my neck, staring at this little kitten when the thought pops into my head: “I may be about to meet my cat. This may be the first time I touch him.” All of a sudden this seemed like the making of a momentous occasion and I’d put a lot of pressure on my own shoulders.<br /><br />Time seemed to expand. Every move I made seemed to take forever. I remember stepping to the frigid water, which went up and over my ankle, and wading over to him. He still hadn’t heard me because the rain was so loud. I noticed that, even though he was under the overhang, he was covered in tiny droplets of water as if the morning dew had settled on him.<br /><br />I reached out that long, endless reach with my left arm and my hand grasped his midsection.<br /><br />Time jerked into fast-forward. So did the little kitten. He thrashed, and spat and hissed all at the same time. He flailed his little legs (with some mighty sharp claws at the ends of them, I might add) as he tried to wheel around on his “attacker”. A moment later, I had lifted him to the towel around my shoulder and draped it around him. He instantly went silent and I waded back to my front porch, went inside my house, and straight to the moving box. I lowered him onto the towel and then put the lid on the box, thinking that this would make him feel safe.<br /><br />I went about my business for a while, hoping that the little guy would calm down. I eventually went back to the box and lifted the lid only to hear more hissing and spitting. The box was even lurching around as he thrashed. He had a lot of strength for such a small little fur ball. He eventually calmed down and then burrowed under the towel. In hindsight, I think he was scared because he couldn’t see anything and didn’t know what was going on. Once he could see, he was fine.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAOaCj4FBNMfrWDhlJD1MZfT8VU7kHPYBE00D1ihBCSyBA41y5-O1EE9fPrvyg3LXm97_Jaudp_l1h5WEwnpJTnkhg_urvGXWEtln6eysfeQJ_L7gX6IM2OmdqoBTklZ_memd/s1600/zaphod.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 109px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAOaCj4FBNMfrWDhlJD1MZfT8VU7kHPYBE00D1ihBCSyBA41y5-O1EE9fPrvyg3LXm97_Jaudp_l1h5WEwnpJTnkhg_urvGXWEtln6eysfeQJ_L7gX6IM2OmdqoBTklZ_memd/s200/zaphod.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463447639247793522" border="0" /></a>I let him set there for an hour or so, before picking him up and holding him in the crook of my arm. He snuggled right up, apparently relieved to have some warmth.<br /><br />Zaphod, as I’ve named him, has grown into quite a playful cat and I’ve taught him some tricks I thought only dogs could learn. He sits, stays, stands, jumps up on his kitty condo, and crawls inside all on command (with the promise of a treat, of course). I’m teaching him to walk in a circle right now, and he seems to be picking that up pretty easily.Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13182071472814274729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22672528.post-84867216325776042322009-11-16T12:12:00.003-05:002013-02-01T23:13:27.022-05:00I have a cat!Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13182071472814274729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22672528.post-57208224362625525672009-02-07T21:45:00.002-05:002009-02-07T22:01:55.839-05:00Wonky WebsiteSo... it's been a long time... let's face it... a really long time since I posted anything of substance. Honestly, the only reason I'm doing anything now is because I was confronted with a complication with my website hosting. My website was shut down (yet again) because of high volume internet traffic. Apparently someone thought my pics from Dragon*Con 2007, and some Egypt photos were cool enough to post a link to them from a high-traffic website. My site went down and I had to take the photos off before I could restore service. I decided to take most of my content down, lest that kind of thing happen again, and again, and again. I will rework my content, and then repost it at some future date. In the meantime, I wanted to make at least my blog available, but even that is in a stripped down format. So long personalize graphics. <br /><br />There actually is lots to tell you, including the fact that I no longer have internet at home (a personal decision to free up time) which in itself makes it difficult to make updates.<br /><br />Well, I have to go. Writing from a Panera Bread, and they are closing... so I'll write again sometime in the future. Hope you are all well. Hello Gillian!Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13182071472814274729noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22672528.post-73472812823787464622008-11-04T09:25:00.001-05:002008-11-04T09:25:39.919-05:00One of the greatest spoofs in a long time.<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Qq8Uc5BFogE&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Qq8Uc5BFogE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13182071472814274729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22672528.post-20458224352570544082008-04-16T16:10:00.002-04:002008-04-16T16:12:45.251-04:00That's saying something."We know that the safest place in the world to work is where the Lord wants you to work."<br /><br />These words were uttered by missionary Barry Mosier after he and his family survived a plane crash in the Congo. Read about it at CNN <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/04/16/congo.crash.survivors/index.html">here</a>.Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13182071472814274729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22672528.post-29464153041663137822008-04-05T21:55:00.002-04:002008-04-05T22:00:57.333-04:00Jason Dog Sits His Favorite Pups!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/winston-735564.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/winston-735555.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />This is Winston. Isn't he cute?Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13182071472814274729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22672528.post-11344078530463635562008-04-04T17:47:00.004-04:002008-04-04T17:50:51.737-04:00SpringingThe birds are chirping, the sun is shining, and the temperature is rising. Must be spring. I took some pictures of a beautiful apple tree in blossom. Be sure to check them out <a href="http://www.jasonclay.com/08-04-02.html">here</a>.Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13182071472814274729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22672528.post-487654480950824512008-03-18T21:35:00.003-04:002008-03-18T21:36:57.659-04:00So long old friend<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/2008/SHOWBIZ/books/03/18/obit.clarke/art.clarke.obit.gi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/2008/SHOWBIZ/books/03/18/obit.clarke/art.clarke.obit.gi.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Aurthur C. Clark is dead at the age of 90.<br /><br />See the CNN story <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/books/03/18/obit.clarke/index.html">here</a>.Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13182071472814274729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22672528.post-25510440484310465132008-03-05T21:43:00.002-05:002008-03-05T22:42:32.093-05:00Dungeness, New Designs, and Narthex PaintingSo, there's all kinds of stuff I have done over the last few months... most of which I wish I had written about, but have long since forgotten. I looked back through my photos and found some interesting things, so that's how I'll approach this. Photos help me to remember things. :-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_0446-747764.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_0446-747761.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>First, I'm going to go back to October to revisit my trip to Cumberland Island. The guys in my family took my grandfather there to celebrate his 79th birthday while the ladies stayed at home and enjoyed doing whatever it was they did.<br /><br />There's all sorts of amazing things to see on Cumberland because it is 98% natural. There are only a few homes there, a handful of unpaved roads, and a few other assorted structures, but by and large it is a rather natural island. Wild animals roam the place and you are 100% guaranteed to run into one if you wander the island for a few hours. That's a WILD horse in the photo to the left, not your usual friendly Mr. Ed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_0476-733550.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_0476-733546.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>One of my favorite features is Dungeness, a mansion in ruins that was once occupied by the Carnegie family. I made one of my time-lapse videos of the place, which you can check out <a href="http://www.jasonclay.com/dungenesswalkaround.html">here.</a> It's not the best one I've ever done, but it may give you a glimpse of it.<br /><br />Here you can see me, my uncle, my brother, my grandfather, and my cousin standing in front of Dungeness.<br /><br />I just wrapped a couple of design jobs for Central Presbyterian Church in downtown Atlanta. The church just celebrated its 150th anniversary and had hired me to produce a few items for them. The first piece I did was a banner. They had several produced, <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_0561-752283.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_0561-752279.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>six or seven I think, and put them up all around the church. The church is in a rather busy area across from the capital building, so many, many eyes saw the banners. I took some time one Saturday afternoon back in the fall to take some pictures. I think they have since been taken down.<br /><br />The second piece I did for them was a batch of greeting cards based on cut paper banners designed and produced by <a href="http://ellenphillipsart.com/liturgical_art.html">Ellen Phillips</a>, an artist and member of Central Pres. Her banners are amazing! The first banner is a cityscape design (which was also used on the aforementioned banner). The second had a tree theme. And the third one was an active design with birds in <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_1250-705309.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_1250-705306.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>flight. I took the preliminary sketches she had for these banners and converted them into a format suitable for printing. I laid out these designs on four different greeting cards. One card for each banner, plus one with all three on the front (pictured at left).<br /><br />The third and final piece I did for them was very exciting to me. I remembered a technique called laser cutting from one of my previous places of employment. I had never done the technique myself, but was familiar with it. Basically a laser machine cuts a design into paper. By using a laser, instead of a traditional bladed die, you can achieve much more intricate designs. I realized that this process would be a great way to have a miniaturized <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_1249-784760.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_1249-784756.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>version of Ellen's banners. At first I thought we would use this technique for the greeting cards, but that proved to be cost prohibitive. Instead the Central Pres. folks decided to get a small run of them to use as gifts for those involved in making their 150th anniversary celebration a reality. I scaled the three-up design to a larger format (18"x10"), tweaked the artwork for the laser cutting process, and then sent it off to the laser-cutting vendor. The resulting artwork, I have to say, was pretty cool. I hear that they eventually framed it on a maroon (one of the church's colors) matte board, which I was able to simulate with a maroon wall (see the photo to the left). All of the maroon areas inside the edges of the paper are actually holes cut out by a laser.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_0651-742082.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_0651-742079.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The narthex painting project I have been working on at my own church has finally been completed. I think it took around six months to finally finish. We had a great crew of church members working on it the whole time. I don't have any pictures of the finished piece, but the picture to the left shows it very close to completion. There are three stripes, representing the trinity, that run the entire length of the hallway. The wall is divided into sections, one for each season of the Christian year, each colored according to its appropriate liturgical color (By the way... the liturgical colors for Christmas aren't green and red. They are gold and white). Important days in the Christian year are denoted by some sort of icon. At some point I'll post more detailed pictures. Perhaps I'll even dedicate a whole journal entry to this project. After all that work I think it deserves it.Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13182071472814274729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22672528.post-15540680452295162862008-02-17T16:40:00.002-05:002008-02-17T16:45:34.483-05:00Falling Off the Face of the EarthYes, I admit it. I have fallen off the face of the Earth. I am floating through space and enjoying the view of the stars and other planets. The solar wind is nice this time of year, don't you think?<br /><br />In actuality my mind has been on many other things in recent months and I just haven't had the time or inclination to update my website. Though, I did fit a graphic redesign in a few weeks ago. Did you notice? <br /><br />To Gillian and Aaron: Thank you for checking in with me here and there. I am sorry I haven't responded in a more direct way. I promise I will pick up the phone soon to say hi. <br /><br />Will write again soon.Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13182071472814274729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22672528.post-32333592824237471142007-11-23T20:11:00.000-05:002007-11-23T21:43:25.968-05:00Wildlife and Soup KitchensToday began like no other day in my life.<br /><br />I started house sitting two days ago at a remote north Atlanta home that is situated on the banks of the Chattahoochee River. I've been taking care of 'Joe', a friendly, yet instinctual canine. We've wandered the rather large property together several times for some exercise, played fetch with a large stick in an expansive field (though I'm usually fetching the stick from Joe's mouth as he doesn't <span style="font-style: italic;">quite</span> get the concept), and napping in the house.<br /><br />Joe startled me awake this morning with some rather ferocious barking. I bumbled sleepy-eyed toward him and when I looked out the window I saw a canine-shaped specter drifting across the backyard. Joe kept barking at the top of his lungs, and clearly the creature heard him, because its large ears perked up and its head turned to look at the two of us as it continued to cruise across the yard.<br /><br />Before leaving, Joe's owner warned me that the remote property had wild visitors from time to time, and among the most recent sightings were coyotes. The owner told me I would usually only hear them and that they would either howl or sound like dogs fighting. Of course it's a bad idea to let Joe out when they are around because his territorial instincts would kick in, he'd chase them down, and then find himself completely outmatched.<br /><br />So, here I am at five o'clock in the morning with Joe barking his head off, staring out the back window with a coyote staring right back at me. The coyote trotted off to the left and disappeared into the woods. Joe was on high alert for the rest of the morning.<br /><br />My encounters with wildlife had just begun, though. After I fed Joe and took him on an observed walk, I walked out to my car for an appointment. I had just cranked my car and headed up the driveway, when a LARGE buck crossed in front of me. I just stopped and stared.<br /><br />My 'appointment' was with a soup kitchen where I have been volunteering lately. Since my friend Ashley asked me to go with her a little over a month ago, I have been (almost) every Thursday to the <a href="http://www.opendoorcommunity.org/">Open Door Community</a> on Ponce de Leon Avenue near downtown Atlanta. Today was a Thanksgiving meal, which was quite a bit more elaborate than usual. For starters, there were at least three times the usual amount of volunteers. As you can imagine there were quite a bit more people to be served than normal too, so the place was packed to the gills with people. I think the final number served was 316. The food was also much better. I don't know where it came from... probably a local church, but it was all the traditional Thanksgiving food. Turkey, sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce, green beans, dressing and gravy, and much more.<br /><br />As usual, after all of the homeless people were served, the volunteers cleaned up, and then shared the leftovers together. Our meal is always preceded by a time of prayer, scripture reading and reflection. Today we learned that one of the regulars was found dead this morning outside a homeless shelter. No cause was given, but we prayed for him, his family, and the all other homeless people who live like he did.<br /><br />I came 'home' to find Joe giddy and excited to see me. We immediately went on one of our long walks and as we were strolled along the Chattahoochee, I saw a beautiful crane. We came back to the house, where we chilled out and watched some TV (some show about how to survive in the Sahara desert, where the host gutted a camel and used it for shelter [yuck!]), when I heard very soft howling through the living room windows. It seems the coyotes are still around.<br /><br />================================================<br />Links of Interest<br /><a href="http://www.nyike.com/the-2-dollar-trick"><br />Two Dollar Trick</a><br /><a href="http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1789288">Drumline Meets Revenge of the Nerds</a><br /><a href="http://llnw.content.jibjab.com/content/56c348ef80c8ad83eed2424a36fc66d36b76e20a">Save the Paper Towel Forests</a><br /><a href="http://www.metacafe.com/watch/914321/elevator_candid_must_see/">The Elevator of Conformity. How would YOU react?</a>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13182071472814274729noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22672528.post-67986078251893377422007-11-21T17:23:00.000-05:002007-11-21T17:47:57.823-05:00Please help!!! Creative interview questions needed.Tomorrow I am getting together with my family for a Thanksgiving meal, and I am planning to interview my family members for a kind of video time capsule. The interview will be taped and then stored away for viewing on a later date.<br /><br />My plan is to write down questions on a bunch of different scraps of paper, put them in a "hat", and draw 5 or six for each person interviewed.<br /><br />The trouble is I am having difficulty coming up with creative questions to ask (mainly because I procrastinated on coming up with the questions until tonight). I could really use your help in making up questions.<br /><br /><b>What are things that would be meaningful for you to ask your family members? If you could ask a deceased family member or friend a question, what would it be? In regards to family history, what would you ask your older relatives? Think outside the box. Off-the-wall questions are welcome. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Please submit your question by posting a comment below.</span></b><br /><br />Thanks for your help.Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13182071472814274729noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22672528.post-6346757375232742842007-10-29T22:36:00.000-04:002007-10-29T23:04:25.232-04:00The Highland Games<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jasonclay.com/web%20photos/100_9934.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.jasonclay.com/web%20photos/100_9934.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Last weekend I went with a group of friends to The Highland Games at Stone Mountain Park. It's an annual Scottish festival with lots kilts, bagpipes, and beer.<br /><br />Some year I am actually going to watch the games. I know there's all kinds of competition, but somehow I never get around to seeing it. I did see one caber toss from a distance this year. That's pretty much where a guy tries to flip a telephone pole (okay, I exaggerate a little) end over end.<br /><br />I had my first (and probably last) experience eating haggis. It wasn't as bad as the hype, but it still wasn't fantastic. I can do without it.<br /><br />By the end of the festival, we all decided we would save up for a kilt (well, at $1,000 a pop, maybe not) and go back again next year. Next time I really, REALLY will watch the games. I promise.<br /><br />Check out some photos <a href="http://www.jasonclay.com/07-10-29.html">here</a>.<br /><br /><br><br /><div align="center"><br /><object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BVXGadjIA3U"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BVXGadjIA3U" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object></div>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13182071472814274729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22672528.post-15650313637534010802007-10-24T22:21:00.000-04:002007-10-24T23:13:12.025-04:00Star Trek Role ReversalRecently there has been a good bit of buzz in the sci-fi world about a new <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Trek</span> movie set during the era of the original series. Clearly the original actors can't play the roles at this point, so the characters have been recast. That's right! As sacreligious as it may sound, someone other than William Shatner will play Captain Kirk. And our pointy-eared friend Spock? Well, let's just say Leonard Nimoy can finally rest easy about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Am_Not_Spock">not being Spock</a>.<br /><br />A good part of the buzz has revolved around which up and coming actors will play these famous roles. Over the last few months the parts have been doled out to some familiar faces. I have to admit the choices seem pretty good. I am most interested in the casting of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0704270/">Zachary Quinto</a> (of <span style="font-style: italic;">Heroes</span> fame) as Spock.<br /><br />This afternoon I got to thinking about how strange it is to see these old, familiar roles filled by different actors. Then I wondered what it would be like if the tables were turned. What would it be like if the <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Trek</span> actors took on the roles of the up and coming actors? Here's the result:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jasonclay.com/images/st01_shatner.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://www.jasonclay.com/images/st01_shatner.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Here's William Shatner starring opposite Lindsay Lohan in <span style="font-style: italic;">Just My Luck </span>(in lieu of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1517976/">Chris Pine</a>, our new Captain Kirk). Yeah, that looks awkward to me too.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jasonclay.com/images/st02_nimoy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://www.jasonclay.com/images/st02_nimoy.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Watch out! Sinister power-stealing Sylar is now being played by Leonard Nimoy. This is going to be a major upgrade from the Vulcan nerve pinch.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jasonclay.com/images/st03_kelley.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://www.jasonclay.com/images/st03_kelley.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Next up, DeForest Kelley as Eomer from <span style="font-style: italic;">The Lord of the Rings</span> movies. He graciously stepped in to fill <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0881631/">Karl Urban's</a> armor. (He's our new McCoy!)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jasonclay.com/images/st04_doohan.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://www.jasonclay.com/images/st04_doohan.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Fan favorite Scotty is slated to be played by English actor <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0670408/">Simon Pegg</a>, who was recently in <span style="font-style: italic;">Shaun of the Dean</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Hot Fuzz</span>. So naturally James Doohan has been cast as top cop, Nicholas Angel.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jasonclay.com/images/st05_takei.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://www.jasonclay.com/images/st05_takei.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>What would the bridge of the Enterprise do without our favorite Asian helmsman, Hikaru Sulu? Never fear; the role will be filled by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0158626/">John Cho</a> from <span style="font-style: italic;">Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle. </span>I have to say that Kumar's "come hither" stare at Harold makes much more sense now!Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13182071472814274729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22672528.post-21730644432662848702007-10-24T00:18:00.000-04:002007-10-24T14:23:22.309-04:00Give me an "A"! Give me a "T"! Give me an "L"!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_9859-797623.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_9859-797619.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Lately I've been spending a lot of time at Stone Mountain Park. Specifically on the mountain itself as I have been climbing it nearly every day (except this week because I am house sitting... something I am coming to realize is the bane of my fitness).<br /><br />I've noticed all sorts of things from the U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey marker that is firmly cemented in place at the peak (which I ritualistically tap with my toe every time I get to the top) to the 20-foot, faded yellow letters that spell "ATLANTA" in front of the <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/atlanta_label-713826.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/atlanta_label-713821.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>building at the summit. Though I have no proof, I assume it was put there in the early days of aviation to guide pilots to the Atlanta airport. Indeed there is also the number "19" and an arrow that points just south of the city, which is where the airport is. I think this is incredibly interesting.<br /><br />Sadly, this label is deteriorating rapidly and there is likely no record of it ever being there. So, I guess this is my attempt at preserving this information for generations to come. Check out the images to the left. One image shows how I imagine the label must look from the air. I found the image of Stone Mountain on Google Maps and then superimposed the letters on top. The letters themselves are not <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_9865-766885.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_9865-766876.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>visible in the aerial photography. Another image shows how the last "A" in Atlanta appears if you are standing at the top of the mountain (it's animated with an outline to help you see it).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />==============================<br /><br />Links of Interest<br /><br /><a href="http://ufo.whipnet.org/creation/ancient.artifacts/">10 Bizarre Ancient Artifacts</a><br /><a href="http://www.projectcartoon.com/cartoon/1113/new">Windows Vista Explained</a><br /><a href="http://www.screenhead.com/reviews/the-10-most-sublimely-scary-scenes-in-cinema/">The 10 Most Sublimely Scary Scenes in Cinema</a><br /><a href="http://www.panoramas.dk/moon/apollo-11.html">Apollo 11 moon panorama</a>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13182071472814274729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22672528.post-62800925161389695532007-10-23T23:53:00.000-04:002007-10-24T01:56:11.381-04:00Opera at the new Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_9849-785340.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_9849-785335.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>My mom recently got tickets for the opera Turendot and asked me to join her. I am not normally a fan of opera, but one of my favorite pieces of music is a movement from this opera. It's called Nessen Dorma, and was famously sung by Luciano Pavarotti. I gladly accepted.<br /><br />We stopped off first at Top Spice, one of my favorite Thai restaurants. The mango chicken was just as good as I remembered it!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_9847-755734.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_9847-755731.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Then we were off to the opera. Cobb county's new performing arts center (or as they spell it, "centre") is the new home of the Atlanta opera, and is a fantastic building. My mother later shared with me that one of our old church members was the architect and wanted to know what we thought. Well, simply put, it was fantastic. I was greatly impressed by the use of some type of stone that was back lit. It reminded me of the alabaster from Egypt that vendors would shine a light through to show that it was genuine. Very beautiful.<br /><br />The show itself was much like I expected an opera to be. There really isn't much action on the stage. It's more just a bunch of folks singing, which just doesn't hold my attention. (Hey I'm from the internet generation. Having a short attention span is pretty much an epidemic at this point.) However, the fantastic costumes, sets, and lighting did catch my attention. They were fantastic! What really saved me in this opera were the projected translations. Thanks goodness for the translations, or I would have been lost. Then came the precious Nessen Dorma, the wonderful Tenor solo I was looking forward to. It was great, but it seemed so short compared to the rest of the opera. It was over before I really had begun to enjoy it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_9845-706805.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_9845-706802.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>All in all it was a good night. As we left I got my mom to take this jokey picture of me holding a "light saber". It is really just one of the lamps on the sidewalk in front of the center.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />============================<br /><br />Links of Interest<br /><br /><a href="http://www.channelfrederator.com/episode/TMM_20070906">Internet People</a> - An animated compilation of wacky stuff from the internet.<br /><a href="http://binarybonsai.com/archives/2006/08/15/the-wilhelm-scream-compilation/">Wilhelm Scream Compilation</a> - Hollywood's most famous stock-audio scream and all its uses.<br /><a href="http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/0709/lunation_ajc.gif">Lunation</a> - One photo of the moon every day during the lunar month - notice the "wobble" called libration. <a href="http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap070902.html">Source</a><br /><a href="http://www.cg-files.com/25-Reasons-you-might-be-a-hardcore-cg.html">25 Reasons You Might Be A Hardcore Graphic/Web Designer</a> - This is so true it's not funny.Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13182071472814274729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22672528.post-10954924814968493382007-10-23T23:21:00.001-04:002007-10-24T01:49:44.289-04:00Nana & Dindaddy's 60th Wedding Annivarsary<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_9841-742407.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_9841-742404.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>A few weeks ago I joined my grandparents and a few other family members on a trip to Augusta for a trip down memory lane. My grandparents were celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary and my mom thought it would be great to revisit a few of those years. My grandparents live in August in the late forties and into the fifties before moving to the Atlanta area because of a job transfer.<br /><br />We visited their old, small house, their church, my grandfather's Tri-State Tractor office (which is now a church), the home of my mom's childhood piano teacher, and one of their favorite restaurant destinations; Luigi's. It seems Luigi's had changed quite a bit over the years. While the food was good, apparently it used to be GREAT! I heard them remark so many times about how much times had changed. They remarked on how Augusta used to be a pretty good place for opportunity, but is now a rather depressed area.<br /><br />I did find out that my grandmother was a rather feisty young lady in those days. She explained how my grandfather's coworker kept telling her that one of the office secretaries was putting the moves on my grandfather. She became jealous and even walked a few miles to confront her in person about it. Fortunately the secretary wasn't there because my grandmother said she was going to berate her so bad my grandfather might have lost his job. As it turns out, the secretary was not flirting with my grandfather. She was messing around with my grandfather's coworker though... the one who was getting my grandmother all riled up in the first place. Turns out he was trying to get some of the guilt/pressure off of himself.<br /><br />We also visited the grave sites of two of my uncles. One of them, Michael, died in infancy in the 50's, and the other, Joe, passed away in 1995 in a car accident.<br /><br />Sadly we were unable to locate Michael's marker and were afraid it was lost. However, this is a "perpetual care" cemetery (something I had never heard of) and these sorts of things are not supposed to happen in a perpetual care cemetery. My grandfather, my uncle Ronnie and I went to the office and asked the undertaker about it. He sifted through a file and found the original sales slip for the marker, confirming that it was supposed to me there.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_9823-728506.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_9823-728499.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>We all headed back out to the plot where the marker was supposed to be. The undertaker surveyed the site for a few moments with a rather perplexed look on his face before pulling a ball point pen from his pocked. He stabbed the ground with it repeatedly. After a few stabs we all heard a metallic "clink". He found the marker, which was buried beneath two or three inches of sandy soil.<br /><br />The undertaker claimed that the marker was originally placed on a cement slab, which over time disintegrated and sank into the ground. I think that's a bit fishy, but my grandfather decided to upgrade to a granite slab anyhow to prevent this type of thing from happening again. None of the other markers that were placed on granite seemed to be sinking, so perhaps there's some truth to his story.<br /><br />Anyway, it was good to spend time with my grandparents and hear their stories. Some of them I had heard before, but it was great to hear them in context, at the places where they actually happened.<br /><br />=========================================<br /><br />Links of Interest<br /><br /><a href="http://pichaus.com/california-wildfires-from-space-2cv@">California fires from the space shuttle</a><br /><a href="http://www.chrisjordan.com/current_set2.php?id=?view=XXX_09NNN/">American Consumption</a> - An artist's visual representation of our wastefulness<br /><a href="http://www.wiggler.gr/wp-content/god_inbox_mac.jpg">God's email inbox</a><br /><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/25/the-best-thing-youll-see-today-john-p-harvard-goes-halo/">Harvard goes Halo</a> - Reminds me of the <a href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/1999/r2d2.html">R2-D2 prank</a> someone did at MIT in 1999.<br /><a href="http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003659135">Stephen Colbert Announces Run for White House!</a> - I can't wait to see how this turns out!Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13182071472814274729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22672528.post-21644802620624642062007-10-16T15:00:00.000-04:002007-10-16T15:12:21.657-04:00Ann Coulter... HACKED!Bwa hahahahahahaha. How funny. Someone hacked Ann Coulter's website yesterday and posted this article. Priceless! Though it's sad that it isn't true. Click the image for a larger version.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/coulter_fake-791159.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/coulter_fake-791140.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13182071472814274729noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22672528.post-74542611413682478982007-09-30T23:13:00.000-04:002007-09-30T23:38:16.840-04:00Unexpected connectionsLast week I did something I've never done before. I met somebody in person that I only previously communicated with through the internet. <br /><br />A guy named Justin contacted me through my website a few weeks ago and told me that he was working as a part of the <a href="http://cubitfoundation.org/">CUBIT Foundation,</a> which is a non-profit humanitarian organization that works all over the world. He mentioned that he had passed through Egypt and several times and wanted to know more about Garbage City, a place where Egyptians make their living by sorting through garbage. He found my website through a web search and likely found <a href="http://www.jasonclay.com/2006/06/graduation-at-etsc.html">this page</a>.<br /><br />In Garbage City they literally have garbage piled up in the streets, and often in the first floor of their apartment buildings. I personally saw people sitting on the piles sorting through the refuse. Unfortunately I didn't really have any solid connections to the organization, I was just a visitor myself, so I couldn't really help him. <br /><br />It turns out that in addition to going to Egypt a good bit, Justin is also from the Atlanta area and was going to be nearby over the next few days. I figured it would be okay if we met up in a public place to chat about our experiences and that way I could learn more about the CUBIT Foundation.<br /><br />Justin is a really bright young man. While he has worked all over Central and South America, he has made connections with people in Egypt in ways I could only dream of and is really living an amazing life when he is there. He told me that next year he would be spending an extended amount of time living in Giza, which I think is great! What an experience!<br /><br />Justin, if you read this: keep doing what you are doing. You are definitely going places, seeing things, meeting people and living experiences that few ever do. I can't help but admit that I am a little envious.Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13182071472814274729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22672528.post-39032006173202883882007-09-23T23:02:00.000-04:002007-09-24T22:06:30.691-04:00Painting the Narthex: Part 2Today after church a group of about eight or nine of us started the second phase of the <a href="http://www.jasonclay.com/2007/08/painting-narthex.html">narthex painting project</a>. Previously we had done several base coats of the various colors along the wall, but today we got to add those funky, ribbon-like lines that run the length of the hall.<br /><p class="MsoNormal">On Friday I did some test painting on the first section, which represents Advent, and then chalked out the rest of the design so others could help by filling in the lines. It is amazing what a few hours difference makes. In no time this project was finally taking the form that we had originally envisioned. The curving lines add so much activity to what was once a bland, boring hallway.<br /><br />I think my favorite part of painting today was painting with red paint to represent Pentecost. The red is just incredibly bright and stands out like a beacon, even in the midst of the other vibrant colors. Unfortunately the red paint was thinner than the others so it's going to take several coats for it to look right. My friend Scott commented that the Pentecost column looks like a candy cane, but that will soon change as we will also add orange and yellow to complete the flame appearance.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_9787-799319.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_9787-799316.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_9790-718807.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_9790-718802.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_9795-745600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_9795-745594.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_9799-764783.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_9799-764779.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_9803-728354.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.jasonclay.com/uploaded_images/100_9803-728352.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13182071472814274729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22672528.post-86441295966362646802007-09-21T22:13:00.000-04:002007-09-21T22:14:38.061-04:00Mended windowGot my car window replaced. In the mean time the Honda place gave me a rental car. It was a Ponticac Grand Prix. I had never even driven a Pontiac before. It was pretty nice. That is all.Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13182071472814274729noreply@blogger.com0