soon

July 24, 2008

Hi, all.

There should be good stuff coming soon. I am going over my gallery generator to make some improvements as the image quality is, to me, sub-par at the moment. Trouble spots have been isolated, and with any luck there will be a whole new set of lovely images soon - and the old ones should be much improved.

Also, as far as I can tell the Lebanon trip is off the table again. I just can’t afford the ticket with all this oil madness. If I could afford it, I’d go, rest assured.

Posted in: bloggy business, filler, photo chatter No Comments »

Gaah!

March 24, 2008

Whilst looking at my blog on my folks’ computers I noticed some problems with Internet Explorer and this blog. Minor ones, but still annoying. I could just ignore them and put one of those “this site best viewed on FireFox” notices, but as IE makes up 31.4% of my traffic (behind Firefox, which is 40.1%, probably mostly me) I’d best just make the small fixes and let it go at that.  There is also a WordPress upgrade that I’m supposed to do, but I’ve been lazy.
Microsoft claims that IE8 will address a lot of the problems that have constantly plagued them in terms of web standards, but I also heard that Vista was supposed to be a radical top-to-bottom redesign of an operating system. Having fooled with it a little over the weekend…

Posted in: bloggy business 1 Comment »

restless

October 19, 2007

UPDATE 10/22/07!

It seems like I’ve looked at hundreds of different gallery generators, services, and whatnot. I have finally settled on Zenphoto. They installation process was a little painful, but the results are immediately worth it. The galleries are slowly being replaced with new Zen versions, and then I have a little bit of tweaking to do to get the layout the way I want it (mostly the readability of some text colors).

—–

After very careful review I have concluded that I don’t like the galleries. Well, I like the automated part of zinging a folder directly from Picasa to Picasa Web Albums, but the resulting galleries? Not so much. They look just a little too… web-portal-ish. Must change.

I messed around a little with the Photoshop gallery-makers, but don’t really like any of them. Guess I have to get out there and see what I can find that I might like - mercifully the generators are a dime a dozen.

Somewhere in my history I swore I’d never be the kind of person who blogged about working on their blog. Oh well, another resolution gone bust.

Posted in: bloggy business, filler, photo chatter No Comments »

Gettin’ There

October 15, 2007

Getting better with WordPress. It is obviously more complicated than blogger in that I regularly have to wade through code and lots of documentation/forum entries in order to get something to work the way I want it to, but the results are worth it. Refined banner? check. Random image generator? check. Links separated into two categories (took a surprising amount of sleuthing)? check.

Gettin’ there.

Soon I will be able to get back to content and worry less about presentation. As far as I can tell, though, the website’s days are numbered. I will, in fact, be making the page you are looking at now the portal for all things Inflight Shutdown. With any luck the changeover will be seamless and you will not notice a thing. The old blog is going to stay there as a kind of archive until traffic drops down to nothing and I tear the whole thing down.

Posted in: bloggy business 7 Comments »

More Movement

October 12, 2007

I do believe that I have decided to re-assess my entire web presence top to bottom.

The website is likely the first component to get the axe. Instead, I will make this blog the hub of all Inflight Shutdown activities, with links to galleries and all that good stuff.

Watch for developments! The galleries are already done - Picasa makes it so easy. Why wasn’t I doing this before? Not only is uploading a breeze, but so is adding images to existing galleries - that wasn’t so true with my old, tired method.

(p.s. - Yes, I know the galleries and links over there on the right are messed up. I’m workin’ on it.)

Posted in: bloggy business No Comments »

Welcome!

October 11, 2007

 

 

Welcome to the WordPress revision of my blog.The main reason I wanted to move away from Blogger was what I perceived to be poor image handling. Ethan and I have talked about this a little bit as it relates to Beer-O-Vision (mostly me whining about the size of some of the images), so now it is time to wade through the new rules myself and see if I can do any better.

There are a number of weird loose issues around (font colors, etc.) but I am addressing them as I go. If you see anything that you think I need to look into, please don’t hesitate to let me know!

Posted in: bloggy business No Comments »

Carbon Dioxide Automobiles

October 3, 2007

There’s an easier way to say that, but here’s the thing:

An absolutely unbelievable number of people are landing on my website doing searches for the above. None of them stick around, mind you, but I did the search myself and sure enough - I am the number three hit on Google for the contraction of the title of this post.

There are some other oddball searches that have shown up in the past for my site. Most of them were one-shots and never resurfaced. But with this one?

Well, the good news is that if any of them stick around to look at the art, maybe I’ll gain some new fans!

Speaking of which, I have posted a gallery of newer stuff at the website if you’re just clamoring for new ideas to wallpaper your bathroom with. Covers 2007, with more additions to be made later.

Not to mention, lunchtime today will hopefully see me posting Teresa and Brian’s big day! Stay tuned!

Posted in: bloggy business, huh? 1 Comment »

Drat!

September 28, 2007

Busy lunch hour. No time for more bloggy business. So, to tide Brian and Teresa through the weekend, how about a big sloppy kiss?

I’ll have much more for all on Monday. I’ve even been working on the disposable camera stuff the last few days - there’s some good ones (but damn those things take forever to correct, and they still look iffy.)

Thank you to my early bird print buyers! I’ll think of all of you when I’m obsessing over my new camera!

Posted in: bloggy business, photo, vancouver 1 Comment »

New Portfolio Link, Update

September 28, 2007

I’ve given up on building my image galleries by hand. Too tedious. My trial run - a somewhat aged portfolio - on Picasa/Google has gone well, so I think that’s how it’s going to go from now on. Not the most glamorous galleries, but function over form in this case.

Stop by!

I think I’ll keep the “dynamic” bodies of work there. Then when something is set in stone - like the Lebanon stuff or the book pages (oh, did I mention the book? guess not. “in limbo” at the moment) - I will solidify an archive gallery. This, of course, means I should think about filling in all the current archive galleries. Plus, I should stop calling it the archives. In fact, I should restructure Inflight Shutdown entirely. I hate the web. It’s a lot of work for little returns. Ah, well.

Otherwise, I will be continuing my Vancouver wrap-up on my lunch hour, so stay tuned this afternoon.

Posted in: bloggy business, photo 2 Comments »

97th Post!

August 8, 2007

OK. So this was supposed to be a big exciting 100th post, but I’m difficult and contrary, so I modified it to be the 97th. Here is a list of 97 questions from those questionnaires that people love to send around to each other. Now that I’ve done this, I don’t ever expect to see one in my inbox again. Just refer to this one.

1. What time is it?
Morning.

2. Living arrangement?
Just me and the mice.

3. What book are you reading now?
The Pan Am Building and the Shattering of the Modernist Dream, Meredith L. Clausen

4. What’s on your mouse pad?
What mouse pad?

5. Favorite board game?
Scrabble, unless there are four people - then I’ll push for the card game Asshole.

6. Favorite magazine?
I used to say the British music magazine Q, but then I started to be out of touch with all the bands they named dropped (not to mention, I got a little sick of their irritating obsession with Oasis) - so I haven’t read it in a while.

7. Favorite smells?
Jet A Fuel

8. Least favorite smells?
The mall dumpster that is shared between the entire place - including the food court. Barf.

9. Favorite sound?
Hmm. There’s the romantic ones, like foghorns and things like that… but I’m afraid that a big vintage synth farty rumbly bass line really gets me more than anything.

10. Worst feeling in the world?
Confusion.

11. What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning?
Juice.

12. Favorite color?
green, grey

13. What food irritates the hell out of you?
Corn. It doesn’t get any stupider than a food that has no value and exits in the same form that it entered.

14. What’s the furthest you’ve traveled from home?
Beirut, Lebanon

15. What song sends you into a homicidal rage?
“Lazy Days”, Spanky and Our Gang (sorry, Nancy!)

16. What is your opinion of porn and/or Playboy?
I’m all for it, as long as we’re talking about the (relatively) respectable mega-industry and not scary messed up stuff with kids and coersion and lord knows that else.

17. What was your most embarrassing drunken episode?
You’d have to ask someone else - I don’t pull the “I don’t remember” thing, but I can say that at this very moment they’re buried pretty far down in the memory banks.

18. Is there a book you’ve read more than three times?
There are many books I’ve read more than three times - I’m weird like that.

19. How many rings before you answer the phone?
2-3

20. Last album that you bought?
The big Genesis box set of “The Middle Years”. (It. Rocks.)

21. Most disliked very, very popular musical person?
Elvis Costello. Not only because he exists, but because everyone insists that I should like him and are shocked when I don’t.

22. How do you like your coffee?
Used to be a little sugar, but now that I’m an old fatso I’ll go with a little Splenda.

23. Future child’s name?
No kids here, sorry.

24. What is most important in life?
Sleep.

25. Favorite foods?
Rachel and Mike’s New Years Quiche, just about anyone’s turkey and mashed potatoes, and Grandmother’s Presbyterian Choir Cake for dessert.

26. Vanilla or chocolate?
I’ll take swirl, thank you.

27. Do you like to drive fast?
Only if I am the one driving.

28. Do you sleep with a stuffed animal?
No.

29. Storms - cool or scary?
Extra cool if there’s someone around, scary if I am in the house alone.

30. What type was your first car?
‘81 Camaro

31. If you could meet one person dead or alive?
Edwin Land.

32. Favorite alcoholic drink?
I’m always up for a good bitter IPA.

33. What is your zodiac sign?
Taurus

34. Do you eat the stems of broccoli?
I’d rather eat dirt.

35. If you could have any job what would it be?
Archiving, cataloging, and restoring nuclear test films.

36. If you could dye your hair any color?
I don’t have much left to dye.

37. Ever been in love?
MYOB.

38. Is the glass half empty or half full?
Empty.

39. Favorite movies?
Midnight Madness, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Koyaanisqatsi

40. Do you type with your fingers on the right keys?
Yes indeed.

41. What’s under your bed?
Old LaserDisc and SelectaVision players.

42. What is your favorite number?
12

43. Favorite sport to watch?
Hockey

44. Say one nice thing about the person who sent this to you.
Rachel smells funny.

45. What CD do you have in your stereo right now?
“The Pointer Sisters”, The Pointer Sisters. To be honest I bought it because it was a Mobile Fidelity issue, but am coming to find that it is a damn fine album!

46. Favorite TV show?
The Muppet Show

47. Earliest memory?
I think having my diaper changed…

48. Name as it appears on birth certificate?
James Michael Long

49. Nicknames?
Don’t ask.

50. Number of candles on your last birthday cake?
33

51. Time you get up?
6:30

52. Children?
I know plenty of all ages.

53. Piercing/tattoos?
Yeah. Sure.

54. Eyes?
Blue.

55. How much do you love your job?
It’ll do.

56. Birthday:
May 11, 1974

57. Been to Africa?
No.

58. Been toilet papering?
Shh!

59. Been in a car accident?
Yes.

60. Croutons or bacon bits?
Croutons.

61. Favorite day of the week?
Saturday.

62. Favorite saying or phrase?
Bite me.

63. Favorite restaurant?
Sol Azteca.

64. Favorite flower?
Money plant.

65. Favorite nonalcoholic drink?
Ginger ale.

66. Favorite ice cream?
I’ve never been a huge ice cream fan, but a good dish of Mint Chocolate Chip will do quite nicely!

67. How many times did you fail your driver’s test?
Zero!

68. Before this one, from whom did you get your last e-mail?
My boss

69. Do you sing in the shower?
Yeah. Right.

70. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?
Newbury Comics (for the CDs, not the comics)

71. What do you do most when you are bored?
Read.

72. Favorite sport:
Hockey.

73. Favorite vacation spot:
Misquamicut, RI.

74. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
In that little brick building in Cambridge that I covet. I plan on building one just like it in Buffalo. I think.

75. Were you named after anyone?
The name James goes back some ways in the family, but in the immediate family there was my Grandfather - James Martin, my father - James William, and me. James Michael. Why the varying middle names? Not sure, really. But it does tickle me to look at my Grandfather’s old business cards and see my name looking back at me, hence insisting on listing myself as James M. Long at every turn. I’d probably do the same if I had my father’s middle initial, though. That’s a fine association as well!

76. Do you wish on stars?
No, but I do make wishes at other times.

77. When did you last cry?
Might have been my Grandmother’s death.

78. Do you like your handwriting?
Yes. I don’t do cursive anymore except my signature, for I never got the hang of it and it’s illegible. I do like my printing, especially when I’m not in a hurry.

79. What is your most embarrassing cd?
For whatever reason I ended up with a copy of Belinda Carlisle’s Greatest Hits. I can’t even blame the 80s project, for none of her solo songs were in the list. I remember getting it in the dollar bin at the old Sam Goody at Quincy Market, but why? I have no idea. I used to like buying dollar bin stuff if it was even remotely interesting. It’s gone now, not even ripped into iTunes. Bye-bye, Belinda.

80. If you were another person would you be friends with you?
Maybe. I might think that I was a pompous asshole, though. Hard to tell.

81. Do you have a journal?
On and off. I tend to regard the blog as the journal these days, though of course it isn’t gushing with seedy secrets - as a journal should be. Learned my lesson on that one, I’ll tell ya.

82. Would you bungee jump?
No.

83. What is your favorite cereal?
Responsible cereal? Cheerios. Not-so-responsible? Lucky Charms. It’s all my Grandmother’s fault. Whenever I stayed with Grandmother and Grandfather she had Lucky Charms all the time. Of course, she had the same merciless sweet tooth that the entire family is cursed with, and could easily be spotted savoring her own bowl of them.

84. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?
Yes, since the time I ripped the sole off my pricey shoes doing it the naughty way.

85. What is your favorite lunch meat?
I used to have a real roast beef thing, but it goes awry so easily. I still enjoy it, but I have to inspect it first. Turkey is usually a pretty safe bet.

86. Do you think that you are strong?
My cousin Lisa once told me that I am a dog person who wishes he was a cat person. Draw from that what you will.

87. What is your least favorite thing about yourself?
Procrastination.

88. Who do you miss the most?
My Grandparents, definitely. Not much I can do about that. My friend Reid in Beirut. He’s trapped and miserable. It’s depressing.

89. Last thing you ate?
Despite the fact that I’m supposed to be watching my intake, last night on the way home from work I bought a little package of Peggy Lawton chocolate chip cookies. Yeah, those brittle ones wrapped in the impenetrable cellophane wrapper. Achilles heel if ever there was one. They’re delightfully horrid.

90. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
Nancy, regarding my upcoming visit to Ellington.

91. Do you wear contacts?
No, but everyone in my family wears glasses in one form or another - which means I’m dead in the water in a few years.

92. Favorite Day Of The Year?
New Year’s Day. There’s good friends, quiche a-plenty, making fun of the parade announcers, and sitting around feeling sluggish. What could be finer?

93. Scary Movies Or Happy Endings?
Scary movies.

94. Summer or winter?
Winter.

95. What Did You Watch Last night on TV?
I hate television, don’t even have an antenna. However, I did watch a bit of “West Side Story”. All films should be shot in 70mm.

96. Stones or Beatles?
Beatles.

97. Do you like surprises?
Well, of course - the good ones, I mean. Not things like IRS surprises.

Posted in: bloggy business 5 Comments »

« Previous Entries