Cyberware.ca - Getting By On Looks Alone http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/index.php Copyright 2010, Zarquon The Rich Zarquon The Rich en-US SPHPBLOG 0.5.1 Summer Bleeds Out http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/index.php?entry=entry091023-060333
Location (approx.): 44.779055°N, -79.715717°W (map) Alt: 139.5
Cyberware.ca Photography - Summer Bleeds Out Photo Date: 10 October, 2009 ISO: 100 Aperture/Shutter: F/5.6, 1/50" Focal Length: 36mm Camera: Olympus Evolt E-510 Category: Flora and Fauna Pictures

Near Port Severn, Ontario

As Autumn sets, the rich greens of summer have long since bled from every field and forest. Soon even the bright reds and golds will be replaced with a dead brown ... or worse ...

:snowing:]]> - Flora & Fauna http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/index.php?entry=entry091023-060333 Zarquon The Rich Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:03:33 GMT http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/comments.php?y=09&m=10&entry=entry091023-060333 Bring Out Your Dead and "Inside" http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/index.php?entry=entry091011-210333
Location (approx.): 44.778975°N, -79.715550°W (map) Alt: 141.6
Cyberware.ca Photography - Bring Out Your Dead Photo Date: 10 October, 2009 ISO: 400 Aperture/Shutter: F/5.6, 1/40" Focal Length: 42mm Camera: Olympus Evolt E-510 Category: Flora and Fauna Pictures

Near Port Severn, Ontario

"Inside"

Do you hunger for the cold?
Or will you cower like a slave?
Growing old
In shame
Inside
Full of lies
Waiting for your life
To pass you by
Past the fields
From darkened skies
Mind's curse
Makes you hide
Bloody tears
Inside
In vain
Your tower falls
Like frozen rain
It stalks
Growing cold
Ancient foes
Lusting for your soul
Bow down
And cry
Feel the light
Fading from your eyes
Inside
As the last leaf sighs
Without a sound,
It rapes your will
Kill's your pride
Inside
All your walls
You build
It rots
Away the mind falls
Dreams freeze
It bleeds
All the joys that you see
Inside
Weary eyed
To tired to lay down and die
Chained up
Tear blind
To scared to stop and ask why
Inside
Getting old
Lost sheep
Hungry from the cold
In pain
Inside ...
]]> - Other Hobbies http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/index.php?entry=entry091011-210333 Zarquon The Rich Mon, 12 Oct 2009 01:03:33 GMT http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/comments.php?y=09&m=10&entry=entry091011-210333 Chateau des Charmes - Vin Rosé http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/index.php?entry=entry090904-063303
Location (approx.): 43.1560°N, -79.1247°W (map) Alt: ???.?
Cyberware.ca Photography - Chateau des Charmes Photo Date: 16 August, 2009 ISO: 400 Aperture/Shutter: F/5.2, 1/30" Focal Length: 32mm Camera: Olympus Evolt E-510 Category: Miscellaneous Pictures

Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario

A rack of 2007 Vin Rosé from (and coincidentally at) Chateau des Charmes.
Love the colours on this one ...
]]> - Miscellaneous http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/index.php?entry=entry090904-063303 Zarquon The Rich Fri, 04 Sep 2009 10:33:03 GMT http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/comments.php?y=09&m=09&entry=entry090904-063303 Sault Ste Marie - Flower Cherub http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/index.php?entry=entry090810-060333
Location (approx.): 46.567428°N, -84.350826°W (map) Alt: 209.8m
Cyberware.ca Photography - Holy Sepulchre Cemetery Photo Date: 3 May, 2009 ISO: 100 Aperture/Shutter: F/7.1, 1/800" Focal Length: 70mm Camera: Olympus Evolt E-510 Category: Miscellaneous Pictures

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

A headstone in the impressively sized Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
]]> - Cemetery http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/index.php?entry=entry090810-060333 Zarquon The Rich Mon, 10 Aug 2009 10:03:33 GMT http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/comments.php?y=09&m=08&entry=entry090810-060333 The Norgoma http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/index.php?entry=entry090703-150303
Location (approx.): 46.5081°N, -84.3346°W (map) Alt: 143.4m
Cyberware.ca Photography - The M.S. Norgoma Photo Date: 25 May, 2009 ISO: 100 Aperture/Shutter: F/5.6, 1/320" Focal Length: 14mm Camera: Olympus Evolt E-510 Category: Miscellaneous Pictures

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

The M.S. Norgoma left the Collingwood shipyards on May 1, 1950 as a 190' steam-driven cargo ship to service northern communities along the once famous Turkey Trail, a stretch of waters that runs along the North Channel in Lake Huron, along the St. Mary's river and into Lake Superior. As rail and road shipping became more efficient and the mining industry declined, water shipping fell from Canadian graces and had almost dissappeared from the Turkey Trail by 1963, when the Norgoma was converted to Diesel operation (NOTE: the Trans-Canada highway was also completed in '63).
It's service continued as a passenger cruise ship and automobile ferry until 1967 when it ultimately ended it's formal career as a commercial vessel and was replaced/retired in 1974. Now property of the St. Mary’s River Marine Heritage Centre it is being restored and is open to visitors as the Museum Ship Norgoma, showcasing the Sault's historical significance as a port of trade in days long gone ... or so goes the intent, it's still a little rough to look at and seems to be suffering the same fate as the HMCS Haida had for years at Ontario Place.
Rotting to the pier with lots of good intent and limited funding. :shrug:
]]> - Scapes, - Miscellaneous http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/index.php?entry=entry090703-150303 Zarquon The Rich Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:03:03 GMT http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/comments.php?y=09&m=07&entry=entry090703-150303 Industrial Locks 001 http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/index.php?entry=entry090630-150333
Location: 46.49779°N, -84.29869°W (map) Alt: 140.7m
Cyberware.ca Photography - An old lock motor in the Sault's beautiful Bellevue Park Photo Date: 25 May, 2009 ISO: 100 Aperture/Shutter: F/8, 1/160" Focal Length: 78mm Camera: Olympus Evolt E-510 Category: Miscellaneous Pictures

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

Ok, so this one is a little abstract, but the texture was fantastic. A fantastic combination of rust and peeling paint. Left here in the Bellevue Park under the auspices of being something beautiful. The device itself is an old lock motor from the former St. Mary's lock system that once connected Superior to Huron (since updated to a more modern system). Ironically, both Canada and the US operate their own lock systems along this river to avoid shipping issues and entering foreign waters.
The "retarditity" of political posturing will never cease to disappoint me.
:slapsilly:]]> - Travel, - Miscellaneous, - Travel http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/index.php?entry=entry090630-150333 Zarquon The Rich Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:03:33 GMT http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/comments.php?y=09&m=06&entry=entry090630-150333 Anchored in Bellevue http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/index.php?entry=entry090621-120303
Location: 46.498817°N, -84.298328°W (map) Alt: 138.5m
Cyberware.ca Photography - An anchor in the Sault's beautiful Bellevue Park Photo Date: 25 May, 2009 ISO: 100 Aperture/Shutter: F/10, 1/320" Focal Length: 14mm Camera: Olympus Evolt E-510 Category: Landscape / Cityscape Pictures

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

An old anchor moored in Sault Ste Marie's beautiful Bellevue Park. The view itself is looking down the St. Mary's river towards the bridge to the US. That, in a nutshell, is the Sault skyline on the right, complete with passing cargo freighter.


Oh, and happy solstice!]]> - Scapes http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/index.php?entry=entry090621-120303 Zarquon The Rich Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:03:03 GMT http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/comments.php?y=09&m=06&entry=entry090621-120303 Superior Shores http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/index.php?entry=entry090611-060333
Location (approx.): 46.957°N, -84.660°W (map) Alt: ???.?m
Cyberware.ca Photography - Life on the coast of the greatest of Great Lakes Photo Date: 25 May, 2009 ISO: 100 Aperture/Shutter: F/14, 1/125" Focal Length: 14mm Camera: Olympus Evolt E-510 Category: Landscape / Cityscape Pictures

Pancake Bay, Ontario

Living life on the North Eastern shore of the greatest of Great Lakes. Superior certainly earns it's name well, but my heart still belongs to Huron. Camped here for a bit at the banks of a beautiful little stream that met Lake Superior with a tiy waterfall. Picturesque doesn't quite cover it.
Given that there was a blizzard up here only a week before, the Provincial Park was more or less empty ... save for a few trailer folk that seemed to be kicking out their signs to spend the summer here.

There is nothing quite like watching the sunset on Superior. When the sun sets it turns the distant horizon into a thin red line and the water lights up with rose and sparkle. By the time the starts have come out, you realize that all the meaningless tripe we deal with day in and day out, all our issues, all our problems, don't mean squat in the grand scheme of the universe and we're just a tiny dot out on one of the edges.
Very grounding. :zen:

If you feel life is starting to get beyond you, I'd recommend heading up here to let it stop for a few days and learn the lessons and wisdom of Gichigami ... assuming you don't find it crazy to talk to the Big Waters. :grin:
Hell, I'll even drive you there!
]]> - The Elements, - Scapes, - Travel, - Travel http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/index.php?entry=entry090611-060333 Zarquon The Rich Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:03:33 GMT http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/comments.php?y=09&m=06&entry=entry090611-060333 Spring on Distant Rocky Shores http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/index.php?entry=entry090603-180333
Location: 46.199948°N, -82.455371°W (map) Alt: 149.7m
Cyberware.ca Photography - Spring on the shores of the North Channel of Lake Huron Photo Date: 13 April, 2009 ISO: 100 Aperture/Shutter: F/8, 1/160" Focal Length: 14mm Camera: Olympus Evolt E-510 Category: Landscape / Cityscape Pictures

Aird Bay, Ontario

Spring has only barely kissed the Northern shores of the Huron. Bare inches separate the shore from the ice packs here.

Taken near Serpent River; Aird Bay on the North Channel.
]]> - The Elements, - Scapes, - Travel, - Travel http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/index.php?entry=entry090603-180333 Zarquon The Rich Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:03:33 GMT http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/comments.php?y=09&m=06&entry=entry090603-180333 So Long and Thanks for All The Fish! http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/index.php?entry=entry090407-170505 Cyberware.ca Photography - Farewell Richmond Hill office! Photo Date: 6 April, 2009 ISO: 400 Aperture/Shutter: F/8, 1/320" Focal Length: 37mm Camera: Olympus Evolt E-510

I finally bid a farewell to my tenure in York Region and our Richmond Hill office. It was fun, but the commute was a little draining day in and day out (something about 4+ hours of travel daily and not really going anywhere). I was certainly looking forward to some peaceful 15-20 minute morning jaunts to the office ... but ... that naturally didn't happen. :shrug:
At least it won't be happening right away.
It appears that Sault Ste Marie has come looking for my services due to some layered issues they are having. Given the blizzard we are having, I figure "how much worse can it really be?".
:snowing:

Not much actually. It's only about 2°C colder here and there's less snow on the ground!
I now also have the unique ability to say, "My morning commute wasn't bad, although there was a little turbulance just after lift-off".
Awesome.
That feeling wore off pretty quick when I noticed my private jet had 12 other passengers and propellers attached. There's something a little more disturbing about flight in a prop-plane then jets. Maybe it's the fact it seems more likely the bits keeping you in the air are likely to rip off ... maybe it's the fact I could roll my window down (if I could find the handle) and touch the tarmack at lift off without leaving my seat ...
B.T.W. Most mileage accumulated for my morning commute as well (54kms to the airport and almost 500kms through the air), although I did report to the office about 3 hours later then usual.
What was left of my coffee was even still warm! What a yup moment ...

While I'm travelling, I also like to take the time to observe The Mob. I'm always facinated by the strange habits people seem to aquire during their lives. As a confession story, I was pulling togeather cloathing this morning and found that one of my socks had a micro-hole in it. Normally, the ol XY's would kick in to say "Fuck it. Roll that bastard on to the top of the ankle and it'll disappear into the fold ... besides, boots beat sock-hole in the hole rock-paper-scissors/foot-sock-boot game". Today though, I catch myself with the "Shit, I'd hate to be found dead on the plane with holes in my socks!". Yeah, forget the horrible 3,000' flaming death glide into the solid granite of the Canadian Shield. These piss-ass cotton-poly blended bastards will probably be seared half-way into what's left of my skeletal structure anyways! Who's going to be looking? The guy that just pulled my underwear elastic out of the back of my cranium and my teeth out of my spleen?
I think that's going to be the least of his problems for the day.
It's this sort of crap that makes me think procreation via petri dish isn't such a bad idea. Remember what Mom said my ass! :slap:
(and yes, I still found myself some unholy socks. They even match!)
Anyways, I happened to notice an elderly woman returning home to the Sault from Florida (life story regurgitated to the Stewardess during the flight; thank god it's only 1.5hrs). As she read through her newspaper in the terminal, she would neatly tear off each finished page along the centre line, fold it in half and place it on the chair beside her. When she was leaving, she gathered them all up and shoved them straight in the trash (no not recycle;different rant). Is this a Parkinsons trick to make it look like you actually read the paper and remember having done so, or is there something bigger going on that I should look into?
:sherlock:
I'll be back over the Easter weekend, but return to service the Sault and the GWN for 3 weeks in total. I've already seen the guy down at the population sign flipping the number over to account for me. :XoP:
Will post pics!]]> General http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/index.php?entry=entry090407-170505 Zarquon The Rich Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:05:05 GMT http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/comments.php?y=09&m=04&entry=entry090407-170505 What a (Provincial) Tool! http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/index.php?entry=entry090306-215359 Long days and getting home after 7 is like that. Also no pictures due to the -30 degree weather we've been having. Both my ass and my camera have been reluctant to venture forth.

Anyways ...
It was thoroughly satisfying to see the Pope of Ontario, John Tory , take yet another nose dive into his ass this morning. I can't believe the effort this guy has gone to in order to ensure the Liberals maintain power. I swear he's on the payroll of McSquinty as a corporate level danglie-twiddler.
After his third successful attempt to sabotage his party (fourth if you count that religion in schools thing ... five if you consider his leadership campaign), he's finally getting the message that we don't like him.
This round, the bi-election has cost his party an heirloom seat in Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock (formerly held by Laurie Scott). Apparently her father was an MP in the area for nearly 30 years and this was a PC stronghold since '94.
Nice job. :stupid:
I am genuinely curious though, did he really figure out that Ontariates think he's a douche, has he run out of MPP's willing to give up seats to the Liberals, or is there simply a mob forming outside his window led by Christine Elliott.
At the very least, I hope it was a pleasant slap in the nuts for politicians trying to return god-fearing religions to schools.
"Stupid is forever, ignorance can be fixed." - Don Wood

Proof positive that white collared priests are still no match for angry monkeys bearing monoliths.
... Then again, why let a little thing like facts get in the way of the poor judgement of the godly devout?

(for more information be sure to check out the WikiHow article on "How to Avoid Becoming a Religious Zealot")]]> - Politics http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/index.php?entry=entry090306-215359 Zarquon The Rich Sat, 07 Mar 2009 02:53:59 GMT http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/comments.php?y=09&m=03&entry=entry090306-215359 Sorry ... http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/index.php?entry=entry081025-080333
Location: ??.????? °N, -??.????? °W Alt: ???.?m
Photography Cyberware.ca A Day In The Life Of R. Skelton Daily Living Daily Life
Sell photos on photrade | By R_Skelton

Photo Date: 1 October, 2008 ISO: 100 Aperture/Shutter: F/5.2, 1/160" Focal Length: 33mm Camera: Olympus Evolt E-510 Category: Miscellaneous Pictures

:coffeeme: Well, the new job has certainly eaten up all of my time over the last couple of weeks, making it hard to find time to sleep, let alone blog or play my poor neglected Wii.
I think this is the first time in ... well, possibly ever, that I don't really have time for a weekend becuase there's too much work to do.
Crazy!
I suspect this will mean continued reduced posting until I wrap my head around things, but I'll get out at least one or two a week.
I'm also toying with the idea of storing all my photos on Photrade to conserve space and possibly promote actually selling images (see sample above!). If you're local and would like any of the shots, contact me directly. Local printing is far more affordable on prints up to 8"x10". That said, by posting on Photrade, my pictures are available for use in other blogs (actually this has been the case for a while, if you ever bother to slog through my TOU). Simply hit my Photrade page, find a pic you like and click the 'Share' button. Switch to the 'Blog' tab and copy the code into your post.
:gallery: Easy!
Colour for you blog without wasting time to become a photographer. I'll have more posted there as time goes by and I'll be focusing on bringing some more generic shots out that work well in conjunction with blogs but not so well on their own on a phot site like I tend to focus on.
As you can see, the advertising is reasonably minimal and you don't need to waste space mirroring the images on your own server (settings shown: size small, no border).

:gotee: Should you be the one person that hasn't heard of my self betrayal and defection to Facebook, I can now be stalked on there as well.
]]> - Miscellaneous http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/index.php?entry=entry081025-080333 Zarquon The Rich Sat, 25 Oct 2008 12:03:33 GMT http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=10&entry=entry081025-080333 Chillin' Roo http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/index.php?entry=entry081009-140333
Location: 43.822624°N, -79.182495°W Alt: 102.9m
Cyberware.ca Photography - A roo ... or maybe a wallabe Photo Date: 21 June, 2008 ISO: 100 Aperture/Shutter: F/4.3, 1/160" Focal Length: 134mm Camera: Olympus Evolt E-510 Category: Flora and Fauna Pictures

Although it might be a wallabe ...]]> - Flora & Fauna http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/index.php?entry=entry081009-140333 Zarquon The Rich Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:03:33 GMT http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=10&entry=entry081009-140333 A Day In the Life of Rich (Part III - Portraits) http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/index.php?entry=entry081006-060333 Adjusting lighting, colours and even venturing into the realms of Black and White or Sepia.
Ok. So what can we use this for ... other then the exciting world of envelopes?
Well, the processes are valid for just about any shot. Since people tend to pick up or portray colours badly in poor lighting, lets go with that ...

Location: ??.????°N, -??.????°W Alt: ???m
Cyberware.ca Photography - A Day In The Life of Rich (Part III) Photo Date: 1 October, 2008
ISO: 100
Aperture/Shutter: F/5.6, 1/8"
Focal Length: 40mm
Camera: Olympus Evolt E-510
Category: None

Here, we can see that I'm working hard at my desk. The clean background and subtle hint of tone makes for a reasonable portrait ... and not badly done as a blind shot either, I might add. It's amazing what you can do with a rough eyeball of a scene and a timer ...
Anyways, as this shot was taken only inches away from the previous two (here and here), it still suffers from the same long exposure times and crap lights. Now, in my case, getting the subject to remain still for a slightly longer period of time was no biggie, however you will need to take that into account for your shots. An eighth of a second is a surprisingly long period of time when you're actually paying attention.
Since I've already made the corrections for lighting etc here twice before, I've saved the pattern as an Action in Photoshop (I'm sure you can look up how to do that if you're clueless on the fiddlies), so it's a simple matter of running the action script and waiting a few seconds.
Now, because this is a portrait, you will find a few minor details may need to be adjusted. Typically (but not always) you will find that a slightly lower then average Contrast level will give you a more human looking shot. Also, I've added a slight diffusion to the image, which helps to smooth the skin, making the person look slightly younger and more healthy (your subjects will appreciate the thought, I'm sure).
Also, to clean up the image slightly, I've removed a somewhat distracting poster from the background. There have been no truer words in photography then "What does not add to the picture, takes away".
Below you can see the initial dismal image:

Cyberware.ca Photography - A Day In The Life of Rich (Part III)


Bland, isn't it?
Note that now I have the pattern for the initial corrections and general maintenence scripted, the total time for processing this shot was less then 20 seconds.
It's worth recording if you're doing any more then 3 or 4 shots, even if you delete the process shortly there after.]]> - People, - Tutorial http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/index.php?entry=entry081006-060333 Zarquon The Rich Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:03:33 GMT http://www.cyberware.ca/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=10&entry=entry081006-060333