Living on the Edge of Cell Phone Technology

First, anyone who regularly reads my blog (I think there are two of you) will note that this is my second post of the day, after a long period of inactivity on my blog. Well I have a really good reason. I finally splurged (kind of late Christmas present to self) and upgraded my cell phone. I'd been living pretty happily with my Sony/Ericsson T616 for many years. Once it was hailed as the current great phone. Even featured in several movies. But alas, techo-time marches on and it was king of time to upgrade. A Friend got the cool and funky Sony/Ericsson w580i recently and has been taunting me with it. I guess I finally caved in (OK so my old phone was starting to act up and some of the buttons are finicky), so I decided to get a Christmas present and upgraded.

Well the new phone came today and hence my blog. Actually, this post serves two purposes. First to happily convey my new upgrade, and second, because in order to activate the new phone, I was told to leave it OFF for twenty minutes, after which time it will work. Sooooooooo. I'm typing this blog while I wait those 20 long minutes before turning on my new toy, er, I mean, gadget, er, I mean tool, yeah, that's it my new TOOL. At any rate, this phone as some nifty features, like also being a walk-man (iPod-like music player) a 2, (yeah you heard right 2 mega pixel camera (OK so my Nikon D80 has 10 Megapixels, but then it's a REAL camera), and I think it has some other features thrown in for good measure. Not sure what they are, or if I'll use them, but hey, they're there! Maybe exploring the new features will give me something to do next time I'm sitting around on a set waiting for the director to call ACTION!

At any rate, I'll keep you posted on how I like the new TOOL, once I've had a chance to work with it.

--Rex

Spycrosoft, Er, I mean... Microsoft

This information has been surfacing around the Internet today so I thought I'd share it too. How would you like a free copy of Windows Vista Ultimate, Office Ultimate 2007, Money Plus Premium, Streets and Trips 2008 or Microsoft Student with Encarta Premium 2008? Well one of these fine (hmmm) products can be yours for the low low cost of nothing, yep, that's right FREE!

But wait, you're saying, didn't my momma tell me there's no such thing as a free lunch? Well, your mom (and mine) was/is apparently one smart cookie. Because while Microsoft is offering up these applications free of charge, the company would like something in return: the ability to look over your shoulder for a few months.

In a nutshell, Microsoft is seeking volunteers for its Windows Feedback Program. In order to qualify for the free goodies, you'll have to fill out an occasional survey and install an application that will monitor your PC usage in the background for about 3 months.

Microsoft say they your data to understand how users configure their systems, what hardware they use, and how Microsoft products work with various configurations. In other words, you'll theoretically be helping Microsoft to make better products while getting free software. But if you're the sort who values your privacy, this might not be the offer for you, since Microsoft will potentially be monitoring every game you play, pirated piece of software you download, or web site you visit!!!

I'm not personally going to go for this offer, but I'm just passing it along in case someone wants to. If you do take the Microsoft offer - let me know how it goes!

The offer expires December 31.

--Rex Hoss

Christmas Gift Ideas

The Holidays are here! It's that annual cry heard around the world. Christmas, Hanuka, Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa, Whatever world you call it they're here. I'm going through my usual self-debate about what to get people, if anything. I'm, in some respects diametrically opposed to buying gifts for people. I NEVER know what to get people, and when asked what I want, my taste is invariably more expensive than most people want to spend! So, my question to you my dear readers, is What and how do you go about deciding what to get people for the Holidays? Do you use any software or websites to track your purchases and recipients? Last year I made an Excel spreadsheet, but I'm exploring some websites. Also I've found a nifty Amazon.com website which I use to list my wishlist of items (remember my previous statement about price all you potential gift givers.)

Anyway, let me know! I really want to know how you feel and deal with gift giving for the Holidays! Cheers to you, I look forward to your comments!

--Rex Hoss

How to Post Pictures Online Instantly

Eye-Fi Inc., has just recently unveiled their lastest WOW product! The Eye-Fi Card – the world's first wireless SD memory card for digital cameras. The Eye-Fi Card uses home Wi-Fi networks to create an effortless and convenient way for users to send photographs from digital cameras to PCs, Macs and online photo and social networking sites.

What you say? How can it be? The great wireless devide has now been crossed. While there are plenty of 2Gig SD cards on the market this product is so much more! It's WOW factor is in the ability to transmit your pictures AS you take them to your wirelessly connected PC or MAC. It can also upload your precious pixels directly to your favorite photo sharing site, Flickr, Picasa, etc.

It works just like a regular SD card and can hold potentially hundreds of pictures on it's own (depending on your camera and settings), but also wirelessly transmits those images to your computer or favorite photo site.

It reatials for $99.00 and is expected by the company to be a big hit for the Holiday season - heck, a friend of mine has already asked me if that's what I want for Christmas! Hmm, can I wait that long to get my hands on one of these beauties?

You can check out more details here: at DPReview

Happy clicking!

--Rex Hoss

How to Clone yourself

 
 
 
 
or at least give the impression that you're just beside yourself with excitement! As promised, here are more pictures from my first experiment with light painting! After my first shots where I attempted to write words with light, I figured I'd try painting an object with light. Since I didn't have a fabulous supermodel available, and I was ending up in the photos anyway, I decided to use myself. So I focused the light on me and painted various parts of me. Interesting, but then I decided to try a little fake double exposure. So, I stood on on side of the frame - painted away, then moved to the opposite side while the camera was still exposing, painted again! Viola! an interesting double take. It'd probably be better if I stood more still, but it's hard to stay still while painting ones self with light. Let me know what you think.

Photos and story by Rex Hoss

Foolin' Around In The Dark...

 
 
 
With Light! I've been reading a lot online about an interesting photography technique called Light Painting. It's basic idea is: set your camera for a long exposure, then use some kind of light source to "paint" the areas you want exposed. Above is my first attempts at this technique. I used my Nikon D80 set to a 15 second exposure and a small LED light to paint the words! It's pretty cool. I think I need a darker room (or at least dark walls) to better render the concept, but I think it's an interesting first attempt at fooling around with light in the dark. I have some more pictures for the next post which I painted me with some interesting results. Please let me know what you think of my pictures! I'd love to hear from you

Of course - Photos and story - By Rex Hoss

How to lighten your life...

 
...or, at least get better lighting in a portrait! As many of you know, I'm a self-proclaimed photographer and I've lately been honing my skills at taking the elusive portrait shot. I've been studying lighting on a variety of blogs and websites, notably Strobist, but there are many good sites. I have a Nikon D80 and SB-800 speed light. As mentioned in my last post on lighting, I decided to treat myself and get an umbrella for my strobe. It looks very similar to an umbrella you'd used to protect against the rain, but the material is white and made for reflecting light. So last night I set up my gear and started shooting. I had many questionable shots, but eventually got some that I like. It's always a challenge to do self-portraits, because it's a case of, set the camera controls to something you think will work, set up the light(s), walk in front of the camera, pose, take picture(s), go back to the camera to check things out, make any adjustments to camera controls, i.e., ISO, Aperture, Speed, etc., check if I was standing/sitting so that the camera caught me in the right position, check my facial expressions, adjust lights (intensity, position) go back to the front of the camera, pose, repeat, etc. It's VERY time consuming, but it is also fun.

I think I like taking pictures of other people more than myself - it's easier to make camera adjustments and things without worrying about getting in frame and posing, but there is something really rewarding about taking a self portrait which 'puts me in my best light' (sic) and makes me look good (sometimes better than real life).

Anyway, thanks for reading, I'll post more pictures as appropriate, and keep you informed of my new techniques and successes. I'm also looking for models to photograph (actors head shots anyone???) for a very reasonable fee, so don't hesitate to put the word out!

Photo notes: The above shot was done with one strobe, and a bounce card to fill in shadows on the darker side. If you're following my work, notice the difference in the shadows - they're still there, but they are more diffuse - soft and not a hard, sharp shadow! Viola!, that's the magic of the light umbrella! So, go ahead, lighten up your life! If you have a camera, don't be afraid to take it off of "auto" mode and experiment with the Aperture, shutter speed and any other settings you have - you might be amazed at the amazing shots you get. Anyone can point and shoot - the art in photography comes in experimenting - something I'm all about.

P.S. - If I keep this up, I'm going to have photographs of me in every shirt I own! (Now if I could just remember to apply some makeup and/or shave, I might have a really GREAT photograph.) :-)

-- Photo and Story by Rex Hoss

How to Dirty Dance

 
I've discovered a new dance partner! The iRobot, Roomba! Last week I was on a literal spend-a-thon and was buying several things to spruce up my living space. I previously mentioned my search for Celebrity Towels. Well, I was at a local Big Lots! store (a local discount/close-out store) and saw several Roombas on display. Now, you must understand if you don't already, that I'm a bit of a tech geek and I've seen these little guys advertised for years (haven't we all!). Well, since the price has usually been prohibitive, I've shied away from getting one. Well, wonder of wonders, they were selling 'refurbished' models for half (1/2) the regular price so I splurged and decided to get one and try it out.

Being somewhat skeptical even for a techie like me, I wasn't sure if the darn thing was going to work or be very effective vacuuming the floors. So, I brought it home, quickly unpacked it and set it up for the requisite initial charge of the battery. Once it was charged and ready to go, I fired it up! WOW!!!

The little guy can move! It scooted here, it darted there, it bumped (lightly) into furniture, walls, lamps, stray tennis shoes, anything and everything on the floor it darted around, all the while lights flashing and making whirring sounds. It's actually fairly quiet, especially on carpet. It can go from carpet, to wood or tile floors, to rungs without much of a problem at all. In fact the only problems it encountered were a couple of 'shaggy' rugs I have. It didn't like things which were too shaggy and/or had an edge it could suck onto and get caught in.

To be fair, it actually has some pretty astonishing dance moves!!! When it encounters a rug that give it problems, it actually backs up, twists around raises its wheel-base and a number of other moves in order to free itself, which it does with astonishing results. For the most part, it actually does free itself from unwieldy rugs (and the occasional speaker wire) 98% of the time!

Since mine is a refurb model, and apparently an older model (I checked their website and of course they have several new fabulous models which do even more), mine comes with 'virtual walls' which you can use to restrain the Roomba to one room or area and keep it away from other areas. There is of course an add-on scheduler which can be used to program the little guy to vacuum anywhere from 1 to 7 times a week. I think I'll be saving my pennys for that, since I'm now in love with this device and am really enjoying clean floors! Speaking of clean floors, it actually, really does work - and quite well! I was surprised and aghast at how much dust, fibers, HAIR and stray crumbs and things the Roomba picked up! I'm now relieved and delighted to know I have MUCH cleaner floors, and I confess, it's almost addicting watching the Roomba scoot around the house cleaning as it goes. The second most astonishing thing about it (first is how well it works) is that it doesn't fall off stairs or other ledges! I have an overhang where my second story floor hangs over the stairs! The Roomba goes right up to the edge detects the drop off and stops and revises its path. It didn't fall off this ledge or the stairs! WOW, someone had their thinking cap on when they designed this!

The only other thing I want now is more of them! Since I live in a two story apartment, I want one for both up and downstairs (so I don't have to worry about carrying it between floors! Heck, I'm even considering the Scooba (for washing my tile floors in the kitchen, hall and bathrooms! Yes, I'm addicted, but they work!

--By Rex Hoss

Now Reading

Well I finished book 10 Crossroads of Twilight, of Robert Jordan's gargantuan series "The Wheel of Time". There are, so far, 11 books in the series. Book 10 seemed a little slow without much plot development. As a whole the series is somewhat long-winded. The author goes into great detail describing what seem to be superfluous and unnecessary details to give 'depth' to the story. It ends up being a long read of too many books to tell what could be done in a much more compact form. At this point I'm only reading book 11 Knife of Dreams because I want to finish the story. It's a little crazy since Robert Jordan has in fact not finished the story! There are apparently going to be 12 books and he's working on that last one - due out sometime next year (in theory).

At least the 10th book ended with a 'cliff-hanger' but otherwise as a long and somewhat tedious read. There are in my opinion too many characters, too many lengthy descriptions of things that ultimately don't move the story along. Note to R.J.: Speed it up, loose the tedious descriptions, and for crissake, stop introducing endless new characters! I can't keep track of all of their names and story lines-I don't know how anyone could!

OK, I'm done with my rant! It's on to the reading. Actually, I listen to the stories on audio book format! My new means of entertainment.

--Rex Hoss

Picture Posting

 

This is a picture I took a few weeks ago at a party with my beloved Nikon D80. I was playing with "Depth of Field", a technical term used in photography where part of the picture is in sharp focus and areas in front and behind the point of focus are blurred. You see it all the time in sports photography where the athlete is in focus but everything else is blurred. It's a great technique because it draws the eye of the view to the exact thing you want them to view. Anyway, enough tech talk, just enjoy the picture. Every once in a while I feel like sharing photos I took which I find interesting for one reason or another.

--By Rex Hoss

Tech Tips

My tech tip today is a little self-serving. We're going to talk about Browser add-ons. Now if you use Firefox, like I do, there are a TON (literally) of cool add-ons, especially if you use GMAIL for your email. Anyway, I also wanted to let you know about Adobe Flash Player. It's a browser add-on that allows you to view Flash Animations (pretty much the standard for cool web animations these days). If you don't have it installed, it's easy to do go to Adobe's site and install it. If the little "F" Icon does a dance, you're set, if not, download and install it. Note: This may not be possible if you don't have administrator rights on your PC. Many corporate environments prevent users from installing software on their PCs (mine included).

Why do I bring this up you might be asking? Well for one, my Cool Picasa (By Google)slide shows which I've been posting various pictures in, won't work unless you have the Flash plugin (add-on) installed on your computer! So, now you know. B.T.W. it's free (love the sound of that word) so go for it!

Shakespeare Word of the Day

While rehearsing the play Much Ado About Nothing, which I'm playing Balthasar in for the CCPT organization, there came a word I was not familiar with. The word is BUCKLER. So, thanks to the Internet, Google, and some very useful websites which give word definitions, I found out what it is. A bucker is a small hand held shield used in battle with a sword. Found the definition here. Also I heard the word used in the book I'm reading "Winter's Heart" by Robert Jordan (see a previous post) for more details on that book. Well, it's back to rehearsing lines and songs for the show!

Weird Wide Web

 

Just felt like sharing this bit of info on which countries I've been getting visits from here at my Blog. Mostly my viewers have been from The United States, with an interesting smattering of various other countries. I find it cool and a little creepy that my humble little blog is being viewed (if briefly) by people around the globe. I'm not sure how interested my foreign visitors are, and judging from the stats, most of you aren't staying on my site too long, but it is cool to see that people around the globe are taking a peek. I can mostly thank Blogger's "Next Blog" button for most of my foreign views, but viewers are viewers. If you click on the "Next Blog" you apparently get sent to a randome blogger's site. There doesn't appear to be any connection between the site you're on and the one Blogger sends you to, so you find some blogs from all over - some interesting and some, not so. Try it and see, but remember to come back and visit me often. I love seeing that I've had some visitors!

Kudos to my Fans/Friends/Supporters

Hi Everyone, I just wanted to give all of you who've been checking out my site this week (or at any time) a big THANK YOU! I got the most visits this week in the history of my site! That's really exciting for me and I owe it all to you! I'd give you a big piece of cake if I could, but since I haven't found a way to send real cake over the Internet, and it would probably spoil if I sent it via snail-mail, so you'll just have to live with a digital picture of it.

But seriously, thanks for checking out my little chunk of the Internet. I hope to keep things interesting by posting a variety of topics, so please do check back regularly, and if your a blog junkie, you might try subscribing to my blog, with a news reader (like Google Reader). That way you can get up-to-the-minute updates when I or other blogs you subscribe to post new articles. I didn't have a clue what News Readers were good for until I realized I was manually checking out several blogs every day and was spending too much time finding my links to them, or worse, typing the name of the site manually, Then I discovered Google Reader and now I just open my Reader page, and like magic, all the recent, unread posts of all of the 20 or so sites, I regularly read are there waiting for me! It's kind of like checking email, but it's actually the posts from the various sites I like. It's fun and addictive and now I have yet another reason to like Google and the Internet. Also, if anyone wants a Gmail account, let me know - I can probably hook you up!

Friday Funny

OK, so I"m a few hours early. Saw this cartoon while perusing my gigantic photo collection and thought it was worth sharing.

The Weird Wide Web

This post is a little strange - even for me. The Web is weirding me out! A friend and fellow actor of mine Leon Cohen, was telling me about a site metering program he uses which tells you where in the world people ARE when the browse to and view one's blog. Being the geeky guy I am, I decided to check it out.

Now, knowing my limited audience and viewer ship, I figured I'd get a few local people viewing my site, after all I'm not Tom Cruise or Tom Hanks (are all the most successful actors named TOM?) Anyway, the last few days I've seen some surprising and almost alarming things. I'm being viewed (if briefly) by people not only locally, but around the world!!! I admit I got a little sweaty-palmed when someone in Washington D.C. viewed my page, but today I've been viewed by someone in Budapest Hungary! WOW!

Now I don't know how all of you people from across the globe are finding my site, but if you are one of those people, I'd love to hear how you found my site, and if you find it interesting! So, please if you're from somewhere other than Los Angels viewing my Blog, post a comment and let me hear from you. This web thing is indeed a little weird - knowing that people around the globe are viewing my humble little acting blog!

DSLR Love - Nikon D80

Well today's post is a little different. I wanted to express my new love! Actually, it's not THAT new. Most of you who really know me, are aware that about a year ago I finally got into the world of Digital SLR camera photography. While I've been snapping digital pictures for years (to some of your horror and dismay) I couldn't afford the luxury of the elusive DSLR.
Well Nikon changed all that with their introduction (last year) of the D50. I got one and LOVE it. Then, they pulled a nasty trick on my and came out 4 months later with the awsome D80! If I thought it couldn't get any better than the D50 for "cheap" DSLR's, I was wrong. Althought the D80 is significantly more expensive than the D50, in my humble opinion it was worth it (for me at least). Of course it all depends on what you're looking for and can afford in a camera, but I now confess, I LOVE the D80 (sorry D50). Is it possible to have two loves? (maybe in Utah).

Well that's all I'm going to say on the subject for now. I just felt like sharing this morning. There are plenty of reviews of the D80, D50 and their even newer (but less feature-packed) D40, all over the Internet so I won't bore you with endless reviewing here but I'll post some links to various sites as I find them. DPReview of D80,

Blog Surfing Tip

Just a quick tip for you guys who are checking out the site. If you want to quickly view all the posts relevant to a particular topic it's easy. Just find the appropriate label from the list on the right of my blog (I have several like, Acting, King Kalimari, Photos, etc.) then click on the link and it will show you all the posts on that topic. So if you want to read all the King Kalimari posts for example, just click on that Label link and Viola! You can see all my KK posts. Same for Technology, photos, and the like. Hope that helps you in case you want to read everything I've posted on a particular topic. Enjoy, have a great weekend and hope to see you soon!

Firefox (and IE) Browser Shortcut

Hi, here'a a link to a great article about using the spacebar to assist with your web page viewing. Lifehacker shortcuts


Let me know if you have any other great shortcuts and time-savers!

450 Windows Freewarz

Since I'm somewhat of a computer junkie, I'm always interested in new hardware and software for my PC. I've been wanting to create a few tech tips, but there are already so many good ones on the net that it's hard for me to add anything of merit. But I found this great site which has tons (OK, ONLY 450) free Windows programs. Some useful, some not so much, (at least to me) but it's a great resource for (did I mention free) Windows programs which can make your computer do, more, and in better ways. Check it out! I'll probably be personally recommending various programs from that site and from my own experience as I go along.