What it's all about...
When I tell people I'm an aviation photographer, I very often get a response the gist of which is "what's the point?". Sure, I like planes. So much so that those that know me fairly well have nicknamed my hobby "jetliner porn" (hence the name of my Facebook album). When it really comes down to it, though, I wouldn't still be taking pictures of aircraft if I didn't occasionally get a shot which was inherently interesting as a photograph, instead of something of interest only to those that share my hobby. Granted, the photo below may not be the most technically impressive shot I've ever taken (that would probably be the time-lapse shot of the American MD-80 at Logan), but I really think it sums up very nicely the reason I still take pictures of planes, and my desire to return the romance and adventure to aviation. Truly, this is what it's all about. Enjoy.
The Saga Continues...
Scene 2,
CommonsMikey, Fred, Dawn, Lee-Kai, Dave, Elena, and Mac are about to head to Kayuga, and are milling about commons.
Dawn (following Soto into the mens' bathroom): "Come here; I'll smell you, Sotirios!"
Scene 3,
KayugaMikey, Dawn, Fred, and Lee-Kai are sitting at a table. The discussion turns to genetics.
LK: "So, why is incest bad?"
Mikey: "I don't know, I never got that either!"
Discussion about genetic mixing follows.
Mikey: "I'm still not convinced."
---
Dawn: "Polygamy isn't bad!"
---
Preparing to eat:
Mikey: "I should have brought a bib. I get wet when i eat food like this. Do you guys mind if I take my shirt off?"
LK: "
I might get wet if you take your shirt off!"
---
While eating sushi:
Mikey: "Yeah, roe. Like, salmon babies....So, what, do they just cut open the ovaries?"
From bad, to worse, to just plain strange...
PicassoDramatis Personae:
Mikey - The Student
Fred - His Roommate
Dawn - His Girlfriend
Act 1Scene 1,
a roomMikey sits at a desk; Fred lies in bed, out of sight
enter DAWNDawn: "Take it off!"
The New Facebook...
All of you probably know about the revamp of Facebook that occured a few days ago, of which the main feature is a "news feed". Basically, this details (chronologically) any and all changes people make to their profile or social network. Stalkeriffic, huh? The thing is, that's what a lot of people generally used Facebook for anyway. This new feature simply makes it easier and more overt. Which is why I find it rather odd that the ones that are the most up in arms about the change are also the ones that tended to use the old Facebook for stalking the most. Strange, huh?
On a completely unrelated note, you should check out my gallery on pictures.mit.edu. I've made some rather substantial updates to the Aviation album, something which i haven't done in quite a while, since crystal-gravy has been on the fritz the entire summer. Enjoy.
From Seattle...
Well, I'm finally here. I've actually been here for coming up on three weeks, but I've been rather delinquent in posting on here, so this is my first post from my new location. I'm working for Boeing Commercial Airplanes in Everett, WA (the widebody factory), as an intern in the 787 Hydraulics Test group. Here's some random thoughts and pics from my experience so far:
1) I've decided I want to end up working in commercial flight test (which, I found out earlier today, is definitely doable, even though I won't have any experience as a professional pilot).
2) Somebody really needs to make two specific models: a 1/72 747 (injection molded, not vacuform), and a 1/72 P-8A (737-800). Done properly, these could be two of the most badass models ever made.
3) Speaking of models, Skyway model shop is probably the best hobby store in the world.
4) Unfortunately, due to a rather unforseen sequence of events, I won't be getting my pilot's license this summer. Instead, I'm going to slowly do it over the course of the school year. I've decided this isn't so bad for two reasons. First, i'd rather not have to be forced into learning on somebody else's schedule, and have to drive down to Renton every day that I take a lesson (it adds an hour to my commute). Second, half the reason that I'm interested in aviation in the first place is for the cool equipment, and learning back in Boston means I'll be training on a Diamond Aircraft DA-20 Katana, definitely one of the most badass two seater piston singles ever made.
5) When people were talking about "good weather" during the summer out here, I think they were just referring to it not raining, rather than actually being sunny.
6) They come runnin' just as fast as they can, 'cause every girl crazy 'bout a sharp-dressed man! <face-melting-guitar-solo>...</face-melting-guitar-solo>
7) Pics to come soon, but pictures.mit.edu is down (crystal-gravy sucks), and all of my recent photos are in .crw (raw) format, and I haven't had time to edit them. I'll pos some here (especially from the Mt. Rainier trip), but my hope is to set up my desktop computer with my own picture server once I get back to Boston at the end of August, at which point I'll be able to upload
everything I've ever taken (as opposed to the relatively limited collection I've got on pictures.mit.edu).
8) Things in Iran seemingly have gone from bad, to worse, to just plain strange. I mean, come on, "elastic loaves"?!
9) I've recently gone on a modelling binge. I'm currently working on three (1/72 707, Dash 8, and Twin Otter, aka "Twotter"), and I've got a fourth (1/48 S-3A Viking) on the way (got it dirt cheap on eBay (brand new, $13.00, shipping included).
10) In short order (once the aforementioned 707 is complete), I'll have the most badass desk model of anybody at Boeing (save, maybe, the people that have ones of the YF-23 or A-12, if they're around from the McDonnell Douglas days).
11) Can't think of anything else, so I'll head to bed.
The treehuggers get out of hand...
Evidently, the University of Nebraska is making an attempt to be environmentally conscious by promoting the use of public transportation; their strategy is to give out a card, which allows free use of the bus, with the purchase of a parking pass...
Uh......what the hell?
iTunes (More Music)...
This'll be relatively short, but it just goes to show the problems with the recording industry (not the bands themselves, just the infrastructure they're a part of). I was looking on iTunes for a few random songs, after getting an email from Continental Airlines giving me 5 free songs for purchasing a ticket for this Friday. So I'm on there, and I'm having a look around in the Rock: Top 100 Songs list, just to see what's popular these days, when I see this:
81) Drowning Pool - Bodies
95) Daniel Powter - Bad Day
Take a listen to those two songs, and you'll see what I mean. Geez, who categorizes this stuff, anyway, the geniuses behind She-Hulk...!?
