photography — Last Call

Yesterday my wife went to a party organized by the people who run the kindergarden class my younger daughter is attending. When she came back she texted me that we got a picture of Eve (our girl's Internet nickname). I shrugged, another picture - photographed poorly, in a cheap frame that we will hold for some time and then I'll throw away because I will hate it.

I hate cheap things. My house is filled with stuff - figurines, and statues, and books, and gadgets, but I try to collect and buy things that will last. Cheap things break and are thrown away. Until they do they take space, a space that you could enjoy, or fill with something better. They feel cheap, they are meaningless, and they annoy me. When I came through the door my wife held the picture we received. it was framed in a heavy, tacky frame but it was gorgeous. For the first time I received from school/kindergarden a picture I wanted to hang. The photographer they chose, you could see she loves what she was doing. everything about the image from composition to the processing after it was classy, pleasing to the eye. It was not a cheap mass produced (in the bad way) picture. This was art.

I love ThoughtFull Toys, and they way they think. I love them because, like me, they hate cheap things. They don't want to make a toy you will use and throw away because it broke. They want to create something that will last. They are creating a toy that has a meaning.

I'm supporting The Moddari project, not only because the toy is cool, but also because their toy can really last for a long time. Toys, and any other product should last. There will always be something better, cooler and faster, but that is not the problem. The problem is when the current product is made poorly, created from the get go to be cheap and expendable.

There is no reason to buy cheap toys or any other cheap items. There is too much crap on the planet as it is. We can buy things that will last, that will be great for us, that we will like to show off. Take the time to invest in things that matter, to you, and to the world.

This week there are some great things on kickstarter, but these three made the cut easy enough: a short movie starring Doug Jones, a really well made gadget for your camera, and a book that will teach your kids to code.

Maxtone: iPhone your camera

A wireless remote that lets you control your DSLR camera through your iPhone (smartphone) + much more! Let's iPhone your Camera!

What is it?

This little gadget uses infra-red to control your camera. Just place it on your camera in front of the infra-red sensor and grab you iPhone. You can now take images and do many other things remotely.

The MaxStone uses low energy Bluetooth 4.0 to connect with your iPhone. When connected, the MaxStone allows you to use the intuitive and beautiful screen of the iPhone to take images from your camera. At the moment the MaxStone can do the following:

Time-lapse Parameters: time interval between shutters [1 second to 24 hours], maximum number of pictures [9999], exposure time [1 second to 99 seconds; keep one duration or change gradually].
Long power duration: can work for 6 to 12 months with one battery, emitting commands for more than 10 thousands times. You can use MaxStone to create works with long time span.
Bulb: MaxStone offers bulb with two modes: automatically timed and hand operating.
Remote controller for micro-video: used as remote controller for micro-video, MaxStone can work for Canon 5D, Sony NEX, and other widely used cameras.
Control the iPhone camera: use MacStone to shoot through the iPhone. Press the central button of MaxSoneto take photo, start or stop a video recording.
Switch Mode: between taking photo and taking video (conducting in APP)
Switch Cameras: switch between the two cameras on your mobile devices (e.g.: cameras in the front and back of iPhone, also conducting in APP)
Control Flash: switch between different modes of the flashbulb (conducting in APP)
Adjust focus: (conducting in APP)
Alerting at any time: if the distance between your iPhone and MaxStone is long, your iPhone will tweet to remind you.
Finding your MaxStone: the “Radar” in APP can identify the distance between your iPhone and MaxStone; press the “TWEET” in APP, you can follow the sound by MaxStone and find it.
Finding your iPhone: press the central button of MaxStone to command your iPhone to tweet, you can find you iPhone, following the sound.
Record the last position: If the alert by MaxStone is missed, the APP will record the last time and position of your belongings, which makes it more easily for you to find them.

Why do I like it?

I am not a professional photographer, but I love taking photos. I use the iPhone a lot to do it, but I also have my Sony a77 with me most of the times. At the moment, I the TriggerTrap solution which is great, but wired and this is where MaxStone got my attention: wireless control of my camera means I can do so many things and not be limited by the cable's length.

From what I read, and the answers the team gave, it looks like the app is going to give the users a lot of power over their cameras. The fact that the team also added so many other features like finding your phone, or the MaxStone (that can be attached to your keys so two birds one ...maxstone, you get it) is something I appreciate because it's elegant. The Pledge stands on $115,659 at the moment (the goal was $50k) so this is going to happen with or without you. It will be a shame to miss on the rewards so go check it out.

Hello Ruby

Hello Ruby is a children’s book that teaches programming fundamentals through stories and kid-friendly activities.

What is it?

Linda Liukas created Ruby to teach herself coding and turned this into a project on kickstarter. the ideas is to create a story that through it (with the help of a workbook), your kids can learn a lot about coding and about coding culture.

The project will help to fund the book and workbook with stretch goals that will add more tools for parents to help their kids, and learn about coding themselves.

The activity book teaches kids early programming skills. It’s designed to be enjoyed by a kid alone, but can also be worked through with an adult. And best of all - the workbook is designed to be doodled, wrecked and drawn all over.

The foundational knowledge structures, like sequences, variables, patterns, loops, lists, conditionals, operators and events. Taught through exercises of dot-to-dot, pairs, odd-one-out, all from Ruby's world.
A sprinkle of software culture, by teaching them to abstract and modularise, work iteratively and incrementally as well as encouraging them to reuse and remix work.
Creativity and DIY attitude. Tons of doodles, logic puzzles and even a foldable miniature laptop that allows the kid to peek inside a computer.

Why do I like it?

I feel as if this is self evident. Coding is part of our culture today. Applications are the major tools we use. Knowing how to code, and understand programming logic is a basic component, in my view, of being a citizen of the future.

there are many new, cool tools to teach coding. There are tons of great games out there, Like lightbot, that do it well. A book, especially a children book in a mother, great way to reach children and work with them. I also feel that this book and workbook will help adults to learn about these topics as well.

Kiss the Devil in the Dark

The new film from the creators of "An Evening with My Comatose Mother," starring Doug Jones, Dameon Clarke and Amrita Acharia.

What is it?

A dark fantasy short film, starring Doug Jones (Abe from Hellboy, The various creatures in Pan's Labyrinth and more) and a cast of well known and loved actresses and actors.

From the project page:

KISS THE DEVIL IN THE DARK is a dark fantasy film set in a mythical Victorian-era world. This is a story of magic, demons, love, lust, friendship, betrayal and hell. Desperate to save his dying wife, the powerful sorcerer Marcus makes a deal with the demon Dagon to save her soul. Dagon, however, has more in mind for Marcus than just a simple exchanging of souls. With seemingly no other choice, Marcus accepts, thus catapulting him into a series of events that will reveal to all involved the very meaning of betrayal.

The movie is ready, the money this project asks for is for the post production.

Why do I like it?

After two horror films I looked for something else to recommend, so I figured a fantasy movie would be cool. It's not my fault that it's a DARK fantasy movie.

I love it because it looks incredible and the production value looks really high. The actors previous body of works speaks volume for them. What's not to like? The goal here is 20k, the pledge stand at $8,011 and there are 28 days at the time of publishing this post.