Highbrow Flickr

I think most people are aware that President Obama is on Twitter, but also found off Joi Ito today that there is an official White House Flickr stream...!

Flickr: The Official White House Photostream's Photostream

Have to say that's pretty cool.

Damn ISP's!!!

Straight to the point here...

PLEASE UPDATE YOUR BOOKMARKS / FAVOURITES WITH THIS ADDRESS:
http://thecornells.blogspot.com/

My Blog runs on Google's free Blogspot service. It's been on there since day one and I simply make use of web forwarding from my Internet Service Provider to forward thecornells.co.uk to the address above. This is all well and good until the web forwarding breaks down and you're left with a 'website currently unavailable' message, which has apparently been here for the last week or so.
This is no doubt more than a coincidence that the problems occur at the time that my domain is due for renewal! Anyway I've complained and they look to have re-instated the web forwarding but can I suggest you go straight to http://thecornells.blogspot.com/ from now on, as this will bypass the middle man.
Incidentally the reason I still use blogspot as oppose to one of the many other and often more advanced blog engines, is because I try to keep as much stuff 'Google' as I can. Cloud computing is great for someone like me moving between many different devices and OS's and touch wood I never have a problem with Google. My mail, calendar and contacts management is all out there somewhere and is easilly accessible on my PC, laptop, Mac, iPhone, Blackberry etc.

Sorry for the geeky tech post, but had to at least explain why the blog has been down for a week!

"Eeeeh it makes everyone look like miniture people!"

'Tilt Shift' photos are something that has fascinated me for a while now but they're something I'd never have the time to look into creating from scratch. It's a lot more technical than this, but in short it an effect which can make people / objects / landscapes etc in photos all look miniture, - like a little toy town if you like. Try Googling for examples or looking round Flickr.
Normally it's quite a lengthy process which also involves a decent spec camera for a start. However I came across a link to this site a few months ago; tiltshiftmaker.com/
Which allows you to have a go at it with your own photos in 3 easy steps.

Decided to try it with this photo I took a few years back at St James' Park when 'The Match' was being shown on Sky 1. Obviously the original is on the left, and the tilt shifted version on the right.

Click the photo to see the full original size.

This is example is no where near as effective as some of the ones kicking around the web but I was pleased for how long it took.
If you really want to be impressed check out this example of a Tilt Shift video;

Bathtub IV from Keith Loutit on Vimeo.

You constantly have to remind yourself that the video isn't just a load of toy people!

Summer at last

Taking Shape

Been a while since I posted anything so time for an update; The main reason for not posting is too much time on the PS3! I just find that most nights when we're not watching something on tv, and Jen is on her laptop I might as well take advantage of the PS3 time. Plus we've bought a new tv and games on it look really good.
We had a good Christmas and New Year and tried to make the most of it given that all three of us were ill at some point. December felt like a month spent in the Doctor's surgery!
Abigail was spoilt rotten with pressies at Xmas as expected, but she loves her new toys; Kitchen, Easel, Car, Dolls, Trampoline etc...and of course, not forgetting a Chef's outfit..!

We were at a friends wedding on New Year's eve which was something very different to normal but it was really good. It had a really homely atmosphere with roaring coal fires etc, and having all our friends there at Midnight was perfect.

Looking at 2009 it's already looking like it's going to be a very busy year; The house extension is still on-going, althought the external work is just about done with the roof tiles going on literally as I type this. We've then obviously got the job of the inside to do.
Already got 2 Weddings booked, which means there's the Hen and Stag doo's to go with them. Got a few weekends away sorted too, and then there's Jen Christmas from me in a few weeks - tickets to see the Dirty Dancing show in London.

Thought I'd finish with a video of Abigail pointing out the shapes her Mammy had drawn on her Easel;

and another of her identifying the animals;

and finally one of Abigail spotting the Colours;

Merry Christmas

And Happy New Year

Abigail's First Nativity

Abigail had her first Nativity last week at a local church in Blyth. She goes to a Playgroup in the adjacent Church Hall every Tuesday so she's involved in loads of stuff in the run up to Christmas as you can imagine.

It was her Christmas Party today and Santa made appearance so no doubt pictures of that will appear on here soon. She's also in a repeat of the Nativity on Xmas eve.

Anyway, getting back to last week; I took some time off work so I could go along, and it turned out to be really good. It was obviously an extremely condensed version of the Christmas Story so that the kids didn't get bored, but the message was still there.

My Mam went along, thinking that she'd just be there to watch but she ended up getting dragged into it too so that Abigail would sit still!

The highlight for everyone seemed to be singing "Twinkle, Twinkle.." as they all love doing the hand actions.

Notice how I got through this whole entry without any sarcasm about Abigail being an Angel!