September 14th, 2008 by Scott
I was hired to perform magic at the Commerce Bank Bike Race in Philadelphia this weekend. They held the race (at least the start and finish part of it) at the Art Museum.
Since I was working most of the time, I didn’t have much time to take many pictures, so these are three that I took early in the morning.
They had a 20, 35, and 50 mile race today and the racers in the picture below are some biking enthusiasts who were just getting started (they were part of the 20 mile group). Temps were up in the high 90′s today with a humidity that felt like back when I lived in Daytona, Florida. I could really feel for the bikers.
Every since I was hired to entertain at the Allentown Commerce Bank race at the start of the summer, I’ve been hooked on biking again. Years ago, I used to hang out at the Lehigh Valley Velodrome every Friday night with friends. Then it faded.
But my wife has had a titanium Basso road bike for years and so after the Allentown race this past spring, we dusted it off (okay, so we REALLY took the thing apart and got it back in shape!) and started riding again. I haven’t had the chance to talk about it much. There’s a special something about those who ride.
Not only is it a rewarding challenge to go riding in the countryside (these Allegheny Mountains make it a true workout – and the view is unreal!), but biking is such a great exercise that gets the blood going. Aerobic exercise REALLY helps the heart!
August 23rd, 2008 by Scott
Well, Day 2 and Day 3 were a blur! Angie and I stayed with our friends Sandra and Rich in Palo Alto. The Bay Area has pretty good train system, so we took the CalTrain into San Francisco on Wednesday and Thursday.
We did the typical ‘tourist’ thing: seeing Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, ride a cable car. We also visited the Pixel Corps main office. The Pixel Corps is a Visual Effects guild that I’ve been a member of for a few years.
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Finally, coffee and a bit of sunburn, we wait at the airport to go home.
August 20th, 2008 by Scott
Well, we got up around 2 a.m. Tuesday morning to get finish packing and head over to the Philadelphia Airport. Our plane left at 6 am for California. After landing in San Jose, we checked into our hotel and grabbed a bit of lunch/breakfast (timezone changes are always fun!).
Then we got ready for the gig and grabbed a ride over to the Google campus for a gig that lasted until 11 pm. What a beautiful campus. I snapped a few pics, some of Angie, some of the campus.
We’re heading out for breakfast this morning (Wednesday) so I’m only uploading two of the pictures, but more will follow.
UPDATE:
I’ve uploaded more pictures from Day 1. Also updated the Flickr Set of our trip.
Here are two shots from the flight out. Not sure which canyons these are. Perhaps a small portion of the Grand Canyon? Anyone know?
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August 17th, 2008 by Scott
I have just finished watching Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog…. again! If you are looking for an intelligent, funny, and evil musical, this is it!
Dr. Horrible is an evil superhero who is trying to get into the Evil League of Evils in this three part show. The main character (Neil Patrick Harris) is an evil superhero you are rooting for, despite his problems with Captain Hammer.
I predict that this is going to turn into a Rocky Horror cult classic. I’ve got it permanently living on my iPhone right now and I think it’s going to be there for awhile. Like I said, I’ve already watched it several times and it gets funnier each time.
Enjoy! Here’s the iTunes link:
Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog on iTunes.
August 15th, 2008 by Scott
I finished a video editing gig in Harrisburg then headed over to Lancaster to meet Angie and my mom (I grew up in Lancaster) for dinner before Angie’s gig at the baseball stadium.
After helping her setup her caricature equipment, I spent a little time relaxing taking photos at the park.
Since we got in before the stadium opened, I was able to get a few pictures of empty seats. The one picture of the empty seats I really like because the colors from the setting sun was just amazing.
Then as the stadium began to fill, there was that moment of scattered spectators getting ready for the game. That same setting sun is reflected in the window just moments before it dipped before the horizon.
August 15th, 2008 by Scott
A good friend (Pepka) and I drove down to Atlantic City to catch a show at the Trump Marina. While there, we swung down to The Pier at Caesar’s to enjoy the beach.
I’ve worked at Caesar’s many times doing magic, but this was nice just getting a chance to enjoy the sights and snap a few pictures.
Three seconds after I took this picture, that wave just about soaked my camera back and all my lenses! I saved the bag and lenses but my Sketchers, which I set down next to the bag, took the fall instead.
This was another 50mm lens shot. I just love that lens! Settings were f/4.8 at 1/3000 shutter and ISO 200. I also over exposed it ever so slightly and warm balanced to a bluish card to give it that super warm, summer beach feel. It reminds me a lot of an old film camera I used to have.
July 22nd, 2008 by Scott
Angie and I had a chance to unwind after wrapping up a Live Digital Caricature gig at the PA Convention Center yesterday.
We strolled over to the Market next door for some great food and then some coffee.
June 29th, 2008 by Scott
Angie and I spent the weekend visiting friends and going to see Les Miserables since it was playing in Philly. Not only is Les Miserables a wonderful production, but it is also nice to see that a production that makes a big deal about doing what is right (instead of what is easy) and listening to God is still popular in this day.
The next day (after spending the night at Loews Hotel in Center City) we strolled down to a coffee shop for breakfast and hung out at Independence Hall.
I’m always in awe when I’m at Independence Hall. After all, we used to be the nation’s capitol for a short time and this city was where our great country was born. It seemed appropriate that on Friday, when the Supreme Court ruled against a gun ban and re-affirmed an individual’s right to bear arms, we were right down the street from the building that drafted the original document.
We can’t forget our Constitution, the Bill of Right and the history that has given us the freedom that so many today take for granted.
June 23rd, 2008 by Scott
Last night I had some free time to hang out at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor before a gig for a client at the Marriott. So I enjoyed the beautiful day, took a few pictures and then walked over to the hotel for the gig. These aren’t my best pictures, but I am trying to keep taking pictures more and more often.
The picture of the cleat was taken with a 50mm lens at 1.8 and ISO 200. I’ve alway’s loved the look of a 50mm and, especially, the fast 1.8 that gives me the depth of field.
And I’ve got to say that the view from the upper floor of the hotel was awesome. I took a picture from my iPhone from the room in which I was performing.
I should also mention, I’ve been updating the photostream at my Flickr page. You can find that here.
June 18th, 2008 by Scott
Ok. I have not a whole lot to say to this. First, the story:
LAND ‘O LAKES, Fla – A substitute teacher in Pasco County has lost his job after being accused of wizardry.
Teacher Jim Piculas does a magic trick where a toothpick disappears and then reappears. Piculas recently did the 30-second trick in front of a classroom at Rushe Middle School in Land ‘O Lakes.
Piculas said he then got a call from the supervisor of teachers, saying he’d been accused of wizardry.
(Source)
This is what we get for allowing people to sue schools for prayer, religion, and any other reason.
This is what we get when the PARENTS sue the schools because THEIR kid didn’t pay attention and then failed a class. The result? Now we won’t fail kids, we’ll give everyone a passing grade so as to not make the kid “feel bad” or be “embarrassed” that they failed.
Thank you liberals. Thank you to everyone out there who has forced THEIR belief on us because OUR beliefs “offended” them.
Teachers can no longer even do a stupid magic trick to entertain a bunch of kids without fear of losing their job. They must fear every parent out there who said THEIR kid was “offended.”
I say this to these left wing parents: GROW UP. Our schools have sunk to this level because of YOU.
