Blanchard Arts

Hairy Frost

admin — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:51:13 +0000

I discovered some fantastic, hairy frost this morning. I love this time of year!

Frost patterns on glass

Hairy frost on leaves

Almost Autumn

admin — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 16:03:48 +0000

Clouds

Sunflower Harvest

admin — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 13:41:26 +0000

A bee and I enjoyed the fruit of Rozzy's gardening labors.

Confederate States of America

admin — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 14:51:15 +0000

As I plunge into the actual word crafting phase of my novel, I realize that I have friends who have a more sure understanding of Southern U.S. history than I. If you would find it interesting and have some knowledge of the subject, I would appreciate your insight into the American Civil War/War Between the States. I am primarily interested in the conditions in the aftermath of a hypothetical alternative to reality in which the two antagonists came to a stalemate and ended hostilities with a truce. Some of the facts of my alternate world.

The war began c. 1862
France assisted the Confederacy with arms, circumventing the blockade through Mexico
Truce was called for c. 1864 with armistice terms including the new border between the divided nations fixed in the position at that time

Some of the points I would specifically like your opinions on Leaders of the two nations, CSA and USA. I am especially interested in certain pivotal periods such as: immediately after the end of the war, beginning of 20th century, 1925-1935 period, 1955, present time. Please don’t feel limited to these. I want to hear all you have to opine about. Also, what are your thoughts on the relations between the two nations, sharing a border, yet with wounds, physical and emotional, still fresh.

Technical Illustration

admin — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 12:37:57 +0000

On the left is the concept illustration and the right picture is of the completed unit.

Chapter 3

admin — Sat, 21 May 2011 16:30:06 +0000

I’m now into chapter 3 of my alternate history novel. I have done quite a bit of research into the historical and cultural settings of some of the settings. Presently, the time frame directly covered in the story spans from the 1860′s into a time in the future. How far into the future is yet to be decided. It might depend on the how many different settings I include. If I have enough material that I’m unwilling to part with, I may push some of it into a sequel.

As I continue writing, I have begun an important step to gather more information for the story. I applied today for media accreditation from NASA to cover the final Space Shuttle launch currently set for July 8. I hope to capture the energy and excitement from this historic event and apply it in the opening chapters which cover the first manned space launch. Of course, since my story is in the alternate history genre, my version of the event will be different. How different? You’ll just have to get the book and see.

Wireless Writing

admin — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 03:37:22 +0000

I started writing this as an email to myself just as a test to see how well the Apple bluetooth wireless keyboard works typing on the iPhone 4. It works so well I transformed it into a review of the keyboard.

A few months ago, I bought an iMac to replace our almost 10 year old Power Mac. I wanted to get the wireless keyboard with the iMac because I already had a wired keyboard that I had been using with the old Mac. As it turned out, the Apple Store gave me both wired and wireless–no extra charge.

Perhaps the most surprising thing about using the Apple wireless keyboard with the iPhone is how long it took me to even think of trying it. That is no doubt because of how well the iOS virtual keyboard works. By the way, the keyboard also works with the iPad, iPhone 3GS, iPod Touch (3rd generation and newer) as long as you’re running iOS 4.

Apple Wireless Keyboard

It is in a word, superb – unexpectedly so. The primary usefulness is for plain-old typing. The Brightness, Play/Pause, Previous, Next, Mute and Volume function keys also control the iPhone. Pressing the Eject key shows and hides the virtual keyboard on the iPhone display.

Using the combination of Option key with various others produces accented characters. For example; Option+e and “o” produces ó, Option+` and “u” produces ù, etc. Caps lock works as is should.

Selecting text with the Shift key in combination with the Option or Command keys selects text just like it does on the Mac.

Copying selected text is as straightforward as Command+C and pasting is by the corresponding Command+V keystrokes. iOS continues to suggest words as you type and a tap of the spacebar will accept a suggestion in the familiar fashion.

More capabilities may be waiting to be found (I stumbled upon several as I wrote this) and I will certainly report any others I discover.

In case it hasn’t been obvious, this is the wireless keyboard that comes standard with most current iMacs. So if you have one, and you also have one of the iOS devices listed above, give it a try.

I am anticipating the eventual acquisition of an iPad even more now because I am of the opinion that typing in iOS with that machine will be even more enjoyable than on a full-sized computer–especially with the wireless keyboard.

But that’s for another post.

Lily of the Valley Spring

admin — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 18:44:48 +0000

Here again is the brief but beautiful Lily of the Valley season.

TBC Sneaker Hockey

admin — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 16:04:38 +0000

For anyone unfamiliar with the “sport” of Sneaker Hockey, this clip will demonstrate it for you.

This video was shot entirely with an iPhone 4 and edited with iMovie. (click the picture to see the movie)

TBC Youth Sneaker Hockey Game - March 25, 2011

Spring Comes to Life

admin — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 01:16:08 +0000

It’s that time of year again when dormancy gives way to new life. While driving yesterday the blossoms erupting into flowers on the various trees I passed caught my eye without much difficulty. I couldn’t stop then, but made a plan to go back to one of my favorite photo haunts this morning while the sun was not yet too high.

Close up of peach blossom at a local orchard

Peachtree Amoeba

All winter, I have been waiting to come back here in the spring to capture this. Quite a few years ago, someone had the fantastic idea to plant a row of Bradford Pears down each side of their long driveway. I am very glad they planned ahead.

Bradford Pear Lane