Jeff’s Place

I’ve been using my iPhone for about three months now.  In this time I’ve already aquired about 83 apps.  That number should probably be a bit higher seeing as I’ve deleted several apps that I just didn’t like.  Most of these 83 apps are only used sporatically, however, there are a few I use on a daily basis that really shine.  Below are a few of my favorites.  Click on the App Store links after each description to be taken directly to the apps page in iTunes.

Directv: If you have Directv and an iPhone, you need this app.  The Directv app allows you to browse programming by title or by channel.  If you find a show you like, you can tell it to record to your DVR.  If you have more than one DVR, it allows you to select which one you want to record on.  I first realized how cool this app was when I was out photographing in the middle of a high school football field.  My coworker recommended a show to me so I fired up the iPhone, found the show on the Directv app, and told it to record to my living room DVR.  Without this app I’d end up missing half the shows I really want to watch.  This app is free and can be found in the iTunes App Store.

RedLaser: RedLaser is a barcode scanner that not only identifies the item being scanned, it also searches online for any stores that offer the same item.  I searched high and low for a barcode app for the iPhone.  I tried several that just didn’t seem to work very well.  RedLaser is fast and accurate.  It’s been able to accurately scan and identify almost every item I’ve thrown at it.  A few days back I was checking out the latest Blu-ray videos at the local Best Buy.  I was itching to buy  a few but after scanning the barcodes with RedLaser I found I could save tons by purchasing them online.  This one usage more than made up for the $1.99 cost of the app.  You can read more about Red Laser HERE.

iCam: The iCam app allows you to remotely view up to four webcams that you have setup on any internet connected computer.  I was looking for a way to remotely view my dogs and cat to see how they were getting along in their kennels while we weren’t home.  I also wanted a cheap way to set up a security camera using only my existing hardware.  iCam fits the bill perfectly.  After installing the app on your iPhone, you will also need to install a small app on your webcam enabled computer (Mac or PC).   iCam will also stream a live sound feed if your webcam has a microphone.  This app is also a sneaky way to monitor your kids when they’re home alone! As a bonus, the webcam streams are also viewable through almost any web browser by simply logging in using the same username and password you created for the app itself. iCam costs $4.99 and is available in the iTunes store.  Read more about the app as well as the web viewer HERE.

That’s it for now.  There’s definitely more to come.

Okay, I try to keep things kid-friendly here on JeffPicard.com, and I don’t think this crosses the line, HOWEVER, some people might disagree.  If you’re reading this from the school library (Greg), I suggest you wait till you get home.  It’s in German, but I think this actually makes it even funnier.

Many, many years ago, when the internet was but a youngster, I happened upon the Horror Movie Character’s Survival Guide.  This guide is designed to help you survive if you end up in a horror movie.  When I first found the guide there were 31 items.  Now, it’s up to a staggering 304 tips.  Because the guide is posted on several sites around the web, I’ve decided to just post it here as well.  It’s quite long, so hit the “read more” link at the bottom to see the whole thing.  I’ll probably post this to a fixed page in the future.

Survival Tips:

1. When it seems that you’ve killed the monster, never check to see if it’s really dead.
2. If you find that your house is built upon or near a cemetery, was once a church used for black masses, had previous inhabitants who went mad or committed suicide or died in some horrible fashion or who performed necrophilia or satanic practices, move away immediately.
3. Never read a book of demon summoning aloud, even as a joke.
4. Do not search the basement, especially when the power has just gone out.
5. If your children speak to you in Latin or any other language which they do not know, or if they speak using a voice other than their own, shoot them at once. It will save you a lot of grief in the long run. Note: it’s unlikely they’ll die easy, so be prepared.
6. When you have the benefit of numbers, never pair off or go off alone.
7. If the gang plans a fun midnight party in the town’s old abandoned mansion, don’t tag along. Especially don’t tag along if everyone’s going as couples, except you’re the odd guy/gal out. And if you’re the gang’s jokester, you may as well write up your last will and testament while you’re driving with them to the place.
8. As a general rule, don’t solve puzzles that open portals to Hell.
9. Never stand in, on, above, below, beside, or anywhere near a grave, tomb, crypt, mausoleum, or other domicile of the dead.
10. If you’re searching for something which caused a noise and find out that it’s just the cat, leave the room immediately if you value your life.
11. If appliances start operating by themselves, move out.
12. Do not take (or borrow) anything from the dead.
13. Don’t fool with recombinant DNA technology unless you’re sure you know what you are doing.
14. If you’re running from the monster, expect to trip or f all down at least twice, more if you are female. Also note that, although you are running and the monster is merely shambling along, it’s still moving fast enough to catch up with you.
15. If your companions suddenly begin to exhibit uncharacteristic behavior such as hissing, fascination for blood, glowing eyes, increasing hairiness, and so on, get away from them as fast as possible.
16. Stay away from certain geographical locations, some of which are listed here: Amityville, Elm Street, Transylvania, Nilbog (God help you if you recognize this one), the Bermuda Triangle, or any small town in Maine or Massachusetts.
17. If your car runs out of gas at night, do not go to the nearby deserted-looking house to phone for help.
18. Beware of strangers bearing tools such as chain saws, staple guns, hedge trimmers, electric carving knives, combines, lawnmowers, butane torches, soldering irons, band saws, weed-whackers or any device made from deceased companions.
19. Listen closely to the soundtrack; and pay attention to the audience, since they are usually far more intelligent than you could ever hope to be.
20. Never, never, NEVER try to communicate with something icky because “there’s so much we can learn from them”.
21. Don’t make fun of or play with dead things.
22. If you find a town which looks deserted, it’s probably for a reason. Take the hint and stay away.
23. If a meteor strikes nearby, move out of town.
24. When something bad is chasing you, bear in mind that when you try to start your car, no matter how reliable the vehicle is normally, you’ll have to crank the engine over many times before it will fire up.
25. If you walk into the local abandoned-looking church to seek help or shelter, and you notice that the crucifix is mounted upside down, turn around and go back outside as quietly as possible.
26. When you happen to be one of the fortunate ones and actually make it through the film alive, never, NEVER sign on to do a sequel. If you do, expect to depart this world in the first five minutes.
27. Strange lights are seldom harbingers of joy.
28. People arriving to rescue you generally get ambushed by the monster, so don’t rely on them as your only means of escape. In fact, expect to be surprised and delayed by encountering their flayed corpse at some point.
29. On no account do ANYTHING because someone dares you to.
30. If you realize that the people in your town/county are having their minds taken over by some strange force, alien or otherwise: DO NOT call the police as they are either already taken over themselves and will turn you in, or
    they will not believe you and will laugh at you.  Either way, you must handle the problem yourself.
31. If a small band of children appear to be smarter then the adults that are around them, be cautious. If they stay together in a small, secretive group, and display nothing but hostility towards their elders, authority, and the church, leave town at once. If you wish to stay, be as kind to the children as possible, but expect to die anyways because you are inferior to them. Read more »

A while back I wrote a post regarding the use of tilt-shift in photography.  Somewhere along the line I think I also posted a time lapse video that also used the tilt-shift technique.  I came across another video today that I think is almost magical.  It’s like watching a miniature world go by.  The name of the artist is Christoph Schaarschmidt.  You can see more of his work HERE.  I love the choice of music as well.

Most people would have you believe that going to jail is a bad thing.  Normally, I’d agree with this.  The exception to this is if you happen to be incarcerated in the  Justice and Detention Center located in Leoben, Austria.  This place is nicer than most of the hotels I’ve ever stayed in, except for the fact that you can’t leave when you want to.  The chain-email that these images came in wrongly labeled these pictures as being of the Cook County Correctional Center in Chicago.