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Fall
2004 Issue 9 |
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| Michael Hart's Road Notes: 1 2 3 4 5 Michael
Hart’s Notes More random thoughts from across the pond.... From Wales I went to Ellesmere Port, just southwest of Liverpool. The weather was uniformly glum for most of my stay (that Nik Color "Sunshine" plug-in will be worth the price when I get back!), and I managed to sneak in to Liverpool for a couple of hours. With apologies to Gerry & The Pacemakers, I didn't actually TAKE the "Ferry 'Cross The Mersey" but I did SEE it! And took in "The Beatles Story" exhibit at The Albert Docks. As one who watched that first performance on Ed Sullivan and had my life forever changed, walking along the banks of The Mersey is right up there with treading the Abbey Road crosswalk and standing on the steps of the studio.
And for your rock-and-roll trivia of the day: You DO know that The Byrds' "Eight Miles High" is actually about them going to England for the first time, right? 8 miles=roughly 40,000 feet, a rounding-up of the jet's cruising altitude, and the lyrics specifically refer to Liverpool ("Plain grey town, known for its sound... nowhere is there warmth to be found, among those afraid of losing their ground...") and the rather cool reception they got from Beatles fans. Yes, there will be a quiz, and I don't grade on the curve.
With apologies to Esquire Magazine: In another sign that the apocalypse is upon us, Nottingham, England has a Hooters. I'm so proud. Kind of ranks right up there with our other main exports, colored sugar water and fast food. Of course, the Nottingham "centre" (it's actually a few miles down the road near Mansfield, but close enough) does have a statue of Robin Hood in the middle of the food court, flanked as he is by Burger King and KFC. OK, they have Harry Ramsden's Fish & Chips as well, but still....
On the techie side... Yes, dust can be a problem with digital. I've taken to inspecting the sensor more frequently, and checking it after cleaning by doing an out of focus shot of a continuous tone are (i.e., sky) and taking up to 100-200% in Camera Raw for inspection, and re-cleaning if necessary. Time for a pint, luv....
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In
York, I walked down a street called "The Shambles" which
was "rebuilt" to its current configuration in 1400 -- see
attached. It makes me all the more sure that the best description
of England was given me when a friend was just back from her first
trip to London in the early 80's, and upon my asking how she liked
it, she exclaimed "It was wunnerful! Everything's so old,
it makes all of America look like one big Denny's!"