The Ubiquitous Mouse

In this series of photographs I've captured some shots of the ubiquitous mouse - not the furry kind, the computer kind.  Years ago I stopped using the push-around variety of mouse as my primary mouse because of CTS symptoms.  I switched to the roller-ball mouse and virtually eliminated the CTS symptoms.  At any rate, here are some hopefully interesting images of ...the mouse (or parts of it any way) :

 In this first one, I inverted the colors for an interesting result:

Here's the pre-inverted picture:

Now for some interesting shots of the mouse ball itself:

An inverted picture of the same:

And finally, a black and white perspective:

Have a great day!

Christopher.

Plant on pedestal and problems by-passing the Kodak easyshare software

I like this black and white photo I took last night.  I was bored sitting around in the apartment and started looking around for something to photograph.  Several things I like about this photograph is the way the black and white aspect highlights the shadows as well as the light.  The elegant and simple column progressing to the complex light and shadow combinations of the potted plant make it interesting from this perspective.  The white background and dark molding at the bottom accentuate this aspect of the photograph.  Another perspective is below:

This one I like because you can actually see the design on the vase and a little bit more of the detail at the top  of the column. 

I'm still getting to know my camera.  The more I play around with it the more impressed I am with the quality of this inexpensive camera.  It was a real bear to bypass the Kodak Easyshare software and load the pictures directly to my hard drive from the camera.  For those of you with one of the point-and-shoot Koday Easyshare cameras, here are two methods of doing this on Windows XP:

1) From the camera touchscreen, select the settings icon.
2) Scroll down 'computer connection' and select 'other application'
3) Connect the camera to the computer.
4) The connect camera wizard starts and enables you to select where to save your photos.


The second method:


1) From the camera touchscreen, select the settings icon.
2) Scroll down 'computer connection' and select 'other application'
3) Connect the camera to the computer.
4) Open the Device Manager of the computer.
    a. Right-click on My Computer and select Properties.
    b. Click the Hardware tab and click the Device Manager button.
5) Click the plus (+) in front of Imaging Devices or Universal Serial Bus Controllers.
6) Check if the camera name or model number is listed. If listed, double-click on it and then click the Driver tab and then Update Driver.
7) Select Install from a list or specific location (Advanced), and click Next.
8) Select Don't search. I will choose the driver to install, and click Next.
9) Select Digital Still Camera, and click on Next.
10) Click on Finish.
11) Double-click on My Computer.
12) Open the drive letter the pertains to the camera.
13) Open the DCIM folder.
14) Copy the picture files to another location of your choice.

Rust

Rust.  It's what happens when something metal begins to decay.  I'm no expert on rust, but taking this picture reminded me of the fact that people rust too.  I'm not talking about getting older and the aging process.  Maybe we aren't as tolerant of others as we used to be.  Maybe we never WERE tolerant and/or kind to others.  Maybe we don't give 100% on the job anymore like we used to.  Maybe we're just tired of the same-ole same-ole.  Whether we degrade over time or our faults have simply become more pronounced over our lifetimes, we all have the rusty places, imperfections that others experience and see sometimes all too clearly.

We all have faults - rust if you will.  Maybe my rust is different than yours, but its still rust.  My point I would like to make today is that just because we as humans have faults and aren't perfect, doesn't mean we don't have good points too.  Sometimes all we can see are our faults, our mistakes, the things we have done to screw up.  Sometimes we forget that just like this rusty screw that is still doing its job, that we are still useful, we are fulfilling or can fulfill our purpose - even though we may be rusty and no-longer bright and shiny.

You see, this rusted piece of metal in the pictures above is actually a hinge that is helping to hold up a door.  Without this rusted piece of metal and another hinge just like it, this door would fall down.  It's the door to a bathroom - a very useful place to have a door.  Sometimes, like in the first picture, all someone else sees as they focus on one small area of our lives is a rusted piece of metal that they think is useless.  They forget to look at the big picture and therefore don't come to an accurate conclusion about who we are and how valuable we are as a whole person - even though we have a few rusty spots.

As you go about your life today, remember that whatever faults you may have, you are still a valuable human being with a purpose and with positive potential.  Don't let your mistakes - your rust - define you.  Rise above the rust and do what you can to help others.  After all, you don't see this hinge complaining about it's rust do you?  It simply continues to hang in there.  You hang in there too and so will I.


A fellow rusty hinge,

Christopher

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