Foto Friday: Signs of Spring

Erie, Pennsylvania, self-proclaimed snow capital of the East, has had the most mild winter in recent memory. This season I have shovelled my driveway only three times. I'm so glad I didn't purchase a snow blower this fall. I'm not a winter sport enthusiast, so I'm not complaining.

Hopefully, spring is here to stay. The trees have buds on them, the daffodils are sprouting, the tulips are emerging from the ground, the crocuses/croci are blooming.

I took this photo on Sunday, March 11, at around 2 p.m. with my iPhone.

I love the crocus flower. Especially since it (hopefully) signifies the changing of the seasons.

Happy Pi Day!

... the holiday in which everyone pretends they were good at math.

Wild Wednesday: Where the Trees are

Over six years, researchers assembled a national forest map from space-based radar, satellite sensors, computer models, and a massive amount of ground-based data. It is possibly the highest resolution and most detailed view of forest structure and carbon storage ever assembled for any country. Forests in the U.S. were mapped down to a scale of 30 meters, or roughly 10 computer display pixels for every hectare of land (4 pixels per acre).

More information.

YouTube-sday: The Joy of Tears

Just Say No... to Texting

Last week the the new Pennsylvania Anti-Texting Law went into effect. Here are some facts you should know before you pull out your (not-so) smartphone or other communication device.

 

What the law does

• The law prohibits as a primary offense any driver from using an Interactive Wireless Communication Device (IWCD) to send, read or write a text-based communication while his or her vehicle is in motion. 
• Defines an IWCD as a wireless phone, personal digital assistant, smart phone, portable or mobile computer or similar devices that can be used for texting, instant messaging, emailing or browsing the Internet. 
• Defines a text-based communication as a text message, instant message, email or other written communication composed or received on an IWCD. 
• Institutes a $50 fine for convictions under this section. 
• Makes clear that this law supersedes and preempts any local ordinances restricting the use of interactive wireless devices by drivers.

The penalty is a summary offense. The law does not authorize the seizure of an IWCD.
The law goes into effect March 8, 2012, 120 calendar days from Nov. 9, 2011.

 

The violation carries no points as a penalty and will not be recorded on the driver record for non-commercial drivers. It will be recorded on commercial drivers’ records as a non-sanction violation.

 

The texting ban does NOT include the use of a GPS device, a system or device that is physically or electronically integrated into the vehicle, or a communications device that is affixed to a mass transit vehicle, bus or school bus.

Geek vs. Nerd

Foto Friday: Arizona Morning

This photo was taken in Sedona, Arizona on the aiport vista trail, at around 8 a.m. on April 5, 2011. Lots of things struck me when walking the trail: the red dirt that stuck to my sneakers, the serene quiet, the stagnant air with no breeze, the warm sun on my cheeks, and the twisted juniper trees. It was lovely.

Camera Stuff:
Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT
F-stop: f/10
Exposure time: 1/125 sec.
ISO speed: ISO-200
Focal length: 100 mm