Clawblog

One of the worst feelings in bird photography is missing a shot because you weren’t as prepared as you otherwise could have been.  Opportunities are scarce, so it’s best to be ready.  Prior to embarking on your outing, I recommend the following 3 things.

1. Turn your camera on! - This sounds obvious, but it’s easy to forget to do this.  Even if your camera has a quick startup time, that’s one additional step that could be the difference in capturing a quality shot.

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Prior to a trip to visit family this weekend, I was performing my weekly maintenance on my cars.  Good thing I did.  The car we initially planned on driving had one tire that had lost 1/3 of its air pressure.  I checked the same tire less than one week ago and it was spot on.  Luckily, it was not an issue to drive the other vehicle, but it served as a simple reminder of how important simple car maintenance should be for all of us.

As the driving world becomes increasingly more hectic, properly controlling our own driving environment is critical to our safety on the road.  Following are three things I do every week to keep my cars safe. Read the rest of this entry »

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I’m a gadget nut.  As I was preparing for my bike ride this morning I realized how important one particular gadget is to my routine.  The very first thing I do before a ride is check the outside temperature via my trusty weather station to determine how to properly dress.

Simply looking outside does not do it for me.  It can appear to be beautiful with bright sunshine, but the temps, like this morning, could easily be in the low 30’s.  I live in the Sacramento, California area, and I often describe the climate to visitors as one where you experience all four seasons.  Sure, the Sacramento Valley does not get snow, but we do experience many days with temperatures in the low-30’s, with some dipping down into the 20’s.  Spring and Fall can be very pleasant in this area, and Summer typically brings around 20 days with temps over 100 degrees, and is otherwise very warm.

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As I was enjoying a fine lunch today with a good friend, I was reminded how truly wonderful foods can be when slowly braised for many hours.  For me, braised foods equate to the quintessential comfort food.  Braising is a wonderful way to cook when entertaining a few guests, and, IT’S EASY!

I believe the concept of braising is rather daunting to some.  In this article I’m going to share the basic, uncomplicated, principles behind braising, as well as an example of a classic braised dish. 

Photography by: David Blaine

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Sure.  My wife and I attended all the preparatory classes on the topic of breastfeeding, during which we collected enough pamphlets to start fires in the woodstove all Winter.  Unfortunately, following the birth of our daughter, we quickly learned that nothing can fully prepare a couple for the initial challenges breastfeeding presents.

As a tremendous proponent of breastfeeding (some would call me a zealot!), I was involved every step of the way with my wife and baby as we all learned together.  I firmly believe that the support of the dad / husband can make or break a family’s effort.  I’d like to share a few of my thoughts regarding our experience, and hope it can help others.

Photography by: Raphael Goetter

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There’s no denying that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  However, it’s important to choose the right type of foods in order to set the proper tone and get started on the right foot.  For me, there’s no finer choice than steel cut Irish oatmeal.

Slow-cooked oatmeal is a low GI (gastro-intestinal) food, which means it will sustain one for a much longer period of time than would a food that is otherwise high in sugars and fats.  This has a profound benefit in helping to prevent mid-morning snacking or bingeing.  Read the rest of this entry »

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In a related post I detailed the differences between high definition (720p/1080i) and true, or full, high definition (1080p).  There has been an explosion of 1080p televisions hitting the market in the past year.  Are they worth the additional money, or would a conventional HDTV suffice?

In this article I will present reasons both for and against the upgrade to 1080p. Read the rest of this entry »

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Photography by: castagneto

Tired of spending $3-5 on espresso drinks at the coffee shops?  Perhaps it’s time to invest in a quality unit for home use that will provide years of reliable service.  With so many types of machines on the market, which one is right for you?

Having been exposed to the intracacies of fine coffee during my college years, I have always put forth the effort to prepare coffee the right way.  This is true for both brewed coffee, as well as your conventional cafe variety beverages: cafe latte, cafe au lait, cafe mocha, espresso, cappuccino, etc.  At one point I was so obsessed that I bought my coffee beans “green”, and roasted them myself!

Over the years I have used every type of espresso machine.  This experience has given me a clear understanding of the functionalities and benefits of these units, as well as some insight as to which one is suitable for the varying consumer types.  In this article I will share the 3 major types of espresso machines and the key points one should regard prior to purchase. Read the rest of this entry »

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What is the best smartphone?  Asking 5 people will likely yield 5 different responses.  Upon acquiring my first smartphone two months ago I thoroughly researched all major smartphone makers: Palm, BlackBerry, HTC, Motorola, and, of course, the iPhone from Apple.

This article will share my smartphone requirements, and the 6 reasons why I chose the BlackBerry Pearl. Read the rest of this entry »

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Prior to entering into the SLR (single lens reflex) camera world, I would see others toting those larger, heavier, more cumbersome cameras around and wondered if my photos would benefit from one.  The obvious answer is yes, but only if I were to spend the time to learn how to take advantage of its features. 

It’s clear that these more serious cameras are not for everyone.  In this article I will share 7 reasons one may ponder in determining whether they need one.  Read the rest of this entry »

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