DeArmond.net

Save the Internet

Okay, I really didn't mean to use this blog site as a soap-box to preach about what's going on in politics today. However, in this case, it has quite a bit to do with computers and, specifically, the Internet as we know it... and I think it's something that many people probably don't fully understand.

Right now, all network traffic is created and treated equally. By "network traffic", I mean all the activity on the internet. When you read my site, for instance, you send a request out to my server, and my server responds and sends you my blog, including all pictures, links, etc. The complex network of routers and switches across the world doesn't know or care who owns that information, and won't discriminate for or against you or me or any of the other billions of packets of information sent here or there. I believe this basis of "Network Neutrality" is what has allowed the Internet to flourish as the widespread, independent, diverse source of information that it is.

It's really incredible the amount of information that's available on the Internet. I've heard people say that we're living in the "Information Age". Well, what good is information without a useful and robust way to store it as well as a method for that information to be widely and inexpensively distributed to anybody who cares to look?

You're looking at the result of it right here. I can have a web site which doesn't cost me much to host and which anyone in the world can read. When the information is sent from my web host to you, that information is treated the same as if you had just looked up a map on Google; even though Google is a multi-billion-dollar corporation and I haven't grossed dollar one. The Internet gives a voice to anyone who wants one; and if that voice becomes popular and/or that information becomes valuable, then that person may even make a bit of money.

The future of the Internet may be significantly different if legislation is passed which does not preserve this idea of "Network Neutrality". There are certain companies (AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, and other service providers), with enormous budgets and fleets of lawyers and lobbyists, who are trying to turn the Internet into a fee-for-service network. If they are successful, they will be allowed to charge web sites for preferential treatment of their network traffic. Google will have to pay loads of money to these companies so Google can ensure that when people perform a search, they get their results in a timely fashion. Google doesn't want to have to do this. They would rather spend their money on research and development of useful tools and features they can add to their site.

I would also be given the "opportunity" to pay loads of money so that when people hit my site they will be able to view my photographs in a timely fashion. I cannot do this. Neither can millions of other sites out there with little or no budget. The voices will still be there, but they'll be muted, if you will.

So, ask yourself:

• When you read the daily news on your local newspaper's web site, do you want it to load much much slower than, say MSNBC?
• When you search for a book on the web site for your city library, or your independent book store, do you want the page to load much much slower than, say Borders?
• If you support your favorite non-profit organization, do you want that organization's web site to load much much slower than every other site on the web? Or would you rather your donations be spent paying off service providers for the "privilege" of faster traffic?

Do you see a problem here? I do. There is already enormous consolidation of popular media. Did you know that the vast majority of all TV, radio, newspaper, and magazines are owned by only seven companies? That's pretty much why the vast majority of all TV, radio, newspapers, and magazines suck. If only the well-funded web sites load quickly, small independent web sites would dwindle and you'd see a similar consolidation on the Internet. That would be a real shame.

I think it's also important to note that these network service providers are the same companies who have handed over detailed records of phone conversations to the National Security Agency. Phone conversations made by ordinary US citizens -- most of which are not suspected of any crime. These are the corporations we're supposed to trust with the availability of diverse information on the Internet? I think not.

Now, there is something you can do:

• Read about it.
• Talk about it with your friends and relatives.
• Inform your congressperson. (Believe me, if you just read this blog, you're more informed about it than they are.)
• Sign a Petition.

An important vote is going to take place in Congress this week. Act quickly.

Remember how I said that the water was clear? Well, I meant it. This photo was taken from about eight feet underwater looking up through the clear water, through the fish, and nicely focusing on the redwoods in the background.

Obviously, I was using my underwater camera housing for this one too. The Eel River was a great place to shoot underwater because of the clarity of the water. It's really hard to shoot when the water's even a little silty. Not only is your visibility is limited, but there's much less light available and if you try to use the flash, all you'll do is light up the silt. I did not use a flash on this picture. I didn't need to, the sun was right there!

Remember what I said last time about showing the beauty that everyone else missed? Here's one. This is an American Rubyspot damselfly; not dragonfly, damselfly. You can tell because when it lands, it sticks its wings up and to the back. When dragonflies land, they stick their wings straight out to the side. Also, damselflies tend to be smaller. In any case, isn't he a elegant? This is on the Eel River, in that swimming hole near Hidden Springs Campground. I found this tree root that was sticking half out of the water. I stood neck-deep in the river for about half an hour shooting while all kinds of damselflies, dragonflies, and butterflies flew around me.

To get this shot, I used my Canon S50 safely encased in its under-water housing. I use that under-water housing for more than just shooting under water. I take it skiing, kayaking, and to the beach so that I can shoot without worrying about the camera getting wet or sandy. In this case, of course, this photo was not taken under water, but I would not have taken my unprotected camera into this environment.

Another feature I often use when shooting skittish creatures is rapid-fire. I'll hold down the shutter-release for a while so that I can get a whole bunch of shots in a short period of time. This is great because you never know when that insect is going to take off.

Can you believe this place? No, this isn't some mythical postcard studio, this is a real place. Humboldt Redwoods State Park is on Rt. 101 south of Humboldt proper. As you drive up 101 along the Eel River, you can take a side-road called the Avenue of the Giants, which brings you through some of the largest, oldest Coast Redwood trees in existence. When we visit, we stay at the Hidden Springs Campground, which we highly recommend. Just downhill from the campground, across the Avenue of the Giants, is this path. It will take you through these majestic Redwoods down to a fantastic swimming hole at the Eel River where, in the early summer, the water is the perfect combination of temperature and clarity.

Okay, enough about the location, let's talk about the shot. The best time to shoot outdoors is early in the morning, and this place is no exception. The overcast sky dulls out the harsh shadows that would wreck contrast-havoc on a forest photograph.

A necessity when shooting under the forest canopy is a tripod. You want to have a long depth of field to get everything in focus, so you'll have to use a high f-stop and a long shutter speed. It's pretty much impossible to get a nice shot in these conditions without a tripod. Also, early in the morning, there is very little wind, which would blur the branches as they sway.

It is very tempting, when surrounded on all sides by such beauty, to use a wide-angle lens and take it all in at once. Try to avoid such temptation when shooting trees because the fish-eye effect will become more noticeable. Trees are supposed to be straight-up-and-down, not bowed out to the side. Besides, using a longer lens will force you to tap your creativity and display the beauty that everyone else missed.

This place is too cool. Stay tuned for more pictures from Humboldt Redwoods State Park and the Eel River... I think I'm going to do my first photo-series on DeArmond.net.

A what? UPS? Isn't that the name of a shipping company? Well, that too, but it's also an invaluable and oft-overlooked piece of electronic hardware. The acronym similarity is simply a coincidence. A UPS is a battery-backup, it's a surge-protector, it's insurance, and it's generally a good idea.

Here's what's happening in your house right now: The electricity you get from your local utility company comes through the plugs on your wall at approximately 115 volts. I say "approximately" because the voltage on which your electronics feed varies a bit based on the activity of other devices in your house. For instance, if you're using your computer and the washing machine goes on, the voltage may dip down a few volts. You might notice that the lights dim slightly, and then return to normal. Basically, you're experiencing a small brownout and, for the most part, robust electronic devices such as lights and appliances don't really care. The more complex the electronics within the device, the more sensitive it is to fluctuations in its supply of electricity. Your computer is the most complex electronic device in your house. And it should be, it cost you enough. Many hardware and software issues can be attributed to just a bad power feed, and could have been avoided by spending $50 to $100 on a UPS. Other consumer electronics devices, such as stereo equipment, can also benefit.

How is a UPS going to help? A UPS looks like (and weighs as much as) a really big brick. It has one power cord coming out of it which plugs into the power socket on your wall, and it has several sockets on its back for plugging in your various devices. Inside the brick is a big battery. The power comes in, is stored in the battery, and then delivered to your devices in a perfect sine-wave of 115 volt power. This makes your computer very happy.

In addition a UPS has a few added benefits: If the power goes out while you're typing your masterpiece novel (and you haven't hit Save all day), your computer will continue to run for a few minutes. Generally, it's just enough time to hit save and shut down your computer properly before the battery runs out. More common that a complete power failure, however, is a short brownout. When this happens, the power goes down for less than a second and then comes right back on. Computers hate that more than anything. Your UPS will completely protect your equipment during such an event.
Also, the UPS will protect your equipment against even the most powerful power surges.

Convinced yet? Good. Here's what to look for:

The amount of power that a UPS can supply is measured in "VA" aka volt-amps. The higher the VA rating, the more equipment you can stick on a single UPS and/or the longer that equipment can run once the power goes out. If you have desktop computer, LCD monitor, and maybe a few small incidental peripherals, you should look for at least 500VA. If you have a CRT monitor (a tube), then you probably need more like 800VA. With that configuration, you may not get more than a couple minutes in the event of a power failure, though it will work great against brownouts and slight power fluctuations. If you want more battery-time, you may want 1000VA. If you have two large computers, or perhaps some serious stereo equipment in the same room as your computer, maybe 1500VA is more up your alley.

Also, look for a UPS that will connect to your computer via USB. That way, if you're not in front of your computer when the power goes out, the UPS will actually tell your computer that it's about to run out of power and automatically shut down your computer for you. Pretty slick.

Now that you're going to get one, there are some things you should know:

First of all, NEVER plug any device into the UPS if it draws a lot of power, such as:
Power tools, vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances, laser printers (ink jets are fine), heaters, fans, sewing machines, clothes irons, or other small appliances. For the most part, those devices are not on very long, they're robust enough to withstand power fluctuations, and if the power goes out, you don't lose anything.

You should also know that, eventually, you'll have to replace the battery inside your UPS. Generally it will last about 5 years, after which you can purchase a replacement battery, and please, please, PLEASE RECYCLE THE OLD BATTERY. Very often the company from which you purchased the replacement will recycle the old one for you.

Take care of your equipment, and it'll last to serve you another day.