By Any Other Nerd

What Is It Some budding flowers on a tree. Why It's Today's Pick Spring is coming!  I felt the sun strongly on me as I walked on the campus today and came across these budding flowers.  I was drawn to the contrast of bright green leaves, whitish flowers and dark gray branches.  It seems that from such a dark thing bright things come forth and again, I find that an intriguing metaphor about life and the ways we discover new things about us as we encounter darker (or challenging) experiences in our lives.  I also found the shadows in the background of the bare branches upon the ground to be a great visual--mapping out the direction(s) of the tree's life through the use of sun and shade. This submission is  part of the 365 Challenge .  For 2015's submissions, check out this link to all the posts.  For access to all photos, which open for reuse under a Creative Commons License, check out the  full album on Flickr . By Any Other Nerd Blog  by  Lance Eaton  is lice

What Is It A picture of the sky around 9:00am. Why It's Today's Pick I snapped this photo early in the day.  It looks quite dark and gloomy but was quite the opposite.  It's a find spring day in the 50s.  There's no filter here but somehow this is the picture that got captured.  I guess there's your metaphor for the day.  How things actually are in contrast to how things are captured can be two very different things.  It's makes me think about the events of Baltimore and seeing what has been captured (by the news media) as opposed to what the reality is for the people on the ground.  It's so hard to capture reality even in the modern era with all our gadgets and tools--because no matter what, that reality is filtered through individuals--which of course, are finely tuned filter-machines based upon our own experiences and understandings about the world and reality.   This submission is  part of the 365 Challenge .  For 2015's submissions, check o

I'm finally getting back to discussing some of my favorite films.  I hope by the time I finish I won't have to add 10 more.   Here's the running list of previous entries! Films 1-10 Films 11-20 Films 21-30 Films 31-40 Films 41-50 Let the Right One In (2008) This Swedish film focuses on the relationship between an adolescent vampire and the friendship developed with Oscar, a bullied and disconnected youth.  As the two come to know, understand, and care for one another, Eli, the vampire-teen has to avid detection while also getting the blood needed to survive.  The film is fascinating not only for exploring vampires in a non-sexual way (for the most part) but also because it is so beautifully shot.  The contrast of the bright snowy-landscapes with the dark and depressive nights as well as the selective use of gore.  It measures decently up with the book, though the film doesn't provide the viewer with as much to question about Oscar and his intentions as the

What Is It A view from under the Beverly-Salem Bridge. Why It's Today's Pick Today's picture comes from my afternoon run on my way back, I happen to cross under the Beverly-Salem bridge (it's easier than crossing the street).  I'm always curious about the the inbetween-spaces like underneath the bridge.  It's a place that's not a place, really.  Although this one is home to a parking lot as opposed to the traditionally depicted space where homeless look for shelter.  As a younger bridge, you can see that it still looks fresh and new--water and rust stains barely accumulating in the decade that it's been here.  It's fun to stand here and sense all that's going on.  You can observe the calm waters passing through while the cars rush above and a fish odor wafts from the fishing boats just to the left of this picture while you feel the small wind tunnel that it creates.  It's a full sensory experience for sure! This submission is  part o

What Is It Today's selfie with a kneeding Pumpkin Why It's Today's Pick So this week, I took a break from a selfie from running and took a post-run selfie with Pumpkin.  As you can see from her paw, she's needing my chest, something she does fairly often, especially if I am sitting in a particular space on the couch.  It's like my sitting there is the triggered condition for her to want to kneed me.  It's cute when any cat does this, but when Pumpkin does, with her flat face, the cute-factor grows exponentially.  I think this is probably at least the third photo reflection that includes Pumpkin, which means I've been slacking on Bear.  I'll need to fix that.  This also marks the 100th photo reflection of the year.  I haven't been keeping up daily but I think I hit it about 4-6 times a week, which is decent.  I'd still like to do more as I feel there are opportunities I'm missing or photos that I should be taking.  Oh well, we'll

What Is It More flowers I encountered in my neighborhood. Why It's Today's Pick I'm a sucker for snapping photos of flowers that are just out in the front of someone's yard.  I just like to see them and grab a quick photo of them as they make nice backgrounds on the computer but also because I like to look at flowers and appreciate their uniqueness.  This bunch was in front of a neighbor's house I noticed on my way home today.  These flowers stuck out of course because of their bright pinkish/purplish color in a landscape of drab grays, greens, and browns (not the house--just the area in general currently).  My eyes immediately caught them and so I went for my phone.  I also like these because of their curly starburst-like nature.  It's almost like they explode outward and this is what we're seeing, the flower explodes with spring.   This submission is  part of the 365 Challenge .  For 2015's submissions, check out this link to all the posts.  F

What Is It A flower growing right outside my door. Why It's Today's Pick I found this little beauty right outside next to a tree in front of my apartment.  It was a great reminder that spring--as always--has full returned.  More so, I found it fascinating because these flowers were not around before I left last Wednesday--so their miraculous appearance made me smile even more.  I was also impressed with how well my cellphone snapped this photo.  It's so vivid and clear, I feel like I could reach out and touch the flowers.  What about you, dear reader, what signs of spring have you stumbled upon?  Reply here or tag me on Instagram, Twitter, or Flickr! This submission is  part of the 365 Challenge .  For 2015's submissions, check out this link to all the posts.  For access to all photos, which open for reuse under a Creative Commons License, check out the  full album on Flickr . By Any Other Nerd Blog  by  Lance Eaton  is licensed under a  Creative Commons Attr

So in previous blog posts, I have occasional shared out some great material that I have found online that is just ripe (and legal) for the taking!  That includes posts on finding great free audiobooks from Librivox . Horror Part I   Horror Part II   Science fiction Part I Science Fiction Part II Fantasy Part I Fantasy Part II Random & Curious Titles This has also included a good amount of free ebooks on Amazon's Kindle.   I wrote two posts about this.  The first post entailed a lot of classic works and other useful books .  The second post included more Horror and Science Fiction ebooks . Well, while aimless surfing on Amazon today, I stumbled upon another trove of materials that I wanted to share out--a handful of Astounding Stories magazines that are on Amazon: Astounding Stories of Super-Science January 1930 http://www.amazon.com/Astounding-Stories-Super-Science-January-1930-ebook/dp/B00AQM8HQQ/ Astounding Stories of Super-Science, November, 1930 http://www

What Is It A bird perched on a pole in the ocean. Why It's Today's Pick While taking one of my last treks along the beach, here in Daytona, I found several great pictures to capture.  It was early morning and there were not a lot of people but plenty of sights to behold.  I rather liked this one and had to set it up a little bit as I saw the bird atop the pole and realized that if I could align it just right, the bird would be in the cloud opening.  I also like the pier in the background that seems to be creeping in. The reflection of the pole in the water is nice.  I would have loved to get the full pole but it wouldn't have then been possible to get the bird in the open clouds either. This submission is  part of the 365 Challenge .  For 2015's submissions, check out this link to all the posts.  For access to all photos, which open for reuse under a Creative Commons License, check out the  full album on Flickr . Did you enjoy this read? Let me know your tho

What Is It A post-run selfie after doing 8 miles in hot and humid Daytona Beach weather.   Why It's Today's Pick So this is today's selfie in all my sweaty glory after running just over eight miles in the high 70s heat and serious humidity.  It's quite the difference from last week.  It wasn't a half-marathon but brutal all the same.  I had planned to do 9 miles but walked the last.  This photo is taken from the apex of a bridge I walked from Port Orange into Daytona Beach Shores and you can see Daytona Beach in the far background.  I would have liked a non-squinting picture, but the sun was right on me, so that wasn't going to happen.  For those that may have been paying attention, you'll notice something different about my photo at this point, which should be an indicator of something else that I had mentioned previously.  Let's see who figures it out first! This submission is  part of the 365 Challenge .  For 2015's submissions, check out

What Is It A sign posted throughout Daytona Beach Shores area. Why It's Today's Pick In my travels while running down in Daytona Beach Shores, I encounter this sign a lot.  It seems to be on posts every 1/10th of a mile.  I kept passing by it and it continued to hound me and make me thing.  The slogan seems troubling to me.  I find it interesting that it is a quotations as if someone has said this.  Well, who said it and why did the town decide this was to be their slogan?  Did no one specifically say it, but the people who decide such things, decide that it would be better to pretend that someone said it.  Could having someone saying it (indicated by the quotations) allow some distance from the town leaders themselves declaring it.  Almost as an self-endorsement hiding as some public endorsement?  That captured my thought for a while.  However, then there is the content of the slogan.  How is life "better here"?  Is it just the sunny and warm weather?  If so

What Is It A fern in a church garden in St. Augustine, FL. Why It's Today's Pick While wandering the streets of St. Augustine today, we found our way to one of their beautiful and older churches.  This was right near the Flagler College.  Unfortunately, the inside of the church was closed.  However, we got to wander around the outside which had a nice garden.  What I liked was that the garden had a few key flowers but wasn't overdone with them, and had some clear and distinct plans, but mostly, it was just a nice quiet place with walkways and benches.  I came upon this particular fern and found it striking with it's bright greens and large branches.  However, I was most intrigued by the center where new stalks were growing.  I tried to take this photo so that the branch in the center felt like ti was reaching out to the viewer. This submission is  part of the 365 Challenge .  For 2015's submissions, check out this link to all the posts.  For access to al

What Is It Two buildings on Daytona Beach with their respective reflections in a puddle. Why It's Today's Pick I am in Daytona Beach for a few days a relaxing breather from life.  I went for a run today in weather that I was not prepared to run in and thus found myself walking a bit of the waterfront.  I found a lot of things to snap photos of (a byproduct of this project--I take a lot more pictures).  I went with this shot because I particularly liked the reflection in the water.  The buildings seem to tower over some many things around it including the beach but as the puddle hints, they are fading before our very eyes.  In fact, the water and the sand are likely to be here much longer than the buildings towering over.  This submission is  part of the 365 Challenge .  For 2015's submissions, check out this link to all the posts.  For access to all photos, which open for reuse under a Creative Commons License, check out the  full album on Flickr . Did you enjoy

What Is It Gillis Park at Sunset. Why It's Today's Pick Peeking out our window, my wife and I saw the sunset was looking pretty nice so we wandered on down to the beach and snapped a few glorious photos of the day coming to an end and wandered the beach a bit.  It's always fascinating to see the bright array of colors that come with the end of the day. It's like as we ascend into darkness, the Earth wishes to remind us of the glorious panorama that awaits us if we are to make it through till dawn.  I hope that sunsets, like life, should never get old, regardless of the passage of time. This submission is  part of the 365 Challenge .  For 2015's submissions, check out this link to all the posts.  For access to all photos, which open for reuse under a Creative Commons License, check out the  full album on Flickr . Did you enjoy this read? Let me know your thoughts down below or feel free to browse around and  check out some of my other posts! . You might a

So the following is a Course Preview for a course I'm teaching this fall, Comics in American Culture at North Shore Community College.  Feel free to take a look at the video and recommend it to people you know who might be interested. I'm quite excited about this course as not only am I teaching it online, I've also managed to design it so that students do not have to buy books for it, but will rely on the library's inter-library-loan feature to get a hold of many of the course works.  I like this approach because it not only gets students exposure to a range of graphic novels for free, but it also informs and encourages students to use the library, which I consider a win! As I said, feel free to watch it and get a sense of what I'm doing as well as to share it with others who you think might benefit from it.  You can watch the video below or you can go directly to the video on YouTube, here . Did you enjoy this read? Let me know your thoughts down below

What Is It A sidewalk panel with raised bumps. Why It's Today's Pick The first few times I saw these things, I didn't really see them.  I walked by or over them without consideration.  I remember that during one summer when I kept seeing them it slowly became obvious what they were there for.  If you haven't seen them or ever wondered what these are, they are sidewalk squares that are usually near street intersections or places where a person can park.  I initially realized that they were for people who are visually impaired as a means of locating where the best places to cross are or just indicator that a cross is coming up.  However, over the last year, I've also seen that they are useful for people who need wheels for their mobility (including adults with strollers).  The bumps can provide enough resistance to wheels leaning against them while the person waits for an opportunity to cross.  It seems that cities are installing them pretty thoroughly in the

What Is It Post-race selfie. Why It's Today's Pick Well, today's photo is brought to you by means of a sunny Sunday where in I ran the first half-marathon of the season.  I thought about taking a closer picture wherein you can see the salt on my face (it was sunny indeed, which increased the saltiness on runs), but opted for the full picture to include finisher medal (yes, everyone gets a medal and should, thank you very much), and my race number.  If you look further down below you can see on of my two Vibram shoes that I run with--the strange toe-shoes; I love'em!.  The facial hair continues to grow since I haven't yet heard from UMB about acceptance/rejection for a doctoral program (and I hope they contact soon, it's getting itchy and annoying!).  But otherwise, that's this week's selfie!  I would expect more of these this year as I have at least 4 other races and those typically take place on Sunday. This submission is  part of the 365 Chall

What Is It The Woburn Public Library on a Saturday morning. Why It's Today's Pick I happen to be visiting the Woburn Public Library today and arrived early (no surprise).  I wandered the grounds just enjoying the very beautiful building.  I took a pick of this before back in January , but I liked this picture because it just emphasized how it looms over one as you approach.  The building seems so impressive because of it's height and architecture.  It's elaborate and impressive as a building from 1877 (the lettering  tells us it was MDCCCLXXVII).  It's a building I can regularly look and explore, while anticipating to find new things about it's design and layout.  This submission is  part of the 365 Challenge .  For 2015's submissions, check out this link to all the posts.  For access to all photos, which open for reuse under a Creative Commons License, check out the  full album on Flickr . Did you enjoy this read? Let me know your thoughts down

What Is It The reflection of a tree in a puddle on a rainy day.   Why It's Today's Pick I was at a conference today and as is my habit with conferences, I tend to arrive super early because I like to avoid traffic and relax.  Part of the relaxing is wandering around the space where the conference is.  In this case, it was the Fall River Campus of Bristol Community College.  Being a lightly raining day with overcast, I enjoyed looking at the reflections in the different puddles as I walked about.  I'm always a fan of rain drops in puddles to watch the ripples, but there's also something serene about the water's reflection of the non-watered world.  It sometimes makes me wonder if Narcissus was so obsessed with himself or the way in which the water reflected the world.   This submission is  part of the 365 Challenge .  For 2015's submissions, check out this link to all the posts.  For access to all photos, which open for reuse under a Creative Commons Lic