Archive for the 'Recreation' Category

I have posted a new photo album from this year’s Old Fashioned Farmer’s Day event in Silk Hope, NC. This year’s album includes two short movies, showing a hit-and-miss engine in action, as well as the giant steam engine. Had I known more about the video feature of my camera, the results would probably have been better.

It’s Labor Day weekend once again, which means that it’s time for the Old Fashioned Farmer’s Day in Silk Hope, NC. Last year I took a number of pictures of the event, and I plan to do the same again this year. If you’re located in central North Carolina, and you’re looking for a good time this weekend, I recommend checking it out. It’s just good ol’ country fun!

Nintendo announced a new peripheral at this year’s E3: the Wii Fit. It’s an interesting concept, but one that has sharply divided the gaming community. I’ve read a number of comments saying that Nintendo is further alienating the “hard-core” gaming community; catering to the “soccer-moms” of America isn’t what gamers are looking for, so how could Nintendo sell out like that?

Other comments have praised the device, saying that kids clearly need to get exercise, and this is one more step in encouraging such behavior. I tend to agree with this latter group; the Wii Fit is a great idea, though the ‘games’ they’ve shown for the device seem bland. As far as alienating the hard-core gaming community is concerned, I don’t think Nintendo is doing that at all. It’s simply a matter of broadening their horizons. While Microsoft and Sony are locked in the never ending battle of “bigger, faster, better,” Nintendo is quietly expanding their horizons, gobbling up market share that no one has claimed. And they are making a profit the entire time. Microsoft is losing money like crazy with the 360 (especially after the recent “recall” announcement), as is Sony. Nintendo has made a profit since day 1, and continues to do so.

In the end, I think Nintendo will come out on top. The Wii may not have the flashiest graphics around, but it’s got creativity, something the other guys don’t. What do you think of the Wii Fit? Will it be a success, or a flop?

My family and I took a trip to the North Carolina Zoo earlier this week. As I normally do these days, I took my camera along and got lots of great photos. So many of my photographs turned out so well, that I think this may be my best photo album yet. A trusty monopod (which I got for Christmas last year) helped out tremendously in the darker exhibits.

Our trip this time primarily focused on the African exhibits (we spent the majority of our time on our previous trip in the American exhibits). The great thing about the NC Zoo is that there are so many things to see. In fact, it’s hard to see it all in one day!

One ill side effect of being a computer geek is a lack of physical exercise. My typing and mousing fingers are in great shape. Sadly, the rest of me has only gotten worse over time. In fact, I think I can safely say that I am in the worst shape of my life at the moment. The typical out-of-shape physical ailments seem to follow me around all the time: aches, pains, and a general lack of energy. Seeing that I can’t improve this area by continuing to sit around, I’ve decided to (try and) do something about it.

Thankfully, my employer offers a nice deal (a small monetary bonus) to motivate physical activity. I signed up to participate this year, thinking that a little coin would provide that extra push I need to start exercising. How and where to exercise is my first major hurdle. I’d rather avoid a gym if I could, mainly because I don’t want to (a) pay for a membership and (b) spend time driving to and from the place. I could avoid point (b) by using the gym at work, but I still have to pay. Buying a piece of exercise equipment for home would be cool, but I don’t have the room at the moment, and most good exercise equipment isn’t cheap.

So long story short: I’ve decided to start out by spending 30 minutes walking the paved trail around the gym here at work. I clearly won’t be able to do this when it’s raining, and it won’t be the most comfortable when it gets hot, but it’s at least a start. Some exercise is clearly better than none, right? Plus, the weather is just starting to get nice, so it’ll be good to get a little fresh air. I also hope to walk over at Eno River State Park more often on the weekends, which should give me a substantially higher workout (since the trails are often quite hilly).

In what ways do you exercise? Got any tips for a newbie like myself?

My dad and I had our first leaf-burn of the season yesterday, and I took some photographs of our work. It’s quite fun to live out in the country where this kind of thing isn’t against a city ordinance (and is, therefore, quite legal). Judging by all the leaves still on the trees, there will be a number of fires yet to go. Good times!

On an unrelated note, I’ve been tweaking the style used at this blog. Most notably, the line spacing here at the site has been increased. I think it makes things a little less cluttered looking, and easier on the eyes as a result. Comments? Suggestions? As always, let me know.

My dad and I attended Old Fashioned Farmers’ Day today, as we do every Labor Day. As always, it was a real blast, and I’ve put up a substantial photo album of our trip. For those who may not know, Old Fashioned Farmers’ Day is an event held in Silk Hope, North Carolina, every Labor Day weekend. It is sponsored by the Ruritans of Silk Hope, and provides a glimpse of the way farming was done in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Steam engines, old tractors, a working saw-mill, classic cars, hit-and-miss engines, and more make up the event. And let’s not forget the oh-so-awesome homemade ice cream, churned via a steam powered engine! I highly recommend the event for people in the central North Carolina area. Highly enjoyable.