Monthly Archive for July, 2008

FlickrViewr Using DevDave’s AnimatingWrapPanel

DevDave (Dave Relyea) is a dev lead on the Silverlight team.  He just blogged a really slick new animating wrap panel.  Read about it here and try out the sample app below.

 

There are a bunch of different “interpolations” that you can choose from, including “back”, “elastic”, and “bounce.”

I’ve updated my FlickrViewr to use this animating wrap panel with the “elastic” option.  In my totally unbiased opinion, it looks pretty hot.  Though, as Dave pointed out, “elastic” is a bit much for a “real world” application – for a more sane UI, try “back” interpolation.

 

(See the original post for more info & source code.)

Design-Your-Own Plastic

… credit card, that is.

Just noticed that flickr has partnered with CapitolOne.  You can now put your own photos from flickr on your credit card. 

It’s a pretty genius idea – one of the reasons I like my current credit card is that it has a picture of Stanford on it.  And whenever I use it, it reminds me of my college days, friends I made there, experiences I had, etc.  The warm fuzzy usually only lasts about 2 seconds, but I like it enough that it’s a disincentive to change credit card companies.

Anyways, smart marketing move.  Nice one, Flickr & Capitol One!

Untitled

FlickrViewr Updated for Beta2

Just a note to say I’ve updated my FlickrViewr for Silverlight Beta2.  (All of the controls now use VisualStateManager, too!)

Enjoy!

(See the original post for more info & source code.)

Cave Art

I just read a fascinating article in the New Yorker: “First Impressions: What does the world’s oldest art say about us?” by Judith Thurman.

 

Here’s an excerpt from the first paragraph:

…After a visit to Lascaux [a cave in the South of France] …, which was discovered in 1940, Picasso reportedly said to his guide, “They’ve invented everything.” What those first artists invented was a language of signs for which there will never be a Rosetta stone; perspective, a technique that was not rediscovered until the Athenian Golden Age; and a bestiary of such vitality and finesse that, by the flicker of torchlight, the animals seem to surge from the walls, and move across them like figures in a magic lantern show (in that sense, the artists invented animation). They also thought up … scaffolds to reach high places; the principles of stencilling and Pointillism; powdered colors, brushes, and stumping cloths; and, more to the point of Picasso’s insight, the very concept of an image. A true artist reimagines that concept with every blank canvas—but not from a void.

Back From Spain

And I’m back.  And totally jetlagged.

Spain was great – a fabulous country.  I will definitely go back again.

Also, it turns out that "vacation" vacations do have some nice perks over "adventure" vacations:

  1. Being able to brush your teeth without worrying about getting sick.
  2. Being able to eat fruit from street vendors without worrying about getting sick.
  3. Knowing that you’re not totally screwed if you lose your passport.
  4. Not stressing about safety when calling a cab.
  5. Western toilets.

Oh, and amazing wine and cheese.  Though, the exchange rate is rather killer.

Next trip?  I’m thinking back to south america – but who knows.  :)

 

Pictures coming soon.

 

Karen at the Guggenheim

Me, in front of the Guggenheim in Bilbao, SpainTaken an hour before sunset with the help of a park bench.

The Guggeheim in Bilbao

The last stop in my trip to Spain was Bilbao.  The city in recent years has become an international destination with the building of the Guggenheim.  The building, designed by Frank Gehry, is shaped like a “ship” with fish-like titanium scales.  I loved how it caught the colors of the city at different times of day.

The collection housed inside of the Guggenheim was much smaller than I expected.  The temporary Munoz exhibit was very good, and my appreciation for Richard Serra grew after seeing his permanent pieces.  But overall, the building itself much overshadowed the art inside.

 

Guggenheim - evening

the guggenheim from across the river

 

Bilbao

the “fish scales” texture

 

Bilbao 

my rocky run

 

Bilbao 

spider

 

Bilbao 

organic lines of the building

 

Bilbao 

water fun

 

Bilbao 

blue is blue

 

Guggenheim - at twilight 

twilight

 

Bilbao

a little bit of vegas

 

Bilbao

at night

 

Bilbao

reflections

 

 Bilbao

dancing

San Sebastian

San Sebastian is an absolutely gorgeous beach town.  Unfortunately, it got hit with a case of “seattle weather” while I was there…. so there wasn’t a lot of frolicking on the sand.  Fortunately, Spain summer sales started that Monday – so I ended up being pretty productive anyways.  :)

 

San Sebastian

looking down at san sebastian

Relaxing with Sangria & a New Yorker

relaxing with sangria & new yorker

San Sebastian 

window dressings

San Sebastian 

seaside

San Sebastian

soccer on the beach

San Sebastian 

merry-go-rounds

San Sebastian

beach 

San Sebastian

can you hear me now?

San Sebastian

twilight near the beach