Month: July 2009

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More playing with my iPhone

I caught a couple of minutes of JR and Natalie doing “Stand By Me” on one of the music stages during the State College 2009 Arts Festival. I’m still amazed by the quality of both the video and the sound – I have to keep reminding myself that this is a PHONE.

Natalie used to be a cashier and cocktail waitress at the Tavern and JR’s opening remark about her learning to sing there was because Pat Daugherty was sitting in the first row.

Here’s a clip that I shot later that night from Natalie singing with another of my favorite local bands Maxwell Strait. I’m pretty amazed that anything came out of this as it was taken in a very very dark local bar called the Phyrst – the sound is distorted in this one because I was standing right in front of one of the speakers and I think it overwhelmed the little mike in the iPhone.

This little test has me convinced that I should be able to get some acceptable video of me doing some of my magic tricks around town. I just need to find someone who can work the phone while I’m doing the tricks. Every magician seems to have a gorgeous assistant – maybe I need to start a talent search for one.

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I’ve gone over to the Dark Side

Actually broke down and purchased my first Apple product last week – an iPhone.

I must admit that I’m pretty impressed with the technology. One of the more impressive apps is one called AutoStitch which stitches together photos taken with the phone enabling you to produce some pretty good panoramas with the phone. Here are some photos I took at yesterday’s Spike’s baseball game.

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The phone also take some pretty decent video. I decided to try out the video feature for the first time when one of the Spikes came up to bat in the eighth inning. I got pretty lucky as he hit the game winning home run.

And incredibly, I hear you can even make phone calls on this thing (although I haven’t tried that yet)

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Battle of Battle Creek

Ron, Steve and I attended the Battle this past week end. I am happy to say that not only did I retain the Fall Family Championship and the shirt, but I am also co-champion of the Battle.

It really wasn’t much of a match for the shirt this year as I posted 2 scores of 83 (net 67) in the early rounds. It was decided Saturday night that the 4 top scores in the Battle would play together Sunday so match play was not an option for the shirt as I was the only one of the three of us in the top four. Ron and I decided to just go with a net score for the Fall championship.

Starting Sunday’s round I was not sure how far behind I was for the Battle championship. I was told it was around 11 or 12 strokes. As I was also giving 12 strokes per round to the leader I knew making up 23 or 24 strokes was a long shot. After 9 holes I shot a 50 and the leader had a 55. I now had 9 holes to make up 18 or 19 strokes. At that time I figured it was over and was just hoping to hold onto the shirt.

Well, after another 8 holes things looked a bit different. I didn’t really know where I stood, but I knew it was close. Unfortunatly, the pressure got to me. I pulled my tee shot into the woods, chipped out, laid up (still behind a tree in the left rough), knocked one on, and then 3 putted. So much for stepping up like a champion.

As it turned out I shot 45 on the back and the leader, Dave Milner, shot 64. We still didn’t really know who had won and had to wait for Rick to add up the totals. Obviously, I was 12 back when the day started and not 11. First time in the history of the Battle there are co-champions.

As for the shirt, Ron shot something in the 100’s so that wasn’t very close. I keep the championship until the next challenge.

So, set your plans for next year and you can all challenge me for not only the Fall Family Championship, but the Battle of Battle Creek Championship.