NastyMcT : Blog : Photography : Alaska

Kendall’s Bday Morning

Originally uploaded by NastyMcT

I’ve done a quick revamp of my site, new theme etc. I’ll probably be moving some of the ad stuff around on the sidebars over the next few days, but will leave the Entrecard at the top for you droppers! It’s -3F here in Alaska right now. I’m starting stream a little more on JTV.

http://www.justin.tv/nastymct

I took the widget off my blog that linked directly to my justin.tv site, might put it back up later.

Sean made it safely to Copenhagen! Can’t wait to chat with him more to find out what it’s like there.

Kendall’s sweet 16 today. xoxo

Please be patient as a revamp my page a bit..

ENTRECARD’ERS!!! ***Please donate a buck or two!***

This is a special shoutout to all the Entrecard users, who can spread this message. Over 3000 Entrecards are dropped everyday. If everyone donated $1.00, Mark can get the prosthesis he needs!

If you’ll drop a buck to be in someones “Top Spot”, please drop $1 for Mark’s “Bottom Spot” (leg)!

Grab the Chipin Widget, and pass it on!

http://www.myspace.com/thecrusherrocks

Mark Haberkost is an amazing drummer, currently living in Florida. He recently due to complications of Diabetes, lost his leg below the knee. This benefit is for him to purchase a prosthetic leg, so he can play the drums again!

Mark has the most outstanding attitude of anyone that I’ve ever known who has been in a similar situation.

Please read Marks myspace page for details on the benefit to take place on 1/27/2008.

I’ve been patronizing Humpy’s since 1997. A lot I might add.

Since that time, I’ve seen the once revered icon, plummet into a vibe-less building, on par with the cheesy t-shirt shops within a one mile vicinity. It’s only redeeming quality is that it’s smoke free.

I’ve seen Humpy’s go from THE PRISTINE local music venue, to nothing more than a sports bar that plays bump and grind music between sets (usually not mixed that well I might add).

I’ve seen Humpy’s go from music 7 nights a week, usually supporting two artists in one night (the early dinner solo acoustic set, and then the late set usually a band) to NO solo singer/songwriters, and a small rotation of local bands, and occasionally an out of towner.

I’ve seen Humpy’s go from a hometown bar, with a hometown feel… to a sterile, souless, *bar*. It’s gone from a true venue, to a watering hole.

When people asked me for a must see Alaskana place, I always used to send them to Humpy’s.

Humpy’s used to a be a MUSIC VENUE, with good food, and a wide selection of beers. They used to have a stellar sound system, which they ripped out, and in the process of replacing it, were ripped off. They’ve transformed from a dimly lit sultry music venue, to a harsh, bright, surface of the sun annoyance.

Humpy’s used to be a lot of things, when the owners were involved HANDS ON, when their survival depended on it.

Humpy’s is not the establishment that it once was. But then neither are a lot of the bars/venues in Alaska. Concerned more with saving a couple of bucks on live music, and letting the patrons become their “free” entertainment. They have nothing to loose.

Maybe I’m looking at it the wrong way, maybe Humpy’s is really innovative by being the first BAR in Alaska to serve up a WHOLE NIGHT dedicated to guitar hero. :::rolling eyes:::

Musician wanna bee’s pushing four buttons on a plastic guitar. Maybe they should have an Air Guitar night too, and install Dance Dance Revolution pads on the dance floor. Forget about Monday night football, just have Madden Madness night. Xgames? Nahhh, just hook up Tony Hawk.

How entertaining can it be? Watching someone on stage playing a VIDEO GAME?!? At least karaoke has the decency of some actual music, some sing along interaction.

I’ll pass thanks.

If you want good food, visit Orso, Ginger or Snowgoose in Anchorage. Visit Shine’s Sushi, Jalepeno’s or Haute Quarter Grill in Eagle River. Visit Settlers Bay, Jalepenos, Tacos Cancun, or Shines in Wasilla.

If you want good live music, good luck, the venues are drying up faster than a drop of water in the Sahara. Not just here in Alaska, but all over the United States.

However, there are a few venues that still give a shi* about live music, but the music depends on your attendance and support:

Tap Root Cafe - Anchorage: http://www.myspace.com/taprootcafe - A newer Anchorage venue, Musicians are paid with YOUR donations, food is awesome. Open mic Tuesdays. Small cozy place with a comfortable vibe. Tea, coffee, fresh juices and organic fare.

Whole Wheat Radio - Talkeetna: http://www.wholewheatradio.org - 24/7 Internet Indie Radio Station - They host some House Concerts that you can hear live and donate to the performers online. I can not say enough wonderful things about Jim and Esther.

Settler’s Bay - Wasilla: http://www.settlersbaylodge.com/ - EXCELLENT food, beautiful venue. They’re really working hard to get some great music. Beagle (the manager) is doing an EXCELLENT job of booking. If you frequent “The Bay” he will most likely come say hello, and ask you how your food was. Everything I’ve eaten there has been five stars.

Chilkoot Charlies - Anchorage: http://www.koots.com/ Meat market? Sure. Good food? Nahh… But you know what? Since their inception in 1970 Koots has built their business on and around music. Starting as a small piano bar, and eventually expanding to three stages with matching dance floors. They have music 7 days a week. They bring national bands to music starved Alaskans.

Whistling Swan Productions - Various Venues in Alaska: http://www.whistlingswan.net/ Although not a venue, Mike at Whistling Swan is one of the best music promoters in Alaska. Quirky and enthusiastic, Mike has exposed over 250 artists to our beautiful state, and continues to raise the bar (no pun intended).

Sorry Humpy’s for ragging on you, but you’ve really sunk to the lowest of lows. Slapping every gigging full-time Alaskan musician in the face with a plastic guitar hero Strat. By killing the most popular, and one of the longest standing open mics in Alaska. And by replacing skilled musicians, honing their incubating songwriting skills, with weekend-warrior gamers.

Nicely done.

Daylight Anchorage Alaska Today : 9:43 a.m. - 4:40 p.m

COPIED FROM SEAN MORMELO’S BLOG AT MYSPACE

HTTP://WWW.MYSPACE.COM/SEANMORMELO

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Just a couple of pictures from last night.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080115/ap_on_go_ot/cloned_meat

Well the *FDA* has sunk to an all time low today. Calling cloned meat “SAFE”. I can’t even get past the first three paragraphs without getting pissed off.

If you’ve ever considered going vegan, now might be the time to segue into that lifestyle.

Just to sum it up for you. Since the CLONED animals are “too expensive” to actually grind up into meat, or produce the dairy (x10 to x20 times more expensive than your average cow), the CLONED OFFSPRING will be inside your next tasty burger.

Can you wrap your head around that?

I’m thinking Stephen King’s Pet Cemetery here.

I’m thinking some kind of cloned meat disease infecting us.

I’m thinking maybe we shouldn’t mess with mother nature. Call me crazy.

Besides meat, most of our foods are genetically modified (seeds), planted in nutrient free soil, grown with pesticides and fertilizers. Modified to grow faster, be resistant to certain bugs etc.

And how about the crap they actually do to the meat to make it look “yummy” in the packaging?

http://walmartwatch.com/blog/archives/the_beef_with_wal_mart_meats/

I encourage you all to educate yourself about the current state of the meat industry:

http://www.petatv.com/tvpopup/Prefs.asp?video=meet_your_meat

Believe me, the FDA isn’t thinking of our safety when they make these claims that the babies of clones are safe for us to eat, safe for us to consume their products. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if we’ve been feed genetically cloned meat for years. We are guinea pigs you know. Yay for the FDA! Keeping us safe, fed, and fat.

Three Amigos

Originally uploaded by NastyMcT

Just a little spring for the subzero temps outside. This one was taken on 7/7/7.

http://www.aeic.alaska.edu/Seis/recenteqs_sub/

We just had three quakes, 1st one 3.99, second 2.83, third 1.73.  The first two I felt, one strong one weak.  They happened really close to my house, so I’m sure I felt them a little stronger.

I’ve always been interested in Photography, although I didn’t realize it until my late 20’s early 30’s.

I had various film compacts over the years. But I never really learned the mechanics of the camera, film development, or photography techniques. When the digital camera age arrive, and photoshop became mainstream. My interest in photography really took off.

It wasn’t until 2005 that I was able to buy my first Digital SLR. I did a lot of research, and knew I wanted the Canon 20D (which has now been replaced with the 30D then the 40D). I knew way more about the camera, then I did about putting good glass on the camera body, and the two lenses that I purchased with the 20D’s were both Sigmas, one 28-70mm and the other a 70-300mm. I wish I had known more about lenses at the time. I probably would’ve gotten one higher end zoom, instead of the lesser quality Sigmas. This is not to say that I haven’t learned A LOT with my Sigmas and taken some great pictures. But the fact is, the grass is always greener. And as you learn your camera, and subsequently, get to know more about photography, and the type of photography you want to get into. It took me about 18 months to become fully comfortable with my camera. A slow learning curve. So if you’re just getting into photography, and are thinking about buying a camera, I would highly suggest buying a camera a level above your current comfort zone. Because inevitably as you get familiar with your equipment, you’ll want to upgrade, and you’ll be glad you have something above your level.

Laura

Oh yeah baby, two posts in one night…. get it while it’s hot.

I was just thinking today of some things that are uniquely Alaskana. Carhartts, acceptable at every function from weddings to BBQ’s. No one really cares. This is not to say that Alaskan’s are totally styleless. I mean, we do have the 5th Avenue Mall.

Tonight it’s around 7 degrees. Light snow, bad roads. Doesn’t matter. Alaskans are out and about in full force. And another fashion I notice, is that no one is really bundled up. If it gets below zero, or it’s windy… I think that’s when we bundle up. But single digits? I was only wearing a light fleece, and so were most of the people in the bar. Some die hards were only sporting a sweatshirt.

This is not to say that it’s not cold. But I think the thought process is to get as quickly from your warm car, to whatever warm building is your destination. Then auto start car, get to the pre-warmed car as quickly as possible, drive away from destination.

We all have our pet peeves.  We all have our little OCD things.  One of mine for example, is usually when grabbing things from the store shelves to buy, I’ll grab one behind the first one faced on the shelf.  Call me crazy.  But I know 100 people have picked that first one up, smelled it, tossed it around, thought about buying it, and then put it back on the shelf.  Same sort of thing when I go to a book store, to buy a magazine, I’ll pull from the back.  The ones that are un-read, fresh spines.  But I’m getting off track.

Back to the pet peeves…  I’m at a local establishment tonight.  In walks Miss Perfume.  Yeah, you know who I’m talking about.

That one chick (or guy in some cases) who believes that their perfume is SO GREAT… that everyone needs to smell it when they walk in.

I’m talking a green fog.  The kind of strong that interferes with your food. Seriously, what the hell is it with these people?

It’s not often you can take 30 seconds or so of your time, and help out and indie film for free… but that’s exactly what you can do thanks to ourstage.com teaming up with 10mph.com.

http://www.ourstage.com/go/10mph

By simply registering for ourstage, you’ll be donating $1 to the creators of 10mph, supporting indie art, and will get to download this great documentary for free. I highly suggest buying the DVD to further support their cause. Hunter and Josh are currently working on their second documentary, which I’m sure will be as awesome as 10mph. Please visit their site, and their youtube site, and pass this along.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdR41fe9Zeg