Blog – Page 119 – James Cockroft

some Nate Matos zines

‘Various Shades Of’ and ‘In the Middle’ are the first two zines in Nate Matos‘ new “Color Theory” series. Like the Blandscapes, each issue contains a group of photos on a single theme: ‘Various Shades Of’ chronicles the brown that pervades manmade landscapes and ‘In the Middle’ features trees and shrubs in urban settings. The Color Theory zines are larger and somewhat more finely finished than the Blandscapes, with stiff covers and slick, machine-cut paper, but they’re still inexpensive and properly zine-y.

Unboxing Panobooks

4 or 5 months ago, I came across the Panobooks Kickstarter and remembered the frustration I had when I first started my office job, balancing a notebook or tablet with a keyboard, trying to keep both in front of me, within easy reach and all. I tried small, top-spiraled notepads, turned on their sides, but they were ultimately unsatisfactory. And it was this memory, long ago solved, rather than some actual need or use case, that led me to back the project…

He knows

As Allah azza wa jall tells us in the Holy Quran

وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ لِيَجْزِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسَاءُوا بِمَا عَمِلُوا وَيَجْزِيَ الَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا بِالْحُسْنَى

And to Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth – that He may recompense those who do evil with [the penalty of] what they have done and recompense those who do good with the best [reward] –

الَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبَائِرَ الْإِثْمِ وَالْفَوَاحِشَ إِلَّا اللَّمَمَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَاسِعُ الْمَغْفِرَةِ ۚ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِكُمْ إِذْ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ الْأَرْضِ وَإِذْ أَنتُمْ أَجِنَّةٌ فِي بُطُونِ أُمَّهَاتِكُمْ ۖ فَلَا تُزَكُّوا أَنفُسَكُمْ ۖ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ اتَّقَىٰ

Those who avoid the major sins and immoralities, only [committing] slight ones. Indeed, your Lord is vast in forgiveness. He was most knowing of you when He produced you from the earth and when you were fetuses in the wombs of your mothers. So do not claim yourselves to be pure; He is most knowing of who fears Him.

Forget the Shadow. He, subhanahu wa ta’ala, Knows, and He is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.

Agfa Optima Sensor 535, first rolls

So the Agfa Optima Sensor 535 wasn’t the camera I thought I was buying, wasn’t the camera I wanted, but after two rolls, I’m glad to have it: it’s really a great little camera.

Agfa Optima Sensor 535 overview

During my mad rush for a compact rangefinder, I went on a hunt for an Agfa Optima Sensor 1535, one of the more unique- and interesting-looking, and one of the last, compact rangefinders out there. They’re fairly rare, and usually in the $100+ range, so when I spotted one on Etsy for $50, I jumped on it. When I opened the box and found a 535, I was first annoyed, then angered, and later realized it was probably my own mad rush, and not anything nefarious from the seller.

It’s not at all what I wanted—a compact rangefinder—or expected, but I gave it a try anyway, and I’m pleasantly surprised…

the Most Merciful

And today, about halfway through my Fall, burn-through-vacation-time-lest-it-expire holiday, I remain grateful and hopeful) that I worship Ar-Rahman, Ar-Raheem, Allah azza wa jall. Continue reading “the Most Merciful”

building a new sweep

After 2 or 3 years of use, my previous foam board sweep was dented and dinged, but still mostly usable, but it was just a bit too small. I had some leftover foam board sitting around, and promised Jim Grey that I’d write up a how-to post, so I made a new one over the weekend.

Really, it’s very easy to make one of these. You need 4 things: a sheet of white (or black, or whatever color) foam board, a straight edge, an X-Acto knife (or other sharp blade), and about 15 minutes.