Bizarre WiFi Network Names

Since my (Canadian, jail-broken, unlocked) iPhone cannot access AT&T data here in the US I have been becoming an expert in stealing WiFi around New York. Along the way I have been taking a few screen shots of some of the more creative network names... here are a few of them.

Poof

Bitch, I'm Broke

FBI Surveillance Van

Free Gay Porn

rapid-rape

you are chillaxed

darth&luke

Mo Money Mo Problems

Steal this wifi

US Top Gear Promo - Ride in a Supercar Taxi

I happened to stumble upon this promo running in Midtown for the new US version of Top Gear which starts next week. They had 6 different supercars done up like cabs taking people for short rides around a few city blocks. I waited about 15 minutes for my turn in my dream car... the Mercedes SLR McLaren. 0-60 in just 3.2 seconds, the fastest out of all 6 cars on offer... however, even though this was a Top Gear promo, we didn't get out of first gear!

D.I.Y. Compact Dolly for DSLR

A couple of the guys I'm working with helped me build a simple and very inexpensive portable, compact dolly. Most of the materials were scrap and the only thing we forked out any cash for were the skateboard bearings at $12 from Amazon. I already had a spare tripod head. When I can afford it I'll probably but a video head to make it a little easier to operate.

It took a total of about 1.5 hours to make and I must say it works pretty well. The only other thing I want to add is a base-plate to allow it to be attached to a tripod to make it a little more versatile.

I have used the Kessler Crane Pocket Dolly before which is great but when you compare $12 to $500+ I know where my budget fits right now.

Canon 550D (T2i) & Sigma 30mm 1.4 Test

I just purchased the Sigma 30mm 1.4 prime lens for my Canon 550D (T2i) and below are some example from my first 24 hours trialing the lens shooting stills and video. I think the lens is amazing so far. The only negatives are that the focus ring is not very smooth and its very noisy when you adjust the aperture.

None of these examples have been adjusted in post.

Canon 550D (T2i) & Sigma 30mm 1.4 Test from Jeremy Aiken on Vimeo.

Bank of America Tower

Bank of America Tower, originally uploaded by jzaindustries.

Took a few shots with the new Canon 10-22mm yesterday and then used the new HDR Toning adjustment tool in Photoshop CS5 to get this effect...

My Review of Sennheiser HD202 Semicircumaural Closed Back Hi-Fi or DJ Monitoring Headphones

Originally submitted at Adorama

Sennheiser HD202 Semicircumaural Closed Back Hi-Fi or DJ Monitoring Headphones

Sennheiser HD202 Semicircumaural Closed Back Hi-Fi or DJ Monitoring Headphones

Unbeatable value

By jza from New York, NY on 10/25/2010

 

5out of 5

Pros: Good Bass, Durable, Great Sound, Good Value, Comfortable

Cons: Cord is really long

Best Uses: Traveling, Relaxing, Working, With My Computer, Home Audio, Music, Portable Devices

Describe Yourself: Video Editor, Frequent Traveler, Gear Head

Primary use: Personal

Was this a gift?: No

I bought a pair of these a couple of years ago in Australia and they were on sale for $50. At the time I though that was amazing value for money as I previously spent $80 on some Sony headphone that were terrible. I recently lost my Senheisers and did not hesitate to track them down again. This time they were only $25 which I reckon would be very hard to beat.

(legalese)

Inaugural 'Do cool stuff for fee day' in NYC

So today I set off to check out some of the things I'd not yet seen/experienced in New York... for free!!

Stop 1: James Farley post office on 34th St. to check out a shoot for a Law & Order SVU episode. Unfortunately they were doing all the shots inside and after a failed attempt at infiltrating the building and about an hour stalking around trying to catch a glimpse of Benson, Stabler... or Ice T, I moved on.



Stop 2: The High Line garden. This was once an elevated railway line through the lower west side of Manhattan, delivering food throughout the area. Last year it was transformed into a public park with stairs at various points along the way.

The High Line was built in the 1930s, as part of a massive public-private infrastructure project called the West Side Improvement. It lifted freight traffic 30 feet in the air, removing dangerous trains from the streets of Manhattan's largest industrial district. No trains have run on the High Line since 1980. Friends of the High Line, a community-based non-profit group, formed in 1999 when the historic structure was under threat of demolition. Friends of the High Line works in partnership with the City of New York to preserve and maintain the structure as an elevated public park. More






Stop 3: Orchard Beach and City Island, Bronx. I took the 6 train all the way to the end of the line, Pelham Bay Park. I then jumped on a bus which took me about 1/2 the way to Orchard Beach which is closed if it's not Summer or a weekend. I walked the remaining mile or so which was well worth it. The beach was massive and the sand was clean and white. There were a few swimmers and fishermen about but it was deserted for the most part.







I walked on to the small bridge that connected City Island to the mainland and walked around checking out a few of the docks and lobster shacks. I found a bar that had some cuisine more in my price range and sat down for a late lunch... Philly Cheese & onion rings.









Stop 4: Long Island City. I got the train all the way back to midtown and then over the East River to Long Island City just in time for the sunset. I sat there for over an hour shooting a pretty nice time lapse of the skyline including the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building.