tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-99629202011-04-22T02:04:49.611ZMatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05550603288318103629noreply@blogger.comBlogger21100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9962920.post-1104933940323038682005-01-05T14:05:00.000Z2005-01-05T14:05:40.323Z<a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/74/2868/1024/IMG_2681.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/74/2868/320/IMG_2681.jpg'></a><br />Sitting On Top Of The World&nbsp;<a href='http://www.hello.com/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbh.gif' alt='Posted by Hello' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9962920-110493394032303868?l=mattiesrag.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05550603288318103629noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9962920.post-1104934118652105682005-01-05T10:01:00.000Z2005-01-05T15:37:55.270Z<em>"Write a Blog" they said... "it'll be fun" they said... "it's the future of communication and relationship" they said... "you're sad and non-trendy if you don't" they said. <br /> <br />"But what's the point of a Blog" I asked them... Silence. Oh well... "I'll try anything once" I said. Except noone heard.</em> <br /> <br />Well, it's January 5th and for me that's pretty much the start of a New Year... about the time that I usually remember that I ought to write some Thankyou cards for my Christmas pressies and that I really should of made a New Year's Resolution but I can never think of anything trendy or worthwhile and hey, it's too late now anyway. :) <br /> <br />Anyhoo - I have just read Sophie's Blog and was so impressed that I decided to start my own... <br /> <br />... <br /> <br />... and thats as far as I got. <br /> <br />Then I thought, what about a pithy, life-changing or thought-provoking quote... or just one that pokes fun at Americans (because I know that Chris B will like that and as we all know that you can't please everyone all the time, at least I can please one person... well... once) Incidentally, Chris, we need your postal address to send you a wedding invite, thanks! <br /> <br />Where was I? Oh yes, a quote: <br /> <br /><em>"We're going to have the best-educated American people in the world." <br />- J. Danforth Quayle, former U.S. Vice-President, September 21, 1988</em> <br /> <br />Hmmm... shouldn't of built it up so much really. A better plan would be to sudden- <br /> <br /><em>"I think men who have pierced ears are better prepared for marriage. They have experience pain and bought jewellery."</em> <br /><em>- Rita Rudner</em> <br /><em></em> <br />-ly insert a quote with no warning... :o) <br /> <br />Quite topical that one too, as I know no less than SIX couples that are getting married this year! <br /> <br />Incidentally, today is my parent's 25th Wedding Anniversary so many, many congratulations to them. <br /> <br />Aha - News! That's maybe what you put in a Blog... hmmm... <br /> <br />And then I thought, what about a tip in each blog? Something handy for everyday life like... erm... oh I don't know... Top Ten Tips for taking pictures with your mobile phone? Good idea 'they' said... <br /> <br /> <br /><div align="center">TOP TEN TIPS FOR TAKING PHOTOS WITH YOUR MOBILE PHONE:</div><ol><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Take lots of pictures (you can delete unwanted ones later)</em></span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Move in close (1 to 2 feet from subject - with the low resolution and lack of zoom, fill the frame!)</em></span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Shoot at eye level (when photographing people or animals - creates a personal and inviting picture)</em></span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Watch the light (without a flash, poor light = poor picture)</em></span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Use a plain background (dont detract from your subject)</em></span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Try different angles (make it more interesting - shoot from above, below, diagonally, horizontally)</em></span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Set resolution to high (it might make no visible difference on the phone but it will on your PC)</em></span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Discover your camera phone's capabilities (black & white, sepia, caller ID, flash, zoom, wallpaper, self-timer)</em></span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Be courteous (and legal! Check that you are allowed to use it and ask any strangers' permissions)</em></span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Don't forget your regular camera (for birthdays, holidays etc make sure you take a decent hi-res or analogue camera too)</em></span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Store and share pictures (store online to save space on your phone, </em><a href="http://www.snapfish.co.uk"><em>http://www.snapfish.co.uk</em></a><em> are awesome). Yes I know that's 11 tips but stop being smart and just enjoy the only free thing you're likely to get today!</em></span></li></ol>See - something that everyone can benefit from. :o) <br /> <br />What on earth else could I include in this Blog, I mused? <br /> <br />Useless facts!!! I thought. So duly: <br /> <br /><em>Did you know that in 1983, a Japanese artist, Tadahiko Ogawa, made a copy of the Mona Lisa completely out of ordinary toast? Whilst the world's longest hot dog was 1,996-foot wiener made by the Sara Lee Corporation for Atlanta's 1996 Olympics. </em> <br /><em></em> <br />So this Blog is possibly interesting, informative, amusing... but something is missing. <br /> <br />... <br /> <br />Originality. <br /> <br />Excellent. A photo of my own perhaps? "Perfect" they said. "Look who are you anyway?!", I asked... <br /> <br />... <br /> <br />... <br /> <br />... well, that shut them up. <br /> <br />So above, I have posted a photo that I took just before Christmas on top of a fiercely windy and bitterly cold Cleeve Hill on the edge of the Cotswolds whilst out with George, Al and Martina. <br /><em></em> <br />And with that I am done! Exhausted by my creativity and the sheer excitement of all this Blogging... am I any closer to knowing exactly what a Blog should be? Maybe, maybe not - and that I think is exactly the point. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />It is, 'they' said... <br /> <br />:o) <br /> <br />Until next time. <br /> <br />Matt <br /> <br />(All quotes, news, tips, usless facts and photos gratefully received! Any ideas on who 'they' are would be nice too) <br /> <br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9962920-110493411865210568?l=mattiesrag.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05550603288318103629noreply@blogger.com3