I looked up and found the last light of the day burning the cauliflower clouds. To my left, a giant mushrooming cell. To my right, a massive anvil-topped thunderhead. Above me, open sky.

I’m glad I didn’t have a camera, for I would have ruined the experience by trying to capture it.

(This post is part of the 100/100/100 challenge)

I like to bake things. Cooking, not so much. But baking, oh yes.

It’s meditative. Mix, mix. Stir, stir. Knead, knead.

It’s magical. Pour in the batter. Put it in the oven. Wait. Out comes something so very different!

This evening, I made fudge as well as caramel brownies. Both turned out well, but my enjoyment is in the act of creation, not the consumption of the result. Therefore, I will be doing my part to fatten the office tomorrow.

The true test of homemade treats: how much time elapses before hungry engineers consume them all.

(This post is part of the 100/100/100 challenge)

I’ve always been shocked by how well SLR lenses hold their value. Case in point: Three and a half years ago, I purchased a Canon 28-135mm IS lens, hood, and UV filter on eBay for $385. Two years ago, I sold the package there for $399. Today, that set goes for over $400.

The same phenomenon is noticeable when comparing the prices of new lenses to those of used.

That price stability is bittersweet. On the one hand, it lets photographers acquire lenses without much financial risk. On the other hand, it makes it difficult to afford those lenses.

(This post is part of the 100/100/100 challenge)

I’m a big fan of competent, friendly service. That’s why I feel the need to plug the Crystal Cobbler.

Run by a little old lady in Crystal, Minnesota, that shoe repair shop has always been great for me. One time I needed a leather sandal repaired. A couple years later, one of my goalie pads needed surgery after a skate cut. Just recently, I had to find shoe polish that would match my new shoes. In every instance, I got what I needed quickly, at a fair price, and with a smile.

Long live small business.

(This post is part of the 100/100/100 challenge)

The enormous volume of spam has made us dependent on automated filters. Unfortunately, those systems aren’t perfect, so some spam inevitably gets through (false negative), and some legitimate messages are classified as spam (false positive).

False negatives are easy for me to notice, but that’s not the case with false positives. I often purge spam queues without a glance.

This morning, I happened to peek at the spam comment queue for Keacher.com, and I noticed one of Mutak’s comments had been incorrectly marked as spam. I wonder how many times I’ve lost valid email or comments to the spam filter gods?

(This post is part of the 100/100/100 challenge)