Thank yous

I was rummaging around my photography website's server statistics tonight and found a couple of very cool random links placed on other people's websites pointing to my work. One of them, Luis dos Santos' website, even included a flattering description: "Nice portfolio of landscape photography."

I found another link to my photography at this site, which seems to be a random collection of images the blogger (penman2) finds interesting around the web. Cool.

The most difficult to explain but certainly the most flattering is the link from "Photocamera 35", an italian photography website. Somehow, and again, I really have no idea how, my name is listed alongside people who I really have no right to be listed alongside (e.g. Steve McCurry or Alan Ross).

I suppose this post is my small way of saying thank you to these random folks out there in cyberspace, who will ironically probably never read this. But, if they at least get a couple clicks in their direction from this, I suppose that's the best I can hope for.

It's always fun to see who's been linking to you . . . :)

Backpack!

I have a suggestion for web page of the year: Backpack!

Created by a company called 37signals, who also make something called Tadalists, which is a simpler version of Backpack.

The best way I can describe Backpack is a PDA meets a Notepad meets a bona fide web publishing program. It's truly remarkable--and remarkably fast. If you're like me and constantly have 1,001 ideas to jot down, or reminders to keep track of, or to-do lists to organize, do yourself a favor and check it out . . . and of course, the best part is that it's free . . .

Amazon rant

Amazon has officially crossed the line into the realm of stupidity. I mean no offense, but I'm thoroughly boggled at their latest notice while looking at an item:

Matthew, this item is recommended for you. Why?

Does this make any sense at all? I can understand why they'd recommend items I haven't looked at, but why on earth would they tell me that something I am looking at is recommended? Aren't I looking at it for a reason? Do they have any idea what that reason is? If it's because I'm interested in the product, then what do I care if they say it's recommended. They have 'researched' me, but unless they have an expert looking over what's in my wish list (and not just some algorithm), how does this recommendation make any sense when juxtaposed with the fact that I'm looking at the product! Duh, I'm interested--thanks for letting me know! Or maybe I'm not interested at all, and I'm just looking at a product to see what it looks like . . . in which case their recommendation just sounds very . . . dumb.

Kind of a bad post to start blogging again with, but I thought I'd seize the inspiration. Better things to come (I hope!).