Where is Ben?

Photoshop CS5!

 

As I'm sure you know, Photoshop CS5 has been announced and should be shipping soon. This time around I've decided to not do an Up to Speed book on CS5. I just had too much going on when dealing with the details of the death of my father, the addition of Karen to my life and the vintage bus project. I just didn't seem to have the book in me. Don't take that to mean that I'm skipping a version of Photoshop though. I've got much going on relating to CS5:

• My Photoshop for Photographers tour has been completely redesigned and now features the following five one-hour sessions: 1) Up to Speed with Photoshop CS5, 2) Advanced Camera Raw, 3) Turbocharged for Speed & Efficiency, 4) Photo Stylings, 5) Finishing Touches. The new seminar topics should start to be used next month in San Francisco. The web site for the event won't be updated until we're sure the handbook has been printed and is ready for the next event. 

• I'm slowly finalizing a set of actions to be released for CS5, but they won't be ready for a few months. 

• Next will be video-based training for CS5. I don't want to reveal too much detail on my plans here since I'm still working on the list of titles that will be produced and who I'll be partnering with for distribution. (please do not send e-mails or phone messages asking questions about this since I have no more to say right now) 

Vintage Bus Micro-Update

 

The vintage bus project is slowly progressing. Since my last update, the interior of the bus has been completely stripped out and a very accurate 3D computer model has been created. That model should allow me to design the interior and decide where all the RV systems will reside. I'm currently researching multiplexing systems (where two wires can send all the control data for things like light switches and systems control features instead of having to have multiple wires for every switch and feature in the rig), high-tech lithium-ion batteries and much more. The amount of research now fills multiple 2 inch thick binders along with hundreds of digital files. This stuff isn't too exciting for the average blog-reader, but should make for an amazingly advanced mobile living platform once the project is complete. You can view a short video that Karen made documenting the progress here.

The photo above is of my "office" while I was creating a 3D computer model of the bus... yes, that's a toilet and a trash can.

Ben is Mobile Once More!

 

I'm no longer hanging in one area and am instead cruising across the US of A. Since my last update, we've driven from San Diego, CA to Houston, TX and here's a list of some of the things we've done:

• Earthquake! Karen and I were parked North of San Diego when the 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Baja, Mexico and was felt as far away as Las Vegas, NV. It simply felt like some pranksters were outside trying to get our attention by rocking the bus. This was my second earthquake and Karen's first. I still have to experience one when in a building that isn't designed to be shaken... the bus doesn't quite count since everything is designed to handle the bumps and tumbles of road life. 

• Flew all over the place: Making stops in Portland, OR, Richmond, VA, Orlando, FL, Kansas City, MO, and Binghampton, NY to spread the Photoshop joy. 

• PhotoshopWorld Orlando: Presented brand-new sessions titled Photoshop Safety Measures, Hacking Photoshop, and Light Painting for Fun & Profit. I should be presenting seminar sessions again during PhotoshopWorld Las Vegas in September.

• Electronic House Expo: I was excited to attend this event which happened to be happening at the same time and at the same location as PhotoshopWorld in Orlando. That's where I learned all about how to control various vintage bus systems via an iPhone and how to radically simplify the wiring required to transmit audio/video and other systems.

• iPad: Apple's new iPad was released on April 3rd and I had one delivered direct to the bus. It was a surprise gift for Karen (and an excuse for allow me to play with one before the 3G version that I ordered for myself ships at the end of this month). 

• Bisbee Arizona: On our way East toward Texas, we went a little bit out of our way to visit a place that I've had on my "must see" list for a few years. The main attraction was the Shady Dell Vintage Trailer Park where you can find over a dozen restored trailers from the 1920-50's that you can stay in just like lodging at a motel. Karen had more time to take photographs than I did while we were in Bisbee and she's posted some on her blog. 

• Marfa Texas: After making a brief stop in El Paso, TX, we continued on to Marfa Texas where we found a tiny Prada store in the middle of nowhere. I mean there was nothing else in sight for miles! Karen has done a nice post about our experiences in Marfa on her blog. 

• NuRVers Rally: The reason we were heading to Texas was to attend an RV rally of fellow full-timer's who work on the road. This group is known as the NuRVers. They're generally a group of young folks who live and work while traveling. That's quite a change from most RV rallys where 98.6% of the people seem to be retired and gray-haired. This was an absolute blast and I even won "Bartender Wars" with my "Blazing Bloody Mary" recipe. For more on the rally, check out the Happy Janssens coverage of the event.

Blog Reactivation

 

Howdy! 

I know my posting to this blog has been beyond sporadic. I've been cooped up with a few major projects going while hanging out in San Diego, CA for the winter. Blog-wise, it's felt like I've been hibernating. The vintage bus project has dominated my time for the last few months... doing research on semi-flexible solar panels, overly high-tech home automation systems, night vision cameras and much more. 

I'll be ramping up my blogging starting this week... look for one post a day minimum!

The image above was shot while traveling across Texas... it's an abandoned truck stop and was captured using my iPhone.