Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Some Christmas photos on the Flickr. Also did a couple portraits for my grandma that turned out nice!

Anyone get anything cool for christmas?

I got a battery grip for my camera, an off camera flash cord, some strobes, some books, and some gift cards... nice!

-Niall

Home

So in my blinding happiness in returning home I have sorely neglected the blog. While not ready to make a completely new post I would just like to say Merry Christmas to everyone, because I probably won't update before then.

Soon though, look forward to a post about post modern thought and the evolution of christian thought as a whole. Reading some books by Brian McLaren and some of the other "emergent" authors (I hate that term). When I was referring to a changing of the church, it is this that I was talking about. I am SURE the post will receive comments with the words "heretical", "blasphemy" and "dumb"! But hey, everything controversial gets met with that.

In other news, I'm happy to start seeing people again, despite not being to get out of freaking Murrieta.

Life is amazing and love is definitely real.

Niall

5 days

and then I'm home!

I feel so out of the loop with everyone, but that's a given, so we'll all just have to hang out when we get back!

PLEASE call me next week and we WILL hang out!

I love you all and I'm so excited!

Niall

Updated the flick, again

Yah, whatever.

I just want to go home.

Florence is Beautiful

New pictures on the flickr. PLEASE check them out, I put a lot of time into putting these things on the internet for people to enjoy.



Love you all, be home soon.

Niall

anxious

I'm anxious to go home.
To see my family.
To be with my friends.
To go to the beach.
To take pictures of non-italian things.
To read books that are not about old philosophers.
To speak english to the guy serving me food.
To go back to church.
To not have to deal with 41 of the same people everyday.
To transfer to a university.
To be with Natalie, a lot.
To start doing professional portraits for families, students and kids. (If you would like one, let me know, and we can talk about pricing! :) )
To live.



I feel like my life has been on hiatus for the last two and a half months. I want to go back to being normal.

I miss all of you. If I haven't emailed, life has been hectic. My last two weeks here will be spent doing massive amounts of homework. Ugh.

Love,
Niall

Venice and onward

Hey guys,

Updated the Flickr with pictures of my last night in Rome, my first pictures in florence, the science museum in florence and of venice. All of them came out awesomely, so please, check them out.



I just want to go home at this point.

See you guys,

Niall

Blarney Castle and the Spanish Steps

Flickr has been updated with some of what i consider to be some of my best images. Please check them out and comment on what you think!



Love,
Niall

The Ads

In support of proposition 8 make me absolutely sick to my stomach.

Travel Weary

Photos from the past week are up.
This one pretty much sums up how I'm feeling.

Check em.

Experience

In everything I have seen, thought about, felt, and learned since being here in Europe, I have only truly learned one thing. That I know nothing, and that it is impossible to truly know.

I'm just finally ok with that.











Life is beautiful.

Cinque Terre

This weeks pictures come to you from Pompeii (which really does suck and is horribly boring because I've already seen everything cool because all of it got taken out and put into museums) and Cinque Terre (the 5 cities).

Ok, seriously, Cinque Terre is THE most beautiful place that I have ever been to. All of the "cities" are located on cliff face and you have to hike to get to each one, but the view is FANTASTIC. Oh man! That and the seafood were absolutely to die for... I mean, the calamari.. THERE WAS NO RUBBER, IT WAS PERFECT!

Lol, but anyway, you'll notice that in looking through the pictures there are a higher percentage of people in them... well, as I make friends, I become the camera guy and it's my job to make sure that everyone in the group has at least one great picture of themself, a service that I am perfectly happy performing. Everyone on the trip is wonderful in their own right and that gives me a lot of peace of mind. That was really the only thing I was worried about in coming, was that I would make no friends or that everyone wouldn't like me... stupid right?

Anyway, PLEASE check out these pictures and the others that I have posted if you haven't done so. Have great days everyone, and keep writing emails and messages, because I love getting them!

Love,
Niall

Updated

Flickr is updated. Went and shot at the River today. Gorgeous.



Love you guys,
Niall

Quick Post

We went on an outting today and I took pictures. Here are those pictures.



Love you guys and have good days. I'll do another big post soon.

Niall

100th post!

Well, I wrote a big ol post about great friends and all of this stuff but the browser deleted it. So, thank you for keeping in touch and Ive updated pictures. Lol. Thats pretty much the gist of it.

Love you guys,
Niall

Italy thus far..

So I have finally found a significant chunk of time in the week with which to attend to my internet needs, because frankly, I refuse to pay arguably rediculous prices for internet (about 7.50 US per hour) with which to answer emails and possibly upload one or two pictures. But alas, the school we are at does have internet and we are allowed to use it as long as we have a class in session. For me that means from 12 to 5 on Mondays when I do not have a class. But anyway, these things are a bore, so lets talk about something else.

First things first, I love it here. This city is so beautiful, every step that one takes can lead you down an ancient street or into a modern shop. I can explain how strange it feels to use the Coloseum as a running track in the mornings, and I can not convey how awe inspiring it is to walk through ancient ruins on my way to school. May it be the random political parades that happen on whatever day that they have chosen to throw one, or the almost magical golden glow over the trevi fountain at night, this place is indescribable.

With all of the things I have seen and with all of the things that I am now needing to familiarize myself with, be it the language barrier, how to cook dinner, or just how to use these freaking computers and cope with the internet, this place is already beginning to change how I think about the world. I am such a small small person. We all are. When one walks by the monument to Vittorio Emanuel, this fact is obvious. There have been billions of people on this earth, all of which thought that their world was the most superior, it was all they ever knew. Well, in seeing the monuments to those people, and the progress that the city has made since then, it becomes very apparent that time does not stop for no man. I know this makes very little sense, but my mind is reeling trying to figure myself out in this grand scheme of things. I have truly realized that for perhaps the first time that I am small. I feel like I could literally write in this strange and far removed manner for the next five hours but for the sake of time I shall not. But I do implore and beg of you to talk to me about life when I get back. I already need the relief and I know that I shall certainly need it then!

Another thing that has become completely apparent to me is that I desperately need to preserve and work on some of my relationships. This realization came through seeing how others in our group are dealing with missing their friends and families. Some people have literally hundreds of emails from friends and families and some people already have extended discourses that were begun only on the course of this trip. This leads me to ask myself, how much have I worked to stay in contact with those I love. I have received emails from friends who did not even know that I would be here! To all of you, every person who reads this, I am sorry. I feel that up to this point in my life, I have been a lousy friend. If you read this, know that I love you and I am sorry for any sense of ignorance you have gotten from me. I severely need to reprioritize my life and my attitude and this is one of the first things I must work on. So if you miss hanging out with me, chances are I miss you to, and would love to do so. If we see each other all of the time, and I have felt removed, chances are I have been. So concerned with my own plans for life and my own zeal to get my own things done that I felt that I have let down a lot of people. So please, just know that I love you, and I really do miss everyone. In fact, I miss everyone much more than I ever thought that I would. But hey, there isnt much that I can do about this now, just wait til I get home and start making phone calls and plans to be with people, to talk about everything and nothing at all.

Back to Italy, pretty much all that you hear about it is true. Gelato is life changing, Italian food in America is a complete joke, and "style" here is something that is far more puzzling than anything else that I have ever encountered. All I can say is, I love it here. I wish you all were with me. And I cant wait to see the rest of the world.

Also: I swear I am going to try to keep this a little more updated, and also work on responding to other blog posts and writing much needed emails.

I would love to hear how you are doing as well, so if you would like to, please email at anangelwillendyou@gmail.com and I would love to talk.

As for pictures, by the end of today, I should have another 60 or so uploaded, including a VERY rough pano of what our apartment looks like, so if you would like to see those, then just head on over to the flickr. Thanks for reading everyone and have great days, you are in my prayers.

Niall

Unfun

So we finally have access to wi-fi! Not in our apartment mind you (where it would be convenient) but in other people's apartments that let us sit in here and steal it. I have to make this post kind of quick because I'm trying to get off the internet because only three people can be on in this building at the same time. Sucks but eh.

Anyway, I'm part of the group of the unfun because I'm one of ones in the group who isn't drinking. Some of us have found our fun in exploring as much of the city as possible, while others have found their fun in alcohol. Eh, I like my way so much more. Anyway, got post a couple of photos, have SO many more but bandwidth is really limited. Check it out and I'll get on again as soon as I can.

See you guys!
Niall

*Looking through the pictures, I'm kind of bummed at what got uploaded, because they don't represent ANY of the best pictures at all. But eh.

Well...

In an hour I leave for my semester abroad in Rome.

I can't believe I finally get to leave. I mean, for the last year, everything I've done has been in preparation for this. All of my money, all of my resources have gone into this trip. I'm a little nervous but more excited than anything.

Well, Rome, here I come! (finally)


Also: This page will be updated much more frequently than it has been and my flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/niallmccarthy will be updated multiple times a week with new shots. So please! If you see something cool then let me know!

If everyone could pray for a safe 25 hours of travel... that would be wonderful too.

Bye everyone, see you in three months.

Goodbye Luna

Put up some pictures of my good friend Richard, for use in promotional shots for his music.

Check them out and leave me some comments! :)

Clash and Bowl

Took some great pictures at a school event the other day.

Peruse them, if you would.



or... just go here: flick.com/photos/niallmccarthy

Screen name

My new screen name is noexcusetohate.

Add it!

Clarity

Clarity on the post from July 28th.

Hope this all makes sense.

nathan118
we rock canada 
Niall McCarthy
how so?
Niall McCarthy
preface!
Niall McCarthy
I love this country
Niall McCarthy
and we are a great country
nathan118
our health care is better, lower tax rates, less socialist government
Niall McCarthy
but I have a hard time finding one place "superior" over another
nathan118
our freedom of speech is the best in the world 
Niall McCarthy
is it worse in other places?
Niall McCarthy
surely yes
Niall McCarthy
the middle east
nathan118
china
Niall McCarthy
yep
Niall McCarthy
parts of africa
Niall McCarthy
but there's other places getting ther
Niall McCarthy
e
nathan118
obviously the "which country is better' is a very wide continum
Niall McCarthy
I don't think a places value can be measured with rates, or GDPs or values of the dollar
Niall McCarthy
i really don't
nathan118
when you compare a country like the USA and England the differences are much smaller than say USA vs Iran
Niall McCarthy
I would agree
nathan118
so then you can't say discussions of cultural value are insignificant
Niall McCarthy
what do you mean?
nathan118
you said a places value can't be measured....and now that I look at your words, I agree sort of. i wouldn't compare the GDP of the USA and Iran to determine which is better
nathan118
though economic freedom and prosperity is certainly important
Niall McCarthy
i know where you're going with this
Niall McCarthy
yes it is
Niall McCarthy
all i meant by that post, is that I want people to see beauty everywhere they go
Niall McCarthy
I've talked to a lot of people that have never been out of this country that are without a doubt convinced that we are god's gift to the world and that we are the best country on this planet
Niall McCarthy
well that silly
Niall McCarthy
because everyone everywhere else is thinking the same thing
Niall McCarthy
everyone has something to offer
nathan118
see, you're saying it's all relative
Niall McCarthy
I really do think so
nathan118
people in North Korea think they're the best, I think we're the best, so it's all a wash
Niall McCarthy
relativism is a nasty thing though
nathan118
but it's not
Niall McCarthy
I don't think that North Koreans think that they are the best though
nathan118
it's not like musical opinion
Niall McCarthy
because they don't want to be there
Niall McCarthy
adds another dimension to it
nathan118
but you've never been there, so you can't say that 
Niall McCarthy
no, I can't
Niall McCarthy

Niall McCarthy
lol
Niall McCarthy
I'm assuming so, based on their level of oppression
Niall McCarthy
but having never spoken to a NK, I can't say
nathan118
just as I assume the USA is better than China because we don't kill people who speak out peacefully against the government. again, i don't have to actually visit the country to say that.
nathan118
and don't get me wrong
nathan118
I don't think China for example is completely bad and the USA is completely good
nathan118
but there are some people who believe all cultures are absolutely equal
nathan118
no matter the atrocities commited by that culture
Niall McCarthy
I will say
Niall McCarthy
to interject
Niall McCarthy
that i think it is probably more important to look at the peoples of an area and not the actions of their governments
Niall McCarthy
people hate america
Niall McCarthy
that's not my fault
Niall McCarthy
but somewhere in switzerland, a swedish Niall and nathan are having this argument
nathan118
it depends on what end you're trying to achieve. I like this discussion because it analyzes the values of different cultures and forces us to decide if the values our society holds are good or not
nathan118
I don't think the people of China are all evil...most are probably good...
Niall McCarthy
*I will say, that I think that countries CAN be ranked in terms of "goodness" based on number and actions of a government
Niall McCarthy
I've been more trying to focus on people
nathan118
i understand now..
nathan118
it's just not as exciting a discussion...not to mention a super hard one. the government of china for example is an entity, but trying to compare ourselves to 1 billion different chinese isn't easy.
Niall McCarthy
nope
Niall McCarthy
lol
Niall McCarthy
the place im trying to argue on really isn't very exciting at all
nathan118
and i'm not sure what that discussion amounts to. "are there good chinese? yes. are there bad iranians? yes." ok...now what 
Niall McCarthy
It came from my understanding of the good samaritan
Niall McCarthy
The story makes it a point to show it's readers how silly seperation is based on place of origin
Niall McCarthy
in a roundabout way, I think I was just trying to say the same thing

Jawbreaker

I absolutely adore this band. Please do yourself a favor and watch this video.



I would do anything to go back to the early 90's and have a chance to watch bands like these. If you could go anywhere in time, where would you go?

Dream

The american dream is not the only dream.

I'm very excited to start seeing the rest of the world. :)

Love

I feel that one cannot truly know or realize love until they are left without it. Be it Jesus or a significant other after your own heart.




I hate being melancholy. But I love that word.

Slow

Sometimes I need to realize that I'm only 20 years old.

I don't need to have created a world renowned masterpiece to be considered a worthwhile human being.

Hangin with Ben and Loaf

Picked up the canon 50mm 1.4 and took it out for a test run. Check the pics and the others are on the flickr.

Epic win for science!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Rb_rDkwGnU

AMAZING.

Vital Times

Lusting for power and money and fame, what is it for?
Ignoring the tragedy in front of our face, while looking for more.
Complacent thoughts are ruling our minds
We lack response, all feeling is lost, another sign of the times

WE’VE GOT TO CHANGE
The way we live in this world
WE NEED TO CHANGE
Change it

Obsessed with image, envy and greed, it isn’t true
Placing importance on things we don’t need, it’s running us through
Privilege begins where the mind wants to quit
We’ve started with more than we would like to admit (like to admit)

WE’VE GOT TO CHANGE
The way we live in this world
WE NEED TO CHANGE
Do it

Can you feel it?
Is it any wonder we feel so empty inside?
We need to change the way we live in this world
Whats become acceptable is fucking absurd
Where do our priorities lie?
Well im disgusted
I need to look at how I walk through this life
I need to recognize that im tied to this strife
No more denial




-ON


Great song. Great message. REAL TALK.

Epic

cupcake.

20 years.

I has them.

New

Got a bunch of new records last night.

Couldn't be more stoked on the band ON and on the band Unbroken.


HOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLY crap.

Copyright

http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00PoGE

If this is true, then I'm not sure I can get much more disgusted with our government.

Really.

Thoughts? I'm sure you'll have some Nathan.

:)

Guilty of Being White

Ian Mackaye had it right in '81.


I'm sorry
For something I didn't do
Lynched somebody
But I don't know who
You blame me for slavery
A hundred years before I was born

Guilty of being white

I'm a convict
Of a racist crime
I've only served
19 years of my time

Guilty of being white

Delicious.

VEGAN MACARONI AND CHEESE FOR THE FREAKING WIN.

http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=8295.0

Holy crap. I never wanted to stop eating.

If you have the means, make this for yourself.

India

My friend Hughie is going to India for a 2 month mission trip and this is his blog that he will be updating.

http://www.hughieindia.blogspot.com/

If you could keep him in your prayers it would be much appreciated.

:)

Big Trucks

I was cleaning the bathroom today for my mom and listening to my ipod on shuffle when the song "Big Trucks" came up by Pedro The Lion. Not being terribly familiar with Pedro's back catalog I intently listened to the lyrics. Well here are those lyrics:

Dad, dad, why did you let that man push you around like that
you should've beat him down - down to the ground - down to the ground for that
he says, "son, you're still young and you always jump the gun"
there are real people in the big, big trucks
that you flip off when they get in your way
you get so hacked, that you pay no mind to the great big sign that says oversized load
do you really think they can go as fast, as you in your 87 trans am
they know you're in a terrible rush but they're going just as fast, as fast as they can
dad, dad, i really don't understand what driving big trucks has to do with that man
you should've taught him a lesson about being rude about talking to you with such an attitude
son you're still young and you always jump the gun
you get so hacked, that you pay no mind to the great big sign that says oversized load
do you really think they can go as fast, as you in your 87 trans am
they know you're in a terrible rush but they're going just as fast, as fast as they can

Well, needless to say, that song spoke to me really deeply. I have so much to learn about growing up from this simple lesson.

I really do jump the gun with my impatience so often. Every day I find myself getting frustrated with someone because they talk to slowly, or they aren't talking about what I want, or this or that. Or I always catch myself getting ready to fight someone when it just isn't necessary.

Dear God, I would like patience. I know that I've prayed for patience before but I don't think that I did it with the right heart. I would like wisdom and discernment in my everyday life so that I may be an overall calm and patient person, not just someone who doesn't get annoyed when babies cry in the supermarket. Thank you Daddy, for all that you do for me, even though I leave you in the cold, time and time again.

And as for Pedro The Lion: If you like singer/songwriter type music or even a little bit of mellow alt-country then do yourself a HUGE favor and get yourself some Pedro the Lion albums. http://www.myspace.com/pedrothelion - and I'm happy to see that the song "Big Trucks" is on the page so you can hear it if you'd like.

Godspeed You! Black Emporer

If you have never had the pleasure of listening to this band then you are seriously missing out.

Seriously. This isn't music in the sense of traditional music. It's an experience.

It really bums me out that no one after reading this will listen to it. Oh well. You're missing out.

the car's on fire and there's no driver at the wheel
and the sewers are all muddied with a thousand lonely suicides
and a dark wind blows
the government is corrupt
and we're on so many drugs
with the radio on and the curtains drawn

we're trapped in the belly of this horrible machine
and the machine is bleeding to death

the sun has fallen down
and the billboards are all leering
and the flags are all dead at the top of their poles

it went like this:

the buildings tumbled in on themselves
mothers clutching babies picked through the rubble
and pulled out their hair

the skyline was beautiful on fire
all twisted metal stretching upwards
everything washed in a thin orange haze

i said: "kiss me, you're beautiful -
these are truly the last days"

you grabbed my hand and we fell into it
like a daydream or a fever

we woke up one morning and fell a little further down -
for sure it's the valley of death

i open up my wallet
and it's full of blood







Of Course this won't be the same as getting to listen to it all the way through. Listen with headphones and a very open mind.

San Franflickr

Check the new pictures from my trip to San Francisco on the flickr. As always, comments are greatly appreciated!

Let's see

Going to church.
Taking a GREAT nap with the girlfriend.
Hanging out with my family and cooking together.
VEGAN PIZZA. (amazing, if you couldn't tell by the capslock)
Downloading powerviolence albums.

Yep. Good day.

Voting.

I think I'm going to refuse my vote in the election.

There has to be something that I can do that would be better than voting for one of two candidates that I can't stand or don't agree with.

I'm so mad at our two party system that I could scream.

Vegan (essentially)

My family has given up all meat and dairy products (with the exception of eggs and fish, which may or may not be removed eventually).

I'm actually really excited about this change and I've learned a lot from reading about milk and it's effect on our bodies.

Let's see what happens.

Winding Down

Listening to Godspeed on vinyl and editing the weekends pictures is a good way to relax.

Sigh. Now summer begins and I need to get busy.

Tragedy

"and they won't have to burn the books / when no one reads them anyway."
-- Tragedy, "The Point of No Return"
Great band. Great lyric.


How capable is one person of changing something? Like our concept of government... how do we change it? How much do we actually contribute by voting for a candidate we don't actually support because our candidate didn't have enough money (etc.)?

Ehh. I don't know. Misanthropy pure I guess.

2 hours

In two hours I take my last final.

I'm just glad that this year is over and a little shocked at how fast it actually passed.

Also: Picked up some vinyl this weekend that I'll post on here later. Got some really good stuff for really cheap thanks to Amoeba music.

Also also: Being at the Burkhardt's house when politics are brought up is a hilarious matter.


Edit:
Mad. In moving my record player around I seem to have tweaked the needle on my record player and it fell off. !#%(%ESJGOJ@#($.

Balls.

Car Paint - HELP!

http://www.paintscratch.com

Does anyone have any experience with something like this? My car has a number of small scratches and dings and while surfing the web I found this company.

Anyone with experience on repairing your car's paint job to any extent?!

Records Update 1

I hope to be able to post pictures of records as I get them because I find them to be quite beautiful. This is definitely fun.

Blacklisted - Heavier Than Heaven, Lonelier Than God


Betrayed - Substance


Paint It Black - New Lexicon


New Found Glory - Tip of the Iceburg EP


Sinking Ships - Meridian


Downpresser - Perverted Justice

Restrained.

Shot the band Restrained tonight at the Hellfish Warehouse in Irvine and had a lot of fun doing so.



Please check out the pictures and as always... TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK!

Collecting

Does anyone on the blogosphere collect anything? I would like to start collecting vinyl records and was just curious as to what everyone else is into.

Sigh

I love this band.

Gas

Seeing gas prices lately has of course been frustrating for all of us.

We can all blame the government or whoever we want about the problems with gas prices right now but just complaining about them will do nothing. So all day I have been thinking about things I can do to at least start to bring a change.

http://businessshrink.biz/psychologyofbusiness/2008/04/26/americas-dirtly-little-oil-secret-plastic-bottles-and-bags/

That article gave me some good ideas. How necessary are plastic bags and bottled water anyway?

Other options to explore: Riding a bike, walking places, buying a canvas tote for light shopping, and choosing paper bags for larger shopping trips, carpooling.... Anyone have any ideas?

Thoughts?

90s.

Rockin out to a 90s mix.

http://www.mediafire.com/?xxln10aemqs

Download it. You'll be stoked on life for sure.

All For You - Sister Hazel
Counting Blue Cars - Dishwalla
December - Collective Soul
Fall Down - Toad The Wet Sprocket
Good - Better Than Ezra
Hey Jealousy - Gin Blossoms
Hold My Hand - Hootie and the Blowfish
Linger - The Cranberries
Losing my religion - R.E.M.
Misery - Soul Asylum
One Headlight - The Wallflowers
Roll To Me - Del Amitri
Santa Monica - Everclear
Semi-Charmed Life - Third Eye Blind
Stay - Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories
Two Princes - Spin Doctors
The Way - Fastball
You're A God - Vertical Horizon


No seriously. It rules.

Amy at Ruby's

Pictures for Amy taken at Ruby's.

Comment, and I hope you enjoy them Amy.

Boycott the RIAA.

http://www.demonbaby.com/blog/2007/10/when-pigs-fly-death-of-oink-birth-of.html

This is a GREAT article that I couldn't agree with more.

Please read it and post your thoughts on it.

I will be boycotting the RIAA from this point on.

Gremlins II

Is not nearly as good as gremlins 1. For sure.

Craig Senior Pictures

Shot the other day.
Check it out and tell me what you think.

(Kind of unorthodox, taking portraits at night, I know. We had conflicting schedules; but I think I made it work.)

Music Blogs

Music blogging at school rules so hard.

Thank God for sendspace, mediafire, rapidshare and all the rest!

Sand

I got a little bit of sand in my camera and now two buttons are sticking. I have to send it in for repairs and I'll have to pay for it. :(
SADDENED!

Fugazi

I listen to 13 Songs by Fugazi 4 times through today.

I feel inspired for sure.

Panacea at Vanguard University

Shot Ben's band tonight and had a lot of fun.

Here's my favorite picture from the shoot:


Feedback? Anyone? Even non-photographers?

Flickr updated!

Finally got a pro account.

Uploaded like 90 new pictures. All band photography.

Please check it out! :)

Bike

I rode a bike tonight for the first time in what has to be 6 years.

Just rode around Fullerton listening to some post rock.

It was pretty soothing and I didn't feel stressed after.

My legs hurt.

Drinking

I wish there were more people in college telling people that it's ok not to drink too.

It actually really bums me out that anyone not in college can just assume that pretty much just about everyone drinks (with a few exceptions of course).

Lame lame lame lame lame.

Stoked

I'm stoked on life right now. No reasons. Just because.

Listening to a lot of New Found Glory lately. They're playing at CSUF on the 18th and I will be there losing my mind.

Took pictures of my friends who just got engaged today. I thought the pictures came out way good so I'll just post one.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/niallmccarthy/2366302451/

^^ There's the link to the picture because blogger is being weird right now.


Have good days 'erbody.




Oh, and you should add Rachel, my lovely girlfriend. She's new to blogger so show her some love.

http://coffeeblack-eggwhite.blogspot.com/


EDIT : Fixed the link. The picture will show now.

San Francisco

Hey everyone,

A really good friend of mine from Hope, Hosanna, just lost her Father to cancer this past Wednesday.

If you could pray for a couple of things that would be great:
Pray for strength for the family.
Peace for the family, because apparently her Mom is losing it and her 10 year old brother is in total denial, normal yes but still really difficult.
Pray that God could provide whatever is needed for them physically, financially, and spiritually.
Pray that those of us who are driving up from Hope have a safe trip.

Thank you!

Hungry.

It's 1:10 in the morning and I am so hungry that I am angry.

I can't go out and eat anything because of this stupid diet.

Everything is unhealthy.

The simple solution would be "eat/prepare something in the dorm". Well that's fine except for the fact that everything here (not much) is worse than eating out.

Damn.

Worship Pictures

These were some pictures I took during a worship session at Hope last night. Feedback?


http://www.flickr.com/photos/24199359@N03/

They are the only pictures there as of right now.

Thanks guys.

What I've Been Up To

I've been so busy with photography projects and with school and visiting Rachel that I have mistakenly neglected the blogoverse. So as penance, I would now like to share with you some of the highlights of my last couple picture outings.
So we have: A Povertees promo that I think looks pretty good despite horrible sources of light. (1 Shoe mount Nikon Sb-28 and a desk lamp sitting on the floor; all in front of a 10 dollar Wal Mart Flat Sheet!)

Matt and Gianna at Jillian's 18th birthday party:

A picture of the lunches being loaded to take to the homeless for Sack Lunch Fridays:

And a really sweet ultimate frisbee shot:


I feel like every time I pick up the camera, I get better at using it.

Also: Please note that Blogger's compression system causes the colors in the pictures to be dulled a bit. My original files have much more bite to them than do these.

Photographers

Read EVERY essay at www.strobist.com . The site contains the most practical photography information that I have ever read. I'm really excited to use some of the techniques that I've been reading about.

ANYONE NEED HEADSHOTS???

Healthcare.

My stomach has hurt for two days now. Today I've contracted a fever and a mean headache/sorthroat/cough. I looked up this combination on the internet and they said that this combination of symptoms can mean a number of nasty things that I don't want. So I go to the doctor. After 4 and a half hours of trying to find a doctor that would accept my insurance and waiting to be called, I find out that despite my healthcare provider's recommendation that I go to a specific urgent care, I will need to pay $108 because they don't take my insurance due to certain HMO issues. I, being without that $108, left in a fitfully unhealthy rage.

Still sick. Still mad. Still (kinda) scared as to what is wrong with my stomach. And no hope in sight until tomorrow when I get to return to the same place to dispute my claim.

I hate bureaucratic BS that keeps me sick. A lot.

EDIT: Oh and I might get to study abroad in Rome/Florence next semester for three months. > Sick.

PADDY!

CAN YOU CONFIRM THIS?!

http://www.amazon.com/Nintendo-Mario-Kart-Wii/dp/B000XJNTNS/ref=pd_sim_vg_img_1

Date and all?

Ben Gets Tattooed!

That was Ben's first and an adventure.

In 5 minutes I get a diamond on my leg. It will be coools.

EDIT:
Here is mine:


And here is Loafs:

Hey Mikey he likes it!

Andrew can you help me out?

I tried to take some pictures of a Mr. Ben Cave using only candle light yesterday and in camera most of the pictures looked great. No issues with color, sure they were a little orange, but hey, it's candlelight. Upon loading those pictures into the computer I was met with pictures that seemed far under the quality of the in-camera pictures in which most of the colors were running together and ultra oversaturating, losing massive amounts of detail and horrible color inaccuracy. Here is one example:

Upon further inspection I found that many of my pictures were doing this to varying degrees. Like this one (the color distortion is mainly in my forehead):



How can I fix this problem? Do I need to shoot in Raw or a different setting? Is it my monitor? I'm stumped, so any help would be great.



EDIT:
If I turn off the high saturation in camera and pump it back up in computer then it seems to rectify the situation. But this seems like it would be a horrible chore to do to every picture that I take in the future. Tips?