Category Archives: Personal

Personal Photography Travel

Indian Bustle

Mike Specian January 24, 2014 Leave a Comment 5573 Views

As a first-time traveler to the Indian metropolis of Chennai, I was struck (not literally, thankfully) by how chaotic the traffic situation is there. I found that there are generally four types of vehicles – small sedans, large vehicles like buses and industrial trucks, tuk tuk taxis and motorbikes. Each of them operates with minimal care for the others. Motorbikes will zoom in between other vehicles at traffic lights, traffic laws are lax and collisions are common.

In this video I chronicle what happened on a relatively simple drive to dinner across town. Then, I take a tour through a garment store in the city of Alleppey, Kerala and discover that Indian hustle and bustle is definitely not confined to the roadways.

Personal Photography Travel

A Photographic Journey Through Chennai and Kerala, India

Mike Specian January 22, 2014 Leave a Comment 3194 Views

In January of 2009 I travelled to India for the first time. Upon arrival we began by spending several days in the 9 million-person-strong metropolis of Chennai. We meandered along the Bay of Bengal on Elliot’s Beach, enjoyed multiple excellent South Indian lunches at Morgan Idlii’s and even went to see Slumdog Millionaire! We were also able to spend time with friends, both old and new. I was fortunate enough to meet Fugan – a former Peace Corp member in South America, current Buddhist monk and exceptionally talented musician.

Next, we flew across the subcontinent to the southwestern state of Kerala. Unlike much of India, Kerala is a land of blue skies, green mountains and tranquil waterways. A hired driver transported us to the city of Alleppey where we took an overnight houseboat tour on Lake Vembanadu.

Finally we drove high into the eastern mountains to the town of Munnar. Using the lovely Windermere Estate as our base, we viewed countless hills converted into tea plantations. We rented a paddleboat to explore the Mattupatti Dam Reservoir and visited Top Station, the highest reachable point in the region. At a mile above sea level, we experienced Top Station as being continuously blanketed by a rolling sea of whispering clouds.

Below I have included my full photography gallery from this trip. I hope you enjoy it.

Personal Photography Travel

The Top 16 Things I Brought Back from India

Mike Specian January 21, 2014 Leave a Comment 6213 Views

The day after the first inauguration of President Obama, I flew halfway around the world to India armed with little more than my old Nikon D40 camera and a kit lens. I travelled onto lakes with active fishermen,

and onto mile-high tea plantations,

I explored tropical lakes, cloud forests, narrow channels and even a dam. I have uploaded what I feel are my top 16 photos on the page below. I encourage you to exercise your sense of adventure, click this link or view what follows on this page. In a couple of days I will unveil my full gallery of images.

[Show as slideshow]

Personal

Specian Font

Mike Specian June 30, 2013 Leave a Comment 2518 Views

Let’s say you want to send a handwritten letter to someone but you have neither the time nor the wrist endurance to make it happen. Or perhaps you’re left-handed (like me) and always smudging over what you’ve just written. I would totally understand why these difficulties would stop you from picking up pens all together.

But yesterday afternoon I rejected this sorry fate and turned my personal handwriting into a font – Specian font! Click the image below to see a sample.

I’m biased, but I really enjoy my handwriting and perhaps you will too. You can install Specian font on your computer by right-clicking the link to save Specian.ttf to disk. Then click, select install and you’re all set. If another user wants to read a document in Specian font, she must install it on her computer as well. As a more practical alternative, turn your documents into images or PDF’s before using it in work presentations or sending it to those you love. And really, what better way to show someone you love them than to send them a note in my handwriting.

Personal Photography Travel

Photos from Rome and Vatican City

Mike Specian June 24, 2013 Leave a Comment 2863 Views

I would like to announce that my Rome photography gallery is finally finished and available for viewing! Click the image below or this link to check it out. For a smaller, elite gallery of only the very best photographs, click here.

While working in Germany during the summer of 2008, I took two short excursions outside the country. The second was a weekend trip to Rome with my friend Will Newman. We holed up in small room near the city center and set out to explore the sites. These included the Colosseum and nearby home of the ancient aristocracy, Palatine Hill.

We passed by the Trevi Fountain on our way to Vatican City. The Vatican offered some excellent photographic opportunities including the magnificent interior of St. Peter’s Basilica and the view of surrounding Rome and Vatican City offered from its dome. Finally, we passed through the Vatican’s enormous museum en route to one of the most famous buildings in the world, the Sistine Chapel.

Personal Photography Pro Wrestling

Sights and Sounds of Wrestlemania 29

Mike Specian May 14, 2013 Leave a Comment 6768 Views

I just wanted to share some of the photos and videos I took during Wrestlemania 29 at Met Life Stadium on April 7, 2013. WWE doesn’t allow you to take in any lenses longer than 6 inches (i.e. the ones with telescopic zoom), so everything here is wide angle. I was also constrained to one position inside the stadium, but given that limitation I think things turned out OK. (For those reading this through an email update, click the link above to view this content on the website itself.)

First, you’ll want to check out the video of the pyrotechnics displays, which were actually quite cool.

Next, click on the image below to see an interactive panorama of Met Life Stadium taken before the start of the show.

Here is a small collection of photographs of the event taken throughout the evening.

wrestlemania-29-black-and-white-stadium-picture

wrestlemania-29-jerichos-fireworks-entrance

Astrophysics Climate Energy Personal Politics

Articles Archive Added

Mike Specian April 10, 2013 Leave a Comment 2938 Views

I recognize that my website is sorta oddball. “Serious” articles on topics like green development in Africa, sustainability and climate are interspersed with professional wrestling results, games and personal photography. This motley assortment of content precludes this site from being a pure issues blog. While I have considered going in that direction, I built mikespecian.com to be a reflection of me along multiple dimensions. So for now I intend to keep it as is.

With one exception. I have added a link entitled Articles to my main menu. This is will be the one-stop-shop for everything I have written and will continue to write on topics such as climate, energy, politics and science in general. Thank you all for reading!

Personal

Family Feud Results 2012: Part 4

Mike Specian March 8, 2013 Leave a Comment 2615 Views

This post contains the results of the final four Family Feud questions from my 2012 survey. If you would like to participate in 2013’s survey, please click this link or the button below. Polling is completely anonymous. Participation this year has been excellent and we only need 36 more completed surveys, so please forward this along to your dentists, florists, auto care specialists, struggling actor friends or anyone else who wants to waste time.

Please click on the images to see them in higher resolution. We asked 100 people to…

name-something-your-parents-want-you-to-do-against-your-will

name-the-first-thing-you-do-when-the-zombie-apocalypse-breaks-out

name-the-most-dangerous-place-in-the-world

other-than-an-alarm-clock-name-a-sound-that-wakes-you

That’s it everyone! Again, this is the last chance to participate in this year’s Family Feud survey. Thanks!

Personal

Family Feud Results 2012: Part 3

Mike Specian March 7, 2013 Leave a Comment 3057 Views

This post contains the results of the first four Family Feud questions asked during my 2012 survey. If you would like to participate in 2013’s survey, please click this link or the button below. Polling is completely anonymous, but we do need at least 49 more responders, so please forward this along to your landlords, lawyers, lawn care providers, limerick providers or anyone else who wants to waste time.

Please click on the images to see them in higher resolution. We asked 100 people to…

name-something-you-friends-had-as-a-kid-that-made-you-jealous

Tomorrow I will reveal the results to the following four questions:

Name something your parents want you to do against your will.
Name your first order of business upon learning that the zombie apocalypse has broken out.
Name the most dangerous place in the world.
Other than an alarm clock, name a sound that wakes you.

To receive these updates automatically through email or RSS, please use the links in the upper-right corner of the page to subscribe. And once again, please take time to fill out this year’s survey.

Personal

Family Feud Results 2012: Part 2

Mike Specian March 5, 2013 Leave a Comment 8768 Views

This post contains the results of the second group of Family Feud questions asked during my 2012 survey. If you would like to participate in 2013’s survey, please click this link or the button below. Polling is completely anonymous, but we do need at least 69 more responders, so please forward this along to your coworkers, neighbors, laundry detergent salesmen, local wrestling promoters or anyone else who likes to waste two minutes.

Please click on the images to see them in higher resolution. We asked 100 people to…

name-an-anachronistic-article-of-clothing

Tomorrow I will reveal the results to the following four questions:

Name something you do after a breakup.
Name something your friends had as a kid that made you jealous.
Name something Mitt Romney would do.
Name something you associate with China.