Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Nature's veil

 I'm pretty sure this morning was the first time it happened this year.  It was certainly my first time.

I've always loved the fog.  There's something mystical and enchanting about it.  It's like the first snowfall.  It drapes familiar landscapes in a soothing ethereal veil and feeds the imagination.
Riding through fog is not quite as enchanting as strolling through it.

Tiny pearls of moisture coat my visor.  The solution is the silicone squeegee on the left index finger of my Icon Patrol gauntlet.  A wipe or two and I can see clearly.  I can go back to gliding through my veiled commute.
Siri seems to understand the mood of my commutes.  This morning she played music that, for the most part, fit the mood like the legendary glove.  Should that be worrisome?  Of course it's a simple coincidence.  "Shuffle my music please Siri."  "Playing your songs, shuffled."

But is she really shuffling my songs?  Yes of course my iPhone is shuffling my songs.   But it isn't purely random.  It never is.  Occasionally a song plays that doesn't fit.  Like Emily Claire Barlow who wanted to sing me a Christmas tune this morning.  The Sena is brilliantly designed.  Even with my gauntlet, skipping to the next tune is effortless.  No doubt the iPhone's shuffling algorithm interprets my skipping the song, and alters the shuffle.  At least that's the way it seems.  I would design it that way for sure.  I'm fairly certain Apple is smarter than me.  So they must have figured that out.

Of course this is precisely the kind of enjoyable little meandering debate that Google could solve in a heartbeat.  This morning I prefer the mystery.  It fits right in with the foggy commute.

13 comments:

RichardM said...

I miss and enjoy the quiet that fog or especially fresh snow brings. Very peaceful and when using studded tires, the silence is welcome. Nice fog photos...

David Masse said...

Thanks Richard.

I took the photos using the excellent Camera+ app on my iPhone 5.

There are many filters available in the app. I was really surprised that almost every filter yielded very different results with the fog photos. Normally only one or two filters yield a remarkable result, especially the 'clarity' filter. This time it was really quite different.

RichardM said...

The Camera+ app is great especially being able to set independent focus and exposure points. Decent optics, relatively fast at f2.2 and enough megapixels add up to a decent camera. I rarely look
At the filters and generally run most of my pictures through Aperture for for any edits.

Dar said...

We are starting fog season here. I have to say I am not a bit fan of fog, I find it depressing and here we will have endless full days of fog which feels a little oppressive at times. I too have had Siri slip in Christmas Carols whilst listening and riding I usually sing along when I hear them, thank goodness Kirk hasn't been on those rides and hear me through the sena.

VStar Lady said...

David this morning's fog left me feeling nauseous. Visibility at 6 am was about 2 ft (with fog lamps.) My only guide, the recently shorn shoulder grasses. I love standing in the fog, with nowhere to go ... trying to drive blind is a whole other ball game.

David Masse said...

Whether something contributes to happiness or misery often depends on quantity. There are many things that, in small doses, are sources of pleasure, but in much larger doses become tiresome. If we had a season of fog, instead of the very occasional variety, I would find it to be a source of frustration too.

I could do with (much) shorter winters.

David Masse said...

Karen it stops being fun the moment it interferes with our ability to manage risk.

Trobairitz said...

Great fog photos. I am looking forward to fog season. Until then I shall enjoy some clouds.

I do like walking in it better than driving or riding though.

SonjaM said...

I believe that mist has some enchanting, at least for some of us. I am also looking forward to fog season as part of autumn.

David Masse said...

Thanks Brandy. Here's wishing you a fog season full of the best enchantment with no miserable side effects.

David Masse said...

Sonja, I imagine we will soon be seeing some magic photos from you of brooding black forest castles veiled in mist.

Steve Williams said...

Fog makes everything right. If I open my eyes in the morning and see fog every care and worry fades away. At least that's what I believe as I write this comment.

Kim and I are planning to travel to Maine in November and I hope we find some fog there -- it transforms the blue sky beach into something right out of Dark Shadows.

Thanks for sharing your view of the world...

David Masse said...

Thanks Steve. Here's wishing you some wonderful foggy days among the Mainiacs.

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