Kipon Mount Adapter for Canon EF

I put a crow bar into one of my savings accounts and purchased a Kipon Mount Adapater, so I could use the most excellent Canon L glass with the Olympus EM1 body.

I did notice that it is slower to focus than it would be on the Canon Body. I expected that, the same things happens when you use the Olympus 4/3 adapter on the MFT body.  What I didn't expect that unlike when I use the 1.4x L adapter with the 100-400 mkII L, with the Kipon, there was no difference in the focus speed. IOWs it wasn't any slower than using just the Kipon adapter. And unlike when you use the 7D2 with the 1.4x adapter, you don't lose all the focus points, being 'stuck' with the center one ony.

What really surprised me is you don't lose the autofocus when using the Canon 2xmkIII adapter, although it does become a bit 'nose heavy'. I would suggest using a monopod when using the 100-400 with the 2x extender.

Image quality:  So far so good! I took many photos of the bees in the blossoming agave. The images are just as good, if not better, than when I used the Lumix 100-300 (Sorry, Panasonic), but I am using L Glass. 

Zooming in, clear sharp image.

 

Had a bit of validation

Wing is now in the process of going through the flu I had.

He has the aches and chills, along with the cough. I walked into the bedroom, he looked up at me and in a croaky voice asked "How did you survive this?"

I'm feeling better, but no where near the 'all better' stage.  Keito is on the mend... miffed because we won't take the 'Cone of Shame' off, or let him outside.  He'll get over it.

Great Flu Battle 2015

This bug is really nailing my ass to the floor. Wing has it, too, but it doesn't seem as severe. Every part of my body that has had any trauma, or injury is throbbing like a bad tooth.

Note to self: no matter if Wing forgets, *I* will make sure we get flu jabs next year. I do NOT want to go through this again.

Vet called

Keito is Genetically Male, but now in the peeing department, architecturally female.  And he is peeing all on his own.. because he CAN. 

Still has feeding tube in because he won't eat there, but he is getting all he needs to eat and all the fluids that way.

Barring meteor strikes, or alien invasions, Keito will come home on Monday.

Dear Flu.. get thee GONE

Back to feeling cold and in a lot of pain (ribs, diaphragm, large joints).  Got up, took some ibuprofen with codeine, and got into the shower. I normally take 4 min shower, with the occasional 10 min when I am washing my mop.  Not this time. Lets just say I wasn't conservationally motivated this time.

Once the teeth stopped chattering, I shut the water off,  pulled thick terry cloth robe into shower stall, and put it on. Dried off any parts not covered by robe. Draped a blanket over me.

Immediately went into kitchen and nuked a cup of water, added LEMSIP.  Currently sipping it now.

Alan said I look like shit, and I am not going to gainsay him on that.  He also said "You don't get sick often, but when you do, get hammered."  He has been great, making sure I can rest during the day, making sure that I eat something even if I don't want to.

And now Wing thinks he might be coming down with it, too.

Even when you explain something clearly

It's as if the support just can't deviate from their script.

Acer TouchPortal  - from day one, I couldn't get it to connect to Facebook or Flickr. I even did a factory reset to make sure it wasn't something I had installed blocking it.  Still, nothing.

So after a long long time trying to get it work, I submitted a support ticket. It goes as follows:

I know this is a long time coming, but I have always had a problem with TouchPortal connecting to Facebook or Flickr. I keep getting "cannot access, try later". Touchportal is white listed, not being blocked, but I have yet to get it to connect to my Flickr or Facebook account. I have looked all over Windows 7 forums and acer forums, to no avail.

The reply (and just an FYI, it's almost verbatim for a different problem. Replace Video Drivers with TouchPortal):

Good day,
Thank you for contacting Acer Online Support. We apologise for the inconvenience that this has caused you.
Please make sure that you are connected to the internet.
By uninstalling and reinstalling the application, but before you uninstall Acer Touch Portal, kindly check in Acer eRecovery Management if it is available for download.
If it is, kindly uninstall and re-install it.

If the issue still persist, we may need to perform factory reset on the unit.
Note: During the process, all data stored on your computer will be overwritten. This means all your files, such as email and photos, will be erased.
Therefore, we recommend making a backup of all personal data before starting the recovery process.

Use the following steps to start the system recovery:

1. Restart the computer.

2. When the Acer logo appears on the screen, press the left Alt, and the F10 keys.

3. If you are prompted with a Microsoft Windows boot screen, press the Enter key.

4. After the Acer eRecovery Management application has loaded, select your restore type.

5. Read the notice, and then click Next when you are ready.

6. Click Next to begin the restore process. The restore can take anywhere from 10 minutes up to an hour.

7. Once the restore is complete your computer will load Windows and start installing your drivers and software. Your computer may reboot several times during this process.

After everything is complete your computer will be like it was when you first purchased it.

Please let me know if you have further questions.
If you need phone assistance, you may contact us at 1300 365 100 option 2 for Technical Support.
 

Thank you and have a nice day!
Regards, **** ********* **********  Acer Online Support

My rebuttal:

Resetting to factory default again would be a waste of time, as this has been happening since day one. I could never connect with Facebook.
Even with my resetting it to factory default it wouldn't connect to FB or Flickr.

I uninstalled TouchPortal, and reinstalled it (yes, it was in Acer Recovery Management) but the problem persists.

Again, resetting to factory default again would be of no use, as I already tried that when I first got the computer, thinking that something I installed had blocked it.

I reset, went to set up connection to Facebook and Flickr, and got the same message. And that was with nothing new installed.

Let's see if that kicks her off her script.

Visited Keito at Murdoch Vet Hospital

And he's feeling much better.  Still not ready to be discharged and come home, but so much more active, smoochie, and alert.  He snuggled with me and gave me such a hard headboop it hurt my forehead. I didn't mind in the least.

Came home and took off the hoodie I was wearing and gave it to the other purrkids to sniff and check out. Loki is now relaxed on top of the pet tower, and Trance is sleeping on the hoodie now.  Ziggy is still Ziggy. :D

A suggestion I sent to PetPlan insurance

Here's hoping I get a reply.

One of our cats is currently in the Veterinary Hospital. The reason I am writing this isn't about coverage, as we have it, but the payment arrangements.

Now I know that too often veterinary practices get stiffed on what they are owed, and that there are unscrupulous people making false claims. however, I am not one of those.

I don't want to skip on necessary treatment my moggie needs, but the credit card is having fits.

Then after he comes home, I get to submit the claim, and then wait.

I have had great experience with your claims department, so please do not view this as complaint on that. But is there some way that PetPlan could come up with something like HBF or Medicare card? That we pay the gap, and PetPlan pays directly to the vet instead of this 4 step method of paying the vet, submitting the claim, waiting, and the you processing it?

Thank you Sandra Chung

No go :(

Vet called... Keito's bladder re-obstructed, although not as severely as the catheter went in much easier. It was a mucus blockage rather than the hard one, meaning the left over of infection combined with inflammation.

Also, since he hasn't eaten since Friday, feeding tube will be necessary to prevent him from losing condition.

The good news is when cath re-inserted, urine totally clear of blood.

He was given a bath, a blowdry and brushing which he seemed to enjoy.

The bill is making me wince.  Yes, we will get a goodly amount of it rebated, but we have to pay it first.

Outlook good

Wing  and I just got back from Murdoch Emergency Vet Centre where we visited Keito.  He is up, alert, bright eyed, smoochie, but still won't eat.  Vet said not to worry about that because it's not unusual for cats to go on a 'hunger strike' when they are at the vet.  He is being hydrated with an I.V. and there is no worry about him starving.

The catheter is out, and as long as he 'umm errs' tonight and in the morning, he comes home tomorrow.

Much relief.

Bizarreness

I use Brita Faucet filters, the older version and the filters are getting harder and harder to come by.  I managed to find some on eBay but the postage for just two of them was more than the filters were ($41 for the filters, $44 to ship them).

So, headed over to Amazon.  This is where the bizarreness comes in.  The more expensive seller ships to Australia. $60 for 2 filters + $27 shipping. 

I spotted less expensive ones, 2 for $21... but that seller doesn't ship to Australia.  So, I order two twin packs, for $42, + $8 shipping to be sent to my drop address. Another $25 to forward them to me from there.

Twice the number for less than the cost of two.  Makes me wonder when Amazon will stop shooting themselves in the foot.

Wow, sometimes troubleshooting failures can pay off.

Wow, sometimes troubleshooting failures can pay off.

I have Audible audiobooks, and use AudibleManager. I did a data migration which is essentially a system restore. I kept getting error about my desktop not being activated. I would shut that down, and everything would still work. Kept getting popup that there was an update to AudibleManager, but it wouldn't install. So I went through all the troubleshooting steps, with no success. I kept getting shunted to Amazon Australia. No, I am AUDIBLE customer, and wanted to keep my Amazon and Audible accounts separated.

So, started a chat with a tech. Went through all the trouble shooting with her, which only made things worse, as I could no longer play my audio books on my desktop.  She apologized, saying it was standard Troubleshooting steps.

Me.. *LIGHTBULB*

I started up Windows Media Player.  Selected an Audible file. Got "Sign into your Audible Account" with user name and password.  Did so, and SUCCESS!  Not only did they play in Windows Media Player, they once again played in AudibleManager.

I passed this nugget to the tech.

ME: AHA! Fixed it! Here, make note incase someone else has this problem I opened Windows Media Player, selected Audible title, got the "Activation/password" window to my audible account. Logged in with my user name and password, and NOW Audible Manager works.

Audible Tech:I don't know how to make this not sound as sarcasm in a chat, but it is not. I'm impressed, thank you

Me:Doesn't sound like sarcasm at all. Gee, can I get a Audible credit for solving this? ;)

She said yes and added it to my account.