Yesterday was the first time I had been out on photoshoot since Sydney trip. I managed it well enough, was rather tired and sore, but not overly so.
Not until this morning. Creak, crack, wince, hobbled my way to the TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN ROOM. After about 10 mins of imitating a centenarian, I was a lot less stiff. Still kind of achey, but overall, not too bad.
Australian Dart – a variety of fishing bird/cormarant. 5D4, 100-400mkII, 1.4x teleconverter
I got a text message from my bank, saying there was an odd charge to my credit card, and did I recognize it.
I looked, then searched, and nope, no clue, so I texted back NO.
Got a phone call from the bank, three step verification, so it was legit. It seems that the unknown charge was a 'feeler' to see if the account was active, because almost immediately afterward, there was a $1000+ charge on my card for a hotel in Paris, France!
Since I'm nowhere near Paris, that was squashed/denied, my current card canceled (just got through shredding it, too, just to be safe), and a new one will be issued.
And to the fuqwit that tried to commit fraud, I hope they catch your sorry ass.
Don't get me wrong, I loved my Tamron 24-70 f/2.8, fast to focus, and the image quality was excellent, but I kept finding myself trying to zoom past the 70mm mark. It didn't quite have the reach. So, instead of ruining the lens by accidentally over torquing the zoom ring, it was time to get lens with longer reach.
At PhotoExpoLive2017, I purchased the 24-105mkII. One of the things I was concerned about was losing that one stop. Well, I didn’t have to worry because the bokeh even at f/4 on the 5D4 was great.
Canon 5DmkIV, 24-105mkII, ISO 1600, f/4, 1/60exp. No noise reduction, edited in On1PhotoRaw 2017
Attended the #PhotoLiveExpo2017 at Novatel, in Perth, yesterday. Bought a new lens at a discounted price. Wing had a bit of a snit about it until I told him I was selling my Tamron 24-70 to fund the purchase.
Went to #CameraElectronic to pick up the new camera batteries we bought at the event discount prices. Got a small bag to carry a 50mm lens that's large enough to hold the 24-105mkII when I want to swap. Told Sam I was selling the Tamron (which I just picked up after a scheduled thorough cleaning). I had a price in mind, and Sam's offer was right in that ballpark. So, instead of the hassle and problems of having to deal with idiots trying to lowball me on the price, or mansplain as to why I should sell it to them for less, I got a CE store credit.
Problem solved.
First off, ow. The exam to see if the 2nd SynVisc injection is working hurts like hell. Pull, push, bend, flex. Check to see if there is side to side movement. Even with the swelling I had on Sunday (furniture seats are 'fashionably' low to the floor. Kind of feels like squatting, instead of sitting.
Dr S said swelling is down, side to side movement is reduced. I told him how I sit when the knee starts feeling spongey (that means there is fluid building up again). And I've stopped trying to keep up with people who can walk faster. I can walk faster, for a while, but then I will pay for it big time the following week.
I go back and see Dr S in a month for another follow up.
8 weeks ago, I purchased the full version of DFX Audio Enhancer. I really liked the plug-in I had gotten with DIVX years ago, and wanted to use its features with all my audio/video programs.
Turn the clock to 8 weeks later, they announce they have a NEW AND IMPROVED VERSION! And yes, was vastly improved. They offered a discount for those who registered previous versions.
My issue was this: 8 weeks after my initial purchase, they came out with this. 10 Days AFTER I could have gotten refund for buying the now defunct version, and repurchase the new one. Oh, they offered a discount, but for me, it wasn't a discount, it was paying double!
Their support staff agreed and gave me new license/key for the new version.
I stubbed my toe last week, but that isn't the problem. The problem was I couldn't find the toenail clipper and impatiently tried to use fingernail clipper. It didn't cut the nail, but it did twist it, causing a lifting of the toenail from the nail bed.
I noticed (well, Keito noticed) my big toe was a bit..to protect the squeamish, icky.
Old fashioned remedy: Large enough container to hold hot water enough to cover my food. Regular table salt, about a 1/2 cup. Immerse foot. VERY gently, started from base of toenail, press. Gradually work your way to top of toenail. Don't be surprised if you see air bubbles. Repeat. Empty pan of water, refill, and do it again, but this time the 1st time you press, you shouldn't see air bubbles. BUT it will sting like hell! When water is cooler than your foot, take foot out, empty water. Dry foot with clean cloth/towel.
Feels better already.
You know, everyone goes on and on ad nauseum about Adobe Products. Why? It's not like they are the end all be all of image development/editing. 'Industry standard'? Adobe itself labeled themselves that, and it stuck.
Here is a list of equal, if not better, programs to use. True, not all the Adobe plugins work with them, but many do (mostly the ones that were made to be used on more than one photo editing program)
Affinity - Non-destructive (you know, technically, as long as you don't SAVE the image, overwriting the original, they are all non-destructive) editing program, has both Mac and Windows version. Has features that you have to buy plugins to get the same result. Mixed bag on plugins made for Adobe products (ie Nik tools, they work but with cavaets) Full on camera raw editing, updated by Serif when new raw formats are available. You do have to make a new 'pixel layer' when you want to do multiple edits on different layers, as Affinity doesn't do it automatically.
TopazStudio - Fully featured, non-destructive, camera raw editing. Has a free and a pro version. Works perfectly with TopazLabs plugins, as you would expect. TopazLaps and StudioPro isn't free, BUT you buy it once, and all your updates are free, even to new versions.
Alienskin Exposure X2 - again, non-destructive camera raw editor (I donated 5Ds, 5D4, 7D2 raw files to during development) Fully featured, and again works flawlessly with Alienskin Plugins.
TwistedBrush Pro Studio - Not only an excellent art program, but a much underrated photo editing software. Again, I helped by testing and donating CR2/ORF/RAW files to improve the camera raw edits. You can use some adobe compatible plugins, but alas only 32bit. Because of that 32bit limit, file size can cause the program to crash. Ken Carlino is looking into getting a 64bit version written.
ON1 Photo RAW 2017 - Crammed packed with features. Not only a raw editor, but great as a stand along photo processing/editing program. With layers, brushes, gradient tools, filters and presets, even a way to make your own custom presets and filters, you could use On1 as a plugin for Photoshop, or use it as a stand alone. It's latest version even has lens profiles to correct for aberrations and distortions, BUT unlike DxO Optics, you can choose to not apply the lens correction (DxO forces correction for fisheye lenses) You can, if you choose, do all your edits and effects, and punt a high res JPG to a different photo edition if you want to use a specific plugin in a photo editing program.
Capture One - Also a fully loaded editor that until the latest version was so so slow. Again, non-destructive layer editing, and as great as CO is, it can be a bit overwhelming.
Corel PaintShop Pro X9 - Non destructive layer editing, but you do have to make new layer as it doesn't make them automatically. (import image, duplicate layer, use a plugin. Duplicate result on another layer to keep doing other edits) Many of the plugins made for Adobe will work with PSPX9, but again, with a few cavaets. As with Affinity, you can use plugins that were made for generally any photo editing programs.
I know I've left a few out, but that was because I had iffy results, or that they decided to go the Adobe "rent me" method.
I have 8 years worth of emails, photos, correspondence from my dad. I never delete anything from family. I might have lost a few due to hard drive failures, and caught between back ups, but I have most of them. I have been going through them, and it's a sad/happy/sad feeling because as much as many of them make me smile, I know there will be no more, and then the grief comes.
The distance, and not having the daily seeing of someone, lessened the initial grief, but I have found the last few days it's hit me in larger and larger waves.
Actually, no funeral. He has been cremated already. No flowers, but if you wish to honor him, make a donation to a local animal shelter in his name.
City of Live Oak: Shelter animals need good homes
He is going to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery, full military honors.
I can't tell you how much I do NOT want that orange idiot attending or officiating. Draft dodger Donald is not welcome, not by a long shot.
Richard E Tomac, aka Pop aka Dad, passed away Friday, July 7th, 2017.
So, so, conflicted as to how I feel. Very sad that he is gone, but relieved that he is no longer suffering.
Cancer really really sucks.
I updated Samsung Magician from 4.5 to 5.1, software for my SSD. Ever since then, I keep get "WMI is Disabled. Enable Y/N". I went to the Samsung site, only to find they don't archive older versions, even though there was a link to version 4.9. All it did was lead to their home page, not a download.
Clicked on "Everything" and searched for Samsung Magician on my computer. Woo hoo! I had saved the 4.5 zip file. Uninstalled 5.1, reinstalled 4.5 and ta da! No more WMI error.
I fixed our running toilet. Took photos of the valve assembly, got the right washers. No more running toilet.
Have really figured out ways to save water, like when filling dishpan, letting the cold water go into percolator, instead of letting it just run until it gets hot, using a bucket of water used to clean the bird feeders then pouring the bucket of water in the potted trees, etc etc.
And even with 1/5 less water usage since last month, the friggin' bill is higher this month because the the &#%$@# Water Corporation raised their $#%@%$# rates again!
And I am not going to give that freak any more web traffic by linking to it. HOWEVER, I will quote and synopsize her post.
For all intents and purposes, this freak wants to make a saint out of a woman, who in a fit of bigotry, murdered her own two daughters for NOT being bigots like their mother. This is a female "American Taliban", who is following NO version of the New Testament ever printed, but is following some bastard sect.
Friends, I invite you to ponder the image above. The beautiful woman is Christy Sheats. The Texas wife and mother who is being vilified in the media for shooting and killing her teenage daughters. It makes for a great headline in mainstream media but what goes unsaid is even more powerful.
A devout Republican and gun rights advocate, she no doubt discovered that both of her daughters had been promiscuous and were sleeping with black boys and she took it upon herself to put an end to that cycle. She was brave enough to stand up and say ENOUGH! Not in MY house! And she should be lauded.
Race mixing is not only an ungodly thing, it causes such confusion and humiliation. Not only for the children born of this sin, but for the grandparents who would have to carry this burden. Mrs. Sheats was the picture of elegance and I know she would not want to have to explain to her friends why she was carrying around a yellow mixed baby that her promiscuous daughters had created.
Rather than be forced into this life of depravity and sin, she chose to go down grasping her weapon in the name of God. As far as I am concerned, she is a martyr for Christ.
“It would be horribly tragic if my ability to protect myself or my family were to be taken away, but that’s exactly what Democrats are determined to do by banning semi-automatic handguns,” she wrote in March, along with an anti-gun control video.
She was just your typical wife and mother, doing everything she could to protect her children from the promiscuous and sinful life that they had become sucked into.
Before we slander her name or make her out to be a villain, I think we should take a moment of silence and appreciate her bravery and her devout Will to die for Christ.
A martyr indeed, my friends. And Glory be to God, as always for HE is in control.
Yes, full on American Taliban. She is a symptom of one of the problems in the U.S. today.
I get an email from them, so they know I'm on Australia. The fact that my account says I am in Australia, and my email address ends in AU, and my default shipping address is Australia seems to be something they're missing.
Back to the email. I get email notice that I can get a new Kindle Paperwhite for $30 off. Ok, since my kindle is getting old, and I have noticed it needs charging more often, it's either get a new battery for it, or a new one, I think "Sure, sounds good to me."
So, I go to Amazon, order one, and case to keep the screen safe. Add it to shopping cart, go to check out.. and get hit with "DOES NOT SHIP TO AUSTRALIA".
Really? REALLY?
So, having it sent to drop address and to sent to me.
Called my mother. Step-father is still hanging in there. This really isn't what you can call a good thing, as there is no chance of recovery here. Do NOT give me any malarkey about miracles. They have jokingly saying he's waiting for the 4th of July. He's always loved fireworks.
No matter how much you know what's coming, there is no easy way to handle it, is there? I'm still having trouble processing it, as he was always such a strong force of nature. Seemed unstoppable.
Of all things, I am glad I mended fences years ago. As heartbreaking as what our family is going through now, regret would have just eaten away at me had I not just let go of anger and hurt, and just moved on.
Cancer still fucking sucks.
There are people out there doing something called 'bitcoin mining'. They have found some sort of way to use specific graphics cards to make this easier.
Because of them, just about all computer stores that have these cards have deliberately jacked up the prices of what the have in stock to increase their profits. I'm not saying higher prices on new stock because the manufacturers/suppliers are pushing up their prices, but on already in house stock.
I had one company try that bullshit with me.
The card was, with shipping and 3% PayPal surchage, $311. They had 5 in stock. Order one, and when I checked back, their counter said 4 in stock, meaning I had successfully purchased one.
I get email this morning from the store. "Unfortunately, the cards you are after are not currently in stock and there is a major shortage Aust wide as everyone is after these cards for bit coin mining. We expect a shipment in this morning"
Anyone surprised that they're charging $90 more?
I have said it before, and I will say it again... next time you try to screw me, kiss me first.
Found the same card on ebay for $30 less than what they were charging, NO paypal surcharge, AND free shipping
