Zoom zoom! (more like hum hum)

Wing got my yule gift early for me. The electric bike that saved Alan's life (had he been on regular bike he would have gone under the car that hit him, rather than get shoved and tumbled) has been replaced by a 'new and improved' version.

What's really great about this version is it can be set true electric assist, motor only works if you're pedaling. Yes, it does have an always on, but I wanted assistance with my left leg, not having the bike do it all for me. And I can change gears!

It was delivered yesterday. Gent asked me if I had a bike lock. Loved the look on his face when he saw the one I had. You would need a cutting torch to get through it quickly. True, you could use bolt cutters or a hacksaw, but by the time you got about 1/4 the way through it, someone would notice you were up to no good.

Went out this morning, bright and early so it wasn't too hot and stuffy, and went for about a 10 minute ride. Up some shallow hills, zooming down some, then up some steeper grades (anyone who knows what my neighborhood is like knows what it's like). It was great. A bit scary, as it's the first time I have been on a full sized bike in a long time.

Hoping to do the same thing tomorrow, and then start extending it by a few minutes every time until I can go riding for an hour or more at a clip.
My new ride:

Hail and fare thee well to my Lumix TZ10

It still works as well as it always did, but my standards for what I want a photo to look like have gone up to the point when I take a photo with the Lumix, I find it lacking. Because of using pro level lenses and cameras, I'm quicker to spot artifacts, pixelations, and excessive noise/distortions. I really noticed it with the WCC holiday party photographs.

Wing and I headed to Camera Electronics to get some gift certificates for two fellow budding shutterbugs. I had brought my prepaid Visa card (rebate for AC installation) which was going to expire, and I started looking at the other point&shoots. I did stray over to the Lumix brand, but again thought of how I have tried two of them, and each one falling short of the mark, and not really wanting to go through that again. Don't get me wrong, they are great for every day happy snappers, or average user, but for what I wanted it for, no.

So, waited until someone was available, and told him what I was looking for, and what I needed. Also told him price wasn't really an issue, as the prepaid card would take care of most of it. The most salient point was I had to have good photo quality. Zoom is good, but there is no use for 10x zoom when you get artifacts, distortions and severe noise. A 5x zoom with sharp clear images is fine by me! It was down to three cameras. A Fuji X10, the Canon Powershot G12, and Canon Powershot S95.

I tried them all out. Both the Canon cameras took identically great photos. The S95 shot in RAW and had a built in ND filter, was quick to be ready between shots. I did find the S95 a bit fiddly and small. I know small is good, but not when your hands get in their own way trying to set it up. I liked the Fuji, especially that f/2.0 feature. It was easy to navigate, and took great photos. I also liked the Canon G12, not only picture quality, but built in ND filter. Each one was full of pros, each one had at least one 'con', but the con could easily overcome if one knows what to do.

So, it came down to these three. I asked Saul "You know what I do, and you know what quality I need even a 'point and shoot' to do. Price isn't a problem, neither is having to learn the bells and whistles, because I would have to so that with either one (have to do that was different models of Canon already, so that's not a hardship), so which one would you seriously recommend."

He put his had on one, the 'middle' priced one and told me "This is the one I have sold to professional photographers to use as a back up camera." It wasn't the most expensive one, but after all the trying, and with that recommendation, I selected the Canon Powershot G12. And here's why:


Lumix TZ10 Sample: indoor lighting, not overly well lit, flash needed. You can see the 'fuzzy' noise and artifacts, edges blurred.



Canon G12 sample: again, indoor lighting, not overly well lit, flash needed.




The different between the two is striking. Neither was processed, no noise reduction or image improvements. WYSIWYG.

So, will be boxing up the Lumix w/ extra battery, etc and putting it up for adoption (sale).

Time Lapse of Dec 10th Lunar Eclipse

The moon will appear to 'tilt on occasion, but that is me repositioning the camera.

Dear Aus Post delivery guy

You might be a sneaky bastard, but I'm even sneakier... well, more observant.

I was working on photos, and I heard a faint putt putt putt of a diesel engine. I open the curtain and look out. What do I see? The Aus Post driver slowing going PAST the end of my driveway. That's right, past, not up into, but on the street going by.

I looked the guy square in the eye, and he then stopped, and made light of his antics "I saw you looking out the window!". As there was no signature needed for this parcel, he should have brought it up and placed it near the door.

With the upcoming holidays, this sort of bullshit is going to make many people upset, and wasting their time standing in lines at the Post Office because of a SORRY WE MISSED YOU card (if they're lucky enough to have even gotten one), and maybe even leading to gifts going astray.

I will keep lurking and pouncing as needed until this guy, who isn't the 'regular' delivery guy, gets the message.

I don't f**king believe it

I just got an email from step father, one of those "LETS SHOW OBAMA WE ARE A CHRISTIAN NATION" pieces of crap. I replied concisely and politely, but firm.

Sorry, but the United States is not a "Christian Nation". Never has been. Just check the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. Not one mention of Jesus. Also, there is the matter of the Treaty of Tripoli, where it flat out states the US is NOT a Christian Nation.


Treaty of Tripoli:
Article 11
"As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."

Repeating the lie that it is a "Christian Nation" over and over will not make it true.

The Founding fathers were secular Deists, not Christians. Yes, they graduated from 'seminaries', but way back then, seminaries were the only place higher education was available.

So sorry, this "Forwarded Email" stops here, I won't be passing it along.

*S*

Lunar Eclipse - From Beginning to end Dec 11 2011

Lunar Eclipse - Dec 11 2011, a set on Flickr.

Each one is about a 5 minute increments (+/- 1 minute). Some photos, the sunlit part of the moon was 'center stage' and in the rest, the "blood moon" was. There are a few that aren't as sharp and clear, due to thin high clouds. Overall, a great photo session! Enjoy!

Farewell

Harry Morgan, Colonel Potter on ‘M*A*S*H,’ Dies at 96



Harry Morgan, the prolific character actor best known for playing the acerbic but kindly Colonel Potter in the long-running television series “M*A*S*H,” died on Wednesday morning at his home in Los Angeles. He was 96.

As sad as this is, 96 is a good long run.