We Went Shopping For Yu-Gi-Oh Cards And Saw The Future

I am a man with no principles and a father of no rules.  As an irrational human being, I always think one should never have enough cameras no matter how many you have already because they are all different even they serve the same purpose--taking pictures.  By picking up a different camera you invoke a different photographer inside.  And being a different photographer can be liberating ....  Okay, enough photography nonsense from me.  So when my kids need to have yet a another set of Yu-Gi-Oh cards, I, despite good common senses object the idea, grudgingly complied, because I just understand, boys could never have enough Yu-Gi-Oh cards.  So while the lady of the household was busying herself loading up weekly essential supplies in BJ (now what kind of name is that?) we boys went to Target to buy our non essential but equally important stuff--Yu-Gi-Oh CARDS.  The boys knew their way and went to their section right away while their old man meandered around the store checking out TVs, DVDs and stuff.

The kids paid for their cards and we left the store.  On our way back to find our car--yes, we are always lost in the parking lot whenever we got the chance, I decided to check out P.C. Richards instead of lost in the parking lot.  It used to be Circuit City but no more.  And there I saw the future:  a 60" 3DHD TV playing Monsters vs Aliens in 3D Blu-ray.  HOLY COW.  I interrupted the floor associate from talking to a pair of clueless middle aged consumers and demanded him to hand me the 3D glasses  instead.  I immediately put on the 3D spectacles over my much imitated Shuron Sidewinder and there everything in front of the TV came into life.  I saw the future.  I felt like I was in the middle of the aliens and monsters and could almost touch the action.  Right when I was having this total out of body immersive experience, my Blackberry rang.  Oops.  Me and the kids quickly abandoned the store and headed to the parking lot.  There our ride was waiting.  Without 3DHD, everything was just ordinary and boring like real life.  On my ride home, I couldn't stop thinking how great the monsters and aliens looked in 3DHD and how I wish I had one (or two) at home some day soon ....

Non Stick Pan Cooking For Pussies

Every time I see some man using a non stick pan to cook, I can't help but think of the word pussy.

The World Is 3D and So Should Any Video

The world is going Lady Ga Ga with 3D, every video is adding that extra dimension.  3DTV used to be firmly in the sci-fi category and look what happened?  It's a reality, it's in production and you can get one from BestBuy now.  My 720p HDTV is definitely a thing of the past, and now is all 1080p, probably also in 3DHD, and as if Blu-ray is not good enough, it has to be 3D Blu-ray.  The latest being Nintendo is going to release its 3DS console in 2011 and you don't even need special eyeglasses to see the 3D effect.  That definitely is a big plus and deserves a holy cow from everybody.

Google vs. China

It takes somebody who is mildly self-righteous, somewhat delusional and a bit naive to just say no to China.  And I like that.

Google.cn No More

Google says no to China.  Google finally walks the walk.  I always like a shitstorm provided that it's not happening in my backyard.  It finally downs its google.cn search operation and re-directs the URL request to google.com.hk.  Yeah, just get the heck out of there.

My Candy Vending Machines

Oh well not as slick as r&e's ...

PS:  Again, I have to pat myself on the back.  I can't believe I held my camera ... er I mean Blackberry so proper, notice the vertical line, it's so straight, notice the horizontal line, it's so horizontal.  I can't believe it.
Both machines are working and they don't need electricity either.

Nikon D70

I am just checking my Nikon D70, see if it's still working.  Oh No, it's still working, rather fabulously.  I mounted my good old trusty Nikkor 24mm f2 manual focusing on it and shot a few.  And here are two of them.  The first one was at f2, wide open and at 1/100sec.  The second one was at f2.8 1/100sec.  All at ASA400 hand held.  The 24mm lens work out to be a 35mm in a 35mm film camera.  I kind of like the perspective, it's wider than the 50mm and yet not so wide that you either find it hard to fill up the frame or you find it just gimmicky to exaggerate.

For the kind of pictures I take, I find it hard to persuade myself to update my DSLR ... even I am such an irrational person when it comes to photo gears.

I am still rocking my Nikon D70 in 2010, I can't believe it.  My Nikon experience is positive.  Their gear never breaks on its own.  OKAY, of all the years I own my Nikon FE, there was this one time the shutter wouldn't close, and I have to set it to M90 to close the shutter.  Only once.  And I changed the tiny little battery once on my FE, I believe that was a mistake, I didn't really need to change it.  Then it was a few weeks ago, I think I forgot to put back the film advance lever that also acts as an on/off switch (isn't it auto power off?) so the tiny battery is drained.  Now my FE is powerless but it will open its shutter at M90 (and Bulb?).  Nikon rocks.

iMap

I imagine when the relationship between Apple and Google goes so bad that either Apple will no longer or can long use Google map on its iPhone and Apple develops its own mapping application, called iMap.  I would like to see iMap comes to fruition.  My kids would have a blast for the name, iMap, i m a p.  Actually I will have a blast.

Canon New F-1 Film Loading

If you come from the Nikon world of film loading, Canon New F-1 would come as a surprise.  The take up spool actually turns to the right, the way the film advance lever goes instead of the opposite direction.  I think I read about it before but still when I first loaded the F-1, I still tried to load it the way I have always loaded film which wouldn't work for the F-1.  Actually I think the Canon P loads the "Nikon way" too.  I am not sure if it's uniquely F-1 or not.

St. Patrick's Day Is News Worthy in NYT's Book

The New York Times mentions the annual St. Patrick's Day on today's paper.  So apparently it's news worthy.  Whereas the Chinese New Year is not and has not been so.  Being a Chinese American I am frankly disappointed at the Chinese New Year coverage or actually the total lack thereof from a major New York newspaper (A22 on print).

On the web:  A Shorter Parade Means Less Green for Some on St. Patrick's Day.

For Chinese New Year coverage, you have to see it on my blog.

Canon New F-1 And Motor Drive

Here is something I discovered.  My point of reference is the Nikon FE and F5.  Though it probably isn't an apt comparison considering they are really vastly different cameras.

I think the F-1's motor drive connection is a bit convoluted.  And sort of a disaster waiting to happen.  You really have to plan ahead and decide at least a roll of film ahead whether you want to shoot with a motor drive or not because you just can't change your mind in mid-roll.  Why?  Because, at the bottom of the camera plate there are three coupling holes (what am I talking about?), you need to remove the three small coupling (love the word) covers before you can attach the motor drive to the camera.  One of those holes (love the word) provide the motor drive's access to the film cartridge for film rewind and if left exposed or un-covered it would fog the film.  Hence you really can't take out the motor drive in mid roll or attach a motor drive in mid-roll.  Not a great idea.  Those tiny covers you need to use a coin, say a quarter to screw (love the word) in and out (love the allusion), and they are prone to just disappear--of the three covers, the AE coupling cover was lost before I got the camera.  They are supposed to be screwed back in on the motor drive but if you were to lose the film rewind coupling cover, then you can't really shoot sans motor drive as the hole would expose the film--you are screwed big time.  What a stupid design.  My FE and its MD-12 don't have this problem, no small covers to remove and sure no rewind either.  But I can attach or remove the motor drive in a whim anytime I like.  The F5 comes with the the built-in motor drive.  I don't have the Nikon F3 and its massive MD-4 motor drive for comparison.  I guess the professionals always shoot the F-1 with its motor drive always attached--I know the prior owner does.  So they don't have this problem.

Notes:
Canon AE MOTOR DRIVE FN.  This guy is coin operated.  You can't attach the thingy by just turning the camera attachment knob, you really need a coin, say a quarter to screw or unscrew (especially unscrew) it.  Minor pain in the butt.
Canon BATTERY PACK FN.  Without it (or other power sources) the motor drive isn't really going to anywhere except acting as a grip.  Surprise.  Again this guy is coin operated.  You need to attach this puppy to the motor drive.  Plus this is where the vertical shutter release button is.  The chamber takes twelve AA batteries.  Twelve, that's right.  The battery compartment is unlocked by just sliding a locking lever called the battery magazine release lever, no need to use a coin, Wow.  This puppy lets you rip through a roll in 5 frames a second.  Wow.

Windows Phone 7 Series No Copy and Paste

Oh no.  Just like the iPhone not so long ago, Microsoft purposely disables the beloved Copy and Paste feature.  I suspect they just want to add it back as an upgrade, just like what Apple did a short while ago.  So we all got something to whine about and look forward to.

85mm f1.4 or f1.2

The world is going crazy about Bokeh.  As if Bokeh is the be all and end all criteria for judging any pictures.
It's just fucking crazy and dare I say lazy as well.  You stick a $1000 lens and then automatically you get great pictures?  I don't think so.

PS:  OKAY, I am the first one to admit big aperture lenses are cool.  But it's just too crazy how people wow and oh whenever a picture is shot using a big glass even though the picture is downright fucking boring.  I try to talk down the price of these big glasses so I can afford one myself...  No such luck so far.

Limelight

Today, the New York Times transported me back to the 80s when Limelight ruled the club scene and I lived a life of debauchery.  Well that was twenty years ago.

The Limelight is now an unscale market.  Got to visit it one of these days.

The Limelight, a Church Turned Nightclub, to Be Reborn as a Market

It's St. Patrick's Day

It's the annual St. Patrick's Day.  Are you ready to get your stomach pumped?  You have a good reason to get drunk today, in addition to the other 364 days of the year.  Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Canon New F-1

Canon can be confusing.  The F-1 went through at least three iterations, the original F-1, then F-1N and the New F-1.  But just for kicks, Canon decided to just put F-1 on the body of these three models, unless you have done some homework, you wouldn't know which is which just looking at the bodies.  And oh yeah, when you start asking people Is that a New F-1, people thought you were crazy, they would tell you once again, it's an old used camera, then you have to say OKAY I understand...

All I know is the New F-1 allows ASA 6 to 6400 and there is no big self timer lever on the body.  That's how I tell if the F-1 is New or old, sure there are other differences but I just don't bother.

It's my experience that very often some Canon gears for sale inevitably got listed as Cannon and they can't be found if you just search using the Canon keyword.  Well, see the importance of spelling?  Chances are you may be able to steal a bargain from this misspelled Canon.  If I am looking for a Canon deal I would search for Cannon as well just to make sure I don't miss anything.

I was able to spot a Canon New F-1, 50mm F1.8 with AE Finder, AE motor drive and power pack, a bunch of films and a bag to carry them all, all for a very decent price.  And yes, it's listed as Cannon.

Feud Between Nerds

Today in the New York Times, there is this article about the feud between Apple and Google.  It reads like tabloid with anonymous sources telling us what Jobs was fuming about:  He feels like Google betrayed Apple by developing Android and on its way doing it stealing the iPhone technology.  The piece reveals very little new information as the feud between the two have been pretty well documented.  The latest being Apple sued HTC, the maker of Google's Nexus One for infringing Apple's technology.

As far as consumers are concerned, I think competition is good.  Let the nerds duel it out in the market place as well as in the court room.  Don't let the innovation stop.  And better still, let's have a price war so the consumers can buy more shiny little devices to get further distracted from being more productive.

Apple's Spat With Google Is Getting Personal.

J. Crew in good company

Retail is such a tough business especially when the national unemployment rate stands in 10% or there about.  J. Crew, an quintessential American brand that got White House seal of approval from day 1 still holds its edge against also ran Gap.  That doesn't mean J. Crew is resting on its laurels, it's reinventing itself by selling other brands that kind of jibe with J. Crew's style and aesthetic.  Most other stores, notably H&M, Target and Uniqlo have partnered with famed brands (read ridiculously high prized merchandise) to create a one off collection that is affordable to the fashion conscious yet cash strapped crowd.  J. Crew's "in good company" brands however are for the most part equal or slightly higher echelon merchandise that have the same or in most cases a higher price point.  In that regard, J. Crews is really thinking sort of outside the box and against the trend of collaborations.  A very clean very minimal Mackintosh is retailing for $800, hardly a bargain for most people.  I am pleasantly surprised it also carries one of my all time favorites, the Blundstone 500 for $145, a seemingly reasonable price.  And finally one can buy a pair vintage looking Levi's from J. Crew that you can't even buy from Levi's.  As ridiculous as it seems, that's what it is now, the US Levi's site would only sell affordable Levi's in the $30 to $60 range.  I think it's time for Obama to get on with the J.Crew band wagon, just like his wife and daughters.  The guy got a good physique yet he continues to wear high waisted loose or comfort fit old man jeans.

3.14

Just merely ten days after the National Parade Day on March 4, we have today the Pi Day.  How many digits can you recite?  3.1415987 ...  that's it and I am sure I didn't even get it right.

Reading

Zuckerman Bound, Philip Roth
Again, I have to say I don't know what possessed me.  I renewed the book four times reading it from Winter to early Spring.  I am sure Mr. Roth won't approve.  The book has no pictures and there aren't really a plot in any of the four stories.  But I got to tell you, I enjoy the writing.  I read it mostly on my commute between home and work.

Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell
Great story teller.  Sometimes, so much so that I forgot what the stories have to do with what he's trying to convey:  in this case, success is really a collective effort.  Sometimes I feel like what he's telling is essentially your mother is a woman but then again, he does it with flair, numbers and stories and present the argument in a scientific coherent way.  A good read.  At least unlike Zuckerman Bound, I can finish it in less than two days and not to have to renew it four times.  Most of the time, reading to me is like fast food, if I can finish it in 2 days great, if not, not so great.


In Milton Lumky Territory, Philip K. Dick
A book I picked up from the library after work on a Friday.  It's a 1 week special with no renewal so it sort of forces me to finish the book in one dash.  Dick is famous for his sci fi stories, like the much acclaimed Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep first published in 1968 and later adapted to the big screen as Blade Runner in 1982.  I don't know what to make of Territory.  It definitely is not sci-fi, there is no androids or the like and it's not literary like Roth's incessant mumbles.  The protagonist is a salesman in his early twenties who in the beginning of the story marries this twice divorced single mom who also happens to be his 5th grade teacher and ten years of his senior and sets out to save the store she founded by crisscrossing the country to buy and sell some electric typewriters from Japan.  The story, in my mind, lacks any narrative arch of sort.  The only surprising thing happens towards the very end of the story.  It's like I am not so sure if what's written on the last chapter is what actually happens to the characters or just the imagination of its young protagonist, his preferred story with his wife and step-daughter.  In that sense I think the story has some sci-fi element to it though I can't be sure nor can I find out.  I think it's written in such an oblique way it's just hard to decipher.  In the author's forward, Dick says "This is actually a very funny book, and a good one, too, in that the funny things that happen to real people who come alive.  The ending is a happy one.  What more can an author say?  What more can he give?"  Well, then I guess it's just me.

Platitudes

In a world of platitudes, my posts still stand out as shallower, a feat that I am naturally good at though not really proud of.

Oatmeal

When you start eating oatmeal for breakfast on a regular basis you know you are not just older you are old.  Oatmeal, the preferred morning diet for old people.

The Merit Of Getting Old Cameras

I am very much an armchair photographer if a photographer at all.   One of the most frequent questions I've seen online is what camera one should get.  Invariably the discussion goes like the rumored new model is coming out anytime so you should wait.  Then without exception, somebody would say do not wait, just buy the current model and enjoy it.  Well both arguments are of course valid.  But if you were to buy old cameras then you don't even have this sort of what should I say "problems" because you know right from the get go, you are 51 years behind, not 5 months behind the latest full frame or what have you latest from Canon or Nikon.  But you know you are 51 years behind, period.  So you can sleep tight and stop worrying which new model to buy or future proof your purchase.  Because you just knew you are light years behind.

Just so I am clear, I will accept, without complaints, any latest DSLR from Nikon or Canon.

Oscar 2010

A lot of people want to know what my picks are for this year's Academy Awards.  Not to disappoint my readers, here they are.

Best Motion Picture Of The Year
The Hurt Locker.  Simply because this is the only nominated movie I saw.

Best Actor
Colin Firth.  He does a pretty good job wearing a pair of black framed glasses without looking too ridiculous.  I give that to him.  Jeremy Renner looks like an asshole.  So no best actor for him.[JEFF BRIDGES]

Best Actress
Carey Mulligan [SANDRA BULLOCK, should have known better, Bullock is just shrewd]
I saw her on David Letterman, I think she is nice and probably a good actress.

Best Supporting Actor
Christoph Walz
I think I will like the movie.

Best Supporting Actress
Mo'Nique.

Best Director
Kathryn Bigelow, I like her movies:  Blue Steel, Strange Days, Point Break

Best Original Screenplay
Inglourious Basterds.  QT can be good.[HURT LOCKER]

Best Adapted Screenplay
An Education.  The title of the movie has a nice ring to it. \ən e-jə-ˈkā-shən\. [PRECIOUS]

Best Cinematography
Das wisse Band - Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte [AVATAR]
Holy cow, it's in black and white and in German.  Anything in black and white adds instant class to it.  And in German.  What more can you ask?

Okay, that's all folks.

UPDATE:
4/9 CORRECT.

This Week In Review

The last two weeks have been pretty tough on yours truly, and by extension people around me, but when the going gets tough, the tough get going.  Or some crap like that.

iPad comes late.  Whenever things come late, it means trouble.  Imagine your girlfriend telling you she is late.  It's like holy shit.  Anyway, it's official.  iPad on April 3, period.  Wall Street went ga ga with the announcement and sent the stock up more than $8.  Wall Street is full of irrational assholes with lots of money.  Let's hope the stock keep going north.

A lot of people ask me on single ladies of certain age.  Okay here is my response.  People should worry about stuff like getting terminal cancer not relationships.  When you have health you have everything.  End of story.

Winter Olympics 2010

Medal Count