This is an Unhosted Cafe.
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Sit down, have some coffee, and try not to get newspaper ink on your clothes.
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Please recommend (and unrecommend the Cafe/Lounge from earlier)
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Cafe Closed. Morning cafe opened
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Sit down, have some coffee, and try not to get newspaper ink on your clothes.
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Please recommend (and unrecommend the Cafe/Lounge from earlier)
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Come in have a seat and enjoy youself. Also enjoy Andi’s beautiful picture above.
6-1 w/ a minute to go.
watch here!
Hey Olivia. It was limited to residents of Cdn. only. They don’t know about my status? 🙂
Haven’t eaten anything today, so I’m off to the kitchen.
Back in awhile.
Fab foto, really nice.
I`m watching a tribute to James Brown right now & they have incredible music live from the venue where he lies in state. Now that`s the way to remember someone`s passing. Right now the Soul Generals are playing.
Andi, Are those air bubbles that are stretched in time? The little lines in the center of the clear dropdown.
It’s a photo of ice. Here’s my explanation of the shot.
I literally gasped – it took my breath away. Beautiful picture!
Took a four-hour mega-nap, so that should last me the day…now I’ve got to get the spud butts (mine and the spouse’s) moving so we can get some freakin’ work done today…
Hi all.
I spent much of the day shoveling snow. My satellite is out so no television for me.
I guess I’ll just sit on the patio and have a margarita. Care to join me?
I’m going to think of sitting at that table every time I have a hot flash. Thanks, kahli!
when that pic was loading?
but ice is nice, anyway.
but since I took it so I can be excused from being imaginative about it. 🙂
photographer of the Rorschach.
never really seem abstract at all to me. My view of the original image seems to stay firmly planted.
from the Bluesmobile:
clik to enlarge
Good to see you around the pond again Miss D.
Is the bike in there in lieu of a spare tire? 😉
to the filling station for more gas when ya run out….special paniers w/ gas cans…:{)
to be a nutritious form of “pond scum.”
I saw some pontiacs in that ice.
the “Bluesmobile” is a ’65-66 Lincoln Continental 4 dr. conv…w/ “suicide doors”…
this is from a ’54 Pontiac Chieftain, had a small bulb in it that lit up the amber portion when the lights were turned on…very kewl!
clik to enlarge
I confused the LincolnC with the Chrysler.
Nevertheless, that Pontiac image can be seen in the ice pic, no?
“I could swear I was thinking of that”
It looks kind of empty around here. I guess I’ll spread out a bit to grade some papers.
that means it’s time for the dogs to immediately rouse themselves from their naps and walk all over them, spreading them all over the place and messing up any organization — at least that’s how it works at our house.
Spread out papers are an invitation for the cats to crawl on whatever I am doing.
How’s it going?
It goes — not much of anywhere but it goes anyway.
Perhaps you need an Andrew fix?
That is a really lovely picture.
We took it Christmas Eve, after making pierogies and dill pickle soup.
Good evening all.
A quiet evening with youngest asklet, his big sister has her own plans most weekends now.
is a thing of beauty sometimes. No cleaning. No papers. Nothing. I can’t think of the last time we actually had a quiet evening.
Hi Toni,
It sure is. My youngest is 12 now – it can easily be achieved most of the time. Once he starts reading…
Does he read late into the night, even when he is supposed to be sleeping? When I was even younger than 12, I would read under my blankets.
I’m pretty liberal – if he’s reading, he can go on as long as he wants now during break. Otherwise, lights out by 10.
Something is wrong with my dishwasher! I just turned it on and it smells like something is burning. That means all of those dishes will have to be hand washed. I hate washing dishes. Maybe I can break the job up into smaller tasks.
One thing is washing by hand – another is to figure out where the burnt smell came from. Hope it is nothing too serious.
and I didn’t see anything melted. With the holiday, we won’t be able to get anyone here until at least Tuesday, more likely Wednesday.
You can bring the dishes here — I don’t mind washing dishes at all; which is good since we haven’t ever had a dishwasher.
I don’t have one either. Nor a/c.
Whining about the dishwasher just makes me feel like a princess, so I’ll just go sulk in the corner for a while.
everybody has stuff they don’t like to do — you ought to hear me whine about going to the grocery; you’d think I’d been sent to a gulag.
Now, I enjoy grocery shopping, though not necessarily mall shopping. I love going to the market, the bakery, the deli, etc.
Jim likes going to the grocery too — maybe it’s a teacher thing.
My husband (a teacher) enjoyed grocery shopping on Friday evenings when he was home full-time. He would take our MP3 player and hum along those aisles.
I wonder what it is?
Well I was just kidding about that but maybe I’m on to something. Maybe it’s because it’s a tightly structured activity with specific goals that are almost always met. (how’s that for over-analyzing?)
It sounds like perfectly valid over-analysis:)
it’s nothing like a school day
Sounds like a short in the outlet. Before you give up on the dishwasher, pull it out from under the counter. Get a circuit tester and check it there is any power going to the outlet. Check the circuit breakers, of course. A new outlet costs a few bucks. I bought a new dishwasher several years ago and before I installed it, I discovered that the outlet had shorted. Fortunately I hadn’t picked up the dishwasher yet, so I was able to cancel the order. If you need help, email me and I’ll come over and give you a hand checking it out. I’m cheap. I work for pizza.
A short in the circuit would be nice. We might even have a circuit checker, I’ll have to dig around the basement. When we moved in two years ago, we had the electrical system in the house completely re-done. It had been the old knob and tube wiring.
The machine is an add-on. It is clear that whoever added the dishwasher removed two shelves to do so. The outlet is mounted on the side of the cupboard under the sink – maybe not great, but it wasn’t possible to move it.
If we have a hard time, we’ll let you know – thanks.
Good luck, and let me know if you need any help.
The dishwasher [not you, the machine], should be plugged into a GFI [or a ground fault indicator]outlet. If anything should go wrong on the electrical side, the GFI would trip immediately. If you do replace the outlet that is being used for the machine, you should definitely use a GFI. The smell of burning rubber is another factor that might create more trouble as an additional problem source or may be in itself the problem source, but not necessarily.
HAPPY NEW YEAR to you & Kidspeak & all of yours.
Thanks, KnuckleHead. I thought I mentioned the GFI, but I clearly forgot.
Well, that`s just shocking, but be positive. I`m up to the fm 18, so I`m going to run over there & get my fix, if you`ve added to your “novella”{?]
but I’m not worried. Been smoking for a longtime.
(yes, I should be worried)
If you break the dishes, they will be smaller tasks. In the meanwhile here`s the moon taken 4 mins. ago, in case it`s overcast where you are busy breaking dishes.
I am half Greek, so it’s not out of the question.
Well, if you`re planning on getting married soon, you get to break your dishes, while hoping you get a new set as a present.
Well, my husband won’t be thrilled with that solution, though my secret, second husband (to-be) – George Clooney – might not mind.
Thanks for the image, KH.
Always fascinating.
I miss dark winter nights. Too much light pollution where I live now.
Northern Lights – check the link to the photo contest.
I just went to the link & bookmarked it for later tonight. Just the page of thumbnails I saw looked impressive. I`ve seen the northern lights many many times up in the great white north. I was reading a National Geographic maybe ten years ago, where the kids would go out & play “Star Wars” light sabre fights with fluorescent tubes. The tubes would light up as if one turned on the light switch.
I`ve seen the northern lights many many times up in the great white north.
I did my military service at this airbase in northern Norway many years ago – spectacular nature:
I was watching a study this week on the northern lights & researchers were trying to record the sounds of them. There have been many reports of being able to hear them. The main scientist in charge of the research was convinced they should be able to be heard, although the tests they ran were inconclusive. Have you heard them. Myself, I never really stopped to listen, I was forever fascinated just looking. I know a deaf person would also be amazed looking at them, but doubt if a blind person would be thrilled to stand out in the cold with his ears freezing off.
No, can’t say I’ve heard them – and I’m aware of the discussion.
It’s what makes a bright, starry night with the aurora so special – that enchanted lightshow in complete silence.
is really kewl, Head…are you doing it at the same time every night?
I thought I saw that you were going to do the full 28 day cycle…?
dada,
I try to take the shots at about the same time, but the fear of cloud cover obscuring the moon, forces me to take the shot when I can. Remember, for those on the north west coast of North America, the occulation of the pleiades before dawn on dec 31 tomorrow. I won`t get to see it because of my location but for those fortunate enough, some of the stars in the star cluster will suddenly appear to blink off behind the blackness of the dark side of the moon. A few mins. later they will suddenly reappear. I`m hoping to do the full cycle, although when it`s the evening of the full moon, I`m going to go up on my hill behind the house to try & take it as it rises over LA, when it appears to be at it`s largest. The full moon here is on Jan.3rd. How`s the snow pack there? I do hope you ski.
have had about 4′ at casa d since thur a week ago…XC and sno-shoes are all I do now…knees can’t handle DH anymore, had to give it up a few years ago; that or major surgery…easy choice.
The moonrise over the city could be a spectacular shot…good luck!
Hey dada,
H
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p
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layin’ low here…just gonna kick back and let it arrive easy.
Best wishes in ’07…it’s gotta get better!
everything’s available on eBay…
🙂
Love these pix too Head.
Hey Olivia, I forgot to include the ornament of you after you had three parties, seven hockey games a blog of your garden & list of all the items in it. This is Olivia without all the North Polers hockey garb on. Just tired in her garden. The garden blogger fairy.
Happy New Year
Thanks Head … 🙂
My poor diary scrolled away with only two comments and one recommend. (Thank you Military Tracy and Second Nature.) It’s nice to be irrelevant on the only blog that I frequent… times going on two years.
I might just as well have posted it on Daily Kos. LOL!
Who pulled the plug?????
I have to admit I have been in vacation shutdown mode and haven’t been much attention to anything that requires me to think.
Next time you do a diary post a link in the FBC.
I’ve mostly been lurking, so I missed it. Sorry – how about a link?
Sorry, mm.
I’ve been on site most of the time the last few days (I thought), but had missed your entry. Read it now; what a horrible experience. I grew up in a ‘welfare state’ with universal health coverage. I can barely imagine what it is like to live without such a safety net. The US health system (for those fortunate to parttake) is an absolute shame – expensive and inefficient.
Howdy All! I got a good bonus check this year so I’m ready to get a new, bigger, better camera. So far, I’m trying to decide between a Canon Rebel and a Nikon D80 unless someone out there has better ideas.
Here’s my criteria:
Macro to 1.5″ with large depth of field and exquisite focus.
Fast shutter. Can’t stand to push the button and try to hold still until the shutter opens and closes.
Good low light response and focus.
Rechargeable battery pack NOT dependant on AAA
Incredible sharp focus for both macro and distance and in low light.
Is this too much to hope for? Will I need more than one lens (I think the answer to this is yes)?
This will be used professionally. I’ll be wanting to sell prints. I’ve been playing with that a bit already with some good feedback.
All ideas and thoughts are most appreciated… Hope to hear from Knucklehead, Olivia, JimF, AndiF, Keres and any other photo compulsives out there.
I’m strictly a p&s person so I have nothing to say — other than, have fun shopping. Jim’s not sure if he has anything to say either but he’ll be by to read this.
Well, if that shot at the top of this cafe is from a p&s, I am blown away. It is awesome!
It was with a canon sd550 (7 megapixel) so yes, a p&s but a pretty good one.
Religious wars have caused less blood to flow than the question of Nikon or Canon.
Do you have an SLR from either company? If you do and don’t want to get rid of all of your lenses you probably want to stay with the company you already have.
If you don’t have an SLR or only have one or two lenses for it, you can choose either company’s camera and know that you will be getting an outstanding camera. I use a Nikon because I’ve used a Nikon since back in the mid 80’s.
I suggest that you go to your local camera shop (LCS) and get a feel for both cameras in your hand. My LCS is very price competitive with the online stores, but even if they weren’t, I’d probably pay a little more for the hands-on experience and their expertise. Ask the sales person to show you the menu systems of both cameras. Don’t be intimidated by the number of menus and the variety of settings, but get a feel for which one is easier for you to use. There are very few menu settings I change frequently, but well designed menu options indicate well thought out user controls. Speaking of user controls: have the shop show you how to change the f/stop, the shutter speed, and the ISO. Those are the big three. These camera’s also come with presets for different types of shots, but I don’t use them since I like being control of how the shot is going to be taken. But other people do and get very good results from them so it is probably a good idea to ask about them too.
Have fun picking out your new camera.
Happy New Year Puget4,
First I think the D80 is a real good choice. I`ve used Nikons forever & don`t know anything about other brands,except in comparison reviews. I get the D80. As a matter of fact, I`ll be getting one real soon. I was going to get one before the holidays but a friend purchased a Nikon DX & gave me his D2H. I like the D80 because it has a built-in speedlight, whereas the D2h is a remote light. The qualities you mention needing are more a function of the lenses you get to suit the needs you have. The 60 mm close-up lens is very good & Olivia will concur with this, as I`ve talked to her about it. I use a 60mm also. I also use a 18/70mm zoom & I have a 300mm 2.8 lens [moon shot above]. The shutter speeds on the D80 are in the thousands of a second, so don`t worry about that. The fact that you mention “low light” more than once lends me to believe you would be spendind a little more on the lenses that would open up more than a cheaper lens. Look for the f-stop on the lens or in the lierature for a certain lens to find out. The lower the number, the more the lens opens to let light in. The DOF [depth of field] is a function of two variables, aperture & shutter speed. You`ll have plenty of camera, if you get the D80.
Hope this helps.
Sounds like good advice above from Andi, Jim, and Head.
I’ve got both Canon (P&S) and Nikon (D70s) and have been very happy w/ both.
The Nikon has remarkably long battery power — I’ve never done any real serious measurements, but it can last a week easy w/ daily photographing.
And I’ve never had a problem w/ slow shutter speed.
I think you will need more than one lens. A dedicated macro or close up lens is something you will want and maybe a telephoto sort of lens for capturing the great views and birds you have there.
Here are a couple of sites to read for more information:
ken rockwell review of D80
dpreview of D80
Thank you all very much for your experience and your thoughts on the matter of my camera choice.
I had a Nikon FG 35mm that I loved and also had 3 lenses for it. I doubt they’ll fit a D80. I think Nikon changed lens attachment style 8 or 10 years ago. I bought my Nikon and lenses in 1983. They are the kind that you push in and turn to lock in place. The FG finally died but the lenses are still great. I have a 35-105 zoom, a 50mm, and something called Micro-NIKKOR 55mm 1:2.8 that has zoom function. What kind of lens attachment do the D70 and D80 have?
Hey Puget4,
Those lenses you have should fit as is. The bayonet mount has been in use for years. The only thing is your old lenses may have to be used manually as they may not be automatic to begin with. think “auto focus”.
I prefer to use mine in manual mode anyway.
I have lenses from my Nikon F1 & F2 that fit on the new Nikon D2H.
WOW!!! Too cool!! Thanks Knucklehead! My decision is now made. I will buy the Nikon D80. There is a Ritz/Kits Camera in a town about an hour away. Maybe tomorrow would be a good day to go and try my lenses on a D80 body.
Here’s something I shot today with my Coolpix 7600
My Dreamboat.
Thanks again.
Your very welcome &
Happy New Year.
I thought for a minute you were calling me a dreamboat. Hah
A beautiful setting for a nice shot.