Posted By RichC on January 5, 2017
A little snow arrived today (maybe 2-3″), so while waiting for the follow-up call on our new furnaces in the afternoon, I shot a 10 second video and encoded with Handbrake to cellphone size for web streaming. Quality is still decent, but not the HD video that the Lumix GX8 is capable of.
Posted By RichC on January 5, 2017
Although I just updated a few of the fittings on Encore‘s ShadeTree awning system, I’d prefer fewer bungee cords and fiberglass and vinyl wear points. After posting a comment to Eben Bruyns the new owner of Taleisin (Lin and Larry Pardey‘s boat), I noticed the D-ring fittings and cinch lines and figured I would archive the photo in order to replace ours when they fail … of course I’m also envious of the boom gallows.
Great older photo of Taleisin … what a beautifully built and well maintained 1983 wooden boat. If time and money were no object, she is a beautiful sailboat.
Posted By RichC on January 4, 2017
A little testing of the somewhat faster Lumix 4/5s 25mm f 1.8 Prime lens vs the Lumix 14 – 140 slower f 3.5 zoom gave me surprising results on closer distances, 
at least different than I expected.
First off, neither lens impressed me when it came to edge to edge sharpness. The Prime lens "may" have edged out the zoom only at f 9 and higher f-stops(photo right), but for most closer center sharpness photos both lenses were about the same: 14-140 zoom at 24mm and prime lens the normal 25mm (equivalent to standard 35’s normal lens).
It wasn’t easy to demonstrate, but a full sized 100% and 200% screen view of both below illustrate that sharpness is relatively equal when it comes to center sharpness. Still the key is going to be better lighting, aperture settings of at least f 5.6 and ISO in the lower numbers … all of these are at ISO 200. For those unfamiliar with camera steadiness … try to keep the shutter settings at 1/50 and faster when at a 50mm equivalent and steady the camera against something as you slowly trigger the shutter … better yet, use a tripod and external shutter release or the timer.
Click images for LARGE versions
All in all I expected a little better sharpness from the 4/5 Lumix lenses … especially toward the outside image edges. I’d have to compare a little bit closer with a full size large sensored DLSR and professional lens, but for optimum sharpness I’m going to have to do some careful shooting. As they say in the automotive world, "your mileage may vary."
Posted By RichC on January 3, 2017
I’m feeling guilty about receive a Christmas present from my daughter and son-in-law after realizing the price ($$$). I mistakenly admired a bag Drew’s brother demonstrated to me when they had the baby reveal … and although I knew is was above average in price, I never took the time to do the research as to how much higher! When they asked me what I wanted for Christmas, I mentioned I would be needing a new camera bag and “just how much I liked Tyler’s camera bag.”
Now only after packing my new camera and gear in the Peak Design Messenger style camera bag and preparing a test video with the Panasonic Lumix GX8 did I notice the price on their website (actually couldn’t remember the company’s name). Nevertheless, I love the bag and very much appreciate the Christmas gift … way over the top!
Now for the actual reason for the post … to test the video of the new camera (it will be a steep learning curve). Hopefully in time I’ll figure out a few more tips and trick in order to improve on the quality, but for now I at least have the basics down (previously I’ve only had a DSLR for stills).
Posted By RichC on January 2, 2017
This Time.com post isn’t brand new, but since my daughter is due in March, “we” have an interest in baby names.
Have you ever wondered how popular your or your child’s name was when named “back in the day?” We you a “Trendsetter” or named “after its time?”
Posted By RichC on January 2, 2017
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Posted By RichC on January 1, 2017
Much has been made of the death of diesel after the VW cheating scandal … but there is still room for debate and a need for diesel vehicles – innovation benefits diesel as well as EVs.
Electricity has potential in passenger vehicles, but in its current state of innovation, it falls short to the Diesel engine. Not only are Diesels lauded for their torque and efficiency, but also for their reliability and range.
A vehicle powered by a Diesel engine is not always a dirty, lifted truck that spews coal at every chance it gets; in more economical applications, it is an engine that can obtain high fuel efficiencies without sacrificing its ability to pull a trailer. Due to this, and the considerable amounts of engineering done to it since 1893 that have brought it to this stage, the Diesel engine is not to be underestimated in the modern world, being an excellent choice not only in commercial trucks, but also in passenger vehicles.1. They’re not as Polluting as they are Thought to Be
Read More: Diesels are not Done: A Defense of the Oil Burners
Posted By RichC on January 1, 2017
January 1st is "replace the refrigerator filter" day in our house … and because they are so heavy (and expensive), curiosity had me wondering what exactly was inside of this solid plastic housing? (click images for larger)
Buying the 3 pack of filters from Amazon ($30) was about the least expensive 
way to purchase EcoAqua branded replacements that fits our Samsung Refrigerator. According to the manual, the reset is not based on volume of water, but a six month time interval. Personally I go by how much water we use and how the water taste … which normally is 6 months.
After making a few cuts ringing the bottom of the filter with a bandsaw, I was able to pry apart the housing with a screwdriver. I expected a second housing and fill material but instead found that the carbon was a casted chunk and somewhat brittle.
The porous casting easily allows water to pass under relatively low pressure and is designed to "designed to protect the internal operations of the fridge from sediment, dirt and scale build up." For the users, taste is a primary objective and the carbon filtration eliminates most chemical treatment taste and is comparable to most bottle waters or filtered water pitchers. Likely once drinking filtered water, you’ll not return to tap water or even drinking from "plastic" … besides, who really wants to add so much plastic to the landfills and environment?
Considering that carbon is black, one would be hard pressed to know how much sediment had been trapped … probably best to trust the advice to change every 300 gallons or 6 months. At least we now know what is inside these chunky filters.
Posted By RichC on January 1, 2017
Posted By RichC on December 31, 2016
The last several years MyDesultoryBlog has highlighted "banished words" from the list Lake Superior State University (LSSU), who puts together a list at the beginning of a new year (and probably still will in early January)? This year we’ll end we’ll end 2016 with a couple memorable photos. The first being serious, and second … well …
No doubt the "Aleppo Boy" (Omran Daqneesh) and the video footage has to be part of everyone’s memory. It illustrates the horror of war and the "stark reminder of the toll of the war in Syria" and in particular the city of Aleppo. Let us hope we will see an end to that war in 2017 … and a collapse of ISIL/ISIS who has taken advantage of disarray in Syria … as well as Iraq.
This second memorable photo is a bit snidely and political on my part. It is a photo that represents the end of the road for two Democrats. President Obama will be leaving the office after 8 years and semi-successfully moving our country toward a social democracy (Europe) and several decades of knowing Hillary Clinton who most assumed would be his inevitable replacement. Her "less than likeable demeanor" and decades of political dirt became too much for her to overcome, not to mention blue collar frustration and the lack of working class jobs. Eventually doling out borrowed and “other people’s money” does not overcome a weak economy. As with the Bush administration preceding, Obama, Hillary Clinton and fellow democrats left behind a mess.
Seeing this sickening 2016 photo again, after the American people chose President-Elect Donald Trump, is now much more tolerable than when it first appeared. Goodbye and good riddance to both!
