Chatter Of The Squirrel

Tech: Log Windows Server Logins

Very useful to know.

http://msmvps.com/blogs/richardwu/archive/2007/05/29/logging-user-logon-event.aspx

Photography: Focusing Issues

Been learning a lot on focusing with DSLRs.

Someone has studied using a fast manual lense on a DSLR.

Makes a lot of sense. In summary, it comes down to the crop factor of the APS-C sensor, the diminished light coming into the viewfinder and thus the need to use a plastic focusing screen with fresnel microlenses, instead of the old traditional ground glass.

And it is true that my viewfinder is not significantly brighter when looking through a lens at f4 and f1.7. The microlenses are ‘optimized’ for a certain aperture size.

Thus manual focusing at very narrow depth of field is just terribly difficult. It was dramatically improved with the use of the split prism focusing screen I bought off eBay. But I still miss more than I hit.

To get around this? Stop down the lense to somewhere around f/4. That’s where my Pentax-M 50mm f/1.7 is sharper anyways. MUCH sharper.

Or buy a decent AF lens… Whereupon you then have to deal with the front focus / back focus issue of the current Pentax systems.

But the FF/BF issue of Pentax DSLRs does have it’s upside. Perfectionists often drop the system when their budget allows them to move up, and I get to pick up a pristine condition K10D for a bargain.

Robbery

What are you going to do?

Security cam. Broad daylight.

But what’s your defence against parangs?

The obvious defence for a choke point should be:

Except that I don’t think the necessary crystals to produce the bunkers can be mined here.

But seriously, someone should give some thought to a more secure gate design. Even an automatic gate won’t close fast enough.

In The News

I’ve got a friend in the news!

That’s always cool, isn’t it?

Have been feeling really ‘connected’ this month.

Earlier this month, I’ve seen my cousins in the papers too, although it’s just one of Sarawak’s chinese dailies. Read them when I was back in Sibu.

First there was a whole page spread on the best run NS camp in Malaysia, an award given to the Sibu NS camp. I think my cousin is the director of the camp or something.

Then the next day there was a piece on the apprehension of two suspects in connection with a stolen ice truck.

That happened on the very day I went back to Sibu! The moment I got home, I noted the ice truck in my neighbour’s house, and I thought Woah, has my cousin finally gone straight and started doing an honest business? Then I noted the traces of peeled letterings from the door of the truck. And, so… maybe not.

A few hours later, cop cars and the CID showed up. Then the truck was gone. Along with the Bosch water jet washer that my cousin borrowed from my dad. So the story is that my cousin is in trouble for trusting and allowing his ill-connected friends to use his garage to clean the truck.

Still, I’m equally proud of both cousins.

A droid can’t fix a heart-break

A scintilating quote from the Guru.

Lunch last Sunday was one for the books. It almost felt like I was living a Kevin Smith movie. And the Episode III references clinched that observation.

A whole bunch of good friends. Good food. And random conversation. What better way to spend 3 hours on a Sunday? The meal at Ministry of Food, Bugis Junction was interesting. Jap-ish food. And it’s on fire.

Ravi was moved to tears when the food came. Till I realised that it was just the fumes from the flame.

The flame is slightly gimmicky, but it is kinda pleasant to have the food remain hot till the end of the meal. The food didn’t last very long. But the green tea flowed for hours.

In between, I even found the time to sneak downstairs to meet a seller for my new toy. A Pentax K10D.

After we finally decided to vacate the tables we were hogging, it was nearly 4pm.

No time to walk around anywhere. Had to give up my plans to window shop for camera bits at Peninsula Plaza or Funan Centre. Instead, went to Suntec City to meet Peggy for a church service at The Rock.

That was mind blowing… That has to be another blog all by itself, once I get around to it.

After the service, I had just enough time to get a pie, and start going to Changi. Found out that there’s a swimming pool at the airport!! Now THAT’S a world class airport! Even though it’s just a small kidney shaped pool. But, a SWIMMING POOL! Not free though…

There’s free WiFi about the airport. But you need to register online. And the password sent to you by SMS. I’ve got my EeePC with me, but no phone with roaming. Drat.

Reached LCCT around 12am. Paid RM73 for 41hrs of parking. Still cheaper than taking a cab to and from the airport.

Drove home really fast. Well, relative to what a 993cc engine can do.

Took an hour before the adrenaline subsided enough to go to bed.

Pay off sleep debt the next day.