"Digital Cameras" written by Kara on estrip.org

05/16/06 07:10 - 57ºF - ID#24987

Digital Cameras

I need to buy a digital camera. Like, right now. There is a really important event coming up that I need one for, and our HP 635

has decided to crap out on us at a most unfortunate time. We've had nothing but problems with it, mostly with the lack-of-battery life, and now it's just dead.
Has anyone seen any local deals on one? We need to get an SD card too - I'm thinking a 256 MB or 512 MB, whatever has a better rebate. I don't have a ton of cash to throw at this, and I've resigned myself to spending about $200, including the SD card.
I will not buy another HP camera.
Last year we had to buy a digital camcorder as a gift (long story), and that worked out really well. I'm hoping the same thing happens this time. If I had more time I would have researched, and compared, and I do feel silly. But as Jack Bauer (WIKIPEDIA - Jack Bauer) would say, "we're running out of time." Any thoughts on where I should go to blindly hand over my credit card are appreciated.

jenks writes at 11:16:08 05/16/06 - Comment #7825: I'm on my second canon, and I've been very happy with it... (I now have the SD400 which I love b/c it's super tiny. The cons are: no optical viewfinder and no optical zoom (digital only). I haven't priced them out in a while though. J&R is a good name, but it never hurts to just shop around best buy etc... Like dragonlady I would stick to camera companies (canon/olympus/nikon) but that might just be snobbishness...

dragonlady7 writes at 09:29:05 05/16/06 - Comment #7818: I am something of a digital photography nut, although I'm nothing like an expert. (SD: What's SD? Is it like Compact Flash? The memory card? Otherwise I'm totally lost.)

I have a Canon EOS Digital Rebel, one of the giant clunky single lens reflex cameras with all the bells and whistles and it's bigger than my head and weighs ten pounds and has a resolution like five times the size of my monitor. I don't know a lot about the digital camera market but people see my camera and assume I'm a pro or something, so I do get asked a lot.

I made a page about it when I bought this camera: :::link:::
comparing all the cameras I've done significant work with. (The first camera is a clunky film SLR, but it's a good comparison in terms of the quality I was used to getting when shooting film. I loved that antique piece of junk.)

What I've learned is that Kodak digitals have fallen sadly behind-- they're easy to use and have a good dock system and what-have-you, but I'm just not as impressed with their quality. (The first one I had was awesome;
since then, they're not so great.) I want to cheer for the home team and all but you know, I expect a $400 camera to last more than two years, and not take shitty pictures in the meantime.

Canons are good. Every Canon I've used has been great. They've got some very nice little ones now that I half-covet, when I'm not submerged in the Awesomeness That Is My Huge Camera (that I can't take anywhere).

I know a couple people with Nikons that they like. I guess they're OK. They're on the small-and-easy-to-use side. The Canons I've used, even the point-and-shoot ones, have given better control and provided more reliable results. My sister's Digital Elph didn't have much of a learning curve, either.

I sort of don't know anything else except that I loathe HP as a company (why is everything they make disposable?) and am a pretentious enough git that I turn my nose up at cameras not made by camera companies.

But. Your mileage may vary. I am very eccentric in my likes and dislikes. And I know nothing about shopping. I got my camera from J&R Computer World because, well, I used to live down there and loved going there, and their prices were good.

paul writes at 07:55:00 05/16/06 - Comment #7810: What event?

Permalink: Digital_Cameras.html
Words: 209
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: beauty

05/15/06 02:17 - 64ºF - ID#24986

Sugar Plum

Not that I'm usually a person who gives nto the cult of consumerism . . .
But . . .
there is something quite powerful about buying an overpriced lipstick

(sugar plum) and eyeshadow

Many thanks to my shopping buddy M for her dedicated research and worthy advice.

Permalink: Sugar_Plum.html
Words: 62
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: food

05/09/06 07:36 - 73ºF - ID#24985

Kara's Ro Ro Rollups

This was inspired by the latest Wegman's Menu magazine. They showed a picture of their pre-made wraps alongside a delicious pasta salad. I recreated both, though I will only show the recipe for the wraps here.
Ingredients
1/4 jar roasted red peppers
deli-sliced roast beef
thin sliced provolone cheese
tortilla shells / wraps, go for a fun flavor like spinach or sun-dried tomato
spinach, chopped roughly
Tools
knife
toothpicks
Steps
Dice the roasted red peppers and allow them to drain on a paper towel.
Lay the tortilla shells flat on a plate. Layer the cheese, then the spinach (or other leafy green), then the roasted red peppers, then the roast beef.
Roll tightly from one end, leaving the seam side down.
Place 4-5 toothpicks in the roll.
Slice on an angle.
Trim the ends where no filling is present.

Bring the plate to the table.

That's it. If you think it would be too dry for your tastes, a thin layer of spiced up mayo (try paprika) or a small bowl of vinaigrette dressing for dipping would help.
Mostly I just love the name I came up with for this. ROast beef. ROasted Red Peppers. Outstanding.

Permalink: Kara_s_Ro_Ro_Rollups.html
Words: 194
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: potpourri

05/05/06 11:45 - 59ºF - ID#24984

What I'm reading

Onebag

Gluten Free Girl

- not because I want to be on a gluten-free diet - I love flour - but because a diet based on veggies and fruits, especially with summer and farmer's markets just around the corner, is appealing to me.
Ireland.com

- for obvious reasons.

Permalink: What_I_m_reading.html
Words: 62
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: potpourri

05/02/06 08:40 - 65ºF - ID#24983

Random Stuff

A random link

I like the egg one the most.

I talked with my grandpa on the phone just a few minutes ago. This may not seem like a big deal to most people, but the man has been terribly hard-of-hearing since before I was born. State-of-the-art hearing aids (digital, no less) help him hear normal conversation, as long as you talk directly toward him slowly and clearly. We just got them a cell phone, and the volume on it is loud enough for him to hear and comprehend. We had an entire conversation where I didn't have to repeat myself - that's not something I remember happening often.
So, thank you, cell phone company maker. You've given my grandpa the chance to be one of the cool kids and whip out a cell phone to hold obnoxious conversations in public places.
Wait until I teach him how to text message. Look out, world. They already know how to email and send IMs; this will make them much more dangerous :)

And finally, more proof that the current administration is well into its campaign to destroy the US health care system.

Kudos, esteemed senators. I bet taking away access to mammograms in every state, well-child care in most states

and dozens of other life saving procedures makes your corporate overlords happy.

Permalink: Random_Stuff.html
Words: 257
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: design

05/02/06 12:18 - 67ºF - ID#24982

New Design

Medaille College has a new design.

The concept came from a communications firm, but the code is all from me (with several generous assists from sites with cool, free javascript).
Hurrah.

Permalink: New_Design.html
Words: 35
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: food

05/01/06 07:37 - 69ºF - ID#24981

Cheesecakey Goodness again?

trying this again . ..
Since the dishwasher is on the fritz, again, and I can't run water through my sink, this recipe will have to wait until I have my kitchen back.
Until then, here's a recipe that's incredibly easy and really really bad for you.
Ingredients
12-18 vanilla wafers (((e:matthew)) - to make this glutenfree, I think you could use an equivalent crust of crushed nuts and butter)
2 8-oz. packages of cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
the twist I want to try - 1/2 - 1 tsp of raspberry extract
topping (any fruit, any pie filling, chocolate, nuts, go wild)
Steps
Line muffin tins with foil liners. Put a wafer (or nut crust) at the bottom of each.
Beat the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and eggs until creamy. Pour mix over wafer until cups are 3/4 full. Bake at 325 for 25 minutes.
Top with topping of your choice when cooled.
Makes 12-18 cakes.
I won't take credit for coming up with this recipe, but I will say that I could have eaten a dozen of them in one sitting.

Permalink: Cheesecakey_Goodness_again_.html
Words: 178
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: food

04/25/06 07:53 - 45ºF - ID#24980

Kitchen Woes

Thanks to very generous friends and family, I am now in possession of many new kitchen utensils. I even have a new cookbook, and since Sunday I've been inspired to bake giant muffins in my giant muffin tin, create casseroles in my pyrex pans, and make more granola with my new jelly roll pan. I had even looked up a few gluten-free recipes to make (e:matthew) happy.
Alas, it was not to be. The god of plumbing has chosen to smite our house, and whenever we run the kitchen faucet or dishwasher, gross water backs up through the downstair's neighbor's drain. This is most unpleasant. It's not anything in our drain and I don't know enough about plumbing to know what to do. Hopefully the plumber can come tomorrow and make it all work again. At least we can use the bathroom. I did manage to cook up some pasta this evening, and remembered to strain it into the bathtub. That was really weird.
Look for more recipes later this week. I plan to make a roast chicken, honey balls, crazy chocolate cake, and something involving rice.

Permalink: Kitchen_Woes.html
Words: 188
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: food

04/25/06 08:09 - 49ºF - ID#24979

La Tea Da

This weekend I had the distinct pleasure of visiting the La Tea Da Tea Room and Parlour

in Rochester. (There's a La Tee Da Tea Room in Buffalo on Allen Street, but I haven't been there yet).
It was wonderful, with outstanding food and a great atmosphere. As we walked in, the "Lady of the House" offered us a selection of hats and feather boas to wear. After settling in, we had trays and trays of little sandwiches, little cookies and scones that would make Paula

Dean

smile.
If you're up in Rochester and are looking to score some tea and scones, that is the place to go.

Permalink: La_Tea_Da.html
Words: 128
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: fun

04/20/06 08:26 - 74ºF - ID#24978

Dolphy Day

Today was Dolphy Day

at LeMoyne College

in Syracuse. This tradition stretches back many years, and is basically a day for all students to skip class and get drunk beyond all comprehension. The dining hall sets up grills outside, most classes are cancelled, and fun is had by all. Public drunkenness reigns; it's a great way to end the academic year.
The name of Dolphy Day has a few different potential origins. Some say it has something to do with jazz legend Eric Dolphy

; my issue with this theory is that, besides a choral group, the school is not musically oriented. I tend to believe that Dolphy is a corruption of "Dolphin," which is the school mascot. When you're too drunk to feel your own face, "Dolphy" would be a reasonable interpretation of that word.
From what I remember of my first Dolphy Day, I lived on campus, and after a few days of D-Day alarms, with M-80s going off outside my window, the day began at 4 a.m.
The day was damp and dark, and a hill on the quad got completely muddy from the weather, spilled beer and the amount of people trouncing around. I spent a lot of it covered from hair to foot in mud. Apparently, sliding down the muddy slope seemed like a good idea the first time I did it. The second time I was so filthy that it didn't seem to matter. I also remember eating donuts, not being able to tie my shoes, a nap in someone's lounge, and thinking "wow, hundreds of college students too blasted to stand. Cool."
Their alumni office, rather than try to ignore this time-honored tradition, actually sent out an email to let their graduates know that today was the day, complete with a slideshow. I appreciated it.