15 September 2022

My first mirrorless camera

After 11 years of staying with the DSLR technology (Nikon D-7000), finally made the switch to the mirrorless cameras. Had been meaning to make the switch for some time but never quite got around to doing it. Nikita taking my camera to her college (she is taking a Photography course) and the fact that there is a trip coming up for Sharmila and me was the perfect ruse I needed.

Thank you Samaresh for answering my questions. Stuck with the Nikon (Z6ii) brand (not because I plan to use my old lenses but that I am familiar with the controls). Could not get something to match my 18-300mm lens. Settled for 24-200mm. The camera is incredibly lighter than the DSLR I had.

I wish they made a version without the video capability. I never take any video with a camera (use the phone instead) and could have done with even lesser weight and lesser complications in the electronics.

I hope to have as much fun with this as I had with the DSLR.

Category: Photos | LEAVE A COMMENT
8 September 2022

Heart warming sight

After one and a half days of journey, finally reached home. Freshened up, had some snacks and then headed out to Alpharetta downtown with Sharmila and Jay Jay. Chatted up with our old friends in Chiringa, grabbed a couple of drinks and then settled down by the Green to watch all the cornhole games going on.

It was a very pleasant evening to just sit out and watch the crowds over a glass of wine. The best sight happened late in the evening. An elderly gentleman started practicing some throws. There is nothing uncommon about that. Except that he waas carrying a baby in his other hand.

I could not help myself but go up and introduce myself. I told him that this is the best thing I have seen in some time. Turns out the baby is his grand child who just turned 12 weeks. He lives in Johns Creek and his daughter lives in Roswell. They meet at the Alpharetta Green regularly for evenings out. I told him I will take a picture of him and the grandchild when he is playing.

The baby was too cute!! Again, best thing I have seen in some time. Loving this downtown living!

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8 September 2022

Oh! And this happened

Since I had over 4 hours of wait time in Delhi airport, I started checking out the stores before going to the Lounge. Well, checking out is an overstatement. Since most of them were selling clothes or jewelry or suitcases and all that, I browsed them from a fairly safe distance. Till I came to the book shop. Which had a pen section!!

Ten minutes later, these two old style Parker pens were mine! Some of you might remember these from our childhood as the pens with the short nibs. Made of stainless steel, they are less flexible and therefore “give” very little even under pressure. If you like fine tip nibs, you will like these. Found out that Luxor is the company that markets Parker pens in India.

The ink pot was part of the package. I could not convince the shopkeeper to open the package (these require those scissors and all that to open up) and throw away the ink.

3 September 2022

How lazy is Linkedin getting?

This is a sample of invites I get these days. Has Linkedin completely given up on doing some basic checks on bot accounts? Maybe we should have Elon Musk make a bid for Linkedin and then back out.

And how lazy are these bot algorithms getting? Coming up with names by just chopping off English words in the middle?

Interestingly enough, if you go to the profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/licity-fe-07625a248/) to see how these algorithms work, you will realize that first they always have an important college name as education background (Harvard in this case). And then when you try to see what they have studied, you realize that it is just a few paragraphs scraped directly from the college’s website and inserted in!!

Worse, these algorithms can’t do some basic math. Apparently, this profile, while holding a Manager job in Taiwan from 2010-2015 also managed to do her 2 year MBA course in Harvard (2011-2013)!! Has Harvard relocated to Taiwan these days?

And why are only attractive looking young women inviting me to have a professional connection? Whose profession are we talking about anyways?

Category: Humor | LEAVE A COMMENT
28 August 2022

Sunday evening letter writing

Thanks to my meeting with Madhuri, I got myself some new paper – Cosmo Air Light (cream color) made by Yamamoto in Japan. This being A4 size (instead of US Letter), I had to do some acrobatics to make sure the printer printed my personalized monogram logo properly.

It was a charm to write on. The ink (black) had a very different look than the usual paper I was using! Used an italic nib.

25 August 2022

What is a functional beverage?

This evening, Sharmila and I were walking around Avalon looking for a bar to sit down for a drink. She realized she needed to pick up something from the grocery store. So, we stepped into the Whole Foods.

I was inside a grocery store after a long time. So, as she shopped, I just ambulated thru the aisles – rather desultorily, if I may add – glancing thru all the different kinds of things they had stocked.

It is then that I came upon this board. I get “Water”, “Bottled Tea” and “Sodas”. But what is “Functional Beverages?”

Is it not really a beverage but just functionally so? Does that mean water, bottled tea and sodas are not functional?

Do you know?

Category: Puzzles | LEAVE A COMMENT