What's up with the Nikon?

On the shuttle launch, I took a lot of pictures of bright objects;  rising sun, main engine ignition, etc.  On more than 1/3 of the images, there is a reflection/ghost image that mimics the shape of the bright object only inverted.  I've never had this happen before, and I'm a bit miffed.  It feels like the light is being reflected within the lens and causing a second image.  The Nikon web site says the lenses are specifically built with some fancy technology to prevent reflection.  I'm taking it down to the photo store tomorrow to have them look at it.  Any suggestions?

My point about trash.

I spent an hour yesterday picking up trash with the Cub Scouts at Daffin park.  First let me say that it wasn't as trashy as I expected, however it did prove my point about water bottles.  Of the items picked up, 8 out of 10 had something to do with a plastic water bottle.  The lid, the wrapper, the little safety lock ring thing below lid, and of course, the whole bottle.  I avoid using plastic water bottles for the sake of trash, but sometimes it's inevitable.  One of the biggest purchasers of water are those that "prefer the taste to tap water."  I agree that tap water can taste 'off.'  I spice it up with the Crystal Lite and Gatoraid single serving pouches.  It helps the liquid go down.  My over priced stainless steel water bottle has paid for itself multiple times over, and who knows how many plastic water bottles are not in the trash.  Off soap box.

The Radio is Back!

After 6 weeks away at repair, it came back just in time for the CQ WW SSB Contest.  I have never participated in contesting before, and it was addicting.  There were voices from all over the world stepping on one another to make contact.  I stayed up till 2am and talked from east to west coast, Europe, South America, Central America, Canada and as far away as Croatia.  I logged 58 contacts.  Ironically, the first contact I made was also my first HF contact ever.  What a way to start it out.

The New Car - Dad's perspective

I hate choosing a new car.  Every car has it's qualities, beauties and inconveniences.   There is no perfect car.  Choosing a 4x4 should be an easy task, as I've always eyed passing trucks.  I've been pondering 3 different trucks for 2 months now, and still don't have a clear winner.  The availability of after market 4x4 parts and accessories has narrowed the list down to these 4:

• 2008 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 4 door
• 2008 Toyota FJ-Cruiser
• 2008 Toyota 4 door short bed Tacoma
• 2008 Toyota 4Runner

2008 seems to be a milestone year when updates were made to both brands.  Engine changes, safety updates, etc.  

Price has squeezed me out of my preferred truck, the Land-cruiser.  

Jeep:  Good Visibility, great off road readiness out of the box.  Adequate leg room for the kids, and roomy front seats.  The seat material is very rugged feeling, and like all Wrangler's, the carpet comes out so you can hose the Cherrios out of the cracks.  The drawbacks are the crash test ratings and some key safety features.  Firstly, the videos of the NTSC Side Impact Crash test.  It is very dramatic to watch the glass spray all over and the rear passenger's head hit the side wall.   In looking at the Jeep up close, the head hits the rear jam of the door.  Secondly, no side impact air bags.  

FJ-Cruiser:  Great looking truck, good off road readiness.  Very ergonomic interior, and the front and rear seats have plenty of room. There is a headrest for the middle rear seat also.  However, the visibility is terrible.  The windows are short and feel like the roof is being compressed on your head.  The rear seats can only look forward at a 70 degree angle, and I'm not sure the middle person can see out at all.   The driver's visibility is limited too.  Overall, this truck is taken out of the running because of visibility.

Tacoma -  Love the looks of the short bed 4 door.  Off-road readiness is a big minus.  This truck needs a lot of upgrades to bring it inline with the some of the other trucks.   Particularly lacking the solid axle's and locking hubs.  The interior is very nice, which ironically is a negative attribute.  It's fuzzy and warm feeling.  Which translates to "easily stained and matted."  Safety rating is superb, and what initially made me glance at it was the extra room it would afford in the bed.    The Tacoma is removed from the list too.  Too urban.

4Runner - We had not considered this truck until a lot salesman asked us about it.   It turned out to be a great compromise.  It had more rugged upholstery,  a good history of 4x4 abilities, and more leg room than any truck so far.   Visibility is great, a lot of creature comforts, and the a 5 star safety rating.

So.  It comes down to the Jeep and the 4Runner, and here's the deal.  I can see myself owning the Jeep for a lot of years.   I don't particularly like the 4Runner for any rational reason.  Done.

Space Shuttle Discovery Liftoff

10 years on the east coast and I've never witnessed a lift-off. What a great sight.  It's too bad I've just now discovered this when only two left.  Another ham and I, K4GTM-Guy, tried to listen in on the transmissions between shuttle and launch control on 259.700, but could only hear static. Next launch I'll bring a bigger antenna.
We tracked the shuttle until it separated from the solid rocket boosters which left with a flash of orange.  After that, there was no contrail to follow and it was lost in the sky.   As the crow flies, we are 250 miles between us and Cape Canaveral.   As others check in from around the coast, it will be neat to here who had the best vantage point.   Only 2 more launches!

Review Pentax Optio W90

Well the reviews are in from the field.... I've had the Pentax Optio W90 for 3 months now.  I bought this cute little number because I needed a small, slim point and shoot camera that I could take hiking, kayaking, and to the beach without worry.  At under $200 with 12.1MP, this seemed like as good a place as any to put my photographic trust.  So far, it hasn't let me down.  In traditional style, it took me 2 weeks to settle on the make and model.  The first few trips on the open top kayaks, I was careful to keep it dry and safe.  It took great pictures and the insides stayed dry; now it's an all out test!  I gave it to the kids to take underwater pictures at the pool last week, and the camera came back dry.  This weekends kayak trip it got dropped in the mud, so I rinsed it off in the salt water, and returned home to a like-new looking camera.  Four salt-water kayak trips, 3 camp outs and one trip to the pool.  This is turning out to be a very rugged camera.

The picture quality is bright and colorful.  My SLR still takes better pictures, but until you hold them side by side, it's hard to spot a difference.  The camera has a myriad of quick menu settings to help maximize the camera to your environment.  Underwater, landscape, portrait, etc.  Changing modes and enabling/disabling the flash is quick and convenient.  There are a few features that are interesting, but I haven't found use for yet.  The 'face recognition' and 'smile capture'.  Face recognition finds faces and makes sure they are the focal point. I have this set to 'on', and occasionally I'll see it activate.  I suppose when it does I'm being saved from a poorly focused shot.  The smile capture is a whole different animal...

Smile capture watches a face for the smile, and snaps the shot.  Great for portrait shots of the kids.  However, if you don't know that it's active, it can also be frustrating.  It leaves you feeling like the camera may be broken or delaying the photo.  I've missed shots because I was waiting for a 'smile.'   So, after reading the manual and understanding it's function, it's now turned off until I need it.  The menu system makes quick work of turning it back on.

Dirt and grime can't touch this cameras rough and tough external, except for the screen.  This camera has no view finder, so the screen is an important, and brilliantly bright component.  It is also the weakest link.  First day out, a grain of sand scratched the screen.  Day 2 -  I cut-to-fit a cell phone screen saver to fit over the display screen and I worry no more.  Easy fix.

Surviving a drop in the water is one thing.  Retrieving the camera after it has been dropped in a South Georgia black water creek is another.  So I invested in the Pentax Optio floating wrist strap.  This item is not well publicized on the web, but it's a smart little device.  I now clip and un-clip it to other things I don't want to loose in the water.  Well worth the few extra dollars.  After all, there's no one down there taking pictures.

The things I don't like are a short list.  I wish it took conventional batteries.  It will be hard to take this camera traveling with the goofy battery charger.  Even if it took AAA Lithium batteries, that would have been a better choice.  An extra charger is too much baggage.  The other nagging item is the screen protection. The screen actually sticks out from the body  farther than any of the buttons.  As a result, it is the first to grind into the counter top if it's laid face up.  A raised lip or ring around the screen would go a long way to keeping it scratch free.

All and all, it's performing great so far.

Return of the Radio...

Well, after a week's procrastination, I boxed up the new-to-me FT-897 radio and shipped it off to the West coast for repair.  Bud Garside, W7ARS.  He and I spoke on the phone, and he had a lot of good questions and ideas to try before sending it over.  However, the fact that a transistor was smoked meant it needed some help no matter what.  Even though I've only had the radio a little less than a month, I really hated sending it off.  A weird attachment has formed.   I double boxed it and even paid extra for insurance.  Something truly must be wrong with me.
What a cool job Bud has.  To bring in broken radios and give them new life.  It still amazes me that these little black boxes will let you talk to people all around the world.   What's more amazing is that people are out there listening for you, and hoping you'll call.
Here's hoping  my little radio comes back safely.