saucyjack

I'm guessing that all these cheapies are from the same factory, so I'm not really sure.

Aldi's returns policy is meant to be pretty good, so I guess there's no harm in checking one out and taking it back if it doesn't focus properly.

if I am taking my SLR and/or dSLR out into -20 degree temperatures and then bringing them inside to 20 + is there a chance that the lens or anything could crack?

A bigger issue would be whether the camera would actually work at -20. The Canon 450D's operating temperature range is 0-40°C. You'd probably have more luck with something like the K1000 in the cold.

Lens cracking shouldn't be an issue, but moisture will be. Best idea would be to seal your camera in a big ziplock before you leave inside. Once outside, carry the camera (in the ziplock) around until the body starts feeling quite cold. Then it's good to go. Same applies in reverse - seal it up before you go inside and keep it sealed in the ziplock when you're back inside until it feels warm.

Also a good (essential) trick to use if you take a camera to a high-humidity area.

As I understand it, those neg scanners are a bit touch and go.

The expensive ones ($1K+) have a focusing mechanism built in that the cheapies don't. I guess it's a case of individual results varying, but if a cheapie doesn't focus on the negs properly, you'll never get anything good from it.

What a fuckin' ace weekend...

Good Things
Going bonkers to Nashville Pussy with Nony, Block and Frankie.
Beating the breakfast queue by mere minutes with Block on Sunday morning.
Burritos.
Pink Flamingos.
Falling asleep in the vicinity of Hyperfuzz, Lokihanns and a sharpie marker and waking up without a knob drawn on my face.
No stinky portaloos.
Royal Headache, Monotonix, Antibalas (although The Budos Band would have been better), Dinosaur Jr, Nashville Pussy, Wooden Shjips, Calexico.
Midnight snacks.
Free coffee (and blowing 0.0) at the breath-testing bus on the way out.

Not So Good Things
Pavement. I was expecting much more and got a little disappointed.
Losing my waterproof jacket to the mudpit down the front.

Bad Things
Rain. But at least we didn't get hail.
Jack Ladder.

I had a japanese Au Go Go t-shirt that I loved dearly until it basically fell apart

Mine wasn't Japanese, but it has also, sadly, passed on.

I'd love another one. Got any hanging 'round, Bruce?

The job I mentioned a few days back has been put on hold for the moment. When they decide to go ahead with it, I'll let everyone who has PM'ed me know.

Dear Boss,

Re: the two most recent emails from you:

Today, 2:06pm ''Please be mindful with your breaks, as you should only be taking one break in between starting and lunch and the same for the afternoon''

Friday, 15 January 2010 8:45am ''I don’t complaint about everyone taking breaks every 1 or half an hour for tea or smoke or anything.''

So... Make up your fucking mind, will you?

SJ

Where I work has put out a call for 8 people to do 3 weeks of data entry work.

Send me a PM if you're innerested and I'll give you the details...

There you go, at $150 a pop, we're up to $600 already.

bruce if you served latte's or cups of teas and put bands on, we'd come and pay.

Indeed.

Or, what about a RRR/PBS subscriber/membership kinda thing?

I'd be more than happy to pay $50/$100 per year to help keep the Tote running. It's only a buck or two a week, after all. Give punters free entry to one gig a year and a priority ticket allocation or something... And a tote keyring.

Surely there'd be a thousand or so people willing to spring for that.