I walked the show floor yesterday, and I have a few observations. Here they are, in random order.

• The Canon 1D Mark III is really awesome. It adds a ton of new features, including a huge buffer and 10fps shooting. There is a live-preview mode, but since it limits you to ISO 200-1600 and is manual-focus only, I don’t understand why one would possibly want to use it. There are a zillion customizations available, including correcting front- or back-focusing on your own. Sahweet.

• I’m going to eBay my N80 and buy the even-cooler N93 when it’s available. Slightly lower-res (but larger) screen, but includes GPS, longer battery life, better camera, and it’s thinner to boot.

• Canon says there should be a successor to the 5D before the end of the year.

• Lots of studio lights have moved to compact fluorescent bulbs since the last time I looked. I guess we won’t be able to call them “hot lights” anymore.

It sure seems like there is a lot of buzz going on around the iPhone. I won’t provide any links because at this point you could probably do a google search for “potted meat” and find links to the iPhone and how it is either the greatest or worst device ever. I’ve looked at the demos and a couple reviews and the thing I can say for sure that Apple did (and has always done) is put the user interface as the most significant feature. Some handset makers like Motorola and HTC like to sell their hardware specs first and foremost to distract you from the fact that their user interface is trash, which you don’t find out until after you bought the phone because it’s super-thin or because it makes espresso.

In any case, I won’t be buying an iPhone, and not because it’s $600, or because it’s only on Cingular. It looks hella cool, but Apple and Cingular are both companies with a history of lock-in. I don’t want a device that will do whatever I want, but charges me $0.99 every time I do it. I want to pay for the hardware up front (or on a contract with fixed costs) and hack away from then on, without restriction. Apple learned from the iPod that it’s more profitable to sell services than either software or hardware. The iPhone won’t be any different. If you’re getting an iPhone for $499 or $599, you better save some extra nickels and dimes, because you’re going to need them.

Winter’s over and we’re back to our regular 75 degree sunny days, though it has been getting cold at night. It certainly makes it difficult to think about Christmas even though it’s only three weeks away! I can’t believe it’s December already. I really need to take a picture to send out for our Christmas cards. I’m thinking it will just be the girls because I don’t see us all getting a good picture together without a lot of digital editing taking place; there’s just too much motion going on for that sort. It’s really unfortunate, too, because the girls are absolutely the cutest things ever, as demonstrated in the video to your right. Jennifer and I were poking through some videos from her camera the other day, and there’s a couple of real crack-ups in there. I really wish there was a decent camcorder on the market that recorded compressed video and which did not also cost a zillion dollars or suck. It seems that the < $600 camcorders that use DVD or hard disk or flash cards as media have nowhere near the quality of $299 mini-DV camera. I need to do downloading in faster than real time, because there is absolutely nothing cool about waiting. Maybe next year.

Speaking of gadgets, I’ve been keeping my eye out for the next cool phone. My trusty Nokia 6600 has been everything I’ve wanted in a phone, except that it could use a better screen and camera, and I would like an external media slot. Nokia’s Symbian smartphones are the only ones I have seen that don’t either have a horrible UI (ie. Motorola) or are horribly unstable and/or locked down (ie. Windows Mobile, Palm). Thus, I only really care about new Nokia phones like the N80, which is like my phone, but adds a 2-megapixel camera with flash, secondary video conferencing camera, Wi-Fi, external card slot, and kickass screen. Nokia will also introduce a couple smaller models as well before my Cingular contract is up. I’m aware the iPhone is supposed to come out soon too, so I will wait to see what that looks like as well.

Since the nanny started with us, I’ve been thinking it’s time to start riding my bicycle to work again. I haven’t been able to ride so much since having kids because I always need to drop off or pick up one of the girls. Now, relieved of the dropping off and picking up for most days, I have been meaning to get back in the saddle, but the sad truth about riding to work is that it’s inconvenient and it takes a fairly long time. It’s a hilly 7 miles, but I have to shower at the end of the trip both ways, and I can’t shower right away after riding because the shower won’t “take” if I’m still sweating. It’s good exercise, though, and I’ve thought that the ideal situation would be to drive to work and to ride back. Finally, I’ve found a solution with an assist engine from Golden Eagle Bike Engines. I just placed an order for the 35cc Robin/Subaru 4-stroke engine, which should propel me along at up to 30 MPH (I imagine less what with the hills), for what should be a 20 minute ride to work, not much longer than the commute in the car (and burning 1/10th the gas).

Supposedly, the engine installs in about an hour. The only problem I forsee is that apparently 32-spoke wheels like mine are often not strong enough for the amount of torque the engine puts out and start popping spokes. Then again, most people are installing these engines on cheap, department-store bikes. My bike, though 10 years old, was somewhat higher end, and I selected it for its sturdiness rather than for low weight. We’ll see how the wheels hold up. I really hope it works out well to buzz in and pedal back; also it seems like most people enjoy riding around with the engine assist so much that they end up doing a lot more saddle time as a result. I could use that.

This has been yet another “too busy to blog” week… so much going on and yet no time to write about it. Last night I was finally so exhausted that I went to bed before the kids did; Jennifer put them both to bed and I was out by 7:30pm.

Tara is now officially a toddler. Walking is her preferred means of getting around, but she still has the uncertain, could-fall-over-at-any-time stagger that is at once cute and hilarious. I have some more video to post at a later time.

I forgot to mention that a couple weeks back Jennifer upgraded her awful Sony DSC-T1 camera–which is really cool up until you try to use it, or look at the pictures it took–to a Canon A610. The Canon is bigger but faster, more usable, and it takes vastly better pictures. Pay attention, folks; more megapixels doesn’t mean better picture quality; but bigger sensors and optics do. You just can’t fight physics. The new camera should help her bring home some good pictures from Singapore when she goes at the end of April.

Anna has been something of a challenge lately. Yesterday, she got up on the wrong side of the bed and things went downhill from there. I was at home in the morning, preparing for a teleconference I was hosting, and outside my office door I could hear all sorts of raging going on. When I picked her up from school, she was moping in the corner. Her teacher hurried right up to me to warn me what a foul mood she was in. Apparently there was some incident at snack time that got her all upset, and though I don’t remember the details, it was yet another instance of Anna getting all sideways when the unexpected happens. She has much difficulty coping with the unexpected.

I am back on the Atkins diet again, as my weight has gotten out of control. I had a lot of success, losing over 50 lbs in 2001-2 on Atkins, staying stable for a couple years, and lately gaining a bunch back. I decided to take control and get back on the wagon before I give it all back. Having done it before, I’m confident I’ll be back down to a reasonable weight by July. I’m glad that Tara is eating normal people food (albeit cut into small pieces), because cooking for three different diets is hard enough.

I’m officially going to stop being an Apple apologist. I don’t use anything Apple makes (nor anything Microsoft makes), but I bought Jennifer an iPod nano for her birthday (a month ago) because I thought it would be a no-hassle music solution for her. None of the music-playing widgets around the house belong to Jennifer. Anna has a couple boomboxes, I have my computers any my little MP3 player and the stereo, and Jen really didn’t have anything. I selected the iPod, because in my head, Apple really has this user interface thing down pat. Here would be a widget where user interface matters, and it’s only about doing one thing well. Well, maybe a couple things.

Now here comes the truth: the PC software blows. The added functionality of syncing contacts and whatnot that’s NOT music is just a distraction. Jennifer has spent probably 10 hours fiddling with the thing and I never actually see her listening to it. Two thumbs down for Apple.

We are especially so tired today because Tara had a really rough night. Between a cold that has her congested and some intestinal issues that have her even more congested, she was pretty miserable. Jen was up with her most of the night, and I was up with her from 3:30-4:30am, after which I couldn’t go back to sleep. During that time, Tara wouldn’t sleep in her bed, my arms, the couch, her swing, the sink¹, or the floor.

Nevertheless, she was a lot more chipper today than either Jennifer or I. Before dinner tonight she was standing while holding on to my fingers for support, then as she got herself steadied, she’d gradually let go of my fingers and stand for a half second or less before plopping down on her bottom or tipping over. Immediately, she would again reach for my hands so that I could help her to her feet again. She did this 15-20 times, and we even got some of it on video. As Jen got out the camcorder, Anna got out her digital camera to start snapping, but couldn’t get it to work, and at one point cocked her head to the side and said, “Hmm, my memory card isn’t right.” Girly yes, but geeky too.

Anna developed some sort of rash after her visit to the pumpkin patch on Sunday, and ended up coming home early from school (after today’s visit to the same pumpkin patch). We don’t really know what’s going on with it; could be new laundry detergent, a virus, itchy clothes, sun spots, sleeping in the sink²… who knows.

Between the poor sleep, a lousy day at work, sickness, and skin malady, I’m hoping for a quick return to normalcy; even going back to normal tiredness levels would be a relief.

¹ Actually I didn’t put her in the sink, but I may tonight if she does it again.

² Oh wait, that was Tara.

I got the VW back today, and it turned out to be not the dreaded oil sludge problem, but rather the cam tensioner which needed replacing (under warranty). Also, I got the window switches, which were failing, replaced. I knew accessories were a reliability problem with VW, but I expected more from the engine, which has a 10-year/100k-mile warranty. Fahrvernugen is back, but it’s bringing bloggenbitchin with it.

In happier news, I’ve been playing with my new 580EX flash unit, and it’s very cool. It does seem to do a much better metering job than my 420EX (E-TTL II vs. E-TTL), but the really cool thing is the wireless multi-flash setup. The quality of light from two flashes held apart is significant enough, but I can also put one flash behind the subject as a hair light, or just put the second light somewhere pointing straight up as a bounce for really terrific indoor photos.

Tara, having mastered “laying down” is just learning to sit and to roll over as well. We don’t anticipate speaking for another year or so. I have been sitting her up on the bed and seeing how long she can remain upright. Generally she goes for ten seconds or so once I get her situated, but then tips over backwards in a very comical style. Video will be forthcoming. She learned to roll over from her front to her back by bringing her foot up by her side and pushing until she goes over. It still takes a little bit of luck for her to get over, but she’s working on it.

I know that I anticipated doing a lot more blogging on my leave, but I have honestly been having too much fun to bother spending any time writing about it. I am absolutely surprised at how fast the day goes by; it sure seems as though I am keeping busy but I still feel very relaxed. It’s hard to believe I’m already a third done with my leave–I can already tell I’m going to be bummed to go back to work.

We’ve completed two of our four birthday parties this weekend. Last night everyone was pretty much exhausted, but hopefully today will be a little better; the first party looks to be a little bit shorter, so there will probably be time for nap in between, and the second is nearby, so we won’t have much traveling to do.

Yesterday’s first party was a total madhouse, but lots of fun. There was a pool, and I swear there must have been 40 kids in there, many of them armed with squirt guns. Nevertheless, Anna, who is not terribly comfortable in water (but getting better) had a blast. We put a new floatation vest on her, and she took right to the water, even venturing away from me for short periods of time. We stayed in the water long enough that by the time she got out she was hungry enough to eat two entire slices of pizza, and only once requested some alternate food that was not present at the party.

The second party was more low-key, but still complicated by the presence of their family dog. Anna doesn’t like dogs; she’s quite scared of them. She has had very little exposure to them, and to the best of my knowledge has not had a bad experience. In the last couple weeks, she’s had a little bit more exposure, and has even gone so far as to reach out and try to touch some of the tamer specimens we’ve seen.

Ick

We are still in the throes of some really bad sleep. Anna has a very difficult time going to bed; she is very anxious. In the course of her bedtime routine she will ask, either out of genuine anxiety or just stalling:

• Will the power go off tonight?
• Will her light bulb burn out tonight?
• If the fire alarm goes on, will we be able to hear it?
• If she does not wipe properly after using the potty, will she get sick or die?
• If she does not use the potty at all, will she get sick or die?
• Will we come check on her later?
• Do we promise?
• Do we promise to keep our promise?

Various permutations of these questions bring the total question count up into the tens. We have always had a consistent bedtime routine, but it seems to suffer in cycles of “bedtime build-up” in which Anna adds new little variations which accumulate and make the routine progressively longer and bordering on obsessive. During the listing of the “Happy Things,” we absolutely must include M. and K. on the list, after which she will say “I know lots of people,” so that when I list “going to the pumpkin patch” she can say “I know lots of hay.” This was a joke from so long ago that I’ve forgotten why it was funny in the first place.

Double Ick

In other news, I’ve discovered that my Passat has likely fallen victim to the famed Volkswagen sludge problem, even at only 37,000 miles. Most people with this problem end up with repair bills in the $5,000+ range, and Volkswagen will probably require me to produce all the oil change receipts for the life of the car to get it fixed. I’m not so good at keeping records, but hopefully I can piece things together from the oil change shops; I’ve always used blended or full synthetic oil, and I have changed the oil more often than required, so I hope this can be resolved.

Woohoo

On a more positive note, I got a repeat customer for a product shoot, so I’m going to buy the spiffy new Canon Speedlite 580EX, as an upgrade of my venerable 420EX. This will not only give me a more capable flash unit (it has a jog dial, for heaven’s sake), but I can use the 580 and the 420 together for a portable wireless two-light setup, and with my more powerful monolight for a complete three-light portrait setup. Rock on. I should have the unit by Wednesday, which might even be in time to use it for the client.

I got my cable bill yesterday. It was 95 bucks. I noticed this was high because I usually pay more like $75 for extended basic cable + broadband. For years, I only had the federally-mandated low cost basic cable which runs $12 or so, plus the exorbitant $45 for broadband. The cable company then began calling me up to offer me a couple months free if I would switch to extended basic, and I would promptly switch back to basic basic after the free period ran out. The next step would be that they would offer me a couple months free followed by a period of $10-20 off per month for a year. That period just ran out, which is why my bill jumped up to $95.

This morning I called up and gave them the double shot of asking to drop extended cable (-$36) and asking why their broadband was so expensive, considering DSL is $15/month. They apparently have a “broadband lite” option that’s only $27/month, but it’s not even as fast as the $15/month DSL. We finally settled on $69/month for the services I currently have, but I’m going to try to talk to the DSL people to see if I can figure out exactly what bitrate I might end up with; if I drop my cable down to basic, and switch to high-end DSL, I’d be paying something like $40/month, and the lower latency of DSL might even make VOIP look a little more palatable–so I’d be paying $55/month for broadband, TV, and phone; that sounds a little more reasonable.