Save more and have more. . . Better Photos

 

It seems lately that almost everyone today is buying or has bought a sub $1000 digital SLR camera.  I got mine back in 2004 and can tell you the quality of my photos has been awesome.  I picked up the Canon Digital Rebel when it was the king of the block.  6mp of pure digital SLR. 

But now for reality.  Without a lot of bucks to spend on lenses and flashes it’s hard to make the best use of your camera.  My major disappointment has been with indoor flash photos.  The stock lens that comes with the camera is ok but not real fast so it needs a lot of light to take good shots without a flash.  So you end up with really big washed out photos.  I have a hot shoe flash but what a pain.  So being the Do-More-With-Less kind of guy I am I went looking for answers.

Here is what I cams up with. 

 

Yes that funny white tube is a film canister.  Yes again two worlds have now just collided, cats and dogs have married and Obama is president. . . Oops that one is true.  Being from a family that worked at Kodak for generations I’m sure they never saw this coming.

Here is the link to the project.  Try it out you have nothing to loose and better photos to gain. 

http://photojojo.com/content/diy/diy-film-container-flash-diffuser/

Send me a photo or two with the diffuser.

Please take lots of photos and remember to back them up. 

Wait till you see the diffuser I made for my hot shoe flash. 

Enjoy

Jeff

Speed Tweak for IE8

 

Not even released and already the tweaks are rolling in.  You may have heard about the upcoming release of IE8, Microsoft’s latest update in the browser wars.  Lots of good things with this one and so far looks to be a good update. 

 

 

For the record I am a Firefox fan.  I love the add-ons and the feeling if independence.  Maybe I am just fooling myself but I like open source.  Try it out if I haven't already installed it on your machine. 

www.mozilla.com 

Anyway. . .  Here’s the link to the article.  The tweak is simple and easy.

Make sure you install IE8 first and make sure it’s running before you do the tweak. 

 

http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=2443

 

Enjoy

Jeff

Laid off? Pay 35% of your Cobra Premium for 9 Months

 

I just learned of this and I have to share.  If you were laid off after Sep 2008 you may qualify for a Cobra Premium reduction.  You’ll pay 35% of the premium and your employer will get a tax credit for the rest.  The program length is 9 months which is a good deal. 

I don’t know about you but Cobra is for the most part worthless it’s way to expensive.  Now however, it can be more affordable and maybe even cheaper then health insurance on the open market. 

This all comes about via the governments stimulus package.

 

Please call your employer today.  I bet they haven't called you yet. 

Check out this link for all the details:

http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq-cobra-premiumreductionEE.html

My thanks to Chris Roscoe for turning me on to this. 

Getting Rid of that Old Computer? Wait!!!!!!

Before you junk that old computer consider a few things.

First – It can be recycled.  Technology follows many 2nd hand paths.  There are people out there that may be able to use what you have.  Usually it does not have a great monetary value, but it keeps the stuff out of the landfills for a little while longer.  Churches and schools used to be a good place to send your old technology, but they need to be at the front end of the line now and don’t want your old stuff.  Call me and I will come a get it and find it a new home or outright recycle it.  For the most part I can find a home for parts of the computer.  The other parts are recycled at the proper places.

Second – Before you throw it away remember that you have information on it that needs to be removed. 

Here is a great link to an article on the subject.

Clean up that PC Before you Recycle It

Another Reason Alcohol Reduces Stress

No it’s not time to hit the bottle.  Well. . . yes it is.  Times are tough and the bottle might be our only hope.  Bottle of rubbing alcohol that is.

 

 

Yes Rubbing Alcohol.  How does it relieve stress in your life.  Easy. . . Use it to clean the crud from your laptop monitor your eyes will thank you.  Please don’t drink it . . . things are not that bad. 

 

Here’s what ya do. 

1.  Turn your laptop off

2.  Moisten a soft cloth in water

3.  Dab the cloth in rubbing alcohol

4.  Clean that disgusting screen wiping gently

5.  Now all pretty again and your eyes will thank you.

 

Please don’t buy those premade wipes.  They are bad all the way around. 

 

Side note. . . It this also works great on the inside of your car windows.

 

Enjoy and have a great day

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