D60 Captures

So last week I got a new dSLR. I had been using a Canon Digital Rebel circa 2004, but it was getting old, I only had one lens and it had a mark on its sensor (it left this weird mark on each picture I took.)

I decided it was time for me to upgrade.

After much research, I settled on a Nikon D60. Its not the best, but its size, features, and cost fit me the best. I am working with the Nikkor 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 VR lens for now, but looking to upgrade my lens collection in the near future, especially before I head to Lebannon.

I look the camera out to take some pictures last Saturday night.

First impressions are that its a light camera, and easy to hold on to. The VR or image stabilization helps a great deal, especially in dark situations. I was very pleased with the pictures I was able to take, remember that I am not that skilled [yet].

I am going to start using Adobe Lightroom 2.0 to process my photos, but for now even though I shot them in RAW [er I mean NEF, Nikon's version of RAW] I haven't done any post processing yet. They are noisey and blurry, I know, I know. Its my first run with the camera, at night, without a tripod.

I put up a few more pictures from my new camera on Flickr, take a look: [http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeewan_ghuman/sets/72157606974830826/]

New Layout

So what does everyone think of the new layout?

What could be better? What is good enough?

Leave suggestions/comments in the comments!

Roomba Resurrected

I was just browsing around the web today; fairly normal activity for me. And I came across a blog post/comment/forum post/etc mentioning a Roomba.

Oh yeah I have a Roomba!

I bought a Roomba a few years ago from Woot.com (it was my first Woot.) It worked great, I would turn it on and go off to class. By the time I came back, my apartment would be nicely vacuumed. I really didn't have many issues with it. I took good care of it.

When I moved out to Washington I brought the Roomba along with, assuming that it would provide the same service as it did back in Illinois.

I was wrong.

Shortly after I moved in, I wanted to clean up the dust and dirt from moving into an apartment. I went ahead and charged it up until the light on the robot turned green. I then pressed the large glowing button labeled "Clean." It turned on, moved out of its dock and started its vacuum motor. Everything seemed great.

Not really: it went in a circle and turned itself off after making all sorts of tones.

"OKAY, not a big deal" is what I said to myself. I will just have to clean it up a bit and it will be back to normal.

No Good.

I gave up on it. I quietly put it under my bed, assuming that one day I would be able to use its sensors, motors and gears to bring to life a future project of mine.

Okay, so fast forward 5 months to the present again.

So after work today, I dug out the Roomba and searched the Internet. I found out how to dissemble it by finding my way to: [http://mysteryroad.blogs.com/photos/fixthecircledance/xintroroomba_3549.html]

I figured out why it was going the "Circle Dance" (that's what Roomba enthusiasts call it.) The right wheel was getting locked up, because it's gears were chocked full of dust and dirt. Using my engineering degree's worth of knowledge I was able to take apart the right drive assembly and clean it out.

The Roomba is back to life!

(But I it might need a new battery...)

Get Down Goblin

A friend linked me to a 'music video' by Jan Terri on YouTube.

Apparently she was some sort of singer from Chicago in the 1980s (or 90s not really sure).

Its bad, but the worst part is that its stuck in my head

Watch for yourself:

Bare Walls No More

It's been literally 3 years since I wanted to put worthwhile photos and art on my walls. It all began with moving into my first apartment, grand ideas of setting it up as I wanted, making it into my home.

August 14, 2008: I finally got around to framing and hanging photographs I have taken all over the world over the years.

It looks great.

Suprise. Suprise. I got the frames from IKEA. By using my own photographs, I think I can avoid making my apartment look like a page out of their catalog. Hopefully.

The downside: I am planning on moving out at the end of September.

Better late than never, right?

Going to Lebanon

I am going to Lebanon. Yup.

I just purchased my tickets today! I am leaving on November 15th at 13:55 from Seattle and arriving in Beirut on November 16th at 15:45. I am coming back on December 3rd around noon.

I am sure by now some of you are wondering why I would just randomly choose to go to Lebanon, of all places. Why not England? France? Peru?

Adventure.

I am going to travel around Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan with my friend who lives and goes to school in Beirut.

I have had the chance to travel to Asia and Europe a few times already; while those trips were fun, they lacked a sense of adventure. They felt predictive, lame at times.

I plan on taking numerous photographs and I will be sure to put them up on Flickr when I get back.

If anyone has any tips on what to do/see/experience in those countries, leave them in the comments!

A Promise

I know that I have not posted here in a very long time, but that is
going to change soon. I promise you all that an interesting post is
coming this week.

Keep checking back to see a new post!