DIGITAL CAMERAS

Blogson Johnny-Oh of Closet Extremist laments:

I really need to invest in a good digital camera

Or maybe just get a half-good digital camera for $55 bucks?

Seriously, decent digitals are getting so cheap they're practically disposable. As long as it's over 1 Megapixel and has an LCD preview display, it's fine for casual photography.

Personally, I use a 1.3 Megapixel Canon A10 for all the photos I post on the web. They're all sharp & clear, even when I maximize them on my 21-inch monitor. If you're just looking to share photos, you don't need to spend much.

Of course, most stores don't carry much below a $100 digital camera with 2 more Megapixels than you really need, but that's what they make eBay for. Just look for a reputable brand name and a seller with decent feedback. You'll be taking pictures in no time.

Anyway, if anyone knows anywhere else to pick up a 1.3 Mpx camera for under $50, please pipe up. I'm kinda surprised at how hard it is to find "low end" models, even on clearance.

NOTE: Arguably, a 4 Mpx camera will give you the same quality as off-the-shelf 35mm film for 4x6 prints, so anything over that is just gravy. From my personal observations, a 1.3 Mpx camera makes prints every bit as good as anything I've shot with a point-and-shoot 35mm camera. But if you want "looking out the window" clarity, you're certainly free to take out a second mortgage to buy a 16 Mpx Digital SLR.

Posted by: Harvey at 09:34 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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SMOKE 'EM IF YA GOT 'EM

If you find yourself stuck in Madison, WI - which has banned smoking in all bars & restaurants - and you're looking for smoker-friendly establishments (either outside the city limits, or with "smoking patios"), MadSmokers.com is a resource you'll want to bookmark.

[Hat tip: Boots & Sabers]

Posted by: Harvey at 10:49 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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HAVE YOU CHERISHED YOUR WIFE THIS WEEK?

In the comments to this post on relationships, Richmond of One For The Road made this suggestion:

a date -- a real honest-to-God date once in a while would be nice

Yes, but HOW once in a while? Once a week? Every other Wednesday? Any day that ends in a 0 or 5?

Guys can happily follow instructions, if they're SPECIFIC instructions.

Of course, once orders are issued, then the lady feels like her man's only doing it because he HAS to, and it spoils the effect.

I suppose fellas should just ask themselves "have I gone out of my way to make my wife feel loved in the last 7 days?"

If the answer is "no", get hopping.

And keep track of it on a secret calendar so that the wife doesn't find out that you have a schedule - which would destroy the illusion of sponteneity and undo all your hard work.

Posted by: Harvey at 07:15 AM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT'S IMPORTANT, LET THE REST GO

Blogson Deathknyte of Bad Catholicism is contemplating a relationship issue:

Once you are in love with someone it makes you.... blind, to their faults. Or, perhaps, you just don't want to see those faults.

Personally, I believe that a good relationships involves overlooking a LOT of faults. What matters is overlooking the little ones, and being wide awake on the important stuff.

For me, the short list is:

Fidelity - I'm the only one in her bed.
Trustworthiness - Even tiny promises like "I'll be home by 8" are consistently kept.
Financial Responsibilty - Habitually spends less than she earns.

Pretty much everything else is negotiable after that. I can put up with clothes on the floor or dried toothpaste in the sink.

Then there's the "nice to have" stuff, like intelligence, sense of humor, taste in music, etc. which comes in varying degrees, and I'll just enjoy whatever supply is there to enjoy.

Anyway... figure out what's on your short list, and don't compromise on it. If she's got any deal-breakers, you're better off without her.

All the frosting in the world won't make you happy if there's no cake underneath.

Posted by: Harvey at 07:06 AM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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HEROES IN OUR MIDST

Every once in a while, I take a chance on a piece of spam. I got this one recently:

Here's a musical tribute to the courageous men and women of the American Military: http://www.allrightrecords.com/id88.html.

Ok, the topic intrigued me, and their weren't any typos or grammatical errors, so what the heck.

Turns out to be the first non-country patriotic song I've ever heard. Pleasant, catchy, upbeat, cheerful, and full of genuine admiration for those who serve. Musically, the clean, simple melody reminds me a little of Barenaked Ladies, except that it doesn't suck.

Anyway, Dick Eastman is mostly a songwriter by trade, but he picks up a guitar and sings, too, for this one.

MP3 is free to download and the site encourages you to burn and share. Go check it out.

Here's the first verse, so you can get a feel for the theme:

As JohnnyÂ’s marching off to war
All these talking heads keep score
ThinkinÂ’ they know so much more than he does
While they pretend to play hardball
JohnnyÂ’s watched his brothers fall
This ainÂ’t no game to him at all, red white & blue
Are more than colors in the distant view
A flag that stands for freedom proud and true
Is counting on you

Posted by: Harvey at 06:56 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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YAY! FREE MUSIC! - UPDATED 7:15 AM

RSM of When the Smoke Clears pointed me to The Music Genome Project.

It's sorta like Yahoo's LaunchCast, in that the more you rate the songs, the more likely their next selection will be to your liking.

However, unlike LaunchCast, MGP actually WORKS with Firefox.

Which is a BIG plus for me.

Anyway, go there, enter the name of your favorite artist, and it'll branch out from there.

Word of caution: you ARE limited on how many songs you can skip per hour, so try to limit skipping to songs that actually suck, and just turn the volume down a bit on the ones that are only so-so.

UPDATE 7:15 AM: I got an e-mail from MGP's founder Tim Westergren. Obviously a form letter, but still, it's the thought that counts:

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I wanted to make sure that you knew you could create up to a 100 different stations for yourself. Pandora [the actual name of the music service based off of the MGP] will store them all. Try a new song or artist (stump us if you can!) We've been working on the music collection for six years so there's plenty to choose from!
[snip]
P.S. If you're interested in learning how to make your stations really hum, check out our playlist crafting tips at http://blog.pandora.com/faq/index.html#88

Posted by: Harvey at 06:21 AM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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I DON'T WANT MY DAUGHTER TO GROW UP FEELING UGLY

Interestingly, Dove and their Campaign for Real Beauty are doing something about it.

Too many girls develop low self-esteem from hang-ups about looks and, consequently, fail to reach their full potential in later life. So, we've created the Dove Self-Esteem Fund as an agent of change to educate and inspire girls on a wider definition of beauty

Here's some more stuff from the site:

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Feature Article
The Fashionable Body: a brief history
The current recipe for ideal beauty has the following ingredients: a beautiful woman must be extremely tall and very thin, have small hips but a big bust. She has large eyes, large lips and a small nose. We are so used to seeing this beauty stereotype in the media that we assume that such features have always been considered ideal. Think again.

Feature Interactive Article
Owning Your Own Smile
Sometimes, you can spend so much time trying to look good and trying to fit in, you forget to feed your inner self. Find out how to flip the script!

Feature Quiz
How Do You Really Feel About Yourself?
Do you have your life 'on track'? Do you need a little push in that direction?

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I'm a huge fan of Dove's Real Beauty ads (FINALLY, some women who look cuddly instead of malnourished!), and I hope their project gains popularity.

So, if you're a woman with body image issues (which, according to ArmyWifeToddlerMom, is pretty much EVERY woman), go see Dove.

Especially if you've got a daughter to worry about.

Posted by: Harvey at 07:03 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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ARE YOU A WOMAN WITH BODY IMAGE ISSUES?

Think you're alone?

Can't find anyone who understands that all the "you're so pretty" in the world won't drown out the "you're so FAT!" demon that's always shrieking inside your head?

Blogdaughter Tammi of Tammi's World understands.

Go visit.

Her e-mail is in her sidebar under BIO STUFF if you want to talk about it, but aren't ready to leave a public comment.

Posted by: Harvey at 08:08 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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