My favorite lens on my wish list, Canon EFS 10-22mm

      I have read so many good reviews about this lens, so for talking pictures for OverTheTopCargoTrailer which has lots of tight spots, this would be a great choice.

Features

• Excellent optical quality and true wide-angle coverage with select digital SLRs
• Superior AF performance and speed, with full-time manual focus by simply turning ring
• Close-focusing to 9.5 inches -- fill the frame with subjects as small as 3.6 x 5.4 inches
• Relatively compact size and light weight for an ultra-wide zoom lens
• Inner focusing system (no front element rotation); length doesn't change if zoomed
• Circular aperture design -- natural highlights, even stopped down two stops
• Electronic diaphragm -- manually-set apertures stay constant from f/4.5 thru f/22

Here are the Amazon reviews

Doing the Lords work final part 5

     Here it is, we are finally at the end of the project. While it may not seem like a big project, it turned out to be quite a costly one. Project material costs were over $800. I would have guessed more like $200. I would even estimate that the labor involved was 50+ hours of labor. We however managed to stretch it out even more than that in actual hours of labor closer to 100. Now the really funny part is that some of the people helping with the project normally bill their time at almost $400 per hour. 

     So had the project been billed at actual time and material of the professional participants in the project the cost of the project actually exceeds $15,000. This is a good example of where it would have been much better to just have hired a real contractor. But heck, the whole project was for fun, for charity and a learning experience.

Here are the sprinkler pipes & drain cloth

These are the 8 way drip heads - each planter can be adjusted for 24 plants

The final look before the plants tomorrow

Here is my reward ;-)

My newest dream camera choice for the road is the Cannon 7D

Click on the link below to see the whole review !!

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2009/9/1/canoneos7d

Canon introduces the EOS 7D – innovative technologies
and intuitive build define a new photographic experience

London, UK, 1 September 2009: Canon today unveils the EOS 7D digital SLR camera –   a completely new design to meet the specific demands of photographers. Incorporating a new 18MP APS-C CMOS Sensor, developed by Canon, the EOS 7D also features: Dual “DIGIC 4” processors to offer fast, high-quality performance in all light conditions, an ISO range expandable to 12,800 and continuous shooting at 8 frames per second – without the need for additional accessories.   Impressive technologies are matched by excellent build-quality designed with the photographer in mind – to create a whole new photographic experience.

During extensive development Canon went back to the drawing board, listening to photographers worldwide in order to design the EOS 7D to meet their specific needs.    Commenting on the creation of the EOS 7D, Mr. Shinbori, Deputy Group Executive of Photo Products Group & Senior General Manager of Camera Development Center, Canon Inc,said “We consulted over 5,000 photographers worldwide and asked them what they most wanted to see from a camera.  Matching this insight with cutting-edge technology, we were able to develop a camera that truly gives photographers the versatile tool they require to experiment with their images.”

Accurate Images – High performance AF and metering systems
The EOS 7D features a 19-point cross-type AF sensor, enabling photographers to achieve accurate shots and optimise composition options.  This improved AF system offers a range of manual and automatic settings including Zone and Spot AF to track and capture subjects quickly and accurately.  AF settings are highly customisable, allowing for rapid reaction to changes in the scene.  Different AF points can be set for vertical or horizontal orientation, so photographers can automatically switch between landscape and portrait shots without touching a button.

The EOS 7D also incorporates a new metering system.  The Focus Colour Luminance metering system (iFCL) intelligently measures focus, colour and luminance, across 63 zones.  Complementing the 19 AF points, the dual layer sensor is able to gather information from each distinct zone to obtain a more accurate and consistent exposure.

Capture images exactly as you see them
The Canon EOS 7D features an Intelligent Viewfinder that offers photographers 100 per cent frame coverage.  With 1.0x magnification* - a first for EOS - photographers see a large bright image that helps to fully immerse them within the shot.  A transmissive LCD incorporated in the viewfinder allows photographers to choose between various overlay features - such as AF points, the spot metering circle and composition grid – providing a range of tools that help when framing a shot.  The EOS 7D is also the first EOS to introduce a Dual-Axis Electronic Level – in the viewfinder and on the LCD - that indicates both pitch and roll angles.  This feature is particularly useful when shooting landscapes to ensure a level horizon, or when used in conjunction with a Tilt and Shift lens to level the camera.

The camera features a new 3 inch Clear View II LCD screen with a solid structure screen, designed to combat glare by removing the air-gap between the LCD’s protective cover and the liquid crystal. This new screen has a viewing angle of 160 degrees and is effective even in bright light.  As with the EOS 5D Mark II, an ambient light sensor on the side of the screen can set brightness automatically depending on the environment.

Experiment creatively with light 
The Canon EOS 7D is equipped with an Integrated Speedlite Transmitter.  For the first time in an EOS, photographers can control external Speedlites with no additional accessories - ideal for those looking to experiment with creative lighting set-ups.  The EOS 7D also features an extensively upgraded, built-in flash including manual control, and wider flash coverage to cover focal lengths as wide as 15mm.

Customise your individual camera experience 
The EOS 7D has been conceived and designed with the photographer’s needs in mind.  The look and feel of the camera has been aesthetically and ergonomically crafted to offer photographers the very best interaction.  To this end, the photographer can design their own experience – camera operations are customisable, allowing the user to assign frequently used functions and settings to convenient controls. This enables photographers to save time when shooting critical moments, by changing settings quickly.
Impressive Features, Impressive Images

The Canon EOS 7D is packed with new features:

• 18 MP APS–C CMOS Sensor
  Designed and manufactured by Canon, the sensor produces an outstanding image and offers fantastic performance at high and low conditions, thanks to a new photodiode and microlens construction.
• 8 fps image capture
  Enabled by the Dual “DIGIC 4” processors and improved electrical system, photographers can capture images at 8fps, without the need for additional accessories and in all file types.
• ISO Range
  The EOS 7D enables photographers to capture subjects in their natural light.  The ISO range (100 – 6,400) is expandable to 12,800.
• EOS Movie
  With improved operation, making it easy to switch directly to movie mode, it is now even simpler to shoot Full HD video.  Users can set exposure and frame rate – with options for 24 fps to create that cinematic feel.
• Dual “DIGIC 4” processors
  By utilising Dual “DIGIC 4” processors, users of the EOS 7D never have to compromise between shooting speed, image quality and ISO performance.
• Impressive Design
  Canon has listened to photographer feedback when designing the body, as well as the internal technologies.  A magnesium alloy body offers environmental protection – the tough, lightweight construction is designed to defend against moisture, and dust – equivalent to the legendary EOS–1Technologies Explained:

The camera is compatible with a wide range of accessories so it can easily be integrated with a photographer’s workflow. The Wireless File Transmitter (WFT-E5) allows extensive camera control via a web browser – allowing photographers to control the camera using a web-enabled mobile device.


The EOS 7D is compatible with all EF and EF-S lenses as well as Canon EX Speedlites.  The Canon EOS 7D can also be used with Battery BG-E7, and remote controllers and switches such as the remote Controller RC-1/RC-5.* with 50mm lens at infinity, -1(1/m) dpt

This 2nd site below also has a great review of this camera 


http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Canon_EOS_7D/

Camera shopping reality sets in

      While the Sony A55 and A65 looked great in print in reality, in the store they look like a smaller children's camera. These Cannon models below look like real cameras. The price is a little over-the-top. Maybe I will need to hock the pink slip for the trailer?

      Good thing I'm not finished with the trailer and ready to hit the road yet. I still have lots of time to do some shopping. It looks like taking good pictures can be a very expensive hobby. To my sadness these units do not have a built in GPS tracker. That would need to be installed as an extra add-on.

The Cannon 5D

The Cannon 7D

The Cannon 60D

Every so often comes along a real NUT CASE !

         I saw this story in the German Stern magazine and just had share it with you. The text is in German, but I think you get the point ! click on the link above to read the full story. In the story he states the installation was approved by the Swiss DMV, but he gets stopped a lot and never thought there were so many Swiss cops !!

Stern magazine

Draußen ist es kalt, im alten Volvo von Pascal Prokop ist es aber mollig warm. Als Wärmespende hat der Zürcher einen Holzofen installiert. "Das ist ein ganz normaler Stubenofen", sagte er dem Schweizer Fernsehen. Der Abzug wurde sachgerecht durchs Autodach geführt – der Wagenhimmel mit einer soliden Stahlplatte geschützt. 

Auch bei Fahrt zieht der Ofen gut, Prokop hat den Abzug nach hinten abgewinkelt, damit der Fahrtwind nicht in den Ofen schlägt. Warum musste es ausgerechnet ein Holzofen sein? Die eingebaute Heizung reichte dem Besitzer nicht aus. Und eine Standheizung? Sie wäre auch nicht teurer als der Bollerofen gewesen, aber Prokop misstraute der modernen Technik. Zuviel Elektronik für seinen Geschmack. Autarkie ist Prokop wichtig: "Wenn ich müde bin oder zu viel getrunken habe, will ich im Auto schlafen." Wichtig ist nur ausreichend Brennholz im Kofferraum.

Der Schweizer-TÜV war zunächst nicht begeistert von dem Plan, gab dem hartnäckigen Bastler aber nach. Prokop: "Ich habe gesagt, ich mache es genau so, wie sie es verlangen, aber ein "Nein" akzeptiere ich nicht." Inzwischen ist die "Limousine mit Holzofen" offiziell in den Papieren eingetragen. Zum Glück, denn unauffällig ist er nicht. "Angehalten werde ich schon häufig. Ich wusste gar nicht, dass wir soviel Polizisten in der Schweiz haben." Aufpassen musste Prokop nur bei Einfahrten, mit Schornstein war sein Volvo immerhin zwei Meter hoch, bis er das Abzugsrohr stutzte.

Maybe this Swiss guy should get together with the Swedish 

guy who spent 2 month frozen in his car.

Man survives 2 months inside snowed-in car

  Last Updated On 19 February,2012 AboutNo date provided

http://dunyanews.tv/index.php?key=Q2F0SUQ9MTAjTmlkPTY2Mjcz

The man might have survived so long by going into a kind of hibernation, doctors said.

A Swedish man has survived being trapped in his snow-covered car for two months without food, police say.

The car was found on Friday at the end of a forest track more than 1 km (0.6 miles) from a main road in northern Sweden.
Police say the temperature in the area had recently dropped to -30C (-22F).

The man, who was too weak to utter more than a few words, said he had been inside since 19 December. He may have survived by drinking melted snow.

Police say they have no reason to doubt his story.

The man, who has not been named, is recovering at Umea University Hospital - where staff say he is doing well considering the circumstances.

The man was huddled in a sleeping bag on the back seat, said policeman Ebbe Nyberg.

"He was in a very poor state. Poor condition. He said he d been there for a long time and had survived on a little snow.
"He said himself he hadn t eaten anything since December," Mr Nyberg said.

Doctors at the Umea University Hospital said they would normally expect a person to survive without food for around four weeks, said the Vasterbotten Courier.

One doctor told the newspaper that the man might have survived so long by going into a kind of hibernation.

http://dunyanews.tv/index.php?key=Q2F0SUQ9MTAjTmlkPTY2Mjcz

Pakwan restaurant one of my favorite places

         Here is one of my favorite places, I picked it to test the link for google earth - if you have google earth installed on your computer it will take you there to the exact spot. If not it gives you the option to install google earth and then will take you there, try it out. lots of people take pictures and one never knows where they are from, so here is your chance to test this with me.

Google earth - will take you to the picture

Great meal consists of Goat stew, Goat Biryani, Beef kebabs & 2 Nan 

Link to Pakwans web site

Google earth - will take you to the picture

Google earth - will take you to the picture

Here is sorta what you get - a look around

You can zoom in and get 365 deg views also

How to search for the perfect app ?

      I just read a great story in the SF Gate  by Ellen Lee all about how to help find the best apps. Click on the link above to read the whole story.

         About 800 apps were available when Apple launched its App Store in the summer of 2008. Four years later, the store stocks more than 500,000. Adding in the Android, BlackBerry and Windows Mobile markets, as many as 1.1 million apps are now available for smart phone users, according to tracking firm Mobilewalla.


The explosion poses a dilemma for users and developers alike: How can an app stand out from the crowd?


       Palo Alto's Quixey and San Francisco's Chomp are among the latest tools to help people find the app that's right for them. They scour the apps ecosystem - not just the titles and keywords, but ratings, reviews and other sources - to pinpoint the most appropriate match.
It's a critical piece of the $30 billion apps market, according to Juniper Research. It estimates that mobile phone and tablet users worldwide downloaded 30 billion apps last year and that revenue for the apps business will increase from $30 billion in 2012 to close to $52 billion by 2016.


      "You've gone from a situation where you had hundreds of apps to tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands of apps," said Windsor Holden, research director for Juniper Research.
A separate report by Gartner, another research firm, predicts that by the end of 2014, mobile users worldwide will have downloaded more than 185 billion apps.


      Mobilewalla, which also offers a search engine and its own apps ranking system, said that apps have multiplied in recent years, from 100,000 apps in December 2009 to 500,000 in January 2011. They crossed the 1 million threshold in December. More of the story at  SF Gate  by Ellen Lee

http://www.quixey.com/

http://chomp.com/

http://mobilewalla.com/

http://blekko.com/

http://www.148apps.com/

Man are we all over the map, on this blog from building trailers, 

working for GOD, shopping for food bargains & 

high tech Apple stuff !!

None of the same old boring stuff here !!

Check out the 7 new blog views

click on the banner above.

A great camper from John , I want a Doubleback! Ultimate Stealth!

I have to give all the credit for finding this to John on his blog....click here !!

I'm hoping he won't mind if I mention him and copy this...

I want a Doubleback! Ultimate Stealth!

Its only 87,000 British pounds & 5,000 for shipping.

You can see more at:

http://doubleback.co.uk/

Doing the Lords work part 4

       We are down to the final home stretch. Here is the second layer of waterproofing. This layer is a Schluter foam membrane. It Is being covered with mortar just to let it blend in. God willing, no water will ever leak into the building.

BTW...this Schluter is the same material I used for my trailers glass tile shower.

The Schluter 1/2' waterproof foam board

One layer of thinset to make it blend in

I'm having a little fun with one of the workers who is doing the project, 

making a cartoon about him. The picture sure looked 

like his hand was stuck in the bucket.

We are now down to installing the sprinklers, soil and the 

new plants stay tuned for final pictures.

This battery lug crimping tool kicks butt

        For crimping battery cables lugs this tool really kicks butt. I was sort of scared to spend the money first since I didn't have that many things to crimp. But I do know that loose wire connections of the fastest way to hell with a fire. I also used a anticorrosion cream. Once this hydraulic tool made the crimps I could not pull them apart even if my life had dependent on it. 

I'm not sure but I think last week it was $10 cheaper. 

This thing works great all the way down to 1/0 wire battery lugs. 

Normally I don't buy my tools at Harbor freight. 

But this tool really is a grand slam. 

Click on this link. 

A little work on the E panel today

        I was very lucky to squeeze in a little work on my electric panel today. I installed a 12 volt on and off button for the inverter. Without that button the unit was sucking about 15 Watts per hour on standby.  Every little bit adds up and in two weeks my battery could be dead. 

Here is the button on the inside, 

this turns the inverter 100% off.

Here is the button on the outside of the cabinet.

Extra set of # 6 cables for other items.

I set up my battery charger so that it can be easily unplugged,

its also screwed to the cabinet so nothing fly's around.

This also allows other items to directly quickly connect to the battery,

maybe like an air pump ?

These Anderson power pole connectors are great.

I like to be able to disconnect everything thats not being used.

Much less fire hazard that way.

4 new Tires for OverTheTop Tundra tow car

        I just had to keep up A view from the Road and his 6 new tires. Now I ordered mine on the internet, they got here in just under 24 hours once they left the wear house. Best of all I have no nightmare story to tell.

Only $161 each - Yahoo !!!

They were made in 2011 and were supper fresh.

After hearing Don's story I was scared they would be from 2007

as they were so cheap.

I almost feel like I stole them, because last year a tire store quoted me $999 plus, plus !! 

I went to my friends at D & J Tire center

in San Jose Ca 95128

They did the job, IN & OUT in under 30 minutes.

Now OverTheTop  Tundra rides smooth as silk.

I'm not really a Doomsday Prepper

          Not that I don't believe in some doom and gloom, just looking at the deficit and what 79 million baby booms will run up in medical bills would convince almost anybody that doom and gloom is right around the corner. Its just that when an item is 80% off, who can walk away from deal like that ? Since I can still do basic math in my head, this seams like a no brainer to me. If you put your money in the bank you get .05% interest and a tax bill to boot on the interest you just earned. With this deal it seams like buying food on sale these days gets you a guaranteed 20 - 40% return on your money, or even more!


           Here is an idea for solving the deficit, if you buy $1,000 in food and store it for 10 years till its worth $5,000 before you eat it, or you get an 80% discount, then should you not have to pay at least 15% investment tax on your $4,000 gain ? I once got a $5,000 rebate on a car only to find out when I signed the contract I owed 8 3/4%  tax on that $5,000 rebate - what a surprise that was for an extra $450. 

Lets TAX the Doomsday PREPPERS !! 

Come on.... I'm just having a little fun with you !!

Go and check with H&R to see if this legal to save this way.

http://suburbanprepper.wordpress.com/

I just had to do this little rant because today I was assaulted by an 81 year old Portuguese grandma while shopping for food. As I was at the check out line with my full cart, I noticed a nice grandma get in line behind me and I asked her if she would like to go ahead, since she only had a few Items ?

Without saying a work of thanks she jumped right in and gave me a very strange look why I was buying so many of the same item ? So jokingly I said to her, I was stocking up because if I was lucky to reached her age "she looked like 90+" and we depleted social security for us,  at least I would not starve due to lack of food.

YOUR-SUCH-A-BULLSHITTER blurted out of her mouth, OMG I was in shock. 

Next she said I must be Irish !! 

I work with contractors all day and YOUR-SUCH-A-BULLSHITTER came out again !!

She just went on and on and on and on!! I asked her if she remembered 1979 under Jimmy Carter where you could buy a 30 year T-Bill non callable for 15% interest ? I asked her where can you get that deal today? I never buy those she said- ignoring my question.

Then she ranted and raved about how tight she was with her money, how she had $1.5 million in investments, even saying she had just spent $20k on a vacation for herself. After she left, she came back again and said she was Portuguese and she was known as xxxxxxxxx ? I did not understand the word. The tone of her voice however sounded like it was a special slang name for a Tight-ASS-Portuguese grandma loaded with money.

Next time I see her, I will have my pepper spray ready, to keep her away !!

The clerk said she is always like that.

Almost FREE food in California - 2.78 cents for a cup of Coffee & Milk

          So for those of you think food prices are over-the-top here's the deal of the day. If you can live on milk and coffee, today will be the happiest in your life. Since I really stocked up, I will still be sucking this stuff down when you guys are paying $20 for a cup of coffee.... he he he !!!!!

$2.99 for 2 gallons of Milk and 

$1.99 for Instant Maxwell House 12oz coffee.

How much cheaper can the good life be? 

Just when you thought we turned into an Apple blog,

I throw in these food bargains !!

2.78 cents for a cup of Coffee & Milk

are those 1930 depression prices or what ?

Bargin shopping at its best, I spent $147.04 and saved $436.71

        On one blog that I was reading, the writer complained about the high cost of food. He said he spent $50 and got almost nothing. So I did a little test on what bargains I could find ? So here it is !! If you want to live cheap come to California to buy your food !!

My shopping cart, filled to the brim.

Here is the proof men can also save money shopping.

Here is where I scored big.

I got 3 boxes for $4.47 or $1.49 each

1 box for $1.49 at my store, compare.

Walmart price is $7.58