UPDATE:: I got a call from Bell last night wanting my feedback on their service. It was automated because they care so much…

What is it with companies trying to nickel and dime people at every turn? Why do I need to subscribe to the largest possible cable package to get 3 channels? Why do I need to harvest my own kidneys to pay a whopping cell phone bill just to get the only two features that matter to me?

Bell sucks. If I want nothing but The Discovery Channel and TLC, I need to first subscribe to at least the basic package which has over 100 channels. You get the major networks like Global, CTV, NBC, Fox, etc…, and crap like OMNI and the Aboriginal Peoples Television (which I’m sure even the Aboriginal peoples don’t watch).

Now, to get those two channels I mentioned (Discovery and TLC) you need to subscribe to not one, but two theme packs. They’re not really theme packs because you only get half a theme. To get the two channels I want I need to subscribe to News & Learning 1, and News & Learning 2. That means I get 20 channels I don’t want. Crap like Book TV, and Business News Network, and VIVA (whatever the hell that is).

Now I have over 120 channels, and I’m paying about $40. Oh, and don’t forget about the service charge. Fuck me, but I though the subscription I was buying was the service. I guess I have to pay a few bucks to cover the cost of that automated infinite loop of a phone system they have. Now I pay about $50 for the 2 channels I want.

So, I canceled. I don’t need this shit. I have the internet. Do you know what Bell told me? They told me I needed to give them 30 days notice and pay a $99 cancellation fee. Do you know why they need 30 days notice? I guess they were really banking on my 50 bucks, and they have to find somebody to take my place. Right. So they got another $50 out of me. Same thing for the cancellation fee. Actually I bitched enough about how stupid that was, so they only charged me $50. Thanks ever so much Bell.

Hey! I have an idea. Why doesn’t Bell just provide a service that people actually want to pay for? Why not allow me to pay them for 2 channels? Why split up the themes so that I have to buy all this shit I don’t want?

It’s the same thing with Rogers. I have an iPhone, and if I want caller ID, I have to pay about $100/month because of all the bundling I have to do. Ridiculous.

I guess the whole point of this rant is that Value Added Services add cost, not value. Greedy companies just use this term as a way to describe the practice of adding perceivedvalue to their offerings. Go fuck yourselves.

Ever heard of a mirror lens? Well I have one.  It uses mirrors to achieve a long focal length in a shorter lens, rather than traditional glass elements.  That’s my description.  If you want a proper one, read this. I have a Rokinon 500mm f/6.3 mirror lens that I decided to try out tonight.  I wanted to see how it compared to my Nikkor 70-300 f/4.5 – f/5.6 VR lens. You be the judge.

What I did is set up a tripod about 25 feet away from a glass vase on a bookshelf.  I would have liked to use a better subject outdoors, but I won’t have the time to get out and shoot for a few days, so I did this quick and dirty.

I took a shot with the 70-300 first, then I used the Rokinon 500mm, and then I used a Rokinon 2x teleconverter to extend the focal length to 1000mm. The tripod was necessary because, even though the lens was physically shorter, it’s still subject to some nasty camera shake.  I also used a remote shutter release cable.

Here’s the Nikkor 70-300 f/4.5-f/5.6 VR at 300mm (click to enlarge):

Here’s the Rokinon 500mm f/6.3 (click to enlarge):

Here’s the Rokinon 500mm f/6.3 with a 2x teleconverter for 1000mm (click to enlarge):

The lens is Korean-made, it has an aluminum body, and it has the feel of a no-name product. It comes with a pleather case, and the warranty card doesn’t mention Rokinon anywhere. What can you expect from a $100 500mm lens?

Overall, I found the lens difficult to focus with because of the really shallow depth of field. Indoors, it was impossible to hand-hold, though I imagine outdoors on a bright day, you could manage. When you add the teleconverter, you’re definitely tied to a tripod.

Although I haven’t experienced it yet, mirror lenses are notorious for donut-shaped bokeh. This has to do with the fact that the secondary mirror in the lens is smack in the center. I’ve read that this isn’t much of a problem when shooting subjects against a relatively consistent background. We’ll see. I bought the lens expecting exactly what I got, so I think I’m going to be happy in the end.

It’s kind of funny to look at this lens when attached to my Nikon D80. The filter size for the lens is a whopping 95mm. It’s almost as wide as it is long.

Without the teleconverter (click to enlarge)

Without the teleconverter (click to enlarge)

Today, I decided I needed to buy a new shovel.  It was a spur of the moment decision that prompted me to make the 20 minute trip into Fredericton to pick one up.  I arrived at Canadian Tire at 11:30 this morning (a Sunday) only to find that the store had yet to open.  Damn!

Of course, here in New Brunswick, most retail and grocery stores are only allowed to be open from noon to 5 pm on Sundays.  This makes absolutely no sense to me.  I see no valid argument for restricting commerce in this way.  Stores of any type should be allowed to conduct business any time they please.

The Lord’s Act was the legislation that restricted shopping on Sundays.  It was found to be inconsistent with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and was removed back in the mid-80s.  But, we here in New Brunswick don’t seem to like too much change too quckly.  So, we now we just restrict the times that businesses can operate on Sundays.

I’ve heard lots of arguments in favour of restricting shopping on Sundays.  Everything from the obvious religious reasoning to ensuring shift workers get at least one full day off.  I don’t buy any of it. As I said…ridiculous.

My sister...thoughful

What is it about black and white photography that seems to convey a certain sense of drama or intensity that often escapes color photographs?

Calista Approaching

Often times, when you convert an image to black and white, and increase contrast, you get a level of vitality in a photograph that cannot be achieved in colour.

Window and Plank

Even the most mundane of subjects can hold the eye’s interest when in black and white.  I suppose that speaks to the power of simplicity. So often in today’s society we have to deal with so much information at any one time.  It’s no wonder that when we take the time to focus on something simple, it’s beauty and composition seem to jump out at us.

Neglected Window

Even neglected and decayed objects and settings from every-day life can take on an air of eerieness when presented in black and white.

Well, I already upgraded from the iPod Touch to the iPhone.  I couldn’t help it.  I loved the online capabilities of the iPod Touch so much that I just had to get the iPhone.

The plans from Rogers are close to extortion, but when you’re the only game in town, I guess you can charge what you want.  I just went for the $60/mo 1 GB plan for now.  We’ll see how that goes.  Most of the time that I want to use the internet on the phone, I’m within range of a wireless network, so I’m pretty sure I can keep the useage to a reasonable level.

I’m having a lot of fun with the app store too.  I’m going to have to be careful not to spend a fortune two bucks at a time.  I’ve had lots of suggestions for apps through Twitter, but if there’s an app out there that you think is a must have, just leave a comment for me.