Photo and Slide Scanners

I'm interested in buying a scanner to scan several hundred (or more) slides (hopefully) and am looking at the Epson Perfection V700 and the Epson Perfection V750 - any comments or experience with either of these. I was also looking at the Microtek ArtixScan M1 but it looks like Microtek isn't selling scanners in North America any more.

Wordless Wednesday

26/01/2009
Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS

Computer Handicapped

I still don't have my computer back - not surprising given the amount of time that has elapsed - but I feel weird without it. I miss working on an Apple computer - I've had to wrestle with Vista on the lab computer.

I got 3 knitting books in the mail - all by Elizabeth Zimmerman. I got the Knitting Workshop, Knitting Around, and The Opinionated Knitter - all from Schoolhouse Press (ie/ not from the Amazon links I just provided). It rounds out the collection - I already had Knitting Without Tears and the Knitters Almanac. I was surprised to find out that they are all hard cover - and I was surprised by the size of the Opinionated Knitter - it is about 25cm square - I think I was expecting about 20cm square. I'm currently reading the Opinionated Knitter at home and Brinsinger on the bus.

I've been working hard at school - I have a class that has assignments and exams again - the first one in about 2 years because all of my recent classes have been presentation and research paper based. I got a manuscript back about a week ago with an "accepted pending minor revisions" so I've been working on that. When I get the final acceptance I'll tell y'all more about it but it isn't my interest area right now - I'm much more interested in my new line of research than the animal stuff that I did for my masters. But it will be my second paper, and my first first authored paper - which is a big deal, publications are what get scholarships and funding and jobs - and for now, first authorship is the best that it gets. I'm excited, but my brain really feels fried. When I can intersperse some pictures with this academic talk I'll resume the discussion.

Cheers

Wordless Wednesday: Academic Humor Edition

23/10/2008
Cannon PowerShot SD1100 IS



Bonus photo:

23/10/2008
Cannon PowerShot SD1100 IS

TGI-extended apple care plan

I am computer-less.

Well, my computer is getting repaired - I'm on a random university computer right now. I just want to say, that I will forever more get the extended care plan on my apple laptop. My computer is about 2.5 years old and the track pad sometimes stops working, the computer is running slow, and the disk drive sounds like an airplane taking off (the technical term is "vibrations", I like my term better). That is two parts (disk drive and track pad), each $300 plus service time. The guy, Clayton, said that the repairs would be at least $800 if I didn't have coverage! TGI-care plan.

So it will be approximately 1 week before I get my computer back - though they will try to get to it faster than that and will call if it is ready early. Which is good because my work/school life resides mainly on that computer (I backed it up, no worries there). It is that fast because there is an Apple store in Calgary now. But I'm still twitching a little about how much the repairs WOULD cost if I had to pay for them. I knew the care plan was a smart idea - I bring the computer to and from work almost every day. With that much transit, something is bound to happen.

I like Apple - both the products and the company. And I need to go into the Apple store again when I have more time to look around - so many toys!

Dinosaur Tracks

My husband called me at work today. After exchanging the usual greetings - what the cats have done today, what the cats are currently doing, what I've accomplished (briefly) at work (sometimes summarized as "workin' hard honey?" "yep") my husband told me that there were dinosaur footprints in our back yard. When I came home I dutifully looked at the footprints, agreed that they were strange looking, and took pictures.

Need some help seeing what he was talking about?

They do look somewhat suspicious...

Snickerdoodle Pooper-Snot

I'm working on decreasing my swearing seeing as in a month or so I'll be working with kids between the ages of 3 and 4. One of my labmates has non-swear word swearing down to an art... His most frequent expletive lately has been "son of a bee sting".

Anyway, what am I complaining about? It appears that I've given myself a repetitive strain injury from knitting. I'm hoping that it was because I was knitting with metal double pointed needles and not knitting in general. If metal dpns are the culprit it doesn't mean I'll give up on the second straight laced sock but it does mean that I'll take it very slowly.

In the meantime I'm enforcing a 1 week (minimum) no knitting policy. I stopped around 7pm yesterday and today I thought about knitting an irrational amount of time - more than normal during working hours. This is going to be a long week. I figure after a week I'll assess how painful my wrists hurt during the day and when I get home from work. I worked on the computer for a few hours today and quickly had a pair of sore wrists. At least today it feels more like a general soreness than a throb. And there is no tingling in my fingers - which I hear is a good sign. There has only been pain for the past week - so hopefully it isn't too bad or too aggravated.

To occupy my time I've started another book and am reading it at home in addition to reading it on the bus (my normal leisure reading time). Yesterday I read Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8: The Long Way Home and Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8: No Future for You - any Buffy fans should read these (and the other 2 books of season 8, and the upcoming season 9 I bet). I've read the first three omnibus volumes (volume 1 and volume 2 and volume 3) But as I found out, Joss Whedon wasn't as involved (or involved at all) and it shows. These season 8 ones were amazing. Side note from the book stuff - who else is excited about Joss Whedon's latest The Dollhouse?

Today I started Eldest (second in the Inheritance Cycle). So far so good. 

And I've decided to sign up for the Feelin' Chunky: Chunkster Challenge 2009 in the category of Do These Books Make my Butt Look Big? This is a commitment to read a minimum of 3-5 books that are 450 pages or longer by November 15, 2009. I don't know that I could do 6 (Mor-book-ly Obese) but not one to resist a challenge I figure I can read more than 2 (The Chubby Chunkster) and I don't want to have to name the books (Too Big To Ignore Anymore). I'm don't think Eldest will count - I think the challenge starts Feb 1 - but in addition I don't know if Brisingr will count because the Twilight books won't count. But even if it won't count - there are plenty of 450+ page books that are on the shelves waiting to be read.

Oh and look at the awesome button they have - it is almost reason enough.

Wordless Wednesday: Baby Horse Edition

10/12/2008
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi

Can You Say Obsessed?

So, I have caught the sock knitting bug it seems - which is good considering that there is sock yarn in the stash. I have knit socks previous to infection - 2 pairs.

It started with the Miss Priss Ribbed Socks (by Sarah Mehta) knit early 2007. They are a little short and too thick for all of my shoes - but I loves them (seldom use them though...)

Followed quickly by a Toe Up Sock (Universal Toe-Up Sock Formula - Knitty summer 2006) which I liked but were too long in the foot. They fit mom perfectly until she felted them - I think they fit me now.

And then there was a drought in the sock knitting until December 16, 2008 - when I cast on the Heel Up and Down Socks - they were finished Christmas morning.

I immediately cast on the Straight Laced Socks - and have one done. These are knit on 00 needles and get a bit repetitive (and metal needles hurt my hands) - so... when one was almost completed I cast on 

A pair of Monkeys (Knitty winter 2006) - I'd have one of these done too if I didn't have to keep ripping out the cast on edge to get the thing over my foot. Then I double checked what gauge I was getting - despite swatching - I went up a needle size and things are tight but they get over my heel. These are being knit on 1's! So large - well not really but compared to 00 they are. (sorry for the exposure - it was dark-ish by the time I got home today)

In addition I cast on Bird in Hand Mittens on New Years Day - and completed 1 (minus the embroidery - I want to do both at the same time to maximize similarity).





I learned how to knit an estonian braid - so much fun! These are being knit on size 2 needles which really do feel large. 

So if it isn't an obsession with socks it is an obsession with double pointed needles.

Wordless Wednesday: Kelowna edition

05/01/2009

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi

Scheherazade

These are pictures of my sister's Christmas gift. I love doing big lace projects. You can't tell from these pictures, but the kitties helped me with the blocking.

I was going to post this tomorrow and do a wordless Wednesday but blogger isn't uploading the image I want to share so I'll post this tomorrow and wordless tomorrow.

Cheers!