Canon EOS Rebel T2i

This will be my next camera.

Canon just annouced the EOS Rebel T2i, which sounds perfect to me as i’m primarily interested in the video capabilities — everything else DSLRs do will be an upgrade from my current point-and-shoot. It has the video features of the 7D and essentially the same sensor, but is half the price. $800 is a point for me where it becomes less about when can i afford it, than when is it available — especially compared to it’s bigger siblings that run in the several thousand dollars range. I would get one today, but will gladly read reviews and inspect sample footage for the next few weeks until its release. DPReview has a solid introduction of the T2i.

Back view of the Canon EOS Rebel T2i

I’ve really grown bored and feel limited with my SD790. It’s a great camera and it’s great at what it does, but it doesn’t always do what i want. Plus i still don’t have a proper video camera. Not that HDSLRs are “proper” video cameras, but i need something that can create quality. On the other hand, i’d rather not spend a grand or more on just a video camera — i shoot photos a lot more than i do video. And i am sworn off of tape-based cameras. I think that HD video-capable DSLRs fit into that niche perfectly for me. And there’s already many film production-style accessories being produced for these cameras, so even if they’re not the next big thing, we can use them like they are.

I guess this means i’ll be starting a Canon EF lens collection…

[Checkout my previous post about DSLRs.]

Julie & Julia (2009)

Some of the worst trailers for never-heard-of click-flicks on this disc.

…And they just keep coming.

…And finally the menu, and pressing play.

This is starting just like Beauty & The Beast — Disney-sounding “French” accordion score, with people speaking french, nuns walking in the town square.

Streep’s Child impression just makes you smile.

Butter! In the good way, not the near-gross Paula Dean way.

And hey, there’s Chloe from 24, poaching eggs. She’s kinda just one degree, one flavor.

“Madame, s’il vous plait, you must hold szee knife like sziss.”

And there’s the requisite chick-flick fight. I’m not worried. They’ll work it out and live happily ever after.

Bon apetit, i guess. This movie is wrapping up, but i don’t feel satisfied.

I really like the idea of cooking — it appeals to the scientist, artist, and foodie in me. And know my way around a kitchen. But i don’t really have much time logged making real food, and can’t say i have any recipies memorized or any dishes i know how to make. A challenge like Julie’s would be fun, but i can’t realistically imagine being able to do it. Though i did get Alton Brown’s Good Eats book for Christmas, and he’s my Julia — my cooking idol.

The Brothers Bloom (2008)

Blizzard

Figured i’d start a post to keep notes, links, photos, videos, etc. of this over-adjectified snow storm hitting the DC area this weekend. Live stuff over @miahz.

No power outtage here so far. The utilities in this area are pretty much all buried, so they wouldn’t be affected by falling trees or being weighted down by snow and ice.

Monday, 08:50: Aerial photos of DC covered in snow from the US Park Police [via @myfoxdc].

Saturday, 08:09: I’d guess about 16–18″ and still coming down.

@miahz

Definitely stuck. But i got half a tank of gas and 6lbs of gummi bears. #snoWTF

Friday, 18:26: @miahz

Dale blvd west from I-95 is backed up cuz people like me can’t get up the hill.

Friday, 17:32: Driving in the snow, testing out my car headrest camera mount.

Around 5pm when it started to get darker and colder, things began to go as all the predictions were saying.

This guy got a little too excited:

via @Cizauskas

Finally, a hashtag i can dig:

#snowtoriousbig

Spotted on that VisibleTweets site.

Friday, 15:44: By Friday afternoon, it had been snowing all day, but nothing was sticking and there was no real accumulation. @miahz

All you school kids got a freebie today. You’ll have to pay that back at the end of the year when the weather’s nice.

Friday, 13:40: This “kinetic typography” visualization of storm-related tweets would make a cool screensaver: VisibleTweets [via @danr].

Friday, 12:53: Snow plows were on-deck on Cardinal Dr in Woodbridge.

Friday, 12:33: @miahz

Though, to be fair, nothing’s sticking yet. #snowmageddon #ihatethattag

Friday, 12:28: @miahz

No matter how you slice it this is going to be historical snowfall for DMV http://bit.ly/bXoK73

I think i woke up and peeked out the window around 7am and it wasn’t snowing yet. But i think it was coming down steady from about 9am.

Friday, 01:14: @miahz

In all likelihood it’ll be snowing the next time i look out my window.

Thursday, 20:53: The Potomac Mills Wegmans parking was full from shoppers stocking up before the storm hits.

Entourage

I’ve blitzed through all six seasons of Entourage in about three weeks. What a great show. Can’t wait until next season, not sure anything else will satisfy my fantasy TV cravings.

HBO’s site lists the songs used in each episode, which is great, because a lot of the flavor comes from the musical variety, and they don’t list songs in the credits at the end of the show.

I’ve been wondering since early-on why Kevin Connolly has top billing in the show’s intro credits for his Eric Murphy character, when on the surface it seems to be about the entourage revolving around movie star Vincent Chase played by Adrian Grenier. Haven’t been able to find any solid info on that. I think i’d say E’s my favorite character, but most people seem to go gaga for Jeremy Piven’s ruthless agent extraordinaire Ari Gold.