Friday, July 24, 2009

Solar Eclipse

Last July 22nd the longest solar eclipse for this century occurred, although it would be only a partial eclipse from my location. Tsk,tsk, if I were still in Taiwan the maximum obscuration would've been 82%, as it is only around 35-39% of the Sun would be blotted out. However this would be my first eclipse of which I'll be using a digital camera. But after days of spotty weather (sudden drizzle or outright rain) I was not so enthusiastic of setting up the telescope, so I just got out the old solar filter on the 20th and tried some shots just using a 100mm lens. Tests were good so I re-updated it that night, and did further tests the next morning. On eclipse day, I awoke earlier than what I set the alarm to. The weather was great! and I was thinking - I really should've set up the scope. Anyway while waiting for the sun to clear the neighboring building, I did my morning duties. Then went back up to take some test shots, and finalize the camera settings before doing cashier duty. While waiting to pass the cashier's baton I was wishing I had set up the scope OR at the least readied the adapters to attach the DSLR to it. So when I got off, I ran upstairs took some shots, seeing the weather as it is, I decided to GO FOR IT...grabbed the T-ring and an adapter and head on to my uncle's house, set up the scope, pulled out the EP adapter,and tried to screw on what I had - it's too SMALL!! and so there goes my chance to shoot ANYTHING thru prime focus for the first time. Quite a lesson for the unprepared.I had to settle for the 100mm f/2.8 macro and this pic is probably the best of the bunch...



Until next time... :-)

Sunday, July 19, 2009

bad printer...Bad, BAD Printer! among other things

Arghhh, damn Epson T10 wouldn't want to work anymore. So my PCBs were coming out better and better, then it was time to change the yellow cartridge (after the magenta and black). But then I get this dreadful 'Ink cartridge cannot/are not recognized' message - for all FOUR of them cartridges. So off I go online to figure it out and WTF, lots of ordinary people are very angry at epson for this same problem. Man, the same brand of printer that should've finally given me a chance to make very good PCBs turns out to be quite a headache.

Meanwhile I found some nail polish solvent which I think could be useful to plug or re-melt those micro holes in them laser toner transfer PCBs. But current tryouts weren't encouraging. So I'm again in the doldrums, can't make good PCBs for any projects. Stuck in the same full-of-stuff-I-want-to-try-but-can't state.

Also have the bad throat syndrome again.