PBS Masterpiece “Indian Summers” Gets Off To A Sluggish Start.
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by Anura Guruge
Other Related posts:
>> ‘Indian Summers’ preview.
>> ‘Indian Summers’ on PBS Roku.
>> Addictive “Downton Abbey”.
>> PBS: “Pope Francis the Sinner”.
++++ Search ‘PBS‘ for many other related posts >>>>
No doubt my expectations were way high. Like so many others I was hoping it would prove to be an enchanting amalgamation of ‘Passage to India‘ (which we recently watched with the kids), ‘The Jewel in the Crown‘ (which I have watched twice), ‘Gandhi‘ (which we also watched recently for the kids) & ‘Downton Abbey‘ (to which the kids are totally and utterly addicted). Well we just finished watching the 1st episode of ‘Indian Summers’ (which I DVRed on Sunday, off PBS). The kids, given all the steamy ‘romance’ scenes — with a bit of good ol’ British up-the-skirt groping discreetly thrown in — were intrigued and mesmerized. By their bar is low.
No doubt it has been lavishly filmed. Exquisite photography and wonderful scenes of India at its picturesque best. It is indeed sumptuous. Much of the acting, particularly by the Indians, is very promising and there are plenty of characters already that can blossom. Yes, there are 8 more episodes to go and who knows, maybe even a second and third season (though they may have forestalled that by already moving onto Independence, in 1947, by the last episode).
I am keeping my fingers crossed. I want this series to be a SMASH hit; I want it to be addictive. So I am in no way writing it off. Just expected it to get off to a more dynamite start. It isn’t as if ‘they’ don’t know the ‘formula’. ‘The Jewel in the Crown’ and ‘Passage to India’ set out what needs to happen. So …. In hope that episode 2 on Sunday turns out to be a barnburner. Talking of which another Masterpiece debuts that night on PBS. “Homefires“. Looks very promising too. As does another series starting that very same night: “The Widower“.
I Get A Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 To Replace Sony a77 mk II! Sacre Bleu! Yikes?
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by Anura Guruge
Other Related posts:
>> Sony RX10 II overpriced.
>> Shy away from Samsung NX1.
>> 1-star review: Sony a77 II on Amazon.
>> Decide to DITCH Sony a77 Mk II.
>> ‘Unable to Display’ error!
>> 1st pics with Sony a77 II from Cameta
>> Sony a77 II from Cameta Camera?
>> My review of Sony a77 II Bundle.
>> Search ‘Sony’ for other related posts >>>>
The winding road to the Panasonic Lumix FZ1000.
Click to ENLARGE.
It is OK. I don’t need to be told. I fully (and painfully) appreciate that this was one HECK of a downgrade — and a case of backtracking!
Yes, after being adamant that I wanted a sensor that was at least APS-C size I have gone with a 1″. I know.
The Lumix FZ1000, at ~$780, was exactly half the price of what I paid for the Sony a77 mk II (before rebates). So it was one heck of a step-down. I am hoping against hope that I did not screw up too badly. But, though people find this near impossible to believe, there is method to my madness and I am not totally stupid (and never have been). I have always been just partly stupid.
After I lost the 989 images I was TOO RATTLED to ever again be comfortable taking pictures with a Sony a77 mk II. I have used digital cameras for 15 years and this was the FIRST time I lost ANY images. That is big.
The Lumix FZ1000 is very much a COMPROMISE.
I invested over 20 hours evaluating the Sony a77 mk II BEFORE I bought it. IF I think about it, I spent MORE time checking out the Sony than I did my wife — before I asked her to marry me!
I just don’t have the inclination or time to spend another 20 hours checking out another camera. That was why I decided to go with a compromise camera.
But it is NOT a really bad compromise. People do RAVE about the the FZ1000 and we are NOT strangers to Lumix cameras. The Lumix ZS19 (which replaced a ZS20) we had, before we started getting the sticking lens cover problem), was, by far, one of our favorite cameras. During 2012 – 2013 we had 3, possibly 4, Lumix cameras in this household. So I have some experience with Lumix cameras.
85%, possibly 90%, of the pictures I take, of late, are concerts (e.g.. “The Brigadoons” or Ronan Tynan for ‘Great Waters‘), events (e.g., Laconia Multicultural Day) or landscapes (e.g., Acadia). So the two mandatory things I need are good zoom and high ISO. The FZ1000 gives me these, at a reasonable price, and without the need to lug multiple lenses. That in the end was the deciding factor.
Yes, the FZ1000 is NOT a Sony a77 mk II. It doesn’t feel as rugged and the menus are a bit ‘hit or miss’. The documentation is AWFUL and I can’t find any books, in English, for the FZ1000.
OK. Deanna and the kids kind of already know. The FZ1000 is NOT for the long run. I am sure that there will be a CROP of new cameras between Christmas and Easter. Come June 2016 I probably will be in the market for another. I have ‘money in the bank’ so to speak given that I am getting a full refund for the Sony.
I took a few pictures with the Lumiz FZ1000. Not bad. Yes, a LOT I have to learn. But …
My first few pictures with the FZ1000.
Untouched. In JPEG as they came out of the cameras.
These really were from the first 12 pictures I took —
with the first 3 at the top.
(You can check the numbers. P1000001 onwards!)
iA+ setting. Taken Tuesday, September 29, 2015.
Enjoy.
Credit Card Chip Enforcement (EMV) Kicks In October 1, 2015. Is New Hampshire Ready For ‘INSERT Please’?
Click to access ‘Market Watch’ post.
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by Anura Guruge
Related posts:
++++ Search on ‘credit card’ for other posts >>>>
I had read about this months ago and had done some quick Googling to find out what it was all out.
In a nutshell, starting tomorrow, October 1, 2015, UNLESS you pay by credit card by INSERTING the card, so the embedded chip can be read, the credit card company will REFUSE to compensate the MERCHANT IF the transaction proves to be fraudulent. This is ANOTHER attempt to cut back on credit card fraud — which is a HUGE, billion dollar, if not trillion dollar, problem. The chip in the card, unlike the magnetic stripe, is HARDER to ‘crack’ — both in terms of making counterfeits or changing the information.
But note. We as consumer are still protected SINCE we can’t determine what technology the merchants use. So the credit card companies will still protect credit card users.
The penalty and liability is on the MERCHANT.
So, how many times have YOU INSERTED your card in — recently, in New Hampshire.
I have done it a FEW times. Walmart uses it. Haven’t seen Supermarkets do so yet. Actually swiped my card this weekend. Wow. Don’t even think the New Hampshire Liquor Stores were using INSERT.
But all this changes tomorrow.
IF you are NOT INSERTING after tomorrow QUESTION the merchant. I have. At places like supermarkets, those working the register, have no idea. And I don’t blame them. Not their job.
But a HEADS UP.
Laconia, N.H., Pumpkin Festival, 2015 — Answers To Questions With Less Than A Month To Go.
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by Anura Guruge
2015 PICTURES.
click image.
Related posts:
>> Laconia 2015: Map, schedule etc.
>> Laconia 2015!
>> Laconia — Déjà vu?
>> Keene 2014: the riots!
>> Keene 2014 schedule.
>> Keene 2014 preview.
>> Keene Pumpkin Festival 2013.
++++ Search on ‘Keene’ or ‘pumpkin’ using sidebar search (at top) for ALL the posts from 2012 festival >>>>
Click to ENLARGE and study here.
To access their official Website — click here.
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“Cantate Domino” by Sistine Choir, Now On CD, Recorded Inside The Sistine — The First Ever Time.
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by Anura Guruge
Some Related Posts:
† “Para que todos …” sung by Pope Francis.
† Only pope to fly during a Supermoon eclipse.
† Pope Francis’ U.S. Visit — THE book.
++++ Search on ‘pope‘ for many other posts >>>>
This, from ‘Vatican Radio‘ tells it all. Click here for the original.
Click to ENLARGE and read here. Use above link for original.
The CD, available worldwide, from Amazon.
Cantate Domino = To Sing for the Lord
Here is a track (i.e., #7) from the CD, ‘Allegri: Miserere’
on YouTube from the CD producer.
Click to access YouTube video.
“The Body Donors” Documentary Should Inspire & Encourage — Not Repulse. Please.
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by Anura Guruge
Click to read my original PLEA for body donation. Please.
This sensationalistic is unnecessary!
Why would YOU care what happens to your body after you die?
PLEASE donate it to science — let them do whatever. Why do YOU care.
Feel good about it, instead.
Click to ENLARGE and read here. Use link above to access U.K. Daily Mail original. Ignore this headline. Please.
This, from the same article, says it all.
What MORE do YOU want to hear or know.
Please donate. This is one of the dearest causes to my heart.
One of the BEST decisions I ever made.
That the person who ‘inspired’ me to do this RENEGED on it, when he died, only shows how IMPORTANT it is.
My ‘grandfather‘ (though probably not biologically) did this and asked ALL males in the family to do so.
None have so far, because his own son didn’t heed the request. So I will be the first — I HOPE.
Click to ENLARGE and read. From same article. PLEASE absorb what it says. “…. how important body donation is to train future doctors. One student said: ‘Books and models are all very well and good but you don’t see what it’s like, you don’t get to feel what it’s like. Dissecting a cadaver is the only way to actually learn’ …”
There is a video trailer that goes with it. YOU can access it directly from the article. OK?
MetroCast 75Mbps Internet Service In Alton Had Issues Last Night/This Morning.
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by Anura Guruge
Other Related posts:
>> Aug. 26, 2015 Metrocast & TDS outage.
>> Parts of Metrocast being sold.
>> Metrocast 75Mbps fixed.
++++ Search ‘MetroCast’ for many other posts >>>>>
Just a heads up.
Most of you were probably asleep. We are taking around mid-night and continuing past 1:20 am.
The service was up BUT it was slow, intermittent and had TCP/IP issues. Most of the time you could not complete a speedtest! The speedtest would time out. Never seen that before.
But all seems well now. So just documenting this. OK?
~11:35 am Tuesday, September 29, 2015. Alton, NH.
Click to ENLARGE and study here.
First image from gstnetworks.net my preferred, quick-and-easy, speedtest.
Second is from the more elaborate speedtest.net.
I use the Comcast node in Boston
as opposed to the default node in Portland, ME.
Comcast has more bandwidth!
BOTH, however, use OOKLA technology.
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For those too busy to meditate.
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"Orgasms: 101 Facts & Trivia"
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'A fancy that' look at human orgasms -- female & male.
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