Sigma AF 150-500mm f/5.0-6.3 APO DG OS HSM

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I must have the Sigma AF 150-500mm f/5.0-6.3 APO DG OS HSM. Simply must.

I’ve been thinking for a while now, trying to decide which type of lens I want.. A macro, telephoto, a better all purpose, the list goes on, but I’ve finally narrowed it down to this miraculous feat of engineering.

Lets get right to the thick of things.

Clearly, from the name, the focal range is from 150-500mm, and has an f-stop of f/ 5.0-6.3. The OS stands for Optical Stabilizer Function, and the HSM stands for Hyper-Sonic Motor.

Taken directly from the Sigma website:

Lens Construction 21 Elements in 15 Groups
Angle of View 16.4º-5º
Number of Diaphragm Blades 9
Mininum Aperture f22
Minimum Focusing Distance 220 cm / 86.6 in
Filter Size (mm) 86
Maximum Magnifications 1:5.2
Dimensions
(Diameter x Length)		 94.7 x 252 mm/3.7 x 9.9 in
Weight 1910g / 67.4oz.
Corresponding Mounts
Sigma OS
HSM
CONV
Nikon OS
HSM
CONV
D
Canon OS
HSM
CONV
Sony/Minolta CONV
Pentax

Everybody I’ve talked to says that the lens is the most important part of the camera, and its ok to buy everything else used, but buy a new lens.

So, I’ve been hunting. I’ve managed to find this for a mere $1299.00 at Vistek, but $999.00 from Amazon… so I’ll be saving my change in my piggy bank until then!

Does anybody have this lens and would like to share their thoughts on it?

And my last question, does anybody know if this will fit on a Canon Rebel T1i?

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Love Gonna Let Me Down by Toots and the Maytals

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOhwKsaSHyI&feature=related]

I play this song on my guitar. I play it very regularly. I play it with all my dreams in mind. I play it to play my heart on my strings. I don’t usually get personal on here, but its such a good song, you all must use it to inspire you into fearing nothing. Not even the worst of demons in the world.

There is a CD Toots put out, where he has guests singing with him for the whole cd, and this is one of the songs he does with Ben Harper. The Album is called True Love.

Love Gonna Let me Down – Toots feat. Ben Harper

Every time that I see your face
Something moves within my heart
Honey, tears me to my soul
And tells me that
Love’s not gonna let me down
Oh no oh no
Love’s not gonna let me down

As I see the morning sun
I know everything, everything is alright
I could see her rushing to my door
And tell me that

Love’s not gonna let me down
Love’s not gonna let me down
Love’s not gonna let me down
Love’s not gonna let me down

I could see the morning sun
And hoping that everything, everything is alright
I can see her rushing to my door
And tell me that

Love’s not gonna let me down
Love’s not gonna let me down
Love’s not gonna let me down
Love’s not gonna let me down
Love’s not gonna let me down
Love’s not gonna let me down

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Watches

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My latest desire is to get myself a new watch. I’m having a hard time deciding between my picks though…

So, here are the choices:

1. The Time Teller Retrometrique by Nixon

2. The Rubber Player in Black and Red by Nixon

3. Destroyer in blue by Vestal

4. The Newton in Black and Gray by Nixon

5. The Newton in black by Nixon

6. The Block in black by Nixon

Does anybody have any suggestions on which one I should get?

Posted in: Mens, Style \ Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,

Artist Review: David Choe

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Sometimes you come across things that just make you think to yourself: “I need to step on the gas, shift into a gear higher, let my mind free from all constraints, and become more totally awesome than I already am.”

Looking at art by David Choe does this for me.

His interest in not only in abstracting the normal, but in blending that with colors and angles that make you feel like your in a weirdly distorted mirror room simply amaze me.

I’ve just recently read an issue of Juxtapoz magazine, where he was featured, and guest edited the entire issue. It is chalked full of art, thoughts, reminiscences, history, and antics of David that inspire me in their own right, let alone the art that graces the pages.

Who really knows where an artist starts, I guess it would be some time between your parents deciding to not use a condom, the sounds you hear in the womb, and the influences you have at the time of puberty, but for David, it seems he’s grown up on a steady diet of graffiti, porno’s, and mixed media. Looking at his website, you’ll find he uses every type of medium possible: oils, mixed, walls, sculptures, fotos, and drawings… which I guess is what an artist should and does create with.

Gambling problems, sticky fingers, women, kindness, and amazing dedication to living a life for the sole purpose of exploring your mind seem to be David‘s characteristics; which inspire me a lot.

I don’t think its that he just uses a lot of different mediums, or that he has exceptional talent, or that he’s not trying to fit into a type of style, but its that he tries with the vigor of a porno star with everything that he tries; he lives, breathes, fucks, drools, and smells of art… and I love it.

Check out his stuff, be influenced, and tell me how much you adore him just like I do!

Oh, and by the way, he’s a world wide traveler, but in LA from all that I can gather at the moment.


Posted in: Artists, Painters \ Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

2010 Audi A5 Coupe

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So, my newest rave is an Audi A5 Coupe. I’ve decided this is a reasonable car to dream about. Currently I drive a VW Jetta, which of course we all know VW owns Audi. But, thats besides the point.

This beast has 354 Hp at 7000rpm, and 325lb-ft of torque at 3500rpm. Nothing else matters. Seriously, 250km/hr? Approx 12.1 L/100km.. Quattro All Wheel drive, with a 6 speed manual transmission. Ok, this car is simple off the hook. German engineering simply will not fail.

The exterior on this car simply looks beautiful with the factory spec 19″ wheels, and the interior looks just as amazing. Navigation system, state of the art sound system. Just looking at the inside of one of these beasts reeks of world class engineering not matched by any other cars in the world.

I’m just waiting for Audi to offer me a test drive in one of these to get the real grease of these beasts!

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Card Speaker

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I’ve been thinking about how I will need to have portable sound sooner than later, when I’m doing this and that, out and about, and when I came across this I was blown away.

I found them at The Ghostly Store, but their made by Idea Design Collection, which if you look at their website, they have a tonne of really cool things on their site. I’m an engineer, and a company like this is where I’d want to work. So much cool stuff, kinda like the apple engineers. Innovating sexy with usefulness.

$75.00 is what they go for at The Ghostly Store, if you find any where cheaper I’d love to be informed! Especially in Canada. Does anybody have these already?

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Richmond Night Market, BC

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The Richmond Night Market is completely what one would expect from a chinese market, except its catered to those folks who go out at night. So, one should expect a slightly more carnival feel to the market.

Upon entering into the market, one feels like they may have just snuck in the back door, but no, its really the entrance. There is no glorious sign exclaiming: “Welcome to the Infamous Richmond Night Market” in bold letters. Instead, you are greeted with the steady glow of excessive lighting, plastic filled stands, and people ever where.

It is very similar to a flea market, except there is no flea’ing. At the flea markets there are usually a few tables with new gadgets, each individually wrapped in their clear plastic shells; stuff you really don’t need, but are oohhh so cool. For instance, they had these tripods, that were mini tripods. Probably no bigger than a foot tall, fully extended. Something like that could really come in handy at times…

The real reason why people go to the market is the food, and let me tell you, it was splendid. I basically turned off all instinct to be thrifty and bought as much as I wanted. I ate squid, octopus tentacles, chicken, and duck neck to name a few. Before I knew it my cash reserves were nearly depleted, and we had to run to the bank machine to get some flow.

Parking was an interesting thing. If you drive right into the market, you can park for 5$ in their parking lots, or you can park before you turn onto the main road where the market is and park for free, but this comes with a walk that some aren’t willing to make. If you arrive after midnight, you can park right along the main street for free. One should be weary though, for this parking is known, and starts to fill up right as the clock strikes 12.

I’m glad that I finally made it to the night market. Although, I must say, I expected something similar to  china town during the new years celebration, but instead, I was greeted with an expensive taste testing event, with random tables filled with random things that I really didn’t need.

If you haven’t checked it out yet, I highly suggest that you do, so that you can say you were at the world renowned Richmond Night Market, and this way you can judge for yourself how much you enjoy it. I would be really interested to hear how all of you find the experience!

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Dragonette – Surrey Canada Day Celebration

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Seeing Dragonette in Surrey for the ‘Biggest outdoor Canada Day Celebration in Western Canada’ was kind of weird.

Photo Credit to John Bollwitt

To me, it seemed like a lot of the people were there for the fair rides, or decided with the family that it was a good day to go out and socialize at the outdoor party on this particular Thursday.

But, none-the-less, Dragonette made me smile the second they stepped onto the stage, until long after they left.

I have previously reviewed their latest album, Fixin To Thrill, here, which in my mind is absolutely killer.

The guests I brought with me to the free concert in Surrey hadn’t been introduced to Dragonette as of then; needless to say, they left fans.

Photo Credit to John Bollwitt

The band came out, with the casual splendor a band getting big carries with them, exclaiming: “We’ll start as soon as Martina gets here.” I’m curious if they are starting or have always carried giant ego’s necessary for rock/pop stars… I waited patiently, which wasn’t long.

Martina’s singing was spot on for nearly the entire show, clearly showing that they were a professional well-trained band, which I was very happy to see. Some of the songs, some of the transitions and swings Martina must go through with her voice-box are truly magnificent, which is mainly the reason why I love this band so much. Her body movement on stage is what sets her and her band into a category all in its own. Yes, young pre-teen fellows were all around me, dropping their jaws.

Photo Credit to John Bollwitt

Martina mentioned at one point that they were going to do a world premier of a song, which was the only song that I didn’t feel she had down perfectly. I think she knew this, and was a bit nervous, which you could hear it in her voice, and see in her movements. Have you ever felt that feeling where you’re a little unsure, so you don’t put forth 100% because your nervous such effort would amplify your errors? The song did have a weird beat, and even weirder transitions, but did have a nice chorus. I am interested to hear it soon on their next album.

In all honesty though, this was the perfect venue to tackle a new song at, most of the people there probably hadn’t heard of her before. I’m happy somebody in the planning of Canada Day has though, it made my Canada Day a great one!

My only regret of the event was that I didn’t get myself a media pass so I could take photographs from sweet locations, they looked stunning up there.

Photo Credit to John Bollwitt

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Chicken Basilica

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Tonights dinner was sliced and fried chicken thighs, or what I like to call Chicken Basletta. It was fried up and placed on a rice field with a few tomatoes to garnish the dish.

Of course extra virgin olive oil is added to the pan.

I sliced up the chicken thighs, and spiced it up with basil, tarragon, curry powder, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, tumeric, and cumin. I vary the amounts depending on my moods, but always go heavy on the tarragon and sesame seeds. This time, due to the balsilica influence, I went heavy on the basil as well. Also, to this basilica chicken, I added two slices of onion and two cloves of garlic.

During this whole process, the rice has already boiled and left to simmer so they will be done at the same time.

When the chicken is about 3/4 done, I then add chopped mushrooms (2 large ones), a chopped carrot, and a cup of broken up broccoli, and let this fry with the chicken.

After this fries for a little longer, and everything is almost done now, I chop up a tomato into cubes and add them to the frying number. I left a few slices to garnish the dish at the end, which I flavored with sea salt and black pepper. This simmers for a little while longer, and is ready to be served.. maybe with a glass of pinot noir?

I would love to hear how it turns out for you, and if you have any suggestions on how to give this dish some extra life!

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Homemade Guacamole

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Its turning into summer, so I thought I’d share with you my homemade guacamole recipe I’ve perfected over the years.

It involves, 2 avocados, 1 clove of garlic, 1 tomato, sea salt, and chips to dip with!

First step is to de-pit the avocado, so your left with the good stuff, into a bowl. Take a spoon or fork to mash it all up, some people enjoy little clumps, I dislike having clumps from the avocado.

Next, finely chop up a clove of garlic, and tomato, and put that into the mix. Your tomato and chop it into small bite sized pieces that are big enough to be seen, but small enough to fit onto the chip without over taking it. Then sprinkle some sea salt into the mix.

I’ll leave the presentation part up to your own creativity, but now all you need is chips and hungry mouths!

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