First Week of work - New Job

I began my new job as a Student Project Officer with the school division. Did I mention that I graduated from that school division? So days are going to be like trips down memory lane when I do site visits at work. I even have my own school divisional email address.

The police have found my camera!

The police have found my camera!

I got a message today and the police have found my camera. What a
surprise. Kudos to the Winnipeg police services. Goes to show crime
doesn't pay lol. I think I will sell my d3000 to recouperate the cost.

Sent from my iPod

My Watched eBay Items

Telephoto Lenses are supposed to increase the zoom of the lenses...

3.2X Telephoto Lens for Nikon Nikkor 18-55mm 55-200mm - $54.95 US + $16.95 US (Shipping)

.45x Wide Angle Lens for Nikon Nikkor 18-55mm 55-200mm - $34.95 US + $16.95 US (Shipping)

WIDE ANGLE + 2X LENS FOR NIKON D3000 D5000 D40 D60 D90 - $45.00 US + $29.95 US (Shipping)

0.45x Super Wide Angle Macro Lens For Nikon D3000 D5000 - $27.98 US + $10.50 US (Shipping)

2X PRO TELEPHOTO Lens FOR Nikon D200 D300S D3000 D5000 - $24.98 US + $10.50 US (Shipping) (Will only work on the 18-55mm VR lens)

2X PRO TELE Lens FOR Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S - $24.98 US + $10.50 US (Shipping)

2X TELEPHOTO LENS FOR NIKON D5000 D3000 D90 D80 D60 - $29.99 US + $8.99 US (Shipping)

What STEALS!

I came across these ads on Kijiji...too bad I already bought my camera...

In Winnipeg, there is this hot deal...

View larger image

Date Listed 28-Apr-10 Price $750.00 Address 1305 Taylor Ave, Winnipeg, MB, Canada View map

Brand New Nikon D5000 Digital Camera for sale immediately!

I have brand new Nikon D5000 Digital Camera for sale, in which it has hardly been used. The lens size is 18 - 105, which takes amazing quality photos, including high resolution and videos. This digital camera comes with an 8GB memory card, both live, and manual view. For those who love the manuel control zoom, it has a manuel zoom in and zoom out wheel.

Also, it comes with Lowepro camera case, lens hood, lithium ion battery and charger so you do not have to wait until the battery is completely drained before charging it. This D5000 that I am selling also has a built in flash, and multiple shooting modes.

Wow a D5000 with 18-105 is $900, but you are also getting a 8GB card, a Lowepro bag, and perhaps it seems like a second battery. $750 is a really good deal!

In Ottawa, there is this crazy deal...

Nikon D80 with Nikon 18-200 VR
Like new condition / 12 months old Comes with original receipts and boxes. Transferable warranty with Henry's up to 2012. Asking $850

Location: Ottawa, Ontario

When you look at this other ad...

Brand New Nikon 18-200mm VR II IF-ED Lens (AF-S DX)
Brand new in box. See link for details. ...

$850.00

I guess the only difference is that the second one is a VRII so it is the newest model. In any case buying the D80 with the 18-200 for just $850 is such a steal. Sure enough you don't get video or live view but it is a solid body and for sure you can sell the body for $500 easily in today's market and a couple years from now it will still be worth $400.

Nikon 55-200 mm VR Lens Part 4

I went to Futureshop and I got my way one way or another. First I brought up the $699.99 D3000 bundle and how the 55-200 lens should only cost $200. Since the D5000 with 18-55 is also on sale this week for $649.99, and the bundle with 55-200 is $899. Therefore the 55-200 would cost $250. There is no reason why a more expensive camera should be paired with the same but more expensive lens. That works against logic. For whatever reason/excuse they stood behind their pricing philosophy and how it is something to do with Nikon Canada. So anyways, I brought out Best Buy's deal of the week. The D5000 for $649.99 and the 55-200 for just another $219.99 and the free photo frame worth $69. They were more than willing to match their offer. Fine, I got almost $25 back and a free 9" digital photo frame worth $89.99.

In summary,

Nikon D5000 -- $649.99

55-200mm VR lens -- $217.99

Panasonic 8GB class 10 SD card -- $24.99

Lowepro Sling 100 -- $62.99

Digipower spare battery -- $38.69

4 year extended warranty -- $149.99

Free 9" Digital Photo Frame -- $0.00 ($89.99 value)

Total (after taxes) = $1281.99

Nikon 55-200 mm VR Lens Part 3

This shopping is becoming such a pain! I hate the feeling of being ripped off. I'm a student and I try to save every penny. The flyers came in today for sales beginning Friday. Best Buy will be selling the Nikon D5000 for $649.99 and the second (55-200mm VR) lens for another $219.99. So in total the bundle will only cost $870. That is $30 cheaper than Futureshop's bundle price last week. In addition Futureshop is selling the Nikon D3000 with 18-55 mm VR lens for $499.99 and the bundle with two lenses for $699.99. Clearly the second lens should only cost $200.00. I paid $239.99 for that same lens last Saturday. Tomorrow I'm going to reason things out with them. First I will start by using the Nikon D3000 as an example. If they won't budge I will use Best Buy's price against them. Did mention that Best Buy is also giving a Digital Photo Frame? Last week they were giving a 500 GB Hard Drive?

Nikon 55-200 mm VR Lens Part 2

So I went yesterday and Steve wasn't working but another coworker told me that he is now in the cell phone department but will be in today. Well for whatever reason Steve wasn't in and I didn't want to keep going back and forth so I just dealt with whoever was available. This is what ended up happening. Since I bought the camera for $649.98, they offered me the second (55-200mm VR) lens for $249.99 which would bring the price to $899.99. I told them I have the coupon for discounts on camera and accessories. If I'm paying $250, I should qualify for $10 off so he agreed to sell it to me for $240 plus taxes. It seems like everyone was confused or something. I felt like they felt I was ripping them off, but the fact of the matter is, that is how crazy the mark ups are on these electronics and I as a consumer just want to be protected. This is all fair and square for them. Anyways, I paid $268.79 after taxes for the second lens. I realized a little later that I'm paying a couple bucks more than I should but I've had enough, whatever, fine!

$1037.84 + $268.79 = $1306.63 (compared to $1303.27)

Nikon 55-200 mm VR Lens

After unsuccessful bidding on eBay, Futureshop has the two lens Nikon 5000 with 18-55mm and 55-200 lens bundle on sale at Futureshop for $899.99. In addition they have a $100 discount coupon if you spend over $1000 before taxes.

Camera Bundle - $899.99
Backpack - $62.99
SD Card - $24.99
Battery - $38.69
Extended warranty = $150
Total (after taxes) = $1317.85
Discount = -$100.00
Grand Total = $1217.85 (Best case scenario)

Even if the accessories I bought were sold to me at regular prices I would still save money...

Camera Bundle - $899.99
Backpack - $89.95
SD Card - $69.99
Battery - $42.99
Extended warranty = $150
Total (after taxes) = $1403.27
Discount = -$100.00
Grand Total = $1303.27

...because I've already spent $1037.84 and the best price I can find on the other lens is at Best Buy for $299.99 (plus taxes) so that would bring me to $1373.82 with a savings of $70 dollars.

Graduation Night at the Fort Garry Hotel

8 GB SD CARD

After a month since my D3000 went missing, I realized this morning that I still have my 8GB SD card in my backpack. I took it home just in case I needed pictures off of it for portfolio. It isn't quite as exciting as finding my camera at home somewhere. I also still have the lens hood of my 55-200 lens. I was thinking of increasing my storage capacity so good thing I didn't go buy another one! Now I have 16 GB of storage, I'm ready for Shanghai!

Faculty of Architecture Exhibition

Nikon D5000

After a week long wait, I ended up getting the D5000 from Futureshop because the salesperson Steve was very very polite and promised us a discount last Tuesday. They were out of stock and he had to order them in. He kept his promise today.

Nikon D5000 - $729 --> $649.98

Lowepro Backpace - $69.99 --> $62.99

Panasonic 8GB Class 10 SD Card - $69.99 --> $24.99

Digipower Battery - $42.99 --> $38.69

4 Year Extended Warranty - $149.99

Total after taxes = $1037.84

Nikon Camera Prices

D3000
Don's Photo, Futureshop, Bestbuy, London Drugs --- 18-55 VR--- $529
Camera Canada --- 18-105 VR --- $691.41 (Sale - online store)
Henry's 18-55, 55-200 -- $699 <--- Basically what I had but I got them for $549
Henry's 18-55, 55-200 VR --- $719
Don's Photo 18-55 VR, 55-200 VR --- $729
Henry's 18-105 VR --- $749 (regular price - will they price match Camera Canada?)

D5000
London Drugs --- 18-55 VR ---$769 (MSRP $779)

I miss my NIKON D3000

It's been two days since the incident and I thought I had gotten over the whole thing yesterday when I found out that home insurance is useless. I was merely disgusted by the fact that someone would have the thought of stealing from a bunch of poor students who are working their asses off day and night. That is so low, it is disgusting! Their is stealing from a store or bank and then there is from innocent victims. At least stores and banks are covered under insurance, they really have nothing to lose, WE LOST EVERYTHING. I was more upset about society than about my camera.

As I went through my empty drawers today, I felt quite emotional and upset about the incident. I found it hard to concentrate and started asking why question rhetorically. Why me? I just got the camera! It is still on its first ever charge though I've taken more than 600 images. Why are others luckier than I am? What did I do wrong to deserve this has gone through my head a few times. Is it my fault? Why didn't I bring it home for the weekend since I knew I wasn't going to go in Saturday? Why did I put BOTH my lenses in the same bag? I've tried checking on Ebay, UsedWinnipeg, UsedRegina, and Kijiji without luck though I knew the chances were slim from the beginning. Every time I think about taking a picture, I am reminded of the incident. Every time I open my empty drawer I am reminded about the incident. Every time I walk near my desk, images of strangers snipping off my hasp and finding a camera bag full of goodies flash in my head. I can see their grin.

I don't want to keep bringing up the incident and I don't want to sound annoying to anyone or seem like I just want attention. I am just really upset. I had thought about waiting for the next model or at least until school starts again before buying a new one. Now, I think I will get one as soon as I get a summer job. I may not get the other lens until a sale, FS has the 55-200 VR lens for $220 @ $80 off this week so it should come again. At least I can forget about losing my money and all after a few months but life without my DSLR I cannot take... Andrew practically lost his first MacBook Pro and he bought a new one. He doesn't bring up the fact that it is his second one and I buying a new one asap will be the only way to feel better. It's not like it is going to reappear if I wait long enough or I no longer have the need. I got into Master's, once you get an DSLR, there is not going back to crappy point and shoots.

Stolen

I walked into studio today as usual only to be told that our studio had been raided. Sure enough, my locks were snipped apart and my Nikon D3000 that I just bought on Boxing Day was no where to be seen. I had both my lenses in the camera bag (18-55 and 55-200) along with my 8GB SD card which I thankfully backed up. Such a great way to kick start the last couple of weeks of school. Later, I found out that I got accepted into the Master's Program at the U of M. I'm going to try to file the claim under my home insurance tomorrow, we'll see what they say. What a day it has been, precis time!

To Do list

Drafting (1:100)

Site plan

Details to draft at 1:10 on 11x17

Cable connection details at the top and at the rails
Traffic barricade (life safety issue)
Reinforcing of the concrete column
Reinforcing around the openings
Truss and concrete connection to road
Truss and truss connection moment and pin
Truss and concrete connection to column

Scaled on 11x17

The formwork
The truss with dimensions (AutoCAD)
Residential road section

Time permitting

Longitudinal section? 11x17 (1:250) or AutoCAD
(concrete vaults for departure)

Sent from my iPod

Plan of attack for the next week

Plan of attack for the next week

Saturday
Test fitting of 1/8"plywood buy bigger sticks if doesn't fit
Glue taper pieces for base
Spray the coat of varathane
Photograph esplanade riel bridge how the cables are connected and the
Arlington bridge to see how the trusses memebers are for size and
finish.
Transfer cars into the sections.
Précis for history

Sunday
Cast column 1 and maybe 2
Plan (AutoCAD) for accuracy just the overpass
AutoCAD the trusses
Siteplan
Précis

Monday
Autocad the trusses and the concrete floor pieces
Start on the construction of the columns - cut the form into 10 meter
segments
Draft the sections at 1:10

Tuesday
Details at 1:10 on 11x17
Afternoon laser cut
Assemble and cast the concrete floor slab

Wednesday Thursday Friday
Portfolio
Floor plan on 11x17

Sent from my iPod

Vampire Phenomenon spreads to TVB

Filming has begun on a new TVB series "An Uninvited Date" (不速之約) starring Raymond Lam, Tavia Yeung and Bobbi Au. Raymond will play a non-human character! Some sort of slayer/grim reaper character.

Canada is GOLDEN - Vancouver 2010 Recap

The closing ceremonies are just about to get underway. What a showdown this afternoon against the USA in Men's Olympic Hockey. Canadian Figure Skaters Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue were unbelievably perfectly in sync. I'm proud of Joannie Rochette and Patrick Chan needs another chance at 19 years of age. Women's Hockey also against the USA and Men's curling against Finland were just as great! I was on the edge of my seat! We have the MOST gold medals ever and we have the best athletes in the world!

-One Proud Canadian

Happy New Year

It's Chinese New Year, Valentine's Day and Louis Riel Day on Monday! All the best in the year of the Tiger.
新年快樂! 我祝大家萬事如意，龍馬精神，虎虎生威。

Boxing Day Shopping Results

Here is what I ended up getting...

Batman Arkham Asylum
Best Buy - $39.99

Router
D-Link Wireless N 150 Router (DIR-601) @ Best Buy/Futureshop - $29.99

HDMI Cable
1.8m (6') @ Superstore - $9.99 - (The $6.99 ones were sold out)

SLR Camera
Nikon D3000 SLR w/ 18-55mm lens and 55-200mm lens both non-VR and Bag @ London Drugs - $549.98 (I got the last one)