Cameras, Bikes, Cars, Planes and Trains

6 Months, 40K Miles with the 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid

2014-09-01T13:23:00.000-04:00

Having had this car for some time now, I would like to make a mid-term review about what I have found out about the vehicle.

1. The car is durable. In the time I have had it, it has held up really well considering the brutal, dusty and rough terrain where it is called to serve daily. I live in Western North Dakota, and there is a lot of construction and upgrading of infrastructure going on. The car has consistently served without fail even in -60F weather.

2. The seats are really great! Wearing oilfield work clothes and getting in and out of the car numerous times a day has not ripped the driver's seat. I have no seat cover like some of my co-workers and my car seat if dusted lightly looks like when it was delivered! I have a big plastic trash bag covering the rear seat and my cold weather jacket that I always have in the car anyways because of the treacherous weather here protects the front passenger seat.

3. The car is electronically limited to 114 MPH. At this speed, the vehicle is still steady and tracks straight and true.

4. I rotated the tires at about 25K miles. When I first got the car, I just enjoyed punching the accelerator at lights and from stop signs. The phenomenal acceleration from the electric motor makes you wanna do that instinctively. I guess it is the same rush Tesla Model S Type users get. This may burn out your tires sooner but oh well!

5. Oil changes are every 3K miles or when I look at the oil and it and feel it looks dirty. After an oil change, subtle rough idle and ticks and even vibrations when the car is idling go away. Most people won't notice this but if you're discerning, you'll pick these up. I do my oil changes at Walmart in Minot and Dickinson, ND. I get excellent service and they change the oil with the Synthetic 0W20 that I pick from their shelves and manually hand to them. The on board computer should be used just for guidance. Change your oil when it gets to about 30-40% of life remaining.

6. It was a roll of the dice when I purchased this vehicle New. I wasn't gonna go to the dealer for most service because it seems like once you get in the door the first time, you soon get on first name basis with service writers! On paper, the technology behind this car looks solid so I've never gone to the dealer for service. When I called the Honda dealer I purchased the vehicle from, an impatient phone operator said earliest I could get in for an oil change was about a month and a half away. Thank You! I could do with a Walmart oil change and it has worked fine so far.

7. I have had the windshield hit by so many ping pong ball sized rocks than I care to count. There was once a fist-sized rock thrown from an oncoming semi that dealt a huge blow to my windshield. My dash is still immaculate and there are no rattles or annoying noises when driving on unpaved roads. I will ultimately have the windshield replaced but I shudder to think of someone taking apart some of the dash to fix the windshield and not replacing the parts like factory. I see more Honda Accord on the streets of Minot and Bismarck but not nearly as many as I saw on a recent trip to North Carolina. In Charlotte NC, almost every fourth car was a Honda of various generations. So I am bidding my time and once I feel some of the Autoglass techs might have had some experience with this vehicle type then I'll go in for my windshield replacement.

8. Optimal speed is 60 MPH or less. That is where you get the phenomenal 50+MPG the car is famous for.

9. Paint and finish is very good. By all means have regular car washes. Cars that are not kept clean have dirt adhering so hard to the paint such that the next time they are washed and waxed, the dirt gets sealed in by the wax and after a couple of wash/waxes destroys the final result of subsequent washes. Personally, I shun brushless car washes as they don't really get all the dirt off your car. They are okay if you are in a hurry and just need the car to be presentable.

10. This car sits really close to the ground. Consider it a sports car and you'll be fine. An obstacle that a lowly Toyota Corolla might clear with lots of room to spare could puncture your oil pan in this car. Avoid pulling your nose close to curbs when parking. You might break the lip on the front bumper.

11. I "exercise " my spare key about once every two weeks. While indoors I press the door Open/Close button and watch to make sure the blinkers flash a confirmation. This is just a precautionary measure to make sure my keys/car don't fall out of sync. The working of the security system in this car are a mystery to me so I do my best to avoid having a freak issue which would make me have to go to my local Dealer.

12.Overall, I am very happy with the car and would buy another without a moments' hesitation.

13. Things I would change:
* Get a car with seat warmers.
*Get the Navigation package. Garmins are good but having wires everywhere gets old really quick.
*Get Honda OEM trunk protector and all-weather carpets on day 1.

Bower SFD728C Digital Flash for Canon E-TTL I/II: Unbelievable Performance

2012-09-24T23:01:00.000-04:00

First off, let the price of this lens not fool you. It will work perfectly with your Canon DSLR, and produce very decent shots. It also allows those on a budget looking to shoot better pictures to experiment with bouncing.

It features many of the functions that the more expensive Canon Speedlites have, but at a very affordable price. The swivel head that will cover 270 degrees, and can zoom from 28mm to 85mm. Other advanced features include an infra-red focus assist beam, red eye reduction, and second curtain synchronization.

I added a Speedlite diffuser to mine to dampen some of the harshness that a naked flash would unleash on subjects and the images are super clear! This is a worthy flash, that will not fail you if you handle it with care. It has a pretty fast recycle time, so you can be sure to capture the perfect shot every time.

Definitely worth buying if you are still using the on-camera flash .

Canon 50mm F/1.8 II, Out-of-this-world performance

2012-09-24T22:40:00.004-04:00

If you own a Canon DSLR, take this one piece of advice, don't walk, RUN out and buy this lens. It will be the next best decision you ever made in photography, the first of course being to get a camera.

I too read the reviews before heading out to buy this lens. I read tons of them. The only negatives I could see were people complaining about some weakness in the auto-focus system. Due to the mainly plastic construction of this lens, you will have to take a little more precaution than with your other better made lenses.

This lens moves in and out of the barrel when focusing. If it is auto-focus mode, and you repeatedly manually force the lens into the barrel or body for example when squeezing into a bag, then you have a lens autofocus failure in your near future.

When the lens is on auto-focus and you try to manually turn the focus ring, then you may also cause damage and your auto-focus will be inoperable. It is an easy fix, but one that can be easily avoided.

With that out of the way, let's discuss the Image Quality. Right out of the box and indoors, you can notice how much light this lens allows to hit the sensor in the back of your camera. In very low light conditions, I was able to capture images that would have been impossible with my kit lens. The bokeh that I am able to create are out of this world. I wonder how I have been able to even have a DSLR all this years without this prime lens.

The coor rendition is faithful. Across the spectrum, colors are vivid, and would really flatter our subject, no matter how plain they are. Portraits will make you look like you are on the staff of LIFE Magazine, moonlighting to avoid boredom.

If you are still hesitating about this lens, then rent one and take it for a spin. Shoot anything that captures your fancy. At the end of the day, you will get to the same conclusion as I did, you will become a believer, this lens, should replace the kit lens on Canon DSLRs.

DALLAS Harley-Davidson 2013 Model DEMO RIDES

2012-09-03T18:44:00.000-04:00

Dallas Harley-Davidson bike dealership held its popular model demonstration over the labor day weekend. The heavily attended two day event (Friday 31st August - Saturday 1st September 2012) featured 2013 models of the Harley-Davidson range, including U.S. Steetbike maker BUELL which is housed under the same roof.

Many riders came from afar to participate. Novices could take a spin on the JUMPSTART bike machine. It is a device that allows a learner to get acquainted with the feel and controls of a bike with the smooth ride and the legendary throaty snarl of the V-twin on a Harley-Davidson.

The organizers were friendly, and always on hand to help. Whether it be an obscure question about a ride, or getting your leathers fitted, there was always a solution that came with a smile. In the back, the service station was open and tune-ups were in full swing.

Quick financing was available for well qualified buyers of course, and many people signed up after getting a spin on one of the newer models in the 2013 Harley-Davidson model range. You had to have done your research, for every single bike was a piece of art in itself. From modern day flat-black painted bikes, to hyper glossy finishes, one thing was common and available in abundance. CHROME - this was plentiful and went as far as the eye could see.

A local jazz band spiced the event with tunes reminiscent of Americana. I can't wait for the 2014 year models!! Next time you are in Dallas, pay a visit to the wonderful folks of Dallas Harley-Davidson on 1334 West Centerville Road, Garland, TEXAS.

Lil Critters Immune C plus Zinc and Echinacea

2012-08-02T22:50:00.000-04:00

The world is now a global village, not only for humans, but also for germs. The technological advances that now allow us to have breakfast in London and dinner in New York also permit bugs to cross continents like never before.

From the eighteenth century when James Lind, a British Naval Surgeon performed controlled experiments that demonstrated the value of the then unknown Vitamin C, to the deadly scurvy that decimated sailing crews on long oceanic voyages, this essential element has been vital in human history as humans traveled over the globe.

Time Release More-C Vitamin C Capsules - 120 ct. - Vitamins

Unlike some animals like goats that produce their own intrinsic vitamin C, humans need an extraneous supply, mainly in the diet.

More recently, vitamin C has been recognized as being an agent that is highly effective in respiratory disease. Smokers with high concentrations of the vitamin seem to be less prone to respiratory illness. The mechanism of action is not well understood, but it has been demonstrated that immune cells contain high levels of vitamin C.

For your young ones, when they start heading to daycare and kindergarten, you want to be sure to have a vitamin C supplement. Spectacular results have been reported by parents who had kids with stuffy noses.

There is little toxicity to be feared, for Vitamin C is water soluble. Whatever is not absorbed by the body will be excreted by the kidneys. Some fear has been voiced by some in the medical community that excessive vitamin C supplementation may be a factor in kidney stones. This is still unsubstantiated.

In any event, if you know someone who suffers from frequent colds or other respiratory disease, or have children whose noses are always running, vitamin c supplementation could be useful.

Nissan Leaf now available for rental at ENTERPRISE Car Rental, Tyson's Corner, Virginia.

2011-12-10T01:08:00.001-05:00

Enterprise car rental has for long been at the forefront of letting consumers have a feel for the latest in automotive technology. True to their customer centered corporate culture, Enterprise is now making available the all New Nissan Leaf electric car at the Tyson's Corner Locations, specifically, the Springhill Rd. office.

The car rents for $49 a day, a bit steep, but hey, you don't have to buy gas! There is a charger in the trunk that works fine with any household outlet plug. Otherwise, the Enterprise premises at Springhill Rd has a charging station. Across the street, Rosenthal Nissan of Tyson's Corner has a charging station at the entrance of the service bays. Both are free and more stations will be added in the area in the coming weeks. There are many other locations in Washington DC that offer charging options, some paid ( about $1 per hour for fast charging), but most offered as a courtesy. Google Nissan Leaf charging station.

The vehicle itself is a technological marvel. Customer Service Representative Tubbs made a quick but thorough review of systems in the car, showed me how the push button start works, and pointed out where the charging station on the right side of the building, just beyond the carport was. As I was the first to rent the car, she gave me emergency contact numbers in case I had any questions or got a problem.

A soft chime announces the car is coming online, followed by bright blue colors illuminating the three screens in this car. Everything is electronic, from the parking brake to the power steering, and windows. Furthermore, the vehicle has an awesome bluetooth phone system that is crystal clear, and very intuitive. All other controls like for the climate and radio were within reach and easy to use. The vehicle collects too much information giving the operator a very heightened situational awareness. Thank God most of the features are customizable so that the driver can avoid information overload and concentrate instead on the road while driving the car.

Acceleration was crisp, and surprising for an all-electric car, and the silence reminds one of the National Cathedral on a Monday Morning. You could hear a pin drop! (Remember to turn off the noise generator which alarms unsuspecting wildlife of the approaching car. It makes a high pitched sound that quickly tires the ears and may cause a headache long term). Otherwise, no surprises. The reassuring rattle of the gasoline engine has numbered days, at least in most metropolitan areas in developed countries where there is any respect of the environment.

The Nissan Leaf is the way forward. Tomorrow is here. Check out the NISSAN LEAF at the Enterprise office on Springhill Rd in Tyson's Corner. Ms Tubbs will be happy to help you, I am sure, and you won't be disappointed.

2012 Ford FOCUS: Eye candy with an attitude - Car of the year?

2011-10-17T23:53:00.002-04:00

The Third Generation Ford Focus was presented in late 2010 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. It sported many innovative technologies which make it stand out from the competition. Its greatest failing may be its price, which seems higher than similar vehicles in the same market segment.