Strep Begone!

Strep has made it though my family this holiday season and it really sucks. My wife showed the first signs with a really, really nasty fever and swollen glands; she has strep throat. Tuesday, December 26th we went to the doctor she received antibiotics (previquin??) . The following day, I took my sons to the doctor, one for a follow-up and the other to insure he doesn't have strep. As soon as the doctor walked into the office he looked at my son's face, where saw some blemishes and instantly mentioned strep! I couldn't believe it, didn't even mention it yet and the doctor thinks my son has skin strep (streptococcal bacteria).

Read it, Live it! If you develop software I hope you pass this simple test:
http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/fog0000000043.html

I am sure everyone of you have spent time in McDonnald's. What I really wonder is how many have spent hours in McDonnnald's Playland? This jungle gym of germs and viruses is the best thing in the world for bored children in the Winter. Yesterday my wife and I decided to take the children to MCD's for some energy release. Of course we wanted to catch Breakfast, but that sure didn't happen. We just like to sleep in too late; and how does it take 45 minutes to dress a 10-month old? We make it to MCD's around 1130 and my oldest is off and running. It's so great how he tries, and does make friends so quickly. After about two hours of hanging out and the little one getting really sleepy, I am nominated in taking him home for a nap while the eldest plays on.

Who would thunk it, the little guy naps for 1.5 hours! great nap for him. My poor wife, stuck at the MCD's Playland doing Sudoku puzzles and no car! As soon as he wakes up, I am off and running to MCD's to rescue my wife from sure boredom...

Well as you may of guessed, I went with the Fuji F30. Just seemed to be the best fit for our use, and so many positive things said about the camera. I have ordered from Newegg and should have it in a few days. I have ordered many items in the past from Newegg, and they have never let me down. In this case, they actually had a combo deal on the camera which included a too-bid case and 512M xD card. Should make everyone happy. I will be ecstatic when I can purchase the dSLR I want.

Nope, still haven't decided on a camera.

This is a pretty unfortunate incident which occurred in Chicago today. 7 people where covered with cement from a building being build. The strangest part from me is I heard the cement fall! My office is only 3 walking blocks from where it happened, I have watched them put up this building from my window over the last few months. It really is amazing on how they can put a floor or more a week.

Here is the article from the Chicago Tribune:

Pedestrians hurt by falling concrete in Loop
By Jeff Finkelman
Tribune staff reporter

December 13, 2006, 6:12 PM CST

At least seven people were injured this afternoon when they were hit by liquid concrete and pieces of a wooden form it was being poured into at a building under construction in the Loop, the Chicago Fire Department said.

The liquid concrete was being poured into a form on an upper floor of a building under construction at 2 E. Randolph St., according to the fire department.

The form gave way and pieces of it fell, along with some of the concrete mixture. Some people below were coated with the material and seven victims suffered minor injuries.

The liquid concrete fell from the plywood form on the building's 24th floor, said city Buildings Department spokesman Peter Scales. The material deflected off a ledge on the fifth or sixth floor and splashed down to the sidewalk, he said.

Seven people were taken to Mercy Hospital Medical Center and Northwestern Memorial Hospital, according to fire communications and Scales.

Two cars were damaged, Scales said.

The call came in at 4:12 p.m., and the fire department responded with three ambulances.

No other problems had been reported at the work site, Scales said.

The intersection of Randolph and State Streets was reopened at about 6 p.m.

During the cleanup, State Street was closed between Lake and Washington Streets and Randolph closed between Wabash Avenue and Dearborn Street, fire department spokeswoman Eve Rodriguez said.

A CTA Web site said bus reroutes in the area had been restored to normal service after the roads reopened at 6 p.m.

Chicago Tribune staff reporters Mary Ellen Moore and Gerry Doyle contributed.

Copyright © 2006, Chicago Tribune

Digicam HELL

So it's time for a new camera. For the most part the family has been an analog camera user, and very happy with the results. I have used some cheap digital cameras and cameras in phones and well, you know how well they work.

Last Christmas we decided to get a new camera for the family, figured it could be a gift for the both of us, to the both of us. Well it never happened, we never even started the research. I think deep down I wanted an DSLR, and it kept me from looking at anything, because they are just too expensive for us.

This year has been different, and if we don't kill each other first, we should end up with something nice. I started at a local camera shop, Ritz I believe (or is it Wolf:)), and explained I am looking for a compact camera to take pictures of the kids. Also explaining that I HATE the delay in digital cameras where you push the shutter release and the subject is across the room before it releases.

The associate steered me towards the Canon S3 IS, a pretty nice camera overall with a bigger price tag, $399. Okay, that doesn't sound horrible, but put batteries, a usable sd card, and a case with it and now you are over $500. Just too much for this purchase. Of course I also started some research into these cameras and the S3, didn't fair great. One of the big complaints being that the focus time of the camera in low light was excessive, over a second at times! What is this, large delay in taking pictures, didn't I ask for a camera that didn't have this issue, or at least one where it better then most? This camera is also pretty bulky, not a good choice for "Mom" use. I had the feeling it would end up sitting at home more then with us because of this. So I looked on...

Many models where matching well, all with their pluses and minuses:

Canon SD 800 SI, G7
Canon A630 (perhaps even A640 though the samples looked nicer on the A630)
Fuji F30
Kodak
Panasonic
Nikon


All in about the same or less price range [wow, just found a blogger bug with the italic setting] and with some nice packages from Newegg computer. It's just crazy all the options and reviews. This one does this well, but not this. This one is great for this, but sucks at this. Ugh.

I just want a camera to take pictures well. I think I am caught up in all this detail and can no longer see the forest through the trees, or something like that. Damn, I almost want to stay with film!

Well, I have to get something done here at work. I will fret over cameras later.

I sure has been a while since I have posted here. I have this strange desire to start this up again. There are just too many things building up in my head I really don't need any falling out on the floor--getting lost under the bed. To avoid over feeding dust bunnies this is where my virtual pensieve will be; ePensieve perhaps. Okay that was lame. For those of you who don't know what a pensieve is look here.

So here is to a new beginning I wonder will it will take me?