After 4 long and good years, my digital camera suddenly conked out on me. The LCD would come on display the OSD options but would not show what the view finder sees. It is simply pitch black similar to having the lens cover still on.
Of course, I was disappointed when this happened especially with the Boracay trip fast approaching.
The camera was brought to Canon's office in Makati as there are no other repair centers for digital cameras. After my experience with repairs on my K800i, I did not trust any other place other than the manufacturer to tinker with the camera.
Apparently, it is a known issue with the CCDs (charge-coupled device) used not only on Canon cameras but by most manufacturer's back in 2003. I had read on this issue years ago but paid little attention to it as my cameras model (Powershot A80) was not on the list.
The Good News.
Since it is a known issue, the repairs would be free.
The Bad News.
Repairs were estimated at 14 days. This means no digital camera when I am in Boracay. Major bummer.
At the least, I can live and learn to use my Cybershot™ phone a little better. It is almost similar to the digital camera minus the optical zoom. This also means I would not be able to catch stolen pictures of bikini-clad females with much clarity. Tsk.
I searched and read up on the CCD problem just now and one initial symptom for this failure is distortion which would explain this picture.
The distorted lines were present on a few more pictures but eventually went away so I just forgot about it.
I just hope my camera would be back before I leave the country as I will be needing it when I visit (stop-over/transit) Dubai.
It has been quite sometime since I have blogged something. Like I always say, it's not like anyone notices or cares.
The days used to be dragging so slowly (similar to this dial-up connection) at the start of the year. I had a whole lot of time with nothing at all to do.
Now, it is less than three weeks before I leave this country (for good? who knows.). All of a sudden, I feel like I have no more time. In a weeks time I will be in Boracay for 4 days, then after that only a few more days to get packed and make sure I do not forget anything I'd want to have around once I'm away.
Goodbyes with friends still need to be made. Well, at least for one last time before leaving.
Barely enough time and almost without any money as I still have not received my final pay from eTelecare which they said should be available on Friday.
As a result, I feel quite restless. A certain uncertainty lingers around the atmosphere.
Then there is the case of the DVDs which I want with me. The pirated ones I like are being ripped (shrinked) and saved on my external harddrive but the process is quite slow. Original DVDs are of course coming with me, I would not ever leave them here. It's a collection of sorts and around 8 kilos. There is just something about taxes when it reaches UK that bothers me.
Oh well, would just have to suck it up and see how things go one day at a time.
Anyone interested in unopened copies of Donnie Darko : Director's Cut (Region 1) or Pi (Region 2)? I just seem to have extra copies.
Step Three of what? I don't even remember what they are for.
I booked my ticket online last Tuesday via the Emirates website and paid for the said ticket yesterday. Booking was a breeze but paying for it was not mainly because we arrived at the Emirates office during lunch break.
So finally, it is now final. I am leaving this country in a months time.
I will be leaving on the 6th of April and arriving in London on the 9th. I will be spending a few days in Dubai during its stopover simply because I can.
The difference between a direct flight and a multiple city visit is only 10 USD and with the info from the link above, I might as well drop by Dubai which is where Emirates connects its flights. I have an old friend/teammate from eTelecare working there and she agreed to let me stay for a few nights.
Another thing, as per Friendster information, an old college crush of mine is also in Dubai. Problem is we were just acquaintances back in college (which means not speaking for me) and I don't know how I'd ask her if we could meet. Right, like this would happen.
There are more steps to follow, more tedious ones like ripping all my Audio CDs and selected pirated DVDs to digital files.
The sun has already risen but I have been awake all night long. I did sleep until 4 in the afternoon which could explain why I am still up but my poor teary eyes beg to differ.
I wonder on what the reason could be.
Maybe it's because someone is thinking of me. Nah. This is absurd. It is more likely that I am thinking of someone who does not exists.
Maybe it's because I am excited.
Why so?
I will be paying and picking up my tickets for my trip out of this country. This has been long overdue and finally, it's happening, not because I couldn't leave before but because I did not want to. Not until now, when all hope has been lost. Well, not really lost.
Maybe it's because of Stargate Atlantis.
I have been doing nothing at home these past days (months!). Video games do not seem to cut it for me anymore. What occupies the most of my day now is watching complete season DVDs of TV shows. So far I watched seasons 1 to 5 of 24, season 1 and half of season 2 of Prison Break, Firefly (which is only 14 episodes anyway), and 9 episodes of Smallville's season 6. Most of the shows (24, Prison Break, Smallville) have currently ongoing seasons and I have no means of watching the new episodes but wait.
Anyway, I came across Stargate SG-1 over the Intertubes and it intrigued me as I vaguely remembered the movie it was based on. Read about another spin-off which is Stargate Atlantis. Implanted them in memory for my next DVD purchase.
I grabbed a copy of Stargate Atlantis seasons 1 and 2 without any hesitation even though I have never seen any episode of Stargate SG-1 which span 10 seasons already. It was quite engaging and I watched it in 2 and a half days desperately wondering what the next season has to offer. Apparently, season 3 just finished airing in the US which means another waiting game for the other episodes.
I guess it's just not Stargate Atlantis which is keeping me up since all of these TV shows I have seen have current seasons airing in the US which I am intrigued to get my hands on and watch. I cannot bloody wait until I move to London where I could finally have access to a fast Internet connection. Thing is, fast is an understatement considering this dial up connection.
Wait. I can feel a yawn coming.
Nah, false alarm.