zacharytamas

My friend Anthony referred me to a new lens for his DSLR he was considering. I soon found out (or hope, at least) that he was joking, for the lens is none other than the Sigma 200-500mm f/2.8 APO EX DG Ultra-Telephoto Zoom Lens.

This thing is massive. Over 100-pounds massive. But you would expect nothing less for a $30,000 lens.

Be sure to check out its Amazon page and read the hilarious, sarcastic reviews left by people, as well as pictures supposedly taken with the lens.

On a serious note, I am curious to look at a few photos actually taken with the lens. It must have an insane range.

If you’ve read a single blog post on my site you know music is a huge part of my life. I’m a double musician (piano/guitar) going to school for music production technology with an emphasis in composition. However, I am (and have always been) heavily involved in technology—particularly web development. Naturally, these things all mesh together. » Read the rest of this entry «

A very long time ago I added Skribit to this site. Skribit is a start up by my friend Paul Stamatiou which aims to destroy writers block—for bloggers anyway. The idea is that while you’re browsing my site you can click on the “Suggestions?” tab on the right side of your screen and drop a few lines about what you’d like me to write about. It’s a pretty great idea but it seems to only gradually be growing—which is probably a good thing: it gives Paul and friends time to focus on making Skribit even better.

I’ve received a couple suggestions via Skribit but I’ve yet to act on any of them—something that will be fixed shortly. In the meantime, be sure to make some post suggestions by using the Skribit tab on the right. You don’t need an account to suggest topics.

So I read on London’s Times Online (via NPR) that a woman who quite luckily missed her flight on the Air France 447 Flight was killed in a car accident just eight days after she would have died in the plane crash.

This kinda reminds me of the movie Final Destination, where the main character has a vision that his plane will crash and gets off the plane at the last second with several of his friends. The plane crashes just as it had in his vision, except he and his friends survive. As the rest of the movie pans out, his friends slowly die in strange accidents in the order they would have died on the plane. The idea of the movie is that you can’t cheat death. If the universe decides it’s time for you to die, you will die.

I just thought it was odd.

I’m sure this has been linked to death lately but my friend Adam sent me this link last night. It’s a guide to get your girl friend who has a boyfriend to have sex with you in 17 simple steps. Check it out at Batteries Feel Included. Good for a laugh or two. Or three.

http://batteriesfeelincluded.blogspot.com/2009/05/309.html

I’m currently reading an interesting new book written by John August called The Variant. Some of you might recognize the name John August as he is the screenwriter for several popular Hollywood films, including Go, Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Corpse Bride. Lately he’s trying his hand at writing books.

On August’s website he has a page dedicated to his new book The Variant. The book is currently available in PDF form from his website or in Kindle format for your Amazon Kindle of Kindle for iPhone/iPod. The best part: the entire book is 99 cents.

From Amazon’s description of the book:

“After 35 years working at the Central Library, Vincent Lewis has perfected the art of unremarkability. But when a terrified woman falls through his bathroom ceiling, he’s forced back into a life of gunfights, double agents and paranormal research. The secret he’s been keeping for nearly four decades might reunite him with his lost love, or kill millions.”

I am currently reading the book myself but already I have to say it’s very interesting. Much like one of his movies, it maintains a mysterious element where you’re not sure what, but you’re sure something just doesn’t seem right—like you’re missing a very big piece of the puzzle and you’re dying to put it together.

You can read a generous 15-page free preview of the book on his website here. Check it out, if you like it, pay that buck and finish a great story.