Picture of the week

A pig crawls through a hole in a wall of a collapsed house in Renhe village in the earthquake-hit area of Shifang in Sichuan province, China

(Nicky Loh/Reuters)

A hard fought Boat Race in the snow

Bad weather severely reduced the numbers of spectators who lined the banks of the Thames between Putney and Mortlake to watch the 1952 University Boat Race, but it could not mar a truly spectacular struggle which, though rowed in a blizzard, provided one of the most closely fought contests in the race’s history. The highly fancied Cambridge crew, left, led for much of the way, but by Mortlake Brewery Oxford had drawn level, and a tremendous spurt from that point took them home the winners by a canvas

(From Times Photo Gallery)

Salford's shocking Seventies' slums

Children in the Lower Broughton area of Salford, one of the borough’s most deprived slum areas, in October 1974. Over the past three decades there has been a great deal of regeneration of inner city areas, those such as Salford Quays being gleaming showcases for high-tech industries. But slums remain, and much development lies next to what are regarded as some of the most socially deprived areas in England.

(From Times Photo gallery)

Characteristics of a speaker

“Aristotle (384-322 BC), writing in the Rhetoric, suggested that Ethos, the Trust of a speaker by the listener, was based on the listener’s perception of three characteristics of the speaker.

“Aristotle believed these three characteristics to be the intelligence of the speaker (correctness of opinions, or competence), the character of the speaker (reliability - a competence factor, and honesty - a measure of intentions), and the goodwill of the speaker (favorable intentions towards the listener).”

M Condor Triclimate Jacket- The North Face

Wanted to wait for the post christmas sale but couldn't.
Had to buy some winter clothing as it was getting colder.
Went around Grafton centre and managed to buy this jacket for 110 pounds (50% discount)
Here's what I am paying for:-

Features

* Seam sealed
* Removable, fully adjustable hood
* Napoleon chest pocket
* Two Alpine pockets
* Pit-zip vents
* Internal chest pocket

* Velcro® adjustable cuffs with elastic
* Triclimate™ Apex ClimateBlock soft shell
A soft shell technology breakthrough. Apex is a signature material, researched and developed exclusively by The North Face. Apex makes the fleece/shell combination possible through its proprietary blend of characteristics. Apex offers the dynamic duo of a tightly woven abrasion-phobic face for protection, and a soft-brushed interior for performance and comfort. Apex technology is built to stretch for comfort and mobility and is treated with our Durable Water Resistant (DWR) finish.
Apex features are nylon constructed and woven for stretch enhancement to achieve the balance between weather resistance and breathability. The average air permeability rating for these fabrics is below 20 CFM.
Apex is finished with DWR to increase water shed. DWR is laboratory tested for durability and extended wash and wear according to the standard AATCC 22 Water Repellency Spray Test. All Apex™ fabrics meet The North Face standard rating of 90 (70 after a specified number of home washings) for long-term durability.
All Apex garments keep you dry in a thick fog or light rain environment. Apex garments are built for warmth. The tightly woven fabric face creates a hard barrier to the elements of cold weather, while the soft-brushed interior allows for a soft warm-next-to-skin feel. The brushed interior also promotes a microclimate, allowing for superior moisture management and continued climate control.
Apex Aerobic Fabric
Wind Resistance: 10+ CFM
Weight Range: 4 - 7 oz.
Usage: High levels of extended aerobic activity (running, biking, climbing) in mild winter and spring conditions.
Apex Aerobic fabric denotes the lightest weight and most breathable of Apex garments. It offers the greatest stretch and mobility, with a CFM of 10+, making it ideal for running, cycling, and other highly mobile, aerobic activities.
Apex Universal
Wind Resistance: 5 - 15 CFM
Weight Range: 8 - 11 oz.
Usage: Medium levels of aerobic activity (hiking, biking, climbing, skiing, snowboarding) in moderate winter conditions.
Apex Universal is the most versatile of the Apex fabrics. With enhanced stretch and a CFM between 5 and 15, it is both breathable and water resistant, making it ideal for a wide range of activities and weather conditions.
Apex ClimateBlock Fabric
Wind Resistance: 0 CFM
Weight Range: 11 - 14 oz.
Usage: Mild levles of aerobic activity (hiking, skiing, snowboarding) or for use in more severe winter conditions.
Apex ClimateBlock is the most protective Apex fabric. Virtually waterproof and windproof, the fabric also maintains a comfortable level of breathability. Apex ClimateBlock is ideal for trekking, skiing, and snowshoeing in challenging, inclement weather conditions.

* Brushed collar lining
* Two hand pockets
* Zip-in cuff anchor slot

# Avg Weight 1203 g (35.5 oz)

# Length from Center Back 30 in.

# Fabric body: 70D 132 g/m2 (3.9 oz/yd2) 100% nylon HyVent™
2L:- A superior, waterproof, breathable technology utilizing a polyurethane (PU) coating that consists of a tri-component mutli-layer formula for waterproof protection, moisture permeability and durability. Hyvent™ Alpha: Laminate composed of microscopic holes that enable perspiration to pass to the outside of the garment without condensing into liquid, resulting in extreme waterproofness with a high level of breathability. Hyvent™ DT: Waterproof, breathable fabric with an interior tactile microdot print. Separates fabric from skin and channels moisture away.

# Fabric insulation: Apex ClimateBlock Triclimate™
TriClimate™ Series:-
A three-in-one shell that includes a zip-in technical underlayer which can be worn separately.


I hope that this jacket will enable me to cycle around Cambridge for my photography trips.

Its Snowing In Cambridge

Its snowing in Cambridge and I am still undecided on going out to the city for a photo shoot.

River Cam, Cambridge

Kings College, University of Cambridge, UK

Jesus Green, Cambridge UK

Got up at 5am to get this shot.
Took 20mins of cycling to reach Jesus Green.
Only took a few shots as it started to rain!
Got myself and camera wet.

My Room Mates- Cambridge, UK

I live with 3 room mates which deserves to be mentioned.

First joker:-
Taiwanese phD holder with MBBS from Nottingham. Researcher in the field of oncology. Interest besides research- Women
Always says that what he is doing is saving people.
''I save lives, you know?'', this is what he says all the time
Yeah, yeah...
Who can afford your bloody chemo drugs!
You only save rich people lah.
When I asks him if there is any nice place to go, he would suggest a particular place and when I ask what so good about that place, he says there got banyak women.
Buaya betul.
He had been attached to a japanese uni before and always boast that he goes out for dinner with ANA airline stewardess all the time.
He is obviously single.
but good looking I must say.

Second Joker:-
This is worse. Software engineer from China. Speaks with a unique accent. Did his undergraduate degree in KDU, Malaysia.
Single as well.
Passion- Singing.
In UK, these Chinese jokers are very kesian one. You know what song is the hottest and latest?
e.g. Wen Pieh by jacky Cheung. I think this song is 10 years old.
Sings all the time.
I am writing this at the moment becoz he is currently singing. So I cannot concenrate on my vasculitis stuff.

Third Joker:-
British teacher with phD.
Haven't seen him for the past 1 week.
Other room-mates says he is doing locum like crazy.
Wah, teacher also got locum punya. Tuition-lah.
He is very smart. Do you know where is his tuition center?
This house.
He rents a room in this house and make this house into a tuition center!
So terror. That's why got phD.

Anyway, my Landlord is Korean.
Ist day I came to Cambridge, he brought 8 cans of beer.
1 forced myself to drink 3/4.
He took 5 cans.
But he is nice.
Always suggest where to get cheap stuff.
Taiwanese says if I follow what the landlord says, then I wouldn't have any friends.
He advice me to buy clothes either from NEXT or ZARA if possible.
NEXT clothes more durable.
ZARA- well spoil after wearing 3-4 times. Then have to throw away. But why must buy? He says fashion-mah.

We have 3 bathrooms that is hardly used.
Not sure where they PU/BO.
Likely only bath once every 3 days or so.

Best Fish and Chips in Cambridge, UK

One of the best fish and chips in Cambridge.
Originally called Jacks Fish and Chips.

I went for the lunch-time meal where you get the following:-
Large Cod
Chips
A can of soft drink

All for 5 pounds (Usual Price 6.25).
Be prepared to wait a little while as they make your fish upon ordering.
The queue can be long esp during dinner time. In fact I went there the night before but opted for instant noodles d/t the long queue.

The portion is enormous.
Fish- The batter is crispy and the fish juicy (just like what a cod should be like).
Chips- Nothing great to me. Rather standard stuff. (They use maris piper potatoes)
The box is just slightly smaller than a MacBook.
Its actually enough for 2 persons (And I am a big eater).

Definitely worth the wait....

Go there with an empty stomach!


DEEP BLUE CAMBRIDGE
Address: 202 Cherry Hinton Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire. CB1 7AW
Telephone: 01223 247 612

Opening Times

Monday to Saturday 11.30am to 2.00pm & 4.30pm to 10.00pm
Sunday 5.00pm – 10.00pm

A Smile from Heaven- fm WKW

Quote of the day

I rather rule in Hell than to serve in Heaven

Anonymous

Best Ayam Goreng Kampung

This is a relatively easy recipe that would go along well with nasi lemak.
Ingredients are few but the taste is explosive:-

Lengkuas- Minced
Kunyit-Minced

Corn starch

Salt

That's all

Fry in 250 degrees of hot oil till golden brown.

Yummy

Tokina 12-24mm f/4 review

Above are 2 shots taken at 12mm just to test the lens on the extreme side.


This is an excellent lens.

It is very sharp and with little distortion, even at very wide settings. Flaring has not been a problem and CA is definitely not as bad as some reviews have reported. This lens is amazing and colours are awesome. I bought a hoya hmc filter and I cannot ask for anything else from this lens.

This lens has the feel of a L lens (very solid) and as most people have rightly claimed that it is built like a tank! There is some mild CA in harsh conditions but the colour saturation is canon L quality.

In terms of sharpness it does have to be stopped down a fraction but all wides need to stopped down to get that magic depth of field.