No more knives?

Jokes aside, I think this will be a year with very few knives on the horizon.Earlier, I've planned to get at least two folding knives from Strider knives and Chris Reeves Knives.But with the acquisition of my Digital Single Lens Reflex camera and a couple of lenses including accessories,
the need for knives have taken a backseat.Late last year, I was eagerly anticipating the release of Strider's Framelock AR. After seeing its initial batch of 100 sold by an on-line retailer in the US, I was kind of disappointed with its fit,
finish and pricing.So, that said, I might just pick one up from the secondary market because I don't think I want to pay the full price.Even more disappointing, was the special suspect edition of the Strider SMF folder.I just don't see a point in having a folding knife with carbon fibre scales and a bronze goat bead. Its just not my style.So, the right thing to do, was to back out and let someone else step up into the queue. I kept my word as the person who started it all to oblige in taking names for an order list.Now that the project is nearing its completion, I can rest at ease.On the other hand, I can't say the same for a small Sebenza with doggy paw print that I am eyeing from Chris
Reeve Knives.This knife is more appealing to me and I guess that if I am disciplined enough, I might land one sometime before
Christmas.As for the rest of the year, I forsee even fewer knives.My focus now, is photography and two trips to the US to catch up with some friends.

Toyotaretaderer

Newton's law: everything that goes up must come down.I guess that's what Toyota is feeling right now with so many of their vehicles recalled in the US.It takes the gas pedal to bring down an automotive giant and I do sincerely hope that this experience would humble them.Back here, Toyota car salesmen are the highest earning people in the sales fraternity.They don't need to hardsell their vehicles as the branding had done most of the work.With that factored-in, its no wonder why most Toyota sales people are retarded.Now that their stocks are still dropping, only time can tell is this Japanese giant can weather it out.

Along came a spider..

Spiders aren't easy to photograph.I learned this the hard way and am still in the midst of getting the techniques correct.Even more challenging, are jumping spiders.These critters are small and getting them to stay still is no easy task.I found much joy in capturing them in their fragile environment as these insects reminds us that everything can just
go in a flash.Spiders as it seems, are sensitive to the changes in the environment.Over the past month, I've had loads of fun capturing images of jumping spiders around my neighbourhood, near
the office and two outdoor locations.I've had some success using my Canon EF 50mm f2.5 compact macro lens.But there are some major shortcomings as the lens is already defunct.To get a 1:1 lifesize shot, I need to add an EF lifesize converter.A marketing staff from Canon broke the bad news by telling me that the product is no longer in the market.Now, the tussle is between getting the all new hybrid image stablised EF 100mm f2.8L macro lens or the
magnificent 5:1 MPE-65mm lens.Right now, that'll have to wait and my immediate task is the get the technique right.