Friday November 27
 
12:53
 
Oh my god!

Charge by weight, I tell you. Charge by weight.

Wednesday April 1
 
15:01
 
HD video Panasonic Lumix GH1 is coming

Jeepney, Manila, Philippines

I really love my G1. When I went to Manila a few weeks ago I took the G1 in preference to my D60 or D90 – it’s just so small and light to carry about, and photo quality is outstanding. And it was more discreet in the dodgy streets of Manila.

The GH1 is very tempting. Here’s the details on pricing and release:

The DMC-GH1K (GH1 and LUMIX G VARIO HD 14-140mm／F4.0-5.8 ASPH.／MEGA O.I.S) will be available from 24th April 2009 in Japan. The price is set at 149,800 yen. You can check the US price here.

In Japan the GH1 will be available in black, red, and very cool gold!

The individual lens prices are:
14-400: 84,800yen, available in May.
14-45: 29,500yen, available April 24th.
7-14: 99,9600yen, available April 24th.

The release date of the 14-45 is interesting. I’m not sure whether this is the same lens that comes with the G1 or not.

GH1 samples and galleries:
Panasonic Japan – Stills
Panasonic Japan – Video

Lemon Soju – Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 – Main Page

Monday March 23
 
08:15
 
Crash At Narita

I landed at Narita last night. I remember the plan shaking as it landed due to the wind.

FedEx plane crash lands at Narita airport, bursts into flames
Monday 23rd March, 07:34 AM JST

NARITA —
A cargo aircraft crash landed due to strong winds at around 6:50 a.m. Monday morning at Narita International Airport, east of Tokyo, and burst into flames, Chiba prefectural police said.

The crashed plane, an MD-11, was FedEx Flight 80 from Guangzhou, China and was manned by a pilot and co-pilot, according to the transport ministry’s Narita airport office. Police said it remains unknown whether there are any casualties. The cargo plane landed on Runway A, the longer of the airport’s two runways, the office said. The runway is currently closed.

Scary stuff.

Thursday March 12
 
12:30
 
Toilet Humour

Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary insists he’s serious about making passengers pay for the right to relieve themselves on flights.

O’Leary said he has asked engineers at U.S. aircraft maker Boeing—which supplies Ryanair’s entire fleet of 737-800s—to design toilets with doors that open only if you swipe a valid credit card through the locking mechanism.

LOL.

They should take my idea of an “excess fat” charge.

Tuesday February 24
 
16:33
 
Feb Break

I went to Hawaii for the weekend. Initial impressions upon landing:

- Hawaiians really do wear Hawaiian shirts
- Where are all the sexy Japanese? All I see is fat/old Americans!

Hawaii wasn’t what I expected. I thought it would be loud, noisy, full of Costa-del-sol style nightclubs and beach bars. But it was none of those things. Good bars, microbreweries and local beers, clean beaches, and I could buy (UK) size 12 shoes (woo hoo!).

Would have liked to have seen a few more hot babes on the beach, but I do like whale spotting and Hawaii was most satisfying for that (even away from the beach!). Only real negative was the lack of public transport – I’d hate to be waiting for a Hanalua beach bus during the high season; and it was impossible to see the volcanoes on the “big island” without renting a car or going on a tour which visits nut factories, flower fields, and several other pointless cash earning sites (so I ended up skipping the volcanoes this time).

I don’t usually like beach holidays but I liked Hawaii so much that I’m thinking to go back later this year – visit the big island and rent a car to see the volcanoes. That would be cool.