Last Night's Grilled Smoking Chicken

Maybe I'll Be Late for My Own Funeral

The weekend is packed with festivals, rain in the forecast and, a full moon!

Yesterday, I walked through town, on the way home and made one stop.

Lousy weather has kept most people off the streets but, not me.

It seemed like a good idea (around sundown) to grab something to drink.

There weren't any customers in this tiny restaurant, other than me.

So, I ordered everybody a beer and we all said, "Kampai" that's "Cheers" in Japan.

Then, the chicken thing started happening and, some grilled steak, too.

Busy doing research and photo processing, I forgot all about the time, today.

Next thing you know, the sun's getting ready to go down, again.

A hundred projects are piled-up on my desk but, I have to run and shoot a festival.

It's too late, to organize a blog post so, I took this screenshot of Google Maps.

Either you can squint and read my review of Kitchen Brasil or, GO HERE

It's time for me to grab a camera and head out to a Christmas Festival Thingy!

Mad Mike Review: Pizza Potato Chips

It's Been Awhile

Product reviews: Not my favorite thing to do. Once in a blue moon, something strikes my fancy.

First, let me explain how this all got started. I'll try to keep it short.

Halfway to the office, early this morning, I stopped at a machine to buy some iced coffee.

That's when I noticed there was no change in my pocket. My wallet was fine.

But, the machines won't handle large denomination bills and, that's all I had.

Another thing: My keys, I keep the small change with, were left at home, too.

Office keys are attached to my cell-phone case, I could get inside the place.

Just, wouldn't be able to open the camera locker. Keep on walking to work.

A cloudy, crappy day, I could get by without the big cameras. Do office stuff.

Suddenly, the Facebook thing went, "BING" and I read this post from a friend.

She asked: "Does potato pizza exist?"

My reply: "Sure. In Japan, they even have pineapple pizza."

The morning was grueling. There's an extra key in this office, for my camera locker.

Cleaning seven desk drawers, did nothing, to help find it. I needed a break.

So, I got back on Facebook and told the gal:

 "Let me see if, the store is open, down the street. They have delicious Pizza Potato Chips."

At the store, I grabbed chips, smokes and iced coffee and got the change in my pocket now.

Back on Facebook

" Got 3 bags and, will take an iPhone photo to show you.

 Damn cameras are locked-up in my drying vault and, I left the keys at home!"

See, I was hungry and those chips are excellent for scooping beans out of Tupperware.

Now, I'm pretty sure, the Japanese language would be difficult for this gal in the USA.

So, I snapped one more photo, to show her the pictures on the potato chip bag.

The images might help explain, what ingredients are used in making these chips.

There's cheese, red peppers, garlic, potatoes, tomatoes and maybe, pepperoni.

Even the dude, at the bottom, says, "YUMMY!"

Visit Calbee Company in Japan for more.

Back to the Review

Pizza Potato Chips from Calbee get a Five Star Rating from me.

They are a bit spicy, crispy, cheesy, crunchy, deliciously scrumptious, to me.

Ridged potato chips are strong enough to grab tuna out of a can or, use with bean dip.

The guy pictured on the back of the bag, ain't lying. They're yummy.

Back to Work

The first bag of chips has been consumed in its entirety.  But, the beans are only half gone.

The gal, in Arizona, who got me going on the Pizza Chips, deserves a big Thank You.

Not sure if I have her mailing address, I'll probably go back to searching for that spare key.

Half an hour or so should be enough time to waste on that project.

If I don't find the key, I could walk home and grab the original, to get to my cameras.

It's early in the day. Keep working and, eat more chips with beans, would be alright, too!

MORE MAD MIKE REVIEWS

Party Girls Test Drive the Canon G12 Camera: Photo Essay

Here are the birthday girls who were celebrating in my bar/studio Sunday night in Okinawa, Japan.

Names and ages won't be revealed in case anyone innocent doesn't want attention drawn to them.

There couldn't be a better way to run a camera through its paces than this.  Set everything to AUTO MODE, Pattern Metering, Flash on Auto Red-eye Reduction and turn a bunch of party gals loose with it.  

The G12 decided f/3.2  1/15sec and ISO 400 was the way to go for these, first two photos taken at a focal length of 9mm and 8mm respectively.

Here's why I'm glad I was drinking beer and not the cameraman.  Those freakin peace signs in front of a camera are some kinda reflex action in Japan and drive me absolutely crazy.

This was another f/3.2  1/15  ISO 400 shot taken at 8mm.

Don't ask what's going on in this photo, I have no idea.  It looks like a birthday pie, or something on fire and the gals are practicing some kinda aerial maneuvers like, maybe they saw that Top Gun movie. 

The G12 decided on higher ISOs for this shot.  It went to ISO 640  f/2.8  1/15  6mm.

That's my silhouette, over at the bar, drinking beer and talking to a guy I think I'll start calling RyukyuRu.  All the party gals think he looks like some movie star from Top Gun.  Hah !

It's a little past midnight in this photo and the gals are just doing whatever they do while waiting for someone else to show up.  Drink, gab, and eat.  f/2.8  1/15  ISO 400  lens at 6mm.

After birthday presents are um, presented we get to see some feet.  f/4.5  1/15  ISO 400 at 30mm.

Then, a fanny.  Not sure if it was the shoes, leggings, skirt, or what, that had to do with sticking the fanny out. 

I'm glad all I had to do was drink beer and let someone else do the photos.  f/3.2  1/60  ISO 800  8mm.
                 

This turned out to be one of my favorite photos.

f/2.8  1/15  ISO 400 at a focal length of 7mm.

Another favorite shot was this one.  LOOK NO PEACE SIGNS !   f/2.8  1/15  ISO 400 at 6mm.

Closer to 1:30AM they start posing with bags of munchies, or something.  f/2.8  1/15   ISO 400  at 6mm.

At 3:52AM the party gals are still drinking and singing.  It looks like the flock thinned out a bit. Maybe some went to the powder room or are passed out behind a sofa.  f/2.8  1/60  ISO 400 at 6mm.

There was a typhoon in the area so, with rain and wind expected, everyone decided staying indoors all night long would be a good idea.  Closer to 4AM  f/2.8  1/15  ISO 400  6mm.

At 4:17AM the drinking and singing were still going strong.  f/3.2  1/15  ISO 400  focal length 8mm.

It isn't everyday you'll see me let a bunch of Party Girls test drive one of my cameras but, I had them give it a try so I could do a thorough review on this new machine of mine.  I shoot all my cameras in Manual Mode, exclusively.  That's not for everyone, I know.  I wanted to see how this little Canon performed on its own.  I'm impressed.  These photos are exactly what came out of the camera with some cropping and slight contrast adjustments by me in editing.  Not too shabby.

Canon G12 in the hands of the Party Girls gets a Five Star Rating !

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE 2011 YEAR OF THE PARTY RABBITS: PHOTO ESSAY

No Plan Today, Just Green Trees, Flowers and a Freakin' Canon !

Early this morning I walked to the bar (office) to grab the cameras and hit the road with Doc Graff.

That's when I discovered the shutter wouldn't accept my key and I was locked out.  Everything I needed for the day's photography was ready to go I just couldn't get in.  By the time Doc arrived I was madder than a pile of wet chickens.  I just said, "Let's go.  I'll be your camera advisor.  Get me outta here, far and fast"!

A lot of times the best road trips, with a camera, are when you don't have a plan.  So, we decided that's what we'd do today; have no plans.  You won't be so dissapointed if nothing happens. 

It's an old Okinawan thing.  Never make plans, that way they can't go wrong. 

We were in a hurry to get nowhere when I spotted these cool-looking trees groomed like the tiled roof of a traditional Okinawan home.  It's a good thing I always look for these photo opportunities because Doc is always watching where he's going on the road.

We whipped a u-ey and pulled off the highway.  Doc grabbed his Pentax and I used my cell phone.

The red and yellow flowers, along with the dark green leaves of the well-manicured trees would make a great photo, I thought.  Dang, I wish I'd have had a real camera !

Point and shoot, kneel and squat, move around and shoot from different angles.  People driving along the road must have thought I was crazy, or suicidal trying to compose photos from where I could get run over.  The blasted LCD screens on cell phone cameras are almost impossible to see when you're out in bright daylight.  I hate them.  I need a viewfinder.

The next stop we made was at Kitamura Camera Store.  So, what the heck,  I've been wanting to get a CANON G12 for a long time.   Ever since they first came out, I've been researching different makes and models of point and shooters.  My first priority being, it has to shoot RAW.
Then, other must-haves are a viewfinder and an LCD screen that I can twist to different angles, or turn the stupid thing OFF, if I want to.  Well, I got that sucker, now.  Standby for a review.

If you'd like to see what other users of the G12 have to say in their reviews, follow the link above.

Today started off sort of down in the dumps.  After seeing those green trees, pretty flowers and coming home with a Canon G12, it didn't turn out too shabby afterall.  The office is unlocked now and the news is saying another typhoon may be headed our way.  So, I won't make any plans for the weekend. 

It's an Okinawan thing I kind of like !

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