WordPress has been acting funny lately, on my blog. Donno if it is because the SpamKarma plugin or my Web host. I can't access my website at times, and can't post without getting some stupid error. Grr…
Update: I upgraded to the latest version of WP. Hope the problem goes away.
Double update: My web host seemed to have fixed the problem after I wrote to them. Nice!
Because man proposes and god disposes, many things in the recent past did not go the way I planned. So ended up buying this:
EF 70-200mm f/4L
Now I have three lenses and no camera body 
Update: I purchased a new 350D for the same price as I sold my earlier one, on 24th October. I got it with 2 years warranty. Somehow, the 400D just didn’t seem exciting in spite of my initial euphoria. Hopefully Canon will give us a decent DSLR with a pentaprism view finder and better ergonimics (like the D80) in future. That would be a worthy upgrade, not the 400D!
When I visited Bangalore as a 16 year old many moons ago, I found myself in a hep but sleepy city with great weather and beautiful chicks. Tired of the hustle and bustle of the stinky and hot metropolitan called Madras, I always had pleseant fantasies about life in Bangalore. It was a great place, and like they say - the grass is always greener on the other side.
Fastforward to today. Bangalore is no longer the Garden City or Pensioner’s Paradise everyone would have liked it to remain. IT/BT folks have swarmed the city from outside and kicked the localites from their slumber. Bakeries in the city now open at 7 am instead of 11 am. Imagine that!! The bloody mallus didn’t have to set such standards! But then the city has seen such a drastic change that however hard the Bangalorean tries to cross the road like in the good old days, he cannot. I pity those old time pedestrians. They’ve got the rabbit-in-the-headlights look these days when they don’t look or right before crossing. Of course, some smart folks first reach the middle of the road and then decide what to do next - continue crossing or sprint back and try again. This kind of struggle to do something as simple as crossing of a road makes my heart pour out in grief for the old Bangalorean.
And then there is the great Deve Gowda. People didn’t allow him to sleep peacefully in the Parliment when he got his fifteen seconds of glory outside of Bangalore and today his very own beloved hometown is no longer a place for a good nap. Imagine how he would be feeling deep inside. I understand he got brought his son to power so that he can continue his shut-eye at home, but then there are these bloody consiprators. They go hi-tech and release VCDs and DVDs in an attempt to befall his clan. How could they!
In my humble opinion, I think Mr K’swamy is doing a terrific job in chasing out non-Bangaloerans out of Bangalore by making Kannada cumpolsory in school. The education minister in his cabinet even went to the extent of digging out the orginal villian - Tippu Sultan! What a shame that the humble Kannadiga unknowningly put this bloody foriegn ruler on the high seat. And isn’t Mr K’swamy valliant in his attempts to stall the helmet rule? Now all those bloody outsiders who have increased the vehicle population in the city will have the face Yamaraj. Of course, how lucky we must be to have a minister agreeing for a Metro rail. Now we tax payers don’t have to worry about watching our hard earned money go down the drain, because the work is anyway going to happen underground. Also by commissioning the new airport in Devanahalli, he has made sure that every visitor spends at least 2 hours (in traffic jams) enjoying a tour of the beatiful city. You sir, are a star! He has even built bridges with people like Mr Murthy of Infy. Because of this person, today, Bangalore is to US what China is to Nike. I can’t imagine how much that must have hurt the farmers, and consequently a gentle soul Mr Deve Gowda. If only Nike outsourced it’s work to India. We wouldn’t have had so many farmers committing suicide.
Of course, many a Bangalorean would be discussing over their morning cuppa at 9 am about how the city has become so dusty because of those Bihari labourers, how the city is so full of grime because of those dark-skinned Tamilians and how the Sambar no longer tastes sweet thanks to those wretched Gultis. And not to mention the fact that they are now going to call this city Bengaluru because of those Bengalis invading the city!
So inspite of valliant attempts by the aforementioned Gowda clan and BMP (trying to match the number of manholes with the number of watering holes), Bangaloreans still can’t go back to their good old way of life. IT Czars with Middle Class values and Liquor Barons with depraved values deny Kannadigas quota. Kannada actresses refuse to work after marrriage and Kannada actors can’t find answers to the most basic of questions - yella ok, cool drink yaake? Amen!
There have been many a times in the past when I have been on the verge of losing it. But for the first time it is for something as materialistic as a digital SLR. Call me mad, but ever since I sold my 350D, I've been a nervous wreck. And at one point of time, I even thought of selling 40k worth of Canon lenses and moving to Nikon because of the new Nikon D80. It took me a while to understand that having to wait for the review of the Canon Rebel XTi was getting too much for me and that is why I was swaying towards buying a D80 (whose review is out, and which has been judged as a gaint leap for Nikonkind). Of course, the irony of the matter is that just when good friend Akshata was supposed to buy either of the cameras from S'pore, she has completely disappeared (and I sincerly hope all is well with her). Not seen her online in a while and that worries me.
Actually, upon further introspection I realized that the 400D forums on DPreview is a bad place to hangout when you are a cat sitting on the wall. Until recently I was totally convinced that Canon is a great company because of being R&D driven, but after hearing so many rants about the 400D, I almost regretted being a Canon shooter. Hell, I even thought that the 400D is a bad decision!
Of course, now I know better. The 400D forums, remarkable as it may sound, is almost giving rise to an Urban Myth. A Myth that has many shades to it:
With so many 'duhs', I won't be surprised if Canon starts including a disclaimer stating that buying a digital SLR does not automatically get you great photos. And when you don't get great photos just because you got a DSLR, don't blame the camera.
From my own learning curve, I can say that photography is both an art and a science. The science part I am yet to completely grasp, and it is indeed fun learning. With new DSLRs falling in price, I am not suprised that many people don't see it that way. Spend more money - get better photos. That seems to be what most people think when they upgrade from a P&S. A similar analogy would be the general thought that having a big car would get you good chicks and that's all you need in life. Ok, I am going overboard here 
Nevertheless, I have somehow convinced myself to stick with Canon. On the other hand, the Nikon is really a great camera. Especially the viewfinder. It's addictive, I would say. And that's exactly what I need to go out an shoot more. I need a camera that screams "look at me sitting here doing nothing. Take me out and SHOOT!" Yes, I somehow deep inside believe that the Nikon D80 is that kind of a camera. As Phil concludes in his review, the D80 is a "photographer's camera". And without even seeing the 400D's review, I can say that Canon's entry level DSLR is just that - an entry level DSLR for P&S upgraders.
However, when it comes to image quality, Canon has always had an advantage, and is still leading over the D80 by a whisker. I would certainly want to opt for the best image quality. But the fact that I want to move up from an entry level DSLR to a 'photographer's camera' makes me still consider buying a Nikon. Aaaarrggghh…..i'm starting it off all over again!!!