Nikon D40s, D60 With Speedlight Commander Feature

Most Nikon D40-series and D60 owners would know that they own the best DSLR cameras in the market at their price ranges. However, one of the more important things missing in these models has to do with light. These cameras have built-in flashlights. Owners can also buy additional flashlights (Nikon calls them speedlights) such as the SB-400, SB-600, and SB-800. The limitation is the lack of 'commander mode'. This means that we cannot put the flash somewhere else (i.e., remote wireless mode); we need to attach it to the camera itself. (Using a flash off-camera allows for more creativity in setting up the picture.) The only way to do this, it seems, would be to buy the SB-800 which can itself be configured to become the 'commander' to command additional off-camera flashes. I just came across something totally fascinating that changes this! Having recently bought a SB-800 (from Amazon.com at around SGD$150 less than the local price), I wonder if I have to sell my SB-400. It is sort of redundant and I can't really use it to 'command' the SB-800. It turns out that the SB-800 has a 'little known' 'feature', i.e., it can be used as a remote flashlight, to be 'commanded' by flashes of light by other flashlights. And in our case, the humble SB-400, or the built-in flash! The feature is called SU-4 type settings. (The SB-600 doesn't have this feature.) So I tested it out, it works beautifully! Two lights are so much better than one. So the way to enable these three cameras' commander mode is to cheat a little: by buying the SB-800! Now I can use the SB-400 as a bounce flash, and it will in turn fire the SB-800. More info from Strobist and Nikon.

Obama Desktop

I was just thinking the other day about how we're going to have the worst President of the United States, and probably one of the best Presidents of the United States, back to back! And my colleague said it takes the worst to bring out the best. Oh, happy Mother's Day, Senator Clinton...

There are lots of new downloadable material from the website!


Today's National Education mention: The words above the eagle says "E Pluribus Unum". Out of many, one.

School Choir

"When I'm President, we'll rally this country to the cause of world-class education. That means putting our kids on a pathway to success with universal, quality, affordable early childhood education. That means paying our teachers more, and making sure they're not just teaching to the test - but teaching art and music and literature..."
~Barack Obama/30 Jan 2008/Denver, Colorado

The school has a new choir, and they performed tonight at the annual Awards Day ceremony! I think it's always quite fantastic when teachers step up to the plate and create a new musical group, such as a choir where many people can take part at the same time.

I think music changes people for the better, and bring about a semblance of the divine to a place that's usually uninteresting and dry, which was what happened tonight; the school foyer became a stage that almost felt unreal, with first-time singers attempting to do something that few probably have the privilege of doing...

Teaching art, music and literature... what bold notions in a country that doesn't reward such pursuits which bring in 'concrete results'. Obama mentions the inherent contradictions in matters such as these. 'Pathways to success' is greatly determined by 'succeeding in tests'. But is it possible to not only teach to the test, but go beyond it, as he suggests? Maybe the answer lies in the school choir...

Microsoft Worldwide Telescope

I think I'm a little late to the game with this one. There was this piece of news regarding Microsoft blogger Scoble who started crying after viewing this new technology from Microsoft. It had something to do with telescopes that were online so that people can use them to view the universe on their computers. I wasn't totally surprised with his reaction because the first time I saw Saturn on a couple-of-inch refractor telescope that my grandfather gave me many years ago, I didn't cry, but I gasped. It was pure beauty, and quite indescribable. So I just came across a fascinating presentation of this new Microsoft intiative, and now the new website is also up. I originally thought that this was a little like Google Sky, but it seems that the WWT is much more than that. Truly exciting; it will launch in Spring 2008. I've been researching for a few weeks now to get a telescope. I want to see Saturn again. I've narrowed down my choice to this, and I may order soon to take advantage of a discount with vPOSTUSA and also the astonishingly weak US Dollar. Clear skies!

Scarlett Johansson: Yes, We Can

My favourite actress Ms Johansson can sing too! The video is produced by will.i.am, a Black Eyed Peas' singer, and directed Jesse Dylan, son of Bob Dylan. Oh the times they are a-changin'...

It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation. Yes we can. It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom. Yes we can. It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness. Yes we can. It was the call of workers who organized; women who reached for the ballots; a President who chose the moon as our new frontier; and a King who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the Promised Land. Yes we can to justice and equality. Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity. Yes we can heal this nation. Yes we can repair this world. Yes we can. We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change. We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics...they will only grow louder and more dissonant... We've been asked to pause for a reality check. We've been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope. But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope. Now the hopes of the little girl who goes to a crumbling school in Dillon are the same as the dreams of the boy who learns on the streets of LA; we will remember that there is something happening in America; that we are not as divided as our politics suggests; that we are one people; we are one nation; and together, we will begin the next great chapter in the American story with three words that will ring from coast to coast; from sea to shining sea -- Yes. We. Can.