(c) 5/1998 - 1/2012
Not Quite TG Stuff
Page 1 (links verified 1/17/11)
I wanted to have a "techie" page, but it really wasn't enough. These pages are helping with some things that are not specifically TG-related, but are things we girls are interested in.
Below are my links in no particular order within each list. And now...
Depression
I had thought awhile back that this would be an important topic, but I just didn't know how to approach it at first. Well I have to admit, I am struggling with a depression. Fortunately I know I will recover. I want to and that will make it happen. My depression (I think) does not stem from my being transgendered, but I recognize it does not help the situation. But then again, maybe it does because it gives me something to focus on and maybe gives me a goal to work toward.
For your support, I know I cannot play doctor nor do I
want to. What I know I can do is maybe get you to
realize you are truly depressed as in the clinical
definitions and maybe get you to take that first step
towards getting better. For any of your close ones who
may stumble across this, I offer them a few things they
can do that will help you. And soooooooo... my list of
links that will get you started into recognizing there
may be a problem and will get you started (I hope)
towards recovery.
-
NMHA-sponsored
Depression Screening: You can probably guess why
I selected this one rather than Good Housekeeping's
version. Understand as they also state, this test is
not definitive. Think of it as a wake up call. Even
if you are not defined as depressed, but are close.
-
A Summary on Depression: A good summary. Read the
whole thing before going to any of the links. More info by "type" can
be found at
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/depression.
-
The Mayo Clinic's Summary: Another good summary on
depression. Again, read the whole summary before taking any
specific links. The self-care write up is right,
trust me.
- Focus on Depression: Depression is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts, that affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. People with a depressive disease cannot merely “pull themselves together” and get better. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years. Appropriate treatment, however, can help most people with depression.
There are lots and lots of information out on the Web for depression. Even the links above have plenty of links. You cannot say depression itself is not understood and that you cannot find information you can understand. However, be careful of your sources (I doubt you are a good source for your own diagnosis either). If you honestly believe you are depressed, go to a doctor; it doesn't even have to be a "nut" doctor.
I hope this helps...
Digital Cameras
Well,
I got a digital camera rather than a new gown
*sigh*. I thought since I had been looking, I would
provide my usual chatter about what I found out. To
begin, finding a camera online is a pain. No one site
has all the information in one place to answer all the
questions; nor does any one site provide a complete
comparison between products that will not overwhelm
you. In my search of just a few hours, I have found
these sites that will get you started (and maybe lost
at the same time).
By the way, the picture on the left was taken with a digital camera. Yep, they can goof just like film cameras. So anyway...
It has been a few years since I got my first digital camera. I got my second camera a few months back from this write up and gave Brat my old one. I paid a whole $88 from Target. I went from a bunch of bells and whistles on my last camera to a basic point and shoot. So now, here is bit more that I can tell you about digital cameras:
-
Cameras seem to be taking the pricing path of other electronics.
The initial price for a new feature is a bit high, but then
the price drops quickly when everyone has the feature. Also just
before a new model comes out, there is a dramatic price drop on
the last model. Holidays and special seasonal occasions have the
cameras always on sale it seems.
-
1.3 megapixels makes a very large file for older software.
Some of the older software just locks up. So far though with all
new updates (as of 4/11/2006), I haven't run into a single crash.
-
1.3 megapixels (well I never got a picture bigger than
half a meg) translates into a nice 4x6 picture.
-
At 29 cents, apiece and some specials, why would I need
a fancy printer? I only print a few pictures a year.
-
3.3 megapixels, however that translates into an actual file
size, will print at half a normal sheet of paper and be
pretty clear. Nowadays, no camera for a decent picture should be
less than 3 megapixels. I'm not sure you can find a new one that
low in resolution.
-
When you edit your pictures, I think you should be using
the software provided with the camera. I find the resulting
images when printed come out better than using other
software. I also try to save the pictures uncompressed and
not translated into any other formats than the original.
Every time you touch the picture and save it, the image
quality goes down. Maybe I'm wrong, but why chance it.
- Optical zoom is always better than digital zoom. Think about it, the image is made bigger with the optical zoom before you translate the image digitally. Digital zoom has to fake the physical zoom of optical. This faking is never 100 percent as accurate as the optical version.
Since I last touched this page (in too long--sorry), a lot of sites have cropped up. I can tell you one way I searched. I searched using "how they work" and "digital cameras" with AltaVista. I can only provide you a very short list. In no particular order, as usual:
-
Active
Buyer's Guide
This provides a list of products to include digital cameras. I was going to select them for you, but the "active" times out forcing you back to where I am starting you in the first place--sorry. This guide walks you through a comprehensive list of features that digital cameras offer and then it asks you to do some trade-offs. It asks if all else is equal, what would you rather have between two related options. Once you get through the questions, you are returned a list of products. This site gives you a nice comparison, but as I said earlier, it is overwhelming.
-
PC Magazine's "top ten hits" on Digital Cameras
Not much to say. They do their usual good job of providing information and reviews.
-
Computer Shopper on Digital Cameras
You have to hunt for the various reviews, but they have them.
Okay, let us say you got your digital camera. Now what? You no longer can print them without a color printer. Hummm, maybe I should look into them, but really there is no need. My recommendation is not to buy a "picture printer" since it very limited, but very good at one it does. The limit being that its sole function is to print pictures like you get from a developer. They are not cheap, but try to tell me the occasional high quality picture you want cannot be made elsewhere. As for the color printers on the market? You will need to get one with a separate black ink cartridge as well as having each color separate. These printers cost more, usually have higher resolution to print a pretty decent picture and may save you on ink refills in the long run.
If you do not buy a picture printer and are not ready for the more expensive printer, then what can you do? *smile* I can answer that one. Your camera or some device you use to read your media card will be quite capable of interfacing with your PC. Your PC will have software to make the ubiquitous picture formats we all recognize. Once the pictures are stored on your PC in a common format, you simply transfer the pictures you want printed to diskette. This allows you to visit the filmmakers' kiosks for making 8x10 sheets of glossy pictures. Now at this point, I have only used a Kodak machine and I know that Ritz cameras has their own. For Kodak, it will only put one picture in various formats onto one 8x10 sheet. The format I liked included three wallet size and two 3x5 pictures on the same 8x10 sheet. I provided a 960x1260 (*giggle* some size like that) for printing. The finished glossy picture was perfect. Just remember though, if the original picture is too low a resolution or blurred to begin with, the kiosk is not going to fix it. Lastly, a Kodak kiosk is a Kodak kiosk; shop for the best price for the print. There is nothing the stores provide that is worth the price differences.