Paradoxical Entity

I bought my Konica Revio KD-400Z back in late 2002.  It was sleek and had the classic camera shape that felt right to me. It also had a very pleasing crisp, blue focusing beam that was unique and got a lot of attention.

While the Revio is just a point-and-shoot type, it was my first serious digital camera.  It has served me well over they years.  It was the camera that enabled and empowered me to take as many photos as I possibly could, so that I may have a better chance to capture that great moment.

Going by the file names it generates, I’ve taken well over 5 thousand photos with it.  I’ve seriously stressed it out at three CES and AEE trade shows, and taken it along several vacations and family gatherings.  I’ve dropped it on concrete, had it swing and get knocked about, yet it continued to work through it all.  The closest call was when I banged the lens while it was extended.  The lens segments bent and wouldn’t retract until I firmly wiggled them loose.

However, while reviewing my Riverside, CA photos, I see evidence of several dead pixels.  No, they’re not fuzzy like dust particles.  I knew I had at least one when my friends pointed it out a few years ago.  Now I see at least half a dozen distinct white pinpoints at the same spots on the dark photos. 

I’ve already picked up the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30K a year and a half ago to be my primary digital camera.  But it’s too big for those times that I don’t want to carry a lot of gear.  The Revio was sized and shaped to slip into a nondescript belt pouch and was easy to whip out at a moment’s notice.  It’s over 4 years old now, quite a life time for electronics.  Perhaps it is time to retire it. 

While a lot of the new point-and-shoot cameras are slimmer that the Revio with way bigger LCD screens, none have really caught my eye as it did.  The blue light was very pleasing.

I’ve just returned from a business meeting at Riverside, CA.  We stayed and had our meeting at the Mission Inn Hotel in downtown Riverside. The first thing that struck me about the area is that it is dead. There were hardly any people around. There were hardly any vehicular traffic! Seriously, Riverside brought to mind one of those ’70s post-apocalyptic movies where only zombies roamed the world.

The immediate neighborhood included the Riverside Convention Center along with several museums and historical sites. There was also a large Marriott hotel and what looked to be medium sized office buildings.  All of which would give one the expectation of a hustling and bustling area full of workers and tourists, and the locals to cater to them.  Nope. 

The nearby shops were small and seemed to be predominantly antique stores. The eateries were little mom & pop affairs. I guess it was just as well because I don’t know how they could have enough shoppers to support anything more. There were quite a few vacant buildings.  The Riverside Chamber of Commerce needs to get on the ball.

As for the Mission Inn, it was an impressive sight. The many architectural styles and the maze-like paths through and about the hotel made it a fun place to explore. Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough time to see all the art pieces scattered around it.  Here are some photos to intrigue you.