P3D Stereogram 3.7 is out!

["Dr. George A. Themelis" <DrT-3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

OK, here is a computer trivial question:  How many minutes does it
take to replace a CD-ROM reader in a computer?  With the case open,
no more than 10 minutes.  It took me exactly 360 minutes (6 hours)
w/lots of swearing and frustration thanks to extremely poor
documentation and a jumper that was set at "slave" instead of
"master" (I still don't know what that means... all I know is
that it cost me 6 low-quality hours...)

The good news is that I managed to finish the newsletter... only
after I installed the HP PhotoSmart Scanner in my wife's computer...

I was going to keep it a secret... BUT this DELL case was a mystery
to me... I could not open it!  No screws anywhere!  It turns out 
that two switches that look very much like power ON/OFF switches 
must be pressed for the case to open.  So, even though I was ready 
to "operate" at 5:00 AM, I had to wait until 9:00 AM for my wife 
to wake up to ask where the hell were the computer manuals.  As 
expected (???) these were in the garage, inside the box that came
with the computer!!!  

Approaching the computer with manuals and screwdrivers on hand would 
have normally alarmed my wife but she was very understanding that 
morning.  "If you screw up my computer, I am going to kill you" she 
calmly told me.  "Yes honey, I know that!  Don't worry..."

The fact that I am here posting this is an indication that I did
not screw things up.  With the HP PhotoSmart Scanner in a properly
working computer you might think that I would not have any
problems.  HOWEVER (how unlucky can a man be?) the quality of the
scans was very poor.  The color *registration* was off, resulting
in what appeared to be blurred pictures.  In a stroke of genius
(that's why they pay me the BIG BUCKS) I isolated the red channel
only, in Photoshop, and that resulted in very sharp monochromatic
images.  Perfect for the newsletter!

What was I going to say?  Oh, yes!  Stereogram 3.7 is finally
out, copied and ready to be distributed.  It features the usual
local news and photographs, plus an interview with Peter and
Carol Smakula (Peter is also active in APEC III), DrT's Tutorial
(part 7) on "Aperture and Hyperfocal Distance".  Also, an unusual
find, the charming stereo view portraits of decades past that no
one wanted to buy.  They ended up in my hands.  All that in a
nice looking package, delivered to you regularly (no matter how
how many computer problems I must overcome) 10 times a year for 
only $15 (what a bargain!)

As always, a few free issues are available upon request.  These
will only be mailed to US addresses.  You must not have received
an issue (free or paid) before, to qualify.

Thank you for reading this and I promise to confine my postings
to stereo only matters in the future!

George Themelis
mailto:DrT-3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


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