EPKPhoto's Tidbits » Virginia http://blog.epkphoto.com The personal blog of Eric Kerby Fri, 18 Feb 2011 02:52:24 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 +1 for Canon's Customer Support http://blog.epkphoto.com/2008/02/27/plus1-for-canon-customer-support/ http://blog.epkphoto.com/2008/02/27/plus1-for-canon-customer-support/#comments Thu, 28 Feb 2008 04:13:18 +0000 EricKerby http://blog.epkphoto.com/2008/02/27/plus1-for-canon-customer-support/ Canon PIXMA Pro9500 inkjet printer in my apartment since mid-January. I am very impressed at the quality of this printer, and it has done its part to re-energize my desire to create prints of my photographs in addition to displaying them in digital formats. A few weeks ago, however, the printer began reporting ink tank errors. It started with the Photo Magenta and Yellow cartridges. Eventually, the errors on those two cartridges would no longer allow me to print. I called Canon's customer support center and after speaking with the representative for a few minutes, they sent me two replacements in a few short days. Last week, however, the Green tank began reporting errors. I called Canon again, and the representative arranged for a total replacement of all 10 of my ink cartridges. That's no small replacement considering these buggers cost $15 each. On both occasions the hold time was very short and the representative was kind and helpful. Not to mention I found out on the second call that their support center for all of the United States just happens to be located in my home town of Chesapeake, Virginia! Thanks for your great support, Canon. The box of new ink arrived yesterday, and I'm back up and printing.]]> I have had a Canon PIXMA Pro9500 inkjet printer in my apartment since mid-January.  I am very impressed at the quality of this printer, and it has done its part to re-energize my desire to create prints of my photographs in addition to displaying them in digital formats.  A few weeks ago, however, the printer began reporting ink tank errors.  It started with the Photo Magenta and Yellow cartridges.  Eventually, the errors on those two cartridges would no longer allow me to print.  I called Canon's customer support center and after speaking with the representative for a few minutes, they sent me two replacements in a few short days.  Last week, however, the Green tank began reporting errors.  I called Canon again, and the representative arranged for a total replacement of all 10 of my ink cartridges.  That's no small replacement considering these buggers cost $15 each.  On both occasions the hold time was very short and the representative was kind and helpful.  Not to mention I found out on the second call that their support center for all of the United States just happens to be located in my home town of Chesapeake, Virginia!  Thanks for your great support, Canon.  The box of new ink arrived yesterday, and I'm back up and printing.

]]> http://blog.epkphoto.com/2008/02/27/plus1-for-canon-customer-support/feed/ 0 Absentee voting http://blog.epkphoto.com/2008/02/09/absentee-voting/ http://blog.epkphoto.com/2008/02/09/absentee-voting/#comments Sat, 09 Feb 2008 22:42:05 +0000 EricKerby http://blog.epkphoto.com/2008/02/09/absentee-voting/ I requested my absentee ballot for the Virginia 2008 presidential primary on February 5th and received it yesterday (the 8th).  I filled it out with a witness present, sealed the multiple envelopes, attached more than enough postage (old stamps from my roommate), and sent it on its way back down south this morning.  If the jolly old USPS does their job right, the ballot should make it back home by the 12th to be counted among that day's votes.  Yay for doing my civil duty.  I hope you other states enjoyed your Super Tuesday.

]]> http://blog.epkphoto.com/2008/02/09/absentee-voting/feed/ 3 Oh boy, Virginia http://blog.epkphoto.com/2008/02/05/oh-boy-virginia/ http://blog.epkphoto.com/2008/02/05/oh-boy-virginia/#comments Tue, 05 Feb 2008 23:57:51 +0000 EricKerby http://blog.epkphoto.com/2008/02/05/oh-boy-virginia/ what many Virginians did today to get a laugh. It turns out that some people in the good old Commonwealth missed the message that the Virginia primaries are happening on February 12th...not today. I tell ya', we Virginians sure are a mighty smart crowd!]]> I could not resist posting a link to a humorous tidbit about today's Super Tuesday primaries and caucuses.  Take a look at what many Virginians did today to get a laugh.  It turns out that some people in the good old Commonwealth missed the message that the Virginia primaries are happening on February 12th…not today.  I tell ya', we Virginians sure are a mighty smart crowd!

]]> http://blog.epkphoto.com/2008/02/05/oh-boy-virginia/feed/ 1 Ethanol has a public image http://blog.epkphoto.com/2006/07/04/ethanol-public-image/ http://blog.epkphoto.com/2006/07/04/ethanol-public-image/#comments Tue, 04 Jul 2006 21:29:43 +0000 EricKerby http://blog.epkphoto.com/2006/07/04/ethanol-public-image/ Ethanol on the front linesHappy Independence Day! This past weekend we drove up to Virginia's northern neck to see my aunt, uncle, cousins, and their new pug puppy. When we stopped for gas before the trip, I had to snap a shot of a sign on the pump, "Contains up to 10% ethanol." Originally, I thought this was to feed off of recent somewhat positive media exposure, but it seems more is involved. If you want a good read, follow my link to this PDF from the Virginia Petroleum, Convenience and Grocery Association. By the way, my Treo 700p's camera seems to work quite nicely outside. Read on for more info and another photo.]]> Ethanol on the front lines

Happy Independence Day! This past weekend we drove up to Virginia's northern neck to see my aunt, uncle, cousins, and their new pug puppy. When we stopped for gas before the trip, I had to snap a shot of a sign on the pump, "Contains up to 10% ethanol." Originally, I thought this was to feed off of recent somewhat positive media exposure, but it seems more is involved. If you want a good read, follow my link to this PDF from the Virginia Petroleum, Convenience and Grocery Association. By the way, my Treo 700p's camera seems to work quite nicely outside. Read on for more info and another photo.

I'm not sure for how long, but Virginia has a law requiring the labeling of all pumps with blends greater than 1% of ethanol. Earlier this year, it seems there has been a huge push to rid the state of MTBE, an oxygenate that has been banned in many states. Ethanol blends serve to replace MTBE to meet octane requirements in gasoline. For those of you who have not heard my ethanol speech, I mentioned how the 1990 amendments to the Clean Air Act mandate oxygenate requirements for many areas with higher air pollution. Various regions selected different oxygenates, but these days they all seem to be moving to ethanol. Virginia is moving to ethanol not because of law, but because of the lack of liability protection for MTBE use by oil suppliers. Again, review this PDF from VPCGA and this info regarding reformulated gasoline (RFG) by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

I can only hope alternative ways to producing ethanol develop very quickly, or we will find ourselves in a pickle with the corn based junk. Also, it is worth noting that currently ethanol costs nearly a dollar more per gallon than regular gasoline. That is after government subsidies and for pumps in the Corn Belt states. It would be even more expensive with smaller subsidies and for states farther from ethanol plants. In other words, that "up to 10% ethanol" content is contributing to the high gas prices across the United States.

Here's another shot of the pump:

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