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megaman2

56 karma · joined September 6, 2017

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megaman2··on A Primer on Shooting in Manual Mode: Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO [video]
Spot metering is one way to do it, but you might find it's actually slower than using full manual once you get enough experience in a particular area (for example backlit stage shows). In full manual, you'll set your exposure and adjust on the fly in a single click as the light changes. Spot metering is slower because you have to find a decent spot to meter, then lock exposure, then go on to actually focus, frame, etc. It takes an extra few seconds and 2+ movements just to spot meter where adjusting your ISO is a single movement is much quicker (and can be done while you are framing for example).
megaman2··on A Primer on Shooting in Manual Mode: Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO [video]
That's not entirely accurate. The native ISO ("base sensitivity") just means no analog gain is applied. This is a fairly complex area, but to simplify - for non-dual gain sensors - the sensor captures the same amount of information regardless of ISO setting. The ISO setting then determines how much analog gain to apply, and also how much digital multiplication to apply (if the ISO setting is outside of the analog gain range). No additional information is captured at higher ISO values.
megaman2··on Japan's Hometown Tax
Ha, well, if you take your (pathological) example and apply the 30% reciprocation value rule, then no, it does not go ad infinitum, but there is eventually the floor of $0.

But more practically speaking, from the perspective of say, the mayor of a town in Japan - he has revenue being conciously directed towards him from mostly anonymous citizens of the country. Reciving a real (monetary) gift from someone you hardly know definitely would require a reciprocation. In some ways, sure, you're reciprocating to your hometown for your education/etc, but it's not being seen that way from the town's perspective.

There's also the factor that the redirected tax revenue is a physical thing, where as the 'education and life experience' imbued upon a child growing up is a rather non tangible gift .

megaman2··on Japan's Hometown Tax
I agree with you that we should be able to talk about it and criticize it, but I think declaring 'there are no reasons for this' requires more thoughts on the perspectives of the individuals or entities involved.

Certainly it is a (somewhat mitigated) loophole that can be exploited, so in that respect it is not good. But weighed against the positive impact for the rural towns and the connection it makes back to hometowns, you could argue it's worth it.

megaman2··on Japan's Hometown Tax
> but there's absolutely zero reason to allow the return gifts in the first place

There are reasons, but just ones that you don't agree with or haven't thought of. You need to understand that reciprocation is in the culture, and people are not purely rational economic actors. It's entirely possible some towns would outright refuse 'assistance' without being able to reciprocate somehow.

megaman2··on Bank of Canada increases overnight rate target to 1 per cent
Yeah, I get that - I was responding to a comment above about the "sales mix" between detached, townhouses, and condos. The data I referenced directly contradicts the assertions made above that the price declines were due to shifts in the "sales mix" between those three types of homes. Sure, you could argue that the prices declines were shifts within the detached housing market, but I haven't seen anyone provide data on that.
megaman2··on Bank of Canada increases overnight rate target to 1 per cent
Unless I'm reading the reports wrong, according to the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) the average price of a detached housed in the "416" (Toronto) area in July 2017 was $1,304,288. In August it was $1,191,052.

So that means a -8.7% change from July to August alone.

Numbers for recent months - Detached houses in "416" area code: August: $1,191,052 July: $1,304,288 June: $1,386,524 May: $1,503,868 April: $1,578,542

http://www.trebhome.com/market_news/release_market_updates/n...