What is a good way to protect a camera when it is raining besides a waterproof camera cover?
I've been trying to photograph lightning lately, as we have had some great storms in Colorado. I've had some difficulty getting a good vantage point, however, as almost all of these storms include rain as well. To keep my camera from getting drenched (I have weather-sealed lenses, but my camera body, a Canon 450D, is not weather sealed as far as I can tell), I've had to shoot under the eve of a building or under a thick canopy of trees, however that has greatly limited my ability to adapt to the changing weather and get get a vantage point on the best lightning.  Is there any equipment, something I can purchase or something home-made that has easy-to-find parts, that can help me protect my lens from the rain while still being able to shoot? Additionally, I've been getting rain on a UV filter I have on the front of my lenses, simply to prevent rain from getting on the front lens element itself. However, once a storm really gets going, so does the rain. Is there a simple solution to keep rain off the front of the lens?
When a divination wizard character uses their Portent ability:     Starting at 2nd level when you choose this school, glimpses of the   future begin to press in on your awareness. When you finish a long   rest, roll two d20s and record the numbers rolled. You can replace any   attack roll, saving throw, or ability check made by you or a creature   that you can see with one of these foretelling rolls. You must choose   to do so before the roll, and you can replace a roll in this way only   once per turn.   ... to replace a roll, can a player with the Lucky Feat:     Whenever you make an attack roll. an ability check, or a saving throw,   you can spend one luck point to roll an additional d20. You can choose   to spend one of your luck points after you roll the die, but before   the outcome is determined. You choose which of the d20s is used for   the attack roll, ability check, or saving throw.      You can also spend one luck point when an attack roll is made against   you. Roll a d20, and then choose whether the attack uses the attackers   roll or yours.      If more than one creature spends a luck point to influence the outcome   of a roll, the points cancel each other out; no additional dice are   rolled.   ... use the Luck Roll to replace the result? Or does the Portent trump all rolls and simply give you the final outcome?  This question spun off from  on .  Some relevant points:  .  Mike Mearls tends to believe that luck can triumph in some cases, but admits this is , and further seems to conflate the question with .  I would suggest reading the linked discussion before formulating an answer. There's some good thought there. Inverse of a diagonal matrix plus a constant I am looking for an efficient solution for inverting a matrix of the following form:  $$D+aP$$   where $D$ is a (full-rank) diagonal matrix, $a$ is a constant, and $P$ is an all-ones matrix.   gives a solution to the special case where all diagonal entries of $D$ are the same.  The  formula is also capable of providing a solution to this problem by setting appropriate $u$ and $v$, but it loses efficiency ($O(n^3)$ time complexity to compute) at high dimension. I am hoping to get a result in the same form so the space and time complexity are both $O(n)$. Line level voltage to drive LED display How to make Outlook 2010 minimize when I try to close it? When clicking the X button or ALT+F4, how can I get Outlook to minimze to the tray instead of close?  Several programs have this behavior, and it's annoying that Outlook behaves different... I'd like to do it in Python. What I'd like to do in this example in C: #include &lt;stdio.h&gt;  int main() {     int i;     for (i=0; i&lt;10; i++) printf(&quot;.&quot;);     return 0; }  Output: ..........  In Python: &gt;&gt;&gt; for i in range(10): print('.') . . . . . . . . . . &gt;&gt;&gt; print('.', '.', '.', '.', '.', '.', '.', '.', '.', '.') . . . . . . . . . .  In Python print will add a \n or space, how can I avoid that? Now, it's just an example, don't tell me I can first build a string then print it. I'd like to know how to &quot;append&quot; strings to stdout. Solving a cubic polynomial equation. Overview I have tried finding a solution to this problem myself and I have flailed. Its just a challenge for me. could you please tell me how far am I in solving this question? My approach for quadratic equation : I am still a student, and when I first saw the quadratic formula I wanted to derive it myself and I did it. This was my logic: the equation $x^2 + bx + c=0$ is obviously supposed to contain 2 roots (real or imaginary). So any 2 points in an axes can be represented as: $n+k$ or $n-k$. so (1) : putting $x = n+k$, (2): putting $x=n-k$ we get two equations; on subtracting $(1) - (2)$ we get an equation in $n$ and $k$ as, $4nk+2kb=0$ which gives $n=-b/2$.  Now substituting this value of $n$ in $(1)$ and $(2)$ and adding them we get $k= (+or-) \sqrt{b^2 -4c}/2 $. My approaches for trying to solve cubic equations: Let $x^3+bx^2+cx+d = 0$ be the equation. My first trials were focused on extracting the roots by various substations. Let me explain some of them. Originally, when I derived the quadratic equation, I wanted to literary &quot;represent the solution&quot; by $n+k$ and $n-k$. most methods that I have thought of for cubic equation similar to that of the quadratic (like assigning 3 unambiguous  variables to uniquely represent 3 roots- $n$ and $k$ represents unique values), by considering 3 unique values, but they end up being ambiguous. Then I was suddenly struck with the idea that I could define certain random operators to &quot;transform&quot; the equation in some way changing the co-coefficients of $x^2, x, x^0$. I have defined the first transformation as: $x^3+bx^2+cx+d=0 \to x^3+ b'x^2 + c'x+d' =0   $ then $b' = b$, $c' =b^2+c$, $d' = bc-d$. Applying this operation changes the modified equation's zeros as follows: $\alpha'=(\alpha+\beta)/2, \beta' = (\beta+\gamma)/2, \gamma' = (\alpha+\gamma)/2 $ if the initial zeros are $\alpha, \beta, \gamma$. My latest assumption is that creating $n$ number of transformations and applying them can help us obtain the roots in some combination. The other operation I have defined is &quot;increment roots by by $\theta$ operation&quot;. in this case, $x^3+ bx^2+ cx+ d \to x^3+b'x^2+ c'x+d=0$. here, $b' = b + 3\theta, c' = 3\theta^2+ 2\theta b+ c, d' = \theta^3 +b\theta^2 + c\theta + d$. This modification transforms the original roots $\alpha, \beta, \gamma$ to $\alpha' = \alpha + \theta, \beta' = \beta + \theta, \gamma' = \gamma + \theta$ Now for my questions: How far am I from solving the cubic polynomial problem myself without any external help? More over, I give up. How to find the roots of a cubic equation? Could my latest idea for solving cubic equations actually be applied (the transformation method)? Is it possible to find the roots with my transformation method? (my second transformation definition was successful in converting the coefficient b or c to zero by transforming the roots linearly) When to use reinterpret_cast? I am little confused with the applicability of reinterpret_cast vs static_cast. From what I have read the general rules are to use static cast when the types can be interpreted at compile time hence the word static. This is the cast the C++ compiler uses internally for implicit casts also.  reinterpret_casts are applicable in two scenarios:   convert integer types to pointer types and vice versa  convert one pointer type to another. The general idea I get is this is unportable and should be avoided.     Where I am a little confused is one usage which I need, I am calling C++ from C and the C code needs to hold on to the C++ object so basically it holds a void*. What cast should be used to convert between the void * and the Class type?  I have seen usage of both static_cast and reinterpret_cast? Though from what I have been reading it appears static is better as the cast can happen at compile time? Though it says to use reinterpret_cast to convert from one pointer type to another? Prove $\dfrac{\csc\theta}{\cot\theta}-\dfrac{\cot\theta}{\csc\theta}=\tan\theta\sin\theta$   So, LS= $$\dfrac{\csc\theta}{\cot\theta}-\dfrac{\cot\theta}{\csc\theta}$$ $$\left(\dfrac{1}{\sin\theta}\cdot \dfrac{\tan\theta}{1}\right)-\left(\dfrac{1}{\tan\theta}\cdot \dfrac{\sin\theta}{1}\right)$$ $$\dfrac{\tan\theta}{\sin\theta}-\dfrac{\sin\theta}{\tan\theta}$$ Now, considering the fact that I must have a common denominator to subtract, would this be correct: $$\dfrac{\tan^2\theta}{\tan\theta\sin\theta}-\dfrac{\sin^2\theta}{\tan\theta\sin\theta}\Rightarrow \dfrac{\tan^2\theta-\sin^2\theta}{\tan\theta\sin\theta}$$ I feel like I'm close to the answer because the denominator is the RS of the OP. Please help. Do not give me the answer. How to use "who" vs. "that" I often get confused when trying to use who vs that.  Some examples that often confuse me:  That     The person that went to the store.      The people that went shopping.      The persons that went shopping.      The group that went shopping.   Who     The person who went to the store.      The people who go shopping.   Please explain when to use either for plural subjects and singular subjects.  Animate and inanimate objects as well. Difference between static class and singleton pattern? Can you contract the main verb '[I] have' in a sentence? Sum of odd Fibonacci Numbers Trying to prove that the sum of odd-index consecutive Fibonacci numbers is the next even-index Fibonacci number. I have a gap in my proof that I cannot figure out. I know that induction would be easier and I have already done it that way, I am looking to use alpha and beta. $$\sum_{i=1}^n F_{2i-1} = F_{2n}$$  $$\begin{align*} \sum_{i=1}^n F_{2i-1}&amp;=\sum_{i=1}^1  \frac{1}{\sqrt{5}}(\alpha^{2i-1}-\beta^{2i-1})\\ &amp;=\frac{1}{\sqrt{5}}\left(\sum_{i=1}^1\alpha^{2i-1}-\sum_{i=1}^1\beta^{2i-1}\right)\\ &amp;\;\;\vdots\\ &amp;=\frac{1}{\sqrt{5}}[(\alpha^n-\beta^n)(\alpha^n+\beta^n)]\\ &amp;=\frac{1}{\sqrt{5}}(\alpha^{2n}-\beta^{2n})\\ &amp;=F_{2n} \end{align*}$$ Why do Americans have to file taxes, even if their only source of income is from a regular job? I am talking about when you click on the icons in the dock This command gsettings set org.compiz.unityshell:/org/compiz/profiles/unity/plugins/unityshell/ launcher-minimize-window true  which works for Unity Launcher, (obviously) does not work.  Related to: Is my way of solving and my answer correct?  Let $f(x)=x+\frac{x^2}{2}+\frac{x^3}{3}+\frac{x^4}{4}+\frac{x^5}{5}$   And $g(x)=f^{-1}(x)$  Find $g'''(0)$  My attempt:  We know that $g'(x)=\frac{1}{f'(g(x))}$  $f'(x)=1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4=\frac{x^5-1}{x-1}$  $f'(g(x))=\frac{(g(x))^5-1}{(g(x))-1}$  $\Rightarrow g'(x)=\frac{(g(x))-1}{(g(x))^5-1}$  $\Rightarrow g'(x)[(g(x))^5-1]=g(x)-1$  Similarly differentiating again,  $\Rightarrow g'(x)[5(g(x))^4]+[(g(x))^5-1]g''(x)=g'(x)$  Similarly differentiating again,  $\Rightarrow g'(x)[20(g(x))^3g'(x)]+[5(g(x))^4]g''(x)+[(g(x))^5-1]g'''(x)+g''(x)[5(g(x))^4]=g''(x)$  Putting $x=0$,  $g(0)=f^{-1}(0)=0$  $g'(0)=\frac{1}{f'(g(0))}=\frac{1}{f'(0)}=1$  similarly,$g''(0)=-1$  $\Rightarrow g'''(0)=1$ Proof of $(a+b)^{n+1}$ I have to do proof of $(a+b)^n$ and $(a+b)^{n+1}$ with mathematical induction.  I finished the first one $(a+b)^n = a^n + na^{n-1}b+\dots+b^n$.  I however have trouble with the second one, I don't know what to start exactly. Any help/hints? What is a word to describe inefficient communication? Example 1 - When reviewing résumés I don't want someone to use 1.5 pages to describe one job.   Example 2 - When a person uses excessive description to answer a simple question. Sentient Bomb in a city on the moon? I would like to know the title of the short story that I believe takes place on the moon.  The setting is a mall or some other very public location and the main character is a police officer.  She needs to talk a sentient bomb out of exploding.  I know there was the John Carpenter film "Dark Star" with a similar plot line but I'm trying to identify the short story and the author. Castellation metal loop connector Here's a module with castellated pads attached to an eval board:  (source: ) Looking closely at the wires interfacing with the castellated pads, they're clearly soldered to the eval board. However, they don't look like they're soldered to the module, but rather they're being pressed against the pads with the tension in the wire. It also looks like the free end of the loops are protruding down into a channel cut in the PCB. Do these kind of connectors/metal loops have a name? SQL Join Differences What's difference between inner join and outer join (left join,right join), and which has the best performance of them?  Thanks!