That is not the valve I recall.....

I wonder if they're gonna bail out the valves...you know they need it.

went to use my outdoor fauset yesterday . it was frozen.

I just lost the whole last thread.
I hit the wrong key- logged on again and all the threads are gone except this the new one.
Yeesh. I feel stupid for that key stoke. Gotta learn to type.

Here come the puns...

Let it flow, everyone.

What kind of camera did you shoot this pic with, Charles.

After he is inaugurated, Obama ceremoniously turns the green valve and change will come out flowing.

re: #5 Noam Sayin'

I would join in but I am really tapped out. The pressure is finally gotten to me.

/that and only two hours of sleep in the past 50 or so hours.

Valve has Zombies!

The refresh restored the other threads.
I feel better now,
had me worried the world had disappeared.

Hmmm, that valve needs abit of preventive maintenance.

re: #9 Syrah

Have you played it yet?

re: #12 Killgore Trout

Have you played it yet?

Not yet.

I'm going to cruise the stores today and see if I can find it.

re: #6 Noam Sayin'

What kind of camera did you shoot this pic with, Charles.

My first digital SLR: Nikon D90.

Oh, look! A green thing!

*brrrrrrrrrrrr*

re: #13 Syrah

Not yet.

I'm going to cruise the stores today and see if I can find it.

/goo for COD4, you'll be happier, where else have you seen a game price increase $15 a year after release?

re: #14 Charles

My first digital SLR

/are they as fast as their film counterparts?

re: #17 Killian Bundy

/are they as fast as their film counterparts?

Yeah, this is a pretty sweet SLR. All kinds of advanced features. Also does HD video.

re: #14 Charles

My first digital SLR: Nikon D90.

It's a great image. Figured it was a nice camera. You have a great sense for composition, too, which helps.

re: #14 Charles

My first digital SLR: Nikon D90.

I just used the Amex reward points I accumulated over the last decade to get the same camera (also my first digital SLR).

I think science has enjoyed an extraordinary success because it has such a limited and narrow realm in which to focus its efforts. Namely, the physical universe. ~Ken Jenkins

Is this a word association test? Let's see um... um... uh... um... uh... uh...

/Barack Obama off.

re: #18 Charles

I recently purchased a Canon Rebel XTi and I love it! I am really impressed with the color saturation you get with digital. Sunset, flowers, EVERYTHING is capture in full color! Groovy.

The valve of conservatism. Turn it wide open.

What am I going to do about Christmas? I'm all tapped out!

The rain VALVE, as seen from my lanai, is closed for the time being this morning............
but chances are, it will open soon.

re: #27 buzzsawmonkey

This year, give lumps of coal, before Obama outlaws them.

They will come in handy next year.

If Obama has his way beginning in Christmas '09, coal will be given to good little girls and boys.

re: #15 MandyManners

Oh, look! A green thing!

*brrrrrrrrrrrr*

If I were to mention that I worked up a little sweat yesterday mowing my lawn, would that be wrong?

re: #27 buzzsawmonkey

This year, give lumps of coal, before Obama outlaws them.

They will come in handy next year.

Is he going after bundles of switches, too?

re: #29 Opilio

If I were to mention that I worked up a little sweat yesterday mowing my lawn, would that be wrong?

Only if you gloat.

re: #26 IslandLibertarian

Still raining here. About 4 days now.

re: #32 buzzsawmonkey

In a sense, since electricity will surely be rationed and we will not be permitted to buy light bulbs that are not Green-approved. Thus, he is not going after bundles of switches--just what the switches will turn on.

Oh, you're clever.

Interesting back and forth on gay marriage (read the comments):

[Link: powerandcontrol.blogspot.com...]

I have always wondered why Christian social conservatives have trouble with gay marriage. Most Christian social conservatives have no problem with domestic partnerships. So it can't be legal rights.

So I'm guessing here that since they are always going on about the sacredness of marriage it must be something else.

via: [Link: www.classicalvalues.com...]

re: #34 buzzsawmonkey

How's that ark coming along?

What is gopher wood?

re: #29 Opilio

If I were to mention that I worked up a little sweat yesterday mowing my lawn, would that be wrong?

hahahahah! You had to mow your lawn! A laugh at you! My grass died a month ago!

I push the first valve down. The music goes down and around. Whoa-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho. And it comes out here.

re: #37 MandyManners

It is when a gopher...well you know.

re: #34 buzzsawmonkey

Filled with water last night. Looking for high ground.

re: #33 pat

wettest spot on earth as I recall...........
and Maui is only getting passing showers.

re: #40 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

*shaking head*

re: #39 Emperor Norton

vee doh vee doh vee doh...whoa ho oh, whoa ho and it comes out here.

re: #34 buzzsawmonkey

How's that ark coming along?

Kauai is the Ark.

re: #26 IslandLibertarian

The rain VALVE, as seen from my lanai, is closed for the time being this morning............
but chances are, it will open soon.

Nice. Is that a recent photo? Has the rain actually materialized?

This thread is perfect for those downstairs who may be about ready to blow their valve.

/religious threads always stir the passions

re: #47 pink freud

This thread is perfect for those downstairs who may be about ready to blow their valve.

/religious threads always stir the passions

I checked out.

re: #49 MandyManners

I checked out.

I noticed.

re: #37 MandyManners

Well Mandy, when Mr. and Mrs. Gopher love each other very much....

re: #48 buzzsawmonkey

Seriously, the notes in my chumash does not give a clear definition of "gopher wood" other than "a resinous wood, probably the cypress."

Makes sense.

re: #50 pink freud

I noticed.

It was either that or have a hissy fit.

re: #51 yitzy

Well Mandy, when Mr. and Mrs. Gopher love each other very much....

LOL!

re: #50 pink freud

I noticed.

Moral equivalency gets my blood pressure going also. This past election - more than anything - has taught me to most times walk away.

re: #46 FrogMarch

Nice. Is that a recent photo? Has the rain actually materialized?

Photo taken @ 9:00am today, rained ALL day yesterday
We're in a lull right now.
It is a much needed rain.

That's the valve Obama turns to make money and respect from other countries just come flooooowing out...

re: #23 yitzy

I've been using the Rebel XTi since March 2007. Great camera and it's now at a really good price since Canon has come out with the 50D and the XSi.

If you're serious about photography and want a reasonably priced Canon, the 50D has many of the features on the 1D and 5D lines but at a fraction of the price.

The Nikon D90 is a great camera and has lots of cool features and if I wasn't locked into the Canon line, it would be one I'd definitely consider.

Of course, you have to like how the camera feels in your hand, and if you aren't comfortable with it, it doesn't matter how cool the camera is or the features it has.

Charles,

A minor critique about the valve photo though - good composition, but it seems that you've got the focus off just a hair since the front of the valve is out of focus while the back is fully in focus.

Obviously, it's from San Francisco - a bi-valve ... :D

re: #58 lawhawk

Everyone's a critic.

re: #55 pink freud

Moral equivalency gets my blood pressure going also. This past election - more than anything - has taught me to most times walk away.

I have no time for baiters.

re: #16 Killian Bundy

/goo for COD4, you'll be happier, where else have you seen a game price increase $15 a year after release?

I just spent some time looking at the online videos of COD4.

It will be on my list.

re: #62 buzzsawmonkey

Rebel, rebel, it gets your shots
Rebel, rebel, nice pixels it's got...

Time-stamp, I love you so.

there's valves and then there's valves........

The valve makes me thing of Joseph Campbell.

"God is the experience of looking at a tree and saying, "Ah!""
- Joseph Campbell

To turn, turn will be our delight
-Simple Gifts

re: #66 Fearless Fred

The valve makes me thing of Joseph Campbell.

The valve makes me remember that I have to spread WEED-B-GONE today

re: #59 Miss Trixie

:D

That reminds me: someone used the ":D" emoticon the other day when they sent me a text... I said "What, now you're Al Jolson?" It was one of my kid's friends.

They sent back to me and said, "What? Who's Al Jolson?"

re: #69 sattv4u2

The valve makes me remember that I have to spread WEED-B-GONE today

Poor weeds. No one loves them.

re: #71 MandyManners

Poor weeds. No one loves them.

Well ,, there were those years for me back in the late 60's,,, 70's ,,, early 80's !

re: #71 MandyManners

Poor weeds. No one loves them.

I dunno bout that Mandy, the good folks in Massachusetts just voted to make 'em legal.

re: #70 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

That reminds me: someone used the ":D" emoticon the other day when they sent me a text... I said "What, now you're Al Jolson?" It was one of my kid's friends.

That's funny as hell.

They sent back to me and said, "What? Who's Al Jolson?"

Not so much.

re: #65 IslandLibertarian

there's valves and then there's valves........

That's not a valve. That's a valve. /at least it's in a more extreme location.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Pakistan's president has assured rival India he would not be the first to use atomic weapons in any future conflict and proposed the idea of a nuclear-free South Asia.

Pakistan's nuclear doctrine, unlike India's, does not contain a clause saying the country will not use its weapons first in conflict.

It was not clear if President Asif Ali Zardari's comments, made Saturday during a video conference question-and-answer session organized by The Hindustan Times newspaper of India, represented a formal change in policy.

SNIP

re: #70 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

That reminds me: someone used the ":D" emoticon the other day when they sent me a text... I said "What, now you're Al Jolson?" It was one of my kid's friends.

They sent back to me and said, "What? Who's Al Jolson?"

Could you imagine the oucry and carnage today if someone were to get onstage and do what Al Jolson did !

re: #78 MandyManners

Frakkin' Liars.

NEW YORK – President-elect Barack Obama has chosen New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson to be commerce secretary, adding a prominent Hispanic and one-time Democratic rival to his expanding Cabinet.

Obama planned to announce the nomination after Thanksgiving, according to a Democratic official familiar with the discussions. The official was not authorized to speak publicly about the negotiations and did so on condition of anonymity.

SNIP

re: #79 sattv4u2

Could you imagine the oucry and carnage today if someone were to get onstage and do what Al Jolson did !

They'd be shouting "RACIST!"

In the beginning there was the humble brass gate valve and it was good...

HAVANA – Russian oil companies could soon begin searching for oil in deep Gulf of Mexico waters off Cuba, a top diplomat said just days before Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visits the island.

Russian oil companies have "concrete projects" for drilling in Cuba's part of the gulf, said Mijail Kamynin, Russia's ambassador to Cuba, to the state-run business magazine Opciones.

Kamynin also said Russian companies would like to help build storage tanks for crude oil and to modernize Cuban pipelines, as well as play a role in Venezuelan efforts to refurbish a Soviet-era refinery in the port city of Cienfuegos, according the article published this weekend.

Medvedev comes to former Cold War ally Cuba on Thursday, part of a tour of Latin America to strengthen his country's economic and political ties in the region. Kamynin said trade between Russia and the island would top $400 million this year.

SNIP

re: #81 MandyManners

NEW YORK – President-elect Barack Obama has chosen New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson to be commerce secretary, adding a prominent Hispanic and one-time Democratic rival to his expanding Cabinet.

SNIP

adding a prominent Hispanic

That was his qualification to head the Commerce Dept !?!?!?!?!

re: #70 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

That reminds me: someone used the ":D" emoticon the other day when they sent me a text... I said "What, now you're Al Jolson?" It was one of my kid's friends.

They sent back to me and said, "What? Who's Al Jolson?"

Why, Al Jolson is the man who, in speaking of Ronald Reagan, said he wished his own son would grow up "to be the kind of man Ronnie is."

re: #82 Macker

They'd be shouting "RACIST!"

They'd be doing more than shouting

re: #78 MandyManners

Well, that's a step in the right direction - no first use is the sign of a rational government. Of course, given how precarious the Pakistani government is and questions continue over who has access and control of the nuclear weapons infrastructure, it's not an assured thing.

re: #85 sattv4u2

It's not like Richardson hasn't been in the Cabinet in the past. He's another one time Clinton official, who headed up the DOE and was an ambassador for the US as well. Guess they don't exactly want to highlight that yet another Clinton government official is in Obama's cabinet.

HEY ,,, I just noticed ,, i'm 12 posts away from 10,000

Do I get a key to the Stinky and Charles' Executive WashRoom !?!?!?!

Hi lizards

So it appears that a massive number of Chinese are leaving Chinese cities for the countryside. And not just any Chinese city:

at what should be a prime period for mass-producing the goods to meet US and European Christmas shopping demand, the global downturn has swooped destructively into the province of Guangdong – the “workshop of the world” and the region responsible for almost a third of China’s exports

Send in Obama. He'll give them hope.

re: #85 sattv4u2

adding a prominent Hispanic

That was his qualification to head the Commerce Dept !?!?!?!?!

He was one of the first to dump Hillary and support Obama. I think that is his qualification.

WASHINGTON – President-elect Barack Obama wants the new Congress to approve massive spending and fresh tax cuts in January, "a big number" probably far distancing a $175 billion campaign proposal, so he can sign it after taking office, top aides said Sunday.

Obama over the weekend outlined the framework of a plan to save or create 2.5 million jobs by the end of 2010 and prepared to introduce leaders of his economic team Monday. Aides said they soon would fill in the details and Democratic lawmakers, already working with transition officials, pledged to act quickly when Congress convenes Jan. 6, two weeks before the inauguration.

"We don't have time to waste here, " Obama senior adviser David Axelrod said. "We want to hit the ground running on January 20th." Echoing that, the second-ranking House Democrat, Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, said, `We expect to have during the first couple of weeks of January a package for the president's consideration when he takes office."

Axelrod also warned automakers, seeking billions in government help to stave off collapse, to devise a plan to retool and restructure. Otherwise, he said, "there is very little taxpayers can do to help them."

During the campaign Obama had proposed a $175 billion economic recovery package. The new one will be significantly larger and would incorporate his campaign ideas for new jobs in environmentally friendly technologies — the "green economy." It also would include his proposals for tax relief for middle- and lower-income workers.

But aides said the plan would not offer an immediate tax increase on wealthy taxpayers. During the campaign, Obama said he would pay for increased tax relief by raising taxes on people making more than $250,000

"There won't be any tax increases in the January package," said one Obama aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the details of the Obama package have not been fleshed out.

Obama could delay any tax increase to 2011, when current Bush administration tax cuts expire.

House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio urged Obama to make that explicit. "Why wouldn't we have the president-elect say, `I am not going to raise taxes on any American in my first two years in office?'"

SNIP

Dick Morris/Eileen McGann rip Hillary nomination as Secretary of State:
[Link: www.vote.com...]

re: #81 MandyManners

NEW YORK – President-elect Barack Obama has chosen New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson to be commerce secretary, adding a prominent Hispanic and one-time Democratic rival to his expanding Cabinet.

Richardson was responsible for the security problems at Energy. He never paid for that blunder. Now that he will be at Commerce he will have even greater responsibility for export regulation. Expect bad things

re: #89 lawhawk

It's not like Richardson hasn't been in the Cabinet in the past. He's another one time Clinton official, who headed up the DOE and was an ambassador for the US as well. Guess they don't exactly want to highlight that yet another Clinton government official is in Obama's cabinet.

I know his resume'. Hell, he announced it IN DETAIL at every debate, TV appearance, mall opening, ribbon cutting ceremony ,,,,,,
NONE of it qualifies him to run COMMERCE

I just got home from my grandson's Pop Warner Football Super Bowl. His team won the game 7-6 at beautiful West Point. They capped an undefeated season with the Super Bowl win. But man was it cold!

Nice of this U.S. company, Execu Train, to hold a seminar for professionals on Islamic Finance Qualification, in Qatar.

Camel.
Nose.
Tent.

The Hollywood valve has been opened. Just. Gag.
The ick factor is that the author takes this stuff soooo seriously.
[Link: online.wsj.com...]

re: #87 sattv4u2

They'd be doing more than shouting

Look what wiki says about Al Jolson's "blackface".

According to the St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture: "Almost single-handedly, Jolson helped to introduce African-American musical innovations like jazz, ragtime, and the blues to white audiences.... [and] paved the way for African-American performers like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, and Ethel Waters.... to bridge the cultural gap between black and white America."[1] Jazz historian Amiri Baraka wrote, "the entrance of the white man into jazz...did at least bring him much closer to the Negro." He points out that "the acceptance of jazz by whites marks a crucial moment when an aspect of black culture had become an essential part of American culture."[13]:151

In a recent interview, Clarence 'Frogman' Henry, one of the most popular and respected jazz singers of New Orleans, said, "Jolson? I loved him. I think he did wonders for the blacks and glorified entertainment."

CAMP CROPPER, Iraq – The U.S. military is rushing to build criminal cases against some 5,000 detainees it deems dangerous — including suspected members of al-Qaida in Iraq — because the proposed security pact with Iraq would end its right to hold prisoners without charge.

The agreement, which is to be voted on by Iraqi lawmakers Wednesday, is primarily intended to set a timetable calling for American troops to leave Iraq by the end of 2011. But it also calls for control of security matters to shift to Iraqi authorities.

If passed, the deal would mean U.S. troops could no longer hold people without charge as they have since the 2003 invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein. Beginning Jan. 1, all detentions would have to be based on evidence, and the U.S. would have to prosecute prisoners in Iraqi courts or let them go.

"At the end of the day, if there's not enough facts to justify a court case, then we'll have to release," said Brig. Gen. David Quantock, the commander of the U.S. detention system in Iraq.

SNIP

re: #96 sattv4u2

Oh, I agree... but it still makes him more qualified to be Sec. Commerce than Obama has for being President... /

re: #102 MandyManners

You've been very SNIPpy in your last few posts !

re: #93 MandyManners

Au contraire, Axelrod , we don't have money to waste here....

BBIAB

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon has banned, at least temporarily, the use of external computer flash drives because of a virus threat officials detected on Defense Department networks.

While defense officials would not publicly confirm the ban, messages were sent to department employees informing them of the new restrictions. As part of the ban, the Pentagon was collecting any of the small flash drives that were purchased or provided by the department to workers, according to one message distributed to employees.

Workers are being told there is no guarantee they will ever get the devices back and it is not clear how long the ban will last.

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman would provide no details on the virus Friday, but he described it as a "global virus" that has been the subject of public alerts.

"This is not solely a department problem, this is not solely a government problem," Whitman said.

SNIP

re: #58 lawhawk

A minor critique about the valve photo though - good composition, but it seems that you've got the focus off just a hair since the front of the valve is out of focus while the back is fully in focus.

I wondered if anyone would notice that! I'm still getting a feel for this lens, and how the depth of field features work. This pic is just using the standard autofocus with no manual aperture adjustment.

I sm taking a mini-vacation. I shall spend the next several minutes surfing Youtube for Shaker type hymns, and I will not think about the One the Two or the Zipsqueek.

re: #97 tappin52

I just got home from my grandson's Pop Warner Football Super Bowl. His team won the game 7-6 at beautiful West Point. They capped an undefeated season with the Super Bowl win. But man was it cold!

Interesting --

Pop Warner was founded in 1929, continues to grow and serves as the only youth football, cheerleading & dance organization that requires its participants to maintain academic standards in order to participate. Pop Warner's commitment to academics is what separates the program from other youth sports around the world.

~ [Link: www.popwarner.com...]
Congratulations!

OTTAWA: Obese people have the right to two seats for the price of one on flights within Canada, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled on Thursday.

The high court declined to hear an appeal by Canadian airlines of a decision by the Canadian Transportation Agency that people who are "functionally disabled by obesity" deserve to have two seats for one fare.

The airlines had lost an appeal at the Federal Court of Appeal in May and had sought to launch a fresh appeal at the Supreme Court. The court's decision not to hear a new appeal means the one-person-one-fare policy stands.

Depth of field tools are some of the coolest, most useful features on a camera like that. This gal does a lot with them with good results. Nice portraits there usually, with an occasional absolute stunner.

re: #111 gregg

OTTAWA: Obese people have the right to two seats for the price of one on flights within Canada, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled on Thursday.

I'm claustrophobic, I should get three for the price of one!

re: #113 jcm

I'm claustrophobic, I should get three for the price of one!

I don't like sitting next to people in general - I should get the 8 surrounding seats for free! Same goes for the movies.

re: #113 jcm

I'm claustrophobic, I should get three for the price of one!

And if I'm slender, do I get half a seat for the price of two?

Here is Los Angeles, 2008 has been the year the bookstores died. Almost every used book store has closed. A classic neighborhood new book store, Duttons, closed after an ill-advised and very expensive attempt at expansion. Outside of B&N and Borders, there's almost no place to buy a book! Yeah, the book rack at Target, right.

And neither seems to stock a classic children's book, "Millions of Cats", that I'm looking to buy. Yeah, I can order it online, which is exactly why all the retail stores have closed. OTOH, maybe it's abuse to give a child a book these days.

DOVER, Del. – Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden says he plans to fulfill his National Guard duties and won't accept an appointment to his father's U.S. Senate seat.

SNIP

re: #111 gregg

OTTAWA: Obese people have the right to two seats for the price of one on flights within Canada, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled on Thursday.

How about two meals for the price of one.

re: #114 BeerDrinking_VictoryMonkey

I don't like sitting next to people in general - I should get the 8 surrounding seats for free! Same goes for the movies.

Screw that, what I about grems! The whole plane to myself for the price of a seat!

My wife and I and a Detroit Chicago hop one night on a DC-9 to ourselves.

re: #111 gregg

OTTAWA: Obese people have the right to two seats for the price of one on flights within Canada, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled on Thursday.

Are you sure this wasn't a rejected plot line for Boston Legal?

re: #116 itellu3times

Here is Los Angeles, 2008 has been the year the bookstores died. Almost every used book store has closed. A classic neighborhood new book store, Duttons, closed after an ill-advised and very expensive attempt at expansion. Outside of B&N and Borders, there's almost no place to buy a book! Yeah, the book rack at Target, right.

And neither seems to stock a classic children's book, "Millions of Cats", that I'm looking to buy. Yeah, I can order it online, which is exactly why all the retail stores have closed. OTOH, maybe it's abuse to give a child a book these days.

What a crying shame! I'll never forget The Musquaw bookstore in Renton, WA.

re: #119 jcm

Screw that, what I about grems! The whole plane to myself for the price of a seat!

My wife and I and a Detroit Chicago hop one night on a DC-9 to ourselves.

I once was on a flight from NYC to Reykjavík Iceland where there were only two of us in coach (it was due to weather related flight delays).

re: #119 jcm

Screw that, what I about grems!

Oh noes, not the dreaded grems! :-)

re: #123 pink freud

Oh noes, not the dreaded grems! :-)

Gremlins have been known to cause some problems aboard planes.

re: #120 itellu3times

Are you sure this wasn't a rejected plot line for Boston Legal?

Hey.. If I'm schizophrenic do I get free seats for each of my personalities?

re: #56 IslandLibertarian

Photo taken @ 9:00am today, rained ALL day yesterday
We're in a lull right now.
It is a much needed rain.

Great! I hope more is on the way.

re: #122 gregg

I once was on a flight from NYC to Reykjavík Iceland where there were only two of us in coach (it was due to weather related flight delays).

Best one for my family coming back from Iran, Lufthansa 747 from Germany to NY, being missionaries we found the cheapest tickets possible coach standby type of stuff. My sister was less than a year old, I was 12. The first class was empty that flight, so they stewardess came back and got our family and moved us up to first class. Just the five of us and I think 4 first class stewardess.

re: #123 pink freud

Oh noes, not the dreaded grems! :-)

LOL! stay away pink freud has grems too!

AHHHHHHHHHH!

Yay! Relief from Obamania. Too bad he's not the real president-elect....
It's been a long wait, dammit...
[Link: www.buddytv.com...]

Trying a new avatar...

re: #127 jcm

Just the five of us and I think 4 first class stewardess.

Many a Penthouse letter has opened with those exact words...

Alcohol, marijuana, and viagra are all valves.

re: #58 lawhawk

re: #108 Charles

I wondered if anyone would notice that! I'm still getting a feel for this lens, and how the depth of field features work. This pic is just using the standard autofocus with no manual aperture adjustment.

How would one correct for that with an adjustment to the aperture? Wider?

It's been years since I've any kind of photography study. I can't remember the basics, anymore.

re: #130 gop_patriot

Trying a new avatar...

I love it!

re: #124 BeerDrinking_VictoryMonkey

Gremlins have been known to cause some problems aboard planes.

Proof certain!

re: #130 gop_patriot

Trying a new avatar...

Is that your ticket to re-education camp?

re: #132 SFGoth

Alcohol, marijuana, and viagra are all valves.

So's a man who knows how to load a dishwasher and sweep the floor.

re: #134 MandyManners

I love it!

Thanks! I'm going to try and make it bigger; not like anyone can read it without clicking anyway, though. :)

re: #132 SFGoth

Alcohol, marijuana, and viagra are all valves.

/it figures

re: #128 jcm

LOL! stay away pink freud has grems too!

AHHHHHHHHHH!

Yes, but my grems are well-mannered and sterile.

re: #132 SFGoth

Alcohol, marijuana, and viagra are all valves.

I love how they warn you not to use alcohol in excess when using Viagra. How the hell do they expect people to have sex, then?

re: #108 Charles

It's a problem I constantly run into because it's hard to judge the focus even with AI. I wear glasses, so it becomes even more difficult to assure a crisp focus, let alone one that is focused on the area I'm looking to highlight. With landscapes it's a bit of trial and error.

One thing I've picked up was a image stabilized lens, so that I can reduce camera shake as a cause of blurriness in the photo, but even then, you can run into the limitations of the lenses and the technology. That's not your case, since the photo is crisp in other areas, and one possible workaround is to switch to manually focus so that you get exactly where you want.

re: #140 pink freud

Yes, but my grems are well-mannered and sterile.

You cut their balls off?

re: #117 MandyManners

Yeah, making it less likely he'll be investigated for ethical issues that are trailing him....

re: #138 gop_patriot

I'd like to have a bumper-sticker.

re: #58 lawhawk

I've been using the Rebel XTi since March 2007. Great camera and it's now at a really good price since Canon has come out with the 50D and the XSi.

If you're serious about photography and want a reasonably priced Canon, the 50D has many of the features on the 1D and 5D lines but at a fraction of the price.

Actually I'd just skip the 50D entirely and stay put with the 40D. As some reviewers have discovered, the 50D isn't really a step up in terms of quality. Mainly due to the physics and size limitations of the sensor. Canon and the other dSLR makers are at about the point where they need to enlarge sensor size. Physical challenges there too, but in terms of resolution the current sensor size is close to the limit.

A minor critique about the valve photo though - good composition, but it seems that you've got the focus off just a hair since the front of the valve is out of focus while the back is fully in focus.

Gotta agree with that. Probably a result of using autofocus. Try manual focus instead -- you'll love the sharpness, resolution and control over composition.

re: #144 tradewind

Yeah, making it less likely he'll be investigated for ethical issues that are trailing him....

Kinda' hard to investigate a state's AG.

re: #136 jcm

Is that your ticket to re-education camp?

Sure, why not. LOL I'm feeling contrary and contentious since the election anyway!

Bring. It. On.

;)

re: #133 Noam Sayin'

re: #108 Charles

How would one correct for that with an adjustment to the aperture? Wider?

It's been years since I've any kind of photography study. I can't remember the basics, anymore.

Smaller apertures (higher f-numbers) increase the depth of field. Focal length also affects it...

re: #143 MandyManners

You cut their balls off?

No, no ...they come ball-free. I think it has something to do with them being well-mannered ...

re: #141 BeerDrinking_VictoryMonkey

I love how they warn you not to use alcohol in excess when using Viagra. How the hell do they expect people to have sex, then?

I stand by my research that proves quantity keg divided by time inverses the Yes/No ratio curve.

re: #141 BeerDrinking_VictoryMonkey

I love how they warn you not to use alcohol in excess when using Viagra. How the hell do they expect people to have sex, then?

What is this "sex" that you speak of? Does it involve grems?

re: #142 lawhawk

It's a problem I constantly run into because it's hard to judge the focus even with AI. I wear glasses, so it becomes even more difficult to assure a crisp focus, let alone one that is focused on the area I'm looking to highlight. With landscapes it's a bit of trial and error.

One thing I've picked up was a image stabilized lens, so that I can reduce camera shake as a cause of blurriness in the photo, but even then, you can run into the limitations of the lenses and the technology. That's not your case, since the photo is crisp in other areas, and one possible workaround is to switch to manually focus so that you get exactly where you want.

I'm old school, I have a Nikon D-60 and an 30 some year old Olypmus OM-1. I find I can acquire, focus, and shoot with my the manual OM-1 than the Nikon can.

The Nikon I like because I can use manual mode, plus with digital cards "film" is unlimited and I find myself shooting a lot more and getting more good shots as a result.

re: #137 MandyManners

So's a man who knows how to load a dishwasher and sweep the floor.

I figured this would come from a woman. ;-> Not only can I load (and unload) a dishwasher, I can do laundry, vacuum, cook lamb (with a light rum-based marinade and sweet potatoes) *and* put the toilet seat down.

re: #147 MandyManners
If it's a state matter maybe, but when the feds are involved...... not so much.

re: #153 jcm

I'm old school, I have a Nikon D-60 and an 30 some year old Olypmus OM-1. I find I can acquire, focus, and shoot with faster my the manual OM-1 than the Nikon can.

The Nikon I like because I can use manual mode, plus with digital cards "film" is unlimited and I find myself shooting a lot more and getting more good shots as a result.

PIMF

I see Peggy Noonan has the same first impression of the Hillary SOS deal that I do - But Mrs. Clinton at Foggy Bottom? Can they be serious? But Noonan comes out in favor of it, if only for the political and amusement values involved. Me, I'm not so sure, but I know this, if she does manage to do anything I'd like, odds are it will be something Obama will hate.

re: #150 pink freud

No, no ...they come ball-free. I think it has something to do with them being well-mannered ...

Keeps 'em from getting run over by cars, too.

re: #157 itellu3times

Noonan's jumped the shark. I've crossed her off my list.

re: #154 SFGoth

I figured this would come from a woman. ;-> Not only can I load (and unload) a dishwasher, I can do laundry, vacuum, cook lamb (with a light rum-based marinade and sweet potatoes) *and* put the toilet seat down.

Humminah humminah!

re: #157 itellu3times

I see Peggy Noonan has the same first impression of the Hillary SOS deal that I do - But Mrs. Clinton at Foggy Bottom? Can they be serious? But Noonan comes out in favor of it, if only for the political and amusement values involved. Me, I'm not so sure, but I know this, if she does manage to do anything I'd like, odds are it will be something Obama will hate.

Of course she's in favor of it. Noonan doesn't want her social life to suffer.

re: #81 MandyManners

This is great! Richardson's confirmation hearing will bring teh drama to what would otherwise be a dull month. If trying to get Lewinsky a gig doesn't do it, those Los Alamos secrets gone missing should......

re: #78 MandyManners

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Pakistan's president has assured rival India he would not be the first to use atomic weapons in any future conflict and proposed the idea of a nuclear-free South Asia.

SNIP

They can't go back from being nuclear powers, because both mistrustful sides know the other has the know-how. Putting together nukes is like riding a bicycle; you never forget.

And there's always China, which has proved in the past that it has the conventional muscle to come right over the mountains and through the passes at India.

The best they can manage is to make it doctrine that neither will even contemplate first use, if there should be another spate of hostilities. They seem to have sense enough to limit the fighting to Kashmir, and there, at low intensity and infrequently.

What Pakistan hasn't realized yet is that in constantly prodding India and attacking Kashmir, it is playing with fire. The upside is a little bit of bread and circuses.The downside is bottomless, potentially.

re: #155 tradewind

If it's a state matter maybe, but when the feds are involved...... not so much.

Will the feds touch him now?

re: #149 Charles

I kinda figured I had it exactly the opposite.

re: #146 BLBfootballs

When I bought the XTi, my options were the XTi and the 30D, which didn't really offer much of an upgrade over the XTi for price, and the 40D was in the wings.

The 50D gives you 15.1 mp and may indeed be bumping up against the limits of the form factor (which isn't a good thing if you're getting nothing but EF-S lenses that operate based on the APS-C sensor size). I've still got my old film lenses, which means that if Canon goes away from the APS-C sensors and returns to full form factor, you'll lose length on your lenses (1.6), but gain at the low end - more wide angle availability. The 50D also gives you 6.3 fps, and ISO ranges up to 25,600! and live view 3 inch lcd monitor. Those are far superior to the 40D and certainly the 30D, XTi, XSi bodies.

The prosumer bodies are clearly coming down in price and the image quality continues to improve year over year. For most people, the XTi is overkill for what many people use the cameras for, but if you're a modest photographer, it will give you a taste of what's possible.

Of course, the gear is only one part of it - you still need to have a good eye for composition...

re: #162 tradewind

This is great! Richardson's confirmation hearing will bring teh drama to what would otherwise be a dull month. If trying to get Lewinsky a gig doesn't do it, those Los Alamos secrets gone missing should......

Will the Republicans even bring them up or, are they gonna' roll over?

re: #163 lostlakehiker

MAD?

re: #154 SFGoth

Sold!

re: #154 SFGoth

I figured this would come from a woman. ;-> Not only can I load (and unload) a dishwasher, I can do laundry, vacuum, cook lamb (with a light rum-based marinade and sweet potatoes) *and* put the toilet seat down.

What are you doing next Saturday night? I can roast a couple of grems, open some nice Shiraz and um, ... what happens next?

:P

re: #170 Miss Trixie

What are you doing next Saturday night? I can roast a couple of grems, open some nice Shiraz and um, ... what happens next?

:P

Ummm, realwest gets jealous?

re: #164 MandyManners

I doubt he was going to be gone after, so to speak, anyway. Just saying that a Senate appointment would drag his baggage out for closer inspection.

re: #145 MandyManners

I'd like to have a bumper-sticker.

I found this, it's close.

re: #170 Miss Trixie

What are you doing next Saturday night? I can roast a couple of grems, open some nice Shiraz and um, ... what happens next?

:P

You have the mommy bee and the daddy bee....

re: #172 tradewind

I doubt he was going to be gone after, so to speak, anyway. Just saying that a Senate appointment would drag his baggage out for closer inspection.

Only if the Republicans wanna' say anything about it.

re: #167 MandyManners

Will the Republicans even bring them up or, are they gonna' roll over?

Roll like a rug.

re: #173 gop_patriot

I found this, it's close.

Ooooooooh. I like!

re: #170 Miss Trixie

What are you doing next Saturday night? I can roast a couple of grems, open some nice Shiraz and um, ... what happens next?

:P

Hands off, chick! I bought him at #169.

re: #167 MandyManners

My crystal ball is not up to speed today, but the stuff is there. If they don't have the cajones to bring it, then they don't.
Still, Richardson is a target- rich environment.
(Or maybe that description is better saved for Eric Holder).

re: #176 BeerDrinking_VictoryMonkey

Roll like a rug.

I can feel the static electricity from here!

re: #179 tradewind

My crystal ball is not up to speed today, but the stuff is there. If they don't have the cajones to bring it, then they don't.
Still, Richardson is a target- rich environment.
(Or maybe that description is better saved for Eric Holder).

I hope someone has the will.

Axelrod on Economy: We Have to 'Do Something Big'

This morning, incoming White House senior adviser David Axelrod suggested Obama would push for a much larger package than the $175 billion stimulus he put forth on the campaign trail.

"He wants a plan big enough to deal with the large challenges we face. And I think there's a growing consensus across the spectrum among economists that we're going to have to do something big," Axelrod said in a "This Week" interview with George Stephanopoulos.

I have an idea! Let's not do something BIG. Let's do something _small. Cut taxes, cut government, cut spending.

Think small.

It will work.

Is it just me or is today a real slow news day?

re: #171 doriangrey

Ummm, realwest gets jealous?

LOLOL! :D

re: #181 MandyManners

The problem is that since the Senate is controlled by the Dems, the chairmen of the various committees are Dems. They will have a lot of control over Republican objections.
But not total.

re: #183 Nevergiveup

Well, it's Sunday.

re: #185 tradewind

The problem is that since the Senate is controlled by the Dems, the chairmen of the various committees are Dems. They will have a lot of control over Republican objections.
But not total.

They don't have the supermajority anyway. And the Republicans can always whine and threaten to hold their breath.

re: #182 jcm

Although it seems Obama got smacked with a clue bat and is going to reign as a moderate I'm getting really worried about the economy. I don't think we're looking at a brief recession. I think we're in serious trouble.

re: #178 tappin52

Hands off, chick! I bought him at #169.

Figures.

*sigh*

Story of my life - always a day late and SFGoth short.

re: #185 tradewind

The problem is that since the Senate is controlled by the Dems

/not without two more seats they're not going to get and maybe not even then

re: #160 MandyManners

Humminah humminah!

I can do that too.

re: #187 Moe Katz

They don't have the supermajority anyway. And the Republicans can always whine and threaten to hold their breath.

Yeah, but Snowejob and other RINOs need to be keep in line.

re: #185 tradewind

The problem is that since the Senate is controlled by the Dems, the chairmen of the various committees are Dems. They will have a lot of control over Republican objections.
But not total.

I think that the Dems will run roughshod all over the Republicans for the next 2-4 years. If by some chance the Republicans develop a spine and try to fight their new overlords, I am guessing the Dems will deploy and activate the "nuclear option" and dash all hope for resistance. I say, let them....they won, so now lets see some results. They have been quite effective at stopping and complaining about the Republicans and their agenda. Let's see how they are when the tables are turned. What comes around goes around, Harry Reid.

re: #170 Miss Trixie

What are you doing next Saturday night? I can roast a couple of grems, open some nice Shiraz and um, ... what happens next?

:P

I'll be in Munich, Germany, at a, believe it or not, goth club. ;-> Shiraz (or syrah as it is also known) does add a nice spiciness to lamb.

re: #187 Moe Katz

The supermajority won't come into play when it comes to bringing up ______ (fill in topic of choice). It's used for votes and to override vetoes and filibusters.
He'll be confirmed, so maybe the Republicans will decide that it's wiser to save their objections for something they have a chance with. But I'm hoping for big embarrassing questions that will make the Clarence Thomas hearings look PG rated.
/snark/

re: #190 Killian Bundy

No, in this case, it is controlled by the Dems. They have the chairmen. The chairmen decide what gets to the floor in most cases.

re: #188 Killgore Trout

Although it seems Obama got smacked with a clue bat and is going to reign as a moderate I'm getting really worried about the economy. I don't think we're looking at a brief recession. I think we're in serious trouble.

Gee, what was your first clue?

/the market always anticipates about six months into the future and when even Killgore Trout, with no stake whatsoever, capitulates, I think we've found and retested the bottom

re: #193 Desert Dog

You betcha. Democrat meltdown is highly likely, and since coming out of this particular period looking great is almost impossible, let it happen to them.

A few days ago we had "Faucet".
Today we have "Valve".
I think Charles has developed a Joe the Plumber fixation.

re: #196 tradewind

No, in this case, it is controlled by the Dems. They have the chairmen. The chairmen decide what gets to the floor in most cases.

/until they get at least 60 votes in the Senate, they can't jam anything through

The funny thing is, my sex life is nearly nil since dating w/i the goth scene always leads to unnecessary drama, and while normal guys will do gothchicks, normal girls will not do goth guys. If I put on the Cocteau Twins' "Blue Bell Knoll", which I find to be one of the most romantic and erotic songs I've heard, normal chicks will freak out.

re: #201 SFGoth

and while normal guys will do gothchicks

Normal guys will "do" about ANY "chick."

re: #126 FrogMarch

Great! I hope more is on the way.

the tourists don't..............

i still get the spinning wheel and things lock up when I hit "new comments"... what am I doing wrong?

re: #182 jcm

Axelrod knows nothing about economics.

A good valve is hard to find.

re: #206 So?

A good valve is hard to find.

When you come across a bad one, it usually turns into a wrenching experience.

How fitting ! :-)

For the many voters that got hosed this year!

Is the valve half-opened or half-closed?

Tap.

Water tap.

Why is not called a tap?

Thanks to the Half-Life game start up screens, when I see Valve, I suddenly feel the need to fight my way past dimensional aliens.

re: #211 AverageCdn

Thanks to the Half-Life game start up screens, when I see Valve, I suddenly feel the need to fight my way past dimensional aliens.

Word, and Left 4 Dead is the shit! Definitely the top shooter of the year, along with Gears of War 2 and Call of Duty: World at War. You can't go wrong with any of those games, especially L4D with its insane co-op and Vs. modes (where YOU get to be the zombies!)