Here. Here. As usual, Ang Mo, you and I are on the same wavelength. G -*

Fully agree!!!!

Japan is such a interesting society full of extreme contrasts. They can be so gentle and artful and yet brutal. History has shown that over and over.

Any talk of the morals of using the bomb is immoral. The bombs saved countless lives. Yes. Devastated two cities, but had the effect of ending hostilities/ATROCITIES. Sad that we had to use, but it was best to demonstrate to Japan that they were finished. Also, gave a clear message to some of the radical German groups that wanted to establish guerilla activities, that we were no one to mess with. It was a signal to the Russians, too. Russians and Germans were close to having The Bomb, too. It's a good thing we were first!!!

The A-bombs saved 100s of 1000s allied lives. It was the right decision. I know, civilians, you'll say. The Japanese were brutal and massacred millions of civilians. Met a man in Penang, a child at the time the Japanese came through Malaya. He survived the massacre of his village. 3000 men, women, children beheaded, bayoneted, shot. That was just one village. Nanking massacre: 250,000 CIVILIANS. Hospitals emptied and occupants killed. Who the hell wouldn't advocate extreme measures to halt Japanese atrocities. Our extreme measures worked, thank goodness. Not sure if you are Cambridge, MA or Cambridge, England, but from either location, I'm not surprised at your response about war crimes.

I do agree that Russian front was brutal for Hitler. Hooray! It was also more than brutal for Russia with millions of troops and citizens lost. I suspect we would have endured even without the Russian front harm to Hitler. No one will know, but we had excellent weapons, excellent organization and the "Greatest Generation". I know, you will point out lots of holes and say that generation was not so great; standard mantra from The People's Republic of Cambridge (MA or UK for that matter).

Japan deserved what it got. Europe would be Germany if not for the US.

EU is a bloated District of Columbia/bloated US Gov't. Having worked with the EU, I have nothing but disdain for that organization. So many across Europe ask why they have to pay so much in taxes as a result of EU. They wonder what they get for it.

Maybe if EU were less autocratic and more sympathetic to the needs of the people, I would have a different view. When I worked with them, they brought forth "experts" that knew nothing, but collected huge salaries. Yes. I do know what they made. It was public record in Europe.

EU is one step toward global government. It has helped to dilute cultures and has burdened it's members with higher taxation and less autonomy.

As for the wars, it was largely socialists and democrats that opposed our entry into war. Ford, Lindbergh come to mind. Initially, FDR was a fan of Hitler's socialism and wanted to learn more from him.

though disgusting, i feel bad for her. She has been frightened and exploited. Visited my grandchildren in Minneapolis lately. They heard at school how the world is going to end, but there might be some chance of saving it. It is so wrong to frighten children this way. I am finding it is commonplace. Even if we are killing the planet (I am an agnostic on this one), it is wrong to fill kids with angst. Nothing good will come of it. Thunberg is a good example of that. She obviously has some problems and those problems are being exacerbated by adults using her as a pawn, the same way my grandchildren are being used.

Somebody show me incontrovertible data that the world will be uninhabitable in 12 yrs, 10 yrs, 30 yrs, etc. I really don't see it in the data that i've been directed to. Tens of thousands of scientists have signed on to the agnostic side despite what hollywood and vapid celebrities tells us. I'm willing to listen. Willing to evaluate any data. In the meantime, we should all take care of our planet, refrain from exploiting and frightening children and take what celebrities, funding seekers and stupid politicians say with a grain of salt.

Wildlife photography satisfies my very strong hunting instinct. I have no problem with hunting, whatsoever, as long as it is not for killing only. My son in Montana hunts upland birds. Between his hunting, fishing and his friends' hunting excesses, he lives mostly off the land. He, too, has the same very strong hunting instinct. I think you are right on.

I mostly use my Canon5dmkIII and Canon 100-400 gen 2. Lovely lens. I also carry a Canon M5 mirrorless on my belt. Does great for macro, wide-angle, and tough to photograph critters with its fold out LCD screen. Also, with an adapter for the M5, I can put my long lens on that camera if there is ever a malfunction of the 5D. So much nicer than carrying two camera bodies. So nice to have wide-angle capability when i am toting my 5D/100-400. I love the combo of the two cameras.

Same as for the sticky lens grip: mineral spirits will not damage DVD. Have used it. Of course, I wouldn't soak it for a long time. Not sure what would happen. Saturate the label with a mineral spirits-soaked rag. Peel it up. Rinse with some rubbing alcohol and finally some warm water. Dry and voila!

like i always tell everyone, test it on a non-precious sample first to ensure that no damage is being done. Worked for me with no problem whatsoever.

PB&J is still a treat for me! Although I always wash afterwards.

WD can be a nasty agent to apply to many things. It has silicone in it. once you get silicone on something, it is very difficult to remove and transfers by fingers very easily. Alcohol, mineral spirits, acetone, etc. will not dissolve silicone. Need boiling trichloroethane to start dissolving it. My rule is keep WD40 away from any cameras, camera parts, camera accessories.

I've seen other posts about coating filter screw threads with WD to prevent galling. DON'T. Once on a lens or filter, impossible to remove.

Had the same situation with non-camera items. Try some mineral spirits. Just a bit with a cotton swab. Let it dry and make sure it is not attacking rubber. If no attack, use a rag to wipe down and then another to dry it. Just did the same with a rubberized thumb drive that was feeling sticky. Worked like a charm.
Many consumer products are tested with alcohol and other common solvents, so i wouldnt be too worried about testing it with some common household solvents. Good luck and let us know how you did.

automation thing is way overblown. I come out of industries using robotics. Robotics create jobs, too: coders, QA people, operators, technicians, packers, shippers, technical writers, machinists, janitors, mg programmers, maintenance workers, etc., etc. So tired of hearing how no one will work because of robotics.

What is true, is that if the work is done off-shore, then jobs will dwindle here.

Unions are opposed to mandatory govt service. They stand to lose. GOOD! There days should be over. They have certainly ruined the US auto industry. Those auto manufacturers in the US who don't have unions (Honda, BMW, etc.) are thriving. Have great pay and great benefits. Lower employee wages allows manufacturer to buy higher quality materials. Ever wonder why Toyota and Honda last better than GM or Ford? That's the reason. BTW, workers at BMW, Honda here in the US are generally happy with pay, benefits, etc.

Not sure why they don't come for our cars? They cause more deaths than any weapons out there.

Oops. Maybe i said that too loud. Some stupid politician will now propose a bill for same.

Some years ago, there was a rash of stabbings in Boston. One of our stellar Dim legislators (aren't they all in MA?) proposed licensing stores for selling knives. Some registration when one buys a knife, too. How stupid can one get? They also wanted to require helmets for sledding because some adult crashed into a tree and got a concussion. I HATE the nanny state. Beware of MA politicians. Most came out of the same mold. Warren, Patrick of the same ilk.

I, too, wish everyone would serve in the Armed Services or serve the government in some way. Male, Female, disabled or not. Maybe it would result in more self-worth, patriotism, provide direction to the young that don't have a clue, provide some discipline.

Other countries have. Why can't we? Why so much hatred for the greatest country on earth? I believe it would help with equality issues also. I do believe most equality issues are hyped and overblown by low-grade journalists looking for their Pulitzer.

One reason Trump is not revered by politicians around the world is that our economy is booming while most other economies are either stagnant or tanking. The foreign pols will deflect by downing our president to distract from their lack of performance. Citizens around the world wish their economy were as vibrant as ours (I hear that all the time from folks I know around the world or while I'm traveling)