I bought my Canon 7D used back in 2016. Worked well, but when I tried to use it this past February (granted, I don't use it very often) with charged batteries, I got a blinking dead battery sign on the top screen. I took it to a local camera shop and they said that their charged batteries weren't working either; they tried cleaning the sensors as well and nothing seemed to work. They recommended shipping my camera to the nearest Canon repair facility, in Norfolk, Virginia, but I don't want to if I don't have to. Any suggestions or does anyone know of any other resources that could be helpful?

Thanks, Marion. The Martian strictly adheres to the Constitution of the United States (when it suits him), and cruel and unusual punishment are forbidden. The Dark Ladies tried every trick they knew--good witch/bad witch, hypnosis, catnip in her tea, you name it--but Omi wouldn't say a word. Just sat there licking herself.

The Colonel is made of sterner stuff, doesn't always observe the niceties, and I expect he'll get right to the bottom of Omi's betrayal in short order.

Thanks for the kind words and visit, always very much appreciated!

Following last week's apprehension of the mole who was suspected of selling Ministry secrets to Nanook of the North, the Dark Ladies did all they could to extract information from her. But Omi was a tough nut to crack, wouldn't say a word during the relentless questioning.

The Martian at last flung his paws in the air and said his patience was at an end. His planned invasion of Rhode Island was on hold, costs were rising by the day, and heaven only knew whether his plans were now an open book, with a Nanookian army waiting in ambush at Rhode Island's borders. He placed a call to the Northern Division and Grand Panjandrum Tippit, head of the Kitty Council, who at once dispatched the commander of Seal Team 9-Lives, a ferocious feline with an iron will, known simply as 'The Colonel.'

While we would like the sobriquet of 'Professional' to imply some degree of quality of work, unfortunately it does not. Many words are misunderstood in that manner. Words like 'scholar' does not mean someone with advanced knowledge in a subject. It merely means someone who goes to school. And ignorant does not imply someone of limited intelligence; just some who does not know some specific fact.

In the final analysis, being a professional in any endeavor simply means that you charge a fee for your services and it is paid. (A professional of 50+ years)