I was living in Riverside, Ontario, where my Dad had moved us from Detroit in search of bigger housing for our increasing numbers. I was in my first year of High School; don't recall what class was going on when the principal reported over the intercom that President Kennedy had been shot in Dallas, Texas, and later announced that he had died. The atmosphere was primarily one of disbelief, understandable in a roomful of 14-year-olds. This was compounded for me on Sunday (November 24th) when I watched Jack Ruby shoot Lee Harvey Oswald on live TV in the basement of the Dallas PD.

Full beard since retiring from the Army in '93.

Ditto on the bravo.

Not funny.

Google the 1943 daylight bomb runs over Schweinfurt. The losses were appalling.

.....one asked the other, "Where've you been lately; ain't seen you in awhile?". The other one says, " I've been home in bed with Laryngitis". The first one says, "Oh yeah, I know his brother Arthur".

Two hookers walking down the street. One says to the other, " I smell ham burnin'". The other one says, "Maybe we're walkin' too fast".

"Artificial Intelligence will never be a match for Natural Stupidity" - John Derbyshire

On a (somewhat?) related note:

The other night I was lying in bed, looking up at the stars, and I wondered "Where the heck is my roof?"

In Saudi Arabia they have what's called a Shamal, which can danged near scour the paint off a vehicle. It makes for a miserable night trying to sleep in a foxhole with a waist-high wall of sandbags and shelter-half "roof". I'd have 6 or 8 inches of sand in there with me that had been blown in through any gap, no matter how small, over the long night; the sound of that constant-velocity wind in my ears was creepy and kind of maddening. Even after close to 34 years, I remember it vividly.

It is; wish I'd made it. I can only take "credit" for the caption. I found the original photo about 8 years ago, just randomly cruisin' the 'net, and thought up the caption when I first saw it. DL'd the pic, added the caption and just held onto it, until your post provided an opening to show it. Thanks!

I especially liked the owls! I hope the attached is in keeping with your post.

I thank everyone who took the trouble to reply to my post. The problem is solved and it turns out no lube was needed. What follows is taken from the text of my my reply to jerryc41's opinion on the issue:

"One thing I took away from these responses (especially yours), was to not just jump in blind but to step back and take a second look. In so doing, I found that in moving the leg into any of the 3 angles it's capable of, I wasn't letting it lock fully into position, which caused the button to stick and be very difficult to release. When I had another go, I was careful to let the leg lock into position, and the button then clicked into position properly and was perfectly fine, i.e., easy to press and release the leg to move it to a different angle. No lube needed so it wasn't done.

The tripod is fairly heavy, and being new is probably why it's stiff and tight. Most likely it'll loosen up with use".

As it happens, the problem is solved. One thing I took away from these responses (especially yours), was to not just jump in blind but to step back and take a second look. In so doing, I found that in moving the leg into any of the 3 angles it's capable of, I wasn't letting it lock fully into position, which caused the button to stick and be very difficult to release. When I had another go, I was careful to let the leg lock into position, and the button then clicked into position properly and was perfectly fine, i.e., easy to press and release the leg to move it to a different angle. No lube needed so it wasn't done.

The tripod is fairly heavy, and being new is probably why it's stiff and tight. Most likely it'll loosen up with use. Thanks very much for your good advice. And I really enjoy reading your many posts, no matter what the subject is.

[quote=ClarkJohnson][quote=sjb3]Neewer is a good and popular brand of equipment, moderately priced. I'll be careful, whatever I end up doing and/or using to fix the problem; I just want to be able to press the button and adjust the leg angle with one hand instead of two. Thanks very much for your reply.[/quote

I agree with the “popular” portion of your description, but in my experience the “good” adjective is inappropriate. As I understand it, Neewer makes nothing by themselves, but sources products from other makers for resale. So, contacting the Neewer for technical issues could be an exercise in frustration. I had a problem with a Neewer tripod a few years ago, in which the tripod became unusable, and after many exchanges with “ customer service,” I was informed that the tripod was “ within spec.” You get what you pay for.[/quote]

Sure can't argue about any of that, especially your last line (so I won't). Thanks just the same for your reply.