You are right. We, the taxpayers pay for everything, including the huge tax break given to the wealthy individuals and corporations of this country. The Predator should really make up his mind. Which will he take away, the USPS or will he seek to sink Amazon. He seems to harbor grudges against any successful business or service.

But you are correct, we taxpayers pay for all of his tantrums, his decision to push his unscientific response to the great p******c in refection of scientifically based solutions. Those who support him most enthusiastically would also most benefit from his being v**ed out of office.

Keep your wallet open.

Caruso

It is not a business. It is a service, a very valuable government service that deserves to be properly funded. If treated as a business under the Predator, it is certain to fail. Many of his businesses have failed. The entire US government runs at a loss (he's in charge now for 3+ years, why has he not fixed it?). Should we rid ourselves of it all (careful of that for which you wish, the Predator would be swept away by such a move!!)?

It is humorous to observe the vile political rhetoric that is apparent on many threads in the attic, but on a topic which deals with an instance in which the Predator displays either total contempt for the v**ers or utter stupidity in expressing out loud his self-serving political motives in de-funding the postal service, we, in the attic, suddenly hear from those who want to ban all political topics (no such complaints in other threads).

Are there really savings in de-activating and removing mail handling machines that process volumes of mail in seconds that would take paid workers days? Will the USPS haul all the corner mail boxes that they have removed to the scrap yard to turn them into revenue? Were those boxes costing the USPS serious money? . . .and again, we have a Predator Trump who does nothing about a problem for three and a half years, and now, suddenly, decides he is going to overhaul the USPS to his liking in less than 90 days.

Under crushing push back, the USPS has stated that it will temporarily suspend mail box removal until after the e******n (still no logical explanation for removing them in the first place). How many mail boxes have already been removed? And why? Because the Predator wants to eliminate the possibility for v**ers to physically deposit their mail-in b****ts into the mail.

None of this is going to work. Every step the Predator takes to suppress the v**e is easily observable by v**ers, mainly because he is so stupid as to vocalize his strategy during his press conferences which, as he should know, are nationally televised.

Make up any excuse you please to defend him while you may. His time in control (if you call it that) is very short.

Caruso

I am willing to overlook all if he can simply complete that great wall, what, some 2000 miles or so, of which less than 300 have been built, most of which is replacement of defective wall, much of which was poorly installed and already falling.

Or, perhaps he can explain why he issued an executive order promising the unemployed $400 weekly when only $300 would come from a constitutionally challenged federal government executive order, and the balance from states who had not even been consulted or informed of the plan. Typical Predator tactics, much sound and fury on TV, not much at all in reality. Mark my words, no money will flow from his f**e (as in h**x) executive order.

It would not at all surprise me to learn (via tweet) that world war III had commenced upon his "executive" order, but, due to lack of prior advice, none of our troops were present to fight. Such is the world of the Predator.

Back him before it is too late (might be too late already).

Caruso

The main issue affecting the financial status of the postal service is the absurd requirement that it prefund 75 years worth of retiree health benefits, something that neither the government nor private companies are required to do.

The postal service is not a for profit company. It is a constitutionally provided service. Do we judge the defense department or the intelligence department on its profitability? Why the postal service, and, specifically, why now?

Y'all make as many excuses for that clown in the White House while you can. We will have him v**ed out come November, his move against the postal service and his ongoing collaboration with Russia notwithstanding.

V**ers are aware and watching. Most do not support the Predator. We will overcome his obvious attempts to negate the results of an e******n where those opposing him are denied their right to v**e.

Crow while you can.

Caruso

Howard asked you to list examples of f**e news. Like Predator Trump, you skipped answering the question and changed the subject to Obama. F**e news is a term used by the Predator to discredit legitimate news sources because the t***h about his administration is pretty much all bad.

Now, he has moved on to trying to discredit the upcoming e******n. He is a very desperate man and a very sorry excuse for a president.

Caruso

Because we are experiencing a p******c that makes standing in long lines dangerous to ones health. Because, in many community (think Louisville) polling places have been purposely reduced (think 150 down to 1). Because, in many states (think Georgia) the v****g roles were purged without noticed to those whose right to v**e was denied. Because of misinformation encouraging v**ers to v**e on some day that is past the legal v****g date.

Because we currently have a president (if you are still so generous to refer to him thusly) who wants to inaccurately characterize mail-in v****g as subject to massive fraud (please cite one instance of massive fraud in the states who have a long history of mail-in v****g). We have a 'president' who has taken steps to hobble the postal service to insure that b****ts mailed in are delayed. Because we have a 'president' who sues a state for passing a mail-in v****g law, a step totally within the authority of that state to take. The 'president' argues that the state in question is mailing b****ts to all residents. It's not true (they are mailing request forms, not b****ts), but a 'president' who claims that the explosion in Beirut is an attack claiming that many generals have informed him so, or that taking a widely debunked drug to cure the v***s is still a valid approach, simply doesn't care about the t***h, or about people. The 'h**x' that he claimed the v***s to be is eating up his re-e******n prospects as it k**ls citizens, but abouot citizens he does not care. He lost on his citizenship question with regard to the census, now, he hopes to cut counting short and not count all persons because he claims that persons is not defined.

Dream on, make excuses. Times will change, and soon.

We who can see have had enough of the blind loyalty. His legacy will be the length of his jail sentences. Plan on counting again at that time.

Caruso

Your 'professional' IMO did a disservice to his students by not at least touching on other software solutions, likely because he knows Adobe and didn't want to invest the time to learn anything else.

I've used a number of editors over the years, Adobe among them. I dropped my subscription to Adobe this year in favor of darktable/GIMP. For me, darktable is well ahead of Lightroom when it comes to editing RAW files (tons of powerful modules, most of which conform to its localized editing capabilities made possible by its powerful parametric masking tool). GIMP has also progressed nicely and now can handle up to 32-bit floating files. Updates, like the applications themselves, are always free.

So many Adobe users only know Adobe and seem threatened when any other solution is offered. The OP said clearly he/she did not want a subscription based platform. Why, then, do so many Adobe proponents pile on and hi-jack the thread to wage defense of Adobe. Four years of Adobe's subscription saved will go a long way towards purchasing new photographic equipment or funding forays into some remote area to actually shoot photos.

As an old film guy, I first learned PS after having learned how to scan negatives and slides. I've learned many different photo editing applications since then, and most of them are quite good. As a person new to editing, the OP might try Lightzone. Masking is similar to darktable, but all is done manually by clicking to create the mask. Lightzone is free and open source and can process RAW files. Rawtherapee is also well respected, although I much prefer darktable.

Whatever you choose, look for some online tutorials for your chosen software. You only really need to find one or two to get you started, then, progress through them at your own pace. There is no learning curve in any of these fine applications that cannot be tamed by a good tutorial or two.

The nonsense about Adobe being the 'industry standard' is, to me, just that. The 'industry standard' thing brings no magical processing power to your photos, and, the OP doesn't sound to me as though he/she is looking to submit photos to some high-powered gallery. Most of the Adobe users admit they do not use all of its many features, and I would say that most darktable/GIMP users do not use all the many features in that robust package. So, why should you pay for features you are not using? As for support, there is plenty of support for all of these packages online, so no need to stick with Adobe. You will not actually need more than one or two sources, but there exist plenty more for all packages discussed here.

My advice to the OP is to try the free stuff first, if you find it lacking (I bet you will not), you can always bite the bullet and go with Adobe.

Good luck, and have fun.

Caruso

Other than the fact that both men were black, what has Mr. Cain's death have to do with John Lewis. White folk practically k**led Mr. Lewis, fracturing his skull in his youth while he marched peacefully to advocate for the rights of people of color in this country. He has been a life-long champion of those rights, never c***ted in office, never cashed-in, only worked for the rights of others.

The h**e that lurks here reinforces the need for those of us (of all colors) who care about others to keep working.

Make fun and send h**e our way while you can. Times will change.

Caruso

. . . and, as we all have, unfortunately, discovered, not being a Rhodes scholar or a scholar of any sort does not imbue one with 'honor, integrity or character'.

Predator Trump brags that he passed a cognitive test (questions similar to what first responders asked me after I fell off my roof, you know, what day is it, who is president, what is your name, your age, your birthday, well, OK, then, you pass!!).

He cannot brag about any real test that he has passed, because he hasn't passed any, has to threaten law suits against any educational entity to prevent release of any information regarding his academic achievements (or likely lack of same).

He will not reveal his tax records, and, for sure, he will not show us his heels, but we will see them shortly as a result of the November e******ns.

Make excuses for him while you can. Your time is short.

Caruso

Uhm, that would be Trump, not speaking, but tweeting (he could never speak such long sentences without screwing something up). The suburbs will speak in November.

Caruso

Yea, they really don't get it. They didn't get it when the supreme court ruled against separate but equal, they didn't get it when they peacefully got their heads cracked protesting against Jim Crow, and they aren't seeing it clearly when they watch a cop suffocate a suspect whom he has already detained for a crime for which there would be no reason to apprehend a white suspect from the street. Just process the paper work and serve it. They didn't get it when cops executed a no-knock warrant on the wrong address and shoot and k**l one of the legal occupants. They didn't get it when they watch video of an unarmed Navy vet getting pummeled by the Predator's camouf**ged gulag forces.

They don't get it when they see Predator Trump send his camouf**ged 'troops' to cities with democratic governments to clear out peaceful demonstrators while he has nothing but support to offer his supporters bearing arms as they overtake a government building in Michigan. They don't get it when a white man planted to create violence during a peaceful protest is caught and apprehended while trying to vandalize and destroy property which actions he hopes will be blamed on peaceful demonstrators.

They really don't get it that the two Corinthians quoting Predator (bible scholar that he is) employs his camouf**ged troops to clear out peaceful demonstrators so that he can stroll through the area and create a memorable photo op as he holds two Corinthians (along with the rest of the new/old Testaments) upside down just to completely make his point.

There is much 'they' do not get. Unfortunately for the Predator, they do get the most salient of points in this Predator's effort to upright a sinking ship, a ship into which he has punched numerous deadly holes.

Make excuses while you can. Your time, like his, is short.

Caruso

Please post supporting documentation.
You will not because you cannot.

Caruso

Debunked by whom? Name one reason why he shows no interest in following up on the intelligence supplied by his own people, delivered to his desk as part of his daily briefing (he lies when he says the info never reached his desk).

There is no luck, good or bad, associated with his disinterest in the well-being of our troops who may very well be in danger of being shot by operatives funded by his buddy, Putin.

Are you so blindly in love with Predator Trump that you care not for the well-being of our troops? Make excuses for him while you can. His remaining time in power is short, and one day, his doings with Putin will be fully exposed.

Caruso

Please refresh our memories and name some of the 'numerous scandals of corruption' with links to substantiate each (please, not FOX or other right wing fodder tanks).

How often did Obama retreat to an owned property and charge taxpayers huge sums which enriched his own(ed) entities? How often did Obama pay golf (a criticism widely cited by Trump) compared to Trump? How many hookers were paid off from campaign funds by Obama? How many wives has Obama dumped as he strove to satiate his enormous appetite for fresh meat? How often did the spiritually pristine Fundamentalist Christians have to overlook Obama's character flaws in order to justify support for him (of course, they didn't, because, in spite of his straight and narrow character, there were not many character flaws that needed 'overlooking').

How many times did Obama seek help from foreign adversaries to dig up dirt on his opponents to enhance his re-e******n prospects? How often did Obama publicly seek help in his re-e******n efforts from foreign adversaries? How often did Obama disavow intelligence reports from the USA in favor of conversational assurances to the contrary offered by leaders of our national enemies?

Or, if you care, enlighten us on other of these 'numerous scandals of corruption' which you brandish in your post without a scintilla of substantiation.

You will not, because you cannot. Like most of the Predator's supporters, you are first in line to brand the main line media 'f**e news' while you brandish suspect sources as a source of unsubstantiated claims.

The 'Republic' senate would not even allow a hearing on Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court when doing so would have been in line with the norms. Now, situation reversed, the 'Republic' party invents new rules that they claim allow them to fill a hoped for vacancy under a very similar situation.

Like the Predator, they change the rules to suit themselves, while people of your ilk make excuses for their and his behavior.

Rejoice while you can. Change will surely come.

Caruso