Sounds like a proprietary school. Obviously I can’t speak to that particular school, but having taught at one I’d run away as fast as possible. Retention is primary, education is secondary. Everybody got “A’s” except in my classes. It took me two semesters befor the scam became so clear. I met student who were mislead at every juncture. Over promised and under delivered. Student loans were not only available but marketed because once you have a loan you feel you have to stay in the program for any chance of turning your debt into a Job. On the other hand my friend graduated from a state college with a BFA in still photography. He started in engineering but transferred into the Film and TV. Try that at “Bob’s college of photography and drawing.” When he graduated he worked for a couple photographers including doing printing for a high dollar photographer doing printing of black and white photos we all recognize. When the family came along and reality sunk in he went back an got a degree in a field that promised to be more viable in an economic sense. Transferred a bunch of credits from one state college to another. He probably spent less on his entire education than 1 year at “Bob’s.” Plus, we’re he so inclined he could use his degree to open doors in other career choices. “Bob’ can’t help you there. The community college in my town has a well thought of photo program that is well regarded but takes a while to get in as the teacher/student ratio is quite small and there is a waiting list. Should the desire arise two more years at the University and you can get a bachalors degree. Many work their way through college by work study ang get grants an scholarships. Try that at “Bob’s”. True that the degree is only a piece of paper, but it’s a piece of paper that opens many, many doors rather than closing them. You never know where your head will be in 5 years. Finally, a dear friend worked her way up from a receptionist through the ranks of a very large non-profit. Worked in a number of departments learned everything possible about the organization. Became a department head in each of the departments she joined. An opportunity arose to open a branch in a different state. Managed the business in that state successfully despite minimal marketing support. Built the reputation of the organization increased its profile in the community. Managed a group of high maintenence professionals, mid levels and staff. Became a director within the organization. Smarts, hard work and dedication paid off until in a casual conversation with the big boss he was shocked to find she didn’t have a degree. Told at 55yoa she would have to go back to school to retain the position. They didn’t care if the degree was in basket making, that position required a degree. They even offered to pay for it and allow her to continue in the job. She chose to not go through the hassle and transferred to a different department back at HQ. great salary but nothing compared to the old one, but no more hand holding of the professional staff and managing the rest of the division. No headaches. All the fellow employees had degrees but that only made them more viable in getting hired. When offered the managers job her response was “are you nuts? Why would I get back on that treadmill” and respectfully declined. Still with us “Bob?” Go to college, don’t feed “Bob.”

Don’t be so resentful. Work your way through college and get a degree in marketing or business management or accounting. Get your CPA. Then go back to school and get an MBA. Start at the bottom of a company work your way up the organizational ladder exceeding your fellow employees skill, aptitude, inclination, knowledge and work ethic. That MAY get you to a junior exec position. Give up time with your wife an kids because of long hours and out of the area commitments. Learn how virtually every department operates. Learn what the competition is doing. Become conversant in every aspect of your industry. Then when the big opportunity comes along you might become a vice-president. More hard work coming your way. Do better than the competition. If the old CEO retires or moves on you can have a shot at proving to the board of directors that you are the best person you may be selected. The board of directors will set your salary, your stock option (ownership) in the company and what benefits they will provide. Now you get to deal with operations, supply chain, legal and patents, marketing, regulation, HR, strategic planning, labor unions, international competition, etc, etc. remember that all the while you have to consider that failure is not an option. The financial well-being of each employee, each stockholder, each supplier and each customer’s depends on you acting without failing. Sounds easy enough. We should all do it. Let’s start right.......Now. See you at the top. P. S. If you think the folks on the floor make the operation run more smoothly you have mover worked in management or Human Resources. That said the employees do make the company.

Maybe you mean Jewel cave. Carlsbad is 982 mi south in New Mexico. A 14 hour drive each way.

The subsidies are what bother me the most. Why should you pay more in taxes so I can use a technology that only makes economic sense if I get a big fat deduction. If alternative energy sources pass the financial smell test call me up, if not then use my share of that tax subsidy for something important like the national debt.

G12 is a respectable camera, I use mine primarily in an underwater housing. If it were me I’d fix it. If you don’t want to fix it send it to me😎

My brother in law would never call himself a photographer but uses photos he has taken, combined with his expertise in the roofing industry to provide expert testimony in litigation. To him the photos need to be clear and illustrative. He’s not interested in the physics of the exposure or the size of the sensor on his camera, what he wants is a camera that he can put in his pocket to climb a ladder wearing a climbing harness and rope. His shots are worth dozens if not hundreds of thousand of dollars to his clients. It means the difference between solvency and bankruptcy for companies. He’s not so self absorbed that he has to be labeled a “photographer” though.

Washington State is 2nd highest tax on fuel, both gasoline and diesel. Roughly 25% of current prices in my area. Generally the big oil companies have a 5% +/- profitability. In Washington they are toying with a per mile tax on electric and hybrid autos. Perhaps the tax man needs to tighten his belt, not the people who actually produce a product.

I received a QL-17 as a graduation present in 1968. Upgraded to an Ftb in Da Nang in 1969.

Battery Grip is your best choice in my opinion. Uses 2 standard Canon batteries or 6 "AA" cells. $119.00 at B&H. They have cheaper ones, but I prefer OEM Canon. Keep everything in dry bags as stated above. Plan on lots of rain--remember it's a rainforest.

PM’d you.

What do you know that I don't? I've used it in my underwater housing and found it to be effective, at least in the short term. I have it in a sealed case with some of my medium format equiptment, have had for quite some time. What should I be looking for when I drag it out to check it out?

Silica gel

Fake news. By any measure the Obama admin cut andmilitary spending ie; smaller relative to GNP, smaller as a percentage of federal spending, smaller as number of active service personnel and smaller as to number of ships. As to reducing waste, one mans “waste” is another mans tools. Anybody that has worked in a government can attest that there is no way to eliminate waste. The agencies budget system encourages buying un-needed equipment to avoid having their budget reduced the following year. Drive by an auto junkyard. Every car on the pile was an improvement generally, to the cars lower in the pile but they all served their purpose and functioned as designed but were eventually junked at the end of their service life. But for the few remaining old cars nearly every car produced from the 80’s and before has now bee junked, recycled and returned to the raw material inventory. It’s not cheap to protect our sovereignty and safety which is the sole duty of the government.

They can easily outweigh a Mitsubishi Mirage, outrun a quarter horse for 100yds. Many are over 6 feet at the shoulder. Huge majestic animals that are the largest mammal in North America.

Let me get this straight. She pays for skates, socks, pants, a cup, team jersey, helmet, shield, gloves, travel, ice time all of which make Hockey one of the more expensive amateur sports and balks at the cost of 2 Lattes. Now that’s some kind of messed up sense of entitlement.