Thanks, guys. An interesting discussion evolved. But I think that what I'm really looking for is some sort of escrow service. The buyer puts the money in the escrow account, I see it there and send the stuff. He examines it, and if OK, he releases the funds to me. If he returns it, I release the funds back to him when my stuff comes back. Has anyone used this sort of service?

The trip home from a local race track usually takes just under an hour using my favorite route. One day last fall I decided to let my car's GPS guide the way. The general direction I wanted to go was northeast, but it directed me to a highway going southeast for many miles, then onto some little neighborhood roads barely wide enough for two cars to pass, eventually putting me on some roads I finally recognized near home. The total time was about 20 minutes longer than my usual route. Yes, GPS is wonderful....

I'm reviving this thread to show what I just built for my heavy lens. It's made from a piece of aluminum from Lowes, and the bolt and wingnut I had kicking around. It's mounted with the foot on the lens bottom, so that the plate is pulling up against the foot, rather than hanging from the bolt. I'll carry it with the lens sideways against my chest rather than sticking straight out.

Right now I have attached it to my official Canon strap that came with the camera, and I can really feel the weight on my neck. If it works out on an expedition to a local Audubon reservation, I'll order some additional straps to adapt it to my Optek system.

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I'm ready to part with some old photo gear. What's the preferred safe and fair payment method when you have to ship your items, as opposed to meeting in person? I don't have PayPal, Venmo, or any of those.

Agreed. I just did a trip where I brought my heavy DSLR and heavier zoom lens for the eclipse. That bag was truly a pain to carry around, never mind getting on and off of busses, etc. A few years back I did a week vacation in Florida with just my Canon G9X, and got some great pictures that are now on my walls. Yes, I missed the shot of that Egret way down by the other dock, but I got lots of good images without the boat anchor issue.

I managed to score a Canon 100 - 400mm zoom off Craig's list. I have a couple uses in mind where weight isn't an issue. But for just carrying it around hunting for birds or something... My arms got tired just testing it out in my backyard, and I'm not too thrilled about the prospect of the lens hanging from the body mount while carrying the camera with a camera body mounted neck strap.

I'm looking for alternate ideas to carry this thing. What are any of you folks using for heavy lenses?

I just found out today that I will be going to the path of totality for the upcoming eclipse. In case it isn't snowing or raining that day, I was thinking of getting a longer prime for my Canon EF-S APS-C body anyway, so this will be a good excuse. The longest I have now is the 55 - 255 kit lens. I think I've got the filter business figured out, but what focal lengths have worked well with APS-C machines for sun photography?

I got a can of "Liquid electrical tape spray" from Harbor Freight. You might want to look into that.

Back in the day I bought a set of Michelin XAS for my Fiat 124 Spyder. Though you can use them on either side, the tire is not symmetrical. The tread is designed to have one side facing out, the other in. That message is molded into the tire sidewall along with all the other mfg info. Wouldn't you know, when they returned the car to me 3 of the four tires were backwards, so they had to remount them and rebalance. I was surprised this happened, since the shop featured Michelin tires...

https://garryberman.medium.com/carla-motis-a-quiet-force-on-jazz-guitar-a2afca2b3b36

Oops, sorry

I spotted this on an on line news feed. Great recognition for another of Chamorro's students.

The following job ad appeared on a local/regional discussion board. Doesn't it make you want to apply right away?

"Global dustless blasting is looking to hire somebody interested in working South starter has old transportation and a phone and a place to live. I can lift 50 pounds easily. We do Sandblaster in your experience necessary will train"

Thanks, guys. This confirms some other info I found googling around. Despite Samsung's tricky single/double oven, I managed to steer my wife toward a different brand.

Anybody out there have any experience with Samsung electric stoves? Quality? Customer service? Etc.? My wife is getting ideas...

Two birds, or maybe one bird who didn't learn his lesson, attempted to visit our office recently. Unsuccessfully, as it turns out. But they left their mark...

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