-JQ-

Ahhh, vinyl and valves = yummy. Funny just talking this am about selling my Mac amp...probably shouldn't I know

I've been wearing this 5.11 for 4-5 years. I almost never need the fleece option inserted, and wear both pieces separate but rarely together. I've even been using the hi-vis vest lately for work - go figure. Any color you want so longs as it is black (or blue). The shell rocks in bad weather and would likely buy that alone next time. Pockets galore (too many?) http://www.511tactical.com/All-Products/Outerwear/Uniform-Jackets/5-in-1-Jacket.html Bought from a local shop but LAgear, gall's etc likely carry too. In black it doesn't look leo, important for me as an innocent bystander. ymmv eta: I've been looking at these products recently for photo work without looking like a photo nerd. http://www.scottevest.com/v3_store/Outback-Jacket.shtml

To pull singles on MP5 in FA I was taught to use the second joint of your trigger finger...I could pull 2s and 3s but singles were tough...not enough training time I'm sure. But I've seen it done consistently.

Take this 24 hour free training session from Kelby training. Their videos are very informative and cover all aspects of photography including some specific bodies (i think the 7000) covered. They also have classes for the very experienced as well. I watch them quite a bit as there is always something to learn...or alt way to try. And for $200/year you can watch as much as you can stand as often as you like. Best $200 I've spent ever... http://kelbytraining.com/online/freetrial Then you won't have to use any scene modes. FWIW, I usually shoot everything in Av mode - KISS. It really isn't that hard and you'll get better pics because the camera's brain doesn't know what you really want to show and how. Also you have to post pics when you get back with the new lens. ..not associated with kelby just happy customer... 150-500 would be cool for sure

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/549248-REG/Sigma_728306_120_400mm_f_4_5_5_6_DG_OS.html not super fast but not bad and quite a range for a crop sensor camera

I think sigma has it going on with large zooms right now...I guess you are over the sticker shock of large primes? lens rental is a pretty good option just to confirm the focal lengths/features you want prior to buying. Not sure about Nikon stuff but Canon primes at 400 or 500mm can $4000+ used - and don't forget a monopod. <just reread OP not wanting to break bank> You will need faster glass (lower f-stop) than you expect unless the animals are all always standing in the open with full sun. check out www.fredmiranda.com and look in the buy/sell section for really good deals on used equip too

Not sure how I can help but im in. let me know what u need.

This morning we were to do the auto mechanic shuffle at 9am...pick up GF's car, pay and go on our separate ways. 20 minutes after 9 and he still isn't there. She's PO'd and I offer to stand in the cold, she can take my car to work and I'll hang around and take her car, hoping he shows soon, I'd rather freeze than sit in the hot car with hotter (the bad way) GF waiting for this guy to show. While standing there waiting for the mechanic to show, his neighbor business who shares driveway, who is a sand blaster of some sort sends a big plume of "sand" out his window. As I stand there in amazement, the mechanic shows up. Just about that time a HUGE plume of sand shoots out of the building...this time not just a big plume a HUGE one...think desert storm type - haboob(sp). We move around the corner while mechanic get us into the building this crap settles on my GF's car and the others in the lot. GF's car has about a 3 month old paint job - black! Chucklehead blaster comes over and starts chatting with the mechanic and says well I guess that experiment didn't work - WTF?! He's trying to clean his baghouse by "experimenting". Before I can ask baghouse guy WTF he gets call and walks out ... :angry2: My guys offers to drive around and hopefully blow the dust off - again WTF?! He goes to try it on another car as I start to leave and go wash the car when I think. WTF?! I go back. The blaster guy has hosed off the other cars in the driveway. He starts giving me grief when I dont want him to spray off my car. (Have you ever washed a black vehicle?! ) After my very serious insistance, he FINALLY agreed to pay for a wash if I bring the receipt to him. When I take him the receipt I still expect trouble. I'm taking it to a detailer who is only going to charge $60 to wash and wax. Which is pretty cheap for a detail guy. Bad news for this guy as my past life includes working with both OSHA and EPA (SWOPCA) agencies locally...we'll see how much grief this guy offers me before dropping a dime...to be determined. I know how hard regs can be on small businesses...I also know many small biz don't fall under many of the regs due to their size/output/etc -- but they also can to be fairly serious polluters as many are older, medium to heavy manufacterers and can get away with it...compliance enforcement can be tough at best. Just from my few minutes of exposure to this guy I know where this guy stands...and what about my personal exposure while standing there. At best it was nice clean sand - right. This was crap he's cleaning out of his baghouse! As an Industrial Hygienist I know the duration was short, but what was the concentration and of what?! WTF?! Now I have to drop off the car to the detailer before GF gets home and sees her nice fresh paint job covered in blasting media. The blaster guy better hope he only has to deal with me. I can "dispatch" the situation cleanly, where as she will employ the death of a thousand cuts...and I can't stand to watch it...no one comes out of those unscathed. And while my mechanic is a decent one, I'm not sure I want to leave my cars there any more. :angry2:

+1 to all this... 94's are running 3-4K right now IIRC and seems like a lot (ok IS a lot) but the real thing is boringly consistent...then of course I'd need the SBR stamp and the work...$$$ I had a Vector 51 that ran like a top once I got all the grease out...they said be sure to leave grease in for X rounds, it wouldn't run...took grease out ran and ran and ran - go figure But I digress. No compromise.

Bill, maybe you saw me there? Average height thinnish white guy with a ball cap on I didn't shoot any matches but I was glad I went down through the rain Thursday. A bunch of the old time vendors (HK especially guys) no longer go...and I was disappointed that a bunch of junk vendors are now going...not where I would go to buy a used screwdriver...WTH? Was a good time visiting with old friends over a camp fire

I hope no one gives that monkey an AK!

OK I decided to man up and go tonight anyway...I'll pick up a bale of straw on the way... This will be the first time going since selling the MP5 ...could use a buddy's in the subgun match but think I'll just watch this time. Like Shaun said wait times can be debilitating there...til the buzzer goes off. See ya in the pole barn

Kinda like the vette dealer not knowing about Ferrari if you ask me...might not like em but should know if they were built locally. My local shop hadn't heard of Vector until I brought in my "HK 51"...they won't forget either Thanks for educating the masses!

Cool Bryan...will look for you. I might be a wuss and wait until tomorrow...I hate setting up in the rain a bit more than being a wuss...watching the radar

24 hours and I'll be under the Kentucky sky It has been a while since I've been able to make it for the full camp-fest...feast...Thurs-Sunday. I'm not shooting my guns or camera this weekend...just sittin' might even walk down to the show to check out the Saturday night date night at the range... See yall there!

+1 ugly UI - user interface, but does the job and very fast too.

I don't want everyone to think I ALWAYS negative...and things aren't all bad. I was very excited to get an email recently from "Barrett" needing some photo work. You can imagine how much I'd like to do some photo work for them - all the .50's, 460's etc...I would almost do that for free...almost. I was still happy when I found out it was a paving company not THAT Barrett. They saw my work and like that I can make pavement photos "artsy" - quite a compliment I thought.

Yeah I know about the need for end-game planning. The main point I guess is that I'm not going to rack up a bunch of med bills that will be left behind...been there done that. I used to have an estate, but after my wife died in '05, there isn't much too fight over except piles of unloaded brass and few left over pounds of VV320...and some really fast lenses One of the biggest things I learned from the past experience is not to leave debt...being broke helps here. Something else I learned is if you don't buy your own headstone you can't be assured what will be on it - or who...my former in laws bought my wife's stone (without my knowledge) and had their names put on it with her and left me out...this is the one infraction by them, of many, that I have the hardest time letting go. Yeah I have a photo of it in case you can't believe "decent" people can be so foul. And yeah they are on both sides of her...boxing me out for eternity. I hope this thread helps others out there get there affairs in order. Thanks for all the contributions to this thread.

I've applied for various ins. options (even those who say "been turned downm, call us"), no no and no...and compared to most individuals I'm in "great" shape...resting HR <60, BP 120/80, etc etc... I even have a friend in the biz who I regularly taunt with wanting to buy insurance - even he won't talk to me. We need health care reform but not Bama-care...insurance reform is what we need....not to get political. And yeah, not sure I would take chemo either, I have seen mixed results too... Now ignoring it...maybe it will just go away

I was thinking "powder springs" Mac...like what color is "park" I wonder if you could just matte clear over a standard rattle can silver paint to get the look you seek.

double tap...

Thanks for all the responses and prayers. It was hypothetical - so far...but prayers always welcome. The back story is re:a few "moles" I had removed a few years ago and checked. The doc wasn't very convincing (should've gotten second opinion I guess) but said the results were ok. Now they seem to be coming back (one bigger and better) and other spots have various visual cues...but I've always been kinda moley and not a tanner. I got the Cherokee blood but not the pigment :-) But currently I don't have any health insurance and can't get it due to pre- existing conditions, duration of time since last insured, etc...what ever it takes to get black balled from insurance I seem to have or have had...blah blah blah. One caveat: I could marry my GF and get insurance through her work. They (her empl.) don't extend insurance to domestic partners unless your are ghey So, this has been on my mind lately. I really don't want to know and will likely put it off getting checked as long as possible. I'm not so worried about it being cancer as much as leaving my family with a bunch of med bills. If this sounds too dour for you...no one gets out of this alive.

How about a hypothetical...? No insurance, no trust fund - what happens next? No politics please.

Any hot dogs try "heads" only for matches?