How to spend the time...

My grandfather smoked. He died from cancer
My father smoked. He quit. He died from cancer.
I smoke. It is strangely reassuring to know the genetic probabilities. ..

The question is what to do with that time between diagnosis and the end of the game. I've decided not to take the chemotherapy route. I watched my father waste 10 months trying to extend his life rather than trying to live those 10 months to their fullest. The money that is not being spent on doctors and hospitals will be used to take a trip to make a few apologies, and say a few thank yous in person. While I'm on that trip I intend to smoke in the airplane lavatory.

This will be a great time to break a few rules and social taboos.... but, just the liitle ones. A few things I would like to do:

Ride my motorcycle without a helmet.
Pass wind in church.
Have dessert after breakfast.
Have a cocktail at lunch.
Drive without a seatbelt.
Take nail clippers on a plane.
Have a garage sale and not claim the income on my taxes.
Eat a lot of red meat.
Take a nap every day.
Use a lot of salt.

I suppose the list will grow longer as the time approaches and I don't expect any real quilt or consequences...except for the Ann Coulter bit ... there are some things even a Republican won't do.


.

Another good reason to get a Model Release...

SALEM, Va. -- A suggestive birthday card featuring a photo of a poultryman holding a goose has really ruffled the farmer's feathers and prompted him to file a $7.5 million lawsuit against the photographers and companies who used his image.

Andrew Marsinko claims he never signed a release allowing his photo to be used for commercial purposes, as required by Virginia law. Now he's suing for a variety of reasons, including defamation and reckless infliction of emotional distress.

The front of the card features Marsinko holding a goose on one knee, under the words, "Since it's your birthday, you decide - Would you rather get spanked ..." and then, inside: "Or goosed? Happy birthday!"

The Botetourt County farmer claims he didn't even know about the card until he attended an animal auction in Mount Hope, Ohio, where people began teasing him. According to the lawsuit, one person asked him, "When did you give up women to hug a goose?"

"That's not something you want to wake up and find out's been done," said Roanoke lawyer David Harrison, who represents Marsinko.

The portrait was taken at the 1996 State Fair of Virginia by Washington, D.C., photographer John Burwell, who had been hired to take promotional photos for the fair.

The card was sold throughout the United States and Canada last year. During that time, Marsinko - a member of the American Poultry Association's Exhibitor's Hall of Fame - says he was the object of ridicule at auctions and livestock shows across the country.

The complaint accuses Burwell and his wife of selling Marsinko's image to Jupitermedia Corp., a stock image provider, without his permission. The image was used on a card sold by Boulder, Colo., company Leanin' Tree Inc., according to the complaint.

(used without permission)

Information from: The Roanoke Times, http://www.roanoketimes.com

I met her in a pawn shop ...

She had seen better days but she was well built and a little taller than the others. An old cougar, you could tell she had run with a fast crowd but she was still a looker and sharp as a tack. For $200 she offered to rock my world...

...and she was right.

I thought we were happy. We went to the beach. Long walks in the park and there were always flowers. When she needed more I bought her a D2x so she could mount a full 12 megapixels. I even took her to Seattle for the Strobist Meet. She was a little kinky.

The last time I saw her she was lying on the bed at the Hilton. When I stepped out of the room she disappeared. Someone probably offered her more.... said they were packin' 21 megapixels. Boy will she be surprised when he turns out to be a Canon.

Somewhere on the streets of Seattle she's being pimped by a D50...full of regret.

If anyone sees my Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro, please send the bitch home.

Officer flips over burger...

Union City, Georgia - Based on his "experience and training" Police Officer Wendell Adams arrested a cook at the local McDonalds for over-seasoning his burger. Kendra Bull, 20, a McDonald’s employee, spent a night in jail Friday and faces criminal charges after Officer Wendell Adams complained the burger she prepared with too much salt made him sick.

"Step away from the grill and place your hands on your head"
Officer Adams sent a sample of the burger to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab for analysis.... I kid you not. Even though the lab has millions of dollars of testing equipment and some high powered talent in their scientists, it may be difficult to determine if Officer Adams illness was a result of too much salt on his burger or too much sugar on his donut.

The CBS affiliate has the full story here.

What are Wizard Brackets?

A simple, secure and inexpensive way to mount your Pocket Wizard flash triggers to your light stand or flash swivel.

Traditionally, photographers have just hung their Pocket Wizards by the included lanyard or stuck them on the light stand with Velcro. Neither of these methods are particularly secure.

Wizard Brackets install quickly and easily to your flash swivel. They are laser cut from cold rolled steel and have a textured powder coat finish. Your Pocket Wizards attach to the bracket, in seconds via a threaded knob with 1/4-20 thread.

Purchase via credit/debit card

Wizard Brackets are sold in sets of 3 for $24.00 and shipped, in the U.S., for a flat rate of $4.70

WizardBrackets.com
----------

For the uninitiated, Pocket Wizards are the gold standard in radio controlled flash/camera triggers. They are available from all the major photo equipment sites such as B&H and Adorama. They work as advertised... every time. And they are expensive. Depending on the model, prices range from $180 to $295 each.

Wizard Brackets are shipping today...

...and Monday.

I spent all day Friday assembling and packaging the brackets. Today was spent printing labels. I should have about half of these in the mail today. The rest will ship on Monday. Watch your email for shipping confirmation.

Thanks to everyone who ordered. Your support was amazing. If you haven't ordered a set of these, do it now. I have a few dozen left. You can order at the bottom of the page, here.

Thanks again.

The Power of Strobist...

David's post on Strobist caught me a little by surprise...the response was overwhelming. It appears a lot more people would rather buy the Wizard Bracket than make it as a DIY project.
I have 250 of these coming from laser cutting today. They will go to powder coat this afternoon. Knobs and other bits and pieces arrive Friday.

I'll spend the weekend assembling and packaging.

Thanks for your patience.
Feel free to give me a call if you have any questions.

Ziv
(541) 815-4580