PossumCorner

I was wrong about the ladybird group: it's not a Group: only when you put ladybird into "Search" it brings up a thousand or so. Silly moo me.

Before you write Sony off, have a look at the A55 - some good features - if your KM lenses will fit it's worth a second look.

Brill Persephone, have you put it on the Red Bubble "Ladybird" group yet?? Note people, ladybird - not lady bug - we not in America. The nursery rhyme is "ladybird etc etc" - it was a political reference as are most nursery rhymes.

What is even stranger to me is the Pound being open at 2.00 a.m. to admit a lost dog, paperwork and all that.

Do you intend buying from the store you work in (what do they recommend?). If you are on a budget you would save by ordering from overseas, B&H or the like, if the store does not give you a good staff discount.

Thanks for the name, I passed it on the other day but they'd already seen to it.

We've probably said all we can - it is in the hands of the organisers now, if they wish to continue, to talk to one another and set up a code of ethics and stick to it. The whole sorry mess can be rescued, it certainly is not too late, if they have the good-will to do it. For a change of pace, here are a couple of US vids, team and single. Notice they use proper harness with traces, not rubbish buckled to the shafts. and one for the clicker trainers, the dog dancers and the agility people:

Sadly wrong, and that's where people are missing the point, and the actual heritage aspect, and turning "heritage" into something it is not. Barcaldine is the exception (because deGroot & Co. are doing things properly). Elsewhere today the norm is unacceptable cruelty, and in no way reflects any methods of the use of goats in the past. Watching the old film clips on this link, is a look at the real heritage value. There is no bashing into submission, there is no harnessing-up of wild animals and them running into barriers wild and terrified. Just dozens of young and old people with very useful animals, trained and under control. Not just Queensland, some of the earliest records of goats harnessed or ridden are from Victoria and NSW. http://www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2008/s2704298.htm When goats were used like this as part of everyday life, there were no feral goats as there are today, so a comparison does not exist. Claiming they are keeping up tradition is bullshit when they are leaving out the element that goats were kept closer to home and accustomed to people, and used in daily life, not just for one day a year. As you said they are trainable animals. Anyone who wants to train a goat can do so, it's not rocket science or skilled horsemanship, any Dolers who can teach a dog to lead could train a goat. And that is what the rednecks are not doing. They are simply taking unhandled wild animals and putting them through hell for crude entertainment (and that's only a lead-up to their next trip, one-way to the slaughterhouse and more terror). I'm not on a soapbox about this, but I don't like to see the unpleasant reality swept under the carpet as a "beat up". And I don't think that is your wish either KM.

I think Serpell's last point there is pretty flawed. He certainly has written a lot (publish or perish) but you'd notice a lot of his work quotes Peter Singer's writing. Singer is Australian, he is still the Bioethics man at Princeton University, and still writes good stuff. Catholic Church doesn't like him.

The best (I think) maker is at http://www.puppybars.com - they did the custom ones for my Magna wagon. They can fit them, also send all over Australia. They are not cheap, sometimes you can find a used set but they keep their value pretty well. Those cheap tubular ones are so dangerous aside from not being effective.

No, there is no need for a beat-up, the facts have long stood for themselves. The animal rights groups are often on the loony side of rent-a-crowd, but in this case if that's the group it took to give this wider publicity, then good on them and they have their place. No-one wants to ban goat racing, and done well as in the Barcaldine example it is great. But the yob beer-swilling mentality that supports it in Walgett and Lightning Ridge is a million miles removed from caring about animal welfare, training, heritage, any of the good aspects. It is just an excuse for brutality and supported by the Council for the tourist dollar. A goat does not have to be raced to be driven: goat showing in harness has a niche overseas and is done at a high standard of training, presentation. This link to the UK goat harness society has some good images of how it can be done: click on 'find out more' and the gallery: http://www.harnessgoats.co.uk/index.html - there is also a good American group with a good attitude promoting better practice: http://www.workinggoats.com/

Good going with the new camera Huga. Ashanali it's not just behind counters, they are on the streets, and yes it bugs me. (Oh, old lady, she must be useless, I'd better make sure she knows). So I was going to post this the other day and thought why bother, but it fits here. Stopped to take a shot of a tin billboard we took some shots for. Its been up by a town police station for about a year, thought I'd get a picture before it comes down, they are usually annual space rentals. So I'm taking a photo and an expert stopped to watch. "You'd never get action shots like that with a little camera like that girley". Girley says: well I think I might, it's a fine camera, but yes I actually took these with a different one. Not good enough for him: "Go on, pull the other leg, he'd be a real professional to get action like that". Jeeze I didn't tick either of his boxes. It wasn't worth an argument with a stranger so I walked. The attitude does extend past shop-staff though. (Oh and the fan-girl is not my image, only the cut-out leaps and stuff, they are a talented group).

Bumping to stay on the page.

Bumping. Yes the grounds are under-water we've been told. (It was to have been on Sunday, 31st Oct).

What a cheek, profits by piggy-back. The only begging letters I give credence to are fromthe Red Cross or the Salvos. And the only organisations I'd give images to are bona-fide horse or dog rescue. Private entrepreneurs can whistle dixie.

Yes I prefer the slightly longer macros too. Gives space to be back a little from the subject and keep full frame. Especially with the spiders or biting ants. And they are a good prime lens for portrait or medium/close action. I have the Sigma 150 macro, and have just also bought the Tamron 90 2.8.

Yes it does depend on the space available, the purpose and the subject, so "portrait" has too many variables to be precise about. If we do indoors at the stores for staff portraits, there is often not much space and the 18-70 is ideal. When I mentioned the new 90mm, well it's useless in a very small area much as the 85 is. But when doing dog portraits out of doors, it is great to use the 85 or 90 especially if the dog does not know you or trust the camera. It enables you to get the head full-frame and still give the dog (or person) some comfort zone, not being right in their face. And they are not huge zoom lenses so are neither threatening nor intrusive.

Agree that 30-35 is often just too wide (distorting) for portraits. A fixed focal length (prime lens) can be sharper than a zoom. Look at the Tamron and Sigma range on Helen's link above. They are not as expensive as the Nikkors. I've just bought a Tamron 90mm 2.8 for portrait, it's also a macro lens with excellent recommendations for macro work as well. (We had a good deal from Camera House Croydon Vic with a new camera). Price compare though: check B&H prices while the dollar is near parity, their service from New York is excellent.

Bumping - can any Brisbanites help?? Could anyone in Brisbane area recommend any repairers or camera stores in Brisbane who would reliably do a straightforward sensor-clean on a DSLR. Also separately anyone who could clean a lens that has possibly some mildew-mould on the inner glass. (For someone on holidays, driving through). (Not me, I wish). Grateful any recommendations in thread, or even PM of any stores you think better not to go to for this.

I think not Luke. I'd love to see you try it on to test the rules and create a precedent for us. But "You can't fight City Hall". (I'd love to see KK seek legal advice to sue the bullying Council heavy for causing stress and anguish with threats, but same applies). And I'm concerned if owners of untrustworthy dogs try it on to test the rules and the dogs cause some havoc. That would bounce back on us all so bad, which it already has in a sense.

Incredible colour (and super sharp shot).

Lovely head-shot, very nice. Tiny tip: pocket a couple of tissues to wipe their eyes before shooting, saves time removing eye-goop (and dust/crumbs) in Photoshop.

It is good to get recommendations for service. This would be a great way to assess a lens if you weren't sure it would fill the needs, and avoid being stuck with a $1000 upwards purchase that was not quite right for the purpose. The only thing bothers me with them is the stress that a lens is shipping to Melbourne from Queensland and also reliant on their appraisal if they say something is wrong including a scratch when they receive it back - again by mail. (Having seen how this system is used to con people in the rental car industry). It's just a distance thing: and "within five days" - trusting the mails these days is another stressor if there was an important event you were relying on the lens or body arriving in time to use. For Melbourne people there is now a lens hire place near the city, http://www.benshire.com.au - I haven't used them but it is pick-up at premises which would suit me for reliability. Haven't done a rental-cost comparison either, but it's good to know there is another one here if it was needed in an emergency. Bookings can be made well ahead judging by the availability calendar they show.

As Cosmolo said it is a fund-raising event, and there is a flyer about it on her website (in Cosmolo's profile).

Ummmmm. Deep and meaningless?