I had a stressful and busy day yesterday, and the upshot is that I've lost the use of my car—I guess because, in the opinion of the Universe, I didn't have enough to worry about. You know how that can be.
I'm forced to return to related obligations this morning, and then this afternoon I'll be getting to the comments on the last two posts. There are at this moment two hundred and fifty three unpublished comments awaiting moderation, about half a day's work. So, no new post today, but, starting at about noon, I'll be adding new comments and Featured Comments throughout the day, so I encourage you to check back through the afternoon to read some of 'em.
To get to the comments on any post, simply click on "Comments (xx)" in the footer of any post:
Also, being behind in moderating by 253 comments is an all-time record in the 13 years, one month, and 18 days TOP has been in existence. I don't keep records, but I don't think I've ever been that far behind before.
Onward to my (temporary) fate, with a sigh.
Mike
Original contents copyright 2018 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.
(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:
David Lee: "I could see it coming. The word 'bag' makes us all very opinionated Mike."
longviewer: "We do indeed know how it is. Just refinanced the home to pay off debt, so now is the Universally correct time for a check-engine light to come on and for the sudden death of our 11-year-old cat. Man Duncan was a cool kitty, my first cradle-grave cat. Greeted us at the door when we came home, gave great head-bonks for greeting. Always wore his good coat too, so photogenic."
Mike replies: I have a longstanding reputation for not liking cat pictures, but there's one huge exception to that: when they're of your own pal, a cat you know. Then, of course, cat pictures are good and many are great. Sorry to hear about Duncan.
I don't own a car myself but I understand how important they are for country-dwellers. Best of luck rectifying the situation.
It's no fun to be behind in your work, but I hope you're also seeing the record backlog as, among other things, a symptom of success.
Posted by: robert e | Tuesday, 15 January 2019 at 10:19 AM
I could see it coming. The word “Bag” makes us all very opinionated Mike.
Posted by: David Lee | Tuesday, 15 January 2019 at 10:22 AM
You could have known, of course, that asking for favorite portrait lenses would generate an avalanche of comments :-)
Posted by: Fritz Scharpf | Tuesday, 15 January 2019 at 10:38 AM
Oh Mike, I’m sorry regarding your news and fearful, because you didn’t openly explain the reason for losing car, that it is more serious than even you can contemplate at the moment. Living in a college town area that is otherwise semi-remote from civilization (SF Bay Area), being without a car is close to being a catastrophe. I experienced that for a month after my car was clobbered and didn’t enjoy it one bit! Best of luck is sadly all I can offer.
Posted by: Dave Van de Mark | Tuesday, 15 January 2019 at 11:36 AM
Also, almost all cameras have 4, 5 or 6 letter names. Can you see PANASONIC writ large on one of those small cams. Lumix fits better. Hasselblad gets away with many letters because you know one when you see one. It is difficult to recognize the black Japanese cameras without the bold letters on the front.
Posted by: james wilson | Tuesday, 15 January 2019 at 01:05 PM
I’ve never seen that "Comments ([number])" in the footer of any post. Having checked in old posts it seems it only shows in the footers when one is on the ‘home page’, ie selecting ‘Main’ with multiple articles showing as you scroll down. As soon as you click on an article heading the "Comments ([number])" vanishes. Since I normally select articles from the left side bar that would account for never seeing it though I’m not sure how useful it is as it doesn’t indicate that there are any ‘new’ comments, only the total :-(
Posted by: Richard Parkin | Tuesday, 15 January 2019 at 01:12 PM
I didn't want to make it worse for you, but I'd already posted this before I realised what I was doing. ;-)
Posted by: Ernie Van Veen | Tuesday, 15 January 2019 at 03:06 PM
Somebody I know said that if a problem can be fixed with money, then it's not a big problem.
[Then it's not having money that becomes the big problem.
The way I put it is, "nothing wrong with my life that resources wouldn't cure." Not sure if that's true, but it would be nice to find out. --Mike]
Posted by: Dan Khong | Tuesday, 15 January 2019 at 03:16 PM
Hopefully it is just a car problem and not a Mike problem, something that can be overcome.
Posted by: Chris C | Wednesday, 16 January 2019 at 01:16 AM
Sorry to hear about your car trouble. Here’s a few words that Neil Young wrote about his fist car (Mort Hearseberg) that may cast some good juju on your situation.
“With your chrome heart shinin’ in the sun, long may you run.”
This album may not get stellar reviews but I think side one is really nice.
Posted by: Jim Arthur | Wednesday, 16 January 2019 at 09:12 AM
In the past twelve months the following machina gave up the ghost chez nous:
1) vacuum cleaner
2) dishwasher
3) washing machine and dryer (?!)
4) water heater
5) well pump and pressure tank
6) 2004 Subaru Outback
All were purchased at different times, all simply decided in a series of months that the Second Law of Thermodynamics was not just a stern suggestion, but an actual imperative of the universe. Damn your eyes, Isaac Newton!
My sympathies, Michael.
Posted by: Benjamin Marks | Wednesday, 16 January 2019 at 01:27 PM