PossumCorner

Who is running this poll, what do they do with the results, who takes any notice of it. Have any previous polls they have conducted on anything had any effect on anyone? I hate all opinion polls, to me they they are always misleading, skewed, or without good reason - I won't even touch a poll here on DOL, I have no respect for their so-called conclusions or findings, and the subjects are usually pathetically trite or just busy-bodying. Like this one - it is just stirring nasty opinion from people who previously didn't even have one. I might motivate myself to vote on this one, I have a Rottweiler, (I think in her next registration round she might turn into a Labrador Cross).

Those in the government who have an interest in the process, the responsible departments, will see this thread. If they don't actively search for it they will have it pointed out by a colleague, secretary, whatever. They will without doubt have seen the less intelligent, more aggressive posts. And they are the posts that will be given attention, and not the kind most of us would want. Jeeze talk about some dog people being all of our worst enemy. The reference to ear cropping in GT's attachment surprised me, and the number of cropped ears in the images: how many pit-bull owner's mutilate ears: surely that is just another way of giving "them" bullets to fire at us. I've always thought anyone who did that to a dog didn't deserve to own one - but when it can be used to fuel the BSL move, it's even less acceptable. But not right if the govt are using overseas images to press their point either. I'm concerned for my gentle black square-head dog, and hope that moving house next week, still within Victoria, to rural surroundings will reduce any risk to her: not everyone can vote with their feet unfortunately.

Yes it does, so what turkey sold you a 55 - not fair when you were in the "what else do I need" stage. Fair enough if you'd walked in and asked for the wrong size, but that doesn't seem to be the case. I'd be annoyed if a new car dealership sold me the wrong size fan-belt.

No dumb questions, just dumb manufacturers who set out to confuse. Yes the filter goes on the outside. The filter size required is often found on the bottom of the lens where it attaches to the camera - turn your camera upside down and see if it is written there. It will just be one number, could be 50, 52, 55, 60 - and bears no relation to the 50-200mm or whatever the focal length of the lens is. No wonder people get confused. So - if it does say 55, then maybe they gave you the correct size filter. But maybe the incorrect thread fitting, though this would be unusual - in general most filters will screw into the front of most lenses. Check that number, if it does not say 55, take the filter back and make them change it for one that fits. Meantime put more details here about the lens and someone might have the same lens and know the answer.

Yarra Ranges - ring up and talk to someone, be friendly, be explaining. Tell them re obedience training, ID, responsible attitude etc. They are human beings, they listen. You need to apply for a permit for anything above two dogs. Applying does not guarantee permission. They will send out a Ranger or the like to look at your fences, kennels, indoor sleeping or whatever. And they will ask neighbours if they have any objections. It's neighbours who pretend friendly then backstab that are the real problem. If you have more than two dogs, you must register the extra one before applying for the Permit. The Permit Application is about $90. If it is refused it is not refundable. Plus you will not get a refund for paying for the Registration. But must have Rego before applying for permit. I squeaked through (three dogs) and found them positive. But I do think if you approached with a chip on your shoulder so to speak it could be a different result. Cooperation better than confrontation and all that. Smile. Treat it like a job interview, polite well presented and all that really does work in your favour. Dunno if that helps, worked for me. Now I have to got through it all again in Shelbourne next week, wish me luck all, haven't looked at the regulations yet, will move in then call Loddon Council.

Thas scary. I always stopped by Jells or Nortons to photograph birds last year. Never saw a snake, not even around the lake. Have never seen one on our place either, though we are bordered by Glen Harrow Gardens, Sherbrooke Forest and the Puffing Billy line-side forest reserve. There must be plenty around but have not seen one here in ten years. Might need to get used to them from next week, and I do worry about the ponies in the paddocks as well as the dogs. Do rabbits actually "attract" snakes. We had our final inspection of the property the other evening, and there must have been twenty rabbits frisking around between the dam and the house.

When I was intending to sell mine a year ago, I asked the salesperson on the Fidos Hydrobath Stand at a pet expo what I should ask. They said in good nick and including delivery in Melbourne area I should ask around $1800 . (That's for the twin tank with heater, and a bright red with black flecks paint job, not boring blue). Anyway I decided to keep it after all, and it is now packed for the move to Shelbourne/Bendigo next week. Probably a good decision in retrospect as we will be on tank water there, so I hope the hydrobaths are good for water use economy.

This is special isn't it! I was about to start a thread, but here it is already. Maybe on a Bulldog breed topic too, didn't look. And seriously I thought the only very honest genuine fun I'd seen dogs having was Flyball, or maybe lure coursing (sometimes). This challenges, and you can see them thinking, working out the steps.

So sorry this has come along Jules, just devastating to hear. It has been a shocker week, seems one lot of bad news after another, animals and people. When do you hear from the vet again, tonight or tomorrow? Just so feel for you, it's not fair.

Mostly I use www.AbeBooks.com and find them helpful and reliable. They are Canada/USA not Australian, but with the dollar how it is now ....

"Not all", - well no, I'd say not. The whole purpose of the OP's link was re the situation and attitudes in the USA, not Australia. Which I believe is far worse than here in many regards.

The OP didn't actually say anything - just copied a piece from a USA website and added the link if anyone wanted to look at it. There was no comment. Poodle, I take your point - I was a bit annoyed at being shouted at whilst absorbing a lesson in what a word should mean via another country (albeit English-speaking). My three dogs are from the RSPCA, but I don't consider them any more "rescued" than some poor little bugger out of a glass case at EastWestSouthLands. (So I did not take the "You" personally). I do understand the implications: maybe we need another word - I don't like hijacking the language for special circumstances, but then gay still means bright and happy to me. Lavendergirl said "Tourists from other (developed) countries are often appalled when they visit our shopping centres to see pups for sale in glass cages" - what countries are these?? (thinks of immigrating).

I started through the first post, but stopped half-way when I realised it wasn't OP's work but a quote, and American at that. Muttered the P-word, but scrolled down and clicked the link. Just mentioning it as the photography page is interesting, has some good work worth a look for photog people here. I'm not excited by its definition of rescue. If an animal is fortunate enough to move on to a better ownership, it has been rescued from a lesser situation, and happily doesn't care whether it was bought, sold, seized or stolen.

Because there is no other kind. But thank you for your interest.

Oscar's Law are supporting a public protest meeting in Daylesford on Sunday. This is a march against allowing the puppy factory in Ballan. The organisers would like as many as possible to be there, to show that the community are strongly against it. Council refused the licence for a 100-cage puppy farm. It has now been overturned on appeal by VCAT and a 50-cage puppy factory is approved. Meeting is in Daylesford at 10.30, Sunday 14th. The only way to prevent this horrific puppy farm starting up is a strong public reaction to the VCAT decision.

"If it was me" I'd go the 5100, similar specs but better fps if useful to you, and higher ISO if you are shooting in a dark tunnel. And higher megapixels as well. But they are not huge differences, if every dollar counts the 3100 is a smart camera and will give equally fine results. Both models lack the in-camera focussing motor, so rely on using a lens (AFS lenses) in which the lens provides the auto-focus motor. This is not a real problem as there are scads of AFS lenses, I had the first of these the D40 and others on the forum have the D60 etc. It's just not a problem. But if you already had non-AFS lenses that you wanted to keep using, you would have to manual focus with them. If that was the case I'd look at a second-hand D90. Good camera, and that keeps your price about the same. Means there might not be a warranty, though none of my Nikons have ever needed to have warranty work done. I'm a bit prejudiced towards Nikon but not stupid-anti other brands. When you go to a camera store next, ask them to give you a good look at the Sony A55 and explain the features. They have some really handy features, price is okay, and they use nearly all of the old Minolta/Sony-Minolta lenses so you can build up a good range - a lovely quality lens collection cheaper than with Nikon/Canon.

Just now, 11.45 am, on ABC radio, 774. Well the owner and the trainer being interviewed, Red Dog is in the studio as well. Just in case anyone interested in the training aspects.

The ones in The Reject Shop are worth a look - they have two or three sizes, and seemed reasonable price.

Shutterbox in Toorak would be the best person. He would give you a quote to check and clean. I think he has just moved from Toorak Road but is just around the corner. Can't put my hand on the card, google finds him though. Give him a ring first is best before going in, he is not expensive compared to Canon/Nikon but better in my opinion. The big cost won't be giving it a "grease and oil change" but the cost of films and processing unless you have someone in the Camera Club who does it. Cost the world these days just to get black and white processing done. Very satisfying though. Umm no I don't know the models these days - I had a good Canon film jobbie that was stolen in Viet Nam. Still have a Nikon, a Pentax and a Canter but haven't used them for years. I wouldn't try the lens at all on your DSLR, too much risk of doing some damage to the electronics.

Bad luck because it is a nice shot. First prob was your very high ISO. Maybe bring it back to 200 or 400. Then set on aperture priority, set your aperture to f8 (5.6 was you second prob, letting too much light in). The aperture priority has a Canon buzz-word I'm not sure of. Anyway that is going to let the camera choose the shutter speed to suit the aperture. See how that goes. Then try on shutter priority (another Canon buzz-word needed) with a shutter speed of at least 250th so you can hand hold without giving the blur that 125th has given you (125th is just a bit slow for hand holding). Shutter priority will hold the speed at 250th and allow the camera to choose the aperture. If you can borrow the camera again it's worth playing around. If you can only borrow it as a one-off again, take some shots using automatic. Then some on automatice 'sports mode' to get a higher shutter speed. Make sure the battery is freshly charged so it is not letting you down, and have a new or newly formatted card so you can take lots. Trying to salvage severe over-exposure isn't generally successful - if the image is burned and gone there is nothing to salvage. But the main thing in this shot is the ISO, just too high for those manual settings of 5.6/125th. A Canon user might have something more Canon-specific to offer. And go back to Kirislin's thread - http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/223830-very-clever-especially-for-new-dslr-owners/ - and check out her simulator link. It is a clever way of showing correlation between ISO, shutter and aperture (which are the basic three corners of correct exposure).

That's nice work matilda1. I am so over the rain and mud here, but might talk myself into walking up to the forest this morning and try to appreciate everything going drip drip.

The distance is a big ask of a little dog - okay while it is young and fit, til its joints get over-worn and like all of them they mask the pain. Little ones heart/lungs are set up for quick bursts of energy, not long and consistent, that's for longer legs. However Chihuahuas don't fall behind on boldness, look at this one sending two burglars on their way and following up onto the street. Interesting if it had been a big fellow like a Rotti, it would probably have been shot: maybe the target was too challenging. http://news.ninemsn.com.au/viralvacuum/glance/178183/chihuahua-chases-away-robbers.glance - dog should get a medal.

Totally agree. Well before puppy-farm culture exploded, '60s-70s-80s, Australian reg. purebred breeders were sending mega numbers of dogs/pups, it didn't just start with the cross-bred farmers. I did long-term postings in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Fiji, shorter terms India, Singapore, Hong Kong, travelled others, saw stuff that still haunts me. And don't say some go to loving homes: oh sure - until just like here circumstances change, people become unemployed, ill, whatever. Dog then takes its chance, neighbours/relatives don't care, no rescue organisations big enough to start to cope. If someone wants a dog, plenty already there to rescue, no need to import a status symbol. Same as Australians going there to live/work. Take dog, easy. Bring home years later not so easy. Leave with friend, outcome predicable.

No idea Helen, I just saw the link and a few comments on a photographers' forum and passed it on out of interest. I guess it has some good uses and some limitations like most stuff. On the camera store conversation: yes the sales staff pass on the same pitch as the camera manufacturers so we can't blame the staff entirely: the buck should stop at the source where manufacturers claim their product produces brilliant results. "Buy our N/C/S/P body and lens and your work will look just like this Nat Geo photographers because he/she uses one". I can't see this ingrained belief in maker-labels that the public hold changing much. kja - "people will adapt or die" - well yes, I guess that's what some are afraid of, if their steps to adapt don't work out.

They are being cagey on detail - for instance most of the FAQ's listed require an email for the answer (database building, transparent). Obviously not a scam, but something dodgey about the lead-up (much like Nikon and Sony guarding their new technology release info I suppose). I'm in two minds about this "we'll all lose our jobs" thing though. I did feel that way when DSLRs became a dime a dozen and suddenly everyone and their uncle has one, and yes a lot of semi-pro photographers have walked away in the very recent few years. Full time professionals aren't that affected, might have changed their system or marketing or whatever a bit, but the top people in all fields are still very much there. And it's wrong I think to resent "everybody" having the means to take good shots at a dog-horse event, wedding, whatever. It's very similar to when computers, home PCs, came available. Many hundreds of home-based typing services, secretarial services, who typed people's job applications, lists and letters were suddenly out of work because suddenly everyone had a word processer etc available. (Not that anyone bled for the typists who all became redundant practically overnight). But you can't hold back technology being available to everyone just to save the chosen careers (full or part time) of a few. Interesting item though: it's a real "watch this space" isn't it.