A Pet Peeve

Of course people are entitled to do any darn thing they like with their weblogs. Of course they are.

Still, I find it disorienting and annoying when posts (especially ones where I've left comments!) disappear off the face of the earth, or are edited completely beyond all recognition. Sometimes this briefly causes me to question my sanity, and I hate it when that happens!

For myself, my policy is that I edit only for grammar and spelling and coherence. If I want to emend something, I append an Update. This can be anything from minor follow-on information to a correction. But I don't make stuff vanish into the ether.

So that's my pet peeve, and it's not directed at any of YOU fine folks, rest assured.

The Inventory

Okay, folks, here's what I'm selling. I thought I'd post it here and let you wonderful people pick it over first. Seriously, if there's anything you're interested in, email me right away, because tomorrow I'll be listing it for sale in the Washington Post.

DARKROOM EQUIPMENT

(all professional enlarging equipment in excellent condition, safely stored for 12 years)

• Beseler 45MXT Motorized Head Enlarger
• Beseler 8021 Lensboard
• Schneider/Kreuznach Componon-S 4.0/80 mm enlarging lens
• Beseler 8302 35 MM Full Frame Negative Carrier
• Beseler 8302 Medium Format (2 1/2" x 2 1/2") Negative Carrier -- filed full-frame
• Beseler 8334 Medium Format (1 5/8" x 2 1/4") Negative Carrier
• Zone VI Studios Cold Light Head
• Gralab 450 Digital Timer


• Paterson Micro Focus Finder
• Ilford Multigrade 35 mm Filter Set


• 4 stainless steel 35mm film developing reels
• 2 stainless steel 120mm film developing reels
• 1 short stainless steel film developing canister
• 1 tall stainless steel film developing canister
• daylight film changing bag


• 4 16" x 20" developing trays
• 3 11" x 14" developing trays
• 3 8" x 10" developing trays
• 3 4" x 5" developing trays


• dual angle plexiglas print viewing stand
• paper safe
• 4 fiberglass print drying screens (36" x 24")
• stainless steel darkroom thermometer
• Kalt plastic unbreakable darkroom thermometer
• Bright Lab Jr. dark room safe light


• Polaroid 35mm AutoProcessor


• Assorted plastic measuring flasks, tongs, stirrer
• Archival Film sleeves for 35mm and 120mm film

CAMERA EQUIPMENT

Nikon Cameras

• Nikon FM2 Black Camera Body, near mint
• Nikon FM2 Black Camera Body, minor cosmetic wear
• Nikon MD-12 Motor Drive, near mint

Lenses (impeccable condition)

• Nikkor 50mm 1.2
  (the most gorgeous piece of glass, incredibly bright)
• Nikon HS-12 lens shade
  (protect the lens without a filter to compromise optics)
• Tokina SD 70-210mm 4-5.6
  (lovely all-purpose zoom)
• Nikon HN-7 lens shade
• Tamron 28mm 1:2.5
• Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8
• Assorted 35mm Hoya, Cokin, and Tiffen filters and step rings

Nikon Accessories (all in good condition)

• Nikon Speedlight SB 15
• Vivitar 285 Zoom Thyristor Varipower Flash head
• Sunpak Auto 433D Thyristor Flash Head
• Novelty item: Spiratone Circo Mirrotach (take pictures at 90 degree angle)
• N-2 Electronic Power Winder for Nikon
• 35 mm camera protective case
• Op/Tech black soft shoulder camera strap


• Quantum Bantam battery (condition unknown)
• Quantum Battery 1 (condition unknown)


• Assorted flash cables and hotshoes

Hasselblad Camera

• 500 C/M Body with 120 film back, near mint
• Carl Zeiss Planar 80 mm 2.8 lens
• Hasselblad 60/80 lens shade
• Hasselblad camera strap
• Polaroid camera back


• Photoflex Lightdisc

At this point, I really can't figure out what prices to attach to this stuff. I'd like to sell them as lots. Any suggestions?

My Favorite Pop Christmas Song

For some reason, this song ~ "Christmas Must Be Tonight" (4.2 MB mp3) ~ never fails to touch me. It's from The Band's 1976 album Islands. This rock-and-roll carol comes complete with lyrics that paraphrase the King James Bible.

A shepherd on a hillside, while over my flock I bide,
On a cold winter night, a band of angels sing.
In a dream I heard a voice say "Fear not, come rejoice;
It's the end of the beginning, praise the newborn king!"

Instant Christmas frame of mind.

How to Stay Married

Fred First gives us all a lesson in the fine art of marital compromise.