links for 2008-12-20

"A few weeks ago I noted that I had ordered an R-Strap (the RS-1) on the assumption that it would 'immediately prove to be indispensable.' My assumption was right.

"Before I discuss how well it performed, it’s worth pointing out that I was using it to haul a monster lens — the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM — which weighs in at ~3.5 pounds (with the tripod mount). I should also note that I was shooting in Santa Cruz, where it was 82° in the middle of November!" My friend Josh pointed me to this strap a few weeks back, and after a review … I'm tempted.

"So I oppose hate crime laws because they walk too close to the line of trying to police people's thoughts. I support the right of various religious associations to discriminate against homosexuals in employment. I support the right of the most fanatical Christianist to spread the most defamatory stuff about me and the right of the most persuasive Christianist to teach me the error of my ways. I support the right of the St Patrick's Day Parade to exclude gay people – because that's what freedom of association requires. In my ideal libertarian world, I would even support the right of employers to fire gay people at will (although I am in a tiny minority of gays and straights who would tolerate such a thing). All I ask in return is a reciprocal respect: the right to express myself freely and to be treated by the government exactly as any heterosexual in my position would be treated." What a powerful case.

Bryan is, however, the person I would talk about how long this turd I dropped this morning was.