New England Off Topic and Banter as Most Brilliantly Proposed by Cape Cod MINI

[GBMINI]

I go to the Melrose Hunts - no need to plow into Boston city, big benefit!

[GadgetGav]

Melrose is their main place too, so probably much more selection than the Cambridge place which is fairly small.
Brian, I'm not sure what your budget is, but you said you were looking at Manfrotto... Calumet had this in their latest flyer, but is shows as 'On Order' on the web site. The store may be able to put it together from the parts.
Item Detail - CALUMET

[Cape Cod MINI]

Quote: Originally Posted by jwardell (original)

You just listed six.

No no no. Those aren't modifications...modifications are what I did to the first MINI.
Mods to me are suspension changes, engine management tweaks, under/over drive
pulleys, blower and turbo upgrades, cams, etc. These items are just simple changes that will have very little impact on the vehicle's performance. Of course if you've never done these things then I guess some stripes or flashy tire valve covers will be "mods".

We had mosquitoes in the yard and house today! WTF!, it's January, not July!
EEE is coming early this year.

Looks like GOMINI is still available for a MA reg plate. Not doing it though. Have another one applied for

[GBMINI]

What is EEE ?

[Cape Cod MINI]

Quote: Originally Posted by GBMINI (original)

What is EEE ?

From CDC website (now don't ask me what CDC is!)

"Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is a mosquito-borne viral disease. EEE virus (EEEV) occurs in the eastern half of the United States where it causes disease in humans, horses, and some bird species. Because of the high mortality rate, EEE is regarded as one of the most serious mosquito-borne diseases in the United States."

EEE wasn't as bad as the Lyme's but on par with the Bird Flu although it did beat the Swine Flu. All of which I claim to have had and survived.

[blalor]

Quote: Originally Posted by GadgetGav (original)

Melrose is their main place too, so probably much more selection than the Cambridge place which is fairly small.
Brian, I'm not sure what your budget is, but you said you were looking at Manfrotto... Calumet had this in their latest flyer, but is shows as 'On Order' on the web site. The store may be able to put it together from the parts.
Item Detail - CALUMET

Thanks, Gav. I'd like to stay under $200 (not sure if that's possible with Manfrotto), but I seem to keep coming back to the 3021 and variants. I had a Slik U8000 (er, I think) tripod which I somehow forgot/lost in Germany. Not sure if it's going to find its way back to me. It was a decent, inexpensive tripod. I've got a couple of different criteria, which are probably mutually exclusive. One, I want a full-height tripod that I can fit into a backpack, which probably means a collapsed size around 18 inches. Two, I want something a little more rugged. Three, I want a non-geared center column, and it'd be nice to have a full six feet of height *without* the center column. Given that 1 and 2 are sort of incompatible, I just want to see them and decide from there. I also don't know what I want in a head, exactly, aside from fairly small size.

I just ordered a suction-cup mount that comes with a Manfrotto 3025 head, which may suit my purposes; I don't think it'd be a problem to swap the head to the tripod, as I don't expect to use the suction cup *that* often.

[GadgetGav]

That Manfrotto grip operated head looks good because the grip is off to the side. I've looked at that a few times, but haven't stumped up the cash for it (yet)...
Here's another option from Adorama that I just got in an email... probably too big and heavy for a backpack, but it looks quite sturdy for the price.
MAGNUMXT Davis & Sanford Magnum XT Tripod with FGX-10 3-way Head, Supports 9 lbs, Maximum height 66"..

[bethandlouis]

I bought Louis the 3021. He had a monopod before (still has it). He really likes it and the head on it is really neat and easy to operate. Another neat function is that the legs have buttons on them that allow them to be swung out at more of an angle. Easy to get down low to get pics (http://www.repealofgravity.com/blog/...appy.html)pics of flowers obtained by this method. Yeah, it's expensive but you only by one once and then it's done (unless you leave it in Germany ). I stressed when I bought my kayak paddle. Wanted the Carbon fiber one and that was nearly $300, then I thought never gonna have to do it again, so I went for it. Love the paddle BTW

[blalor]

I was nearly seduced by the 458B, until I saw the price (nearly $400). I saw it at Cameraland and it's very sturdy and has legs that extend without any kind of knob or clamp and retract by pressing a button. Too steep for me, especially without a head!

[jwardell]

Sadly another busy weekend, I've overdue for a break after the holidays, with unexpected college friends visiting. I only got 1 or 6 things planned done on the car, but I guess missing a wash isn't so bad with today's rain.

What a beautiful day saturday, it was nice to open the windows in the house. I like to complain about the lack of snow, but I would love weather that snows but once in a while has a 70-degree day.

Quote: Originally Posted by Cape Cod MINI (original)

We had mosquitoes in the yard and house today! WTF!, it's January, not July!
EEE is coming early this year.

This could be a good thing...if a freeze comes and kills them all off.

[Sheenabea]

Quote: Originally Posted by blalor (original)

I was nearly seduced by the 458B, until I saw the price (nearly $400). I saw it at Cameraland and it's very sturdy and has legs that extend without any kind of knob or clamp and retract by pressing a button. Too steep for me, especially without a head!

That sounds like a nice tripod! I let someone borrow my tripod and when they brought it back, I found they got sand in it!! Now when you move the legs, you can feel the resistance of the sand grains.

[blalor]

You should string 'em up!

Manfrotto does have a "Digi" line that pack down nice and small, but I'm concerned about it being too flexible at full extension. They also tout that line as being for "point & shoot and lightweight digital compacts"; my 350D would probably be fine with the kit lens, but perhaps not when I get something heavier. I'm going to try to make it to Hunts and/or Calumet today.

[m2smith]

Quote: Originally Posted by Cape Cod MINI (original)

Of course if you've never done these things then I guess some stripes or flashy tire valve covers will be "mods".

Steve- Are you recommending the stripes? I've tried the tire valve thing and it has REALLY improved the handling - Do you think the graphics might make the car more aerodynamic? - I'm also considering covering the back of the car with lights to get some serious photon push...

[Cape Cod MINI]

Michael, I -and I'm sure the rest of the world- would like to hear how the handling compares between valve cover set #1, valve cover set #2 and valve cover set #3 nyuuk nyuuk nyuuk

[holdenontoit]

I told Mike some time ago that I would be more than happy to install some 0-80 set screws in his valve caps which provides the thieves with the necessary deterant from helping themselves to them , did he take me up on it? noooooooooooooooo. That being said , I know I get at least 4.8125 more horsepower out of my MINI logo caps and perhaps more now that they are properly secured from all the thieven lil b-a-s-t-a-r-d-s out there I didn't even have to rebalance the wheels once the set screws were installed(of course you will need to carry a .035" allen wrench with you to put air in your tires)