Monday, April 20, 2015
First-person P-51 video...
What can you possibly do...
What can you possibly do ... to deter people like this? The only plausible solutions are those that kill them. The lefties like to call that war-mongering, and the libertarians like to call it interventionism. Neither has any believable alternative, just variations on themes for delaying the inevitable confrontation. If history has taught us anything at all (a thoroughly debatable proposition, that), it has taught us that all such delays increase the cost in both blood and treasure – and immeasurably increase the risks...
Photo of the day...
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Yard progress...
Yard progress... We spent the entire day working in the yard today. It was such a lovely spring day that I just couldn't stand the idea of working in the barn. So I got a good start on a project I couldn't tackle last summer: cleaning up years of deadfall from the willows, cottonwoods, and box elders growing along the canal. Some of this is hand saw and lopper sort of work, but much of it was chainsaw – and I don't like using a chainsaw without someone there to call for help if needed. I've never actually needed someone to call for help, but it's very comforting to know that someone could.
The work we did today involved a large cottonwood branch (about 18" diameter) that had cracked and fallen across the canal, extending about 40' into the edge of our lawn. It looks like this happened at least 10 years ago, as there were substantial new branches off the big branch that clearly grew out after the big branch fell. However, the big branch was slowly but surely making its way toward the ground, as the now-dead branches propping it up died and rotted. Another couple of years and I'd have this big log right on the lawn.
So I chopped it up into about 30" long logs, using the chainsaw I bought last year: a Stihl MS 461 R. I'd only used it once before, almost a year ago, when Debbie was up here for a visit (she was my safety person). Today I broke it out, topped off all the fluid levels, and tried to start it. On the fourth pull, it fired up – very nice. Then I took it out to the broken limb, climbed into all my safety gear (helmet, face shield, ear protectors, Kevlar gloves and chaps) and went to work. In very short order I had that entire 40' long branch cut to bits, along with all the big branches from it. Compared with chainsaws I've used in the past, this one is both light and powerful, and the controls are simple and obvious. It's so light that working with my arms straight out or even elevated is not a problem. The anti-kickback brake is completely unobtrusive, but still works great. The rocker claws make cutting big logs very easy. It's a sweet machine, even better than the Husqvarna chainsaw I had in Jamul.
Unfortunately for me, once I that monster branch all cut up, I had to load it on the tractor and haul it to my log pile. That was a bunch of work, and now I'm feeling it in all my muscles :)
The work we did today involved a large cottonwood branch (about 18" diameter) that had cracked and fallen across the canal, extending about 40' into the edge of our lawn. It looks like this happened at least 10 years ago, as there were substantial new branches off the big branch that clearly grew out after the big branch fell. However, the big branch was slowly but surely making its way toward the ground, as the now-dead branches propping it up died and rotted. Another couple of years and I'd have this big log right on the lawn.
Unfortunately for me, once I that monster branch all cut up, I had to load it on the tractor and haul it to my log pile. That was a bunch of work, and now I'm feeling it in all my muscles :)
The world seems to have...
Watching this video gave me an idea. What if ... political candidates were required to fly a challenging course (like the one shown in this video) in a wingsuit? Would that not simultaneously (a) reduce the number of empty suit candidates, and (b) reduce the number of candidates that survive until election? Not a bad thing, right?
Over 58,000 replica dog tags...
Seeing this brings to mind once again the amazing reduction in the lethality (for Americans) of war over the past couple hundred years. The Vietnam war was ongoing in my youth, and I served (not in combat, thank goodness) in the Navy at the end of it. I knew several people who died in Vietnam; mainly fellow high school students. In WWII, the big war of my parents' generation, over 400,000 Americans died. That's almost eight times the number of dead as in Vietnam, and remember that America's population grew by leaps and bounds between WWII and Vietnam, so proportionally it's an even bigger jump. Now in the War on Terror (including the Iraq War and the Afghanistan War), total American deaths are around 6,700 – a fraction of those in the Vietnam War, and again, America's population has grown significantly between the Vietnam War and the War on Terror. I didn't know anyone personally who died in the War on Terror, though I do know a few people who lost family members.
The cost in American blood of a war is falling fast. I have mixed reactions to that. On the one hand, I can't help but celebrate the fact that fewer Americans are killed in wars. On the other hand, the lower cost makes it easier (politically) to start a war...
FBI snake oil...
FBI snake oil... The FBI has admitted that over 95% of the testimony it has given on hair analysis is flawed and is without a scientific basis. There have been a number of such admissions over the years, mainly involving techniques that include a high degree of subjectivity: lie detectors, bite analysis, phrenology, psychological profiling, blood spatter analysis, and much more.
I think the proclivity for this sort of thing is baked into our criminal justice system. The law enforcement folks have a very large incentive to get a conviction. They (quite naturally) often develop a belief about the guilt of a suspect. But to get a conviction, they have to provide convincing evidence – and something like hair analysis, with its veneer of scientific underpinnings, sounds good to a jury...
I think the proclivity for this sort of thing is baked into our criminal justice system. The law enforcement folks have a very large incentive to get a conviction. They (quite naturally) often develop a belief about the guilt of a suspect. But to get a conviction, they have to provide convincing evidence – and something like hair analysis, with its veneer of scientific underpinnings, sounds good to a jury...
Pendulum clock...
Earthflow...
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Fast weather changes...
Fast weather changes... On Wednesday – just three days ago – we had 7 inches of snow on the ground. This afternoon it's 65°F here, and I just mowed the lawn (first time this year). It's a stunningly gorgeous day outside...
“Will can fly!” update...
...to see all the cool articles and news segments for "Wil Can Fly"! We are so excited that his message is reaching so many people. We have had people from China, India, and Israel comment on how this message has touched their hearts. So amazing that this little 18-month old has touched so many people!As of this morning, their Kickstarter project has reached $3,481 of their $12,500 goal – and they're halfway through the signup period...
Love you all, Nikki
http://www.liftbump.com/2015/04/53351-little-boy-takes- flight-show-world- possibilities-kids-syndrome- endless/
http://www.boredpanda.com/down-syndrome-wil-can-fly- photography-adam-lawrence/
http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/18-month-syndrome- flies-life-photographs/story? id=30388814
http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/father-uses- photos-of-flying-son-to-raise- awarenes/24216/ zVde5zHRaEqpFzi-adtv6A
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=1286&sid=34183618
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/braden-s-thompson/dad-takes- adorable-photos-of-son-flying- to-raise-awareness-for-down- syndrome_b_6899088.html
http://www.slrlounge.com/wil-can-fly-kickstarter-down- syndrome/
http://www.demilked.com/downs-syndrome-wil-can-fly-alam- lawrence/
Oh and the Today show and CNN contacted Alan today about doing something.....freaking awesome!
Friday, April 17, 2015
Barn progress: the hatch and hoist...
Barn progress: the hatch and hoist... The barn's second floor is almost 14 feet above the first floor, accessed via a long, narrow flight of stairs. While it's possible to carry many heavy things up those stairs, it's certainly no fun. If you have something large, long, or awkwardly shaped, it may not even be possible. So when we were designing the barn, I had the builders put a 4' x 10' “hatch” in the ceiling of the first floor (which is also the floor of the second floor).
My builder made a couple of doors designed to open like a clam shell. They sit in a frame, and weigh about 30 pounds apiece (they're made of steel-faced foam). I installed big strap hinges on them, and an eye-bolt connected to a rope, pulley, and cleat system that lets me easily open and secure the hatch doors. Then I installed a half-ton electric hoist above the center of the hatch, with a 4x6 spreader to share the hoist's load across six trusses. The last step, just completed, was to wire the hoist into my second floor electrical subpanel. I made a test run with a load of about 500 pounds – worked great!
Left-to-right below: the hatches opened wide, a close up of the hoist, and the hatches closed.
My builder made a couple of doors designed to open like a clam shell. They sit in a frame, and weigh about 30 pounds apiece (they're made of steel-faced foam). I installed big strap hinges on them, and an eye-bolt connected to a rope, pulley, and cleat system that lets me easily open and secure the hatch doors. Then I installed a half-ton electric hoist above the center of the hatch, with a 4x6 spreader to share the hoist's load across six trusses. The last step, just completed, was to wire the hoist into my second floor electrical subpanel. I made a test run with a load of about 500 pounds – worked great!
Left-to-right below: the hatches opened wide, a close up of the hoist, and the hatches closed.
Barn progress...
Snowy flowers...
Snowy flowers... From our yard a couple of days ago, when we had snow. It's all melted now...
If Hillary is your champion...
If Hillary is your champion ... you don't need an adversary. Dave Carter must read...
Pluto and Charon...
A lazy day yesterday...
Two fun things: first, in the morning I picked up our Honda Rincon ATV (just like the one at right). This is a model intended for use by farmers and ranchers, part of Honda's utility series (as opposed to the sport series that are designed for trails). There are basically two ways to use one of these (other than just personal transportation): you either tow things (like a trailer or sprayer), or you mount things on the front (like a snow blade). I'm planning to tow a trailer (mainly for brush as I prune) and a sprayer (for the lawn). Given that such uses are the design use for the vehicle, I was really surprised that a trailer hitch was an optional accessory. Really, Honda? Sheesh. I have one on order, along with a 12V outlet so I can plug my sprayer pump in. It's a very nice little vehicle, though. Starts instantly, thanks to an electric starter and a fuel-injected engine. I was a bit surprised how fast these things go. I got a farmer's license, so I'm allowed on the county roads with it – that actually might come in handy on a really snowy day; I can get to the post office and the market even before the roads are plowed, or if there's ice.
The other fun thing was dinner – we met up with a couple of friends (Bruce & June N.) and went to Maddox Ranch House just south of Brigham City. Several locals have told us that if we had a hankering for beef, that was the place to go. They have a few other things as well, such as bison, some very conventional seafood, and chicken – but beef is definitely the main theme on the menu. I had an excellent T-bone steak, cooked rare just as I like it (and very hard to get in California!). Debbie had a rib eye, and she said is was perfectly cooked. We both had a nice cream of chicken soup, and birch beer (real!) to drink. They had an entire menu of luscious looking fruit pies, but we were so full that wasn't even a possibility. An evening of good food and good company...
I also got Debbie's exercise bar finished and mounted. This is just a 6' long piece of hemlock stair railing (2" round) mounted level on the wall. I bought raw milled hemlock, sanded it, and finished it with just clear coat. It's mounted to the wall with cast aluminum rail hangers, finished to look like wrought iron. They trick your brain into thinking they're heavy (because they really do look like wrought iron!), but they're actually quite light...
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Long-standing mystery solved at last!
Fun knuckle-cracking facts... It's not just your finger joints that can be cracked – some people can crack their toes, too. And did you know that there are (at least) three different parts of your finger joints that can be cracked? Some people can crack all three on the same fingers...
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