Posted By RichC on July 27, 2008
I just finished cleaning a bunch of bird excrement off my white garage door and I even brought out the power washer to blast off some ‘Gorilla Glued‘ on droppings … then about 48 hours later: SPLAT.
How do they angle their dropping to hit our garage door and not even hit the driveway below???
It did kind of remind me of the old Nissan commercial:
Posted By RichC on July 26, 2008
After 23 years of mowing with our sturdy John Deere diesel tractor mower, we have finally succumb to the “keep up with the Jones” pressure of a new zero-turn style mower. The neighbor ladies referred to my wife as “the turtle” while mowing with the old slowpoke John Deere, even though it has continued to run far longer and more reliably than most other lawnmowers. Even with the new lawnmower, we can’t quite bring ourself to parting with the John Deere, even thought it is fun driving this new 60 inch ‘speedy’ lawnmower.
My first priority was that the new mower be a diesel, followed by a commercial quality build. So far I’m pleased that our new Kubota ZD326s and with a 26 HP Kubota diesel, it met the criteria. The final push was the assistance in selling my old Bobcat skidloader with attachments to offset the new mower. This was handled by Zimmer Tractor in Monroe, Ohio and was painless. They were first rate as a company and delivered on everything the salesman, Kevin Major, promised. I highly recommend them.
I’m including this video ad for my wife … as she pats our old John Deere and sing it this song.
🙂
Posted By RichC on July 25, 2008
Just when I thought I might not have time to post something on Friday, in comes an email from a friend with a video link too interesting to pass on (embedded below). The timely video clip ties to a new concern in the news this week over the dangers of cellphones. One such article was the Associated Press story of the warning from Dr. Ronald B. Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. Herberman says “it takes too long to get answers from science and he believes people should take action now — especially when it comes to children. Really at the heart of my concern is that we shouldn’t wait for a definitive study to come out, but err on the side of being safe rather than sorry later.”
It is important to note that there are no other major academic cancer research institutions warning about cell phone use and cancer, but if you are the more cautious type, it might be wise to keep the phone away from your head, use a wired headset or speakerphone … or more conveniently a wireless “low powered” bluetooth headset. From a non-science, non-doctor perspective, I’d consider keeping ‘busy cellphones’ away from pregnant mothers and small children.
EDIT: The above is a “viral video” marketing BlueTooth headsets. Thanks Matthew. —CNN Investigates
Posted By RichC on July 24, 2008
The IRS has made the new 2009 40+ mpg ‘clean diesel’ Volkswagen Jetta TDI eligible for a federal tax credit, just as many hybrid vehicles have been in the past. The new VW TDI qualifies based on the Advanced Lean Burn Technology Motor Vehicle income tax credit *. What this means for buyers of a new Jetta TDI (eventually VW Sportwagen TDI … and perhaps others) is that the credit can bring the MSRP price of a diesel Jetta $700 lower than a gas vehicle. But here’s a note of caution — early buyers might want to be aware that dealers are currently taking deposits for orders and are finding it easy to market up current manufacturer’s suggested retail price with ‘add-ons,’ on the other hand, VW is also looking at a price hike.
🙁
Posted By RichC on July 24, 2008
Crude closed at $124.44 a barrel on Wednesday and off more than 15% from its intraday high of $147.27 on July 11. Wholesale gasoline was also down 3.6% to $3.0344 a gallon. A government report showing a larger domestic supply of gasoline, a lower demand for fuel and stronger U.S. dollar have all contributed to lower prices at the pump. I filled with unleaded regular in Akron, Ohio for $3.68, but unfortunately return only 21.5 mpg on my Honda Pilot.
Posted By RichC on July 23, 2008
Hurricane Dolly is coming ashore with category 2 strength as winds are peaking at 85 mph this Wednesday morning. Brownville Texas and points north will sustain the most wind and rain, but the wind field (below) will stretch into Mexico as well as north further up the Texas coast.
Posted By RichC on July 22, 2008
As has been the norm lately, I’ve have spent a few quiet evening at home just sitting quietly and looking out over the backyard. Tonight I watched as the storm clouds began to pile up to our south and west. (no rain for us though)
Its also been enjoyable to watch a pair of hawks raise their family from a nest high up in a white pine tree bordering our property. The mom and dad have been teaching their young how to swoop and snatch food and just perch (and poop I might add!) on the fence. A benefit, besides admiring their gracefulness, has been cleaner pool skimmers— fewer mice and moles.
Interestingly, I’ve also found myself reading to the light of the hurricane lamp we confiscated off one of our sailboats before ‘selling it’ many years ago; it soothing light does brings back fond memories of distant anchorages. I’m trying to appreciate the time to sit quietly and watch dusk to give way to night. It is nice.
_
Posted By RichC on July 21, 2008
It looks as if 2008 first big tropical storm (possibly a hurricane) is headed for the border area of Mexico and Texas. It is currently ripe to strengthen and is moving northwest in the western Caribbean. Current strength is for 45 mph peak winds while at sea, and projected winds of 80 mph at landfall.
Posted By RichC on July 21, 2008
I’ve enjoyed my weekend with family while my EAA chapter cohorts volunteered to work at the Dayton Air Show. The event had near perfect weather, although the heat had to be almost unbearable. Thanks to those who gave their time and flew their experimental planes to the EAA hanger at the show.
On Sunday though, a Northwest Airlines jetliner bound from Florida to Michigan made an emergency landing. Flight 491 was flying from Tampa to Detroit and requested permission to land as they experienced a problem that required pilots to shut down one of its two engines. The Boeing 757 with Pratt & Whitney engines had 182 passengers and six crew according to reports and landed at 12:52 p.m. without incident. The Air Show was shut down for 25 minutes and received applause from the crowd upon landing safely. Two emergency fire vehicles met the jet airliner as they prepared for the emergency landing as practiced.
Posted By RichC on July 20, 2008
If it seems as if I’ve been loafing this summer … I have … sort of. I’ve been busy enjoying the nice 90 degree days outside and have been reluctant to post daily with any significant effort. Perhaps its the longer daylight and nice evenings or maybe its just laziness? Nevertheless, I promise to get back to a daily routine of “desultory” posts someday soon.
While cleaning around the backyard, my son brought a brilliant colored ‘large’ beetle up to the porch. After photographing and doing a little Internet digging, we found that this guy is considered beneficial in that are used to control caterpillars. In 1905, the Calosma sycophanta, or Caterpillar hunter beetle (about 50 species) were imported to control the Gypsy Moth. They can be entirely black, but also can be bright metallic in coloration. “They produce a foul-smelling spray from glands near the tip of the abdomen,” according to what I’ve read. They are generally considered beneficial insects. (Click for close up of “gold” crown and head or other photos for larger images)
Caterpillar hunter
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Carabidae
Genus and species: Calosoma scrutator Fabricius
http://entomology.uark.edu/museum/cathunt.html
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2102.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calosoma
http://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id81/
