Watching in full-screen mode is highly recommended
Just for fun. "Someone told me long ago, there's a calm before the storm..."
Fashion is a form of ugly so hideous it must be changed every six months
In the past, the US Forest agency fined timber companies that did not cut closely enough to the ground. The companies claimed that they had to leave higher stumps on the trees growing on steep slopes but the USF agents pointed at the specifications in the contracts and accused the companies of "wasting" wood.
The timber companies groused about all of the trees that were drowned in reservoirs when they filled. Anglers were divided on the issue. Some cover is good. Too much cover means you lose a lot of lures.
Now the pendulum is swinging back the other way. This research out of Europe proposes that the "crappy trees" that are not economical to mill into lumber be topped out at 6'-to-13' and the tall-stumps be left in place to rot and provide nesting habitat. The plan for very-high latitude sites is to leave between 2 and 4 of these stubs per-acre.
Hat-tip to Tireless.
Random pictures
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| Another wheelbarrow back "on-line". |
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| Asparagus planted April 22 starting to pop up. |
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| They look so peaceful when you can sneak up on them while they are sleeping. This one was inside the duck/garden enclosure. The "tell" were the fresh crumbles of soil at the mouth of the den. |
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| Technologies that were not available to consumers 20 years ago. I am still shocked when a "kid" scans a QR code, pushes a button and a service is paid for. Hat-tip to Tireless |
Slow response times
I am embarrassed to report that I appear to be ghosting people due to my slow response time. Please give me the benefit of the doubt when I am slow to respond. Maybe things will slow down by June 10ish. Maybe.
One of my friends (who reads this blog) offered me some incredible batteries. They are industrial-quality lead-acid batteries that are used for critical infrastructure support and they are regularly changed out while they are well above 80% life-remaining.
I regretfully declined the offer because the assorted demands on my time (several of which I don't share on the blog) mean that I don't have time to integrate systems and dial them in. I need pre-engineered systems that are plug-and-play.
The opportunity cost of tinker-toying together a system with various parts means that I will not be controlling weeds in my orchard(s) and garden(s).
Murdersicles
I have a brother who loves motorcycles. Well, OK, I have two brothers who love motorcycles.
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But one of them is trying to get me excited about a Chinesium Enduro (street-legal) Commuter bike. I have to admit that the ability to commute to The Property and back (70 mile round trip) on a gallon of gas is enticing.
Given the specific power of the engine and a frame designed for dirt-biking, the bike should be able to run for 50 years as long as the cam-shaft was properly hardened and the owner changes the oil.
The ride that he picked out for me is a Honda clone with a 230cc, 4-stroke engine that makes 14hp and has a top speed of 65 mph. MSRP of about $1700 but cheaper if you shop around.
He candidly stated that his wife is not very keen on him buying another motorcycle, otherwise he would buy one...but she is fine if I buy one. My problem is that Mrs ERJ might not be too keen on me buying any motorcycle given my age and the slower reaction times and healing that goes with that.
As my dad once told me "There is no such thing as 'soft gravel'. There is loose gravel and there is packed gravel, but it is never soft gravel."
Motorcycles, especially at street speeds, are inherently dangerous. Even more so for older people. Having spent half a century seeing ER patients I can't recommend it. I gave up riding mine when I was in my 50's. Just not worth the risk.
ReplyDeleteI sold my remaining three cycles 9 years ago after my second close call which were caused by car drivers on their phones. It ain't worth the risk. Please don't do it Joe. ---ken
ReplyDeleteI find the idea of motorcycles endlessly fascinating. That said, knowing myself, I literally would be an accident waiting to happen. I have precisely zero reaction skills, let alone trusting other drivers.
ReplyDeleteAgree with Ken, it's just not safe anymore. And I wouldn't by Chinese on a bet! Re the video, the cutest was the little girl with the umbrella, 'she' was enjoying herself!
ReplyDeleteIt is tough to ride a bike safely. And it is not necessarily bike control skills. "a superior pilot uses superior judgement to avoid predicaments that take superior skills". (or something like that, been a long time since I was a pilot).
ReplyDeleteAnyway, the level of awareness needed is way higher than in a car- orders of magnitude higher.
And the thing is, there are some things than NO amount of skill or judgement can get you out of.
I have ridden and loved bikes since I was 15 years old, rebuild my first from a basket in my parents basement. That is 55 years now.
Still, I would never advise someone to start riding.
People have safer cars, and they drive like crap.
Milton Friedman once said if you want safer drivers, put a dagger point toward the driver in the center of every steering wheel.
We have done the opposite.
I'm 65. I have a buddy who sends me "Airplane for Sale" ads with the comment, "We should buy this!" My consistent reply: "We're too old to learn new complex motor skills."
ReplyDeleteNope. I echo all the above. Rode every day, and all weekend on longer trips. Country roads and city streets, even in and around Boston.
ReplyDeleteAging slows your reaction time I think, not as noticeable in a car or walking around. Other drivers are not paying attention.
Even in my younger days, I would sometimes go home and quit when I noticed I was not sharp, or missed the turn line for a corner. It was sometimes subtle, but I knew when I was a little off and shouldn’t be riding. I would never consider it now.
Southern NH
Joe grab those batteries, I had the same opportunity and got 8 200ah batteries from a cell tower. Huge money to buy and 120/240 inverters are getting cheaper by the day
ReplyDeleteOh lordy, lordy, do I miss my bike. Only been since the late 80s. But I don't have to miss my teeth, arms, legs, and life. (but I'd sure like a little one for off-road use). The purpose of a helmet is to keep the teeth together to help identify the body.
ReplyDeleteHa! Almost exactly what I told my family about life jackets on our boat. It makes it easier to find the body.
DeleteERJ, With any mode of transport there are risks. The key is to limit those risks to an acceptable level. If your route is mostly rural with little traffic the risk factor is low. High speed highways and city stop and go are a different situation escalating the risk. I am a mite older than you and use a motorcycle every day weather permitting. My rural area allows me to plan a route on town roads where the speed limits are 45 MPH and traffic is sparse. Proper helmet and riding apparel are all part of lowering the risk factor and must be considered. The 80+ MPG from my old Royal Enfield is hard for this old man to turn down. Good luck with your decision.
ReplyDeleteI've been riding 60 years now. That being said, yes, bikes are inherently more dangerous than cars and trucks. It started with a small used Honda, peaked with a gold wing, and has now declined to a Honda PCX 150 scooter that rides racked on the back of our RV for lunch and store trips. I'm a few months from 70, and I realize my days on two wheels are numbered. Stupid drivers and slower reaction times are not a recipe for seeing 75.
ReplyDeletePossession of batteries now allows for integration later. One can't integrate them later when time is available if the batteries aren't in-hand.
ReplyDeletefree batteries are less expensive than no batteries, and lithium offer far more capability if you are going to expend any funds at all on backup power. 50 percent discharge on a lead acid is the limit of usefulness, with lithium, it's over 90 percent, aside from the much lower weight and smaller size.
ReplyDeleteMotorcycles are like horses. It not if, it's when you get wrecked and how bad.
ReplyDeleteSaying that I do like to ride both.
I'm 64 and a motorcycle safety instructor. Bikes are not inherently dangerous, but are very unforgiving of mistakes. Physical skill is not as important as mental alertness. Avoid heavy traffic and high speeds, and keep your head on a swivel!
ReplyDelete