Thursday, April 28, 2011

Things My Mama Taught Me. Mothers' Day

We're just 'round the corner from Mothers' Day. A day we have picked to honor our moms, grandmothers, great grandmothers. Yes, I agree. It's like so many other special days, becoming all too commercialized.

Despite all those cards that say the things you are thinking (amazing how the card writers know exactly what we're thinking, or is it that we think what they are writing?), the millions of dead flowers we buy and give (personally, I prefer giving a live arrangement, something to enjoy more than a few days), it is a special day. One we should celebrate on Mothers's Day, and on every other day of the year.

Of course, there's a little humor you should take note of. No doubt, you can remember a lot of fun times. Some that, at the time, weren't quite as funny as they are when you take a look back. I'll bet you'll recognize some, most, or even all, of these,
The Things Mama, Mother, Mom, Momma, Mommy taught us.
  
1.  My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A  JOB WELL DONE .
"If you're going to kill each other, do  it outside.. I just finished cleaning."  


2. My mother taught me RELIGION . 
"You better pray that will come out of the carpet.."  


3.  My mother taught me about TIME  TRAVEL .
"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock  you into the middle of next week!"  


4. My mother taught me LOGIC .
"  Because I said so, that's why."  


5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC . 
"If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going  to the store with me."  


6. My  mother taught me FORESIGHT .
"Make sure you wear clean  underwear, in case you're in an accident."  


7. My mother taught me IRONY . 
"Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."  


8.  My mother taught me about the  science of OSMOSIS .
"Shut your mouth and eat your  supper."  


9. My mother taught  me about CONTORTIONISM .
"Will you look at that dirt on  the back of your neck!"  


10. My mother taught me about STAMINA   .
"You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."


11.  My mother taught me about  WEATHER .
"This room of yours looks as if a tornado went  through it."


12. My mother  taught me about HYPOCRISY .
"If I told you once, I've  told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"  


13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF  LIFE .
"I brought you into this world, and I can take  you out.."  


14. My mother  taught me about  BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION .
"Stop acting  like your father!"


15. My  mother taught me about ENVY .
"There are millions of  less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents  like you do."


16. My mother  taught me about ANTICIPATION .
"Just wait until we get  home."


17. My mother taught  me about RECEIVING .
"You are going to get it when you  get home!"  


18. My mother  taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE .
"If you don't stop crossing  your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way."  


19. My mother taught me ESP .
"Put  your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"  


20.  My mother taught me  HUMOR.  
"When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't  come running to me."  


21. My  mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT .
"If you don't  eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."


22. My mother taught me GENETICS . 
"You're just like your father."  


23. My mother taught me about my  ROOTS .
"Shut that door behind you.  Do you think  you were born in a barn?"  


24. My mother taught me WISDOM . 
"When you get to be my age, you'll understand."  


And my  favorite:    
25.  My mother taught me about JUSTICE  .
"One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out  just like you   !"


Happy Mothers' Day to mine, and all the other moms, grandmothers, and great grandmothers everywhere.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Got a marine radio? Your VHF radio not working so well on your boat? Might not be the radio. Could be the antenna.

I've done a lot of work with radio communications. From my days as a teenage ham, through broadcast engineering, to installation and use of VHF radios on several boats, and completing the circle of life, back to ham radio.

Were you able to follow that? If you did, you might be a bigger geek than I am.

Seriously, if you have a boat, and a VHF radio, there are some non-geekish things you need to know. First is that the finest VHF radio you can buy isn't worth more than about a nickel unless your antenna system is up to speed. I'm amazed at the number of boaters who buy and install a new radio with not one bit of what I consider common sense analysis.

Unless your radio is older than the hills, and unless there have been some outside influences that could cause a premature death, you may want to have an analysis done before shelling out big bucks for a new piece of electronic marvel that may not perform any better'n your existing radio.

Radios do two basic things. They transmit and they receive. With the number of NOAA weather radio stations, operating 24 hours a day, you can usually check out the receiver with some ease. A fellow boater can tell you how many of the weather stations you should be able to pick up, and how strong they should be, given your boat's location. If the guy in the slip next to you can hear three channels, and one is strong, you should be doing the same thing. If not, you could have either an antenna problem, or a malfunctioning radio.

I'm not going to analyze your radio issues, step by step. At least, not here. I do want to share a couple points about antennas. Here are some pictures of a couple antennas I took out of service. One looks awful. It's seen a lot of use...about 15 years worth. To have survived harsh marine elements, that's pretty darn good. When removed from service, it was actually still performing well. But, you'll note the coax cable...the wire that connects the antenna to your radio...is a little frayed. You'll also note the condition of the fiberglass shell. It's coming apart.








Notice the frayed coax. Not good.



The other antenna, the top one in this shot,  looks pretty good. Only a couple years old, it should have been working just fine. Well, it wasn't. In fact, a simple test with what radio tech types call an SWR/power meter showed it, in layman's term, was deader'n a doornail. For you techie types, the SWR was slightly less worse than 10-to-1. A total mismatch.

Time for the autopsy. With a hacksaw, I started removing the outer shell. These fiberglass shells house and protect the actual antenna element. The guts of the system. Should be intanct, from the bottom to the top. The sections are constructed to work, electrically, in the marine VHF band, and to deliver as close as possible a perfect match. Meaning that most of your rado's transmitting power actually gets out of the antenna.

Not the case, even though it looked pretty good. Looks, as we all know, can be deceiving.

The internal element had separated. Not only did it affect the transmitting signal, a trained, experienced ear could tell that the regularly-received weatber stations weren't being heard so well.

If you're having what you think are radio problems, you might want to have a technician check out your entire system. He/she can tell you, with a couple simple measurements, whether you have a radio problem, or an antanna system issue (system includes the antenna, coax cable AND the antenna connector... the thingie that hooks up your radio to the antenna).

A radio that is transmitting at one watt, going into a good antenna system, will outperform a 25 watt radio connected to a defective antenna like the one described here.

While I'm discussing antennas, don't go the cheap route if you're buyig a new one or replacing one that's terminal. In the beginning, a 6 db gain cheap antenna will generally perform as well as a 6 db gain expensive antenna. The better made, i.e. heavier-duty, antennas will continue to give good service after years of whipping back and forth when you're on the high seas. And, depending on your requirements, you might want to consider the longer antennas. Those marine VHF channels depend on antenna height as much as they do antenna gain and transmitter output power.

Amazing Grace. Boys singing tenor. A great rendition.

One song...happens to by a hymn...that I have always liked is Amazing Grace. I've heard it in church, I've heard it at funerals. I've heard it on the radio.
I believe it was Joni Mitchell, ealy 1970's, that did well with it. Even on Top 40 radio. Back when Top 40 was good radio.
But, I've NEVER heard it like these boys do it.
Give a listen.
http://www.clarrissegill.com/videoclips/amazing_grace.php


A big WOW! from me.
Let me know what you think.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Jimmy Buffett comes to Raleigh NC. Parrot Heads, Cheeseburgers. FinLand.

I've been wanting to see Jimmy Buffett in a live concert for quite a few years.

It finally happened. Not because I couldn't have gone before, but because by the time I heard about a concert close enough for me to consider it, the tickets...well, they were NLA. No Longer Available.

Thanks, this time, to Debbie and Bill Tarplee, owners/operators of Tideline Marine, the place where I work and keep my boats, this time around, the story was different.


Debbie scored a half dozen tickets. Two for she and Bill, two for their son, Brad, and his wife, Alexa, and two for my wife, Robie, and me.

I've been to a LOT of concerts over the decades. Admittedly, 90-plus percent were on assignment, and I was photographing the event, and shooting backstage pictures. I enjoyed those concernts, most of them, anyway. But, they were work. Coming home without the bacon is not an option, and that creates stress for any photographer.

Naturally, I thought of the Buffett concert in Raleigh as a fun assignment. I mentally did a checklist: camera, multiple strobes, long lenses, lotsa film...errr, that was the old days. Now, I made sure that I had a 4 gig card and a 2 gig backup card.  I wasn't pre-planning a commercial event, but that once-in-a-lifetime shot is always in the back of every photog's mind.

Then, I read the fine print...wasn't really small, it was actually very bold: 

                                              No cameras are permitted for this performance.

So, o-kay. I would get to actually enjoy a concert. For a change. And, it was BUFFETT! Cool. I get to be a civilian. All we had to worry about was food and something to sit on. No problem, mon.

We arrived early enough. We were parked by 5:30, more than two hours before showtime. And, we were only 10 minutes, on foot, from he Time Warner Pavilion. Another cool!



Tailgating. A way of life. A way to chill a bit before the Big Event.

Chow time. Picked up some chicken and fixin's before we got to the parking lot.


Lex, the birthday girl. Yep. It was her birthday. Can't think of a better way to celebrate it.

One reel-axed man. For a change.

This gent had a camera. Of course, we were still in the parking lot.

Ya know, it didn't look this high when I climbed up here.

Hope there's no broken glass down there.

FinLand. The sharks are circling.

Ok. We need a BIG smile.

Oh, yeah. We are sooo ready for some good music. And, we were not disappointed. The lead-off band started on time, and they played 15 minutes. Buffett and his band kept it up, including an encore, for a tad over two hours! That's what makes him so such a popular live performer.

It's about time to party with Buffett.
Lex and Brad

The Double-R Team.
Robie and Raeford
(Photo by Brad)

I gotta get me one of these. It would look great flying from our boat,
Pirate Attack
I'm also looking for a cannon, something that the BATF will not lose sleep over.


No Buffett pictures. But, that's not a problem. I have been to Margaritaville, reinforced my status as a Pirate, and the music is bouncing around in my head. Gotta add a couple more Buffett CD's to my stash...I prefer the ones recorded in concert.

If you like his kind of music, and you want to see a very good live show, keep your eyes open for tickets when he's coming to a location near you. You won't be disappointed.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Tornado Touches Down in Onslow County, near Jacksonville NC

Death and destruction when severe weather ripped through the Southeast Saturday and Saturday night. You've seen most of the cvoverage on television or read about it in the newspaper or on-line. Kudos, by the way, to the team at WCT in New Bern. Not overly dramatic, "just the facts", as the severe weather made its way through eastern North Carolina. Good, up to the minute info.

Skip Waters was obviously in control of the situation while at least one other "team" seemed to be battling for face or voice time. For analysis sake, I took as much of that as I could, but had to switch over when the system was getting closer to our area. For a while, I felt like Jacksonville should be called the "Tween Zone"...between the Wilmington and the Greenville-Washington-New Bern TV markets, as we only got limited advance information. I can appreciate the urgency, though, of informing the masses further north, as some pretty nasty stuff was already on the ground, creating all sorts of havoc there. As it got close enough, Skip and the guys made sure we were aware of the imminent threat, and had some pretty good foresight into what was coming our way.

Last night, just when I...and others...thought it was all clear, the word came down. Tornado or tornadoes on the ground in Onslow. Homes destroyed. People trapped. The journalist in me had to move. With camera, wife and ever-so-nosy daughter in hand, we headed for one area of destruction. Managing to grab a ride from a local resident, I was dropped off in the neighborhood, and managed to snag a number of pictures. They are below.

Our thoughts and prayers go to all in the impact zone as they begin to work on repairing and rebuilding their lives.


                                              One of many homes in Montclair destroyed.
                                                 Trees and power lines downed      
                                              EMS and firefighters used portable lights
                                                             Full moon in the background

Transformers lined the streets and yards
Debris field



Camper destroyed

Homes ruined

Trees snapped off

Twisted remains

Remnants of a shed in a tree, 25 feet off the ground

These two kids were asked to safeguard a neighbor's guitar and shotgun

 

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Talk About Talent!!!!! Last Post, aka Taps.

I've heard some great musicians over the years. Seen ém in person and on TV. Played a lot of their records (yep...those vinyl thingies). Petula Clark, The Beach Boys, Bobby Goldsboro. A wide range of music. And, next week, I get to see, finally, Jimmy Buffett. I've played a lot of his music over the years. Always liked it. I'm looking forward to his concert.

That said, I don't believe I've ever heard anything as demanding of my full attention as the sounds this little 13-year old lady generates. I loved Pet Clark, in her heyday, her powerful voice (she's just a tiny thing, all of five feet tall); The Beach Boys, a different sound, but catchy. Goldsboro's Honey was such a good song. And, watching Frank Sinatra in concert was such a thrill. Having an opportunity to be back stage with Old Blue Eyes, to shoot photos, was a thrill unto itself. No doubt, Buffett will be as good as I imagine him to be.

For those who have never heard Taps played from beginning to end, you are in for a treat. I just wish I had some BIG speakers and a vinyl recording of this.

A bit of history. Tapes was written in 1801, and was entitled Last Post. It was lengthy, as you'll hear. Traditionally played on a bugle, military-style, it was shortened to 24 notes in 1860-something.

Turn ém on, turn ém up! Last Post. Performed by Melissa Venema on a trumpet.
http://www.flixxy.com/trumpet-solo-melissa-venema.htm

O-Damn-a's Solution: Cut Spending, Raise Taxes

How fitting, this headline from the 14 April edition of the Jacksonville (NC) Daily News. The day before traditional Tax Day. The man's plan: for every three dollars in spending cuts, he'll add a buck in tax hikes. O-Damn-a is proposing 2-trillion dollars in spending cuts. That means taxpayers will have to pay an additional 665-billion (I said BILLION) bucks...1/3 of the cuts. For every man, woman and child in this country, if each of us paid our fair share of the proposed TAX INCREASE, that would come out to more than $2200 per person.

Of course, the majority of Americans never pay an equal share. Some pay absolutely nothing at all. 12-MILLION of these Americans are undocumented. In other words, they are illegal aliens. The income tax dollars the rest of us pay, the social security taxes we pay, are used to provide welfare benefits, medical care, even social security BENEFITS, for 12-MILLION illegals in this country.

The fair share is not fair, at all. The wealthy folks out there pay a larger percentage of the money they EARN than do the rest of us. Amazing how so many of us feel that the rich should be punished because they've worked hard for their money. The president's plan calls for tax increases to be paid by the richest Americans. Two percent of taxpayers would pay 100-percent of the tax increases. Fair? Hmmm.

Don't get me wrong. I believe that every family should pay it's share. A blanket amount, based on their income. No tax incentives, no loopholes, and NO BENEFITS for illegals who have decided to take advantage of our way of life.

An example of this. A building contractor hires a subcontractor to do work on a construction project. The contractor...he's the one with the license, the one who keeps the books...pays the subcontractor a flat fee for his services. The subcontractor pays his employees. In too many instances, it's in cash. Under the table. No records to keep. No taxes withheld. No social security benefits withheld. No insurance, no worker's compensation. No nothing. He pays cash. Every Friday. He does this because his employees are undocumented. That means they are in this country illegally. And, everyone looks the other way, because they work cheaper than U.S. workers. To add insult to injury, they are taking jobs that 10% of the workforce can't get.

Don't get me wrong. Not all subcontractors hire undocumented aliens. There are many, many who play by the rules.

I hear time and agin that the illegals will work cheaper, and do jobs that we won't do. The cheaper part is and isn't true. A U.S. citizen, making $10 per hour, doesn't get $10. Income taxes, state and federal, along with social security taxes (call it what you will...if it's taken from your income, and goes into the general fund, it's taxes), medicaid taxes, all come out of that ten bucks. On top of that, the employer must pay additional benefits out of his pocket. An illegal alien who earns $10, even $8, keeps the whole kit and kaboddle. And, the employer saves money. And, a lot of paperwork. I dare say that if unemployed U.S. citizens got to keep the same amount of money that illegals do, they'd jump at the chance to work.

The president's plan is to cut spending for non security discretionary funds by 770-BILLION bucks. Maybe he should order federal law enforcement agencies to start checking construction sites, working undercover, and take down sub contractors who employ illegals. The cost of the job might go up, but unemployment rates would drop, and the appeal for illegals to sneak across the border would not be nearly as appealing.

Or, maybe he should just pay companies, like the former Blackwater group, a bounty for each illegal alien they catch and  tattoo (for later identification purposes), and deliver to the border. I dare say they would be more efficient and definitely more effective than federal cops.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Spring Has Sprung

You're waiting for something deep?
Nawwwww...
Not on a day like today.
Some light rain.
Lotsa signs of ......

SPRING!

YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Robie's Azalea
Out Back
Closer
Cuke's in the making
The NC Flower...Dogwood
Peppers
Pot Plant (tater, dummy)

Mater

Oh, yeah. Waiting for the leaves and thingies to stop falling so we can open the pool.

Crooks share their secrets

The second most imprtant thing on the minds of television news viewers these days is their personal safety. Number one is violent weather which, when you think about it, is also about personal safety. We want to know about criminal activity, in general, and specifically how to make sure we're safe and secure.

A buncha crooks have revealed what they look for before making you the victim of a home burglary.So many of us have come home after a day a work, an evening out, or from a wonderful vacation only to find that we have been invaded. We always  ask ourselves, why me?

Sometimes, it's just the luck of the draw. But, not often. It's because we were specifically targeted. Up front, let's eliminate the crook-on-crook break-ins. Drug dealers and other lower-than-life bad guys are targets among their own kind.

A University of Missouri criminology professor interviewed 105 burglars for his book, Burglars on the Job. Security expert Chris McGoey put together some bullet points that I found interesting. You might, too.  Read up, pay attention, and heed the warnings. It could save you some heartaches and your prized possessions.
1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator.
2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier.

3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste... and taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.

4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it..
(thieves often pick up door hangers from all sorts of companies)
5. If it snows while you're out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway.

6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don't let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it's set. That makes it too easy.

7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom - and your jewelry. It's not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too.

8. It's raining, you're fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door - understandable. But understand this: I don't take a day off because of bad weather.

9. I always knock first. If you answer, I'll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters.
(This is unbelievingly common. If you don't answer the front door, they will find an inconspicuous/hidden door or window to gain entry. If you do answer they will scan the interior, ask a few personal questions to get intelligence. On rare occasions, if you look weak or the potential loot looks like it's worth the risk, a burglary turns into a home invasion. And, those are dangerous to the homeowner).

10. Do you really think I won't look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet. (I'm always amazed at how many people stash their prized jewelry and even cash in a sock or underwear drawer. Burglars will invariably pull those out, even looking behind and underneath the bottom. And, you thought your stash-o-cash was safe taped to the bottom of the drawer)

11. Here's a helpful hint: I almost never go into kids' rooms. (Unless there's evidence of computers or expensive games there)

12. You're right: I won't have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it's not bolted down, I'll take it with me.
(Another little trick, if you have one, is to leave a police scanner turned on, and cranked up enough to be able to hear it outside the door. Don't turn it up so loud that the thief can actually tell what's being said, just loud enough so he can hear a variety of voices. Scanning a multitude of law enforcement and emergency channels in almost any town will ensure you of some almost constant "chatter".)
                     8 MORE THINGS A BURGLAR WON'T TELL YOU
1. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook.
2. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors.
(Make friends with your neighbors. Form a Community Watch group. It can be informal. One or two good neighbors are great to have. They know when you're gone, and they know if something just looks wrong. A nosy neighbor, poking his/her head out the window when a car stops in your driveway can be a good thing. Making their presence known to the stranger can be a deterrent. About dogs. Loud, barking ones are good. If they're inside the house. Outside, even in a fence, the most vicious dog can be easily silenced. A tasty treat, laced with a sedative or even poison, can render them useless after a short time. Another reason that nosy neighbors should pay attention when a dog starts barking, even if he stops barking after a while).

3. I'll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he'll stop what he's doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn't hear it again, he'll just go back to what he was doing. It's human nature.(Something to discuss with your neighbors. If you ahve an alarm, glass-shattering detectors are great. Talk about those with your alarm company)

4. I'm not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it? (An unarmed alarm is totally useless. I guess it's the same mentality that folks have who live ialong the coast: we haven't had a hurricane in 15 years, so why should I make preparations this year?)

5. I love looking in your windows. I'm looking for signs that you're home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I'd like. I'll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets. (When it's daylight, it's almost impossible to see into a home because it's generally darker inside. However, when it's dark out, your interior is lighter. You can't see outside, but everyone else can see you. When the sun goes down, it's time to close the blinds)

6. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It's easier than you think to look up your address. (If you think all those folks who befriend you are actually your friends, think again, You might even want to look over your FRIENDS list, just to be sure you know those folks. Even if they are, indeed, your friends, you never, ever know who they know, who inadvertently, in innocent conversation,  will spill the beans that you're on a cruise. Maybe you should think about adopting the WWII slogan, Loose Lips Sink Ships.)

7. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it's an invitation. (If you leave your home, even for a short run to the supermarket, LOCK all windows and doors. Thieves are opportunists. They don't like to work hard. Otherwise, they wouldn't be thieves. They look for easy pickings, and temptations like open windows are open invitations. If you're an open-air person, check on locks that will allow your window to be open a couple inches, but prevent them from being opened any further. No locks, however, will guarantee total security. If the temptation is great enough, they'll break a window)

8. If you don't answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in. (Many a person has been surprised getting out of the shower, or waking up from a breif nap, to find they've been ripped off. If you want to take a nap, or jump in the shower, for goodness sakes, LOCK YOUR DOORS!)
Ok, that's what the crooks out there had to say. Here are some additional precautions you can take to keep your name and address off the police blotter.
Have a pool? Generally, they're in the backyard. If you're going to be lounging around, or playing in, the pool, be sure your doors are locked.
If you're working in the yard, either front or back, lock your doors. There's no way you can keep an eye on front and rear entrances while you're pulling weeds.
Mowing the front yard? Yep, your mower is loud. When it's running, your back yard and back door are easy targets.
Did you leave an ax, a rake, a shovel, or other tools outside? Crooks don't want them, in general, but they certainly like to have them to break a window and jimmy a door. Put them away when you're finished with them.
Guns make you feel safe? Several thoughts here. IF you have them, don't advertise it. That's a secret you don't even need to share with your neighbors. The loose-lips thing applies. Guns are great prizes for crooks. They bring a lot of money on the streets. And, if you have one for self protection, then make sure you know how and WHEN to use it. Having a trusty 6-shooter around might make you feel safe, but unless you have some training, it's likely to become the cause of your death if a thief, unaware that you're home, breaks in.
That's a nice garage and workshop you ahve there. A lot of garages, it seems, face the road. And, you would not believe the number of homeowners who leave their garage doors open, showing everyone who walks or drives by, all the nice power tools haning on the wall. Power tools are good prizes, as well. Go to any pawn shop, and you'll see a lot of them there.
WhIf you have valuables, like guns and power tools and electronics, mark them. For firearms, of course, record the serial numbers. AND, take the stock or grip off (usually, one or two screws, and you're in), and write your driver's license number or your name inside. Do not use your social security number. Cops can't "run" those as easily. For games and power tools, pick up a vibrating etching tool. Items that can be easily traced are not nearily as valuable. Even pawn shop operators are leary of them.
There's good and bad about this advice. Follow it, and you'll reduce your chances of becoming a victim. That's good. The bad part is that the crooks will still be out there, preying on someone who hasn't heeded the warnings.



13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you're reluctant to leave your TV on while you're out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television. (
http://www.faketv/.com/)

Monday, April 11, 2011

I Just Wanted Some Ribs

Had to pick up two, count ém, just two things today. Didn't work out too well. Or, did it? As always, I browsed the meat section. And, lo and behold! I found some pretty good lookin' baby back ribs. We like the baby back ones. Seem to cook up better for us. And, boy, are they tasty.

Of course, I rubbed them in our special Double-R rub. It's something my bride, Robie, came up with a few years back. Got a nice little kick, therefore one must be careful not to rub one's eyes after rubbing the ribs. Or steak. Or fish. It's good stuff and goes with just about anything that needs a good rubbing.


Now, time to get the big smoker up and running. I use a bit of charcoal, starting it in a chimney to cut down on those emissions, and eliminate that charcoal lighter fluid taste. Then, I add wet oak wood (or peach, or apple, or hickory...) to get some smoking action going.

This is the Smokin' Rig
Add the ribs, meat side down, for a bit...to help sear the outside.

At this point, I ususally add just a bit of a homebrew vinegar base BBQ sauce. Creates a little moisture and some steam.


After a half hour, or so, I flip the racks, and give the mess about four hours of slow smoking. I do rotate the ribs from time to time, just to make sure they get some even cooking. I don't know that it makes any difference, but it gives me something to do.

The neighborhood smells pretty good when the ribs are cooking. EvinRude, our cat, keeps looking outside, wishing he could get a taste.


Notice the reflective collar? He hates it. And, the noise makers. He much prefers the stealth mode. Makes it easier, for him, to blend in with the dogs when we let them outside. When we're not paying attention, he'll sneak out right along with them. Yes, he is, without a doubt, a devil cat. A sneaky one, too. The collar makes it easier, at night, to see him when we shine lights around the yard.

You're Going to Jail

You have two choices.

1. You can refuse to replace those Edison Lightbulbs, aka incandescent bulbs, with the congressionally  mandated little fluorescent twirly-cue bulbs by 2014...and go to jail.
2. You can buy those little twirly-cue bulbs and improperly dispose of them when they either break or burn out...and go to jail.

Yep, by 2014, we can't use the bulbs we grew up with.

 At least, we can't buy them. Personally, I'm stocking up. I'm digging a hole in the back yard. Going to bury one of those containers like they use on ocean-going ships. Shhh...don't tell my wife. Or the code enforcement cops.

This will become my storage bunker for bulbs. I figure that a couple thousand will last me a lifetime. I can sell them on the black market. Might even have some left to pass along.

Those little twirly-cue thingies use less juice, produce less heat, and are suppose to save us energy and money.

 I am so thrilled that the Environment Protection Cops are concerned about this. If our government leaders and our government trustees (congressmen and senators) could only put as much effort into developing an alternative source of fuel for our transportation needs, our problems would be solved.

Those little light bulbs...better heed the warnings on the boxes. Or, you're going to jail. That is, if you and your family survive when one breaks.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/75548.html