For What It Is Worth -
I had a CD locked in the D drive and it suddenly just rattled. I couldn't get it to play and I couldn't get the tray to open. I was going NUTS. Then, searching for an answer, I found a 15 year old post that said to stick a straightened paperclip into the small hole in the front.
I remembered about that soon as I read it, but I had forgotten! Look for yourself on a Windows PC...
I didn't solve the "failure to play", but at least it got the CD out, LOL!
But when I got the CD out and tried it in the 2 tray it played fine. I have to laugh that I'm keeping a Windows 95 (offline) working. But I suspect I'll have to find a repair shop soon.
Friday, September 13, 2019
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
9-11
I will never forget 9-11.
My parents remembered The Great Depression and WWII as defining moments. We both remember the John and Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King assasinations. I remember Vietnam and 9-11 and Mass Shootings more.
We think of animals as "wild" and sometimes "cruel". They are just trying to survive. We are the wild ones. We don't do things like that for survival. We do them because some of us are afraid, scared, cruel, uncaring, and fanatical.
We humans are sometimes inspired creators of beauty, invention, creative thought, and civilization. Discoverers of mysteries of the universe. So far as I know, no other living creature has ever looked at the stars and wondered what they were or deliberately took action to find out. No other animal has ever contemplated its own death or what happens afterwards.
Only we. And yet we kill each other not for food. We cause pain for no purpose. We commit mayhem, destruction, and death to our own kind. We create the 4 Horsemen Of The Apocolypse in our own image because they are US...
Too many of us think "it's not the Earth the meek inherit, its the dirt". * Way too often, we don't value those who just live peacefully; we admire those who command others and take without helping.
In the past 2 decades, we have seen the rise of hate-filled people finding each other (when once they were isolated and feeling alone) organizing themselves via the internet. Mass murders are becoming common, as individuals are encouraged by each other to commit mayhem.
As an even minor matter, flash mobs are increasing. Lately, people driving ATV have started to swarm areas of some cities, terrorize pedestrians and car drivers and then suddenly disappear along paths where police cars cannot follow.
Does that remind you of A Clockwork Orange"?
I'm not saying this is new. And I don't want to say society is falling apart or that the newest generation is evil. The ancient Greeks even complained about that.
What I'm saying is that we need to reorganize our society to provide more early intervention and therapy rather than just build more prisons and punish those different from we more peaceful types. I think there are usually causes for hate. And if those are addressed, the later problems won't occur as often.
* One of the most perfect songs ever written about unethical attitude was "The 7 Deadly Virtues" sung by Mordred in 'Camelot'.
"The seven deadly virtues, those ghastly little traps
I have to add more. I was sitting at the computer today and listening to the radio and they mentioned the exact time the 3rd plane hit the Pentagon. I worked sort of near there.
I felt a thump up through our solid building. I didn't know what it was at the time, but I understood after. We were all focussed on the World Trade Centers at the time. Part of our office was "Emergency Management", so we had several TVs around. We were watching the towers fall in disbelief.
I don't recall the timeline of events all that well now. We were just shocked and stunned. I could know better even just re-reading the posts from the time, but that not the point.
I was and still now so angry that anyone could do such things.
My day went something like this (and if I have some events out of place, forgive me):
1. Hey (Division Director) a plane just crashed into one of the Towers in NYC.
2. OMG, a 2nd one hit (dawning awareness).
3. I feel a thump through the building.
4. Smoke on the horizon.
5. The first Tower falls in real time.
6. We realize the Pentagon has been hit.
7. The second tower falls. Many in the conference room think it is a replay but I shout "its the other one".
8. We are all just stunned. Thought the first was a horrible accident. It all seems incomprehensible.
9. It all starts to sink in.
10. All employees are dismissed. "Leave now"!
11. My office is on the top floor. We have some roof access. We see smoke from the Pentagon.
12. The streets are clogged. No one is moving. I tell my carpool, we aren't leaving. We are only a couple blocks away from The White House, but this old building is all stone. We are safer her until the streets clear.
13. We hear about a 4th plane coming for DC. Most remaining people head to the basement. I stand on the roof watching. We aren't the target. If it hits us, I want to watch. OK, I 'm crazy. But I wanted to see.
14. That plane went down in Pennsylvania the radio says. We don't know why.
15. I watch fighter planes circling around DC.
16. The streets are clearing. I tell the carpool we can leave. I'm the driver that day.
17. Some roads are blocked. I end up up on an unfamiliar path, but finally recognize a road, The roads there are completely empty.
18. My whole carpool is crying. So am I. I use nearly a whole box of tissues keeping my vision "sort of' clear. The roads are empty though...
I don't recall much the next couple of days. I don't even remember if I went to work the next day. That doesn't matter.
What matters is that I developed a hate of the specific people who did that and I will not let it go.
"Never forgive, never forget".
My parents remembered The Great Depression and WWII as defining moments. We both remember the John and Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King assasinations. I remember Vietnam and 9-11 and Mass Shootings more.
We think of animals as "wild" and sometimes "cruel". They are just trying to survive. We are the wild ones. We don't do things like that for survival. We do them because some of us are afraid, scared, cruel, uncaring, and fanatical.
We humans are sometimes inspired creators of beauty, invention, creative thought, and civilization. Discoverers of mysteries of the universe. So far as I know, no other living creature has ever looked at the stars and wondered what they were or deliberately took action to find out. No other animal has ever contemplated its own death or what happens afterwards.
Only we. And yet we kill each other not for food. We cause pain for no purpose. We commit mayhem, destruction, and death to our own kind. We create the 4 Horsemen Of The Apocolypse in our own image because they are US...
Too many of us think "it's not the Earth the meek inherit, its the dirt". * Way too often, we don't value those who just live peacefully; we admire those who command others and take without helping.
In the past 2 decades, we have seen the rise of hate-filled people finding each other (when once they were isolated and feeling alone) organizing themselves via the internet. Mass murders are becoming common, as individuals are encouraged by each other to commit mayhem.
As an even minor matter, flash mobs are increasing. Lately, people driving ATV have started to swarm areas of some cities, terrorize pedestrians and car drivers and then suddenly disappear along paths where police cars cannot follow.
Does that remind you of A Clockwork Orange"?
I'm not saying this is new. And I don't want to say society is falling apart or that the newest generation is evil. The ancient Greeks even complained about that.
What I'm saying is that we need to reorganize our society to provide more early intervention and therapy rather than just build more prisons and punish those different from we more peaceful types. I think there are usually causes for hate. And if those are addressed, the later problems won't occur as often.
* One of the most perfect songs ever written about unethical attitude was "The 7 Deadly Virtues" sung by Mordred in 'Camelot'.
"The seven deadly virtues, those ghastly little traps
Oh no, my liege, they were not meant for me
Those seven deadly virtues were made for other chaps
Who love a life of failure and ennui
Take courage-now there's a sport
An invitation to the state of rigor mort
And purity-a noble yen
And very restful every now and then
I find humility means to be hurt
It's not the earth the meek inherit, it's the dirt
Honesty is fatal, it should be taboo
Diligence-a fate I would hate
If charity means giving, I give it to you
And fidelity is only for your mate
You'll never find a virtue unstatusing my quo or making my Beelzebubble burst
Let others take the high road, I will take the low
I cannot wait to rush in where angels fear to go
With all those seven deadly virtues free and happy little me has not been cursed"
I have to add more. I was sitting at the computer today and listening to the radio and they mentioned the exact time the 3rd plane hit the Pentagon. I worked sort of near there.
I felt a thump up through our solid building. I didn't know what it was at the time, but I understood after. We were all focussed on the World Trade Centers at the time. Part of our office was "Emergency Management", so we had several TVs around. We were watching the towers fall in disbelief.
I don't recall the timeline of events all that well now. We were just shocked and stunned. I could know better even just re-reading the posts from the time, but that not the point.
I was and still now so angry that anyone could do such things.
My day went something like this (and if I have some events out of place, forgive me):
1. Hey (Division Director) a plane just crashed into one of the Towers in NYC.
2. OMG, a 2nd one hit (dawning awareness).
3. I feel a thump through the building.
4. Smoke on the horizon.
5. The first Tower falls in real time.
6. We realize the Pentagon has been hit.
7. The second tower falls. Many in the conference room think it is a replay but I shout "its the other one".
8. We are all just stunned. Thought the first was a horrible accident. It all seems incomprehensible.
9. It all starts to sink in.
10. All employees are dismissed. "Leave now"!
11. My office is on the top floor. We have some roof access. We see smoke from the Pentagon.
12. The streets are clogged. No one is moving. I tell my carpool, we aren't leaving. We are only a couple blocks away from The White House, but this old building is all stone. We are safer her until the streets clear.
13. We hear about a 4th plane coming for DC. Most remaining people head to the basement. I stand on the roof watching. We aren't the target. If it hits us, I want to watch. OK, I 'm crazy. But I wanted to see.
14. That plane went down in Pennsylvania the radio says. We don't know why.
15. I watch fighter planes circling around DC.
16. The streets are clearing. I tell the carpool we can leave. I'm the driver that day.
17. Some roads are blocked. I end up up on an unfamiliar path, but finally recognize a road, The roads there are completely empty.
18. My whole carpool is crying. So am I. I use nearly a whole box of tissues keeping my vision "sort of' clear. The roads are empty though...
I don't recall much the next couple of days. I don't even remember if I went to work the next day. That doesn't matter.
What matters is that I developed a hate of the specific people who did that and I will not let it go.
"Never forgive, never forget".
Saturday, September 7, 2019
A Night
It was 8 pm. I read blogs. I answered emails. All was well...
But then the dark side came over me. I went to a DISCUSSION BOARD! Flails from the LEFT, flails from the RIGHT, flails from the CENTER bounded and tore. I dodged them as best I could, facts shielding me from, so I thought.
But after mere moments I truly was assailed by ignorance and taunts. In spite of all facts, my best ones I plead, the armies did numerously my overwhelm my refusals to yield.
In silliness unfactual arguments did some represent, till my armies of supporters did true represent that my facts were supported, and those who supported the opposite view were soon sure to be cursed.
And leaving the sotie, perhaps Rick and Morty, I went off to find some old comical lines.
I could not find Autumn or her kind lover Winter but I did find Las Lindas and read upon those for a time. But then I remembered The Piled High And Deeper of alt-comic fame. And therein I sat whatching this one and that reading the starts of 2 comics I surely recalled that...
Amused me years ago reading about all that sh*t. Ansd today bringing ll f those memories though,
You'ld have to begin at the start you know, and not at 6:30 am like I am now.
But then the dark side came over me. I went to a DISCUSSION BOARD! Flails from the LEFT, flails from the RIGHT, flails from the CENTER bounded and tore. I dodged them as best I could, facts shielding me from, so I thought.
But after mere moments I truly was assailed by ignorance and taunts. In spite of all facts, my best ones I plead, the armies did numerously my overwhelm my refusals to yield.
In silliness unfactual arguments did some represent, till my armies of supporters did true represent that my facts were supported, and those who supported the opposite view were soon sure to be cursed.
And leaving the sotie, perhaps Rick and Morty, I went off to find some old comical lines.
I could not find Autumn or her kind lover Winter but I did find Las Lindas and read upon those for a time. But then I remembered The Piled High And Deeper of alt-comic fame. And therein I sat whatching this one and that reading the starts of 2 comics I surely recalled that...
Amused me years ago reading about all that sh*t. Ansd today bringing ll f those memories though,
You'ld have to begin at the start you know, and not at 6:30 am like I am now.
Saturday, August 31, 2019
How To Lose Weight
Get up at dawn
Get on the computer.
Stay on the computer.
See dawn...
Ignore dawn.
Watch sun set.
Think "how bad would cat food taste"...?
Decide not to find out.
Make 3 egg rolls and a couple shrimp.
Got to bed.
Sleep 14 hours...
There is a reason I have a clock in the bedroom that just tells me what day it is...
Get on the computer.
Stay on the computer.
See dawn...
Ignore dawn.
Watch sun set.
Think "how bad would cat food taste"...?
Decide not to find out.
Make 3 egg rolls and a couple shrimp.
Got to bed.
Sleep 14 hours...
There is a reason I have a clock in the bedroom that just tells me what day it is...
Sunday, August 25, 2019
Price-fixing
Chewy sells a case of a particular cat food at at $38.66 per case, Amazon sells it at $38.66 per case. Logic suggests one might offer it at $38.49 and the other at $38.67. Or whatever. How is that not "price-fixing? That's illegal.
We are getting way too controlled be non-competiveness. Everything costs the same no matter where you go. That's wrong.
We are getting way too controlled be non-competiveness. Everything costs the same no matter where you go. That's wrong.
Saturday, August 24, 2019
Idiots Everywhere
My next door neighbor cut down most of the hedge between her and the farther neighbor 2 months ago. It might have been by agreement, but I wonder if they know (as only I do being here before both of them) that the hedge was planted by the previous owner of the OTHER house.
Not all that important, but that same immediate neighbor decided to burn the dried hedge material in the back yard. Under small dry trees. Among other dry debris. Next to my wood fence...
Fortunately, I happened to step out side and heard the very distinct sound of a crackling fire.
Seriously, there was dry brush from the original burning spot all the way to my fence. I told her it was very dangerous for several obvious reasons and that she needed to put it out. She said OK and told her child to bring water. It came in a child's pail which the woman splashed around a bit. But they did that several times and it appeared to be extinguished. The woman went inside; I stayed out to watch. Fortunately it really was out.
Who is dumb enough to burn dry brush under dry trees near a wood fence?
Just a few minutes ago, I went to the local 7-11 literally midnight, and there was a teenager who just sailed through a busy intersection (with no overhead lights) on a black push scooter. Wearing black clothes. I only saw him in the headlights as I turned. And I hit the brakes. Another driver turning oppositely almost hit him too.
Is there something in the water that is making people stupid?
Not all that important, but that same immediate neighbor decided to burn the dried hedge material in the back yard. Under small dry trees. Among other dry debris. Next to my wood fence...
Fortunately, I happened to step out side and heard the very distinct sound of a crackling fire.
Seriously, there was dry brush from the original burning spot all the way to my fence. I told her it was very dangerous for several obvious reasons and that she needed to put it out. She said OK and told her child to bring water. It came in a child's pail which the woman splashed around a bit. But they did that several times and it appeared to be extinguished. The woman went inside; I stayed out to watch. Fortunately it really was out.
Who is dumb enough to burn dry brush under dry trees near a wood fence?
Just a few minutes ago, I went to the local 7-11 literally midnight, and there was a teenager who just sailed through a busy intersection (with no overhead lights) on a black push scooter. Wearing black clothes. I only saw him in the headlights as I turned. And I hit the brakes. Another driver turning oppositely almost hit him too.
Is there something in the water that is making people stupid?
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Books
I was a young reader and loved reading books as a child. I always needed more books to read. The first document I ever owned was a library card.By the time I was 12, I had read the entire family encyclopedia of 25 volumes and several of my parents' saved textbooks. I had gone through the entire local library's "young adult" section (defined as age 12-15 or something close to that). I had to get permission from my parents and the librarian to check out more adult books.
My parents approved, but I vaguely recall the librarian asking questions about the difference between information and fiction. I don't recall my answers the least bit, but apparently, when it was clear I understood the difference between William and Clark exploring Western North America and Isaac Asimov and Buck Rogers, I was allowed to read more adult books.
In the years afterwards, I spent a LOT of money buying both science fiction AND information books. So I love books and cherish the enjoyment of reading and the real information at my fingertips.
10 years ago, I packed half of my sci-books into boxes to clear some shelf space. It was the half I thought the least of. A few years ago, I went through my shelves and removed those "information books"I thought had little value. Those got tossed after I learned the local library didn't want my kind of books.
I've started a de-clutterring project. Today, I went through the information books and tossed most of them into the recycling bin and put more in boxes in the garage because the recycling bin was filled.
The era of information books is over. The internet provides all the information I can use. I skimmed through many of the books and I couldn't find anything in them that wasn't easier to find on the internet. Basically, the internet (in this regard) is a bigger faster library a few keywords away.
And books go obsolete so quickly sometimes. Or even were decades ago. I looked at one World History book and it was written in 1937! So I got brutal about it. Any information book that seemed overcome by new information (historical, scientific, or repair) went.
I kept books like 'The Peter Principle' and 'Murphy's Laws' and 'Flatland' and Human and Cat evolution. And those may go in the some future weeding.
Six 3' shelves became one. Some I'll keep because their information doesn't age much (backyard landscaping projects or linguistic explanations). And some books went because I'm not sure why I bought them in the first place.
But I bet I tossed out books that cost me $5,000 originally. And a shelf of National Geographic maps; Google does that better. I got rid of 10 years of various magazines a few months ago. I got rid of books of Poe stories and Kipling verses. I even tossed al dozen Ayn Rand books I thought I would read and never did after 20 years.
I hesitated before doing this today, but I thought about the last time I did a few years ago and couldn't recall a single book of them. Obviously, I did not miss them. I bet I won't miss these either.
It was hard to start tossing them, but easy to continue once I realized I wasn't losing information, just accepting that there was a better way to get at it that didn't fill up physical bookcases.
OK, so books had their time. I guess I just went screaming and kicking into the 21st century today. One day centuries ago, a storyteller started reciting a memorized tale of some hero, and the King said "I have that book, and others. You're fired".
Things change. And I'm not done tossing books. The recycle bin is mostly filled and very heavy. So tomorrow I'll pile more in boxes and stack them in the garage for the next recycle pickup. I'm keeping every sci book I own. Those don't actually become obsolete.
My parents approved, but I vaguely recall the librarian asking questions about the difference between information and fiction. I don't recall my answers the least bit, but apparently, when it was clear I understood the difference between William and Clark exploring Western North America and Isaac Asimov and Buck Rogers, I was allowed to read more adult books.
In the years afterwards, I spent a LOT of money buying both science fiction AND information books. So I love books and cherish the enjoyment of reading and the real information at my fingertips.
10 years ago, I packed half of my sci-books into boxes to clear some shelf space. It was the half I thought the least of. A few years ago, I went through my shelves and removed those "information books"I thought had little value. Those got tossed after I learned the local library didn't want my kind of books.
I've started a de-clutterring project. Today, I went through the information books and tossed most of them into the recycling bin and put more in boxes in the garage because the recycling bin was filled.
The era of information books is over. The internet provides all the information I can use. I skimmed through many of the books and I couldn't find anything in them that wasn't easier to find on the internet. Basically, the internet (in this regard) is a bigger faster library a few keywords away.
And books go obsolete so quickly sometimes. Or even were decades ago. I looked at one World History book and it was written in 1937! So I got brutal about it. Any information book that seemed overcome by new information (historical, scientific, or repair) went.
I kept books like 'The Peter Principle' and 'Murphy's Laws' and 'Flatland' and Human and Cat evolution. And those may go in the some future weeding.
Six 3' shelves became one. Some I'll keep because their information doesn't age much (backyard landscaping projects or linguistic explanations). And some books went because I'm not sure why I bought them in the first place.
But I bet I tossed out books that cost me $5,000 originally. And a shelf of National Geographic maps; Google does that better. I got rid of 10 years of various magazines a few months ago. I got rid of books of Poe stories and Kipling verses. I even tossed al dozen Ayn Rand books I thought I would read and never did after 20 years.
I hesitated before doing this today, but I thought about the last time I did a few years ago and couldn't recall a single book of them. Obviously, I did not miss them. I bet I won't miss these either.
It was hard to start tossing them, but easy to continue once I realized I wasn't losing information, just accepting that there was a better way to get at it that didn't fill up physical bookcases.
OK, so books had their time. I guess I just went screaming and kicking into the 21st century today. One day centuries ago, a storyteller started reciting a memorized tale of some hero, and the King said "I have that book, and others. You're fired".
Things change. And I'm not done tossing books. The recycle bin is mostly filled and very heavy. So tomorrow I'll pile more in boxes and stack them in the garage for the next recycle pickup. I'm keeping every sci book I own. Those don't actually become obsolete.
Wednesday, August 7, 2019
Strange Flower
I have planted a lot of flowers over the years. I usually recognize them when I see them. I appreciate some (like Brown-Eyed Susans) that self-sow in places they like better than where I originally planted a few a decade ago. I have a lot of those now in clumps scaterred around a corner of the yard.
I've been planting other self-sowers in other spots (seems efficient). If they survive like the Susans and spread around, it will be interesting. When I plant annuals, I tend to be very geometric, but these I will let wander where they may. In fact, I'll snip the flower heads, rub the seedheads in my hand into a bowl to separate the seeds and just scatter them everywhere I don't mow.
If it works, great - Flowers Everywhere. If not, no loss...
I know it works in general, because last Fall, I collected seedheads from the Pollinator Bed and scatterred them back in and added a thin layer of leaf compost to cover lightly. I got mostly just one kind though. I don't know what it is, but orange flowers are nice and the bees love them.
But the strange flower is this...
I've never seen that in the yard, and I've sure never planted anything like that. It's 16" tall. The flower lasted 2 days and I don't see another bloom coming.
I may take a walk around the neighborhood to see if someone is growing those to ask what it is. Of course, if anyone here recognizes it, that would be good...
If it works, great - Flowers Everywhere. If not, no loss...
I know it works in general, because last Fall, I collected seedheads from the Pollinator Bed and scatterred them back in and added a thin layer of leaf compost to cover lightly. I got mostly just one kind though. I don't know what it is, but orange flowers are nice and the bees love them.
I may take a walk around the neighborhood to see if someone is growing those to ask what it is. Of course, if anyone here recognizes it, that would be good...
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
Broken Cinder Block Wall
OK, some of this might sound technical but it isn't really.
My sunken patio cinder block retainer wall broke a month ago. I originally thought it was due to rain, but now I think it was just coincidence. There was no flooding against the wall. Even the soil behind it is not expanded.
I had a masonry guy come out and he said he would rebuild it in a trench all around for $16,000. Um, no not what I needed. A couple other people returned calls, but I couldn't understand a word they said. So I gave up and considered how I could do it myself.
I tried levering the wall back in place. Wood beams are not as strong as cinderblock weight. They bent first. I needed a better lever. I came across a "motorcycle lift", basically a wide scissor jack like you might have in your car for lifting it to change a tire. But wider and more stable and up to 1100 pounds lift. You turn a large handle, and the lift slowly spreads. Cost $80.
I bought one. It took a few days to figure out an immovable object from which to push the wall. The house foundation was obvious, but I didn't have anything long enough to reach the broken wall. But there were 6'x6" posts concreted 3' down and anchored to the foundation above.
And I had a 4"x4" post that just came a foot short. Perfect! But the angle from the deck post wasn't exactly at the angle of the broken wall. So I used some scrap wood and a dozen serious clamps to make it so. That left "just" enough room for the motorcycle lift to fit in.
Let's just say that to avoid any boards moving around, I also clamped some wood to the posts to prevent that. No supporting structure could move. So I started to turn the handle of the motorcycle lift. And no, there was no damage to the deck posts or anything else. I had all possible movements prevented.
The broken cinder block wall MOVED! I actually jumped for joy... I got it 9" of 12" back in place before the lift was fully extended. But then the angle was changed and it slipped sideways under pressure. Nothing sudden, just that the pressure sideways was greater the the pressure forwards.
GRUMPH!
It's at the point where I only need to move it 3 more inches in order to use some masonry construction adhesive between the broken edges (stronger that grout, it claims). But it only has a 20 minute window before hardening. So I had to know I could push the 2 edges quickly enough.
And I don't have posts that match the distance! Arghhh... I have some ideas about using bricks, wood chunks, loose solid cinder block caps. But until I'm absolutely sure there is no angle of pressure that won't cause them to suddenly pop loose dangerously, I won't proceed.
I THINK two clamped 2"by12" boards across the 2 deck posts with be strong enough (a 4"x4" post just bends), but I want to think of a stronger and safer arrangement.
And I should mention that the handle on the motorcycle lift is just a small 6" metal rod attached to a hex drive that fits over the screw that turns the jack. It hurt my hands to put enough pressure on it to turn it when things got heavy. Well, it just occurred to me while writing this that I have a ratchet drive set with longer handles and sockets and one of them is for loosening/tightening the lug nuts of truck wheels (that I've never had need of before), so I can get more leverage...
But I'm getting there... Half the fun of doing difficult things is figuring out HOW to do the things.
;)
My sunken patio cinder block retainer wall broke a month ago. I originally thought it was due to rain, but now I think it was just coincidence. There was no flooding against the wall. Even the soil behind it is not expanded.
I had a masonry guy come out and he said he would rebuild it in a trench all around for $16,000. Um, no not what I needed. A couple other people returned calls, but I couldn't understand a word they said. So I gave up and considered how I could do it myself.
I tried levering the wall back in place. Wood beams are not as strong as cinderblock weight. They bent first. I needed a better lever. I came across a "motorcycle lift", basically a wide scissor jack like you might have in your car for lifting it to change a tire. But wider and more stable and up to 1100 pounds lift. You turn a large handle, and the lift slowly spreads. Cost $80.
I bought one. It took a few days to figure out an immovable object from which to push the wall. The house foundation was obvious, but I didn't have anything long enough to reach the broken wall. But there were 6'x6" posts concreted 3' down and anchored to the foundation above.
And I had a 4"x4" post that just came a foot short. Perfect! But the angle from the deck post wasn't exactly at the angle of the broken wall. So I used some scrap wood and a dozen serious clamps to make it so. That left "just" enough room for the motorcycle lift to fit in.
Let's just say that to avoid any boards moving around, I also clamped some wood to the posts to prevent that. No supporting structure could move. So I started to turn the handle of the motorcycle lift. And no, there was no damage to the deck posts or anything else. I had all possible movements prevented.
The broken cinder block wall MOVED! I actually jumped for joy... I got it 9" of 12" back in place before the lift was fully extended. But then the angle was changed and it slipped sideways under pressure. Nothing sudden, just that the pressure sideways was greater the the pressure forwards.
GRUMPH!
It's at the point where I only need to move it 3 more inches in order to use some masonry construction adhesive between the broken edges (stronger that grout, it claims). But it only has a 20 minute window before hardening. So I had to know I could push the 2 edges quickly enough.
And I don't have posts that match the distance! Arghhh... I have some ideas about using bricks, wood chunks, loose solid cinder block caps. But until I'm absolutely sure there is no angle of pressure that won't cause them to suddenly pop loose dangerously, I won't proceed.
I THINK two clamped 2"by12" boards across the 2 deck posts with be strong enough (a 4"x4" post just bends), but I want to think of a stronger and safer arrangement.
And I should mention that the handle on the motorcycle lift is just a small 6" metal rod attached to a hex drive that fits over the screw that turns the jack. It hurt my hands to put enough pressure on it to turn it when things got heavy. Well, it just occurred to me while writing this that I have a ratchet drive set with longer handles and sockets and one of them is for loosening/tightening the lug nuts of truck wheels (that I've never had need of before), so I can get more leverage...
But I'm getting there... Half the fun of doing difficult things is figuring out HOW to do the things.
;)
Monday, August 5, 2019
Stuff
Nothing like returning from grocery-shopping and finding your driveway blocked by a big truck. It wasn't a freight truck (and I hadn't ordered anything requiring one lately). So I pulled the car off the road onto my lawn, put on my best smile, and asked what was up. There was a large firehose in one storm drain..
Sorry, I didn't take pictures. Which didn't matter, because there was nothing visible going on. Apparently, the storm drain clearing crew reported that one was half-filled with gravel and a specialized equipment crew does that. And I'm not criticizing. A lot of equipment only has a few experienced operators locally. The guy (I've never seen a woman among these crews) who can delicately manage a 1/2 tin bucket to scrape debris off a storm grate is NOT the same as the guy who can manuver a drone through a pipe to find a blockage, etc.
Anyway, they were there to flush the foot of gravel out of one storm drain to the other 90' away and from there to the outlet under the street. They suggested I move my car since the spray was fierce and some gravel would come out. I had raw meat in the car, so I demanded they let me get it into the refrigerator (they did) and I moved to car way up on the lawn (which they said was safe - and was).
When they put on their helmets and goggles, I decided the best place to be was in the house! They let loose the firehose. It wasn't Old Faithful, but it WAS pretty impressive. I think their eqipment could have watered my entire lawn an inch deep in about 5 minutes.
When the finally left, I went out and looked, the major storm drain was completely empty of gravel, the secondary one was nearly empty, and all the gravel was washed through the pipe under the street. I'm not sure how my neighbor there feels about it. He has more gravel in the easement leading to the swamp than before.
Nothing really special, but it IS a finale to the 6" of rain in 4 hours from about a month ago Monday...
Sorry, I didn't take pictures. Which didn't matter, because there was nothing visible going on. Apparently, the storm drain clearing crew reported that one was half-filled with gravel and a specialized equipment crew does that. And I'm not criticizing. A lot of equipment only has a few experienced operators locally. The guy (I've never seen a woman among these crews) who can delicately manage a 1/2 tin bucket to scrape debris off a storm grate is NOT the same as the guy who can manuver a drone through a pipe to find a blockage, etc.
Anyway, they were there to flush the foot of gravel out of one storm drain to the other 90' away and from there to the outlet under the street. They suggested I move my car since the spray was fierce and some gravel would come out. I had raw meat in the car, so I demanded they let me get it into the refrigerator (they did) and I moved to car way up on the lawn (which they said was safe - and was).
When they put on their helmets and goggles, I decided the best place to be was in the house! They let loose the firehose. It wasn't Old Faithful, but it WAS pretty impressive. I think their eqipment could have watered my entire lawn an inch deep in about 5 minutes.
When the finally left, I went out and looked, the major storm drain was completely empty of gravel, the secondary one was nearly empty, and all the gravel was washed through the pipe under the street. I'm not sure how my neighbor there feels about it. He has more gravel in the easement leading to the swamp than before.
Nothing really special, but it IS a finale to the 6" of rain in 4 hours from about a month ago Monday...
Thursday, August 1, 2019
I'm Back, I Guess
But I have some unfortunate habits. One is that when I stay up late on the computer, I drink and smoke too much and ruin my next day. If I get up at 10am one day and then stay up til 10 am the next, sleeping even just 8 hours brings me to dinnertime and a whole day is shot. Not to mention any normal sleeping schedule... So the next day is pretty well shot to hell, too. I went offline in order to focus on some house improvements, some yard work, and some outside repairs. I did that because I was spending too many whole nights til dawn and beyond on very interesting computer sites (blogs, discussion boards, how-to sites, etc).
I was doing that more and more often the past few months and I decided to try to re-establish some normal schedule in order to get some work done. Don't get me wrong, the online hours are important to me. I enjoy blogging, I enjoy debating topics in discussion boards (and I'm not at crazy screaming adversarial sites - one is a gardening site and one is an atheist site where we just want freedom to discuss science and society without a lot of creationists arguing about Noah's ark and humans living with dinosaurs). And I play a computer game where you build a space-faring society from a single settler in an unknown location.
But that was using up a lot of time. And I have a lot of practical things to do that were getting away from me. And I have used the time away reasonably well. I spent a full day going around the house and listing all the things, by room, that needed attention. I've been here 32 years; the list is long. I did a few of the things on the list that I could do myself. A lot of them were small things not worth listing, that I had put off. Some were things that caught me by surprise, like the sudden regrowth of vines and underbrush that happened rather suddenly in June where I had cleared last Fall and seemed under control in May.
The County came out and cleared the storm drains that were buried under tree debris, clay, and gravel. That was good, but they weren't willing to dredge the drainage easement above the storm drain (they had in the past). New rules about being ultra-cautious around buried electrical and cable lines... I will have to hire a professional excavator. My neighbor is equally responsible for the drainage easement, but he doesn't care because his lawn is 1' higher than mine so all the flooding is on my side. And according to the County, that is not their concern.
Well, I can afford to hire an excavator to scoop out the washed-in gravel to improve the drainage. It would tear up the lawn some, but I know how to fix that. I might raise my front lawn at the same time to match the neighbor's. That's not a "competition", just making our lawns the same height. Practically speaking, raising my lawn height effectively makes the the drainage easement deeper, which solves a problem.
One problem I have is "too much stuff". There are things I bought and never used, things I bought that didn't do what I thought they would do, and things I bought that became useless when I changed a habit. I am making a list of things to sell. Two good examples are the bicycle I bought 8 years ago thinking I would ride it for getting back and forth to the car repair shop and the air compressor I bought 15 years ago that was way more powerful than a needed.
RIGHT after I bought the bicycle, the car dealership started a van service to bring customers home and back after repairs, so I don't need the bicycle to get back home and back. And recently, I bought a small air compressor that is all I need and I can even carry it around (the old -but more powerful one) is good for someone with greater demands.
OLD...
New...
So I am going to fill the garage with stuff to sell and leave the car outside for a coupe weeks. Good opportunity to wash the car, too... Once every couple years whether it needs it or not, LOL!
I'll be mentioning the outdoor and indoor projects as I get to them... I just can't stay away much longer. I'll find the time to describe them. The discussion boards will have to live without my brilliance for a while. ;)
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Daffodils, Trash, And Old Electronics
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