Sailing Hummingbird feeder

Travels and Images

WEEK 45 2007

Last Week- Sun- Mon- Tue- Wed- Thur- Fri- Sat- Next Week

Picture of the Week

MAIN PAGE

Lancaster Weather NOAA
 Lancaster WeatherUnderground

First Post, 17 March 2002
 Five Years Ago, This Week, 2002 Four Years Ago, This Week, 2003 Three Years Ago, this week, 2004 Two Years Ago, This Week, 2005 A Year Ago, This Week, 2006

Weekly Picture Archive
 

Saturday 10 November 2007

Saturday - back in Lancaster, checking on things. Doing a lot of laundry as well. Changed the oil in the Explorer, had it washed, bought a bunch of groceries, and even napped.


Trying to set up the "work laptop" so I can stop carrying my personal laptop out in the field. No luck - not only will it not see my local Wifi, but it won't recognize the EVDO card. It knows it's there - I can see it in under the Devices section of the laptop, and I can see the LED on the card light up as it's pinged - but the Verizon configuration utility reports it as not existing. Windows, gotta love it....


One of the interesting things about the Adams biography is the fact that both Adams and Jefferson considered Alexander Hamilton one of the most dangerous men in the country. He was the head of the Federalist party - Adams party, as far as Adams would have anything to do with a party - but had a huge lust for power. He conspired with Adams own cabinet against Adams (which Adams was partially aware of). Eventually he turned on Adams, in print, during the already nasty re-election campaign of 1800, which while it cost Adams the presidency also cost Hamilton dearly in credibility.

Friday 9 November 2007

Friday - on the way home I was passed by a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air. It brought to mind a line from an old Clive Cussler book. Our protagonist, Dirk Pitt, is racing time and the evil Russki's to prevent an atom bomb from going off in Havana. He's co-opted an old '57 taxi and the bad guys are pursuing in a modern Russian limousine -

"The Zil was never built that could take a '57 Chevy!"


Book #56 was John Adams, by David McCullough. I finished it on the way home. It was very good - and very long. A total of 26 CD's. The more I read about John Adams the more I like him. He was a bit of a loose cannon in France, during the revolution, and came at odds with that sly old fox Franklin. That rankled, but Franklin was probably the best man for the job. He (Adams) did better with the Dutch, and the English. Adams was too direct, too honest (for the French).

Thomas Jefferson, on the other hand, comes across as a sly and hypocritical schemer. Adams recognized this, and said so explicitly, but still considered Jefferson a friend. I plan on a Jefferson biography soon, but have hesitated, because it's easy to be swayed by the first biography you read. First impressions and all that. But then again, there's been enough about him in other books that it's not like he is a new character!

There is a Washington Memorial, and a Jefferson Memorial (only constructed in this century, so controversial is Jefferson), but not yet an Adams Memorial. It's being considered. From what I have read of Adams' he wouldn't approve of public adulation. He actually lived the life of the Roman republicans he read about (in the original Latin), returning to being a (successful) farmer in a small town after his public service.

There actually aren't all that many presidential memorials.


My checks did arrive, at the local branch. But they didn't bother to call and tell me, I had to call them. There's probably a reason they are a hugely successful nationwide bank, but it isn't customer service...

Thursday 8 November  2007

Thursday - the weather has turned cool.

In the mornings, out in the field inspecting I need a jacket, hat and gloves. I've worn the soles off my old hiking boots and need to replace them this weekend. I am not looking forward to breaking in new boots but I suppose there is no help for it. The soles might be replaced, but the body of the boots are probably ten years old and now show  their age. Lastly the old boots are "breathable", which lets out moisture but also lets in water should you stumble into a puddle - not good in the upcoming winter weather.


Speaking of which, I've been meaning to get out and see Comet Holmes, but the weather has been smoky, cloudy and/or foggy in Ventura. Also I've been busy and tired. But maybe when I'm back in Lancaster this coming weekend.

Wednesday 7 November 2007

Wednesday -  I read a quote on Jerry Pournelle's blog about the Navy.

The Framers never feared the Navy, which is why the Constitution treats Navy appropriations different from Army appropriations. Of course the Framers never contemplated armies of Marines.

But I seemed to recall that the Framers did distrust the Navy. In fact they authorized a standing Army and a military academy (West Point) before they did any serious consideration of the Navy. John Adams was a strong naval proponent, but his successor Thomas Jefferson (with the acquiescence of a cash starved & Anglophobic Congress) cut the Navy to the bone.

In the War of 1812 the Navy was about the only successful service, despite the cuts and lack of preparation.


No word from the bank, which was supposed to call me with news of my checks being delivered...yesterday. Bozo's. I'll call them tomorrow. My clerk's name was Frances - that should have been  a clue as what to expect. Efficiency is not Frances strong suit.


And post on headphones end in: I have relentless hair.

Tuesday 6 November 2007

Tuesday - working.

 Monday 5 November 2007

Monday -  working.

Sunday 4 November 2007

Sunday - working on more bills in the morning.

I opened a new checking account at major bank a month ago, and just last week became concerned about the lack of checks appearing in the mail. I called the branch that I had opened the account with, and discovered that no checks had been ordered! So I ordered them, as a rush job. They asked if I wanted them sent to my house, and I said no, send them the the local branch. The next day, suspicious now of their ability to complete a routine transaction, I went to the branch at lunch time and checked. Sure enough, they had planned to send the checks - receipt required - to my home. So we changed that. Again.


I did a lot of shopping. I drove the old Ford Probe, so as to keep the battery up. Socks, underwear, shirts, a rain suit. Soda and cat food. A hair cut.

Back to Ventura tonight....


Update: Heh. A guy that built his own computer processor and computer. Out of TTL logic. Sheesh, I didn't know that you could still get TTL. I built a computer using an 8008 once, and have built flip-flops and counters out of transistors, but a whole computer? I'm impressed.

Picture of the Week
Sundown over the Pacific Ocean, near Pt. Mugu
Photo Notes: The sun going down over the Pacific Ocean, near Pt. Mugu, Ca..

Last Week- Sun- Mon- Tue- Wed- Thur- Fri- Sat- Next Week