A tree fell in my yard last week. I didn’t see it fall, so I can’t be sure it made a sound. However, I was sure that it was big and I needed to remove it. There was nothing tricky about it that would require any tree “experts”, however, it would require a bigger chainsaw than the small electric one I had used for clearing bushes. Like a true man, I don’t need too much of an excuse to buy a power tool.
Since women think that power tools are the male equivalent to their love for diamond jewelry, my wife assumed that a chainsaw must cost a few thousand dollars. Imagine her shock and disappointment as I showed her I could be outfitted for around $150.
Using the Sears.com site, I searched for chainsaw and got a good sampling of results that demonstrated this fact. However, looking a bit closer at the search results page gave me a bit of an eerie feeling that you can see for yourself:
Kind of an odd juxtaposition, but another example of what can happen on the dynamic and diverse web.
The story ends well, as I purchase the chainsaw and made much saw dust out of the tree. My next endeavor is rent a chipper to clean up the rest of the mess. I just hope I don’t run into that scene from Fargo.
We have just moved back into our house after nine months of major renovations. Almost every aspect of the house has been changed in some manner, including a new kitchen and bathrooms. The two upstairs bathrooms both have brand new tubs: a traditional tub/shower in the hall bathroom and a whirlpool tub in the master bathroom.
Although I wasn’t ready to venture into the whirlpool, I did want to check that it at least worked, so I filled the tub with water. As it filled up to about six inches, necessary to operate the jets, I started noticing that the water was a very pretty bluish color. I didn’t think too much of it, focusing on the operation of the tub. The tub worked fine, creating frothy cauldron of water. I turned my attention back to the blue water and considered its source. Perhaps the internal plumbing of the tub has some kind of anti-freeze or lubricating residue that would be washed away. I didn’t think that it was the water as I never noticed this before. The water in the toilets, also white, had no blue appearance, although there is much less water in a toilet.
I checked the hall bathroom which is just a standard white tub and the water in this tub had the same bluish color. It must be the water. Nothing in either bathroom would create any hint of a blue reflection.
Now I had to question if this was new or had always been there? Our old tub was coincidently blue, so we never would have noticed.
My wife called the water department and told them how we had not been in the house for some time. The offered explanation was that perhaps algae had grown during the time of non-use and caused this color. We would not be making soup anytime soon. As a rule, we drink bottled water even when home. Normally, I find this practice kind of silly, but reconsidered this as prudent until I get to the bottom of this issue.
In researching what could be causing the water to be blue, I have found the probable cause to be copper in the water. The copper most likely comes from the copper pipes that transport the water through the house. There are a few reasons why the copper in the pipes could be dissolving:
Low pH: Low pH indicates acidic and corrosive water that can break down the pipes and would cause a higher concentration of copper.
New pipes: The copper in new pipes breaks down more quickly in the first year of usage.
Electrolysis: The water pipe that enters the house is normally used to ground the electrical system. A variety of different scenarios can cause a very small electrical charge to be present in the plumbing. This electricity can cause a chemical breakdown of the copper.
If the contaminant is indeed copper, I will need to find what is causing it and rectify it. I also need to do a bit more detective work to narrow down the mystery.
Action items:
We have emailed our neighbors to see if anyone else has noticed this issue.
I have a spigot right after the water meter in the basement that allows access to water prior to it going through the house plumbing. I will cart some buckets up to the tub to see if this has the same bluish hue. This should eliminate the new plumbing as a cause of the color.
I also have a fire hydrant at the foot of my driveway. If daring, I could check this water for color which would indicate that the issue is not specific to my house.
Get water tested for pH, copper, algae, and other nasties.
Here is a great original creation posted on YouTube. Two guys using stop-action animation for some neat effects. Makes you wonder how long it took to make, and how difficult it is to hover in midair.
The verdict is in, and a Massachusetts judge has ruled that a burrito is NOT a sandwich, thus allowing a Mexican restaurant to peacefully coexist in a mall with a traditional sandwich shop.
I’m all for saving the world one person at a time, but I don’t understand the celebrity adoption craze lately. Madonna has been visiting Malawi (which I had never before heard of) first denying then actually moving forward in adopting a young “orphan” boy.
At first account, the boy’s father and grandmother were delighted. I know cultures and language are different across this big blue marble, but in English, an orphan is a child without parents — typically a father and mother.
The one-year old boy, now revealed with the rock-star like name of David Banda, did lose his mother as she gave birth to him. The father placed him in this “orphanage” for his own well-being, but never expected him to actually be adopted. (It kind of reminds be of a pawn shop.)
It also appears that is a really good to be a high-profile celebrity with tons of money, as all of the red tape and usual procedures which are put in place to protect the child from crazies were waived for the “material girl”.
(note to self: become high-profile celebrity with tons of money.)
Global warming, melting ice caps, and holes in the ozone have not been a big concern to me. Avian bird flu doesn’t worry me, but I am very concerned if the latest problem becomes an inter-species issue–it seems that the genitals of polar bears are shrinking!
Running is great exercise. Personally, I only run when being chased, and even then, I like to get somewhere. Running outside provides nice scenery, fresh air, and often a feeling of actually traveling some distance. Running on a track always bores me because I never felt I got anywhere and always lost count obsessing about what lap I was on. My least favorite is running on a treadmill.
Worse then running on a track, a treadmill literally gets you no where. Of course the positive aspects of a treadmill are a controlled inside environment, less impact on joints, and you can do it in a limited space.
Bicycling is a nice alternative to running due to even less impact on joints, and like running, I prefer to do this outside.
Now you can combine the worst of all of these elements into one activity using the Treadmill Bike! Take all the fun of running on a treadmill and stick it on top of a bicycle. Is any of this really necessary?
This “vehicle” is hilarious and it’s hard to decide if this isn’t actually a joke. The narrator of the video even has a hard time holding back the giggles. I just hope no one steal my idea for a stationary bicycle for the pool.
What is our obsession with panda reproduction? It seems we are always trying to couple these animals up and forcing them to mate. I have early memories of Ling Ling back in the 70s. Well evidently are dwindling in the wild, and it is been very hard to get them to reproduce in captivity. But are we taking this too far?
Today’s news asks tries to find out if panda Lun Lun of the Atlanta zoo is pregnant. That might be bad enough, but as it is difficult to determine if pandas are pregnant (c’mon science?!) they have engaged a psychic to help!!
I must admit that I am a big skeptic regarding psychics, and therefore have no tolerance for pet psychics. I am more amazed at the amount of news attention stories like these receive. (Of course I am now contributing to it.)
You can’t watch the video and think that the whole piece isn’t a big joke. The psychic even goes on to predict that the panda wishes her baby to be named “Pu Pu.”
A new product is a blow-up man for female motorists to feel more safe when driving alone at night. (Perhaps if you are driving alone, you already own such a product). The “Buddy on Demand” is designed specifically for the car, inflates and deflates easily, and fits inside the glove compartment. I’m not sure how it would make anyone feel safer as most thugs and carjackers are probably not too fearful of inflatable men.
I got a bit concerned when I first saw this photo, thinking the buddy was driving the car, but realized that this new product was announced in London.
There are nearly too many questions/jokes in my head about this, and all I can think about is the autopilot from the movie Airplane!
The “Buddy on Demand” does behave, in many ways, the same as a real man–
He will not ask for directions or turn around. He will not stop to use the bathroom, nor will he talk to you about “the relationship” or anything else for that matter.
Please keep both hands on the wheel, and drive safely.
Indian electrician, Sambhu Roy’s was electrocuted and his scalp and skull were burned. Being blood starved, it slowly died and came off. (Yuck!) All is well though, as new skull is actually growing in its place.
Click here to better understand the dangers of being an Indian electrician.
There are nearly too many questions/jokes in my head about this, and all I can think about is the autopilot from the movie 