A DIY Stylus Pen

A DIY Stylus Pen

If you have big fingers or can't seem to type the right keys on your smart phone or tablet, a stylus pen may be the answer. In addition, a stylus will give you more accuracy using a drawing program.
You can buy an array of stylus pens at the retail store or online from $5 to $50 dollars but can make one for much less.
Being a gadget guy I looked on YouTube for some ideas on making my own. Most started with a used Bic Pen tube body and some wire or foil or conductive foam.
The principle behind a capacitive touch screen is that electrons travel from your finger to the touch screen. The stylus pen is simply made of a conductive material that simulates your finger. The tip has a soft sponge so as not to scratch the screen.
Using some ideas from YouTube, I got a Q-Tip and wrapped it with aluminum foil. The foil has to contact the cotton ends for continuous conductivity. You can then put a small piece of scotch tape on the foil ends to prevent it from unravelling. Leave the center area bare so you can contact it with your fingers. With a little spit, moisten the cotton ends for electrical conductivity.
Now try your Q-Tip Stylus. It's cheap and simple but works. Try it on the simulated screen keyboard or on a free Drawing APP. The stylus works on both a Android or IOS device.
Good luck drawing your next Picasso. Let me know how you did.

Comments always welcome .. markryan82@comcast.net

Attack of the Gopher Hunter

I started writing my blogs about my resident Gopher Family in 2010 and thought that through diligent efforts the pest would just leave and find better pickings elsewhere. Well “surprize – surprize”, they’re back and have returned with a vengeance each of the last three years.

Since the gophers (ground hogs) had been setting up living space under all my back yard sheds, I decided to cover up all their crawl spaces and put extra wide base boards to cover all these areas.  It worked for most of the spring and summer but come July the varmints returned and started their “excavation projects”.  It was like the “BIG DIG – Boston Tunnels” all over again.

After seeing the first hole, I quickly covered it up again and filled it with large stones. I was sure the critter couldn’t remove all those stones. The next morning, I checked and like “Bob the Builder”, the little varmint had dug out all the stones and piled them neatly on the side.  This must be an educated varmint. Maybe he is an MIT grad with a degree in “HOLE-OLOGY”.

I then looked up on the WEB for solutions to rid myself of this scourge. You can see some info at the web site below.  http://m.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Gophers

Among some of the solutions to rid oneself of this pest included: To spray fox urine around the holes, put chicken wire fencing a foot deep in dirt around the garden, put netting over important plants.  Smoke them out with smoke flares. Flood them out of there network of holes with water from the garden hose. Attach a hose to car exhaust and stick in hole and fumigate them. Use  Mole Pest Poison pellets. Catch them with a have-a-hart trap and release elsewhere far away. One guy found they were bothered by light and setup a strobe light system triggered by a light sensor. Of course he was in a secluded area with no nearby homes. Maybe they like disco dancing.

The more people I talk with, the more I found they have similar problems. All my neighbours have gopher problems as the little varmint runs from one yard to the next ducking under a shed. Even friends living in other towns and out of state have these pests. There seems to be population explosion of these little critters.  Maybe I need the Pied Piper to play a tune and lead them all into the deep ocean or off a high cliff. How about on the next space shuttle to Jupiter.

I often wondered how farmers deal with pests like this.  Locust plaques, dust bowls, cotton weevil, rabbits, deer, moles, etc……  You can see some photos of the thousands of farmer pests at the web link below ……  http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=farmers+pests&qpvt=farmers+pests&FORM=IGRE

Each year I look forward to having a garden. However this year I am so discouraged with the devastation that this creature has caused with digging holes and eating my vegetables and flowers. He truly is a rodent that needs to be eradicated. I’m all for living in harmony with nature but enough is enough.

Taking care of a garden is a lot of hard work. I started my seedlings in March and then transplanted them to trays in a mini greenhouse. I then prepared the outside garden with tiller, covered with weed cloth, assembled a drip irrigation system. I then fertilized, pick some weeds, tied up the vines, repaired the fence, cleaned the filter screens in the water hoses and fixed the leaks in the rain barrels and a million other tasks. I even bought some veggie flats to make up for ones I lost.  Dis I do all this to just pick a few veggies?  Maybe I should just buy them at the grocery store. However, it has always been about the thrill of seeing those little seeds become actual veggies that I nurtured and had something to do with it.  You can see some photos of my trials and error in the garden from start to finish at the web link ….  

https://plus.google.com/photos/108806068200291783388/albums/5906170436881188753

Be sure to look at the devastated Zucchini and “Morning Glories” before and after photos at the end of the series.

I have made some progress with fighting the “Gopher Attack” or is it the “Attack of the Thing”.  I have recently put out some Poison Pellets and have caught several Gophers and a few Possums in traps.  “Sayonara” you little beasties.  But it’s like Custer’s Last Stand, a losing battle. With every one that I catch, there are dozens more.  Maybe I need a Star Wars Phaser or a Flash Gordon Ray Gun.  Should I call “GHOST BUSTERS” or “SUPERMAN”?  Boo Hoo.

Comments always welcome….   Markryan82@comcast.net

 

Mat Watering System for Seed Pots

Mat Watering System for Seed Pots

Planting seeds in mini pots indoors a few months before the spring growing season is a good way to get started early and have a variety of plants ready to put in the outdoor garden when the temperature is right.  In New England you need to start seedlings indoors a few months before the last frost which is after Memorial Day (the last Monday in May).

However, this method does take time and patience. You also have to be careful watering the seedlings so that they get just the right amount of water and light once germinated. If you water too much, the bottoms of the seed pots will be sitting in water and can rot easily. If you forget to water on a regular basis the seedlings will dry out and die. To help prevent drying, a dome cover over the plant trays will reduce rapid water loss. With the dome in place, water will recycle through the soil, transpire through the plants, evaporate into the air and condense on the dome roof. It will then drip back into the soil and start the cycle over again.

Another method to supply water to seedlings is by the (Mat Watering System). In this method the seed pots sit on a wet mat made of absorbent cloth that wicks water up from a reservoir below. The seed pots resting on the mat can then wick up the water into the soil as needed. In this method, the seed pots are not sitting in water and not susceptible to root rot.

If you are careful, placing seed pots in plant trays with a dome can be a sure fire way of keeping the pots moist but not too wet. Check the plant trays often and make sure that the bottom of the tray always has at least a quarter inch of water. Once the seedlings germinate, you need to have a light source directly over the plant tray for continued growth. Using fluorescent lights hanging above the plant trays and keep the bulbs close to the seedlings at first. This keeps the seedlings warm and also gives them adequate light for photosynthesis and growth.

Once the seedlings are a couple inches tall, thin your pots to a few seedlings per cell. Overcrowding will kill the plants. Back off the lights a little at a time so that they are always a few inches above the top leaves of the plants.

You can buy a commercial (Mat Wicking Kit) but can accomplish the same thing with a few items that can be found locally. Place about ½” water in a plant tray.  Cut a piece of flat Styrofoam to fit into the (10x20”) plant tray. You can buy insulation Styrofoam in sheets measuring (14.5 x 48 x ¾ inch) at Home Depot ($8.00 for a 6-pk). Use thin washcloths as the wicking cloth to wrap around the Styrofoam. You can buy a pack of 18 washcloths for $4.00 at Wal-Mart’s. Lay down about 3 washcloths on the top surface of the Styrofoam. Overlap the cloth so that about two inches is under the Styrofoam on both ends. Place the Styrofoam with washcloths on top into the tray with water. The water will absorb or wick into the washcloth material keeping the top surface wet.

Now place the seed pots on the wet washcloth surface. If you use Peat Pots for the seed pots the peat will absorb the water from the washcloths and keep the soil just wet enough for good seed growth. If you use plastic seed pots, you will need to cut small wicks (about 1x3 inches) and stick them in the bottom of the plastic pots. The small wicks will absorb water to keep the soil in the pots damp.

It is best to water the seed pots the first time with a sprinkling can from above. Make sure the soil is good and damp but not soggy.  Once the soil is wet you can then plant seeds in the soil. Use a pencil to make a small hole in the soil surface. Place a few seeds in each hole and lightly cover with some loose soil. Usually seeds are planted at a depth equal to the thickness of the seed.  Future water should now be added at the ends of the plant trays and not sprinkled over the surface since this will disturb the seeds. Water will now wick up from the bottom of the tray into the cloth mat and into the seed pots as needed.  You can see a YouTube video of this whole process at the link below …. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjpIX2rGA1c&feature=youtu.be

Comments are always welcome … markryan82@comcast.net

Installing a Spy Cam (Surveillance Camera)

Recently I bought the Foscam iP Camera (FI8910W) from Amazon.Com. The price new is about $100 but I bought it used for $62.00 from an Amazon reseller WholesaleDeals with free super saver shipping. It arrived quickly in a few days and was like new, in its original box. You can see some photos at my Picasa Web Site at the link below …..  https://plus.google.com/photos/108806068200291783388/albums/5841167078617108113

The Foscam FI8910W is made for indoor use only, but I thought I would try using it outside with a few protective adaptations. So far it is working fine and has been outside in sub-zero weather for a few weeks with periodic snow and rain and no ill effects.

To protect the camera from the weather, I made a plastic rain cap from a Glad Food Container and mounted the camera upside down inside the container. I also cut the container sides down to about 2 inches so they would not interfere with the camera view. In addition, I put some duct tape over the open port holes in the camera back to keep them dry. I then installed the camera about 12 feet off the ground on the outside back corner of the house. It sticks out on a bracket so the camera can see two sides of the house (side and back) when rotated with the computer control panel.

A surveillance camera (Spy Cam or Nanny Cam) can be used to watch your property indoor or outside while you are away. The Foscam camera can be programmed to record video or take snapshots for later viewing or you can see real time images over the internet. In addition, the camera needs electric power to operate and comes with a DC power adapter. You then need to plug in a short 3-foot power cord from the DC adapter into a nearby AC outlet or use a long extension cord.  The Foscam camera gives sharp color images in daylight and automatically switches to black and white for clarity as the outside light dims.  It will then switch on 11 IR LEDs and can see in almost total darkness at night.

Before installing the camera, I read the Quick Installation Guide several time and watched a few YouTube videos to familiarize myself with all the parts and procedures. Even then I missed a few directions and found that the camera wouldn’t work at first.  Somehow I kept skipping over one step until I realized my mistake. Eventually the camera worked as advertised.  So be persistent if it first fails and try again.

Since the camera works on your home Wi-Fi Network, you need to check your Wi-Fi reception all around the house and especially in the places where you plan to mount the camera. I did this by using my iPod Touch and watched the Wi-Fi reception bars as I moved around the house.  I have internet service from Comcast which is cabled to a leased Comcast modem in one corner of my basement, right near the electric circuit breaker box. I originally connected my own wireless Linksys Router (WRT54GS2) to the Comcast modem with a short Ethernet cable to give me an (in-home) wireless network.

Although the wireless reception was good near the Router, it was poor at the other end of the house where I wanted to install the Foscam camera.  Consequently, I bought a 50 ft. Ethernet extension cable from Wal-Mart ($29.95) and moved my Wi-Fi Linksys Router to the middle of the basement so I would have good reception all around the house.

To install the Foscam camera you first screw the small antenna to the camera back. Next, plug in the DC Power adapter into an AC outlet and then plug the power cord into the camera back. Within a minute the camera head will start to move and pan a 300 degrees arc and then tilt up and down 120 degrees. It looks like a little robot. The red power light will also come on indicating power on .

Next plug the short Ethernet cable (not included with my camera but should have) into the camera and into the Router.  Luckily I had a spare cable or you need to buy one. The green light on the back of the camera will start blinking indicating connection to your network.

Next, install the CD that comes with the camera into your computer. This has the Installation Software and a Comprehensive Users Guide that you can print out. (Unfortunately, the CD was also missing from my used camera so I went to the Foscam website at Foscam.Com and downloaded both items.) Once you install the CD, a Foscam Folder will be installed on your desktop. Open the folder and double click file IPCamSetup.exe to install and follow the onscreen directions. Click next to finish the installation. A shortcut icon in the shape of a camera will appear on the desktop. Double click this Camera Tool icon and it will find the camera’s IP address automatically after you plug in the Ethernet network cable. The address might look like this: (Anonymous Http://192.168.1.169:35 ). The number ( 192.168.1.168 )  is the IP address of your computer and the ( :35 ) is the port number.

Double click this LAN IP address of the camera and a window will pop up asking for the username and password. The default is admin for username and no password. Enter it and Click OK. A screen will pop up with three selections to login.  One is IE ActiveX Mode (IE is Internet Explorer), the other is Server Push Mode for Safari and the third is Mobile Phone Mode for mobile phone. Choose IE ActiveX Mode if you are using the IE browser normally found on most PCs.  For first time login allow ActiveX to run when prompted. You will now see a Login screen with a video picture of what the camera sees (the room, inside your house). Congratulations! You have successfully accessed the ip camera by wired connection.  LAN is your (local area network) or in-house wireless network. WAN is your (wide area network) or connection to the internet.

The wireless connection procedure is a little more complicated and you need to read the Quick Guide directions carefully. I’m not going to describe it here.  In addition you need to change the port settings on your router which is also explained. Once you setup the wireless connection you can move the Foscam camera anywhere within your wireless network. Just unplug the power cord and plug it back in an outlet, in another room.

To access the camera over the internet you need to know the IP address of your PC or Router and the Port that the Foscam camera has been assigned. If you don’t know go to the internet site http://whatsmyip.com on your computer and that site will send back your IP address.

You can also get an APP for your smartphone that will access your camera. I have an iPod Touch and went to the Apple APP store and did a search for ip cameras. There are over 300 APPs available and many are free. I selected the CamViewer which is free and works fine for my needs.

Once I installed my Foscam Web Cam I can now see who is out in my driveway.  I can also see why the dogs are barking or if my package is delivered to the front steps. I can do this all from the comfort of my home or even when I am away by checking over the internet. I am quite happy with installation and look forward to getting more cameras.

I just got a second camera that I am hoping to install at my summer camp. I bought it again at Amazon.com for about the same price and it arrived today. Everything was in the box and nothing missing.  I guess sometimes you just luck out and other times not.

Comments always welcome: ….  markryan82@comcast.net

Battery Backup Chargers

 

Have you ever been in a situation where your phone, tablet or other electronic device has run out of battery juice? Well it has happened to me plenty of times.

Sometimes you’re in luck if at home and can plug the device into a wall charger or even in the car with the dashboard-lighter charger. I have even brought a USB wall charger with me while waiting at the airport and tried to sit next to an AC plug. However, once you’re on the plane there are no chargers at your seat. Hopefully, your laptop, tablet or game device has a long charge still left.

Last month I took a boat trip from Ft. Myers, FL to Key West, FL. The round trip was about 3.5 hours long in the morning and almost 5 hours back at night. Although we had fun on the island the boat trip was very teadious. However, you could pass the time talking and seeing the sights or having a snack. But as I looked around a lot of passengers had their tablets out reading or playing a game. My iPod Touch soon ran out of juice but some passengers had a little “Thingy” on a wire hanging on their tablet. Curious, I asked and found out that it was a Battery Charger.  When I got home, I looked into getting my own “Thingy” and found a whole assortment of choices and a range of prices from reasonable to expensive.

I then saw a TV Ad showing a device where you placed your iPhone or iPod on a power mat and they charged up without any wire connection. It was called the Duracell Powermat and sold for about $97.00. That’s kind of steep for my taste. For info see the web link below …

Duracell Powermat CSA4B1 24-Hour Power System for iPhone 4/4s - Black

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0082YVBO0?ie=UTF8&force-full-site=1&ref_=aw_bottom_links

I then looked on Amazon.com and found several choices. The least expensive was the Stitchway Backup Battery Charger for iPhone and iPod Touch and it was only $ 5.13 including shipping. That’s more to my liking. For info see the web link below … 

Stitchway UltraPower 1900 mAh Backup Battery Charger for iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4, 4G, iPod, and iPod touch - External, Portable, Rechargeable (Black) http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0035R2QS4/ref=pe_175190_21431760_3p_M3T1_ST1_dp_1

Although I was sceptical about the cheap price, I bought the Stitchway Backup Battery Charger and so far I am pleased with its capabilities. After charging up the Stitchway with a USB wall charger I plugged it into the bottom of my iPod Touch and had full power all day.

However, I was still looking for a backup charger for my other electronic devices.  I looked online at Walmart and found the Rayovac Power Pack PS60. It has a USB power chord with three adapters for Apple 30 Pin and a Mini and Micro USB.  The adapters plug into an iPhone, iPod Touch, Cell Phone, Digital Camera, Tablet or Lap Top and provide about 3 hours of extra power.  It cost about $ 17.97 and is available online or at the store.   For info see the web link below …

Rayovac Powerpack (iPhone, iPod Touch, Cell Phone, Digital Camera, Tablet, Lap Top)

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Rayovac-Platinum-Lithium-Ion-Power-Pack-Charger/17510694#Item+Description

Now I am all set with my Stitchway or Rayovac chargers, especially for those long trips. We have all become quite dependent on these beasty little electronic gadgets.  I wonder what Abe Lincoln would think today about the iPod, while he read his book by candle light.

Comments always welcome …..  markryan82@comcast.net

An iPhone (Alternative) – With Mi-Fi

 

 

I just love the iPhone.  It has all those cool APPs and gadgets as well as being a real cell phone.  A lot of my friends and family have the iPhone and rave about all its wonderful uses.

One of the new APPS is the SIRI Voice Recognition software. You need to have the new operating system IOS 6.0 for this APP to work. The SIRI Voice APP recognizes your voice requests and returns quickly with an answer.  You can ask it anything like: What is the weather like today? Call home. Where is the nearest coffee shop? Get me direction to the local library, etc., etc. …  There are also thousands of other APPs that you can get from the APP Store and many of them are free.

Although I like the iPhone, I just can’t justify the two year contract and the monthly phone bill which is about $80.00 for voice and a data plan per month or $960 per year.  That’s a lot of money to browse the web, read emails and make a few phone calls.  Of course if you use the phone all the time for work or school maybe you need the constant connectivity that you get with a contract plan.

One way around the monthly bills is to buy an iPod Touch. It costs about $200 one time and no monthly fees.  The iPod Touch has all the same APPS as the iPhone and can even make phone calls with the SKYPE APP and a Wi-Fi connection. However, it does not have GPS if that is a primary need.  There are Wi-Fi hotspots in most Malls, Hospitals, Schools, Airports and Restaurants. Every McDonalds and Starbucks has a free Wi-Fi connection. You can wirelessly connect your lap top or iPod to the internet at any of these hotspots.

Unfortunately, you may be too far away from the nearest hotspot for the free Wi-Fi or you may be in the car moving along the highway (as a passenger) or at a restaurant that doesn’t have Wi-Fi.  In this situation, you can always wait until you get home or stop and find the nearest hotspot.

However, if you can’t wait you can buy a small device called a Mi-Fi. This device acts as your own hotspot and can wirelessly connect five or more Wi-Fi devices to a phone network and the internet.  It’s the size of a small cell phone and connects to the nearest cell phone tower through a 3G or 4G network and a provider like ATT, Verizon or Sprint.

Some cell phone providers sell the Mi-Fi device for over $100 and you have to buy minutes or data packages by contract or pay as you go. I bought my Mi-Fi through Wal-Mart for about $80 and it’s called “Internet On The Go” and connects to the Sprint phone network.  The minimum pay as you go package is $10 for 500 MB and no contract. This data package is equivalent to receiving 10,000 emails over your Mi-Fi device. It’s good for one year and will probably last me several months with my limited usage.   You can see some info and data plans at the web link …..   http://www.internet-go.com/

I then connect my Mi-Fi to my iPod Touch and can use it just like an iPhone.  This allows me to browse the internet, get my email or make a phone call (just like an iPhone) with no contract and no monthly fees.  However, just like any cell phone you need to have a cell phone tower in the area to make a connection.  Even the best cell phones loose connections in rural areas or dead spots.

You can compare other Mi-Fi plans at the website below.  Scroll down to middle of the article and browse the table of providers.……  http://www.prepaid-wireless-guide.com/best-mifi-plans.html  . From the table you can see that the True Connect plan is the best for no contract. Even though it says $4.99 per month, it is now no contract.  Just buy the device at Wal-Mart with a $10 Data card and follow the directions to register your Mi-Fi. I found that it works everywhere in my local area.

Another consideration is the service area coverage you get from the provider. The Sprint network is available in my area and suits my needs.   You can see a comparison chart for coverage and some maps at the web site …  http://www.cellreception.com/search.php?zip=01887&page=1  .  Just type in your zip code to check the coverage in your area and see which provider meets your needs.

Comments Always Welcome …. Markryan82@comcast.net

Free Digital Magazines

 

I like reading several different magazines to keep up with and my interests and the latest trends. I still subscribe to several in paperback format and look forward to them arriving in the mail each month.

I use to buy them at the news stand but the prices have gone up and up with no end in sight. I then bought some by subscription and those prices kept going up too. However, I noticed that if you waited long enough near or after your subscription ran out, you would get an offer in the mail for a half price subscription. Well, I thought that was great so a tried that for a while.

I then noticed that you could go online to look for bargain prices on magazine subscriptions and found Amazon.com offered the best pricing. I now order books, magazines and other items most often through Amazon. It’s always nice to save a few pennies.

However, I still go to my local library to borrow (for free) books and found that you can also borrow other items like DVDs, Audio Books, as well as Magazines. And it’s all free with a library card. My wife and I read a lot and we visit the library at least once a week.

As part of my library membership I also get the online library monthly newsletter that lists all their upcoming events and offerings. Click below to go to the Wilmington, MA Public Library to see some of their offerings.   http://www.wilmlibrary.org/  . Besides borrowing books they also have monthly activities for all ages including workshops, lectures, quest speakers and book club meetings. I have attended and enjoyed several evening events and most are free.

Recently I got the library newsletter online and read about all the upcoming events. However I also noticed that my local library belongs to a free digital magazine service call ZINIO. Your local library probably has the same service. If you join Zinio through your library and then join Zinio online, you can download over 100 digital versions of the latest magazines for free. You can also join Zinio directly and get paid subscriptions. Pay or get it free; your choice. You have to join Zinio through your library if you want the free service.

If you join Zinio, you can read these magazines in full color format online or download them to your computer, laptop, tablet, electronic reader, Android, iPhone or iPod. Once downloaded, you can read them anywhere and digitally flip pages or click on the text mode to read articles. In text mode, you can adjust the size of the letters to soot your taste.

I know that having the hard cover version of a book, magazine or newspaper is nice to hold in your hand or spread out on the kitchen table. However, the digital readers certainly provide more convenience to keep in your pocket and read anywhere.

I have an iPod and now use it to read digital books, newspapers and magazines while on the go. It’s real handy while waiting at the Doctor’s Office or riding the T to keep up with the latest headlines or even read a full article.

I took a picture of some of the magazines available on Zinio and you can see them below. You can go to Zinio.com and Click EXPLORE to see some other magazines and flip through their pages. http://zinio.com . If you like it, go to your library and see if they have the Zinio Service.

Comments always welcome….  Markryan82@comcast.net

Sample Magazines (From Zinio)

 

Weather Predictors

I saw a woolly bear caterpillar crawling across my driveway the other day and wondered about the upcoming weather.  I remembered the old folktale that you could predict the weather by the thickness of the brown band.  “The wider the brown band compared to the black band, the milder the winter.”  Just to be sure, I looked it up on Google and found an interesting article.  You can see the web link below under the title “Woolly Bear Caterpillar”.

You can also see two photos at the left. The one on top with the leaf is from the web and the one on the bottom is from my driveway. Although the brown band is bigger than the black in both photos, there is more black in my driveway photo. Both photos would predict a milder winter but colder in the driveway photo. Is this pure science or what?

Since my curiosity was now peaked, I looked up other weather predictors and found the traditional Farmer’s Almanac, A Pig’s Spleen, Insect Movements, and Cloud Types, etc. could be used to predict the upcoming weather season.

The Farmer’s Almanac has been around for a lot of years and has about a 70% accuracy. “It predicts a colder and drier winter this season (2013-2014)”. They say that the Almanac gets its predictions from analysis of yearly weather patterns as well as a “guarded secret formula”. Similarly, the traditional folklore predictions have been passed down through the generations as farmers watched the skies and sailors watched the seas.  My favourite is “Red skies in the morning, sailors taking warning. Red skies at night sailors delight”.

You can see some other “folklore weather sayings” at the web link below …

http://www.almanac.com/content/weather-predicting-do-it-yourself   Before the fancy weather instruments of today, families would predict upcoming weather by looking at the sky. The weather patterns observed over many years seemed to be good predictors of the upcoming weather. The list below includes a few examples of the weather proverbs. (“The higher the clouds, the finer the weather - Clear Moon, frost soon -When clouds appear like towers, the Earth is refreshed by frequent showers - Rainbow in the morning gives you fair warning - Ring around the moon? Rain real soon - Rain foretold, long last. Short notice, soon will pass”.)

Another more comprehensive list of weather proverbs or rhyming forecasts can be found at the web link ….  http://tww.id.au/weather/forecast.html   The list includes weather rhymes for (clouds, wind, plants, night, seasons, etc.)  Some examples are (“Wind from the east fish bite least, wind from the west fish bite best - When Windows won't open, And the salt clogs the shaker, The weather will favour the umbrella maker!”)

Weather is a finicky thing and even with the best weather instruments, present day weather men only make predictions based on their best guess. My old favourite is to put my wet finger in the air to tell which way the wind is blowing. If it is from the west and there are low clouds, rain will be here soon.

Do you have any old time weather predictors?

Comments always welcome:  ….. markryan82@comcast.net.

Other Reference

Farmer’s Almanac

http://www.almanac.com/weather/longrange/region/us/1  - Winter will be colder and drier than normal, with below-normal snowfall. The coldest periods will be from Christmas through early January and in mid-January and early, mid-, and late February. The snowiest periods will be in mid-November, mid- to late December, mid- to late February, and early March.

Woolly Caterpillar

http://m.almanac.com/content/predicting-winter-weather-woolly-bear-caterpillars
The tiger moth caterpillar has black ends and a reddish brown middle.  Folklore has it that the larger the brown segment compared to the black is a predictor of a milder winter.
Comments to the Woolly Bear Caterpillar Article
There are mixed comments to the article from various readers.  I guess it all depends on your experience and in which part of the United States that you are located. One comment from Hardyville,Va states the following: “I have watched the Woolly Worm for years but have not gotten any answers about the weather.  I find the Quantity of Nuts and wild berries that are produced, the thickness of the shells are a better clue as to the temperature of the winter.  Also the closer to the ground that the wasps and hornets build their nests in the summer the colder it will be in the winter. I think that folks in different areas have their own special ways of determining how they think the weather is forecasted in that area.”

Predicting Weather With A Pig Spleen
http://www.almanac.com/content/predicting-weather-pig-spleen
When farmers would slaughter pigs in the fall, the shape of the spleen was used to predict the upcoming winter. The bulges and thickness of the spleen from top to bottom were a sign of colder changing weather. These folklore methods were part of the Scandinavian heritage of Midwestern farmers.

 

 

Romeo Restaurant Reviews (The Finicky Phantom Diner)

    

I have recently been looking at online restaurant reviews and decided to create my own.  After all, I go out to eat at least once a week with my wife, family or friends.  My opinion counts just as much as all those fancy critics and might even mean more to the regular Tom, Dick or Harriet.

I first Googled  “Restaurant Reviews” and came up with a list of possible suspects. There was Zagat.com, TripAdvisor.com, Yelp.com, Local.com besto.voiceplaces.com, urbanspoon.com, fodors.com, opentable.com, dine.com and many others.  Some review web sites were geared to just local restaurants, business or attractions and other sites were national.

I then read the reviews on the various sites.  Some were easily accessible by the average diner and others you had to join to even get a local opinion or list of businesses.  Some also had reviews from professional reviewers and others from the casual diner.

After reading a few reviews, most zeroed in on a few categories when giving a restaurant critique. These included (service, atmosphere, cleanliness, food, and price). When rating these categories different scales were used like (Five Stars *****), (A,B,C,D), (Good, Fair, Bad), (Low, Medium High), (1 to 4) or (1 to 100).

When trying to define each category I came up with the following definitions.   Atmosphere describes the décor or feel of the place. Cleanliness describes how clean the tables, plates, silverware, floors or bathrooms were.  Service describes how fast you were seated, how quickly the waiter returned with requested items, how they greeted you, how knowledgeable they were about the menu choices. Price describes how reasonable the cost was for the food and service (Low, Medium or High).  Food was the most important category and describes the quality of the food and its presentation. How the food looks, smells and tastes?  Is it over cooked, tender, and fresh?  Does it have a pleasing look and aroma?  Is the quantity just right, too little or supersize.

With all this in mind I decided to post my reviews on YELP.COM since it was easily accessible by the casual reviewer as well as the diner looking for some advice when selecting a restaurant. Yelp reviews restaurants and other businesses both locally and nationally.

Most importantly, if you want to write a review it needs to be done as soon after your dining experience as possible so your opinion is fresh in your mind and meaningful.

When dining with my wife we normally discuss our reactions to the rating categories while we are eating.  However, it is more difficult trying to gather this information when dining with a larger crowd unless everyone contributes they’re opinions in writing.

Recently, I polled my Romeo friends (Retired Old Men Eating Out), for their opinions on the restaurants that we have dined at.  Although I receive a limited response, I would like to thank those who replied and will try to include their opinions in my reviews.

To date,  I have written four reviews and posted them on YELP.com  You can see them there by typing in my name (Mark Ryan) in the Members Search  line or just clicking on the link below ….

http://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=seDiKEJ7zJErE-_5HV4VFQ

There is also a short rating found below for those who wish to send me a review or recommendation for a restaurant to try. Thanks in advance for your help.

Comments Always Welcome ……. Markryan82@comcast.net

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Restaurant Review Short Form

Your Name    __________________      Present  Date ____________

Name of Restaurant ______________ Date Dined ________

Rating Score (1-10 with 1= Poor and 10 = Best) Rate the Price = (Low, Medium, High)

Type a number or letter after each category and send the reply by email back to me.

Only respond to the lunch that you attended.

Rate the following categories : Service __ , Food  __ , Atmosphere __ , Price (L,M,H) ___

Name Your Menu Selection and Describe it:

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

Additional Comments:

_______________________________________________


 

Recent reviews by Mark R.

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Yard Cleanup, Mulch and Lawn Prep

It’s that time of year again to cleanup the yard, spread the bark mulch and fertilize the lawn. Spring came early this year by several weeks. On average the daily temperatures have been 10 degrees higher during the month of March which has caused some of the trees to bloom and the ground flowers to pop.

Tulips and crocuses have come out a little earlier as well as the buds on the flowering trees. Unfortunately, last night we had a hard frost which may have killed off some of the flowers. Hopefully, the green leaves will soon replace the buds and the trees will quickly fill in. (The flowers stayed on my trees and are blooming.)

I started to cleanup around the bushes surrounding my house and wondered where all the dry leaves came from. There were tons of dry oak and maple leaves stuffed in all the nooks and crannies behind bushes and in the outside corners of the house. Where did they all come from? I must have raked out a zillion piles last fall and they’re all back again. Of course the wind helps by blowing all the leaves from adjacent house lots right into my yard. It’s like my yard is the neighborhood funnel for all the wind debris.  You can see some photos at the link ….  https://plus.google.com/photos/108806068200291783388/albums/5727349337401685841?authkey=CJyF1pew84HQzAE

I generally rake out all the leaves into piles and then mulch them with my push mower with a rear bagger. I then dump the bagger into a compost pile that makes good soil in a few months. However, you need to add water and green clippings to the compost pile with some lime and turn it a few times to get a good result.

After all the leaves and loose debris are cleaned out, I then cut a clean edge with an edging spade around all the flower beds and bushes before adding a fresh coat of bark mulch.  I like using the brownish hemlock mulch rather than the red-dyed pine mulch.  I normally spread about 6 yards of mulch around the house, bushes, flower gardens and yard trees. As a general rule of thumb a yard of mulch will cover about 100 square feet and three inches thick.  I bought my mulch at Eric’s Greenhouse in Reading, MA for about $47.00 a yard delivered. I then needed some more and picked it up myself with my utility trailer.

At a slow pace, I can generally edge a thirty square foot area, rake it clean and spread the mulch in about one hour. At my age, I only spend about three hours a day working in the yard usually sprinkled with a few rest breaks and drinking plenty of water. For those who may want to count calories, general yard work burns off about 500 calories per hour.

My next chore is to prepare the lawn. During some years there is a lot of dead grass and thatch which needs to be raked out before adding fertilizer. You can do it by hand for small lots or machine if the lawn is larger. I have a half acre lot which is mostly grass so I use the riding lawn mower with a dethatching tool attached.  I generally drag the dethatcher around the yard and allow the tines to pull out all the dead grass. I then use the riding lawnmower with a double bagger and suck up all the debris. I then empty the yard debris into the compost pile.

Lastly, I add the fertilizer to the lawn with a Scotts drop spreader. I have tried different brands of fertilizer and found that they all work about the same. Scotts is usually the most expensive, then Pennington and then Vigoro. This year I bought the Vigoro Fertilizer with Crab Grass Preventer.  The 15,000 square foot bags cost about $45.00 at Home Depot and I use about three bags to cover most of my lawn. I then check the garden hoses for leaks, put in new washers and tighten connections.

I don’t water the lawn much and let mother-nature take care of it most of the time. In Wilmington where I live there is still a water ban where you can only water with a hand held hose before 9 AM and after 5 PM.  As you may remember, I also have a vegetable garden that is watered with a rain barrel drip irrigation system that helps with water conservation.

Comments Always Welcome…..  markryan82@comcast.net

The Best Things In Life Used To Be Free, Almost?

It used to be that you could fish anywhere as long as you had a pole, a line, a hook and a worm.  That has changed over the years and now there is a fee for everything.  Did you know that you now have to have a salt water fishing license?

That’s right. Last year (2011) you were suppose to get a Federal Permit to fish in all United States ocean waters. Who knew?  This year (2012) you need to get a Recreational Saltwater Fishing Permit in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut which all have reciprocal agreements.   If you fish in Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, or Virginia, please be aware there are  new state fishing license and registration requirements. Please check with these states before registering with NOAA. If you meet these state requirements, you are automatically registered with NOAA.

The cost of the Massachusetts Saltwater Fishing Permit is only $10.00. For those over 60 the permit is free but you may have to pay a processing charge on the internet.   However, after registering you have to fill out a survey that asks several fishing related questions but also asks how much does a license mean to you and would you be willing to pay more.  Some anglers are then selected by random to give up their license for the year in return for a gift check ranging from $10 to $500.   The full article appeared in the Boston Globe (Friday, 3-2-12)    http://articles.boston.com/2012-03-02/business/31114730_1_recreational-saltwater-fishing-fishing-industry-anglers

For us Romeos who have gone on a deep sea fishing trip there may be some extra fees.  The Boat owner will now have to get a “For Hirer Fishing Permit” that covers his passengers. The passengers will be covered by the boat permit. However, you know that the cost will be passed along.

Although you can a get a Freshwater and Hunting License at your local Town Hall, you can only get the Saltwater License online, by phone or at selected Marine Fisheries Offices.  Go to the Mass. Website below to get further details.  You can also get further info about the Federal Permit at the NOAA website below.

Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries – Mass. Permit (Includes Federal Registry)

http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dmf/recreationalfishing/rec_permits.htm

National Registry – NOAA Fishery Service – Federal Permit

https://www.countmyfish.noaa.gov/register/

Comments Always Welcome … markryan82@comcast.net

“Man With A Camera” - Go PATS !!!!

I remember watching a TV show in the 1950s called "Man With A Camera"   starring Charles Bronson.    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_with_a_Camera.    Bronson was a World War II Vet who freelanced as a photographer in New York City and helped solve crimes with the police.  Bronson was the original secret agent who used all kinds of cameras to capture images. He even had a miniature camera on his necktie, had a phone in his car (1950) and developed film with a darkroom setup in his car trunk. As I watched with excitement, I thought it would certainly be great to have a job like that.

Over the years, I was always interested in photography and started taking pictures at an early age with my father’s Brownie Box Camera …   http://www.pierspettman.co.uk/photography/no2browniemodelf.shtml.  With a burning interest, I joined the Camera Club in school when I was in the 7^th grade and helped take school related photos. We even had a darkroom at school which was set up in an old custodian’s broom closet.

Normally, you would have to bring the exposed film from your camera to a Camera Store to have them develop it for you. Then wait a few days before you could get the pictures back. However, I was able to develop my own film in the school dark room and have pictures back in a few hours.

The film developing process involved several steps that were time critical and light sensitive. Every step of the development process was done in the dark or under a red light. The 120 mm film from my box camera was unrolled from its spool and then put in a developing solution, fixed, washed and hung up to dry. After drying, the negatives were transferred to a positive sheet of white photo paper on a light box or enlarger, developed again in a chemical solution and then hung up to dry usually on a string with clothespins. I was so proud of my film developing process. It was like a miracle in its day and unlike the digital cameras of the present.

Over the years I have purchased all sorts of camera equipment and have experimented with all the various innovations. Each innovation has brought a new joy and excitement to the process of capturing a photo image. The self developing film, the wide angle and telephoto lenses, the sharp focus of 20 mega pixels and now the mini video camcorders have fostered a new excitement for the average photographer.

Recently, I purchased a mini camcorder called the Sony Bloggie Touch. It has a slim design and you can slip it into a shirt pocket. It has a 12 MP lens for sharp still photos and also takes hours of video. I purchased my camera on Amazon.Com for $118.00 but I also saw it at Cosco for $99.00 ($149 minus a $50 rebate).

Although I also own an iPod Touch which takes videos and stills, the Sony Bloggie has a better lens for sharper images and low light situations. Besides, the Bloggie is a dedicated camcorder that has more camera only features.  You can see a demo and review at the following link ….   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqzllb_pJng&feature=related   .

After taking a bunch of stills and videos I can easily download them to my computer with the Bloggie USB doggle and then stored the images on the computer or online at my Picasa Albums account where friends and family can see them. 

You can also have the still photos developed at your local CVS or Walgreens by setting up an online account.  After sending your photos from your computer to Walgreens online you can either pick up the prints at the local store within an hour or have them delivered by mail to your home with 24 hours. You can even print them on your own computer printer with glossy photo paper.

If you feel even more creative you can put the stills and videos together to make a slide show or movie. Most computers now have built in photo software. For those with Apple computers you can use the iMovie Software and for those with PC computers you can use Windows Movie Maker Software.

I have a Toshiba PC computer with Windows Movie Maker and have had a great time creating slide shows and short movies with it. Movie Maker allows you to place a selection of stills and videos together with smooth animations or transitions between the photos. You can also add music, personal narration, titles, credits and captions.  After making your movie you can save it to computer, CD or upload it to YouTube or other online storage sites for others to see.

Using my Windows Movie Maker software, I recently took some stills and photos and made some short movies and then stored them on my Picasa Albums Online account. One movie was a family outing to Lowes Hardware and Making A Toy Wood Plane with my nephew.  You can see it at the link ….
https://picasaweb.google.com/108806068200291783388/PlaneMakingII?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCNTsvK_-1oWPSA&feat=directlink

The other home made movie was made after the Patriot’s Football “Disaster Game” advocating the creation of a new football team for next year. In this movie I downloaded some TV commercial videos and Romeo pics and spliced them all together.  Tell me what you think.  Should I pack my bags and move to Hollywood for a new career?   You can see it at the link below …..  
GO PATS !!!!!!
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/T_v56Qgw4JpFxuyV7GamvdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink

Comments Always Welcome.  ….. markryan82@comcast.net