Rantings of a Deranged Craycritter

Human Instruments

2010-11-27T22:08:00.001-05:00

Personally, I see no value in the following video, but apparently 4 million other people find it hysterical and worth watching.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPwuntZfeFA&feature=topvideos

Behind the Scenes: "Agents of Secret Stuff"

2010-11-27T22:06:00.001-05:00

There is a great 8 minute video called Behind the Scenes: "Agents of Secret Stuff" on line right now, that is a fabulous watch. Be sure you don't miss it before it wanders off into the depths of obscurity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s627m1hsfQI&feature=featured

Agents of Secret Stuff Trailer (Official)

2010-11-27T22:04:00.001-05:00

The 2 minute 27 second trailer for Agents of Secret Stuff Trailer (Official) is making its way across you tube for the last day or so. If you haven't seen it yet, you should.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbmDh1nIa3o&feature=featured

Watch "Qatar - Uzbekistan 0-1 (Asian games : Funniest miss in history)" on YouTube

2010-11-26T19:10:00.001-05:00

A heart breaking miss...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtube_gdata_player&v=xtHIa9AHgLk

Watch "Ibrahimovic Kung Fu Kick Materazzi Inter 0-1 Milan" on YouTube

2010-11-26T19:08:00.001-05:00

Have to see it to believe it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtube_gdata_player&v=qYSgmxFtw3I

Watch "Danny MacAskill - "Way Back Home" - NEW street trials riding short film" on YouTube

2010-11-26T19:05:00.001-05:00

Some phenomenal bike riding tricks in some spectacular scenery.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtube_gdata_player&v=Cj6ho1-G6tw

Watch "GLEE - "Umbrella/Singin' In the Rain" Full Performance" on YouTube

2010-11-26T17:19:00.001-05:00

No need to comment, the video says it all...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtube_gdata_player&v=dbZcYy6AAGg

Watch "Ronaldo Amazing Disallowed Goal Portugal vs Spain 17-11-2010" on YouTube

2010-11-26T17:17:00.001-05:00

Whether you think it should be a goal or not, it was a nice play. Watch and decide for yourself...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtube_gdata_player&v=NaX8NTtkllw

Watch "HARRY POTTER DELETED SCENES!" on YouTube

2010-11-26T17:15:00.001-05:00

More deleted scenes from Harry Potter! Check them out now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtube_gdata_player&v=-MtBaFKa_F4

Watch "Annoying Orange: Viral Vote" on YouTube

2010-11-26T16:53:00.001-05:00

A week for viral oranges, but what a great video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtube_gdata_player&v=gFn1cLZ3m7E

Watch "Japanese Face" on YouTube

2010-11-26T16:51:00.001-05:00

One of the funniest videos to hit YouTube this year. If you haven't yet watched Japanese Face, you owe it to yourself to watch this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtube_gdata_player&v=P89IQ5Nr8NQ

CARROT STlCKS!

2010-11-26T10:15:00.001-05:00

A 4 minute video called Carrot Sticks that has made it to the top of a very exclusive list.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtube_gdata_player&v=43EokiyhX3g

Marcus Jordan Dunk @ Stetson - 11-23-10 (Full Play - Longer version)

2010-11-26T01:24:00.001-05:00

The Marcus Jordan Dunk @ Stetson - 11-23-10 video is not as clear as an ESPN video or any other normally televised video should be, in fact, it looks like it was captured on someone's phone. But you can't deny that the dunk is awesome at any resolution, no matter who wins the game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iyc1Wfu12E4&feature=aso

BHSN Recap of UCF win at Stetson

2010-11-26T01:21:00.001-05:00

The BHSN Recap of UCF win at Stetson video is exploding on YouTube tonight for all the same reasons that any other video gets explosive views.

That would be for no reason at all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il1txLrBwgE&feature=aso

Living Lawnmowers, Goats For Rent

2010-11-26T01:17:00.001-05:00

An ABC news article about renting goats and using them as living lawnmowers. Keep your grass short while fertilizing it at the same time. It's a win-win situation.

Specially for the guy renting goats.

http://video.yahoo.com/network/101149635?v=8597687

Amazing Flying Snake

2010-11-26T01:15:00.001-05:00

An cool video of a pretty amazing snake flying around 50 feet in the air...

http://video.yahoo.com/network/101149635?v=8597687

Gran Turismo 5 Launch Trailer

2010-11-24T10:26:00.001-05:00

Gran Turismo has finally been released in North America, and the Launch Trailer is available for viewing.

It rocks!

http://us.gran-turismo.com/us/news/d5487.html

Top 10 Lost Artifacts

2010-11-24T10:00:00.001-05:00

It's an interesting video of 10 incredible artifacts from lost worlds.

An interesting look at things which were built and that inspired the world at the time and currently baffle modern scientists.

http://video.yahoo.com/network/102235952?v=8569952

Ultimate Kitten Snuggle

2010-11-24T09:52:00.001-05:00

A suprise hidden inside a pile of sleeping kittens. Makes you want to just rub your face into it.

http://video.yahoo.com/network/100000089?v=8571610&l=100022574

Gator vs Cat

2010-11-24T09:47:00.001-05:00

MegaCat defends people and kids from vicious gator attack!

And the cat wins!

http://video.yahoo.com/network/100000089?v=8563409&l=100022574

Don't Touch My Junk

2010-11-24T09:45:00.000-05:00

John Tyner of Oceanside CA, who declined TSA pat down, talks about passengers rights to ABC News.

http://video.yahoo.com/network/100000089?v=8563606&l=100022574

Bristol Palin and Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino Abstinence PSA

2010-11-23T16:35:00.001-05:00

1:42 of Bristol Palin and Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino doing a Public Service Announcement on Abstinence.

Sounds as boring as it could possibly get, but it is getting the page views to raise it to the top of the crop.

http://video.yahoo.com/network/100000089?v=8571000

Real-life Mowgli?

2010-11-23T16:30:00.001-05:00

A video making it's way all over Yahoo right now, showing a young boy laying down, riding on the back of a tiger has thousands of people wondering if it could possibly be real, or if the video is a well worked hoax.

See for yourself and voice your own opinion of this Jungle Book kid.

http://video.yahoo.com/network/101149635?v=8518806

Gummy Bear Video

2010-11-23T16:20:00.000-05:00

The chart-topping character is here to remind you that he's yummy.

and Gummy...

and a Bear...

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/1344005/4636073

Janey Cutler on 'Britain's Got Talent'

2010-11-23T16:09:00.000-05:00

One of the most viewed videos on Yahoo!
Watch the 80-year-old grandmother's stunning performance...

http://video.yahoo.com/network/100000089?v=7464575

Dramatic Eagle

2010-11-23T16:03:00.002-05:00

Viral video.

Funny? Scary? or Both?

This video of a Dramatic Eagle is rolling on Yahoo.

http://video.yahoo.com/network/100000086?v=8580662

MF Global

2010-03-23T20:21:00.003-04:00

In a panic stricken move that has brought the 3rd CEO to MF Global in 18 months, it was announced today that former New Jersey governor Jon Corizone will be picking up the reins for the world's largest independent futures brokerage.

According to the Wall Street Journal, MF Global has a value of only 1% of the last company run by Corizone, Goldman Sachs.

MF Global's stock went up in after hours trading. We'll see what happens. Personally, I think the guys name is just a little to close to the Godfather's...

Vanity Plates Rule

2010-02-12T15:02:00.001-05:00

A Room With A View

2010-02-12T14:58:00.000-05:00

Free - Take Some

2010-02-10T10:18:00.001-05:00

On the counter of a gas station...

Can you imagine what it would have been like when it was 1/3 full?!?

Wire Scorpion in the Wild

2010-02-10T10:16:00.001-05:00

Epic Email

2009-11-09T20:48:00.002-05:00

It finally worked! An epic email and a glorious victory in all things.

The post shall live for eternity in the blogosphere.

There should be cheering in the streets and a ticker tape parade for the satisfied millions that will never read this post.

But I will read it, and I will know that this was an epic email of amazing success.

Hurricane Ida Projected Path

2009-11-08T20:08:00.001-05:00

Hurricane Ida is still projected to wind up in Alabama or the Florida Panhandle, but beyond that, the models get wired and unreliable. Some show it running straight up the Alabama/Georgia line, some have it running a bit more inland, and possibly flooding Atlanta again, and others show it milling around aimlessly in the Panhandle area of Florida.

Where ever it ends up, it's going to be a soggy week for some people. Be prepared, and gather supplies now. Don't wait until it's too late.

Geisy Arruda Video

2009-11-08T19:35:00.001-05:00

Watching the video of an over handed meglomaniac reminds the people watching that there are only so many talented people in the world, and that if the music and movie industries would stop making them up, we might see the true talent of people whom we least expect it to show up in like Geisy Arruda.

It is the path that we must all take to watch the show, and the ones that get us there fastest are the ones we appreciate most.

Eight Restaurants That Are Getting It Right

2009-11-08T19:31:00.001-05:00

I doubt that it is McDonalds, Wendy's or Arby's and to be frank, I'm not going to look into it right now, but if you'll leave the deranged craycritter alone, and wander off on other paths of other places to visit, you might find the wisdom you are seeking.

Is it a book or a song or a motion picture adaptation of a play? The only one that knows for certain are the ones who are envisioning the future and dancing around in the woods to create it.

Keep watching. It'll get here faster than you can imagine.

Capricorn One

2009-11-08T19:27:00.001-05:00

Capricorn One starring OJ Simpson in his glorious youth is bouncing around in a semi revival lately. If you've never seen the movie, I highly suggest you watch it. It is a suspenseful thriller, and you never know which way the movie is going to go, right up until the last scene of the entire flick.

It has 70's production value, so don't go looking for amazing special effects or acting that is out of this world, but it is a good movie, that every sci-fi fan ought to watch at least once in his or her life. Check it out.

333 Ways To Get Kicked Out Of Walmart

2009-11-08T19:23:00.001-05:00

A couple days ago, it was 101 ways to get kicked out of Walmart, today the list has grown to 333. it's a beautiful thing. The "People of Walmart" website is exploding with goobers and jackjaws dressed up like halloween in Walmart, and now the self proclaimed "low priced leader", has sites popping up with ways to get kicked out.

The real irony is that the things you have to do are fairly obnoxious and over the top. Just goes to show that things that would get you banned for life from Pier 1, will only get you a honorable mention on 333 ways to get kicked out of Walmart.

New Mexico Soccer Girl

2009-11-08T19:17:00.001-05:00

I have to agree with the author that I read that was talking about the fact the women's sporting events can sometimes seem as tame as two turtles racing, but no talways. Apparently there is a lot of heart in New Mexico soccer, when they have to team up against BYU's women's team. A cat fight breaks out, and all of BYU is out to get Ashley Lambert. Poor Mormons.

Their saint is not watching out for them.

Hurricane Ida Path

2009-11-08T19:11:00.001-05:00

Keep a close eye on hurricane Ida, as it approaches the United States coastline. The general path right now, is tending toward Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle. But then the NOAA tracks all seem to fall apart, and the thing may just sit there pouring thousands of gallons of rain onto an already soaked coastline. Watch out if it wanders up into Georgia, and Atlanta has flooding repeats like earlier this fall!

Lychrel

2009-11-07T18:04:00.001-05:00

Lychrel is like that word Daonolfix. It is a goofy sounding word, that when you look at it the first time, you're just not sure what you like about it, and not sure why, but you find out that it is a real word, and that it rolls pleasantly off the tip of your tongue.

It rolls and rolls and wanders around, and now you've expanded your horizons just a bit.

Daonolfix

2009-11-07T17:42:00.001-05:00

Daonolfix is the type of word that just makes me giggle and leap for joy at the sound of it.

It is a lot like Lychrel. At first it makes no sense at all, because you've never heard of it. Next thing you know it sprouts up everywhere you look. Tonight it's hitting millions of views, and thousands of people also just learned the word Lychrel.

Kimberly Munley Photos

2009-11-06T09:21:00.001-05:00

Photos of the heroine officer who shot Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, and ended his bloody rampage on Fort Hood Army base are beginning to trickle onto the web. And finding them will soon be as simple as looking at any current news outlet online, but right now, they are scarce. Look for that to change in the next few hours, as we try to learn less about the event itself, and more about the woman who ended it.

Kimberly Munley

2009-11-06T09:16:00.001-05:00

Kimberly Munley is being hailed as the hero she is for putting a bullett into Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, and ending his rampage of blood on the Fort Hood Army base in Texas. Early reports are that withing 3 minutes, Kimberly Munley was on the scene and returning fire.

She deserves the credit for standing up to what she was trained to do, and ending a disasterous situation as quickly as possible. I just wish she had killed him.

Army Ranks

2009-11-05T20:35:00.001-05:00

There are Army ranks, and ranks of army. One is a position that is held in the chain of command, and the other is long lines of guys standing around, waiting to shoot someone. Preferably other ranks of guys on the other side of the field. Rarely do files come into play, because when they do, there is this whole conglomeration and bad puns that happen about rank and file.

Sorry. It just came out.

Major Hasan

2009-11-05T20:31:00.001-05:00

Here is a guy that absolutely has no excuse. There is nothing on this planet that would justify the actions he took, and with the obvious premeditation that he used. I feel insane with anger and have to be even irritated with myself for even acknowledging the existence of an insane psychopath like this worthless piece of garbage Major Hasan. The only thing left for me to find out about that would send me over the edge, is the confirmation of the words "Sleeper Cell".

Killeen News

2009-11-05T20:23:00.001-05:00

The news coming out of Killeen tonight is that it is trying hard to live up to its name.

Well, not exactly, but with the mass murder that occurred today on the Fort Hood Army Base, it seems to me that the massive rise in search queries for Killeen is purely a short time spike in productivity. And as the phrases and words begin to wander around the page, then we can see that the time has come to finish the missive, and relax about the bloodshed and loss felt by hundreds of families tonight, and 12 in particular.

Sorry for your loss.

Fort Hood Texas Shooting

2009-11-05T20:15:00.001-05:00

Another shooting, and another dead shooter. Thank goodness. How is it possible that a goofed up jack in the Army can have the opportunity to do so much damage with what is being reported as a pair of hand guns?!?

It boggles my mind to think that there is almost ever a situation where a shooter could kill more than a couple people in any room, especially with handguns. The odds are just too against them. I guess the difference is that there is the fight or flight response, and most people, when facing that situation, would try to run. As a result, they are getting shot in the back.

Thank goodness he's now dead. It'll save countless tax dollars.

Malik Nadal Hasan

2009-11-05T20:10:00.001-05:00

I don't mean to be stereotypical, but come on! If this just doesn't scream "sleeper agent", then nothing in the world ever will.

I am not even going to make a statement or start a discussion about Malik Nadal Hasan. The whole topic simply sickens me, and it also sickens me that the thought of accusing him to be a sleeper agent even came to my mind. At least he's dead. We have that much to be thankful for from a cowardly and weak human being.

Big Bird

2009-11-04T08:03:00.001-05:00

In another post tribute to the anniversary of Sesame Street, we find Big Bird rocking his holy yellowness across time and into the Snuffleupagas waiting trunk. past the garbage can living Oscar the Grouch, and walking all over crazy Ernie. It's the Big Bird that people remember most from Sesame Street, and for some unknown fruedian reason, it's the one that I think always will be associated with walking down a street that is always sunny.

Sesame Street

2009-11-04T07:58:00.001-05:00

Welcome to Sesame Street. Where the big bird rules the roost, and Oscar the Grouch and Bert are the comic relief. Ernie thinks he is, but is nothing to the Count. And for unending big time, top of the line, end all to be all enjoyment, there was always Bird's friend Snuffleupagus.

16 tons of never ending TV enjoyment.

Happy anniversery, Seasame Street. Thanks for the years.

zappos.com shoes

2009-11-02T20:10:00.001-05:00

Why are we forced to wander the maze of urban sprawl when there are millions of square miles of open ocean just waiting for you to build a lead house and sail away across the surface of a purple sea? It is the color of ruby slippers that brings up childhood memories of things that are long since passed and that must not be forgotten in our lifetimes.

Stanley Works

2009-11-02T20:06:00.001-05:00

Tell the children of the fairy tales that were present in the ever growing collection of stories from our youth, and they will respond with ridiculous peals of laughter at the familiarity that you are showing to the mother of all things green and growing. It is an easy task to overcome now. All you have to do is seek it out.

Coins For Anything

2009-11-02T20:04:00.002-05:00

For another blurb to make sense it must be followed by one that has no meaning beyond the regular features of her face. The toll of liberty is lower than the price for freedom, and we all shall bask in the sun of fruity flavors and a warm orange sun when the time comes. Don't dent it. It is the way things were meant to be, and it is the outcome of decades of experience.

Hustle Up the Hancock 2010

2009-11-02T11:08:00.001-05:00

Wicked ways to play the game and all the merry maids lined in a row do not help the victorious overcome the weak. It is the knowledge of a phantom, and the means of slaying it that allowed the overgrown children to destroy the beast. And now that it has been destroyed, there is ice cream available in the freezer, and you are welcome to share it.

Michigan Unemployment

2009-11-02T11:06:00.001-05:00

There really is no point in trying to understand the magnificence of the common house fly. If you write the phrases and words for the minimum time frame required by the professor, then you will find that you are horribly short of the wicket, and the ball will have rolled foul.

Thanksgiving Wallpaper Free

2009-11-02T11:03:00.001-05:00

Finding the magic point of 50 over and over again is an interesting challenge in the fact that it is far less than you think, and when the grand vizier is watching over your shoulder, you can probably actually get there in one sentence without causing too much pain to the individual reader, although I doubt you'd want to do it too often.

Nubs The Dog

2009-11-02T11:02:00.001-05:00

And when the overlord of the manor is watching you through the stained glass curtains of his eye glasses, you will understand that there can never be victory in this unpleasant place. The realization will strike you hardest that the price of your freedom is the golden clarity of an afternoon in the sun with a beautiful woman.

Johnny Damon Double Steal Video

2009-11-02T10:15:00.001-05:00

Again and again, we find that the currents that blow us over the hills and through the wander woods can be reached in the simple elegance of a life well lived. If you are living it to the point of distraction, then you are probably achieving greatness at the expense of the barrister who is seeking to sue you.

Mattie Stepanek

2009-11-02T10:12:00.001-05:00

Fourteen and forty are the magical senses of the time that is left to us to enjoy the finer things in life.

Don't bother to look into the wishing well of hope for the fantasy that you will not find there. We are doing all that is possible to mix in a recommended daily amount of greasy flavoring, and as long as it doesn't make the patient sicker, ten we shall continue to do so.

Black Friday Deals 2009

2009-11-02T10:10:00.001-05:00

Right up until the point that they cancel the account in a huge glowing fireball of hate.

This truly is a shame in the grand scheme of things, since there is no harm. No foul pitch.

There is no one to take the pain and suffer quietly into the night, sobbing mutely under the covers, in the dark. If there is no victim, how can there be a crime?

Beef Recall

2009-11-02T10:08:00.001-05:00

There is another beef recall, and this one is similar to all the rest.

We are walking further and further from the edge of civility, and deeper down the path that is quickly becoming another road to the coconut announcement system. Tree trunks being beaten like drums announce the invasion of a inferior force that is about to be smashed down into the muddy leaf covered flooring of the jungle. Watch for the survivors, and they will be able to tell you of the pattern and its glory.

Leo Frank

2009-11-02T10:06:00.001-05:00

Leo Frank once told me: Don't waste the pleasure of the treasure looking for the remaining few pieces that you have not already picked up. If you are looking for the trends through the sand, and all you can see are the conventional paths that are walked by the multitudes, then you have to assume that there is confusion with your enemies as well, and they have no fate by what they make.

No Ceilings Official

2009-11-01T20:20:00.000-05:00

It is official: No ceilings official is the ruling party of an otherwise increasingly interrupted version of an even better match up between two teams. We spend less and less time watching the field and more time gazing starry eyed at the ceilings of the great domes tat insulate our universe from the past time that we have created and corrupted.

It's like the ceiling cat from that website that burns itself into our imagination. Or it's like the glass ceiling that women have so long complained about. But it has no relevance to the way that we divide the goats milk among the peasant, so we can safely choose to ignore the facts of its unwholesome goodness. Pass me another bottle of cologne, and you will behold the magic of the newest century.

Look for it. It will come across you as a wave riding the surfboard of belief.

Meb Keflezighi

2009-11-01T20:14:00.001-05:00

meb keflezighi is a great name that should be right up there with Ventilation is the exchange of inside air for outside air to control temperature, remove moisture, or replenish carbon dioxide (CO2). A small greenhouse (less than 5,000 ft3 in air volume) should have an exhaust-fan capacity estimated by multiplying the floor area by 12.

The capacity of the exhaust fan should be selected at one-eighth of an inch static water pressure. One must decide how much the greenhouse will be used. In summer, 1 to 1? air volume changes per minute are needed. Small greenhouses need the larger amount. A combination of a single-speed fan and a two-speed fan allows three ventilation rates that best satisfy year round needs. In summer, both fans operate on high speed.

Refer to the earlier example of a small greenhouse. A 16-foot wide by 24-foot long house would need an estimated ft3 per minute (cubic feet per minute; CFM) total capacity; that is, 16x24x12 ft3 per minute. For use all year, select two fans to deliver 2,300 ft3 per minute each, one fan to have two speeds so that the high speed is 2,300 ft3 per minute. Adding the second fan, the third ventilation rate is the sum of both fans on high speed, or 4,600 ft3 per minute.

Building a Better Greenhouse

2009-11-01T20:10:00.001-05:00

A hotbed is similar to the cold frame, but it has a source of heat to maintain proper temperatures. Plants can be germinated in one's home in a warm place under fluorescent lamps. Because CO2 and light complement each other, electric lighting combined with CO2 injection are used to increase yields of vegetable and flowering crops. Ventilation replenishes the CO2 in the greenhouse. Mist sprays can be used to create humidity or to moisten seedlings. A variety of automatic watering systems is available to help to do the task over short periods of time. Hand watering is acceptable for most greenhouse crops if someone is available when the task needs to be done; however, many hobbyists work away from home during the day. The box should be painted white so it will reflect solar heat and allow accurate readings of the air temperature.

Watering Systems

A water supply is essential. Therefore, unless close monitoring is possible, both hobbyists and commercial operators should have automated systems with thermostats or other sensors.

Thermostats can be used to control individual units, or a central controller with one temperature sensor can be used. An alternative system, used in commercial greenhouses, places the pads on the air inlets at one end of the greenhouse and uses the exhaust fans at the other end of the greenhouse to pull the air through the house.
Controllers/Automation

Automatic control is essential to maintain a reasonable environment in the greenhouse. Size the evaporative cooler capacity at 1.0 to 1.5 times the volume of the greenhouse. The system can be used without water evaporation to provide the ventilation of the greenhouse. The evaporative cooler works best when the humidity of the outside air is low. Moist, cooler air enters the greenhouse while heated air passes out through roof vents or exhaust louvers. Heat is removed from the air to change water from liquid to a vapor. Shade materials include roll-up screens of wood or aluminum, vinyl netting, and paint.

Small package evaporative coolers have a fan and evaporative pad in one box to evaporate water, which cools air and increases humidity. During the summer, evaporative cooling, shade cloth, or paint may be necessary. Also, the light intensity may be too great for the plants. Do not take shortcuts in developing an automatic control system.
Cooling

Air movement by ventilation alone may not be adequate in the middle of the summer; the air temperature may need to be lowered with evaporative cooling. In spring, the fan operates on high speed. This rate of ventilation is reasonable for the winter. If the two fans have the same capacity rating, then the low-speed fan supplies about 35 percent of the combined total. A single-stage and a two-stage thermostat are needed to control the operation.

A two-speed motor on low speed delivers about 70 percent of its full capacity. Two single-speed fans are better. In winter, 20 to 30 percent of one air volume exchange per minute is sufficient for mixing in cool air without chilling the plants.

One single-speed fan cannot meet this criteria. The static pressure rating accounts for air resistance through the louvers, fans, and greenhouse and is usually shown in the fan selection chart.

Ventilation requirements vary with the weather and season. Exhaust fans should be sized to exchange the total volume of air in the greenhouse each minute.

The total volume of air in a medium to large greenhouse can be estimated by multiplying the floor area times 8.0 (the average height of a greenhouse). Warm air rises on convective currents to escape through the top, drawing cool air in through the sides.

Mechanical ventilation uses an exhaust fan to move air out one end of the greenhouse while outside air enters the other end through motorized inlet louvers. Be careful when mixing parts of two systems.

Natural ventilation uses roof vents on the ridge line with side inlet vents (louvers). Several ventilation systems can be used. Turn these fans off during the summer when the greenhouse will need to be ventilated.

The fan in a forced-air heating system can sometimes be used to provide continuous air circulation. Operate the fans continuously during the winter. For small greenhouses (less than 60 feet long), place the fans in diagonally opposite corners but out from the ends and sides. Without air-mixing fans, the warm air rises to the top and cool air settles around the plants on the floor.

Small fans with a cubic-foot-per-minute (ft3/min) air-moving capacity equal to one quarter of the air volume of the greenhouse are sufficient. During the winter when the greenhouse is heated, you need to maintain air circulation so that temperatures remain uniform throughout the greenhouse. This ensures adequate air for combustion in an airtight greenhouse. Place a piece of plastic pipe through the outside cover to ensure that oxygen gets to the burner combustion air intake. The actual furnace rated capacity takes into account the efficiency of the furnace and is called the furnace input fuel rating.

This discussion is a bit technical, but these factors must be considered when choosing a greenhouse. If a rigid-frame or post and rafter freestanding greenhouse 16 feet wide by 24 feet long, 12 feet high at the ridge, with 6 feet sidewalls, is covered with single-layer glass from the ground to the ridge, what size gas heater would be needed to maintain 60oF on the coldest winter night (0oF)? Calculate the total outside area (Figure 4):
        two long sides     2 x 6 ft x 24 ft = 288 ft2
        two ends     2 x 6ft x 16 ft = 192 ft2
        roof     2 x 10 ft x 24ft = 480 ft2
        gable ends     2 x 6 ft x 8 ft = 96 ft2
            A = 1,056 ft2

        Select the proper heat loss factor, u = 1.2 Btu/h x ft2 x oF. The following equation summarizes this description: Q = A x u x (Ti-To).

        Example. (Ti-To) is the maximum temperature difference between the lowest outside temperature (To) in your region and the temperature to be maintained in the greenhouse (Ti). On a Quonset, the sides and roof are one unit; measure the length of the curved rafter (ground to ground) and multiply by the length of the house. The Btu capacity of the heating system, Q, can be estimated easily using three factors:

   1. Heating systems are rated in British thermal units (Btu) per hour (h). Portable kerosene heaters used in homes are risky because some plants are sensitive to gases formed when the fuel is burned.

Calculating heating system capacity. Safety controls, such as safety pilots and a gas shutoff switch, should be used as required. Use fresh-air vents to supply oxygen for burners for complete combustion. For safety purposes, and to prevent harmful gases from contacting plants, all gas, oil, and woodburning systems must be properly vented to the outside. One method is to paint containers black to attract heat, and fill them with water to retain it. Small gas or oil heaters designed to be installed through a masonry wall also work well.

Solar-heater greenhouses were popular briefly during the energy crisis, but they did not prove to be economical to use. This is done by using heaters, fans, thermostats, and other equipment.
Heating

The heating requirements of a greenhouse depend on the desired temperature for the plants grown, the location and construction of the greenhouse, and the total outside exposed area of the structure. Solar energy from the sun provides sunlight and some heat, but you must provide a system to regulate the environment in your greenhouse. The rest of the floor should be covered by several inches of gravel for drainage of excess water. A concrete, gravel, or stone walkway 24 to 36 inches wide can be built for easy access to the plants. The manufacturer should provide plans for the foundation construction. However, it is available only in sheets four to six feet wide. PVC or vinyl film costs two to five times as much as PE but lasts as long as five years. Copolymers last 2 to 3 years. The films are made of polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), copolymers, and other materials. Light transmission of these film-plastic coverings is comparable to glass. Film-plastic coverings are available in several grades of quality and several different materials. As a general rule, each layer reduces light by about 10 percent. The double-layer material retains more heat, so energy savings of 30 percent are common. These covers have two layers of rigid plastic separated by webs. Use only clear, transparent, or translucent grades for greenhouse construction. Fiberglass is lightweight, strong, and practically hailproof. A good foundation is required, and the frames must be strong and must fit well together to support heavy, rigid glass.

Fiberglass. Small prefabricated glass greenhouses are available for do-it-yourself installation, but most should be built by the manufacturer because they can be difficult to construct.

The disadvantages of glass are that it is easily broken, is initially expensive to build, and requires must better frame construction than fiberglass or plastic. Tempered glass is frequently used because it is two or three times stronger than regular glass. Glass is the traditional covering. The A-frame is similar to the post and rafter construction except that a collar beam ties the upper parts of the rafters together.
Coverings

Greenhouse coverings include long-life glass, fiberglass, rigid double-wall plastics, and film plastics with 1- to 3-year lifespans. Like the rigid frame, the post and rafter design allows more space along the sidewalls and efficient air circulation. Strong sidewall posts and deep post embedment are required to withstand outward rafter forces and wind pressures. The post and rafter is a simple construction of an embedded post and rafters, but it requires more wood or metal than some other designs. The conventional gable roof and sidewalls allow maximum interior space and air circulation. Glued or nailed plywood gussets connect the sidewall supports to the rafters to make one rigid frame. The rigid-frame structure has vertical sidewalls and rafters for a clear-span construction. The gothic shape allows more headroom at the sidewall than does the Quonset.

Rigid-frame. Wooden arches may be used and joined at the ridge. The gothic frame construction is similar to that of the Quonset but it has a gothic shape (Figure 3). Quonset sidewall height is low, which restricts storage space and headroom.

Gothic. The frame is circular and usually covered with plastic sheeting. The Quonset is a simple and efficient construction with an electrical conduit or galvanized steel pipe frame. The following are several common frames (Figure 3).

Quonset. Each of these materials should be considered--it pays to shop around for ideas.
Frames

Greenhouse frames range from simple to complex, depending on the imagination of the designer and engineering requirements. Plastic pipe materials generally are inadequate to meet snow and wind load requirements. Build-it-yourself greenhouse plans are usually for structures with wood or metal pipe frames. Suggested minimum sizes are 6 feet wide by 12 feet long for an even-span or freestanding greenhouse.
Structural Materials

A good selection of commercial greenhouse frames and framing materials is available. Small greenhouses have a large exposed area through which heat is lost or gained, and the air volume inside is relatively small; therefore, the air temperature changes quickly in a small greenhouse. Large greenhouses are easier to manage because temperatures in small greenhouses fluctuate more rapidly. The ratio of cost to the usable growing space is good.

When deciding on the type of structure, be sure to plan for adequate bench space, storage space, and room for future expansion. It can house a central bench, two side benches, and two walkways. A window-mounted greenhouse can be attached on the south or east side of a house. The even-span has a better shape than a lean-to for air circulation to maintain uniform temperatures during the winter heating season. Finally, consider the location of windows and doors on the supporting structure and remember that snow, ice, or heavy rain might slide off the roof or the house onto the structure.

Even-span. The lean-to should face the best direction for adequate sun exposure. The wider the lean-to, the higher the supporting wall must be. The height of the supporting wall limits the potential size of the lean-to. The disadvantages include some limitations on space, sunlight, ventilation, and temperature control. The ridge of the lean-to is attached to a building using one side and an existing doorway, if available. There are advantages and disadvantages to each type.
Attached Greenhouses

Lean-to. An attached greenhouse can be a half greenhouse, a full-size structure, or an extended window structure. Access to the greenhouse should be convenient for both people and utilities. Other site considerations include the light requirements of the plants to be grown; locations of sources of heat, water, and electricity; and shelter from winter wind. When necessary, build the greenhouse above the surrounding ground so rainwater and irrigation water will drain away. Remember that the sun is lower in the southern sky in winter causing long shadows to be cast by buildings and evergreen trees (Figure 1).

Good drainage is another requirement for the site. You should aim to maximize winter sun exposure, particularly if the greenhouse is used all year. Evergreen trees that have foliage year round should not be located where they will shade the greenhouse because they will block the less intense winter sun. North of major structures is the least desirable location and is good only for plants that require little light.

Deciduous trees, such as maple and oak, can effectively shade the greenhouse from the intense late afternoon summer sun; however, they should not shade the greenhouse in the morning. Morning sunlight is most desirable because it allows the plant's food production process to begin early; thus growth is maximized. Building a greenhouse does not need to be expensive or time-consuming.Careful planning is important before a home greenhouse project is started. The final choice of the type of greenhouse will depend on the growing space desired, home architecture, available sites, and costs. The greenhouse must, however, provide the proper environment for growing plants.

Location

The greenhouse should be located where it gets maximum sunlight. The first choice of location is the south or southeast side of a building or shade trees. Sunlight all day is best, but morning sunlight on the east side is sufficient for plants. An east side location captures the most November to February sunlight. The next best sites are southwest and west of major structures, where plants receive sunlight later in the day. Deciduous trees also allow maximum exposure to the winter sun because they shed their leaves in the fall. A workplace for potting plants and a storage area for supplies should be nearby.
Types of Greenhouses

A home greenhouse can be attached to a house or garage, or it can be a freestanding structure. The chosen site and personal preference can dictate the choices to be considered. A lean-to greenhouse is a half greenhouse, split along the peak of the roof, or ridge line (Figure 2A), Lean-tos are useful where space is limited to a width of approximately seven to twelve feet, and they are the least expensive structures. Lean-tos are close to available electricity, water and heat. Temperature control is more difficult because the wall that the greenhouse is built on may collect the sun's heat while the translucent cover of the greenhouse may lose heat rapidly. An even-span is a full-size structure that has one gable end attached to another building (Figure 2B). It is usually the largest and most costly option, but it provides more usable space and can be lengthened. An even-span can accommodate two to three benches for growing crops.

Window-mounted. This glass enclosure gives space for conveniently growing a few plants at relatively low cost (Figure 2D). The special window extends outward from the house a foot or so and can contain two or three shelves.

Freestanding Structures

Freestanding greenhouses are separate structures; they can be set apart from other buildings to get more sun and can be made as large or small as desired (Figure 2C). A separate heating system is needed, and electricity and water must be installed.

The lowest cost per square foot of growing space is generally available in a freestanding or even-span greenhouse that is 17 to 18 feet wide. The frames are made of wood, galvanized steel, or aluminum. Frames can be covered with glass, rigid fiberglass, rigid double-wall plastics, or plastic film. All have advantages and disadvantages. There are no columns or trusses to support the roof. A good foundation is required to support the lateral load on the sidewalls.

Post and rafter and A-frame. The type of frame and cover must be matched correctly.

Glass. It has a pleasing appearance, is inexpensive to maintain, and has a high degree of permanency. An aluminum frame with a glass covering provides a maintenance-free, weather-tight structure that minimizes heat costs and retains humidity. Glass is available in many forms that would be suitable with almost any style or architecture. A good grade of fiberglass should be used because poor grades discolor and reduce light penetration. Tedlar-coated fiberglass lasts 15 to 20 years. The resin covering the glass fibers will eventually wear off, allowing dirt to be retained by exposed fibers. A new coat of resin is needed after 10 to 15 years. Light penetration is initially as good as glass but can drop off considerably over time with poor grades of fiberglass.

Double-wall plastic. Rigid double-layer plastic sheets of acrylic or polycarbonate are available to give long-life, heat-saving covers. The acrylic is a long-life, nonyellowing material; the polycarbonate normally yellows faster, but usually is protected by a UV-inhibitor coating on the exposed surface. Both materials carry warranties for 10 years on their light transmission qualities. Both can be used on curved surfaces; the polycarbonate material can be curved the most. About 80 percent of the light filters through double-layer plastic, compared with 90 percent for glass.

Film plastic. Generally, these are replaced more frequently than other covers. Structural costs are very low because the frame can be lighter and plastic film is inexpensive. A utility grade of PE that will last about a year is available at local hardware stores. Commercial greenhouse grade PE has ultraviolet inhibitors in it to protect against ultraviolet rays; it lasts 12 to 18 months. New additives have allowed the manufacture of film plastics that block and reflect radiated heat back into the greenhouse, as does glass which helps reduce heating costs. It attracts dust from the air, so it must be washed occasionally.
Foundations and Floors

Permanent foundations should be provided for glass, fiberglass, or the double-layer rigid-plastic sheet materials. Most home greenhouses require a poured concrete foundation similar to those in residential houses. Quonset greenhouses with pipe frames and a plastic cover use posts driven into the ground.

Permanent flooring is not recommended because it may stay wet and slippery from soil mix media. Water also can be sprayed on the gravel to produce humidity in the greenhouse.
Environmental Systems

Greenhouses provide a shelter in which a suitable environment is maintained for plants. As much as 25 percent of the daily heat requirement may come from the sun, but a lightly insulated greenhouse structure will need a great deal of heat on a cold winter night. The heating system must be adequate to maintain the desired day or night temperature.

Usually the home heating system is not adequate to heat an adjacent greenhouse. A 220-volt circuit electric heater, however, is clean, efficient, and works well. Separate solar collection and storage systems are large and require much space. However, greenhouse owners can experiment with heat-collecting methods to reduce fossil-fuel consumption. However, because the greenhouse air temperature must be kept at plant-growing temperatures, the greenhouse itself is not a good solar-heat collector.

Heating systems can be fueled by electricity, gas, oil, or wood. The heat can be distributed by forced hot air, radiant heat, hot water, or steam. The choice of a heating system and fuel depends on what is locally available, the production requirements of the plants, cost, and individual choice. A is the total exposed (outside) area of the greenhouse sides, ends, and roof in square feet (ft2). The curves end area is 2 (ends) X 2/3 X height X width. Add the sum of the first calculation with that of the second.
   2. u is the heat loss factor that quantifies the rate at which heat energy flows out of the greenhouse. For example, a single cover of plastic or glass has a value of 1.2 Btu/h x ft2 x oF (heat loss in Btu's her hour per each square foot of area per degree in Fahrenheit); a double-layer cover has a value of 0.8 Btu/h x ft2 x oF. The values allow for some air infiltration but are based on the assumption that the greenhouse is fairly airtight.
   3. For example, the maximum difference will usually occur in the early morning with the occurrence of a 0oF to -5oF outside temperature while a 60oF inside temperature is maintained. Plan for a temperature differential of 60 to 65oF. The temperature differential is 60oF - 0oF = 60 oF.

        Q = 1,056 x 1.2 x 60 = 76,032 Btu/h (furnace output).

Although this is a relatively small greenhouse, the furnace output is equivalent to that in a small residence such as a townhouse. Note the effect of each value on the outcome. When different materials are used in the construction of the walls or roof, heat loss must be calculated for each. For electrical heating, covert Btu/h to kilowatts by dividing Btu/h by 3,413. If a wood, gas, or oil burner is located in the greenhouse, a fresh-air inlet is recommended to maintain an oxygen supply to the burner. The inlet pipe should be the diameter of the flue pipe. Unvented heaters (no chimney) using propane gas or kerosene are not recommended.
Air Circulation

Installing circulating fans in your greenhouse is a good investment. The goal is to develop a circular (oval) pattern of air movement. The fan must be wired to an on/off switch so it can run continuously, separate from the thermostatically controlled burner.
Ventilation

Ventilation is the exchange of inside air for outside air to control temperature, remove moisture, or replenish carbon dioxide (CO2). A small greenhouse (less than 5,000 ft3 in air volume) should have an exhaust-fan capacity estimated by multiplying the floor area by 12.

The capacity of the exhaust fan should be selected at one-eighth of an inch static water pressure. One must decide how much the greenhouse will be used. In summer, 1 to 1? air volume changes per minute are needed. Small greenhouses need the larger amount. A combination of a single-speed fan and a two-speed fan allows three ventilation rates that best satisfy year round needs. In summer, both fans operate on high speed.

Refer to the earlier example of a small greenhouse. A 16-foot wide by 24-foot long house would need an estimated ft3 per minute (cubic feet per minute; CFM) total capacity; that is, 16x24x12 ft3 per minute. For use all year, select two fans to deliver 2,300 ft3 per minute each, one fan to have two speeds so that the high speed is 2,300 ft3 per minute. Adding the second fan, the third ventilation rate is the sum of both fans on high speed, or 4,600 ft3 per minute.

Some glass greenhouses are sold with a manual ridge vent, even when a mechanical system is specified. The manual system can be a backup system, but it does not take the place of a motorized louver. On a winter day with varying amounts of sunlight and clouds, the temperature can fluctuate greatly; close supervision would be required if a manual ventilation system were in use. In either case, the sensor or sensors should be shaded from the sun, located about plant height away from the sidewalls, and have constant airflow over them. An aspirated box is suggested; the box houses each sensor and has a small fan that moves greenhouse air through the box and over the sensor (Figure 5). Bear in mind, the small greenhouse is likely to have a variety of plant materials, containers, and soil mixes that need different amounts of water.

Time clocks or mechanical evaporation sensors can be used to control automatic watering systems. Watering kits can be obtained to water plants in flats, benches, or pots.
CO2 and Light

Carbon dioxide (CO2) and light are essential for plant growth. As the sun rises in the morning to provide light, the plants begin to produce food energy (photosynthesis). The level of CO2 drops in the greenhouse as it is used by the plants. Bottled CO2, dry ice, and combustion of sulfur-free fuels can be used as CO2 sources. Commercial greenhouses use such methods.
Alternative Growing Structures

A greenhouse is not always needed for growing plants. The lamps must be close together and not far above the plants.

A cold frame or hotbed can be used outdoors to continue the growth of young seedlings until the weather allows planting in a garden.

Escape The Coffee House Game Walkthrough

2009-11-01T19:52:00.001-05:00

While waiting for an update to a site that hasn't occurred in more than 4 hours, I noticed this link, and started pondering the significance that while I am trying to kill time, the coffee house theme popped up. Seems a bit ironic to me, that I was prepared to waste some time sitting and writing, and I fins myself sitting and staring at a coffee house.

Not a walkthrough in the classical gaming sense, nor in an open house sense of another rapidly built cardboard mass manufactured home. This time, we are looking at a simpler version of a lasting brain child and the effects that come around when there is a delay in the molding of the world.

Bear with me, until the site updates. I will wander off and work on other projects, but I'll be back to this one before the end of the month.

TSSAA Moving Up

2009-10-31T10:06:00.002-04:00

The good folks over at the TSSAA, needed to use an acronym, since the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association is actually a bit painfull to write and say over and over again. They are rocking up the charts this morning, for a tournement that is undoubtedly scheduled, but this morning, I amd feeling a bit too lazy to actually see why they are moving up.

I'm sure it is an outstanding organization, that does amazing work for the students and athletes, but to be frank, I have no idea. It is simply a new phrase that I discovered that is rolling along at a good pace today, and has value in the fact that any publicity is good publicty.

Support them in any way you can.

Septa Strike Update

2009-10-31T09:58:00.001-04:00

Year after year after year apparently the good folks over at SEPTA decide they might strike.

Members of SEPTA's largest union, Transport Workers Union Local 234, have gone on strike over contract negotiations several times in years past. It seems those pesky cab drivers, bus drivers and train people want more and more money for doing less and less work. if you want the opinion of a totally uninformed person, I tell you that they should be allowed to walk off the job. Then they should be fire, and the positions filled by people who are starving for work. Right now, there is a 10% unemployment rate, and these crazy fools think they deserve a pay raise?!?

There are thousands of people right now, whom I bet would be more than happy to move to Philly, to take a job driving a bus. Fire the greedy bums there now, and repllace them with fresh, thankful people. The service will only get better.

Charleston Post and Courier

2009-10-31T09:47:00.001-04:00

A traditional newspaper with a name that is elegantly quaint sounding, and every city should have one.

The sound of the name: "charleston post and courier" is music to my ears. It has an old time feel about it, that reminds me of ancient colonial cities that compared to modern times, would only be call villages of so. The name of this newpaper rings back to cannon firing in the fields as soldiers aim carefully at fully rigged wooden sailing ships, and try to plunder rum and food from wenches and town halls.

Throw in a few cotton plantations and a bit of tobacco farming, and you have a true colonial setting and a newspaper that lives up to its name.

Or maybe not...

Gunbroker Down

2009-10-31T09:34:00.001-04:00

In another case of wandering the web, and finding intensely topical search phrases, we find that gunbroker has gone down today, and the fanatical followers of the site are clamoring for the return of the site, for a quick Saturday morning fix. The demand to buy guns at the self proclaimed world's largest gun auction is over the top today.

So in an attempt to capture the views and hits and page ads, and provide a relavent page for display, I fear I have failed, but you may find something interesting to look at if you glance around the screen, then you can wander off and fina an alternative site for your gun purchasing pleasure.

Let me know how that works out for you.

India Australia 3rd odi Live Streaming

2009-10-31T09:28:00.001-04:00

Try to capture the meaning and essence of india australia 3rd odi live streaming, and you'll find that cricket is a fabulous game.

The meaning of the universe is lost on the conch snail as she glides across the sea floor looking for a meal, but it is not lost on the batsmen as they try to climb the bracket for the championship of the world in team play cricket. Actually, I have no idea of there is a term such as team play cricket, since that would imply that there is individual cricket as well, and I'm pretty sure that doesn't exist.

As a result, I end up with a paragraph that has run well off topic, and find that I have to bring this back into some semblance of meaning, which totally escapes me right now.

Sorry.

Halloween 2009

2009-10-31T08:30:00.001-04:00

The best holiday of the year, is being payed up a bit by Google.

As with a lot of their banner logos, they have adapted it to the day, but this one has a slight twist. In general, we know from experience, that when you click on the logo, it will result in a search phrase for something relevant to whatever it is they are trying to explore. For example, the logo would show "The Scream" and the search would take you to "Edvard Munch" for his birthday.

In recent weeks, they played that a little differently, for example, by having a few days consecutive to UFOs and aliens.

Today, they have twisted it a bit again, in that there are multiple clicks you can make to get through all of the logos. A candy basket turns to a few pieces of candy, then to more candy, then to the candy wrappers, and finally to the search phrase.

I love a company that has a sense of humor, and Google certainly qualifies. I bet it is as fun to work there as the rumors say.

Regardless... Happy Halloween 2009.

French Angelfish

2009-10-26T20:56:00.001-04:00

A pretty angle of a beautiful fish.

Could be a bit sharper, but still not too bad.

Don't look now!

2009-10-26T19:53:00.001-04:00

They're coming.

Coconut Crab

2009-10-26T19:23:00.001-04:00

It's like a story right out of pure science fiction. And you'd have to be a bit shall we say open minded to believe it. The giant coconut crab is in the news, with the release of a report that Amelia Earhart, who was lost while trying to fly around the world, landed on a small island in the Pacific Ocean and was eaten by the crazy looking crustaceans.

Amelia Earhart and her co-pilot, Fred Noonan, may have landed plane landed on Gardner Island, now called Nikumaror. If so, it's very likely they sucumbed to the high temperatures and desert like conditions of the island.

Then, when they died, and their bodies were laying there, they provided a food source for the local crab population. But not just any crabs would be good enough to eat such a world class pair of pilots. Nope. If you're going to be devoured by crabs, make sure it is the Giant Coconut Crabs. It's only fitting.

Countess Elizabeth Bathory

2009-10-25T19:30:00.001-04:00

A wonderful role model for children every Halloween.

Don't get me wrong, if you've read my pages consistently, you know that Halloween is my favorite of all trumped up holidays. It is a chance to teach children all types of things that we spend the rest of the year trying to get them to not do. The whole "candy from strangers" thing, being the most obvious.

But Countess Elizabeth Bathory rocks! The story is that in the 15th century, she killed 600 virgins to collect their blood, to fill a bath to regenerate her youthful beauty. I highly doubt that it is true, cause if it were, she'd be more famous than Jack the Ripper or any of the other famous people in history, but it sure is a great story... And then again, what do I know?

Pumpkin Seed Recipes

2009-10-25T19:16:00.001-04:00

Cooking Pumpkin seeds is a time honored way to spend quality time with the family in the fall, and a nutritious source of all things nutty. Personally, I'd rather simply go down to the local grocery store or even the convenience store on the corner and buy a bag of pumpkin seeds.

Certified by the USDA and all the people that are out to make a profit, you will be supporting the huge corporations that make their profits by selling pieces of dead plants that they have cooked. You want something tasty, they want to give it to you in a disposable manner that you can enjoy on impulse. We have turned into a culture of "On Impulse" people, and we are proud of it.

Enjoy your home cooked pumpkin seed recipes. Everyone around you is buying them in 5 pound bags.

Berlin Heart

2009-10-25T19:09:00.001-04:00

Nothing in the news that I can see about Berlin Heart, or in a general Google search. The phrase is catchy, but not overly so. Why would you think that it has the power to attract so many hundreds of thousands of hits on a random Sunday night? I don't know, and you probably don't either, but whatever the reason, you wandered over here looking for it, and I apologize for not providing it to you.

On the other hand, there are thousands and thousands of hits occurring for the phrase, and as a result, the counters are gigging up off scale. Are you following links? are you wandering from site to site looking for whatever it is you are looking for tonight? Did you click a link to get here, and are you going to click one to leave? Don't close the tab, follow out to some other location that has information of interest.

Let me know how that works out for you.

Raiders vs Jets

2009-10-25T19:02:00.001-04:00

Another game that is ratcheting up tonight. And yet another game, that will mistakenly attract people to this blog. The fact that the titles are similar to the topics I want to write about is purely coincidental. Well, maybe not...

Maybe the truth is that there are so many places to visit and so many things to see, that you fall into the trap of collecting the seashells that are easiest to pick up off the beach says a lot about the culture that we are living in. It is no longer a matter of only getting the easy fruit to eat. It is a matter of taking the easiest road in general. Thanks for visiting. Sorry to draw you here.

Saints vs Dolphins

2009-10-25T18:56:00.000-04:00

Similar to the Vikings vs Steelers game, I didn't watch the Saints vs Dolphins game either. If you must know,. I spent the day scuba diving, then watching Moto GP racing on Speed Channel. So I didn't watch the games, and I don't know the scores, but that doesn't really matter. What matters to you the reader, is that you have ended here by mistake, and I apologize for that mistake.

There should be no limits to the titles that I write, and if you bounced here looking for information, then in a sense, you have found some. You have found out that the ocean temperature is still warm enough that we can dive in liquid water. It hasn't all frozen yet. Of course, with all the concern about global warming, the water is only going to get warmer and warmer, and the coral reefs will eventually end up in Nova Scotia.

Vikings vs Steelers

2009-10-25T18:50:00.001-04:00

Hitting the Google Trends list hard tonight is the Vikings vs Steelers game that was played today. I did not watch the game. In general, I don't watch sports, but specifically, I have no idea even who won this game. I'm not going to look it up. I don't feel like it. I just wanted to write a note and tell you that you are welcome to look here for the score to the game, but I apologize that it is not here.

Nor are there any highlights, videos, recaps, or play by play photo coverage. This is not a sports site. This is not a football site. It is a blog site, and you have been led here by mistake. Thanks for visiting, don't be offended.

BCS Rankings Week 9

2009-10-25T18:45:00.001-04:00

As with the NFL scores, the BCS rankings explode to the top of the Google trends list each Sunday night. They are mostly of little or no value as an advertising article, since they have a shelf life of less than 12 hours start to finish. By tomorrow morning, they will fade away into obscurity and no one will search for them as a phrase again for 12 months.

I guess that in itself is an interesting concept: that you could have annual renewals from an article based solely on a sports leagues recurring cycle each year, but I don't know.

Don't stick around here. Wander off and find what you were looking for.

NFL Scores Week 7

2009-10-25T18:30:00.001-04:00

Every week it's the same thing. The NFL scores and games dominate the Google Trends lists. How are we supposed to capture that influx each week?? is it possible to write the stories ahead of time, and get them launched up to catch the wave of scores every Sunday night? I don't know. It seems reasonable, but then maybe not.

So for you that are actually looking for the scores, and wound up here by mistake, I apologize for the inconvenience, but at least I didn't keep you tied up too long. Come back and visit again. It's not against the law, and you might enjoy it.

Preaching to the Choir

2009-10-23T21:03:00.001-04:00

No pun intended but Good Lord!! You are one of 2,900 people that searched for the phrase "preaching to the choir" this month. And when you get down to it, you realize that the phrase is actually messed up. If you truly wanted to get the point across that you are only saying things that your audience completely believes in anyway, you would probably be better off saying "Singing to the Choir." Now, THAT is pointless.

I know in my family, singing is almost a forbidden activity, since everyone is so poor at it. When someone asked for a Karaoke machine for Christmas a few years ago, the whole family got together and banded the idea, tapped the poor victim up in rolls and rolls of wrapping paper and cellophane tape, and had her shipped off to the Arctic Circle to sing for the polar bears. (And in reality, we probably could have shipped her to the Antarctic and told her to sing to the polar bears, and they probably could have heard her all the way on the other side of the globe. (Remember boy and girls… There are no polar bears at the South Pole.))

But do we go on having our cake and eating it too? Yep. We also give them the whole nine yards and beg forgiveness when we should have asked permission. The crisis that is passing now, is still the argument that we are preaching to the choir. Well… Tell those choir people that they can have all the lord's gospel truth on Sunday, and for tonight, it's all about Friday Night Fights.

The Whole Nine Yards

2009-10-23T20:45:00.001-04:00

The fact of the matter is it doesn't matter. The origins of the phrase "The Whole Nine Yards" is lost to history, and even though there are reasonable guesses for where the phrase originated, the world will probably never know for sure.

One thing that the world should know... The population of the United States in particular, is that it has nothing to do with American Football, and there is no rational twist that you can put on the phrase to make it so. NOTHING in football is 9 yards. Don't mistake it for such. You are arrogant and foolish to do so.

Understand that the explanations such as the length of a World War II ammunition belt was 27 feet long, make far more sense. "Did you get him?" one pilot asked the other. "Yes, sir! I gave him the whole nine yards!!" (for the Metric speaking parts of the world, there are 27 feet in 9 yards.)

Wikipedia says that 1942 is the earliest known use of the phrase. Maybe yes. Maybe no. But for certain, you don't know, I don't know, and the world may never know. What I do know is that there is gold in those words, and we may all harvest it in time.

It may be another 50 years before it matters, and may be another 509 days until the retirement of the legend begins, but while the end is playing, and the road to victory is ahead of us, understand that the whole nine yards is a fun phrase to say in its own way, even if we have lost the specific meaning of it.

Be content with the idea that it simply means giving it all you've got!

Spirit Halloween Locations

2009-10-22T21:10:00.001-04:00

Finding the most outstanding store on the planet for Halloween decorations and costumes is not a simple task, but Spirit has done an amazing job.

Crisscrossing the streets looking both directions for a trick or a treat, will get you in the door of Spirit, but unless you have the nerves of a werewolf before suppertime, then you should be cautious about entering after dark. The store is a mishmash of high quality, life like costumes, so that when you are effectively dressed in proper mode, and ready to go out into the dark of a Halloween twilight evening, absolutely no one will be able to tell that you are not the REAL, REAL Batman walking down the street, and the gorgeous blue woman next to you is not the REAL, REAL mystic.

If you missed the reference, I apologize.

There is a deeper meaning here than the locations and hours of a powerhouse of fun and carnage. There is a lesson to be gathered from the reference to the X-Men, and the other golden heroes of an age that is long past. Mostly it won't make any sense to anyone, but if they are searching hard enough, it just may cause some confusion in the world, and then, where will we all be?!?

Find a store location near you, and head over to the best costume store in this half of the galaxy. But you'll have to travel a bit farther to find the best one in the universe. It is possible after all, that you'll find something you like, without refueling the spaceship 3 times between here and Vega.

Buy Dragon Age Journeys

2009-10-22T19:45:00.001-04:00

Dragon Age Journeys is the newest release from Bioware that rocks the competition to the core.

In a world of hits and clicks and links and comments, it's not really even a matter of seeing what is out there and studying it in depth, it is a matter of getting a vibe and attacking it full force to fill in a hollow space in the subtle black void that is the internet. Online, you can study any of the forms or factors that come into play when phrases and thoughts form to make paragraphs and pages. It is short essays that rule the scene, and the price you pay for sitting on them, is looking at lists of ideas, and grabbing the 3 or 4 that appeal to the most malleable people.

Find one that pays to play, and the online version of Runescape or Everquest or now Dragon Age Journeys all become epic in their own way. Some more than others. Check it out, and you will agree that this has to be one of the most beach chair type games of all time!

Livescribe Pluse Smartpen

2009-10-22T19:37:00.001-04:00

Oprah says it is amazing. The best thing to happen to writing since the ball point. The best thing to happen to literature since the Charles Dickens spouted something about the best and worst of times.

The Livescribe pen, is an amazingly expensive experiment if you ask the common person. Coming in a 1, 2 and 4 gig version, the Livescribe uses its internal microphone and camera and attempts to capture everything that is going on around you as you struggle during the meeting to take minutes or write notes.

I've never tried one, so how in the world would I know if it works or not, but all I can imagine is that every sniff and whistle that occurs during a typical classroom setting, would be transcribed faithfully into my next Word document, and I'd spend more time editing my own note, than if I wrote them correctly the first time.

Either that, or someone very soon, will figure out how to use it to look up the skirts of unsuspecting women sitting across the table from them in the library.

Ladette Culture Stranger Than Girls Gone Wild.

2009-10-22T19:27:00.001-04:00

Apparently, the some of the girls of Britain have decided that antics that would qualify for a good video of Girls Gone Wild, is just too tame for them. To them, it's a matter of going out, binge drinking until they throw up, and getting into screaming matches like hooligan boys who have had enough soccer for one day, and decided to start a riot.

The police in Wales and the rest of the UK, are scratching their heads and trying to figure out why this has become such a popular culture effect in such a short time span, and the sociologists of the world are even more confused.

It's all the same to most people though. The country that drinks its beer warm from the tap and eats it's peas cold, deserves to have such social unrest and disruption. It is after all, the basis for the book 1984, and is fast living up to that mythical version of London.

Buy Cookie Johnson Jeans

2009-10-22T19:16:00.002-04:00

Cookie Johnson Jeans are jeans designed for real women in the real world. Oprah says she loves them. Everyone says they are worth it. The end result is a huge increase in the modern woman's love of self, and the fact that maybe we are finally getting away from the ridiculous body image that ultra slim women were the way to look.

Look at the article from a couple months ago about Lizzie Miller in Glamor, and you'll start to think like I do, that just maybe the world is catching up with the some common sense that it lost a few years ago, and everyone is getting back into a reasonable frame of mind.

The world is full of curvy women. If Oprah can recommend jeans for those women, the world is a better place.

Crawfish Pots are a Huge Hit at Suppertime

2009-10-22T18:07:00.001-04:00

If you are off in a search for crawfish pots, you must be aware that they are a huge worry to the little flipping crustaceans. With their large size, they are capable of holding many gallons of boiling water, and the poor little red eyed mudbugs have nothing but fear for the roiling water.

It's not as calm and soothing as a bubbling stream or river bed. This is a whole other type of bubbling water. It's the kind that makes supper for the rest of us so appealing. It's fresh crawfish put into a pot. It is mudbugs, with their heads off and their brains sucked in by gaping mouths.

The crawfish pot came about because typically, many pounds of crawfish are boiled at one time, due to their small size each. Get a few buddies together, or an entire family from the bayou and you need to be able to cook many of the little critters at one time to satisfy the needs of so many people. The large pots are placed over a roaring fire, and when the water is boiling aggressively, the entire lot of snapping crawfish are thrown in, and boiled quickly for a couple minutes.

Add some potatoes, carrots and maybe some sausage, and you have a feast that will be remembered by the locals for as long as the crawfish pot is visible in the yard. It is a great time by all with music and dancing, and random thoughts all in a row. Don't miss it. With only 1.59 @ 1,000 views a month, it may not perform well, but every view helps.

Live Traps Save Lives

2009-10-22T18:00:00.001-04:00

Live traps go for 1.70 @ 14,800 returns. See if you can find them.

The wonderful part of using live traps is the humane treatment of non-human animals. The fact the an animal, large or small, can be caught without injury, and relocated to another area at any distance, is a huge benefit to protecting endangered species, or capturing animals that are expected to be bought and sold without being killed.

Live traps are usually set with some sort of attractor bait that lures the target animal into the trap. Once the animal is inside the trap, it is generally very difficult or impossible for it to get back out.

Some live traps have no moving parts, and rely on the ignorance and limited thinking ability of the animal. Typically, this would be something like a funnel, that allows an animal to climb in the wide bowl, and gradually constricts down until it falls into the trap box. After that, the chances that the animal will leave the bait, and find it's way back out the small end of the funnel is far smaller. Odds are, if the traps are checked regularly, the animals will still be inside.
These traps have the advantage of allowing multiple animals to be trapped at one time, since the openings remain open even after the first animal is trapped.

Some live traps drop a door or hatch in place after the animal is inside, and this closes any openings that the animal might have come in through. While far better in ensuring that the animal does not escape, the single biggest drawback to this style trap is that only one animal can be trapped at a time without being reset by the hunter. This means that if for some reason the trap is sprung without an animal being captured, the chance of actually catching an animal on a second attempt is zero. The trap's openings are sealed, and the trap sits empty.

Whichever style live trap you decide to use, there are many high quality vendors. Pick a couple that seem good to you and visit their sites.

McDonalds Monopoly Online

2009-10-19T20:35:00.001-04:00

Its time again for the yearly installment of the McDonald's Monopoly game. A game that is cherished an loved by millions of people as a childhood friend has been twisted into a feeding frenzy of greed at the hands of one of the biggest corporations in a bloated corporate country.

Don't get me wrong. I used to like McDonald's. I still have nothing against them, except I don't eat there. I also used to love Monopoly, except for the fact that is is usually such a slow game to play with "2-4 players". Back and forth and around and around, and rent comes in and rent goes out. Finally, I realized what it was when they were calling it a board game. It was boring.

But then, I found an electronic version for my pda, and it all came back to me what a great game it was. Eliminate all of the bells and whistles of the game, set the other player speed to max, skip the animations, and you boil it down to a fast paced attack game that can be played in its entirety, with 3 of 4 players bankrupt in only 5-10 minutes. I love it.

So McDonald's has taken the game, and brought it online. And perverted it again. Try to move your game piece, and watch the dice roll, and the character skip happily along the path to ruin. It is gambling in a form that doesn't feel like gambling, and like the fast food that they cram down our gullets, they are teaching the next generation that it is O.K. to get the larger size corn syrup soda, in order to get the "free" game piece.

No Purchase Necessary.

Just don't expect to win.

Motorola Droid Phone

2009-10-18T19:48:00.000-04:00

Drawing up and falling down, the drawbridge is a masterful piece of navigational chaos. Allowing cars to drive under and boats to sail over, we're all confused.

Missing missionaries surround us in the forest and on the paths. They are seeking the conversion of the heathen souls that swell in the wooden huts with their communal cooking pits.

Powerball the false hope of armchair daydreamers playing against the universe's claim of extraordinary odds. Town of turkeys. A never ending cash crop of foolish children's stories.

A distracted population is easily controlled by the masters of sleight of hand. The magic is not in the ability to control, it is in knowing that you are controlling. If the lady gator blows kisses to an otherwise eligible overlord, the leaves will fall in hopeless masses. The price of a disgruntled mob is the deformation of the intelligence information acquired.

Keep your hands to yourself and try to admit your unclean habits. The swords that cut both ways are truly double edged by all logical definitions.

Stare sagely into the blackened fog of war and try to discern the reality that is sleepily looking back. It is like a pair of golden red eyes looking into your future, and the answer you see will not be to your liking.

There Will Never Be Heaven Again.

2009-10-18T19:34:00.001-04:00

The sunset flashed its message that I do this every night.

Waiting in pain and staring at an overweight woman who believes it's possible in a normal society to enjoy banana sundaes and spandex equally. Watching the cottage cheese of her thighs twitch as she throws her head back to lick the last drops of ice cream rolling down the inside of a plastic bowl made from recycled industrial waste plastic. The insanity of waiting for a government employee to decide the time is right to be afforded an interview.

Alive today and ready to get inspired, while the rest of them sit back there waiting for the announcement of truth and wisdom. I've wasted the daylight looking for the flash and it will come back to haunt me sooner or later. If I can squeeze through the gap, it will be a small miracle. Don't tell them that the future has become the past. Tell them that there is still time today to sink deeper into the present and enjoy the neon show. One more down, only the worst shall pass and the popular kids in school will be worshipped as heroes. It is like a form of industrial cancer spreading across the faces of the people who pass this way.

They proceed unhindered and unharmed, but the episode reminds us that there cannot be any cases left to chance. Throw the tile by the board and charge a hogs head for the privilege of doing so. We pass our time in a foolish manner that allows us to see the results of the people we asked for.

If they exceed our expectations, then how can we be forgiven for cutting them off at the knees? When walking a trooper through the gates, smile gently at her and ask if the enjoyment for the job still passes true. Discontinue the use of hybrid odors if the colors don't meet your needs any longer. Moving through the B class and staring down the antagonists from A. A pastel color being enjoyed by a troop of color blind rabbits looking for rye grass or barley to fill a need for lunch.

Pumpkin Carving Patterns Free

2009-10-08T20:59:00.001-04:00

It is that time of year again, where you get to ride hay wagons without looking like a bumpkin, and drink something called cider, without being thought of as a mountain boy.You get to act like a fool, dress like anyone else in the universe, and carve crazy shapes and icons into large, orange colored gourds.

It's time for fall leaves burning and the risk of burning down the house or starting a raging wildfire that spins out of control and consumes the neighborhood. It's the time for pulling pranks on people who whould normally beat you like a dog, and getting them to laugh it off in the name of holiday humor. It's a time to teach our kids that contrary to what we've been telling them for years, that it is in fact O.K. to accept candy from strangers. It teaches them that it's O.K. to beg. It teaches them that it is O.K. to act inappropriately in public, and that yelling and screaming after dark is acceptable in a crowded neighborhood.

It's the holiday that I enjoy the most, but it truly is the one that does the most damage to the children's morals and ethics.

But pumpkin carving is fun, and free patterns are great. Put them both together, and you have two great tastes that taste great together.

Santa Cruz Islands

2009-10-07T20:13:00.001-04:00

Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Santa Barbara.

The California coastline is a maze of everything but Saint Nick. And he's probably there somewhere...

We see Santa Monica, Santa Maria, and of course Santa Ana, all there for your reading pleasure and the joy of wandering around in a Santa suit looking for a tamale of unforgetable goodness. Add a spicy chile sauce to the mix, but don't confuse yourself by ending up in Santa Fe. It's a whole other world...

Bar Code Reader

2009-10-07T20:08:00.001-04:00

Is it about steps or words or paragraphs or essays? The larger the supporting cast of the article, the poorer the result should be in an unknown manner for the religeous recruits. If it is a matter of passing the time with the surgeon on staff, then there is no doubt about it.

The masters of the universe have all gathered into a feeding frenzy, and passed judgment on the unwashed masses that hold court on the fifth Thursday of every month that it occurs. Borrowing their robes from the merchants down the road, and wiping their greasy hands down their front.

While the wine seeps into the cobblestones from a famous revolution, we will do best to remember that there is no evolution in revolution. The glasses are always clearer when looking over your shoulder, and not back into the setting sun of your road ahead of you.

If we can pass it, then it will provide for us.

Moon Rise Time Today

2009-10-07T20:05:00.001-04:00

If you must walk into the path of the over burdened ox team, ask yourself if this is the last time you will be staring into the blue sky of heaven while the lightning cracks down, and slams your eardrums into a pulverized mash of ice water condensation and a fogged window.

The view of the outside world should be diminishing faster than you can ask forgiveness for your crimes. Turn to the wisdom of age, or the travesty of not knowing the difference while you are young.

There is no time to get past the makers marks that are burned into the backs of the dolls. They are like little identifying tattoos that can never be removed, no matter how hot the laser is tuned.

Vanuatu Islands

2009-10-07T20:03:00.001-04:00

Getting ahead of the curve that she has down the length of her side is a fine time to appreciate the differences that exist between you and I. For when you are trying to wind down the path of least resistance to the electrical current that is pulsing through your brain, you will find that there is still no fate but what we make. Tell yourself that you are winning the battle, and you will find that there are no more wars left to fight.

The victors have given way to the vanquished, and they have all vanished into the setting sunset of oblivion, asking forgiveness for the foes that they have overcome.