You can buy the weather system at this link: http://www.ambientweather.com/wmorscwiprwe.html
It entitles you to browse Weather Underground with no ads too!
Monday, October 31, 2005
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Friday, October 28, 2005
Gmail Anyone?
Google's web mail client is live, though in beta still. It has some neat features like:
- capturing all correspondent's e-mail in a contacts list
- virtually unlimited memory (if your mail is composed mainly of text, that is)
- clean, efficient Google-style interface
- correspondence is presented in tidy 'conversation' structure
- Google search your mail (I've not tried this. I assume it is a boon based on their web-search capability)
They are employing an invitation-style sign-up. If you want one, just let me know, I'm happy to send one your way.
Here's a screen-shot:
Weather Information
Have you ever thought that the temperature, rainfall and wind-speed at 'the airport' just isn't accurate enough for your happiness? Does your local weatherman look sly or untrustworthy? Have you ever gone to the kitchen to pop some corn and come back to the TV to find you've missed the weather report and are now gripped by the nagging question: 'How many inches, exactly has it rained today'?
Fret no longer friends. Come with me into the fabulous world of tomorrow by purchasing this awesome weather-monitoring system for installation at your home!
Did you notice the rain gauge is self-emptying?
And, the data can be integrated with the online data at Weather Underground.
Furthermore, you'd get highly accurate data to assess the thermal performance of your home. Something that may be of particular interest if you have an unusual construction method. One that the world may be interested in knowing more about.
Oh, yeah, and the sensors are all 'iPod white'!
So, the need for this system is irrefutable, right? The evidence in favor: overwhelming.
Fret no longer friends. Come with me into the fabulous world of tomorrow by purchasing this awesome weather-monitoring system for installation at your home!
Did you notice the rain gauge is self-emptying?
And, the data can be integrated with the online data at Weather Underground.
Furthermore, you'd get highly accurate data to assess the thermal performance of your home. Something that may be of particular interest if you have an unusual construction method. One that the world may be interested in knowing more about.
Oh, yeah, and the sensors are all 'iPod white'!
So, the need for this system is irrefutable, right? The evidence in favor: overwhelming.
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Kids at Play
Jamey: "There's so many of those vines!!! And a whomping willow, over there!!!!
Arthur: "Dada, there's a whomping willow by you!"
Jamey: "He just got me with a rock. Shoot me with my gun"
Arthur: "Pchoo"
Jamey: "Thanks."
Arthur: "Dada, there's a whomping willow by you!"
Jamey: "He just got me with a rock. Shoot me with my gun"
Arthur: "Pchoo"
Jamey: "Thanks."
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Campaign News and More
The Columbian has published their review of the 2005 Elections. Heidi's race is covered, along with some quotes.
We put up many signs last Saturday.
I found a praying mantis in the yard yesterday, but didn't have my camera to share. It's body was about 2/3rds the length of my index finger. I only saw it as it rushed across the trail I was walking, undoubtedly to avoid my footfall. It was green as a fresh blade of grass, and when it wasn't holding still, it swayed like a leaf blowing gently in the breeze.
Playing the "Animal Game" with Arthur this morning, he said:
We put up many signs last Saturday.
I found a praying mantis in the yard yesterday, but didn't have my camera to share. It's body was about 2/3rds the length of my index finger. I only saw it as it rushed across the trail I was walking, undoubtedly to avoid my footfall. It was green as a fresh blade of grass, and when it wasn't holding still, it swayed like a leaf blowing gently in the breeze.
Playing the "Animal Game" with Arthur this morning, he said:
"My a'mal has two bumps on it's back."
"Is it a camel?"
"Yes!"
"Arthur, do you know why camel's have bumps on their backs?"
Smiling, benignly, Arthur spreads his hands and cheerily replies "Because they're camels!"
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Voters Pamphlet
Here is the information we needed a month or two ago on the voters pamphlet:
https://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/pdf/GYITV2004WebVersion.pdf
https://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/pdf/GYITV2004WebVersion.pdf
Campaign News
Neither Heidi or I thought about getting a profile into the voter's pamphlet until it was too late. So the campaign has been set back a bit by that. However, we'll have signs by this friday. And we're looking into placing ads in local publications.
Also, The Columbian interviewed Heidi yesterday as part of their elections review. I thought she presented herself and her position well. We await the review and recommendations of The Columbian with bated breath.
We'll look into how one gets a blurb into the voter's pamphlet. I'll keep you posted.
Also, The Columbian interviewed Heidi yesterday as part of their elections review. I thought she presented herself and her position well. We await the review and recommendations of The Columbian with bated breath.
We'll look into how one gets a blurb into the voter's pamphlet. I'll keep you posted.
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Campaign Sign
Heidi's Campaign Sign
Assuming we can get someone to print this from a .tiff before Nov. 8th.
RSS And You
Why use RSS?
An RSS system of writers and subscribers is similar to e-mail, but improves on e-mail in these ways:
An RSS system of writers and subscribers is similar to e-mail, but improves on e-mail in these ways:
- the writer does not have to know ahead of time who will want/need to read his message
- the reader is not expected to read every message and engage the writer, failure to do so possibly resulting in guilt or hurt feelings or both
- being open to the public, an RSS feed has the potential to create or galvanize a 'community' of interested people
My experience has been an improved sense of communication with a wider range of my family than ever before. That's a particular boon for me, given my geography. When I started it was with the intent just to keep a "journal". Now it has transformed into something far richer. "If you build it they will come" comes to mind. However, I don't think it's just about geography either. It's an empowering technology. Web-publishing made as easy as brushing your teeth. It can't replace e-mail, but should replace e-mail distribution lists.
How to Use RSS
You may not realize it, but Will's blog is already served as an RSS feed. Go to bloglines and add this URL, and you'll see what I mean. Blogger.com automatically publishes the atom.xml (atom is an RSS format backed by Google, who owns blogger.com) file for every blog they host.
If you're reluctant to sign up with a hosting service, or use an online feed service, you can get the same functions done on your own hardware. Lief's blog demonstrates that. Also, the next generation of Microsoft products will have RSS features riddled throughout them. Outlook will probably have a perfectly good aggregator. Google has just released an aggregator, which is still in beta and perhaps a little more glitchy than their normal products, but has the expected Google flair.
Saturday Night Feverish
Grange Sale
We made it through the Grange sale in fine form. Jamey, Arthur and I held down the fort for the meaty middle of the day. We sold a decent amount of Heidi's Jam & Jill's hats. But, as usual, it's not what you sell, but what you buy that makes this sale so fun!! For instance, Heidi picked up a Bat Apartment Building, which houses up to 30 bats!!! Now I know some of you are thinking we've gone completely off our rockers with this, but check this out: Bats eat half their weight in insects each night! If I were a bat I'd have to eat over 100 pounds of insects per night!!! Or if I were a nursing mother bat, I'd have to eat over 200 pounds!!! Each night! OK, that's enough digression. I just wanted to give the image of a 230 lb. nursing mother bat with my face as a Halloween treat to you. So we just have to mount this box on something, in the open, facing east-southeast and about 15 feet above ground and we'll be able to declare this a 'bug-free zone'.
And we found the usual assortment of glassware, honey, baked-goods (especially cardamom bread). All of which is practically irresistable.
News From the Campaign Trail
Heidi hadn't planned on campaigning with 'yard-signs', but one of her opponents has put out many. Now Heidi feels that to honor her supporters, who have already put some effort into spreading the word about her candidacy, she should level the field regarding sign-visibility.
Books Jamey Has Read
A Treasury of Dick and Jane and Friends
Jamey finds the Dick and Jane stories both easy and pleasurable to read. There are about 40 small stories in this treasury, and Jamey has but 4 to go. He prefers these stories far more than several other "learning readers" he has tried in the past. Once he has completed reading all the stories he will be treated to a dinner at Red Lobster, to celebrate his achievement.
As witness to his progress, I have experienced wonderment akin to watching "Magic Rocks" grow. Seemingly from nothing and from nowhere, this wonderful talent has appeared. Of course that points to the truth, which is that Heidi has primarily worked with him on reading. I spend many mornings telling him all about "how trees make oxygen" and "how babies are made" and how "molecules conduct heat" and "how the weight of the atmosphere can crush a kerosene can" (that one we demonstrated already). So I work on the fun stuff, while Heidi slogs away at the fundamentals. :D
Arthur has earned his trip to Red Lobster by recognizing and naming all the letters in the alphabet, upper and lowercase.
Red Lobster was chosen by Jamey because that's where his uncle Ryan's high school graduation dinner was held. I'm surprised that he remembers the celebration there at all. In my memory we spent nearly the entire time in the restroom on one of his marathon expeditions. The kind where you return to no food, because the waiter thought you must have been done, or left altogether.
Heidi points out that neither of us have done anything to earn our trip to Red Lobster. :(
We made it through the Grange sale in fine form. Jamey, Arthur and I held down the fort for the meaty middle of the day. We sold a decent amount of Heidi's Jam & Jill's hats. But, as usual, it's not what you sell, but what you buy that makes this sale so fun!! For instance, Heidi picked up a Bat Apartment Building, which houses up to 30 bats!!! Now I know some of you are thinking we've gone completely off our rockers with this, but check this out: Bats eat half their weight in insects each night! If I were a bat I'd have to eat over 100 pounds of insects per night!!! Or if I were a nursing mother bat, I'd have to eat over 200 pounds!!! Each night! OK, that's enough digression. I just wanted to give the image of a 230 lb. nursing mother bat with my face as a Halloween treat to you. So we just have to mount this box on something, in the open, facing east-southeast and about 15 feet above ground and we'll be able to declare this a 'bug-free zone'.
And we found the usual assortment of glassware, honey, baked-goods (especially cardamom bread). All of which is practically irresistable.
News From the Campaign Trail
Heidi hadn't planned on campaigning with 'yard-signs', but one of her opponents has put out many. Now Heidi feels that to honor her supporters, who have already put some effort into spreading the word about her candidacy, she should level the field regarding sign-visibility.
Books Jamey Has Read
A Treasury of Dick and Jane and Friends
Jamey finds the Dick and Jane stories both easy and pleasurable to read. There are about 40 small stories in this treasury, and Jamey has but 4 to go. He prefers these stories far more than several other "learning readers" he has tried in the past. Once he has completed reading all the stories he will be treated to a dinner at Red Lobster, to celebrate his achievement.
As witness to his progress, I have experienced wonderment akin to watching "Magic Rocks" grow. Seemingly from nothing and from nowhere, this wonderful talent has appeared. Of course that points to the truth, which is that Heidi has primarily worked with him on reading. I spend many mornings telling him all about "how trees make oxygen" and "how babies are made" and how "molecules conduct heat" and "how the weight of the atmosphere can crush a kerosene can" (that one we demonstrated already). So I work on the fun stuff, while Heidi slogs away at the fundamentals. :D
Arthur has earned his trip to Red Lobster by recognizing and naming all the letters in the alphabet, upper and lowercase.
Red Lobster was chosen by Jamey because that's where his uncle Ryan's high school graduation dinner was held. I'm surprised that he remembers the celebration there at all. In my memory we spent nearly the entire time in the restroom on one of his marathon expeditions. The kind where you return to no food, because the waiter thought you must have been done, or left altogether.
Heidi points out that neither of us have done anything to earn our trip to Red Lobster. :(
Friday, October 14, 2005
Books I've Read Recently
Eragon
Eldest
Interestingly, on amazon.com, the reviews seem to be love it or hate it. I couldn't put either book down. Eldest was better, IMO.
True, some of the criticism that say the themes copy from Star Wars & Lord of the Rings. Personally I don't see that as a bad thing.
What I liked most was some of the detail spent enriching the worlds of magic and the elves. A lot of cool ideas brought forth. It's been a long time since I read a fantasy book.
I stayed up super-late last night finishing Eldest.
Eldest
Interestingly, on amazon.com, the reviews seem to be love it or hate it. I couldn't put either book down. Eldest was better, IMO.
True, some of the criticism that say the themes copy from Star Wars & Lord of the Rings. Personally I don't see that as a bad thing.
What I liked most was some of the detail spent enriching the worlds of magic and the elves. A lot of cool ideas brought forth. It's been a long time since I read a fantasy book.
I stayed up super-late last night finishing Eldest.
More Family Blog Info
How could I be so faithless as to not share blief with you all? Bop-Op sets me straight again in comments. Lief actually put his together from scratch, which impressed the heck outta me. For that matter, why don't I just link to Bop-Op's blog?
Also, Will has left his blog link in comments as well! There is some great stuff there. And, he's not afraid to get political too, which is nervy. :D
I need to get a blogroll up, now that I have so many family-members blogging.
The sun is burning my chest right now. I'm parked in front of our living-room windows because my office is being tiled. First clear day in almost a month I think. Hopefully we'll capture enough of this heat to last a day or two. So far our little Aspen wood stove has easily handled our heating needs on these many cloudy days; not that it's been bitterly cold yet. I'm totally stoked. I may need to supplement it with our electric system (though I'm going to try hard to avoid that for the scientific research I mentioned before) when the lows get into the 30's and below, but, then again, maybe not. As it is, each time I've run it lately the house has become uncomfortably warm by the end of the day. This stove is only supposed to handle up to 600 sq. ft.
Coming later, pictures of Jamey and Arthur with their Halloween pumpkins.
Also, Will has left his blog link in comments as well! There is some great stuff there. And, he's not afraid to get political too, which is nervy. :D
I need to get a blogroll up, now that I have so many family-members blogging.
The sun is burning my chest right now. I'm parked in front of our living-room windows because my office is being tiled. First clear day in almost a month I think. Hopefully we'll capture enough of this heat to last a day or two. So far our little Aspen wood stove has easily handled our heating needs on these many cloudy days; not that it's been bitterly cold yet. I'm totally stoked. I may need to supplement it with our electric system (though I'm going to try hard to avoid that for the scientific research I mentioned before) when the lows get into the 30's and below, but, then again, maybe not. As it is, each time I've run it lately the house has become uncomfortably warm by the end of the day. This stove is only supposed to handle up to 600 sq. ft.
Coming later, pictures of Jamey and Arthur with their Halloween pumpkins.
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Heightened Expectations
I really don't know why I haven't been posting lately. I'm pretty sure just as much has been happening.
Heidi has had two relatives die recently. Her aunt and now a cousin who was only 14 and whose service is this Saturday. Causes, were cancer and leukemia respectively. Heidi is of the opinion that everyone in her family dies of cancer, so now we'll have Turmeric with every meal.
She will attend the service for her young cousin this Saturday, while Jamey, Arthur and I will man the booth Heidi has reserved at the Fargher Lake Grange Fall Sale.
We were going to attend a Friends of the Library shindig a couple weeks back. We thought it was going to be fairly formal, so I bought a suit (the first suit I've ever owned!). However, Jamey had a terrible fever the day of the event, so we decided we couldn't turn him out of his bed for everyone's sake. As a result, I've yet to wear the suit.
I've had some good conversations over e-mail and IM with a couple of my cousins. Sounds like Will might be starting a blog. I hope so. I'm going to subscribe when it happens. Hopefully this online journaling will catch on with more of the family. Jen has a blog, but only posts pictures infrequently (which, by the way, doesn't waste my time since I'm using an RSS feed reader to subscribe to her blog).
PSA: RSS. Get it. Learn it. Live it. Love it. RSS.
Go to bloglines, or newsgator or someplace like that and start aggregating. But don't subscribe to anyone who averages more than 2 posts per day. It will SUCK YOUR LIFE AWAY. Trust me. Count Roogin must be behind Engadget, The Register and Slashdot.
In other news....
I bought a cord of wood. Now I have to use nothing else to heat the house all winter so I'll know how far a cord gets me. Science is indeed a cruel mistress.
Heidi has had two relatives die recently. Her aunt and now a cousin who was only 14 and whose service is this Saturday. Causes, were cancer and leukemia respectively. Heidi is of the opinion that everyone in her family dies of cancer, so now we'll have Turmeric with every meal.
She will attend the service for her young cousin this Saturday, while Jamey, Arthur and I will man the booth Heidi has reserved at the Fargher Lake Grange Fall Sale.
We were going to attend a Friends of the Library shindig a couple weeks back. We thought it was going to be fairly formal, so I bought a suit (the first suit I've ever owned!). However, Jamey had a terrible fever the day of the event, so we decided we couldn't turn him out of his bed for everyone's sake. As a result, I've yet to wear the suit.
I've had some good conversations over e-mail and IM with a couple of my cousins. Sounds like Will might be starting a blog. I hope so. I'm going to subscribe when it happens. Hopefully this online journaling will catch on with more of the family. Jen has a blog, but only posts pictures infrequently (which, by the way, doesn't waste my time since I'm using an RSS feed reader to subscribe to her blog).
PSA: RSS. Get it. Learn it. Live it. Love it. RSS.
Go to bloglines, or newsgator or someplace like that and start aggregating. But don't subscribe to anyone who averages more than 2 posts per day. It will SUCK YOUR LIFE AWAY. Trust me. Count Roogin must be behind Engadget, The Register and Slashdot.
In other news....
I bought a cord of wood. Now I have to use nothing else to heat the house all winter so I'll know how far a cord gets me. Science is indeed a cruel mistress.
Friday, October 07, 2005
Political Scene
This year's race for Cemetery District 4 in northeast Clark County has caught the attention of The Columbian:
Her platform is:
Someone from the Amboy cemetery region should shoulder our fair share of this responsibility.
And yes, the Heidi Zimmerman mentioned in the column is my wife.If you like behind-the-scenes stories in politics, including whispers about nepotism and conflicts of interest, it's hard to top Cemetery District 4 in northeast Clark County. Four candidates are running for the same seat on the three-person board, an office that pays $50 per monthly meeting.
That's political activism of monumental proportions. Another cemetery district, No. 5 just south of Woodland, didn't attract a single candidate for its three spots on the ballot, which means the incumbents will stay on. School board and city council races rarely attract four candidates.
Her platform is:
Someone from the Amboy cemetery region should shoulder our fair share of this responsibility.
Monday, October 03, 2005
Heat On Today
We fired up the woodstove today for the first time this fall. Since this is the first Fall we've spent in this house, Oct. 3rd will be our benchmark. However, I won't know if this performance is good unless I get some thermometers inside and out. I really don't know why I haven't done this already.
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