The local redbox had Hancock so I rented it.
It has Will Smith in a semi comedic role as the super hero that gets in trouble by "overdoing" it and ending up with more cost to the government and the people that he "helps" than what they desire.
He "saves" a media marketing man that then tries to rework him. There are a couple of surprises in the movie. He has to learn how to say "good job." He then proceeds to use that expression in the wrong places or at the wrong times.
The stunt work is pretty cool. Its worth the 1 dollar itself.
The alcoholism part is pretty uncool. The motivation to "get Hancock" at the end didn't make sense. The kid actor played a credible role.
Have a great Sunday!
Pat
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Lights up Saturday
Throughout my walk today, there were many families putting up their outdoor Christmas lights. I think that this day should be designated as such. Arnold, my neighbor said that he thought he just took them down. He was helped by his granddaughter. She was pleased to announce that she had been to two Thanksgivings and had two kinds of gravy!
There is always a Saturday just a little behind the Turkey. College bowl games are pretty much determined. As one person said on the radio last week, if you don't go to one of the big rivalry schools, the big game doesn't really mean much. In the NFL the good teams are pretty well sorted out. From the Bay Area, the 49ers and the Raiders are both headed home soon. There will be no playoff tension involved with both of these teams. Those headed for the games will be there for the party not the game. They both may be fun to watch.. but probably not to the point where the lights don't get hung.
I have always played my procrastination of light hanging on energy saving. Sue loves this kind of stuff on the outside of the house. We will go and watch the others in the neighborhood display their best.
I had to pitch 6 pomegranates into the green waste today. They had split and the moisture int he air had contributed to a little mold growth. Two were rescued and will at the vitamin C intake around here. I guess next year I will harvest them sooner and see if I can freeze or can their juice.
This morning I got up and washed all the pots and pans that were used in the Thanksgiving preparation.
Out in front I have been doing some more pruning so that the perfect shape of the trees may be maintained at arm length.
Happy Saturday!
Love, Pat
There is always a Saturday just a little behind the Turkey. College bowl games are pretty much determined. As one person said on the radio last week, if you don't go to one of the big rivalry schools, the big game doesn't really mean much. In the NFL the good teams are pretty well sorted out. From the Bay Area, the 49ers and the Raiders are both headed home soon. There will be no playoff tension involved with both of these teams. Those headed for the games will be there for the party not the game. They both may be fun to watch.. but probably not to the point where the lights don't get hung.
I have always played my procrastination of light hanging on energy saving. Sue loves this kind of stuff on the outside of the house. We will go and watch the others in the neighborhood display their best.
I had to pitch 6 pomegranates into the green waste today. They had split and the moisture int he air had contributed to a little mold growth. Two were rescued and will at the vitamin C intake around here. I guess next year I will harvest them sooner and see if I can freeze or can their juice.
This morning I got up and washed all the pots and pans that were used in the Thanksgiving preparation.
Out in front I have been doing some more pruning so that the perfect shape of the trees may be maintained at arm length.
Happy Saturday!
Love, Pat
Friday, November 28, 2008
Black Friday
Whats behind black friday?
Traditionally it is the day the most businesses are in the black from the entire year of not making a profit.
It is a huge retail day. Some people crowd the stores early in the morning to get a special item that is on sale. The national media declared this day to get especially good buys in electronics.
Clothes are more likely to be on sale before Thanksgiving and other items after Christmas.
So unless you were after some electronic toy or goodie the black Friday sales are not particularly good.
Target had "all hands on deck" for their black Friday sales in the electronic department. They had extra people including folks who understood the video games that were helping customers get the stuff they needed and to get out of the electronics area with their treasures.
We arrived about 11:00 and there still were many electronic goodies on sale. Many movies were left at 3.99 each. We bought a couple. We are now the proud owner of a duo guitar set up for the Wii including an extra set of songs beyond the aerosmith ones that come with it. Its the world tour package. I hope you will all come over at Christmas and try it out!\
After our Target adventure, we crossed the overpass to Ross.
I bought some very nice small casserole dishes at Ross for a third of their original price. Sue's claim to fame was that she did not buy any clothes!
We drove by the outlets in Gilroy. There was a line 500 feet long of people trying to get into the Sony outlet. The fire marshal's occupancy requirements were being obeyed. The people in line were not concerned. Not a parking spot was to be had..but
We ate at Healthy Choice on the outskirts of the mall for lunch dinner and everyone was happy. Sue opted out and eat Arby's on the road over the pass. She loves that "horsey" sauce.
I hope your "Black Friday" was successful.
Love
Pat
Traditionally it is the day the most businesses are in the black from the entire year of not making a profit.
It is a huge retail day. Some people crowd the stores early in the morning to get a special item that is on sale. The national media declared this day to get especially good buys in electronics.
Clothes are more likely to be on sale before Thanksgiving and other items after Christmas.
So unless you were after some electronic toy or goodie the black Friday sales are not particularly good.
Target had "all hands on deck" for their black Friday sales in the electronic department. They had extra people including folks who understood the video games that were helping customers get the stuff they needed and to get out of the electronics area with their treasures.
We arrived about 11:00 and there still were many electronic goodies on sale. Many movies were left at 3.99 each. We bought a couple. We are now the proud owner of a duo guitar set up for the Wii including an extra set of songs beyond the aerosmith ones that come with it. Its the world tour package. I hope you will all come over at Christmas and try it out!\
After our Target adventure, we crossed the overpass to Ross.
I bought some very nice small casserole dishes at Ross for a third of their original price. Sue's claim to fame was that she did not buy any clothes!
We drove by the outlets in Gilroy. There was a line 500 feet long of people trying to get into the Sony outlet. The fire marshal's occupancy requirements were being obeyed. The people in line were not concerned. Not a parking spot was to be had..but
We ate at Healthy Choice on the outskirts of the mall for lunch dinner and everyone was happy. Sue opted out and eat Arby's on the road over the pass. She loves that "horsey" sauce.
I hope your "Black Friday" was successful.
Love
Pat
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Austrian Apricot Dumplings: Marllenknoodle
On the phone the other day to Francisco I told him about my apricot tree. He told me about this really good use for them.
Apparently this is pretty common in Austria. They take a apricot and remove the pit. They replace the pit with a sugar cube. A potato dumpling with homemade cottage cheesse, is made and wrapped around the apricots. The dumplings are boiled and then they are rolled in a sweet crumb topping. The sauce they are served with is a sour cream brown sugar and lemon combination.
It must be one fine desert. The sugar cube turns the apricot center into a jam consistency and whole works is one fine taste combination.
I found a great recipe on the web.. of course.
Have a great day..
: ) Pat
Apparently this is pretty common in Austria. They take a apricot and remove the pit. They replace the pit with a sugar cube. A potato dumpling with homemade cottage cheesse, is made and wrapped around the apricots. The dumplings are boiled and then they are rolled in a sweet crumb topping. The sauce they are served with is a sour cream brown sugar and lemon combination.
It must be one fine desert. The sugar cube turns the apricot center into a jam consistency and whole works is one fine taste combination.
I found a great recipe on the web.. of course.
Have a great day..
: ) Pat
Monday, November 24, 2008
Expressions:
I went looking for the meaning for the expression often used in our family:
"Its colder than Billy be damned" What is the origin of this expression.
I didn't find it yet on the web.. but I found a Vermont collection of expressions. One of them caught me eye in light of home ownership:
Rather have what he owes than what he owns.
If we all subscribed to the meaning of this expression we all would not own houses, or drive newer cars.
: ) Pat
"Its colder than Billy be damned" What is the origin of this expression.
I didn't find it yet on the web.. but I found a Vermont collection of expressions. One of them caught me eye in light of home ownership:
Rather have what he owes than what he owns.
If we all subscribed to the meaning of this expression we all would not own houses, or drive newer cars.
: ) Pat
The Easy Drive
It is an easy 2 hour drive home from Sacramento... that is unless there is fog or there is construction.
On the way up there, there was a delay as Cal Trans was repaving 2 lanes of freeway. True there was plenty of warning, and I could have gone up 5. But our directions to Linzi and Sean's new house were predicated on coming up 99. So.. we stuck it out through the Hammer Lane road construction mess, and though we were later than we wished, we were able to find their new old home pretty easily.
Our drive home was pretty uneventful. There was a wisp or two of over the road fog in Livingston, but other than that, clear sailing. The guest cats came with us and they were soothed by Heather in the back seat.
I was able to get a second coat on the bathroom before the girls arrived back home. Bob and Mikie stopped by to see if Heather needed a ride home.. that was really nice. Bob was able to get those wicked high corners over the bathtub that I was unable to get with the second coat of paint. Sean will cut the blue tape off and paint the edge of the moldings.. so it looks pretty sharp for a bright pumpkin bathroom. Linzi is an orange kind of person.. so that will get her day going great with a positive color outlook in the bathroom.
Today is Monday and a lot of work needs to be done today.. I am running to the bank to transfer funds into the accounts to pay for our cruise in February. I hope you are coming with us! February 14th on the Norwegian Sun out of LA.
Love to yall.. Pat
On the way up there, there was a delay as Cal Trans was repaving 2 lanes of freeway. True there was plenty of warning, and I could have gone up 5. But our directions to Linzi and Sean's new house were predicated on coming up 99. So.. we stuck it out through the Hammer Lane road construction mess, and though we were later than we wished, we were able to find their new old home pretty easily.
Our drive home was pretty uneventful. There was a wisp or two of over the road fog in Livingston, but other than that, clear sailing. The guest cats came with us and they were soothed by Heather in the back seat.
I was able to get a second coat on the bathroom before the girls arrived back home. Bob and Mikie stopped by to see if Heather needed a ride home.. that was really nice. Bob was able to get those wicked high corners over the bathtub that I was unable to get with the second coat of paint. Sean will cut the blue tape off and paint the edge of the moldings.. so it looks pretty sharp for a bright pumpkin bathroom. Linzi is an orange kind of person.. so that will get her day going great with a positive color outlook in the bathroom.
Today is Monday and a lot of work needs to be done today.. I am running to the bank to transfer funds into the accounts to pay for our cruise in February. I hope you are coming with us! February 14th on the Norwegian Sun out of LA.
Love to yall.. Pat
Sunday, November 23, 2008
In Sacto Helping out
We made it up to Sacramento this weekend to help Linzi and Sean move into the ulra cute new house. The BrownKorbels were here in force when we arrived. Bob was putting on the first coat of pumpkin in the new bathroom. I started helping Sean's friend Phil but together the new futon that went into the front bedroom.
Up to 9 people helped them move. We also brought up a new recipe cake for the crew to enjoy and to celebrate Heather's BD. It was an absolute hit. It was a coconut cake to end them all. It has an entire can of coconut milk in the cake to help the texture and flavor. Some of you may have seen this cake on the cover of Family Circle this month. it is righfully deserving of its cover star status. In future blogs I will publish this recipe.
The result of all the action.. and hard work of many hands most of the stuff has been moved from one house to the next.
This cute house is located in a very nice part of old Sacramento. Its on 34th street where the neighbors all know each other. Many have already been over to introduce themselves to Linzi and Sean.
Sue and I stayed at the very comfortable Holiday Inn Express Downtown that we captured for 58 dollars a night on Hotwire.. with 16bucks of tax we still were remarkablly under the 75dollar a night threshold. Holiday Inn Express has a wonderful breakfast connection. There are cinn rolls and eggs and biscuits and gravy.. as well as the other stuff that makes a breakfast
When the girls got up I took them out to a breakfast bistro.. just a short walk away. really good.
This afternoon I am finishing up the pumpkin... and the girls and Sean are off Ekia.
Happy Sunday Pm.
Pat
Up to 9 people helped them move. We also brought up a new recipe cake for the crew to enjoy and to celebrate Heather's BD. It was an absolute hit. It was a coconut cake to end them all. It has an entire can of coconut milk in the cake to help the texture and flavor. Some of you may have seen this cake on the cover of Family Circle this month. it is righfully deserving of its cover star status. In future blogs I will publish this recipe.
The result of all the action.. and hard work of many hands most of the stuff has been moved from one house to the next.
This cute house is located in a very nice part of old Sacramento. Its on 34th street where the neighbors all know each other. Many have already been over to introduce themselves to Linzi and Sean.
Sue and I stayed at the very comfortable Holiday Inn Express Downtown that we captured for 58 dollars a night on Hotwire.. with 16bucks of tax we still were remarkablly under the 75dollar a night threshold. Holiday Inn Express has a wonderful breakfast connection. There are cinn rolls and eggs and biscuits and gravy.. as well as the other stuff that makes a breakfast
When the girls got up I took them out to a breakfast bistro.. just a short walk away. really good.
This afternoon I am finishing up the pumpkin... and the girls and Sean are off Ekia.
Happy Sunday Pm.
Pat
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Late Kudos to my Brithday having Daughter
Heather is the one:
Some teachers called her a "spy" She would seldom interact into classroom discussions, yet she knew the ropes. She could argue in a decisive way with the best of them. Yet on the her side the inner strength of this girl is amazing.
She has had some of life's serious ups and downs. She was afflicted with a serious disease for two weeks that left her weak for many years. Please not tell her that she cannot do things.. she will do them despite the call.
Her education came from through the country. She knows the east coast she knows the west and everywhere in between.She was born in Turlock on a very foggy day.. we waiting all night and into the morning for her to arrive. She was worth the wait.
She has always brought us happiness. We are very proud of her accomplishments. One of California's newest MFTs. She did it the hard way. She conquered her fear of math, thanks to the outreach of Aunt Kelly. She still would prefer not to do the math thing but it will not stand in her way.
Daily she proves that her compassion for humanity is beyond what most people have. She is exemplary in her mission in life. She represents everything that we could hope that the younger generation will have. Grace, honor, and mission to make the world a better place.
Hats off to you Dare!
Your dad : ) Pat
Some teachers called her a "spy" She would seldom interact into classroom discussions, yet she knew the ropes. She could argue in a decisive way with the best of them. Yet on the her side the inner strength of this girl is amazing.
She has had some of life's serious ups and downs. She was afflicted with a serious disease for two weeks that left her weak for many years. Please not tell her that she cannot do things.. she will do them despite the call.
Her education came from through the country. She knows the east coast she knows the west and everywhere in between.She was born in Turlock on a very foggy day.. we waiting all night and into the morning for her to arrive. She was worth the wait.
She has always brought us happiness. We are very proud of her accomplishments. One of California's newest MFTs. She did it the hard way. She conquered her fear of math, thanks to the outreach of Aunt Kelly. She still would prefer not to do the math thing but it will not stand in her way.
Daily she proves that her compassion for humanity is beyond what most people have. She is exemplary in her mission in life. She represents everything that we could hope that the younger generation will have. Grace, honor, and mission to make the world a better place.
Hats off to you Dare!
Your dad : ) Pat
Friday, November 21, 2008
Talking Around the World.. Rome
Last night I got a call from my dear friend in Rome.
Francisco finally got a hold of me and we talked long distance.. me in Merced and he in Rome for about 2 hours.
He called about 4 in the morning his time. We talked at length about the reunion and all of the wonderful people that he met at the party he was looking forward to in LA. Micheal Learned threw a wonderful party down in West Hollywood when we went down. Of course you know Michael Learned.. as Francisco would say: Her is her web bio:
Four-time Best Actress Emmy Award winner Michael Learned was born on April 9, 1939 in Washington, D.C. The oldest of six daughters of a U.S. State Department employee, she was raised on her family's farm in Connecticut. The family moved to Austria when she was age 11, and it was while attending boarding school in England that she fell in love with the theater and decided to become an actress.
Learned married Oscar winner Robert Donat's nephew Peter Donat, a Canadian citizen, when she was 17 years old, a marriage that lasted 17 years and produced three sons. She learned her craft while acting for the Shakespeare Festivals in both Canada and the U.S. while simultaneously raising a family. She and her husband Peter acted together with San Francisco's American Conservatory Theatre (ACT) in the early 1970s. Her breakthrough came when she was appearing in an ACT production of Noel Coward's "Private Lives", where she was spotted by producer Lee Rich, who cast her as Olivia Walton in his new television series about a Depression era family, "The Waltons" (1972).
Learned won three Emmy Awards playing the role, and another Emmy for her next foray into series TV, "Nurse" (1981). She escaped typecasting as Olivia Walton (although she re-prised the role that made her famous in a 1995 TV-movie reunion) while appearing on numerous shows and TV movies, including top-drawer, made-for-TV specials such as the 1986 adaptation of Arthur Miller's All My Sons (1986) (TV) with co-star James Whitmore.
He also had a chance to meet the famous 95 year old architect photography, Julis Shulman. He is best known for the photo of the Laural Canyon house that hangs over the edge of the canyon at night. There is an exhibition of his work at the Getty now.
It is amazing that we could talk so clearly from so far away.
Pat
Francisco finally got a hold of me and we talked long distance.. me in Merced and he in Rome for about 2 hours.
He called about 4 in the morning his time. We talked at length about the reunion and all of the wonderful people that he met at the party he was looking forward to in LA. Micheal Learned threw a wonderful party down in West Hollywood when we went down. Of course you know Michael Learned.. as Francisco would say: Her is her web bio:
Four-time Best Actress Emmy Award winner Michael Learned was born on April 9, 1939 in Washington, D.C. The oldest of six daughters of a U.S. State Department employee, she was raised on her family's farm in Connecticut. The family moved to Austria when she was age 11, and it was while attending boarding school in England that she fell in love with the theater and decided to become an actress.
Learned married Oscar winner Robert Donat's nephew Peter Donat, a Canadian citizen, when she was 17 years old, a marriage that lasted 17 years and produced three sons. She learned her craft while acting for the Shakespeare Festivals in both Canada and the U.S. while simultaneously raising a family. She and her husband Peter acted together with San Francisco's American Conservatory Theatre (ACT) in the early 1970s. Her breakthrough came when she was appearing in an ACT production of Noel Coward's "Private Lives", where she was spotted by producer Lee Rich, who cast her as Olivia Walton in his new television series about a Depression era family, "The Waltons" (1972).
Learned won three Emmy Awards playing the role, and another Emmy for her next foray into series TV, "Nurse" (1981). She escaped typecasting as Olivia Walton (although she re-prised the role that made her famous in a 1995 TV-movie reunion) while appearing on numerous shows and TV movies, including top-drawer, made-for-TV specials such as the 1986 adaptation of Arthur Miller's All My Sons (1986) (TV) with co-star James Whitmore.
He also had a chance to meet the famous 95 year old architect photography, Julis Shulman. He is best known for the photo of the Laural Canyon house that hangs over the edge of the canyon at night. There is an exhibition of his work at the Getty now.
It is amazing that we could talk so clearly from so far away.
Pat
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Big Vehicles as Energy collectors
The really interesting part of this article is at the end of this article. This is from the Huffington Post.
So You Want A Big Electric Car?
President-elect Obama's plan to put a million electric vehicles on the road in 10 years is doable and should be surpassed by its own momentum. As people discover the many advantages of electric vehicles (EVs), this momentum will build. Not only are these cars green and responsible, they also enhance National Security. From all we've been told about EVs we know a little. They are cleaner. We've heard about plugging them into our homes to recharge overnight. But most of us don't know much about electric cars yet.
The momentum of the Electric Vehicle Age will stem from enhanced performance, smoothness of acceleration, quietness, and superior control. The way an electric car can be tuned to behave a certain way for a certain driver allows for a whole new feeling in the driving experience. People just don't know how cool these cars are.
Existing designs can be manufactured as electric cars with no change to the tooling of the existing designs. Adapting kits are possible. Build electric versions on these existing tools to keep people working and get people interested in buying again. The technology to make these new electric vehicles exists today right here in this country.
From Wichita, Kansas we get this report: A 1959 Lincoln Continental repowered to be a self charging electric vehicle by a small group of engineers and local services, is now achieving up to 65 mpg in informal tests. Work there continues. The goal of the project is to attain up to and beyond 100mpg for the biggest and heaviest car made in 1959. The car has been driven in California and Kansas and shown to over 15,000 people. In an audience of 12,000, one tenth of the people raised their hands when asked if they would like to have a car like that. That Lincoln represents a future for Detroit. It is the possibility of Big Clean cars that do not promote Global warming. Let's build them now, as well as economical small clean and green electric cars and let's put people to work. We already have the existing tooling and the facilities and manpower.
From Detroit we get this report:
We have devoted significant resources to this project: Over 200 engineers and 50 designers are working on the Volt alone, and another 400 are working on related subsystems and electric components. That's how important we think this is, and that's how much stock we place in the future of extended-range electric vehicles like the Chevy Volt. - Tony Posawatz, Vehicle Line Director - E-Flex Systems and the Chevy Volt, GeneralMotors Corp.
The GM, FORD and Chrysler CEOs then each boarded private personal business jets to be paid for by taxpayers money, and flew to Washington to ask tax-payers to give them a 25 billion dollar infusion to save hard working American's jobs. Have they changed direction but it's just too early for our senators and congress representatives to see it yet? I don't think so. Maybe introducing a new high-performance fossil fueled Shelby Mustang and jumping into a private jet to go to Washington for a bailout was not such a good idea.
Efficient technology can power the existing designs we have today.
We don't need a car that looks different with a new sunroof over the back seat creating an air conditioning challenge as a feature.
We don't need new tooling to start building electric cars now.
We need kits to adapt what we are currently making to today's demands.
We need new thinking from new leaders and we need new perspectives from unions.
Today the news is Hybrids. Everyone is making them. Some of these hybrids offer very poor mileage in the 20-30 mpg range. They may be already on their way out because of the inherent inefficiency of their design. An electric motor and an internal combustion engine both driving the wheels in one car may not be the most efficient approach. Forward thinkers are wondering about that inefficiency and working on ways to solve it. Plug-in kits are now available for Prius and Ford Escape, allowing these vehicles to plug in for a re-charge, increasing their efficiency and reducing their negative impact on the environment. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) look like the future, but are they the future?
There are huge limitations. The battery is the biggest. An average EV is only good for a short trip before it needs a charge. Maybe 40 miles or so is a good estimate. Some electric cars get a long range like 100 miles before they lose power and have to recharge. The Tesla (a super light sports car) goes over 150 miles on a charge. Two things that all basic EVs have in common is they are small in size and they have to stop and re-charge. If you run out of power you are down. Just like gas.
To re-charge, you need a power source. It may be your home, or it may be your parking garage at work. It might be a charging system that is privately owned and is a business enterprise (Better Place), or it may be a public utility service (PG&E). You may have a cable to plug in that identifies you so your account can be automatically charged. One thing is for sure. You need to re-charge. So you are going to be more conscious of your energy use.
Not every EV has to plug in. For some, it's optional. Cars like the Chevy Volt have an onboard generator to re-charge batteries or power the car. These cars are Self-Charging EVs (SCEVs). That means on long trips you use gasoline. A long trip is over about forty miles in a Volt, on level ground. When the battery starts to die, an onboard generator rescues it and powers the electric motor, while slowly recharging the battery. This sequence cycles on and off while you take a long trip. Mostly the generator is on... using gasoline, a fuel widely seen as a National Security disadvantage. The Volt generator will charge the batteries faster if the car is not moving, by using gasoline. On short trips, you won't even use the generator. You will go the first 40 miles on plug-in power. An average commute in the USA is about 35 miles.
Efficiency in the self-charging electric car is the big decider. If the efficiency of your charging system allows you to make electricity with less financial cost than buying it from the grid, then your car can power your house and turn the meter backwards to reduce or eliminate your electric bill. Potentially, you may even be able to sell electricity to the grid someday. That would be a good reason to buy a SCEV with a highly efficient self-charging system. These cars are mobile power plants.
Big electric cars are left out of the story so far by major manufacturers. They have made some very poor hybrid SUVS. SUVs, big sedans, pick-up trucks are all by the wayside. They have been relegated to dinosaur status. But don't count them out. A big Self-Charging SUV with a super efficient self-charging system would create enough power to support 6 homes. You could be part of a distributed power system by using the grid backwards, selling power back to your Utility Company. In this approach, power enters the grid from plugged-in vehicles, avoiding the loss found in the lines when power comes to you from a central Power Plant located miles away. Imagine a big electric car that earns you income.
But you just wanted a big electric car. You may be surprised to know why size is important. Big SCEVs, while taking big power to run, and requiring large battery banks and big electric motors, will undoubtedly be getting up to 100 mpg or more in the near future. A big developmental car, Lincvolt, seen at Lincvolt.com , is proving this technology. Big SCEVs may well be earning you money while you are charging the grid. They may be recharging with super efficient self-charging systems, and even using Domestic Green bio-diesel fuel, a fuel that does not contribute significantly to Global Warming. Big may be an unexpected Green alternative.
So You Want A Big Electric Car?
President-elect Obama's plan to put a million electric vehicles on the road in 10 years is doable and should be surpassed by its own momentum. As people discover the many advantages of electric vehicles (EVs), this momentum will build. Not only are these cars green and responsible, they also enhance National Security. From all we've been told about EVs we know a little. They are cleaner. We've heard about plugging them into our homes to recharge overnight. But most of us don't know much about electric cars yet.
The momentum of the Electric Vehicle Age will stem from enhanced performance, smoothness of acceleration, quietness, and superior control. The way an electric car can be tuned to behave a certain way for a certain driver allows for a whole new feeling in the driving experience. People just don't know how cool these cars are.
Existing designs can be manufactured as electric cars with no change to the tooling of the existing designs. Adapting kits are possible. Build electric versions on these existing tools to keep people working and get people interested in buying again. The technology to make these new electric vehicles exists today right here in this country.
From Wichita, Kansas we get this report: A 1959 Lincoln Continental repowered to be a self charging electric vehicle by a small group of engineers and local services, is now achieving up to 65 mpg in informal tests. Work there continues. The goal of the project is to attain up to and beyond 100mpg for the biggest and heaviest car made in 1959. The car has been driven in California and Kansas and shown to over 15,000 people. In an audience of 12,000, one tenth of the people raised their hands when asked if they would like to have a car like that. That Lincoln represents a future for Detroit. It is the possibility of Big Clean cars that do not promote Global warming. Let's build them now, as well as economical small clean and green electric cars and let's put people to work. We already have the existing tooling and the facilities and manpower.
From Detroit we get this report:
We have devoted significant resources to this project: Over 200 engineers and 50 designers are working on the Volt alone, and another 400 are working on related subsystems and electric components. That's how important we think this is, and that's how much stock we place in the future of extended-range electric vehicles like the Chevy Volt. - Tony Posawatz, Vehicle Line Director - E-Flex Systems and the Chevy Volt, GeneralMotors Corp.
The GM, FORD and Chrysler CEOs then each boarded private personal business jets to be paid for by taxpayers money, and flew to Washington to ask tax-payers to give them a 25 billion dollar infusion to save hard working American's jobs. Have they changed direction but it's just too early for our senators and congress representatives to see it yet? I don't think so. Maybe introducing a new high-performance fossil fueled Shelby Mustang and jumping into a private jet to go to Washington for a bailout was not such a good idea.
Efficient technology can power the existing designs we have today.
We don't need a car that looks different with a new sunroof over the back seat creating an air conditioning challenge as a feature.
We don't need new tooling to start building electric cars now.
We need kits to adapt what we are currently making to today's demands.
We need new thinking from new leaders and we need new perspectives from unions.
Today the news is Hybrids. Everyone is making them. Some of these hybrids offer very poor mileage in the 20-30 mpg range. They may be already on their way out because of the inherent inefficiency of their design. An electric motor and an internal combustion engine both driving the wheels in one car may not be the most efficient approach. Forward thinkers are wondering about that inefficiency and working on ways to solve it. Plug-in kits are now available for Prius and Ford Escape, allowing these vehicles to plug in for a re-charge, increasing their efficiency and reducing their negative impact on the environment. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) look like the future, but are they the future?
There are huge limitations. The battery is the biggest. An average EV is only good for a short trip before it needs a charge. Maybe 40 miles or so is a good estimate. Some electric cars get a long range like 100 miles before they lose power and have to recharge. The Tesla (a super light sports car) goes over 150 miles on a charge. Two things that all basic EVs have in common is they are small in size and they have to stop and re-charge. If you run out of power you are down. Just like gas.
To re-charge, you need a power source. It may be your home, or it may be your parking garage at work. It might be a charging system that is privately owned and is a business enterprise (Better Place), or it may be a public utility service (PG&E). You may have a cable to plug in that identifies you so your account can be automatically charged. One thing is for sure. You need to re-charge. So you are going to be more conscious of your energy use.
Not every EV has to plug in. For some, it's optional. Cars like the Chevy Volt have an onboard generator to re-charge batteries or power the car. These cars are Self-Charging EVs (SCEVs). That means on long trips you use gasoline. A long trip is over about forty miles in a Volt, on level ground. When the battery starts to die, an onboard generator rescues it and powers the electric motor, while slowly recharging the battery. This sequence cycles on and off while you take a long trip. Mostly the generator is on... using gasoline, a fuel widely seen as a National Security disadvantage. The Volt generator will charge the batteries faster if the car is not moving, by using gasoline. On short trips, you won't even use the generator. You will go the first 40 miles on plug-in power. An average commute in the USA is about 35 miles.
Efficiency in the self-charging electric car is the big decider. If the efficiency of your charging system allows you to make electricity with less financial cost than buying it from the grid, then your car can power your house and turn the meter backwards to reduce or eliminate your electric bill. Potentially, you may even be able to sell electricity to the grid someday. That would be a good reason to buy a SCEV with a highly efficient self-charging system. These cars are mobile power plants.
Big electric cars are left out of the story so far by major manufacturers. They have made some very poor hybrid SUVS. SUVs, big sedans, pick-up trucks are all by the wayside. They have been relegated to dinosaur status. But don't count them out. A big Self-Charging SUV with a super efficient self-charging system would create enough power to support 6 homes. You could be part of a distributed power system by using the grid backwards, selling power back to your Utility Company. In this approach, power enters the grid from plugged-in vehicles, avoiding the loss found in the lines when power comes to you from a central Power Plant located miles away. Imagine a big electric car that earns you income.
But you just wanted a big electric car. You may be surprised to know why size is important. Big SCEVs, while taking big power to run, and requiring large battery banks and big electric motors, will undoubtedly be getting up to 100 mpg or more in the near future. A big developmental car, Lincvolt, seen at Lincvolt.com , is proving this technology. Big SCEVs may well be earning you money while you are charging the grid. They may be recharging with super efficient self-charging systems, and even using Domestic Green bio-diesel fuel, a fuel that does not contribute significantly to Global Warming. Big may be an unexpected Green alternative.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Good News Apple in Modesto
The latest of the new Apple stores is.. can you believe it.. Modesto.
The vintage faire Mall is home to an Apple store. It was opened on November 15th. The current apple third party folks..Mac Daddy are not happy about this in the least. Their two stores in Fresno were reduced to one when the apple store came in.
What is cool is that definitive genius bar service will be available. Of course don't ask dad about the genius bar service. His new 24 inch all in one IMac is still not talking to his blue tooth mouse.. oh my.
Apple calling
: ) Pat
The vintage faire Mall is home to an Apple store. It was opened on November 15th. The current apple third party folks..Mac Daddy are not happy about this in the least. Their two stores in Fresno were reduced to one when the apple store came in.
What is cool is that definitive genius bar service will be available. Of course don't ask dad about the genius bar service. His new 24 inch all in one IMac is still not talking to his blue tooth mouse.. oh my.
Apple calling
: ) Pat
Your Refrig.
Hello.. this is your refrigerator talking:
More than likely you have stuff in it that is spoiled. Get it out! You gave up the science experiments when you left college. How many times do you need to find out that the little dab you don't want to throw could make you throw up?
The dishwasher is full of containers tonight that have been recycled into new usable containers for new stuff.
Food management is always difficult. How do you stop cooking for 4 when their are still two of you that likes what you made for four?
If you try to go the grocery store just once a week, life in refrigerator management can become difficult. So clean out the refrig make room for new..
:) Pat
More than likely you have stuff in it that is spoiled. Get it out! You gave up the science experiments when you left college. How many times do you need to find out that the little dab you don't want to throw could make you throw up?
The dishwasher is full of containers tonight that have been recycled into new usable containers for new stuff.
Food management is always difficult. How do you stop cooking for 4 when their are still two of you that likes what you made for four?
If you try to go the grocery store just once a week, life in refrigerator management can become difficult. So clean out the refrig make room for new..
:) Pat
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Chicken,Noodle, Olive, and Broccoli
Tonight we dined on the chicken I roasted last week.
The casserole, had egg noodles.. yum broccoli, yum, Olives, yum, and a Béchamel sauce, with added chicken gelatin.. topped with grated Parmesan cheese. A couple of cloves of garlic flavored the Béchamel..
It went over really well with Sue. She even requested a single serving set aside for lunch warm up..
Its great to cook in a kitchen that has all the tools and wonderful pots.. thank you Magnalite pro.
Students in my class were practicing ordering donuts from the bakery. Not an easy task when you have to put the kind in front of the item.
"I would like to buy a half dozen chocolate donuts."
Everyone gave it a try and some had to practice a couple of times to get it right.. but of course that is what speech is for.
: ) Pat
The casserole, had egg noodles.. yum broccoli, yum, Olives, yum, and a Béchamel sauce, with added chicken gelatin.. topped with grated Parmesan cheese. A couple of cloves of garlic flavored the Béchamel..
It went over really well with Sue. She even requested a single serving set aside for lunch warm up..
Its great to cook in a kitchen that has all the tools and wonderful pots.. thank you Magnalite pro.
Students in my class were practicing ordering donuts from the bakery. Not an easy task when you have to put the kind in front of the item.
"I would like to buy a half dozen chocolate donuts."
Everyone gave it a try and some had to practice a couple of times to get it right.. but of course that is what speech is for.
: ) Pat
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Check it out!
We are planning on taking the Norwegian Star to Mexico during ski week 2009. Some of you know this week as the President's week. Many people get at least one day off during these days in February. The ship leaves dock on February 14th.. which if you don't know is Bob and Micheal Sue's wedding anniversary.
Currently there is a deal afloat through Vacations to go. It is 449 each for an interior cabin, 499 for a cabin with a window. There are some extras that get tacked on, but for a week of vacations with food and entertainment included it is hard to beat. February is a pretty cold month in Central California. We will be in shorts and dipping our feet in 70 degree sea water... wonderful. Ports of Call.. Cabo San Lucas, Mazatalan and Puerto Vallarta. We all leave from Los Angeles (San Pedro).
Here is the vacations to go listing..
http://www.vacationstogo.com/fastdeal.cfm?deal=14272
I hope you can join us!
Pat
Currently there is a deal afloat through Vacations to go. It is 449 each for an interior cabin, 499 for a cabin with a window. There are some extras that get tacked on, but for a week of vacations with food and entertainment included it is hard to beat. February is a pretty cold month in Central California. We will be in shorts and dipping our feet in 70 degree sea water... wonderful. Ports of Call.. Cabo San Lucas, Mazatalan and Puerto Vallarta. We all leave from Los Angeles (San Pedro).
Here is the vacations to go listing..
http://www.vacationstogo.com/fastdeal.cfm?deal=14272
I hope you can join us!
Pat
A Drive in the Country
On a beautiful afternoon on a mid November day calls for a drive into the country .
Sue said that she wanted a few more than her share of the yams that we took to mom last weekend, so we drove out of town to the outskirts of the rural central valley to the farm where they sell yams.
As we moved out to the McSwain area, the narrow two lane road heads for Gustine and the new houses dot the landscape with their 1-3 acre lots accompanying the homes. A few of them are in foreclosure just like over a thousand other homes in the city. Its cool to be out in the country to see the livestock, including a band new calf. Moma cow was taking good care of it. She was licking it for all she was worth.
The yam farmer has given up his cows although the cautionary sign to drive slowly so as not to scare the cows is still there. We know which farm is his because there is a sign out of the road that says yams for sale. Its hand written and pretty self explanatory. There is another sign along the two lane road that advertises upholstery work too. It is a little closer to town.
As we crossed over their little culvert over the irrigation canal. We pulled up to the modest home with a couple of welders going at it on the outside of the barn. Accompanying them was an black lab dog that was mildly distracted by the smell of something in the flower beds. We found out that his name was Clint. Sue tried to pet him and did but his main interest was something int he flower bed. As we pulled up They called the dog back and I rolled down my windows and told them that we were interested in buying some yams.
They called out to the older farmer in the house who was probably watching the game. They told us to drive on a head to the concrete slab. I did. The older farmer came out and asked what kid of yams were we looking for. Sue said the little dark red ones. He said that he was out of those but he had some others that might do. In the barn there various grades of yams in the boxes. Not knowing one from the other I called Sue out of the truck to take a look and choose which box she desired. She thought the 7 dollar yams were okay. He loaded us up and I paid him. He asked it the motorized chair was ours hanging off the back end of our expedition. I said yes. Sue has arthritis. He said we should get a "hemi" for that chair so that we could pop wheelies in it. We all got a chuckle out of that. He said that he knew several people with them. He said that we all may get down to using them later in our lives. He just wishes that he could stay as healthy as he is for another 20 years. Yep and who doesn't.
We took the yams and went to Home Depot and Costco before heading home.
Two outings on the same weekend... Sue thought she had a wonderful weekend. I am glad she could do that and that she thought that she had a wonderful weekend.
Love
Pat
Sue said that she wanted a few more than her share of the yams that we took to mom last weekend, so we drove out of town to the outskirts of the rural central valley to the farm where they sell yams.
As we moved out to the McSwain area, the narrow two lane road heads for Gustine and the new houses dot the landscape with their 1-3 acre lots accompanying the homes. A few of them are in foreclosure just like over a thousand other homes in the city. Its cool to be out in the country to see the livestock, including a band new calf. Moma cow was taking good care of it. She was licking it for all she was worth.
The yam farmer has given up his cows although the cautionary sign to drive slowly so as not to scare the cows is still there. We know which farm is his because there is a sign out of the road that says yams for sale. Its hand written and pretty self explanatory. There is another sign along the two lane road that advertises upholstery work too. It is a little closer to town.
As we crossed over their little culvert over the irrigation canal. We pulled up to the modest home with a couple of welders going at it on the outside of the barn. Accompanying them was an black lab dog that was mildly distracted by the smell of something in the flower beds. We found out that his name was Clint. Sue tried to pet him and did but his main interest was something int he flower bed. As we pulled up They called the dog back and I rolled down my windows and told them that we were interested in buying some yams.
They called out to the older farmer in the house who was probably watching the game. They told us to drive on a head to the concrete slab. I did. The older farmer came out and asked what kid of yams were we looking for. Sue said the little dark red ones. He said that he was out of those but he had some others that might do. In the barn there various grades of yams in the boxes. Not knowing one from the other I called Sue out of the truck to take a look and choose which box she desired. She thought the 7 dollar yams were okay. He loaded us up and I paid him. He asked it the motorized chair was ours hanging off the back end of our expedition. I said yes. Sue has arthritis. He said we should get a "hemi" for that chair so that we could pop wheelies in it. We all got a chuckle out of that. He said that he knew several people with them. He said that we all may get down to using them later in our lives. He just wishes that he could stay as healthy as he is for another 20 years. Yep and who doesn't.
We took the yams and went to Home Depot and Costco before heading home.
Two outings on the same weekend... Sue thought she had a wonderful weekend. I am glad she could do that and that she thought that she had a wonderful weekend.
Love
Pat
Saturday, November 15, 2008
A Treasured Nickle
A nickle is not worth much today.
When I was in the 4th grade it was magical. On "ice cream" days a nickle in your pocket could be traded for a fifty fifty bar.
A fifty fifty bar was a half orange flavored popcycle half ice cream novelty. Those kids with a nickle got them from the cafeteria people that were dispensing them out of a container kept cold by dry ice.
Such a delight. We always wished that some other flavor other than orange was on the popcycle side.. but in that era .. no such luck.
I just remembered that from the pile of nickles and quarters that I have floating across my computer desk tonight. Somehow they don't quite seem so important.
: ) Pat
When I was in the 4th grade it was magical. On "ice cream" days a nickle in your pocket could be traded for a fifty fifty bar.
A fifty fifty bar was a half orange flavored popcycle half ice cream novelty. Those kids with a nickle got them from the cafeteria people that were dispensing them out of a container kept cold by dry ice.
Such a delight. We always wished that some other flavor other than orange was on the popcycle side.. but in that era .. no such luck.
I just remembered that from the pile of nickles and quarters that I have floating across my computer desk tonight. Somehow they don't quite seem so important.
: ) Pat
Goodwill to Goodwill
Today Sus and I did the grand tour of goodwill stores.
I was looking for another project to do for the Christmas gift give. I found it and it will need some work. It is something that all of us could use.
Sue found some cool stuff. She is always looking for some books. She found a new royal family book.. she is happy. She also found a couple of new teapots. I was unable to hide them out of sight while she was looking at the clothes rack.. ha. But three escaped her attention.. yeah.
I made a quick breakfast this morning after my walk. She was ready to go. Modesto was beautifully warm this afternoon. It ws on of those quintessential California warm fall afternoons. I was running out of gas and needed some food when we hit the last goodwill in Turlock. Man there is some nasty furniture out there that they want a good price. Luckily at Turlock before the blood sugar dropped to zero, I slipped over and had a subway sandwich while she continued to shop.
Her greatest find today was a couple of Christmas themed tea pots. One is a Christmas house with the fireplace as a spout. The other is a Santa on a Christmas sled with a spout coming of Roudolph's nose.. oh my..
I hope that your weekend is full of treasures of delight.
Pat
I was looking for another project to do for the Christmas gift give. I found it and it will need some work. It is something that all of us could use.
Sue found some cool stuff. She is always looking for some books. She found a new royal family book.. she is happy. She also found a couple of new teapots. I was unable to hide them out of sight while she was looking at the clothes rack.. ha. But three escaped her attention.. yeah.
I made a quick breakfast this morning after my walk. She was ready to go. Modesto was beautifully warm this afternoon. It ws on of those quintessential California warm fall afternoons. I was running out of gas and needed some food when we hit the last goodwill in Turlock. Man there is some nasty furniture out there that they want a good price. Luckily at Turlock before the blood sugar dropped to zero, I slipped over and had a subway sandwich while she continued to shop.
Her greatest find today was a couple of Christmas themed tea pots. One is a Christmas house with the fireplace as a spout. The other is a Santa on a Christmas sled with a spout coming of Roudolph's nose.. oh my..
I hope that your weekend is full of treasures of delight.
Pat
Friday, November 14, 2008
Its Friday.. after a Long Short Week
Sometimes a short week can seem longer.
The usual rhythms of the week are distorted by a day off in the middle. Writing Wedneday continued as usual except that some classes had not seen the end of the movie.. which was what they were going to write on. So.. they watched the movie on Wednesday (the last 10 minutes) and write they papers on Thursday. Not true with the morning classes which had seen the movie.
Today the morning classes got to play 15 questions with analysis. The other class(first period) was into talking about parties and choosing to smoke or not to smoke or drink or not to drink. We were without one of the hot heads so progress was made.
The afternoon classes got a summary of bakery terms. Batter vs dough. muffins and cakes and doughnuts. Baking powder vs yeast. Pans and sheets and mixes. What is in a mix? We looked for some similarities.
In one afternoon class a student brought in a StarWars DVD triva contest.. it didn't get used. He did learn that the voice for Darth Vader was James Earl Jones... It took revisiting 5 times.. it wasn't on his agenda.
The artic senior with the S had a good dance experience at Sadies with the girl from Merced High. In his conversation he only had 4 s distortions in 5 minutes.. (using the dysfluency model to measure) Next time I will chart hashmarks and Os for accuracy and mistakes. Then we will have a percentage. He is happy with his progress and he claims his mom is too.
Have a great weekend
Pat
The usual rhythms of the week are distorted by a day off in the middle. Writing Wedneday continued as usual except that some classes had not seen the end of the movie.. which was what they were going to write on. So.. they watched the movie on Wednesday (the last 10 minutes) and write they papers on Thursday. Not true with the morning classes which had seen the movie.
Today the morning classes got to play 15 questions with analysis. The other class(first period) was into talking about parties and choosing to smoke or not to smoke or drink or not to drink. We were without one of the hot heads so progress was made.
The afternoon classes got a summary of bakery terms. Batter vs dough. muffins and cakes and doughnuts. Baking powder vs yeast. Pans and sheets and mixes. What is in a mix? We looked for some similarities.
In one afternoon class a student brought in a StarWars DVD triva contest.. it didn't get used. He did learn that the voice for Darth Vader was James Earl Jones... It took revisiting 5 times.. it wasn't on his agenda.
The artic senior with the S had a good dance experience at Sadies with the girl from Merced High. In his conversation he only had 4 s distortions in 5 minutes.. (using the dysfluency model to measure) Next time I will chart hashmarks and Os for accuracy and mistakes. Then we will have a percentage. He is happy with his progress and he claims his mom is too.
Have a great weekend
Pat
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Parental Involvement
Somehow they don't get it.. the folks up in the office.
In my 6th period class came tromping along was a mother of one of the students. This parent had a history of having a problem with what the son was doing in school. So volatile and somewhat pushy was the rep.
We were writing about the ending to the movie Pay it Forward. Luckily she loved the movie and thought it was a good one for her son to see. Everything she saw in my class was nothing but positive. But:
1. Privacy of the other students needs to me considered. She now knows the other students names in my class (3)
2. Notification of attendance would allow for a more representative lesson. Which puts me in an awkward position.
3. Information gained in the classroom could be used in a negetive light against the district without a filter.. what was on the boards, how the students reacted, how the education is for a 15 year old and not adults.. etc.
So it probably worked in my favor to have the parent in the classroom. But it might not have to.
Your world is always at risk.
: ( Pat
In my 6th period class came tromping along was a mother of one of the students. This parent had a history of having a problem with what the son was doing in school. So volatile and somewhat pushy was the rep.
We were writing about the ending to the movie Pay it Forward. Luckily she loved the movie and thought it was a good one for her son to see. Everything she saw in my class was nothing but positive. But:
1. Privacy of the other students needs to me considered. She now knows the other students names in my class (3)
2. Notification of attendance would allow for a more representative lesson. Which puts me in an awkward position.
3. Information gained in the classroom could be used in a negetive light against the district without a filter.. what was on the boards, how the students reacted, how the education is for a 15 year old and not adults.. etc.
So it probably worked in my favor to have the parent in the classroom. But it might not have to.
Your world is always at risk.
: ( Pat
Watercolor and Framing
Dad has become a very good framer.
For those who dabble in the water media, you know that framing is essential for bringing out the best in the colors and presentably of a work of art. It is not an easy task for anyone. Dad says it takes some serious time to do it well.. sometimes 4 hours per.
He has just done a great job on some of my summer works. They mostly center around fishing. I took some of the subjects from fly fishing magazines. These gems have some really nice backgrounds since fly fishing usually occurs in the most pristine environments. Unfortunately working the painting was a priority over casting the rod.
Current watercolor play is over some landscapes around Gunnison Colorado. Every time you work you learn something new in the process. I have been using some beautifully soft caran de arche watercolor pencils to do the drawing. Then for significantly larger areas, I use some tube paint in my butcher's pans. I really like to use them because they are seriously metal (they don't crumble like plastic does) and they do not let the watercolor bead.
Have a great day... Pat
For those who dabble in the water media, you know that framing is essential for bringing out the best in the colors and presentably of a work of art. It is not an easy task for anyone. Dad says it takes some serious time to do it well.. sometimes 4 hours per.
He has just done a great job on some of my summer works. They mostly center around fishing. I took some of the subjects from fly fishing magazines. These gems have some really nice backgrounds since fly fishing usually occurs in the most pristine environments. Unfortunately working the painting was a priority over casting the rod.
Current watercolor play is over some landscapes around Gunnison Colorado. Every time you work you learn something new in the process. I have been using some beautifully soft caran de arche watercolor pencils to do the drawing. Then for significantly larger areas, I use some tube paint in my butcher's pans. I really like to use them because they are seriously metal (they don't crumble like plastic does) and they do not let the watercolor bead.
Have a great day... Pat
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
The Wonder How to.. Thanksgiving Plans and Christmas
I was looking for connections to get dad a 4 in one pluot tree ordered and I came across a really cool short video of the field farm somewhere around Hickman in the valley where they were thinning and spring pruning their fruit trees. The Wilson nursery, which only sells wholesale had this video on their website that hooked to a flickr type site of mostly how to videos. It is called WonderHowto. As a plug in to your firefox.. you are using firefox I hope.. it sits as a contextual add on. whenever you are on a web site, it automatically scans through its libraries of how to movies and offers them as viewable short flicks with a single click. One click backward transports the viewer back to where they were. Some of the videos are about some mundane things.. but some.. like how to kiss are really funny. All of the videos are rated.. with the classic school settings.. A through F.
When I first agreed to have this as an add on to my firefox it took an overnight for it to configure.. so I used Safari during that period. I think that I will keep it on my browser for awhile.. If it gets too annoying.. its out of here.
Its nice that Kelly mentioned the cool Thanksgiving Party we had at grandma's last year. Considering that the BKs will be in San Diego, and Linzi has commitments with Sean's family for Thanksgiving.. it might be better for all if we met this year down in Morgan Hill for the Thanksgiving. We would like to be the folks in charge of the Christmas party however.. So get your presents in hand. Or as Bob would say.. gear up!
Come on over to Merced for Christmas.. This year we would like to propose the same set up.. but no food as it is gone too quickly. We would be happy to help any family member that needs support for their gift creation.. ha.. we had such a successful one last year.
Love
Pat
When I first agreed to have this as an add on to my firefox it took an overnight for it to configure.. so I used Safari during that period. I think that I will keep it on my browser for awhile.. If it gets too annoying.. its out of here.
Its nice that Kelly mentioned the cool Thanksgiving Party we had at grandma's last year. Considering that the BKs will be in San Diego, and Linzi has commitments with Sean's family for Thanksgiving.. it might be better for all if we met this year down in Morgan Hill for the Thanksgiving. We would like to be the folks in charge of the Christmas party however.. So get your presents in hand. Or as Bob would say.. gear up!
Come on over to Merced for Christmas.. This year we would like to propose the same set up.. but no food as it is gone too quickly. We would be happy to help any family member that needs support for their gift creation.. ha.. we had such a successful one last year.
Love
Pat
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Vets Day!
This is always a good holiday. October is drags on and on. This day from a purely holiday perspective is wonderful. It is just one day. In this year's case it was not hooked up to a weekend. The weather is very nice in the afternoon. Today we are in the 65 degree range. I had a chance to get out and plow through my front yard pluot tree. It is always good to prune a plum (or a pluot) when the leaves are still on. this year I pruned it for strength and lowered its height. We had a huge crop of golden/green pluots this year. The last of them were eaten by the girls a couple of weeks ago. The tree needed to be opened up in the center. The lengthy branches had to be wheedled down. The overall effect should be a good crop next year but not one that will have me pitching them at everyone that I know. The pluot is a Flavor Queen. It has wonderful fruit. This is the first year I had enough to wait until the fruit got completely ripe. Boy they did get ripe. Sweet Sweet Sweet.
Sue is not happy with the amount of white peaches that I had last year. Again way too many.. can you imagine that? So I have been hacking it down today as well. This summer we should have just enough. The Sugar Lady peaches are ripe around the middle of July. My peach hedge with the redhaven (the most often planted peach), the
Babcock, (another white peach) and the standard Elberta are ready for some production this year.
Still left to manhandle is the apricot tree in the back. It give a miserable crop last year (only 8 quarts) but this year the foliage looks really good and it will produce a ground breaking crop if I don't lower its top branches to a more reasonable height. It is the oldest tree on the property.. almost 28 years old.
The pomegranates are pumping out ripe fruit this fall.. and the lemons are almost ready for harvest.. Yes there will be lemon delights at the Thanksgiving table.
Check the flickr steam for the latest lemon photo.
Pat
Sue is not happy with the amount of white peaches that I had last year. Again way too many.. can you imagine that? So I have been hacking it down today as well. This summer we should have just enough. The Sugar Lady peaches are ripe around the middle of July. My peach hedge with the redhaven (the most often planted peach), the
Babcock, (another white peach) and the standard Elberta are ready for some production this year.
Still left to manhandle is the apricot tree in the back. It give a miserable crop last year (only 8 quarts) but this year the foliage looks really good and it will produce a ground breaking crop if I don't lower its top branches to a more reasonable height. It is the oldest tree on the property.. almost 28 years old.
The pomegranates are pumping out ripe fruit this fall.. and the lemons are almost ready for harvest.. Yes there will be lemon delights at the Thanksgiving table.
Check the flickr steam for the latest lemon photo.
Pat
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Pork Roast in the Oven
Its a great day to get the pork shoulder roast agoing.
I have one on. I tossed in mild chili powder. It was browned on both sides stove top. Now is braising in a couple of cups of chicken broth in my aluminum roaster.
It think that when it is ready is served it with couscous and a little homemade apple sauce from the stove top.. My it does sound like fall doesn't it.
Love to all
Pat
I have one on. I tossed in mild chili powder. It was browned on both sides stove top. Now is braising in a couple of cups of chicken broth in my aluminum roaster.
It think that when it is ready is served it with couscous and a little homemade apple sauce from the stove top.. My it does sound like fall doesn't it.
Love to all
Pat
Cruise fuel charges
I just got an e-mail from Vactions to Go an online travel agent for cruise lines. We all know that the price of gas has gone down.. thank goodness. I suspect.. there is the cynic in me... just in time for elections. The cruise industry had imposed a fuel surcharge to recoop some of the cost of the fuel increases. Now that it is down.. this industry is not taking any chances. Here is what is going on... hmmmmmm
The steep drop in the price of fuel has prompted most major cruise lines to make changes to their highly unpopular fuel surcharges. The new policies are convoluted, but I'll do my best to explain them.
Carnival, Costa, Cunard, Holland America, P&O, Princess and Seabourn have eliminated fuel surcharges for new bookings for 2010 departures, effective immediately.
The situation is considerably less cut-and-dried for 2008 and 2009 departures.
If the price of light sweet crude oil is $70 per barrel or less according to the New York Mercantile Exchange Index (NYMEX) at the 2:30 p.m. close of business on 25 consecutive trading days, ending five trading days prior to a cruise departure, fuel supplements paid by passengers on that sailing will be refunded in the form of onboard credits.
In other words, the price of oil must remain at $70 or less per barrel for 25 trading days in a row until five trading days before your cruise in order for you to receive that shipboard credit. Passengers who booked a 2010 cruise on these lines before October 31, 2008 will be charged a fuel supplement, but they will also be eligible for onboard credit under the same fuel price conditions applied to 2008 and 2009 departures.
Fortunately, this process will be automatic--passengers will not need to apply for the onboard credit or try to track the price of oil themselves. However, Carnival Corp., which owns and operates these cruise lines, has raised prices on all 2010 cruises to reflect the fact that even at $70 per barrel the price of fuel is significantly higher than in the past.
Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Azamara and Norwegian will not apply fuel surcharges to bookings made on or after November 10, 2008 for sailings that depart on or after January 1, 2010. Fuel surcharges still apply to 2008 departures. For 2009 sailings, and for 2010 sailings booked before November 10, 2008, these lines may refund fuel surcharges as onboard credits. Refunds will be determined on a quarterly basis: If the price of West Texas Intermediate fuel is $65 or less at the close of the NYMEX, two weeks prior to the beginning of an upcoming calendar quarter, then onboard credits will be provided to all passengers on sailings that depart during that calendar quarter.
Still with me? Here's how it breaks down:
If the price per barrel is $65 or less on December 18, 2008, passengers departing between January 1 and March 31, 2009 will receive onboard credit.
If the price per barrel is $65 or less on March 18, 2009, passengers departing between April 1 and June 30, 2009 will receive onboard credit.
If the price per barrel is $65 or less on June 17, 2009, passengers departing between July 1 and September 30, 2009 will receive onboard credit.
If the price per barrel is $65 or less on September 17, 2009, passengers departing between October 1 and December 31, 2009 will receive onboard credit.
The same timeline and conditions apply to 2010 sailings booked prior to November 10, 2008. Again, the shipboard credits will be automatically provided.
The steep drop in the price of fuel has prompted most major cruise lines to make changes to their highly unpopular fuel surcharges. The new policies are convoluted, but I'll do my best to explain them.
Carnival, Costa, Cunard, Holland America, P&O, Princess and Seabourn have eliminated fuel surcharges for new bookings for 2010 departures, effective immediately.
The situation is considerably less cut-and-dried for 2008 and 2009 departures.
If the price of light sweet crude oil is $70 per barrel or less according to the New York Mercantile Exchange Index (NYMEX) at the 2:30 p.m. close of business on 25 consecutive trading days, ending five trading days prior to a cruise departure, fuel supplements paid by passengers on that sailing will be refunded in the form of onboard credits.
In other words, the price of oil must remain at $70 or less per barrel for 25 trading days in a row until five trading days before your cruise in order for you to receive that shipboard credit. Passengers who booked a 2010 cruise on these lines before October 31, 2008 will be charged a fuel supplement, but they will also be eligible for onboard credit under the same fuel price conditions applied to 2008 and 2009 departures.
Fortunately, this process will be automatic--passengers will not need to apply for the onboard credit or try to track the price of oil themselves. However, Carnival Corp., which owns and operates these cruise lines, has raised prices on all 2010 cruises to reflect the fact that even at $70 per barrel the price of fuel is significantly higher than in the past.
Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Azamara and Norwegian will not apply fuel surcharges to bookings made on or after November 10, 2008 for sailings that depart on or after January 1, 2010. Fuel surcharges still apply to 2008 departures. For 2009 sailings, and for 2010 sailings booked before November 10, 2008, these lines may refund fuel surcharges as onboard credits. Refunds will be determined on a quarterly basis: If the price of West Texas Intermediate fuel is $65 or less at the close of the NYMEX, two weeks prior to the beginning of an upcoming calendar quarter, then onboard credits will be provided to all passengers on sailings that depart during that calendar quarter.
Still with me? Here's how it breaks down:
If the price per barrel is $65 or less on December 18, 2008, passengers departing between January 1 and March 31, 2009 will receive onboard credit.
If the price per barrel is $65 or less on March 18, 2009, passengers departing between April 1 and June 30, 2009 will receive onboard credit.
If the price per barrel is $65 or less on June 17, 2009, passengers departing between July 1 and September 30, 2009 will receive onboard credit.
If the price per barrel is $65 or less on September 17, 2009, passengers departing between October 1 and December 31, 2009 will receive onboard credit.
The same timeline and conditions apply to 2010 sailings booked prior to November 10, 2008. Again, the shipboard credits will be automatically provided.
Saturday with the Rents
Staving off a most certain visit from the parents... Sue and I reversed trend and ware and tear on them and made the trip to the big Morgan on the other side of the pass. We took the collected group off to the Home Town Buffet. The Gilroy HTB is smaller than the Merced one. The Merced one is a converted Bank of America Branch.. that was first converted to a Chuck E Cheese.. and now a Home Town Buffet.
We had a great time. The Brownie Korbels joined us and everyone had a chance to eat what they wanted to eat. Dad relayed the day they were eating there and the field works came in mass to eat. 150 of them came in out of the rain, filled their plates to the brim and politely ate their food. This was quite a scene in this upscale community.
Dad had finished framing some of the summer watercolors that I had painted. Several were made from the fishing series. Mom had a gift for Sue's birthday that was burning a hole in her pocket. She had some new towels that go with the new gold bathroom that we have. Sue was very pleased. She loves linens.
For moom's birthday, we had a happy green witch to add to her collection.
I made a birthday cake.. Lady Baltimore from scratch. Cream cheese frosting festooned its top. I tried something new. I layered a slather of plum nectarine jam between the layers. I think that it added another flavor to it. A Lady Baltimore cake is a pretty dense cake. It requires 5 egg whites. Homemade cakes do not have the lift that packaged cakes have. But the flavor.. oh my I really the love the flavor of homemade cakes over mixes... and no transfats.
It rained on the way back from Morgan Hill. There was also a little fog on the top of the hill. Just a little reminder that fall is on its way.
Have a great Sunday
Pat
We had a great time. The Brownie Korbels joined us and everyone had a chance to eat what they wanted to eat. Dad relayed the day they were eating there and the field works came in mass to eat. 150 of them came in out of the rain, filled their plates to the brim and politely ate their food. This was quite a scene in this upscale community.
Dad had finished framing some of the summer watercolors that I had painted. Several were made from the fishing series. Mom had a gift for Sue's birthday that was burning a hole in her pocket. She had some new towels that go with the new gold bathroom that we have. Sue was very pleased. She loves linens.
For moom's birthday, we had a happy green witch to add to her collection.
I made a birthday cake.. Lady Baltimore from scratch. Cream cheese frosting festooned its top. I tried something new. I layered a slather of plum nectarine jam between the layers. I think that it added another flavor to it. A Lady Baltimore cake is a pretty dense cake. It requires 5 egg whites. Homemade cakes do not have the lift that packaged cakes have. But the flavor.. oh my I really the love the flavor of homemade cakes over mixes... and no transfats.
It rained on the way back from Morgan Hill. There was also a little fog on the top of the hill. Just a little reminder that fall is on its way.
Have a great Sunday
Pat
Friday, November 7, 2008
What to say!
Today my classes were learning what to say when you go to a wedding and you come to the bride and groom in the receiving line.
1) Most had trouble with eye contact
2) Many forgot their lines or jumbled them together
So we talked about saying "Congratulations, thank you for inviting me to the wedding."
I had a couple of adults that are coming in with their hand helds (students that need in class supervision.. or at least some supervision from one room to the next. They helped me "coach" the lines and encourage participation.
It was a good lesson.. and I had an administrative walk through in the middle of one of the classes. She left telling the students that they must enjoy their class (mine) because of all of the good work they were doing. I identified her to the class and told them that she was an administrator. None of my students could say what an administrator does.. so they were not threatened in the least.
We are into the dog days of November.. if there is such a thing. Progress reports (Ds and Fs) have to be into the registrar by Wednesday.. No one in my classes are headed for one except the kid who is never there.
I will never forget the day that I got a "cinch" notice from my biology teacher, Mr, Mezzeta, in high school. I was out with mono and be adninistered an F notice. I think I also got one in graphic arts.. not enough projects turned in.. we had a dark room at home and so I cranked out a few "alternative" projects. I graduated from high school without an F but also without a semester A as well.
Everyone is looking forward to Tuesday being off and a pretty light Monday due to Veterns Day.
Have a great evening.
: ) Pat
1) Most had trouble with eye contact
2) Many forgot their lines or jumbled them together
So we talked about saying "Congratulations, thank you for inviting me to the wedding."
I had a couple of adults that are coming in with their hand helds (students that need in class supervision.. or at least some supervision from one room to the next. They helped me "coach" the lines and encourage participation.
It was a good lesson.. and I had an administrative walk through in the middle of one of the classes. She left telling the students that they must enjoy their class (mine) because of all of the good work they were doing. I identified her to the class and told them that she was an administrator. None of my students could say what an administrator does.. so they were not threatened in the least.
We are into the dog days of November.. if there is such a thing. Progress reports (Ds and Fs) have to be into the registrar by Wednesday.. No one in my classes are headed for one except the kid who is never there.
I will never forget the day that I got a "cinch" notice from my biology teacher, Mr, Mezzeta, in high school. I was out with mono and be adninistered an F notice. I think I also got one in graphic arts.. not enough projects turned in.. we had a dark room at home and so I cranked out a few "alternative" projects. I graduated from high school without an F but also without a semester A as well.
Everyone is looking forward to Tuesday being off and a pretty light Monday due to Veterns Day.
Have a great evening.
: ) Pat
Thursday, November 6, 2008
pomegranate Day in Speech
Last night I check out my pomegranate bush in the front yard. As expected, they had started to split. This is a sure sign that they are ripe. I think that the rain and the really cool weather matured the fruit to this stage. If you don't pick them at this stage they tend to mold and you have lost the crop. This year I have 14 of them. Most of them are the size of softballs.
So in the spirit of my own curriculum, I chopped up about 8 of them and took them to school.
Pomegranates on the school carpet is almost problematic. The juice is a beautiful red but you certainly don't want it coloring your carpet or your clothes. All of my students were very careful in eating this fall delight.
Many of the students have never had them before. Their natural interest bouyed their spirits to try.
I bought to school a roll of paper towels and a steak knife to seperate the skin. Underneath the tough skin, is a series of honey comb like structures with wonderful sweet sour fruit.
I hope that next year my little bush will produce enough for my classes again.
: ) Pat
So in the spirit of my own curriculum, I chopped up about 8 of them and took them to school.
Pomegranates on the school carpet is almost problematic. The juice is a beautiful red but you certainly don't want it coloring your carpet or your clothes. All of my students were very careful in eating this fall delight.
Many of the students have never had them before. Their natural interest bouyed their spirits to try.
I bought to school a roll of paper towels and a steak knife to seperate the skin. Underneath the tough skin, is a series of honey comb like structures with wonderful sweet sour fruit.
I hope that next year my little bush will produce enough for my classes again.
: ) Pat
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Obama Wins Heather Loses : (
Obama won with a landslide tonight.
Heather gave an extra 30 bucks to the campaign on Saturday for a chance to be flown to Chicago and meet the next president backstage.
She did not win. I do believe that she is in line for an Obama tee shirt for her efforts however.
I have met many people my age that are skeptical of turning the reins of government over to a crowd so young. The fist ppumping crowd that seems more interested in many of the things that we older folks don't get. But you get it because you are reading this blog! Don't try to hide your smug smile..
Very few of my cohorts blog or read blogs. Many do not get "text" messaging. They don't understand why anyone needs 700 TV stations when good old ABC CBS and NBC works for them. Sadly many of them missed the wonderful graphic look and the op ed work of CNN's staff.
They even holographized (not sure its a word) a reporter in Chicago to be in the studio with the team while the New York based reporter, Wolf asked her questions in real time without a whole lot of interference.
It was a historic night. We both voted absentee. So the presence of waiting in line for a chance to cast our ballots was not required. From the reports of precincts many people had to have an iron will to cast their ballot.
Personally I was disappointed in seeing any state go to Mc Cain. Don't they get it?
A big thank you goes out to Heather's friend Michael the San Francisco native who lived in the Farmington New Mexico to donate a month of time to the Obama campaign. I heard from Heather that there were some dozzies in the tales he tells of going door to door in New Mexico. I was very happy to see that New Mexico went Blue.. yeah!
I hope you had a good election night.
: ) Pat
Heather gave an extra 30 bucks to the campaign on Saturday for a chance to be flown to Chicago and meet the next president backstage.
She did not win. I do believe that she is in line for an Obama tee shirt for her efforts however.
I have met many people my age that are skeptical of turning the reins of government over to a crowd so young. The fist ppumping crowd that seems more interested in many of the things that we older folks don't get. But you get it because you are reading this blog! Don't try to hide your smug smile..
Very few of my cohorts blog or read blogs. Many do not get "text" messaging. They don't understand why anyone needs 700 TV stations when good old ABC CBS and NBC works for them. Sadly many of them missed the wonderful graphic look and the op ed work of CNN's staff.
They even holographized (not sure its a word) a reporter in Chicago to be in the studio with the team while the New York based reporter, Wolf asked her questions in real time without a whole lot of interference.
It was a historic night. We both voted absentee. So the presence of waiting in line for a chance to cast our ballots was not required. From the reports of precincts many people had to have an iron will to cast their ballot.
Personally I was disappointed in seeing any state go to Mc Cain. Don't they get it?
A big thank you goes out to Heather's friend Michael the San Francisco native who lived in the Farmington New Mexico to donate a month of time to the Obama campaign. I heard from Heather that there were some dozzies in the tales he tells of going door to door in New Mexico. I was very happy to see that New Mexico went Blue.. yeah!
I hope you had a good election night.
: ) Pat
9 New pages and growing
The El Camino class of 68 40th reunion has grown 9 new pages over the weekend and Monday. Thanks to the work of Rose, and the others that have sent in (via electronic means) all the photos.. it is pretty spectacular. Despite the spread there are still people that attended the reunion that didn't get the photo included. I am still using Go-Live in the grid mode to move photos on and off and to get alignment. Adobe has abandoned this product in favor of Dreamweaver. That means that eventually I will have another learning curve with another product for web production.
I have discovered in photoshop the best solution to the dreaded red eye. There is a color replacement brush. When this is set to black,the user can swish out the red. Sometimes the issue is the luminosity. This happens when the photo has a white glow in the pupils. Truly these people are not aliens, they are just caught by the reflection of the flash. There is a setting for luminosity too.
Last weekend we had a very nice visit with our daughters. We all are going cruising on president's week. NCL is leaving the 14th of February and we are going to be on it. Check with Linzi for details or look it up with your discount on line travel agent.
Tonight's the night of the election returns. Expect to hear and see a lot of space mission talk. This is the time the commentators earn their money. They have to keep the patter going and interesting while serious information develops. I hope that the Obama win will be decisive and over before the western states come into play.. Then what will they say?
On the other hand.. sometimes even the exit polls cannot be trusted.
Join with me tonight and be a political junkie..
Pat
I have discovered in photoshop the best solution to the dreaded red eye. There is a color replacement brush. When this is set to black,the user can swish out the red. Sometimes the issue is the luminosity. This happens when the photo has a white glow in the pupils. Truly these people are not aliens, they are just caught by the reflection of the flash. There is a setting for luminosity too.
Last weekend we had a very nice visit with our daughters. We all are going cruising on president's week. NCL is leaving the 14th of February and we are going to be on it. Check with Linzi for details or look it up with your discount on line travel agent.
Tonight's the night of the election returns. Expect to hear and see a lot of space mission talk. This is the time the commentators earn their money. They have to keep the patter going and interesting while serious information develops. I hope that the Obama win will be decisive and over before the western states come into play.. Then what will they say?
On the other hand.. sometimes even the exit polls cannot be trusted.
Join with me tonight and be a political junkie..
Pat
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