Tuesday, December 13, 2005
DirectTV to Pay $5.4M in Privacy Fines
"Remember the do-not-call registry? DirecTV is in big trouble for violating the list, and faces the largest civil assessment ever obtained of $5.4M for harassing people over the phone at home and ignoring the registry. Although it looks like DirecTV was outsourcing all their telemarketing (obviously), the FTC recieved 1.4 million complaints, the biggest category of do-not-call violations ever recieved." From the article: "Majoras was quick to emphasize that the most important part of the settlement is that it sends a warning to companies that they cannot hire telemarketers and then turn their backs on whether or not the rules are followed."
Sunday, December 11, 2005
Saturday, December 10, 2005
The Other Frozen Pipe.
Turned on the faucet by the garage this afternoon and not a drop of water came out. I half expected this due to the well head freeze earlier in the morning. I was not surprised. Out came the handy brazing torch, and a few moments later the water was flowing again! I headed to the newly discovered shut off valve above the water heater and PRESTO the water slowed and dripped to a stop! I just left the faucet wide open and I can now sleep with no fear of a burst pipe in my garage wall.
After completing the garage mission I headed out to the well head and stuffed it full of insulation. I figure that this fix will work most of the time, but I may have to wire up some heat tape if it stays cold like this for an extended period of time. I could find out as soon as tomorrow morning. I will keep you posted.
After completing the garage mission I headed out to the well head and stuffed it full of insulation. I figure that this fix will work most of the time, but I may have to wire up some heat tape if it stays cold like this for an extended period of time. I could find out as soon as tomorrow morning. I will keep you posted.
What Cigarette Do You Smoke, Doctor?
These are commercial video clips from the early 1950s. Some funny commercials with doctors saying how much they love their camel cigarette.
Honey... The Water Stopped.
I stare through the crack in the bathroom door at Deb.
"You couldn't have waited until I finished?!"
"I thought about it, does that count?"
So began my morning. Obviously something had frozen up outside in the 20 degree air, but what, and where? I had been worrying about the hose bib on the side of the house freezing up, but this was certainly topping that! I had in my possession the phone number for the plumber, sent to me buy the builder just yesterday, but it is early on a Saturday morning, would he answer?
I dial the phone as I walk around the house looking for any faucet that will produce running water. Doug the plumber answers!
"Did you put insulation around your well head?" he asks.
"No, I didn't know I had too."
"Well, I'm just the plumber, not the well guy." he is quick to add. "But you need to put some insulation inside the well cover... After you heat up the pipes and get the water going again."
"Heat up the pipes?"
I am instructed to take a blow dryer out to the well head and heat up the pipes. I my mind, as he is talking I see myself firing up the brazing torch and "Gettin' 'er done!" My mind snaps back as he says, some "Crazy" guys might even do it with a torch, but I wouldn't advise it, "cuz you wouldn't want to end up melt'n someth'n."
I thank him and then ask the question I originally planned on calling him for... The garage wall hose bib.
"There is a valve right above the water heater that will shut off the whole outside wall." He says dead pan, like everybody should know that! Note to self: Call builder and thank him for all of the useful information about insulating my well, and the secret shut off valve for the hose bib.
Time to get the water flowing again! I head outside into the bitter cold armed with a phone, (so Deb can call me when the water starts running) and a BRAZING TORCH! What kind of man hauls out an extension cord and fires up a hair drier when he owns a TORCH! A fire breathing, blue flame producing, makes a satisfying hiss while it's running TORCH! "Crazy, my ass!"
I get out to the concrete cover, but it is frozen onto the base. I think about hitting it with some heat, but imagine the lid cracking into multiple pieces. I eventually end up just rolling the whole base and lid off as one unit. And there are the pipes that need to be heated. But wait, there also is an electrical box with some wires and... STUFF I COULD MELT! I actually thought about the hair dryer option for almost a second before the index finger on my possessed right hand pulled the trigger on the torch.
I took less than 2 minutes before the phone rang in my pocket, "It's on!" I check the wires... No damage done!
I will pick up some insulation today from Lowe's, (makers of fine artificial Christmas Trees I might add) and then work on shutting off the garage wall hose bib... If it is not already too late!
"You couldn't have waited until I finished?!"
"I thought about it, does that count?"
So began my morning. Obviously something had frozen up outside in the 20 degree air, but what, and where? I had been worrying about the hose bib on the side of the house freezing up, but this was certainly topping that! I had in my possession the phone number for the plumber, sent to me buy the builder just yesterday, but it is early on a Saturday morning, would he answer?
I dial the phone as I walk around the house looking for any faucet that will produce running water. Doug the plumber answers!
"Did you put insulation around your well head?" he asks.
"No, I didn't know I had too."
"Well, I'm just the plumber, not the well guy." he is quick to add. "But you need to put some insulation inside the well cover... After you heat up the pipes and get the water going again."
"Heat up the pipes?"
I am instructed to take a blow dryer out to the well head and heat up the pipes. I my mind, as he is talking I see myself firing up the brazing torch and "Gettin' 'er done!" My mind snaps back as he says, some "Crazy" guys might even do it with a torch, but I wouldn't advise it, "cuz you wouldn't want to end up melt'n someth'n."
I thank him and then ask the question I originally planned on calling him for... The garage wall hose bib.
"There is a valve right above the water heater that will shut off the whole outside wall." He says dead pan, like everybody should know that! Note to self: Call builder and thank him for all of the useful information about insulating my well, and the secret shut off valve for the hose bib.
Time to get the water flowing again! I head outside into the bitter cold armed with a phone, (so Deb can call me when the water starts running) and a BRAZING TORCH! What kind of man hauls out an extension cord and fires up a hair drier when he owns a TORCH! A fire breathing, blue flame producing, makes a satisfying hiss while it's running TORCH! "Crazy, my ass!"
I get out to the concrete cover, but it is frozen onto the base. I think about hitting it with some heat, but imagine the lid cracking into multiple pieces. I eventually end up just rolling the whole base and lid off as one unit. And there are the pipes that need to be heated. But wait, there also is an electrical box with some wires and... STUFF I COULD MELT! I actually thought about the hair dryer option for almost a second before the index finger on my possessed right hand pulled the trigger on the torch.
I took less than 2 minutes before the phone rang in my pocket, "It's on!" I check the wires... No damage done!
I will pick up some insulation today from Lowe's, (makers of fine artificial Christmas Trees I might add) and then work on shutting off the garage wall hose bib... If it is not already too late!
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Wasps Could Replace Bomb, Drug Dogs
USATODAY.com - Wasps could replace bomb, drug dogs: "Trained wasps could someday replace dogs for sniffing out drugs, bombs and bodies. No kidding.
Scientists say a species of non-stinging wasps can be trained in only five minutes and are just as sensitive to odors as man's best friend, which can require up to six months of training at a cost of about $15,000 per dog."
Scientists say a species of non-stinging wasps can be trained in only five minutes and are just as sensitive to odors as man's best friend, which can require up to six months of training at a cost of about $15,000 per dog."
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Hawaiian Lava Water Fall!
Hawaiian lava eruption puts on a show - Tech News & Reviews - MSNBC.com: "HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, Hawaii - About 44 acres (18 hectares) of coastline collapsed into the ocean this week, setting loose a glowing stream of lava that shot out from the newly exposed cliffside 45 feet (14 meters) above the water."
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Watch Out For The Squirrles!
BBC NEWS | Europe | Russian squirrel pack 'kills dog': "Russian squirrel pack 'kills dog'
Squirrels have bitten to death a stray dog which was barking at them in a Russian park, local media report.
Passers-by were reportedly too late to stop the attack by the black squirrels in a village in the far east, which reportedly lasted about a minute."
Squirrels have bitten to death a stray dog which was barking at them in a Russian park, local media report.
Passers-by were reportedly too late to stop the attack by the black squirrels in a village in the far east, which reportedly lasted about a minute."
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