A Light for you to contemplate
Our home toward the end of Windmill and our neighbor have new light bulbs. Soon, I hope to have 4 of them grouped .. 2 across the street. The idea is to give everyone a demonstration that they can see if these new lights make sense to upgrade to.
The two lights you will see in our post lights in the front yard, are the circular tube fluorescent style bulbs (Compact Fluorescent... CFL) that are being touted by the power company (PUD) . Normally, you should use a 40 watt incandescent light bulb. That is what the fixture is rated for. The rating is for the socket inside because that is what heat it has been made to be able to withstand. Also, incandescent bulbs put out a great deal of heat. Over time the bulb may cause cracking of the globe if it is over 40 watts due to heat.
Generally speaking, you may think that these lights are of the bright, harsh, white style some people are using in the park. That is not the case however. The lights are soft white which is the same color that most home use bulbs are. They cost double what incandescent bulbs cost. They are touted to last up to 9 years which is probably wishful thinking. The big deal is cost of operation and equivalent light output.
In my yard and in Sue Hayes yard next door we are using 23 watt CFL bulbs... The equivalent light given off is equal to a 100 watt incandescent bulb. So here is the math... If you use a 23watt CFL to replace a 40watt incandescent bulb ... you are using 1/2 the power you used before and are getting 2 and 1/2 times the light for 9 years without replacement.
Now, about the brightness... You need to think with a great deal of consideration before you install a brighter light in your post. To the Positive side you get more light for less $$... It may be a deterrent to burglars and may help people walk your paths.
On the negative side you may be shining a bright light into a neighbor's window which may be a source of irritation.. in that case my best advice, do not do it.
For another point of interest.. Wayde Dudley on Evergreen at the end of Windmill has installed a CFL using only 13 watts but an equivalent light of a 40 watt incandescent bulb. Claimed it will last 5 years. So they are getting the same light for about 3 times less than they were paying for before.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
The TEST signs on Thomas' home...
If you were wondering about the test signs on our home.. The CERT team was trying out different configurations to see which signs would be best seen at night with the lights out if a flashlight was shined on them...
Next Wednesday, The CERT team and any interested community members will assemble those signs at the clubhouse and then we will distribute them by putting them in the pigeon hole mailboxes for each resident. You may use them any time to signal during severe weather or another emergency if you need help. Especially, if you have not purchased a radio and are not able to use FRS Ch 6.16. This just another tool you can use for you safety. Keep it near a street facing window and place it there if you need HELP.
During a disaster, you can help the Fire/Police/CERT rescue teams by placing the sign in your window, red side toward the street if you need help..... White side toward the street if you don't. Day or night.
The signs are expensive but due to the generosity of Newport STAPLES who printed them on colored paper and provided plastic envelopes for them for free and Resident Larry Dale who provided the reflective tape and a can of reflective spray paint and to Residents Tom and Jeannine Roederer for another can of reflective spray paint.
Those of you who do not want to participate in the program just place your sign on the table next to the mailboxes. A Cert member will collect and store them. Please don't toss them.
If you were wondering about the test signs on our home.. The CERT team was trying out different configurations to see which signs would be best seen at night with the lights out if a flashlight was shined on them...
Next Wednesday, The CERT team and any interested community members will assemble those signs at the clubhouse and then we will distribute them by putting them in the pigeon hole mailboxes for each resident. You may use them any time to signal during severe weather or another emergency if you need help. Especially, if you have not purchased a radio and are not able to use FRS Ch 6.16. This just another tool you can use for you safety. Keep it near a street facing window and place it there if you need HELP.
During a disaster, you can help the Fire/Police/CERT rescue teams by placing the sign in your window, red side toward the street if you need help..... White side toward the street if you don't. Day or night.
The signs are expensive but due to the generosity of Newport STAPLES who printed them on colored paper and provided plastic envelopes for them for free and Resident Larry Dale who provided the reflective tape and a can of reflective spray paint and to Residents Tom and Jeannine Roederer for another can of reflective spray paint.
Those of you who do not want to participate in the program just place your sign on the table next to the mailboxes. A Cert member will collect and store them. Please don't toss them.
NewsGator Online
"In religion and politics, people's beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second hand, and without examination."
Friday, February 15, 2008
The Wake-Up Flight of a Wayward B-52 - New York Times
The Wake-Up Flight of a Wayward B-52 - New York Times: "A B-52 bomber took off from an Air Force base in North Dakota in August and — in a startling mistake attributed to post-cold war operational complacency — carried six nuclear-tipped cruise missiles on a 1,400-mile flight to a base in Louisiana. The missile tips should have been dummies, but somehow actual nuclear warheads were loaded for the cross-country trip."
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Radio Ham wannabees tune in on learning
Radio Ham wannabees tune in on learning: "SEASIDE - Imagine yourself sitting in a bustling room, barking out short-hand words like 'CQ' - seeking you - over a radio just a little larger than a standard iPod, hoping to connect with someone outside an area that has been deemed a natural disaster area.
Then imagine that short-hand language of yours is the only way for people in that bustling room to communicate with the outside world, because cell phones, land lines and Internet services are out of operation."
*
The Daily Times - www.delmarvanow.com - Salisbury, Md.
What other communities are doing.... Did you know that the LVH CERT team now has 6 trained HAMs?
The Daily Times - www.delmarvanow.com - Salisbury, Md.: "Sussex County is seeking a few talented, energetic amateur radio operators to help out during emergencies as “eyes and ears” across the county.
The new Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service group, launched last year, will use ham radio operators both in the field and in the county’s new Emergency Operations Center to relay on-the-ground reports of weather conditions and other emergency situations back to emergency managers.
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John Ferguson, a longtime Georgetown-area ham radio operator who is heading up the program, said he also wants to get 16 hams trained to staff the emergency center 24/7 during critical situations."
The Daily Times - www.delmarvanow.com - Salisbury, Md.: "Sussex County is seeking a few talented, energetic amateur radio operators to help out during emergencies as “eyes and ears” across the county.
The new Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service group, launched last year, will use ham radio operators both in the field and in the county’s new Emergency Operations Center to relay on-the-ground reports of weather conditions and other emergency situations back to emergency managers.
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John Ferguson, a longtime Georgetown-area ham radio operator who is heading up the program, said he also wants to get 16 hams trained to staff the emergency center 24/7 during critical situations."
The Cape Breton Post: Local News | Seniors Emergency Response Team in development: police
The Cape Breton Post: Local News | Seniors Emergency Response Team in development: police: "GLACE BAY –Police are working on a project to help keep seniors where they should be in the event of a community emergency: at home.
Const. Gary Fraser of the Cape Breton Regional Police Service says a committee has been set up to work on developing a volunteer-based Seniors Emergency Response Team. The team - which will include volunteers from the Emergency Measures Organizations and other emergency response sectors of the community - will assist seniors living in complexes in the event of a community emergency, such as a large power outage or ice storm.
“The team would mobilize and go to the seniors’ complexes to aid them with flashlights, water or whatever else they need. If it’s a prolonged outage, we would bring in a generator, cook for them and help them with whatever they need so they don’t have to leave.”"
Const. Gary Fraser of the Cape Breton Regional Police Service says a committee has been set up to work on developing a volunteer-based Seniors Emergency Response Team. The team - which will include volunteers from the Emergency Measures Organizations and other emergency response sectors of the community - will assist seniors living in complexes in the event of a community emergency, such as a large power outage or ice storm.
“The team would mobilize and go to the seniors’ complexes to aid them with flashlights, water or whatever else they need. If it’s a prolonged outage, we would bring in a generator, cook for them and help them with whatever they need so they don’t have to leave.”"
NewsGator Online
2/12/2008 5:00:00 PM [rss@quotationspage.com (Quotes of the Day)]
"Give a man a fish, and he'll eat for a day. Give a fish a man, and he'll eat for weeks!"
NewsGator Online
2/12/2008 5:00:00 PM [rss@quotationspage.com (Quotes of the Day)]
"Things are more like they are now than they have ever been."
NewsGator Online
2/11/2008 5:00:00 PM [rss@quotationspage.com (Quotes of the Day)]
"TV is chewing gum for the eyes."
Video: Astronauts on 2nd Space Walk
Video: Astronauts on 2nd Space Walk: "Video: Astronauts on 2nd Space Walk"
Lake Mead May Dry Up by 2021
Lake Mead May Dry Up by 2021: "There is a 50 percent chance Lake Mead will run dry by 2021 and a 10 percent chance it will run out of usable water by 2014, if the region's drought deepens and water use climbs, the researchers said. (See related photo.)
'We were stunned at the magnitude of the problem and how fast it was coming at us,' said marine physicist Tim Barnett.
'Make no mistake, this water problem is not a scientific abstraction but rather one that will impact each and every one of us that live in the Southwest,' he said.
Currently, Lake Mead—located in Nevada and Arizona—is half-full, as is Lake Powell, another manmade reservoir on the Colorado River."
'We were stunned at the magnitude of the problem and how fast it was coming at us,' said marine physicist Tim Barnett.
'Make no mistake, this water problem is not a scientific abstraction but rather one that will impact each and every one of us that live in the Southwest,' he said.
Currently, Lake Mead—located in Nevada and Arizona—is half-full, as is Lake Powell, another manmade reservoir on the Colorado River."
75. Were the First Americans Wiped Out By an Asteroid? | Natural Disasters | DISCOVER Magazine
75. Were the First Americans Wiped Out By an Asteroid? | Natural Disasters | DISCOVER Magazine: "Some 13,000 years ago, the Clovis people wandered North America, hunting ground sloths, mammoths, and other creatures—until hunters and prey both vanished. What happened? A team of scientists now think they know: A miles-wide comet, they announced in May, seems to have exploded just north of the Great Lakes, triggering a 1,000-year cold spell that helped bring on the extinction of the Clovis and the animals."
BBC NEWS | Technology | Nanowires allow 'power dressing'
BBC NEWS | Technology | Nanowires allow 'power dressing': "Scientists in the US have developed novel brush-like fibres that generate electrical energy from movement.
Weaving them into a material could allow designers to create 'smart' clothes which harness body movement to power portable electronic gadgets.
Writing in the journal Nature, the team say that the materials could also be used in tents or other structures to harness wind energy.
'Our goal is to make self-powered nanotechnology,' Professor Zhong Lin Wang of the Georgia Institute of Technology and one of the authors of the paper told BBC News."
BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Five-seat concept car runs on air
BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Five-seat concept car runs on air: "The OneCAT will be a five-seater with a glass fibre body, weighing just 350kg and could cost just over �2,500.
It will be driven by compressed air stored in carbon-fibre tanks built into the chassis.
The tanks can be filled with air from a compressor in just three minutes - much quicker than a battery car.
Alternatively, it can be plugged into the mains for four hours and an on-board compressor will do the job.
For long journeys the compressed air driving the pistons can be boosted by a fuel burner which heats the air so it expands and increases the pressure on the pistons. The burner will use all kinds of liquid fuel."
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Editorial: FEMA's 'trailergate' - Milford, MA - The Milford Daily News
Editorial: FEMA's 'trailergate' - Milford, MA - The Milford Daily News: "Amid the hurricane, FEMA snapped up some 145,000 trailers - through no-bid contracts, no less, at an average cost of $18,600 - but couldn't use them all. The government unloaded trailers at auction, offered them to state and local governments and sold hundreds to hurricane victims, reportedly for about 40 cents on the dollar.
But because of mounting complaints that the trailers contain unsafe levels of formaldehyde - a noxious health hazard - FEMA is now offering to buy them back."
But because of mounting complaints that the trailers contain unsafe levels of formaldehyde - a noxious health hazard - FEMA is now offering to buy them back."
Monday, February 11, 2008
We live in a community of caring, giving people. It has been proven yet again by the generosity of two of our residents and one of our local stores. As many of you know, the CERT team is working on a placard sign that you can put in your window and could greatly help in case of an emergency, perhaps even save your life! The local Staples store donated all the signs (one for every residence) and the printing. The last thing we needed was reflective tape to put on the signs so they would be visible even in the dark. Larry Dale donated two rolls of the very best reflective tape. He, as well as Tom Roederer also donated cans of Reflective Rustoleum paint. If you happen to be in Staples or run into either Larry or Tom, please thank them for these kind acts. Their good deeds could possibly be the difference between life and death for one of you.
Can Sugar Substitutes Make You Fat? - TIME
Can Sugar Substitutes Make You Fat? - TIME: "A University of Texas Health Science Center survey in 2005 found that people who drink diet soft drinks may actually gain weight; in that study, for every can of diet soda people consumed each day, there was a 41% increased risk of being overweight. So even though her findings were in animals, says Swithers, they could lead to a better understanding of how the human body responds to food, and explain why eating low-calorie foods doesn't always lead to weight loss."
The Do-Not-Call List - New York Times
The Do-Not-Call List - New York Times: "If 150 million people agree that such calls are objectionable and unwelcome, and Congress is proposing legislation that will make registry listing permanent, why is it necessary to maintain a federal bureaucracy to track and manage opt-outs?
Congress should instead mandate that telemarketers may only contact those who have opted in to such communications, avoiding the necessity of expanded government involvement, and shifting the enforcement burden to marketers and the minority of Americans who wish to receive telemarketer calls.
David Wagner
Boston, Feb. 7, 2008"
Congress should instead mandate that telemarketers may only contact those who have opted in to such communications, avoiding the necessity of expanded government involvement, and shifting the enforcement burden to marketers and the minority of Americans who wish to receive telemarketer calls.
David Wagner
Boston, Feb. 7, 2008"
BBC NEWS | Health | Cure hope over diabetes therapy
BBC NEWS | Health | Cure hope over diabetes therapy: "A pioneering treatment for diabetes is being rolled out across the country with experts believing it could eventually lead to a cure."
Sunday, February 10, 2008
An email from Wayde Dudley
Barb & I witnessed a Coast Guard rescue today at Otter Rock. We were coming back from Lincoln City and 2 miles south of Depot Bay I noticed a Coast Guard "47 footer" headed south at full speed. They only go that fast if it is a mission so I pulled off at Cape Foul Weather. I saw the cutter coming up fast on the point and the CG helo was circling in the area. There was a smoke flare in the water due south of the Otter Rock point. It must have been dropped by the helo because it was stationary in the water due to a weighted tether (I assume). The helo slowly dropped down to near the water surface. It went out of sight due to the cliff but I am sure they dropped a rescue swimmer as we heard a bit later on the scanner that all people were out of the water. Apparently a surfer was in trouble. He must not have needed immediate medical aid as the helo told Newport station to arrange ground transportation at the airport. Interesting event.
Wayde
HELP
OK
OK
My task is to convince you folks that you are going to get something for nothing and you need to use it... We can't bribe you with food... Pleading will get about 1/2 of you.. Chastising will cause you to drop out. Threatening ... well, what person likes that?
So, we are going to give you the cold hard facts and let you work it out for yourselves. Just like with Neighborhood Watch radio it is your responsibility to call and ask what is going on or if you need help.... So to, will be the new Placard system being introduced now.. First, what is it? Second, How to use it and last, Why do we need it?
WHAT IT IS...
Every home will be given a free placard if they want it(8 1/2 x 11) for their street facing window. On one side it will be red and say HELP! in red.. It will have easily seen reflective tape on it and be encased in plastic. Further it will be sprayed with reflective paint. A lot of effort went into making it highly visible.. People gave about $500 in resources to have this project completed. These signs are free to you but they were not free. Nor, did they come without CERT team labor. If you don't intend to use one ... please don't take one.
On the other side of the placard it says OK in black on a white background.
HOW TO USE IT...
In a disaster, power outage, windstorm, telephone failure.. or anything that brings the CERT team into play it is to be used as a signal... Example,,,, an earthquake happens... Your Neighborhood Watch block captains will report on the welfare of the people they know about in their areas if they can by radio on FRS CH6_16. If they miss you or if no one checks on you .. You too can call on the radio and give your status. Say the Block Captain misses you and you have chosen not to have a radio or the radio does not work? Put the placard in the window. White (OK) if you don't need help or Red (HELP) if you need help.
If you have chosen not to have a radio, not to participate in Neighborhood Watch and don't want a placard. Your home will be checked last in a disaster.
WHY WE NEED IT...
Our weekly practice drills show us that our CERT team will not get the response it needs from Neighborhood Watch block captains. Probably, less than 1/2 of the people have radios. That takes us to the placard system to catch those that fall through the cracks. Even so.. suppose you are to injured to put up a placard? CERT will check and clear every home after a disaster. We have one standing motto that we all abide by... "We will do the most good for the most people."
So, our order of Rescue operations will be prioritized like this:
Radio calls from or about injured
Placard canvasing HELP. second
Homes displaying no placard and no radio and no Block Capitan report, last.
This will allow us to "do the most good for the most people."
During minor emergencies such as high wind, power outages and the like you can use your placard to signal a CERT patrol vehicle by placing it in your window.
So, we are going to give you the cold hard facts and let you work it out for yourselves. Just like with Neighborhood Watch radio it is your responsibility to call and ask what is going on or if you need help.... So to, will be the new Placard system being introduced now.. First, what is it? Second, How to use it and last, Why do we need it?
WHAT IT IS...
Every home will be given a free placard if they want it(8 1/2 x 11) for their street facing window. On one side it will be red and say HELP! in red.. It will have easily seen reflective tape on it and be encased in plastic. Further it will be sprayed with reflective paint. A lot of effort went into making it highly visible.. People gave about $500 in resources to have this project completed. These signs are free to you but they were not free. Nor, did they come without CERT team labor. If you don't intend to use one ... please don't take one.
On the other side of the placard it says OK in black on a white background.
HOW TO USE IT...
In a disaster, power outage, windstorm, telephone failure.. or anything that brings the CERT team into play it is to be used as a signal... Example,,,, an earthquake happens... Your Neighborhood Watch block captains will report on the welfare of the people they know about in their areas if they can by radio on FRS CH6_16. If they miss you or if no one checks on you .. You too can call on the radio and give your status. Say the Block Captain misses you and you have chosen not to have a radio or the radio does not work? Put the placard in the window. White (OK) if you don't need help or Red (HELP) if you need help.
If you have chosen not to have a radio, not to participate in Neighborhood Watch and don't want a placard. Your home will be checked last in a disaster.
WHY WE NEED IT...
Our weekly practice drills show us that our CERT team will not get the response it needs from Neighborhood Watch block captains. Probably, less than 1/2 of the people have radios. That takes us to the placard system to catch those that fall through the cracks. Even so.. suppose you are to injured to put up a placard? CERT will check and clear every home after a disaster. We have one standing motto that we all abide by... "We will do the most good for the most people."
So, our order of Rescue operations will be prioritized like this:
Radio calls from or about injured
Placard canvasing HELP. second
Homes displaying no placard and no radio and no Block Capitan report, last.
This will allow us to "do the most good for the most people."
During minor emergencies such as high wind, power outages and the like you can use your placard to signal a CERT patrol vehicle by placing it in your window.
The War He Knew - New York Times
The War He Knew - New York Times: "Growing up in Indiana, I had the advantage of looking back at World War II history through the eyes of a native son and one of the greatest of war writers, Ernie Pyle. Archives of the syndicated column he wrote six times a week for three years took me from the bomb shelters in London to the beaches of Normandy and the North African coast to the islands in the Pacific. Ernie Pyle left the stories of the MacArthurs and battle architects to others. He was a soldier’s reporter."
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