China is well known for its ability to detain foreigners from exiting the country. It is often used to settle business conflict between foreigners and Chinese companies. The Chinese company contacts the police to say that a foreigner has not paid or lived up to some business dealing and Chinese border control puts a ban on the foreigner’s exit. These are called “exit bans“.
Bian kong, “边控“， short for bianjing kongzhi, “边境控制” is a system that can bar a foreigner from leaving China. We normally call it an “exit ban”
One of the reasons we bought a Honda Fit was for fuel economy. The stick is fun to drive, and the car has enough power for regular driving. In three years the fuel economy has gotten a little bit worse, but still ok. We use winter tires in the winter, and change tires in the summer.
Winter driving is in snow and ice, resulting in fuel economy dropping in January-February.
Honda Fir 2016: 3 year Fuelly numbers in L/100km, almost all city driving
A friend has traveled to Aylesbury, UK, and needs a bit of backup. May she not need this, but if she does, then it is here, ready to go.
Midand House, 42 Buckingham St, Aylesbury HP2 2LH, UK
GPS: 51.818926, -0.814910
Plus Code: 9C3XR59P+H2
Unexpectedly in Aylesbury, UK, with hopes that she will be safe and that good luck will keep her well. GPS: 51.818926, -0.814910 Plus Code: 9C3XR59P+H2 Google Maps.
The Chinese says:
搜索”加油站”，自动取款机 sousuo jiayouzhan，zidong qukuanji: search for gas station, ATM
Delta Miter Saw 36-070c Blade Guard Repair. Photo by Don Tai
I bought this Delta Miter Saw model 36-070c part no. 899880 (0012) used at Goodwill for a pittance, not expecting much, but it has been going strong for the last 5 years. A couple of days ago the blade guard did not retract when the saw goes down to cut. I had to manually move the blade guard up to make a cut, which was annoying. The repair required some accurate and slow drilling with my tiniest drill bit, and 3 tiny screws. Now the blade guard goes up and out of the way when the saw goes down to make the cut.
My garage door was getting a bit heavy. It seems like I should have been doing maintenance on the door every 5 years or so, and did not know. The counter-balance to the double door are 2 torsion springs that give the door an assist on the way up.
These torsion springs are under tension. You need to get special 1/2″ diameter winding bars that insert into the holes, and then undo the two bolts that hold the spring to the main bar, then turn the winding bars to add tension, followed by retightening the two bolts. I strongly recommend the winding bars and no substitutes, but I did find some 1/2″ diameter bar in my garage, and it worked out tight enough.
Toronto Police Service online parking complaint, tps.on.ca/core I could not understand the URL from their automated message
I see a car parked on the grass portion of the boulevard, between the sidewalk and the road, which is very illegal. not to mention a lack of manners and common sense. I call up the City of Toronto, 311, who then relays me to the Toronto Police parking authority. The not-so-helpful automated machine says I can now fill out an online form instead of waiting on the phone. Great, but I, as a native speaker, cannot understand the URL, and a Google search reveals nothing. Is it:
First tongue and groove joint in wood, a long time coming, and a series of steps. Photo 4 by Don Tai
I watch the Woodsmith Shop on OTA TV, and am always amazed at their accuracy and precision. It is not just that they have all the fancy tools, but also that they have tuned their skills to get accurate results. In the reality of my world and my skill I can only approximate their level of expertise. This is my first tongue and groove joint in wood, the result of a long series of steps that took discipline and thinking. As I have no money I have to make do with what I have, which is fine. This is life.
China, Xinjiang, Urumuqi, Midongnan Lu, Bingtuandekun 新疆，乌鲁木齐, 米东南路, 兵团德坤, This is the front gate
I am in Toronto, but can use Baidu to virtually go to China. It is fun to be able to walk through China and take a look. Today I went to Urumuqi, captal city of Xinjiang, China. Urumuqi, Xinjiang is not only far, but probably off limits to foreigners. The map is old, pics taken in 2015. The place I wanted to go is not yet on the maps.
新疆，乌鲁木齐, 米东南路, 兵团德坤 Xinjiang, Urumuqi, Midongnan Lu, Bingtuandekun
GPS: 43.901088, 87.612782, Plus Code: 8MM9WJ27+C4 These locations are inaccurate due to Chinese national security laws
