Google Street started today, and they sure take some detailed photos.
There’s a pesky grey and white cat at the end of on my driveway. Who it belongs to I know not. It seems to be waiting for the garbage truck, or a taxi. The photo was taken in early spring, because our tulips are in bloom and our apricot tree is showing off their lovely white flowers. It’s about noon time. The image quality of the newly released (to Toronto) Google Street View is pretty amazing, and though I am not sure of its usefulness, it sure is interesting.
Weary am I when I have to set up another browser in my house. The browser of choice, Firefox, is very easy to install and I have little complaint. It’s the extra add-ons and plug-ins that take work. The score: Sun’s Java gets an A, Adobe’s Acrobat gets a C, Shockwave and Flash gets a D. Yes, they now function, but what a hassle. Most come with extra stuff you not only do not want but do not need. Simpler software leads to a simpler, more reliable computer, a bonus for anyone.
By Catherine Mulroney, Globe and Mail Thursday, Oct. 01, 2009
After my mother died six years ago, my father clung valiantly to his rituals and routines, determined to demonstrate he was coping and able to fend for himself.
A favourite tradition remained Sunday dinner at our place. After saying his hellos, he would loosen his tie and hand over his suit jacket for me to hang up.
Then my son Luke would ask, “Would you like a beer, Grandpa?” to which my father would respond, “I wouldn’t say no” or “A little something to wet my whistle” or “You could twist my arm,” all designed to make me groan and my kids laugh.
Canadian Bluejay enjoying my birdseed, without pesky squirrels
The internet is so awesome. Immature brown squirrels were using my bird feeder for gymnastics practice, spilling bird seed helter skelter and scaring the feathers off the local birds. This injustice was intolerable. I heard that vermin squirrels cannot climb down 1/16″ gauge wire strand. I bought some, attached it to my bird feeder, and today, I see vermin squirrels gazing forelonely up at my bird feeder, while the birds were having a feast.
Steam engine train rides with the Richmond Hill Live Steamers. The smell of coal, steam, oil, the whistle!
Two weekends a year the Richmond Hill Live Steamers, Toronto, Canada, has an open house, where they show off their scale model steam trains. It is a fascinating world of the mechanical and hand built. There are train rides for the kids and adults, while the old timers work and test their engines. The feeling of the club is very relaxed, leaving their work to speak for itself. We had a great time and was glad we went early. Donations to the club are welcome.
Good Samaritan quickly reverses unfortunate situation
The Mirror, North Edition
September 01, 2009 3:47 PM
On Saturday morning I went out for a bike ride. Along the way somehow my chain jumped and smashed my derailleur in to the spokes which locked the rear wheel.
I was a long way from home and had no choice but to walk home carrying my bike. At age 74 this wasn’t the kind of exercise I was looking for.
Swagman 3 bike rack installs 11.5 inches from my bumper, not a good fit
I have been meaning to get a bike rack for quite a number of years. When the kids were small this was not an issue because they could not ride far anyway, but they are growing. We don’t have a large car, so a bike rack is now a necessity. The Swagman 3 bike hitch bike rack seemed to be the strongest and lightest but well made bike rack I could find. It works very well but the experience of installing it provided some interesting surprises.
A bicycle rack that uses a trailer hitch keeps the bikes off your car's paint
I have been wanting to add a bicycle carrier to my 1997 Nissan Altima car for the longest time. A bike carrier that goes into a trailer hitch receiver allows the bikes to not contact the car, reducing fears of scratched paint and dents. While shopping around for hitch receivers I found the U-Haul hitch receiver (#24999) for $130CAD, cheaper by $40-$50CAD than other brand names. U-Haul wanted an extra $40 for installation, which I could save if I did it myself. There would be unforeseen trade-offs which I will explain.
To lose oneself, but for a moment. To scrub your mind of the cobwebs that collect, in exchange for the fresh odour of cow manure and the sight of dead vermin on the road. To calm down and return a better person.
I need to get under my car to do maintenance on a component. Cars are heavy and if you get under them and they fall on top of you this could cause amputation or death, so it’s best to research and do this carefully. The most obvious and safest way to do this is to go to a garage and have someone else do it, but this is more expensive.
I’m a newby to cars, so I’m going to attempt to summarize the many forum threads on how and where to use jack stands on a 2 gen Nissan Altima 1993-2001. Though it seems simple, the many people that have started forum threads points to some confusion, so I thought I’d try to clear the air.
