Sunday, August 31, 2008
Last night's astro-photography practice with my Canon SX100 IS:
On the left is an image of the southern Milky Way as it comes from the camera (I happened to catch TWO meteor streaks towards the top of the picture and an airplane at the bottom). - On the right is the same image after I applied a little bit of my experimental magic to it.
This is of the double star cluster in Perseus. I also used 10x zoom on the camera lens. On the left is from the camera. - On the right is after I "fiddled" with it.
On the left is an image of the southern Milky Way as it comes from the camera (I happened to catch TWO meteor streaks towards the top of the picture and an airplane at the bottom). - On the right is the same image after I applied a little bit of my experimental magic to it.
This is of the double star cluster in Perseus. I also used 10x zoom on the camera lens. On the left is from the camera. - On the right is after I "fiddled" with it.
The bright Summer Triangle stands high overhead this evening. Look inside the triangle for the Coat Hanger Cluster. Binoculars reveal six stars in a straight line, which form the hanger’s cross bar, while four others curl away to form the hook.
If you own a telescope, you probably know that Sagittarius (now highest in the south right after dark) is full of fine deep-sky objects. But there's more here than you probably know. For a tour of some of Sagittarius's lesser-known telescopic treasures, see Sue French's Deep-Sky Wonders guide in the September Sky & Telescope, page 69.
If you own a telescope, you probably know that Sagittarius (now highest in the south right after dark) is full of fine deep-sky objects. But there's more here than you probably know. For a tour of some of Sagittarius's lesser-known telescopic treasures, see Sue French's Deep-Sky Wonders guide in the September Sky & Telescope, page 69.
Firewood Already In Demand
With spike in oil prices, more using wood stoves
Consumers are buying firewood early this year for their fireplaces or wood stoves, according to local tree removal companies that are selling wood by the cord.
With the pronounced run-up in oil prices over the past year, companies that sell firewood and wood stoves say many consumers are investing in alternatives to help offset those rising energy costs.
Oil suppliers Donald Fowler, who owns Williams Oil Co. in Uncasville, and Mark Mazzella, owner of Benvenuti Oil in Waterford, say analysts are advising them to brace for the likelihood that consumers will cut back on fuel usage - either through conservation or the use of alternative sources, such as wood stoves, by anywhere between 10 percent and 20 percent this coming heating season.
Scott Bourgeois, who owns C&S Tree Removal in Niantic and Salem, said he has had orders from between 70 and 100 people in the past six weeks - and had to turn “quite a few” away.
He charges $200 for a cord of wood, up $25 from last year.
”A lot of people are trying to get orders in before the prices go up and up and up,” he added.
Typically, the season for regular customers starts in August but new requests usually don't come in until September or October, he said.
Another woodcutter, who declined to be named, said he was too busy to be interviewed.
continue....
With spike in oil prices, more using wood stoves
Consumers are buying firewood early this year for their fireplaces or wood stoves, according to local tree removal companies that are selling wood by the cord.
With the pronounced run-up in oil prices over the past year, companies that sell firewood and wood stoves say many consumers are investing in alternatives to help offset those rising energy costs.
Oil suppliers Donald Fowler, who owns Williams Oil Co. in Uncasville, and Mark Mazzella, owner of Benvenuti Oil in Waterford, say analysts are advising them to brace for the likelihood that consumers will cut back on fuel usage - either through conservation or the use of alternative sources, such as wood stoves, by anywhere between 10 percent and 20 percent this coming heating season.
Scott Bourgeois, who owns C&S Tree Removal in Niantic and Salem, said he has had orders from between 70 and 100 people in the past six weeks - and had to turn “quite a few” away.
He charges $200 for a cord of wood, up $25 from last year.
”A lot of people are trying to get orders in before the prices go up and up and up,” he added.
Typically, the season for regular customers starts in August but new requests usually don't come in until September or October, he said.
Another woodcutter, who declined to be named, said he was too busy to be interviewed.
continue....
Saturday, August 30, 2008
A recent Google search for: "putting an oil cooler on polaris hawkeye worth it"
No. After 2000 miles I can honestly say you won't need it. Unless maybe you're slowly pulling trailer loads of rocks in the Sahara Desert. I've hauled many cord of firewood at close to 90 degrees and never had the faintest indication that the engine or oil was getting too hot. The cooling system that comes on it stock seems to be plenty sufficient for the job. If anything, sometimes it acts as if it's running too cool!
No. After 2000 miles I can honestly say you won't need it. Unless maybe you're slowly pulling trailer loads of rocks in the Sahara Desert. I've hauled many cord of firewood at close to 90 degrees and never had the faintest indication that the engine or oil was getting too hot. The cooling system that comes on it stock seems to be plenty sufficient for the job. If anything, sometimes it acts as if it's running too cool!
My best one yet!
Even if I do say so myself!
This compressed JPEG is not quite as good as the full size. This is the Summer Triangle (minus Altair which didn't get in the lower right corner of the picture). The brightest star at the top, just right of center, is Vega. The brightest star left of center is Deneb. The Summer Triangle (Vega, Deneb, Altair) is almost straight overhead after sunset now (it's a pretty big triangle, covers most of the sky overhead and several constellations).
One interesting thing to note: A little ways up from the lower right corner is the Coat Hanger. It's small and hard to see unless you study the picture. It looks like it's name, except that it's almost upside down.
This picture is a closeup of the Coat Hanger. The stars are trailed a little bit, due to the amount of zoom I used and the long exposure.
Fun fun! And cheaper than sitting in the tavern, I guess!
Even if I do say so myself!
This compressed JPEG is not quite as good as the full size. This is the Summer Triangle (minus Altair which didn't get in the lower right corner of the picture). The brightest star at the top, just right of center, is Vega. The brightest star left of center is Deneb. The Summer Triangle (Vega, Deneb, Altair) is almost straight overhead after sunset now (it's a pretty big triangle, covers most of the sky overhead and several constellations).
One interesting thing to note: A little ways up from the lower right corner is the Coat Hanger. It's small and hard to see unless you study the picture. It looks like it's name, except that it's almost upside down.
This picture is a closeup of the Coat Hanger. The stars are trailed a little bit, due to the amount of zoom I used and the long exposure.
Fun fun! And cheaper than sitting in the tavern, I guess!
Firewood prices are heating up
Stocking stove will be costly this year
Homeowners hoping to cut their heating costs by stoking the wood stove might be in for a shock.
Firewood — if you can find it — has soared in price.
"We have a mile-long waiting list (of buyers)," said Patty Brightman, co-owner of Brightman Lumber in Assonet. "I've never seen so many people wanting to buy firewood ... some people are already buying for next year."
The high demand translates to high prices.
Ms. Brightman, whose brother, Eddie, runs a separate firewood business, said last year's price for a cord of cut, split and dried firewood was $180. This year, the same wood is priced at up to $250 a cord. Some suppliers are closer to $350.
Making matters worse, firewood is getting harder to find.
continue....
Stocking stove will be costly this year
Homeowners hoping to cut their heating costs by stoking the wood stove might be in for a shock.
Firewood — if you can find it — has soared in price.
"We have a mile-long waiting list (of buyers)," said Patty Brightman, co-owner of Brightman Lumber in Assonet. "I've never seen so many people wanting to buy firewood ... some people are already buying for next year."
The high demand translates to high prices.
Ms. Brightman, whose brother, Eddie, runs a separate firewood business, said last year's price for a cord of cut, split and dried firewood was $180. This year, the same wood is priced at up to $250 a cord. Some suppliers are closer to $350.
Making matters worse, firewood is getting harder to find.
continue....
Friday, August 29, 2008
Mystery Surrounds Leavenworth's Underground City
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. -- Some Leavenworth residents have been unknowingly walking around above an underground city, and no one seems to know who created it or why.
Windows, doors and narrow paths beneath a title company at South Fourth and Delaware streets lead to storefronts stretching several city blocks and perhaps beyond.
continue....
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. -- Some Leavenworth residents have been unknowingly walking around above an underground city, and no one seems to know who created it or why.
Windows, doors and narrow paths beneath a title company at South Fourth and Delaware streets lead to storefronts stretching several city blocks and perhaps beyond.
continue....
Two-headed boy dies after just 48 hours
A baby boy born with two heads has died, after his Bangladeshi parents took him home from hospital because they could not afford treatments that could have prolonged his life.
Kiron passed away aged just two days after developing a fever and breathing difficulties on Wednesday evening.
The boy had been placed under police protection when more than 150,000 people gathered outside the clinic in the town of Keshobpur where he was being treated.
He was moved to a hospital in the neighbouring city of Jessore, but his parents ignored doctors' advice to seek further treatment in the capital.
"We wanted to refer him to a hospital in Dhaka but the family was so poor that they could not afford to take him there, so they took him home where he died," KS Alam, one of the doctors treating the boy, said.
"It was a very unusual case. The boy had one body but two complete heads."
The baby, weighing weighing 12 lbs 1 oz, was born by Cesarean section on Monday in Keshobpur, 85 miles from Dhaka.
He was able to eat through both mouths, although he had only one stomach.
Doctors had been unable to establish whether he had one or two sets of vital organs.
It had been reported in the local press that many of the tens of thousands of people who gathered outside the clinic had left money for the baby's family.
continue....
A baby boy born with two heads has died, after his Bangladeshi parents took him home from hospital because they could not afford treatments that could have prolonged his life.
Kiron passed away aged just two days after developing a fever and breathing difficulties on Wednesday evening.
The boy had been placed under police protection when more than 150,000 people gathered outside the clinic in the town of Keshobpur where he was being treated.
He was moved to a hospital in the neighbouring city of Jessore, but his parents ignored doctors' advice to seek further treatment in the capital.
"We wanted to refer him to a hospital in Dhaka but the family was so poor that they could not afford to take him there, so they took him home where he died," KS Alam, one of the doctors treating the boy, said.
"It was a very unusual case. The boy had one body but two complete heads."
The baby, weighing weighing 12 lbs 1 oz, was born by Cesarean section on Monday in Keshobpur, 85 miles from Dhaka.
He was able to eat through both mouths, although he had only one stomach.
Doctors had been unable to establish whether he had one or two sets of vital organs.
It had been reported in the local press that many of the tens of thousands of people who gathered outside the clinic had left money for the baby's family.
continue....
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