Alkahest my heroes have always died at the end

September 15, 2006

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – chemistry teacher?

Filed under: Funny — cec @ 8:52 pm

According to Manolo’s critique Ahmadinejad dresses like a high school chemistry teacher:

Briefly and remarkably, the President of the Iran wears the same khaki windbreaker, wrinkled trousers, cheap oxford shirts, scruffy beard and wild eyes favored by the aging high school chemistry teachers everywhere.

Yes, in his youth he was the firebrand who would shake the very foundations of the society, but today he is content to expound upon his paranoid conspiracy theories while exercising his petty autocratic powers over the dull kids who sit in the back of the class.

Silly me – I had been thinking used car salesman.  I defer to the Manolo’s superior fashion sense.

p.s. be sure to check out the comparison between Ahmadinejad and Qaddafi

September 12, 2006

memo to K

Filed under: Funny,Personal,Plumbing — cec @ 9:24 pm

Dear K,

In the 13 years that we’ve been married, there has been one constant in our life – plumbing problems. Last night’s 3am catastrophic water heater failure coupled with the emergency reinstallation I had to perform this morning was the final straw. This memo is to inform you that if we ever buy another house, it is my intention to find a structure without indoor plumbing.

I recognize that this may limit our choices and may not be preferable from your perspective, however, after 13 years of water troubles, I see no alternative.

i may have a new theme song

Filed under: Funny — cec @ 7:18 am

YouTube Preview Image

you just gotta love weird al. not sure who made the video piece, but that’s pretty cute too.

September 10, 2006

baby squirrel pictures – 6 weeks

Filed under: Personal,Wildlife Rehab — cec @ 5:50 pm

1 week later, 30g heavier.

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i’m still here – sort of

Filed under: Personal,Plumbing — cec @ 5:27 pm

Not much blogging over the past week. Mostly because I’m still dealing with slight water issues 🙁

After I hooked up the pH neutralizer, I found that it leaked. I had a 1 drip per 5 second leak where I connected the QEST gray connectors to the neutralizer. I tried tightening it. That didn’t work. I shut off the water in order to re-tape it and disaster. When I turned off the water, the transient increase in preasure blew a seal on the neutralizer. Not happy. How the heck do you return something w/ 150# of rock in it.

Called up the company, they told me that the seal on top was actually just an O-ring and that the top valve screwed down onto the O-ring. Apparently, the top valve was screwed on too tight and the slight increase in preasure caused it to unseat itself. No big deal, just screw it back down.

After that, I’ve been shutting off the well pump first, draining a bit of water from the lines and then cutting off the water. But I still had the leak. I tried more teflon tape. No luck. I tried even MORE teflon tape – still no luck. I even tried plumbers putty – that was even worse. Finally, I called the company and they said that you can’t connect the 1″ male threads on QEST connectors – they aren’t MPT (standard male pipe thread).

img_1967_m.jpgWent back to the store today, found a bushing that’ll take 1″ female pipe thread and drop it to 3/4″ pipe thread. Then I used 3/4″ MPT to copper compression fittings. A short piece of copper pipe, then the QEST connector to connect to PEX plastic pipe. The first one worked, but when I went to do the 2nd, I found that I had the wrong sized bushing! Some idiot (not me) put the wong bushing in the 1″->3/4″ spot. Another idiot (me) didn’t check first. went back, bought the right sized bushing and I’m in business. I’m sure there’s a better way, but it does work.

September 4, 2006

the promised baby rat, er, squirrel pictures

Filed under: Personal,Photography,Wildlife Rehab — cec @ 1:53 pm

img_1953_m.jpgfood coma – from 4 hours ago
img_1954_m.jpgfeeding
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Oh, and one very sad dog – feeling left out because he doesn’t get to play with the squirrels. Darwin, say “cheese”
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September 3, 2006

mmmm, pH neutral water (and it’s filtered)

Filed under: Personal,Plumbing — cec @ 9:16 pm

img_1952_m.jpgIt actually worked. I mmanaged to install a shutoff valve, sediment filter and pH neutralizer without too many trips to the hardware store (only 2). So far it seems to be working, the pH is somewhere between 7 and 7.5. Now maybe I can replace the hot water heater and have it last for more than a year or two.

Q: what do you get when you add high winds to a late summer day?

Filed under: Personal,Wildlife Rehab — cec @ 1:20 pm

A: baby squirrels blown out of their nest.

We’ve got two here that were brought to us yesterday. They’re just now opening their eyes, so they are probably 5 or 6 weeks old. I know squirrels are tree rats. I know they aren’t threatened or endangered. I know that there are a host of animals that could use the extra protein. But let’s face it. Baby squirrels are adorable.

Pictures later.

September 1, 2006

water world

Filed under: Personal,Plumbing — cec @ 11:03 pm

I think I need a whole new blog category for water troubles.

The pH neutralizer arrived today, along with 150# of premium chalk and 25 pounds of “clean” gravel. I guess I know what I’ll be doing tomorrow – first stop Lowe’s, then home to install it. Fortunately, it doesn’t look too bad.

i am such a nerd…

Filed under: Social — cec @ 10:58 pm

Okay, I’m a bigger nerd than I thought.  The latest book that I’m dying to get when it comes out on Monday… “The State of Working America” from the Economic Policy Institute.  350+ pages of analysis on wages, health care, wealth and productivity in America.  How can you resist.

If that doesn’t sound appealing, at least read the executive summary.  It’s only 14 pages, it’s online, and it’s free.

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