Just saw that "Avatar" is being released on Earth Day. I could go on for hours, but the gist of it is that Earth doesn't need a Hallmark holiday and that it ticks me off when people try to brain wash my child with cartoons, teaching him that his very existence is killing the earth. Etc etc etc...
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Sunday, April 18, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
Grow Grass Grow!
The Goal - Grass in the backyard (Real grass, not weeds)
I'd like to have real grass in my backyard. However, I have several things working against me.
The Challengers:
* Solomon and Samson - I have 2 large dogs. They're really the least of my worries because they've mellowed to the point that they don't play hard enough to cause ruts and there are enough places for them to relieve themselves without creating any brown patches.
* Level not Flat - The fenced area (about a 1/4 acre) is relatively level, but there are several small mounds and ruts. I can live with this, but it does prevent me from cutting really close when I mow.
* Underground spring - A vein of water runs underground beneath the backyard. This is good for deep roots, but it's a problem when it rains because it takes a couple of days for the water to recede.
* Ignorance - I don't know a lot about growing grass. I've tried several times. I don't know what kind of fertilizer to use. I don't know how much to water. I don't know how much sunlight or what temperature is ideal. I'm a lot better off than I use to be, but I really don't *know* what I should be doing to get really thick strong grass to grow.
Possible Solutions???
Now that I've identified the challenge(r)s, I just need to come up with some solutions for each of these (especially that last one). If anyone has any good suggestions I'd love to hear them.
Sidenote: I've already consulted a professional to "just deal with it". His estimate came in around $6000. I'd love to just do that, but yeah... for $6k the weeds will just have to stay until I figure something else out.
I'd like to have real grass in my backyard. However, I have several things working against me.
The Challengers:
* Solomon and Samson - I have 2 large dogs. They're really the least of my worries because they've mellowed to the point that they don't play hard enough to cause ruts and there are enough places for them to relieve themselves without creating any brown patches.
* Level not Flat - The fenced area (about a 1/4 acre) is relatively level, but there are several small mounds and ruts. I can live with this, but it does prevent me from cutting really close when I mow.
* Underground spring - A vein of water runs underground beneath the backyard. This is good for deep roots, but it's a problem when it rains because it takes a couple of days for the water to recede.
* Ignorance - I don't know a lot about growing grass. I've tried several times. I don't know what kind of fertilizer to use. I don't know how much to water. I don't know how much sunlight or what temperature is ideal. I'm a lot better off than I use to be, but I really don't *know* what I should be doing to get really thick strong grass to grow.
Possible Solutions???
Now that I've identified the challenge(r)s, I just need to come up with some solutions for each of these (especially that last one). If anyone has any good suggestions I'd love to hear them.
Sidenote: I've already consulted a professional to "just deal with it". His estimate came in around $6000. I'd love to just do that, but yeah... for $6k the weeds will just have to stay until I figure something else out.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
The Automated Home
I've said for several years now that I want to be able to control all the functions of my house from a web interface. I'm talking lights, door locks, tv, oven, everything.
Saw a commercial for the Schlage Link iPhone app recently. It's based on a subscription service that allows someone to monitor his door locks and lights and such via the web.
http://link.schlage.com/Pages/home.aspx
This brings me to my uber-geeky point: 20 years from now, every household appliance will have an IP address (or at least they should). The fully automated home could happen now, but it would be very expensive and time consuming. However, we are getting closer everyday. Things like the Android Microwave, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSMerma7nBY&feature=youtube_gdata, and Schlage Link are perfect examples of how it could all work. Just think if you refridgerator and cupboard could build your grocery list for you based on barcoded or RFID(even better) labeled products. I'd pay an extra $300 per appliance for a system that 'just worked'.
But as always, big business and gov't will have to champion the effort before it gets to the consumer because they're the only ones with a checkbook powerful enough to handle such "cutting edge" technology.
Until then I'll just have to suffer through and build my grocery list the old fashion way (by asking my wife what we need).
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Saw a commercial for the Schlage Link iPhone app recently. It's based on a subscription service that allows someone to monitor his door locks and lights and such via the web.
http://link.schlage.com/Pages/home.aspx
This brings me to my uber-geeky point: 20 years from now, every household appliance will have an IP address (or at least they should). The fully automated home could happen now, but it would be very expensive and time consuming. However, we are getting closer everyday. Things like the Android Microwave, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSMerma7nBY&feature=youtube_gdata, and Schlage Link are perfect examples of how it could all work. Just think if you refridgerator and cupboard could build your grocery list for you based on barcoded or RFID(even better) labeled products. I'd pay an extra $300 per appliance for a system that 'just worked'.
But as always, big business and gov't will have to champion the effort before it gets to the consumer because they're the only ones with a checkbook powerful enough to handle such "cutting edge" technology.
Until then I'll just have to suffer through and build my grocery list the old fashion way (by asking my wife what we need).
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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