10:43 – Well, that’s interesting. I just shipped a BK01 biology kit and a CK01A chemistry kit to England, in one box. The man who ordered them added two shipping surcharge items to his cart, for a total of $128, on the understanding that shipping two kits doesn’t cost twice as much as shipping one kit and that I’d refund the difference.
So, as I was filling out the address and customs information on the USPS web site, I noticed that shipping via Express Mail International (1 to 3 business days delivery) cost only a few bucks more than Priority Mail International (6 to 10 business days delivery). Also, with Priority Mail International, the package is covered for only $100 if it’s lost or damaged, with no option for buying additional insurance. With Express Mail International, it’s covered for $100 standard and buying replacement value ($366) insurance cost only a couple bucks. But the real difference was what happens if the package is undeliverable. With Priority Mail International, I had two options: return-to-sender, in which case I’d get the package back but would have to pay return postage; or treat as abandoned, in which case the post office discards the package, and I have to pay an unspecified fee anyway. With Express Mail International, I have the same two choices, but if I elect return-to-sender, they ship the package back to me without charging for return postage. For just a few bucks more, Express Mail International is a far better deal, both for me and for the buyer.
16:30 – The latest video to go viral on YouTube is a brief “news” clip from a Providence TV station. Intrepid reporter Julie Tremmel demonstrates with great enthusiasm what unnamed supposed “experts” recommend if one encounters a bear.
Much though I hate to dispute the authoritative advice of a bubble-headed bleach-blonde, particularly one who believes that a 300-pound (136 kilo) bear is “massive”, I do think that screaming, waving one’s arms and throwing one’s shoes at a bear is not the best way to ensure friendly inter-special relations. I suppose it’s possible that the bear could assume it’s faced with a crazy person and flee in terror. But I think it’s just as likely that the bear would assume that it’s about to be attacked by a crazy person and charge. Better to remain calm, speak to the bear in a firm, low-pitched voice, and wait for it to amble away. Bears, particularly black bears, are essentially super-dogs. They’re smart, they’re familiar with humans, and they know that we’re dangerous to mess with. Those who thought humans look like tasty, easy prey were eliminated from the gene pool long ago.
I did consider emailing Ms. Tremmel with a couple of additional suggestions, in case she ever encounters a bear herself. First, always take your dog along when you head into bear country. Ideally, you want a little yapper. It’ll find a bear for you, bark like crazy, and then run right back to you for protection, with a pissed-off bear following close behind. Second, if you ever encounter bear cubs, you should always pick them up and pet them. There’s no better way to make friends with a mother bear.
Best way to deal with a bear is to go hiking with slower friends.
Yeah, Right!
My brother, who is geologist for the federal government, stopped by a few weeks ago with an interesting story.
Geologists Never! Ever! go into the field unarmed. The standard weapon is a .303 rifle. This is for your ordinary run of the mill brown or black bears. He was scheduled to go to the high arctic this summer and for this he received firearm training for polar bears. The weapon of choice in this case is a 12 gauge shotgun with 12 gauge slugs. Those bears are big! As things turned out, he didn’t go but he said that he certainly enjoyed his training.
On the other hand, a bubble-headed bleach-blonde might be useful as a distraction.
Rolf
I feel sorry for Zimmerman now. Every race baiter from Sharpton to the naacp have basically called for him to be assassinated. The naacp writes a letter to the DOJ and gest an answer a day later. On a Sunday no less. Holder can’t even remember being involved in Fast and Furious “Wat dat?” but immediately says he’s looking into a civil liberties charge. Racist much. There is no civil liberties violation. Of any kind. Why waste more money on a case the FBI has already said is not a civil liberties case. I even read people claim Zimmerman didn’t obey “the 911 operator” so that’s a civil liberties charge. Geez. And as we all know now, Zimmerman isn’t Hispanic, he’s *WHITE* Hispanic so, raaaacist! You never hear, Obama’s not Black, he’s *WHITE* and Black.
Yeah, I wouldn’t feel undergunned in Polar/Kodiak bear territory if I had a 12-gauge loaded with slugs. As I mentioned earlier, they’re also excellent for zombies:
http://www.ttgnet.com/daynotes/2011/2011-21.html#Thu
OFD’s been quiet lately. You don’t suppose… You don’t suppose he’s been raided by the feds — most likely by one of the departments that has no business having any firearms at all, let alone a SWAT team of their own — do you? If he’d known they were coming he’d have shot it out with them and we’d have heard about it on the news. Nothing, so the bastards must have ambushed him and shot him from behind. Fear not, Dave! We shall avenge you!
(If you happen to still be alive and not in custody, OFD, please do not inform us. A good rampage is a terrible thing to waste.)
@MrAtoz: You’re absolutely right. Zimmermann is screwed now, no matter what he does. The feds are looking for a way – any way – file federal charges. Some damn lawyer will file a civil suit on behalf of the family. On top of which, as you write, he is now the unofficial target of whoever can catch him in a dark alley.
I think Zimmermann should file for political asylum from some other country, on the basis that he cannot hope for justice in the US.
“a bubble-headed bleach-blonde might be useful as a distraction” That might be too distracting. You might not even notice the bear until it was too late…
The irony of this is that all the people who think Zimmerman is racist are ignoring this picture of his great grandfather. Yes, George Zimmerman is as black as Homer Plessy, the plaintiff in Plessy vs. Ferguson.
Zimmerman is screwed now, no matter what he does. The feds are looking for a way – any way – file federal charges. Some damn lawyer will file a civil suit on behalf of the family.
Zimmerman should file a suit against the parents of Trayvon Matrin. The kid swung first and started the fight.