Sat. July 21, 2018 – woke to the sound of leaf blower

By on July 21st, 2018 in Random Stuff

and cursed my yard guy. Sure, I understand wanting to be done before it gets hot. 730am might be legal, but it’s too dang early for small engine noises.

83F and humid.

Grumpy.

n

27 Comments and discussion on "Sat. July 21, 2018 – woke to the sound of leaf blower"

  1. ech says:

    What amazes me is how many of those guys don’t wear any form of ear protection. Our lawn guy has shooter’s ear protectors and puts plugs in his ears.

  2. brad says:

    Small engines… I just bought six tree trunks off the local forester. Took a chainsaw to the first one today, cutting it into 33 cm slices.

    The forester is a nice guy, if even weirder than I am. I asked for trunks no more than 40cm, because that’s the length of my chainsaw. He wanted to be generous: the one I just did was at least 50cm, which makes the cutting a bit challenging…

  3. Nick Flandrey says:

    106F and 40%RH in my driveway.

    Nice in the shade, hell in the sun.

    n

  4. Ray Thompson says:

    40cm, because that’s the length of my chainsaw

    Wimp. When I was on the farm we used a chainsaw with a 76cm blade. Used to cut down some fairly large, and tall trees. Saw was heavy and powerful. I hated the thing. I hated cutting down big trees as it scared me. Trapped the saw in the kerf more than once. Uncle was pissed when I did that. Most of the time I could fall a tree within a couple of feet of the target. Now my saw of choice is a battery powered saw with a 35cm blade. More than good enough for my needs. Thus I am now a bigger wimp.

  5. Nick Flandrey says:

    I use my 18v Dewalt sawzall, with a pruning blade for almost all tree trimming and cleanup tasks. Two hurricanes’ worth so far, and normal household maintenance.

    I have a Black and Decker pole saw, 20v battery powered, (chain saw) with about an 8″ bar. I use that for stuff I can’t reach.

    I do have an electric chain saw, but only use that on hard, dried out oak when I’m cutting firewood. My gas chainsaw needs the fuel line replaced. I have the stuff but not the time. I’ve been thinking about buying a new gas chainsaw, just ‘cuz.

    n

  6. Ray Thompson says:

    My gas chainsaw needs the fuel line replaced

    I had a gas chainsaw. Used it one day, filled up with gas, set it down for an hour, wouldn’t start. It was out of fuel. Fuel system was leaking badly. It was manufactured before ethanol was in the gas. Over time the ethanol destroyed the fuel system. Time for a new saw.

    I had EGO yard tools and the saw seemed like a logical choice. Highly recommended. I have four batteries and chargers thus run time is not an issue. Saw is surprisingly good and has excellent power. No more gas, noise or smoke. 56 volt system. Suits my needs quite nicely. Even the wife uses the saw.

  7. lynn says:

    I got my 2005 Expedition back today. The a/c now blows cold. The automatic transmission works in all four forward gears and in reverse. The engine starts and runs like it is new. But, it is still a 13 year old truck with 195K miles on it that I just put almost $6K into. I’m not sure that this was my best decision but, I did make a decision. It still has a creaky suspension and will need a brake job in the next year or two.

    I could have used that $6K for a 2018 F-150 crewcab down payment and had a six year payment of $600/month. Hopefully nothing else will fail on my Expy.

  8. lynn says:

    “Police: Search continues as image of doctor’s shooter spotted on video”
    https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Wife-of-Houston-doctor-shot-while-biking-to-work-13094247.php

    Yes, this looks like a professional hit.

  9. Nick Flandrey says:

    “to hone in on a motive”

    — shouldn’t that be “home in” ?

    And the grieving widow has this to say??????

    ” she wrote. “While law enforcement has given you their focus on finding the criminal, I am asking you to use your vote and your voice to stem the tide of this growing public health epidemic. Write, email or tweet your congressman urging sensible gun laws. We owe it to future generations to leave a safer environment.””

    WTH???

    n

  10. lynn says:

    Your husband just got murdered in a professional looking hit. What do you do, say “guns need to be seized from the populace in the USA”.

    Um, no. Something is wrong here.

  11. Nick Flandrey says:

    Something is VERY wrong here…

    n

  12. lynn says:

    “Global Temperature Rise Some 75% Lower Than Models Projected”
    http://www.climatedepot.com/2018/07/19/global-temperature-rise-some-75-lower-than-models-projected/

    Color me not surprised. The IPCC models (mostly paid for by the USA at $6 billion per year), are all saturation chemistry models. Saturation chemistry is incredibly hard to predict and is subject to all kinds of boundary conditions that spoil the reactions. When I talk about saturation chemistry in this case, I am talking about the models assuming that all “greenhouse gases” in the atmosphere adsorbing sunlight to 100% of their potential.

    Hat tip to:
    https://drudgereport.com/

  13. nightraker says:

    The spouse is always the 1st suspect. They will put her under a microscope.

  14. lynn says:

    BTW, my swimming pool is 90 F today. Even with all of the evaporation, it is still very warm. I need to go swimming tomorrow while the sun is up…

  15. lynn says:

    “‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Series Reboot With Black Lead In Works From Monica Owusu-Breen & Joss Whedon”
    https://deadline.com/2018/07/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-series-reboot-in-works-black-lead-monica-owusu-breen-joss-whedon-1202430592/

    I don’t care who the lead is but nobody can replace the magic of the 1997 cast of Buffy.

  16. Greg Norton says:

    I don’t care who the lead is but nobody can replace the magic of the 1997 cast of Buffy.

    I saw Allison Hannigan slumming on “Penn & Teller” a few weeks ago. Sadly, I guess she’s classified O.L.D. now. It can’t help her career that the “How I Met Your Mother” showrunners decided to destroy the rerun potential of their show.

    Hannigan’s money line from “American Pie” is still near the top of my list of best funny moments in film. That had to be one take.

    That reminds me — find the “Freaks and Geeks” documentary currently floating around A&E. Your jaw will drop when you realize what the impact that group has had on movie and TV over the last 20 years. Even the Muppets!

    I’ll let the “Ghostbusters” remake slide. Paul Feig is entitled to an off year.

  17. Greg Norton says:

    The spouse is always the 1st suspect. They will put her under a microscope.

    This is a doctor’s spouse too. Specialist.

    Post Vantucky, I’m a b*tchy doctor’s wife. I understand the thought process and the bitterness.

  18. Roger Ritter says:

    I could have used that $6K for a 2018 F-150 crewcab down payment and had a six year payment of $600/month. Hopefully nothing else will fail on my Expy.

    I tend to keep cars until the ongoing unexpected maintenance bills cost more than a new car payment would. If you can get 10 months with no more major maintenance costs, then you’re ahead of the game. If something else major breaks during that time, I’d consider selling it and getting something newer.

  19. MrAtoz says:

    I don’t care who the lead is but nobody can replace the magic of the 1997 cast of Buffy.

    I don’t buy many boxed DVD sets, but Buffy is one of them. I saw the original “Buffy” movie and it kind of sucked. The reboot has a big hill to climb. Also, Joss turns out to be a super douche. He’s not writing on the reboot so maybe he’s distancing himself. I will give it a try.

  20. Greg Norton says:

    I could have used that $6K for a 2018 F-150 crewcab down payment and had a six year payment of $600/month. Hopefully nothing else will fail on my Expy.

    I’d give that new F-150 drivetrain another year. I’ll bet a new transmission on one of those out of warranty will be $6000 minimum.

    We’ve learned about buying Ford in the first model year after a big change.

  21. ITguy1998 says:

    We’ve learned about buying Ford in the first model year after a big change.

    Solid advice for ANY make car.

  22. Nick Flandrey says:

    Used to be, if you knew someone at Ford, you could have them walk your vehicle thru the line, to make sure everyone knew to build it right….

    I guess the idea is now that they are ALL built right (or at least “Ford Tough”- whatever that means.) “Quality is Job 1” seems to have disappeared from their culture.

    I like fords, and will not buy GM, so that limits my choices.

    n

  23. Ray Thompson says:

    I have actually had very good luck with the last two F-150’s that I have owned. Seems that Ford has stepped up the game in pickups and has to with the competition from other vendors. You can excluded Nissan and Honda which generally worthless. Dodge is at the bottom of the top 3 which are Ford, GM (Chevrolet) and Dodge. There is a reason the F-150 is the top selling vehicle of all kinds.

    The key to keeping any vehicle running a long time is maintenance when maintenance is due. And if something is not right with the vehicle get it checked ASAP. Little problems can really grow into big problems if not addressed when they appear.

  24. lynn says:

    I’d give that new F-150 drivetrain another year. I’ll bet a new transmission on one of those out of warranty will be $6000 minimum.

    That new ten speed automatic with start-stop (36 volt motor-generator set) has been in the field for three years now. First they put it in the 450 hp Raptor with the 6.2L V8 three years ago. Then they put it in the 2.7L V6 biturbo last year. Now this year they are putting it on everything with no complaints that I am hearing of. If there was problems then people would be screaming. Ford took it 150,000 miles in the Raptor (including the Baja 1000) with no problems.

    Next, year, they are building a special model with a 480 ??? volt motor-generator set and a 16 kwh battery. The gas motor will be the 2.7L V6 biturbo. The F-150 should be good for 50 to 60 miles without starting the gas motor. There will be a plugin slot to charge the battery up. I have heard rumors that the additional cost will be under $10K. Maybe under $5K.

  25. Greg Norton says:

    Next, year, they are building a special model with a 480 ??? volt motor-generator set and a 16 kwh battery. The gas motor will be the 2.7L V6 biturbo. The F-150 should be good for 50 to 60 miles without starting the gas motor. There will be a plugin slot to charge the battery up. I have heard rumors that the additional cost will be under $10K. Maybe under $5K.

    Yeah, Musk scared them a few years ago with talk of a Tesla pickup.

    The advantage of a hybrid is a generator that goes everywhere. Musk can’t offer that.

    Maybe Toyota will develop a similar truck when they buy Tesla out of bankruptcy.

  26. lynn says:

    Next, year, they are building a special model with a 480 ??? volt motor-generator set and a 16 kwh battery. The gas motor will be the 2.7L V6 biturbo. The F-150 should be good for 50 to 60 miles without starting the gas motor. There will be a plugin slot to charge the battery up. I have heard rumors that the additional cost will be under $10K. Maybe under $5K.

    Yeah, Musk scared them a few years ago with talk of a Tesla pickup.

    Pickups are mandated to get 35 mpg by 2025 and the fleet CAFE must be 54.5 mpg. Electric plugins is the only way to get there. The standards will be rolled back by Trump somewhat but not a lot.
    https://www.nbcnews.com/business/autos/trump-rolls-back-obama-era-fuel-economy-standards-n734256

  27. Greg Norton says:

    Pickups are mandated to get 35 mpg by 2025 and the fleet CAFE must be 54.5 mpg. Electric plugins is the only way to get there. The standards will be rolled back by Trump somewhat but not a lot.

    Engineers and designers have to start designs now for 2025. Trump and/or Libertarian thought may or may not prevail in the elections between now and then so the car companies play it safe.

    Even if Trump totally vacated the CAFE mandates, Gavin Newsom and Jerry Brown’s money people will make a run at the White House in either 2020 or 2024. The timing all depends on the perceived vulnerability of Cankles.

    The other day, I pulled up behind a new looking Audi crossover with a really striking design. I thought for a moment that sanity prevailed with the government mandates and the car manufacturers finally relaxed the puckered sphincters. Then I noticed the Mexico plates. Bzzzt.

Comments are closed.