http://www.physorg.com/news202626863.html
Research by Cornell on the threat to our Ash trees.
Earle Rich            Mont Vernon, NH

When I was a kid, newly involved in the Boy Scouts, the emphasis was on acquiring skills that might lead to a badge. As part of the process, we were invited to attend an exposition where we all showed off our skills. My contribution was a stamp collection which got all the attention it deserved.  
Part [...]

I had a speck of wood chip in my eye this morning. I went to the emergency center in Milford to have it taken care of. In the process of checking in, they measured my blood pressure and as usual, it read 100/70. I’m usually on the low side, so nothing to take notice of.
I then [...]

As most of us can relate, we have a lot of slides from our film cameras. My wife has at least 26 Sawyers slide carriers from all her travels and family affairs. I probably have at least that many slides in boxes and envelopes from my 50 years of photography.
I read about an inexpensive slide scanner [...]

Where I grew on the coast of Maine, the people weren’t noted for their technical expertise. When the first televisions came to Searsport, people erected huge antennas aimed at the Boston stations, primarily to see the Red Sox games. The pictures were pretty snowy of course. Sometimes though it was good enough so you could [...]

This link is to the survey to find the reaction to the wind project so far. It’s significant that 99% of those participating support the project and have few problems with the noise issue. As expected, the power generated in the summer months matches the lower wind speeds and the reduced power program at night [...]

We went kayaking on Haunted Lake in Francestown today. The weather was about perfect for temperature although the wind came up as we headed back. It was blowing the wrong way, of course.
Along with lots of flowering water lilies, there seemed to be a lot of strange growths on the bottom of the lake. We [...]

http://www.physorg.com/news199362347.html
Last winter’s weather around the North America was unusual for the cold that rolled down the east coast, heavy snows in the midwest, little snow for the winter olympics and I saw actual snow in Florida. This article is a pretty good description of the oscillating patterns that come out of the Pacific.
Looking back is [...]

I look at a lot of blogs every day. Mostly science oriented, but others as well. As an information junkie, I’m easily entertained by well done and astonishing facts and videos. The best one today is from
http://www.factodiem.com/
a blog written by an woman who wants to be a full time science writer. The latest one today, [...]

I’ve always been a proponent of using my left foot to activate the brake, claiming that it reduces reaction time. Today was one of those moments when I believe it saved a messy situation.
I was coming back from kayaking on Nubanuset lake in Hancock. Leaving Hancock village, I took the shortcut up over the hill [...]

Last September, as I was adding the last row to my woodpile, I took one piece of black cherry, carefully weighed it and marked the end with date and weight. This June, moving next winters fuel to the woodshed, I came across that piece and weighed it again. The loss of water was significant.
I started [...]

Year after year, a pair of robins builds a nest on top of a light fixture out on our back deck, the one we usually use to go in and out of the house. We also have a cat that really - really wants to get up and personal in their space. So, we change [...]

This from the May, 1898 issue of The Model Engineer and Amateur Electrician. These are filled with new developments of the age including dubious medical applications of electricial appliances.  The magazine had several construction articles for generating your own X-rays, or Rontgen rays. With these, you could see the bones in your hand or, with one [...]

This link is a May, 2010 update on the power generated (near projection) and the noise issue that has received a lot of publicity. A survey of neighbors returns mixed results, fully described in the report.
http://www.foxislandswind.com/pdf/052010FIECWindPowerUpdate.pdf
Earle Rich              Mont Vernon, NH

(Note from Dave B., since we can’t add comments: The weirdest part of the report is [...]

A few weeks ago I mentioned that I started a new project of making a pen lathe from scratch. It’s finished now and the photos are up on Flickr.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mvfotog/sets/72157624195341926/
As usual, the design evolved along the way. I wanted to make the DC motor act as a servo motor. It worked fine as long as the [...]