YARDCRAP

H E L L O

 

Welcome to my blog. 

This is my BLOG, so expect it to be about me. 

Click on the photos for a better view. 

Post comments if you choose, and I might respond.

   -------------YardCrap---------------

Republican Debate - Democrat Convention

I grew up in a small All-American small town in the deep South.
This past month, the main steam media made SC look like a bunch from a Hollywood movie.  They super imposed us on the Stars and Bars and brought up racism at every turn.

I understand that was just to marginalize the candidates - > non of whom are from SC.  Past presidential candidates from SC include John Edwards and Jessie Jackson.

Racism in SC is alive and well, but well below what goes on in other states, now and in the past.
SC has a more diverse group of County leaders than most any state.

In SC racism is pushed by people like Clyburn to maintain his lifestyle.  Hollywood does it to feed your lust for it all.

To be honest, racism is harder to find in SC than in Boston or LA.  Racism cuts both ways.

Not many people in SC want to leave.  People want to move here.  No matter the color of the skin, people prefer SC.  Life is good here. All want the economy  to improve, not just here but across the USA.  Sending textile jobs overseas killed the workers in SC, but given the chance for free industry to move in with out unions , we can do anything better than anyone.  

The media does not play fair.  They get an idea that might sell and then build around it.  Normal does not sell ads.  I learned this years back as a cop.  They would gather and approach young cops at shift change to talk to those that would.  Out of a 1000 cops, they would get a couple sound bites to push their agenda, and make it sound on TV like all cops were on board with that.   They never came to me and guys on the case for info as the truth does not sell soap.  All media I ever saw are low class liars. 

 

If you don't think they have an agenda, watch how they define NC with the Dem Convention. All here know NC people and SC people are the same people.

 

Don't Be An Ass

Just had a Yellow Warbler at the pond.  First one I have seen this year.  In Matthews I had one who was a constant on the suet tree, but after ten years here, have not been able to lure one to my feeders.  The same is true for Mockingbirds.

All I can figure is that there in a neighborhood food was scarce, and here better stuff can be found than what I offer up.

That brings a good point to mind.  Birds don't need us to feed them in most parts, certainly not in SC.
So, if you do put out a feeder, place it near a window or porch where you can enjoy what you lure in.

My birds are like my cats and dogs --> all pets.  This might sound funny, but many birds are territorial, and soon you will be able to tell them apart, even give your favorites a name.
Then you start to worry about them on cold, rainy days and you are more likely to put some food in the feeder.  I hate to visit someone and see their feeder is empty and just hanging as a decoration.

Help them out a little.  They don't eat much, they eat like --> birds.

Today is a good example.  I am warm and dry here on the porch with my sleeping cat.  We are both full and lazy today as the rain falls.
The birds have to go out and make a living or die everyday  --> rain, snow, or shine.

Feed the birds a little, don't be an "ass".

My Tax Money is killing my birds

I like to play tunes, sit on my ass and watch the birds that visit my deck. My backyard bird count is way over a hundred, and I have photos of most to prove it. I keep logs on line and in a book. Different seasons bring different birds. For ten years one constant thing has been that in Summer on the deck, many Hummingbirds will entertain. They leave and Pine Warblers migrate in and do the same. They act the same as they attack the feeders. They both become used to me and Rosey. They like good music. We like them -> a lot! This Winter instead of "many" Pine Warblers, I have one. One Pine warbler is not natural. I suspect my flock was migrating here and ran into one of Al Gore's wind mill farms that kill hundreds of thousands of birds every year and need taxpayer money to exist as they are crap and cannot make it in the free market. Al Gore is killing my birds off, using my tax money to do it, and I am pissed.

WEATHER NUTS

It got down to 20.6 here last night. 
Me and the Beagle have been sitting out here in the sunshine for the last hour just enjoying the day.  I need to crank up some tunes but so far we have just enjoyed the sounds provided by nature, and yes I have had 1 1/2 bottle of good beer.  It is 38 here right now, but we dress for the weather.

Just 30 minutes up the road, it got to 6 degrees last night -> Highlands.  As you go into the hills, it makes a big difference.  Most here on the forum know, but for the last two years have kept a weather station that uploads to the internet every couple minutes.  You can search it for the conditions for the last two years using day/week/month/year and see the conditins in my garden at any time.  I know most of you don't need that much info about "MY" garden unless you are a neighbor, but putting up your own is fun.  General weather in an area can vary greatly as I posted above.

Here are some links to my junk:

http://yardcrap.typepad.com/ycweather/
I added in some local radar maps - my yard is marked.

http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.asp?ID=KSCWESTM4

And the best weather service for all as it is more local >
http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=29693
Put your zip code in there to find the most accurate weather for your yard.
The above zip code is my station - "Tugaloo River".  I have it mounted on my dock.  It sends a wireless signal to the tiny computer here on the deck (typing this using it now)
If you scroll down, you can find other weather reporting stations in my area.
You can do the same after putting in your zip code.  Scroll down and see 'Weather Nuts" in your area.

NEW YEAR - NEW FUN

I hope all had a good Christmas. I did. I do love December. Our YardCrap blog is fun but we needed more. We needed a message board to interact on. The New Year is the kick off date for ours. This has been tough for an idiot like me to get up, but I now have up a working board that will improve with your suggestions. This is the official launch of the new YardCrap Message Board. If you don't see your favorite interest, it can be added. Right now you cannot read until you register as controlling spam is a bitch these days. Even registering is hard. Not a big deal for my friends, just email me and I will put you on the board.

Click here and join the party:

YardCrap

MERRY CHRISTMAS BIRDS

               

Don't forget to say MERRY CHRISTMAS to your birds.  Here is an easy cup cake recipe to make them some treats.  The easy way is to take a cup of "crunchy" peanut butter and melt it in the micro wave.  Also melt a cup od lard or Crisco.  When they are liquid, mix them together, and pop the pot back in for another 3 minutes.  It works to melt them separately as less stirring is needed.  When you have the mixture really hot, dump in 5 cups of self-rising corn meal.  Mix good and pour into cupcake tins.  Small tupper ware things work good also.  Decorate with some seeds, peanuts, rasins, etc and slide them in the fridge.  They will harden up nicely.  Attached is the recipe I found on the web a few years back.  It makes a nice color flyer to print off and add if you give some to your friends. 

Download Bird Cupcakes

Good Music vs Good Music

            

I used a coupon and got a copy of Fleetwood Mac's "RUMOURS" in Flac at 24 bit.  Like most, I am  very familiar with the album having first bought it many years back as a record.  I also have the first release of the CD which is ripped into my server (16 bit).

While many would not call this an audiophile reference album, it is perfect as a test between 16 bit and 24 bit since I know it by heart.

Sitting out here on a nice sunny day doing the test,  I can jump back and forth to compare songs with one mouse click. My porch system is very good.  I would guess the retail around $8k (I assembled it used for much less) consisting of music server -> DAC -> crossover -> amp/subwoofer -> speakers.  I use good cables, have a dedicated power line, etc.  Over all, it puts out a better sound than most systems. All speakers are arranged to make the "sweet spot" my Adirondack chair. The system has a "clear" sound that picks up everything, so poorly recorded or compressed music sounds worse here than places like in my truck.

The test went on for several song comparisons, and now I have them all on shuffle trying to guess which is which as they come up. I can.

Can I hear a difference?  Yes, and anyone who actually sits and listens to tunes as opposed to using them for background could.  The difference is not earth shaking. The 24 bit sounds like more music is there.  Maybe "fuller" would be a way to describe it.  The detail is a little better.  The players apear more apart and less blended into one sound.

Both sound quite good.  There is no need to run out and upgrade.  For future purchases I will buy 24 bit if available, but will not buy it often for Red Book CDs I already own - maybe for a few that I play often.

A side note is I have a very good Benchmark Dac-Pre. DAC   If you don't have a decent Digital Audio Converter, no need to buy 24 bit recordings.  Most computers can play 24 bit with the right players installed, but asking one even with a higher end sound card to make a difference is asking too much.

Hope you enjoyed hearing about my unscientific experiment.  Post questions and comments below.

BUsY DAYS

Most claim Christmas creates busy days.  I guess, so, but here is hoping all your "busy days" are also added "fun days".

Today was sunny, clear,  68 in the shade, much warmer in the Sun.  I got a lot of garden clean up done.  I hope to keep at that task next week. 

Most of my friends, and I suspect most who read this blog 'lean' Christian due to the disparity in numbers.  Many of my friends 'lean' Jewish.  I don't have many Pagan friends.  It is all about the numbers.  To be honest, I am not as religious as my parents would like me to be. If I am a Christian, I am a poor one and have work to do.  I find that is true of my Jewish friends, and even my Pagan friends. We do the best we can as we work it all out.

If you never have, celebrating Hanakah is fun.  It begins on Dec 20th this year, but that changes year-to-year.  I wish more Christians did Hanukkah and more Jews did Christmas. Here is a candle lighting guide. http://www.chabad.org/library/howto/wizard_cdo/aid/597113/jewish/The-Menorah.htm Many years I have had fun doing it that way, and some years I  just light all the candles when I get the chance to be outside on a night.  I have 'gelt' and a 'dreidel' given to me years back by young Jewish girls.  I treasure them. (the gelt is aging, you girls send fresh when you read this).  I have an excellent CD I picked up in 1993 covering some history and music of it all.  It is just excellent!! One night out and you get the feeling of it all. I believe a movie is being made about it now, but we know how stupid Hollywood is.  This is a great CD.  I have partied in the night with Jews who agreed it is a fun CD.  Email me for a copy.  Of course as with everything, I do Hanukkah in the garden.  I'll post some garden menorah photos from the past and maybe from this year next week.  I also have some good Hebrew beer in the fridge.

Winter Solstice is a Pagan holiday.  To be honest, all these holidays over lap and borrow things from each other. I look for any excuse to go out side, burn some candles, think on the past and the future.  I wish all did the fun Pagan days. Many from all camps delight in it all as there is no harm unless you fear being taken over by some evil spirit or devil.  The equinox days are made to order as they might actually be older than all other December party days.  A glass of good wine, a big fire, maybe a few fireworks, and you have a recipe for a good night in the garden.

My advice is to give in, give up and enjoy the entire season. December should not be a competition.  You get out as much as you put in, and most times -> more.  If you can open up your mind and take a leap of faith, you can have some fun with holidays you might be missing out on.  No matter your beliefs, learning new things and new ways to share in the fun of December is a good thing.  I am not trying to convert anyone here, so don't send those angry emails. Helping your neighbors and friends celebrate is a good thing even if you are not on board with all their beliefs.  As you look into things you will find there is a hell of a lot more you have in common than you would have believed.
As an long time party guy, I advise all to open up their heart and let December in!


 

MESSAGE FORUM

            


For the new year, I hope to add a Message Forum to the YardCrap family.  The main blog is well read and the YardCrap Boomer Tunes section is gaining attention. 
I got a lot accomplished on the forum today, even added a chat feature.  Soon we can all play on it.
In the old days, we had to write all the code, now computers do much of that. Anybody here ever write all the code for a page? 

Still, there is much work to be done.
For a launch date of Jan 1, could use some help.  If you don't have the skills or time for that, a message of encouragement would be welcome. Even the top blogs (which make money) like to hear a "yea" or "nay".  It is the same here.

I have ideas as to the forum, but all is up for discussion.  Many read my blog.  A few comment and many email.  To that end, as the Forum starts out, you will have to register to read or post. (I will change that later)  Most forums allow readers to swell the pot to skew statistics. I am not selling anything, so to play you will have to sign in.  No advertisements, no hidden agenda.
I hope many of my YardCrap friends will take a look at it in Jan, and those that can lend a hand now --will.

More info in January.

SHERLOCK

           

I grew up with heroes.  Not the kind they have now who muddy the water.  My comic books and TV shows had good guys and bad guys, and I loved and learned from them all.  I collected them as did we all.  In the day before computers, we were all junkies for guys like Superman, BatMan and The Lone Ranger.  They were straight "A" guys.  Later on, how many times do you think Matt Dillion did less than the right thing?

In later years (maybe 14) when I was reading more, discovered Sherlock.  Sherlock had a twist to his thinking on it all.  Make no mistake, Sherlock was a Super Hero.  His talent was mental.  He was always so far ahead of his peers that it was a joke.  I liked the magic of Green Lantern a lot, but Sherlock was my favorite.  If you don't think of Sherlock as a Super Hero of the highest order, you need to pick up a book.

Sherlock has been in video for many years.  I like most of them, even the funny spoofs.  For me, Jeremy Britt is Sherlock.  Each generation has a favorite "Sherlock" and JB is Sherlock in every way as only the British can do. He is as true to the books as I have seen. He is a real artist.   I also really like this new kid - he is just excellent as he interprets Sherlock.   http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Sherlock-Series-1/70151278?strkid=1907902267_0_0&lnkctr=srchrd-sr&strackid=4c92fd7f02f819e0_0_srl&trkid=222336

On the other hand, part two of Robert Downey as Sherlock is out for me.  Unlike my my Bride, not a Downey fan.  I do think he was very good in the Iron Man movies. 

My review on Sherlock II will have to wait.  To date, have not watched part I.

As I understand it, they turned Sherlock into an action hero.  I can't go there.  I have never seen 'Sound Of Music' because I heard Mary Poppins kisses a guy there.

Sherlock is the best and he is not an action figure.  I suspect the new generation will never read the books and accept Downey as Sherlock Holmes - that is as sad as a list I just saw of the 50 greatest movie heroes and Mel Gibson was not there.