Happy 200th Birthday Charles Dickens

I just come to realize that today is Mr. Dickens's 200th birthday.  Happy Birthday.  For most of us the name reminds us of those dreaded English class reading text.  The simple mention of the name in the title might have caused many to not read the body of this blog post.  I would have been included in this group last week.

However two nights ago I had an experience which changed the way I associate the name.  So much so in fact that I am blogging about it. Two nights ago I watch the 1998 movie The Great Expectations with Ethan Hawke,  Gwyneth Paltrow,  and Robert DeNiro.  WOW.  Though the movie is modern interpretation of the novel, it still goes to show the power and depth of the original story.  And in some ways, it improves upon the original by presenting it in a media and setting which is more relateable to today's audience.

The acting, screen play, and setting are all standard big budget Hollywood.  But the character building, the emotional empathy and the story is all Dickens.  The movie has an artistic feel, and musical score which adds to the pleasant viewing experience. 

Wowing audiences for 200 years; well done Sir!

To Blog or not to Blog

That seems to be a question I have been asking alot lately:  Do I spend my limited free time writing blog post, or do I spend it working on my projects.  From the lack of recent post, the later has become more prevalent, and for this I apologize.  I am sorry to the few regular followers that look to this blog for inspiration, entertainment, or humor, that I have not been able to supply lately.  However from monitoring site actively it seems that the majority of readers discover this blog from searching for answers to specific questions, and not from hitting the site directly to see what 's new.  How do I fix a spa-2-Go , install a helicoil , install a O2 sensor , adjust Silvretta 500 bindings , clear a garage floor drain , float the Truckee , have all been top articles which have lead readers to this blog. 

The goal that I set out for the blog this year has loosely been meet/followed:  a post a week.  My current year tally is 34 post and we are at the 26th week of the year.  Though I have cheated since I had posted several article each week and nothing for the last few months.

However I want to tell you that this blog is NOT DEAD.  In fact I have plenty of fodder for the blog.  In fact, like I suggested, I have been working on many repairs and modifications that will keep you all interested and on your toes. I am in the process of writing up a few, including: winter 2010-2011 wrap up-Peter Grub Hut, Season's BC set up, Komperdell flick lock mod, ski reviews.  Going into the summer season: DR350 mods, Truck mods and trips, 300zx repairs and mods, bike repairs and mods.  And the list keeps going. 

 Till then.  Keep those wrenches turning, and those wheels a spinning. 

Mounting Silvretta 555s

Spring time.  To many it signals the end of ski season.  Time to break out the mountain bike and bikinis.  However Spring is the best season for backcountry skiing.  Warmer weather, longer days all contribute to making backcountry turns more enjoyable.  Earlier this season a friend came by to have me help him mount up a pair of  Silvretta 555's.  These are the most modern of the 500 series of bindings and yet rarely seen these days.  The 500's niche is their ability to use mountaineering boots.  The 555 is the top model in the 500 line-up, combining the step in heel from the 505 plus an auto centering toe bail shroud. They are still compatible with mountaineering boots and in fact the step in heel has a wider heel engagement tab, which result in great contact area. 

When this friend asked for an inexpensive resort friendly backcountry bindings I knew of a pair for sale.   These were actually the same pair that were pictured here in my main Easy Go article.  I then retired a pair of my skies to him.  Here is the real funny part.  The skis and the bindings at one time were mounted on each other.  Thus remounted was super easy.  All that needed to be done was to drill out the hot glue which filled the old holes, fill the most recent set of holes and epoxy the binding screws back in.  The Tahoe Silvretta community is very small indeed. 

One thing I noticed is that the 555s come with a riser plate.  All other easy goes are mounted directly on the ski's deck.  Riser plates are typical on resort bindings.  The increased height increases edge pressure.  One other thing to note is that one of the binding holes were over lapped on another.  This is typically a mounting no-no, and no action was taken, such as inserting a hardwood plug.  The skis were used in this condition for two resort seasons by aggressive skiers, and this last season mixed BC/Resort with no ill effect.   Nick has been rocking the 555's and Atomics all season, and has made the conversion from snowboarder/split boarder to skier .

Tungsten Carbide Mens Wedding Rings

Today was the Royal Wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton.  Ahhhh I love weddings.  Thus the inspiration for this post about men's wedding rings. 

Recently it is popular for mens to get wedding rings made from industrial metals.  Many hi-tech metals, namely Titanium, has been the awe of many tech weenies.  As a kid, I would save my lunch money so that I could buy Ti bolts for my mountain bike.  It is only natural that when the time came to select a metal for a wedding ring many of my generation chose metals that were more personally precious and meaningful than gold/silver, or platinum. 

Diamonds are forever; or so they say.  That is why engagement rings are traditionally a metal band that houses a diamond.  The hardness of the precious stone represents the everlasting love between couples.  We won't go into the material value of such a stone and the ideas behind that.  This idea of everlasting was one thing that I considered when selecting a material for a wedding rings.  Titanium as some of you might know is known for being light, tough, used extensively in fighter aircraft, and found only on Russian soil.  Not quite a symbol of love.  In fact if you have ever seen a titanium ring which has been worn, you will notice that they do not appear to be everlasting and shiny at all.  Since Ti is relatively soft it is easily scratched and beat up.  Though this might be a more accurate representation of love and marriage, it is not the ideals that one thinks of when embarrassing the institute of everlasting love. 

If you have spent any amount of time in a machine shop you know that hardness is king.  Steel is used to cut aluminum.  High speed steel can cut regular steel.  But the boss of metals is tungsten carbide.  Not only is tungsten hard and heavy, it does not wear out under daily use.  A tungsten carbide ring will look just as shiny 10 year later as it did the day you said, "I do": forever. 

When selecting a ring, I wanted a two tone ring.  Tungsten rings are silver in color.  Dark grey tungsten is achieved by a anodizing process.  This process only colors the metal a few atoms deep.  Though hard, tungsten can still get micro scratches.  These small scratches typically do not show up and do not degrade the overall shininess of the metal.  However, when a layer of anodized tungsten is scratched off, the silver base metal will show through.  This results in a scratched looking surface. 

A solution to this two tone anodized problem is to inlay a darker material.  A common inlay material for tungsten carbide rings is ceramic.  Unlike your office coffee cup, hold on as I take another sip from mine, the ceramic used for rings is a much harder industrial ceramic.  This type of ceramic is commonly used in bullet prof vests as a ballistic plate.  Some claim that since ceramic is so hard, ones need to be careful with it, so as not to shatter the ring or inlay material.  This is false.  I have never been gentle with my ring and have not one blemish on it.   The ring in the picture above is the one that I wear.   It was purchased by my wife at a local jeweler.  A basic Tungsten carbide rings can be purchased for under $50.  Fancy ones can run up to $300.  The low cost of these rings is a welcoming figure in the high dollar world of weddings.  After all isn't love free. 

So now I wonder:  what type of wedding ring did Prince William get?

Tire Chains, duallies and trailers

For most of the nation tire chains are as common as Yetis. Even those that live in snow country often do not know about these traction devices. I guess when roads get icy people just slide around and play bumper cars. This is not true however for one group of highway users: commercial truckers. These guys are required to chain up anytime the roads are covered with the white stuff and there are hills. Though most of us are not commercial truckers, at times almost anyone can fall into this category. For example if you are driving a moving truck across the country and towing a car trailer; bam- you are now a commercial trucker.

Chain control laws might seem straight forward. If there is chain control and you have a two wheel drive car you need chains. But there are a few details that might not seem so apparent. First let me state that this is California chain control laws , which I am covering. Most other states do not have as strict of laws, especially pertaining to passenger vehicles.

Three levels of chain control exist R1,2 and 3.

-R1 states that any vehicles over 6000lbs must have chains on. If you are towing a trailer you must have chains on. If your trailer has brakes you must have chains on the trailer.

-R2-all vehicles except 4 wheel drives need chains. 4wd's need to carry chains (though this is not usually enforced, I have been stopped once and turned around cause I was not carrying chains in an AWD car).

-R3-All Vehicles need chains.

Usually the road is closed before R3 control statuses are reached.

Because of durability, traction and cost, most large commercial trucks run ladder type chains . In fact cables are not allowed on large trucks and trailer. In most cases chains are only required on the outside tire of a dual tire (4) axle, or dually. A common trick used by truckers is to drive the inside tires up on a set of blocks. This puts the outside tire off the ground, making chain installation much easier.

So next time you are driving in the snow and you can not stop, get stuck, or spin out, just know that there are traction aides available.

SNOW

The recent storm has brought a TON of snow to the area. Starting Tuesday night, it has already dumped up to 8 feet in places by Friday morning. We got about 5-6 at the house. That is right we measure our snow fall in FEET not inches. The amazing thing is that it is business as usual. Roads are opened and people still go to work. Well sorta. Playing hookie to go skiing is as much a part of living in Tahoe as anything else.

I snapped this picture of someone in the Squaw Valley Ski Resort parking lot this morning. It is a good storm total indicator. Though it makes for a really good picture, this is not something that is recommended. CLEAR THE SNOW OFF YOUR CAR!!!! That could be a couple of hundred pounds worth of snow. And when it flies off and hits a car traveling in the opposite direction, the results have been fatal.

Till next time, enjoy the snow, and be safe out there!!

Ken Block - Gymkhana 3

Ken Blocks Gymkhana videos have been one of the most viewed clips on Youtube. The much anticipated Gymkhana 3 did not fail to live up to its hype. You might notice that I never posted a link about GymK 2. That's cause it SUCKED. Don't even bother looking it up. This is the first Gymkhana that Ken's does his thing in his new Ford Focus. To the die hard Subi fans this is quite a heart break. But this new video has some tire squealing action that any motor sport enthusiast is sure to love. This video is titled "part2". Part 1 is a music video by the Cool Kids about Ken; Stupid, again not worth viewing. Ok enough of my editorializing: ON WITH THE SHOW!

Darren Rahlves Downhill Banzai

This last weekend was the 2nd stop on the Rahlves Banzai tour at Kirkwood. If you have not heard about it, the Banzai is your old school down hill race; from the top of the mountain to the bottom, off piste, four at a time, first person down wins. I was not at Kirkwood this last weekend but did whiteness the January race Alpine Meadows. The terrain was harsh, and the competition was steep. The top purse of $10,000 is drawing top skiers from the area out of the wood works to compete. For those of you who are planning on competing in the finial March 12-13 Sugar Bowl Banzai, you better get those legs strong and your wits stronger. Here are some takes from the Alpine Meadows comp. Ski hard, go fast, and take risk!

Pork Tenderloin and Sweet Potato Sandwich

This years Christmas dinner was comprised of pork tenderloin and sweet potato. The next day I made a very pleasant discovery when fixing a leftover lunch. The Pork Tenderloin and Sweet Potato Sandwich. For the most part I am not a sandwich lover. Sure it is an effective meal, but hardly am I ever excited when I hear that sandwiches are on the lunch docket. I considered sandwiches the human equivalent of dog food. Does the job of filling your stomach, pleasant enough to be eaten regularly, but nothing to blog about. That is until now. The pork and sweet potato sandwich I had the day after Christmas was the BEST sandwich I have ever tasted.

The pork tenderloin was pre-marinated in salt and pepper. Cooked on a grill. Then sliced into thin medallions the size of a 50 cent piece. The sweet potato, actually yams, were cooked in the microwave, finished on the grill and sliced up in the same manner as the pork.

In order for you to experience the same sandwich delight as I, you have to construct yours the exact same way as I. You can not make the tenderloin sweet po sandi to suit your liking, leaving out or substituting ingredients, and disagree with my "best sandwich in the world claim".

So let's put together this little marvel:

Since this is a hot sandwich and I was using left overs, the first step was to heat the pork and the sweet P. I used the toaster oven since I was planning on toasting the bread; this gave it a slight broiled/toasted aspect to the meat and tuber. The only bread I had at the time was a round loaf of a fancy whole wheat type. Sliced up and lightly toasted. On one slice I spread a thin layer of mayonnaise and on the other a healthy portion or dijon mustard. Next I put a single layer of pork on each slice of bread and a single layer of sweet potato on only one side. To finish off this master piece, grind fresh pepper on the sweet potato half and dribbled Sriracha hot sauce on the pork only side. Join the two halves together and take a bite.

The combination of flavors is amazing. Eating them individually does not compare . The mustard and the sweet potato compliments the pork and gives it an interesting pzazz. The contrasting texture of toast, pork and potato adds a physical element of oral adventure.

As my watering mouth is dribbling on the keyboard, I realize that I have not made this sandwich since the initial discovery. I will most likely go and purchase the ingredients for the sole purpose of making PSP sandwiches. This is one sandwich that I would not consider human dog food. Woof Woof.

Eneloop - Rechargable batteries

Nickle Cadmium really gave rechargeable batteries a bad rap. So much so, that many people think of rechargeable and do not want anything to do with them. These last 5 years or so has seen rechargeable batteries develop to a state where they rival standard alkaline batteries. These days most rechargeable batteries are made from nickel metal hydride, like cell phone batteries (not including the lithium type). These type of batteries claim three times the life in digital cameras.

Recently I have discovered the Eneloop battery made by Sanyon. Their claim to fame? They are ready to use right out of the package. This is cause they retain their charge longer than any other type of rechargeable battery, and thus no need to pre charge prior to using. They can hold something like 85% of their charge after one year. They come in AAA and AA sizes. For the larger C and D's they have sleeves which convert a AA to fit a C/D slot. Sure there is not as much life as a D but hey they are rechargeable. It is weird to heft a four D cell mag light with these little guys in them.

I have replaced all of my heavy use items with Eneloop batteries. I still however keep a stock pile of regular AA and AAA's for those items that rarely need a battery change.

Lexus's Carbon Fiber Weaving Loom

I has been rumored for years that Lexus was going to build a new sports car. A super car: The LFA. In the last year details of this $370K car has slowly been released to the public. Most recently this video was released. At first it was taken off of youtube for fear that competitors would steal their new technology. But then they allowed youtube to host it again. This video made my skin tingle as I watched it. Here is Lexus's new carbon weaving loom.

G3 Onxy - AT bindings

Of all the Alpine Touring bindings out there, none are more coveted then the ones made by Dynafit. At least that was before dynafit's patent of the "tech" bindings ran out. Tech refers to a type of AT binding where the ski boot is attached to the ski by a sets of pins in the toe, and another set in the heel. This type of binding has many advantages. The primary advantage is weight. Without the boot platform design that most AT bindings have, much weight is saved. Another advantage is pivot point. The location of the toe pins create a very ergonomic pivot placement. And finally tech binding ski well. The toe and heel pins create a firm connection between the boot and the binding with little flex.

It had been rumored for some time that G3 (genuine guide gear) was going to come out with their version of the TECH binding: the Onyx. Last year they finally release the binding, and I got myself a pair . I have toured on the Onyx binding this last ski season, and have enough hours behind it that I can finally give a through report. This year G3 released their Onyx binding with a few improvements in the toe pieces that resulted in easier toe entry and true DIN of 12.

Weighing several ounces heavier than the heaviest Dynafit binding, why would someone choose to use the Onyx. Sure there is brand loyalty and sponsorship, but a product must preform well in order to merit praise. G3 claims that the Onyx can do two things that Dynafits can not. The first is the ability to go from ski mode to tour mode on the fly. Dynafits require the complete disengagement of both heel and toe piece in order to release the heel from ski mode. With the Onxy you simply flip a lever down and you are in tour mode again. This point is not entirely true. Dynafit bindings that are not equipped with ski brakes can be switched back into tour mode with a careful twist of the heel unit with a ski pole. However this technique is not approved by Dynafit and has been known to break the climbing post of the heel unit.

The next short fall of Dynafits that the Onyx attempts to address is the pre-release of the toe unit. The toe of the your ski boot is attached to the binding via two small pins which fit in sockets that are embedded in the boot. The pins are mounted on spring loaded wings which open and close. In tour mode the toe unit is intended to be locked down. However in ski mode the toe is suppose to be in the free position. This allows the DIN releasable heel piece to function properly. Due to weak toe wing springs it is common for the binding to pre-release. In order to combat this shortcoming , users often lock out the toe piece in ski mode. This however prevents any releasabilty of the binding. The Onyx is said to address this flaw, and allows calibrated DIN releases with the toe unit unlocked. The super beefy and polished toe unit of the Onyx rest in the closed position, and is opened when downward pressure is applied to the lever. This is the opposite of Dynafit which click close when pressure from the boot is applied. This variation in toe closer can be fix for the pre-realease issue.

A third component that makes the Onyx unique is the mounting plate. Because of this mounting plate you can adjust the binding to fit various sized boots. The toe piece has three preset mounting locations for major adjustment. The rear heel pieces slides on a track for fine adjustment. One can also mount other skis with extra plates and be able to swap the binding from one ski to another in a relatively short amount of time. Mounting the bindings at home with the plates however adds to some difficultly. Because the holes on the bindings attache to the base plate and not directly to the ski, you can not test fit, and drill the ski based on the holes in the binding; some type of jig or template is required. I did not find that this is too much of an issue since I was able to locate a paper template. However if I was out in a ski hut with new bindings with no Internet or printer; I'd be cursing G3.

Who cares about all this jargon, how do they ski! On their maiden voyage I took them out to the resort for some downhill alpine action. Keep in mind I just got new tech boots to go with the tech bindings. I was not able to afford new boots and bindings so I settled for a pair of first generation Garmont Megarides. A serious 4 buckle Alpine Touring boot by yesterday's standard. However they might as well be slippers when compared to the burly AT boots of today. On the easy stuff, you would not even know you were on back country bindings. They were responsive and did not have any flex issues. On the icy steeps of Granite Chief they did surprisingly well. Again no flex issues like I was use to with my Silvretta 500's. Most of my issues were because of the light weight boot not being able to power the skis like am I use to. There is a bit of built in rake, which helps set up your body for the proper attack position. When skiing downhill, I did not have my toe locked down, and did not experience any pre-release issues.

For my second test I took them out for a "backyard" ski. This is low angle rolling terrain. Within 5 minutes, as I was crossing a ditch, one of my skis popped off. I did not have the toe locked. In touring mode it is instructed that the toe be locked down. Without the heel locked down the toe can experiences quite an extra bit of torque. The toe is designed to disengage when torque is applied as in a downhill fall once the heels have released based on the DIN setting. Locking the toe down lead to no more releasing from the binding during tour mode. The pivot location and the lack of having to lift the binding with every step is the most noticeable and one of the reasons behind owning tech bindings. When compared the Silvretta's I noticed a bit of energy saving. But when compared to the frankenstride of the Fritchis the difference is obvious.

One aspect of rolling terrain that challenges not only dynafits but all AT binding is the constant engagement in and out of touring and ski mode. Dynafits have their above mentioned woe. Other platform based AT binding's heel piece sometimes ice up preventing full lock down engagement. Most of the time when traveling this type of terrain you just leave the skis in touring mode when hitting small downhills. But since I was testing gear out I decided to stitch whenever possible. I found it very simple to go in and out of ski mode when ever I needed. There is two ways to enter ski mode. One is to lift the heel of the boot, engage ski mode and then step down onto the bindings heel pins. The other way is the lift the heel of the boot right at the engagement level of the heel pins and insert the pins directly into the boot. I knelt down and use my hands to operate the lever most of the time. It was possible to use only the ski pole, though it took familiarity that I did not yet have. Sometimes it was easier using the handle part of the pole.

The heel elevators were very solid, however they were not idiot proof. Heel lift is accomplished by using two separate lifters. The first lifter needed to be in place in order for the second one to be engaged and rest on top the first. The second lifter could be flipped forward without the first one in place. This could be destructive if fully weighted as the lifter is not properly supported. Though it was never a problem for me, I could see the potential for destruction if loaned to a rookie AT skiing friend, or if high altitudes, exhaustion and recreational drugs were thrown into the mix. The lifters can also be manipulated with the ski pole, and is easier to deal with than the ski/tour lever since it has less resistance.

"Well shit don't you do any real alpine touring?" Not as much as I would like to. On the occasions that I did climb something steep these binding perform flawlessly. There was nothing really special that was discovered in steep AT conditions that I did not already know. The climbing was smooth and predictable. The scary icy decents were solid. Kickturns were a PITA as always, and had me dreaming of a kick return spring. I was not able to test the G3 Onyx crampon, as they were not available when I got the bindings and opted for a crampon from B&D. The stock leashes were great. They were comprised of a coated coiled cable. This coiling allowed the leash to extend considerably. This allowed you to manipulate the ski unattached to the boots with the leases attached.

One point that annoyed me about the binding was that you need to use the pole tip to open the front jaws. From a standing position you pushed the button with the tip of your pole. Because of this the contact surface gets really chewed up. This is not a functional problem, but you can not avoid it if you like to keep you gear looking new and fresh for resale reasons. You can not kneel down and exert enough force on the toe jaws to open them, and place your boot in the right spot.

Nothing on the Onyx binding ever failed on me, or simple did not work. But for the 10/11 season I opted out of using my Onyx's. The main reason that I am not using these binding is for the weight. If I am to enter the realm of Dynafit bindings, I want dynafit weight. So far this season I do not have a new set up and am simple riding "extra" gear that I have laying around.

Overall the Onyx binding provides very solid performance and is still lighter than many of the staple backcountry bindings out in the field. If you are a heavy aggressive skier that breaks things regularly and require a high DIN, lighter weight, and efficient touring stride, then the Onxy is definitely a binding that you should not over look.

Tread Wright Retread Tires - Sentinels w/ Kedge Grip

Have I ever told you that I love tires. This year I needed some new winter tires for the truck. I have been hearing a lot about this company that makes retread tires; Tread Wright. So I decided to give them a shot.

Tread Wright has several of there own tread patterns but the three most popular are the knock offs; BFG AT, old Goodyear MTR, and the Bridgestone Dueler Revo.

For my previous set of winter tires I was running a studded classic mud terrain pattern. They worked in the deep unlowed snow, but was a nightmare on ice. Mudders are NOT good snow tires. Even though the look aggressive, don't be fooled. There is no way the 8 big lugs, which make up your contact patch, can provide much grip. Even with the carbide studs. Even after I hand grooved and sipped the lugs, they still suck.

Since it is commonly considered that the Revo pattern is one of the best snow treads of any all terrain tire without a winter compound, I figure Revo's with a winter rubber mix would be awesome; I was right. The top picture is the Revo the bottom is of the the Sentinels, notice the very slight differences. Kedge grip is Tread Wright's own winter formula. It is mix of glass and walnut shells. The glass, which is basically sand, make the rubber gritty. The walnut shells are designed to fall out leaving little pits which act like additional sipes. This compound is basically the same as Toyo's winter compound.

I had these tires mounted at Stone's Tire in Truckee (NEVER go there, worst tire shop I have ever been to). They balanced out ok. One tire was a little heavy but not too bad. I had brought the tire and wheels in to the shop off the truck and finally got them on the truck right before the monster Thanksgiving storm. Did not drive them till 3 days into the storm when the roads were a total sheet of ice. How did they do? They SUCKed. I was so disappointed. But then I remembered that new tires are greasy. This is well known fact in the motorcycle world. Do not try to get crazy on a new pair of tires till you break them in. Because of the mold release agent used, new tires are literally greasy.

After I got about 100 miles on them they started to stick. And boy do they stick now. I can drive into my neighborhood in 2wd, where before there was absolutely no way. I also rarely ever activate the ABS. Before it was every stop when the roads where snow covered. It is truly amazing the performance these tire provide. I have taken them up to 80mph with out any noticeable wobble.

The tires cost me $95 each. Shipping was about $25 each. And mounting and balancing was $25 each (I would have paid $15 but that is one of the reason's I will never go back to Stone's). So "out the door" I paid about $150 each. Not quite 1/2 the cost as they claim but ok. Not bad for a tire that uses 1/3 the petro and energy to make, and comes with a fat warranty.

Since this is the tire buying season, they are really low on stock for most of the popular tires and sizes. There is a couple of week back order. I got mine a few months ago, and I got them within a week of ordering them.

Based on my experience with these tires so far, I would not hesitate to buy them again. In fact when I am in need of new summer tires, I will surely go Tread Wright.

Update: Now that I have had these tires on for several months I am able to give a more long term review. I seem to have developed a slight imbalance, and feel a vibration between 50 and 60mph. I believe it is due to that single tire which took more weight to balance out than the rest of them. At speeds above and before the zone, the tires are vibration free. Though I initially raved about the snow/ice performance, I do not think that these tires perform as well as one which is labeled "studless winter". Namely when compared to a fresh set of Bridgestone Blizzaks with Microcell tech. On one particular icy snow storm, on one particularly steep hill, I was not able to stop and slid though the intersection with the ABS system pulsing to the max. Sure I was driving a little fast, and it was the worst condition possible, but our subi with blizzaks have never experienced such an event. Sure this is not an apple to apple comparison since my truck has the worse brakes and most sensitive ABS system. A set of blizzaks on my truck might have fared the same in the given situation, however I thought that it is my job to report the event. I must note that I believe the blizaks wear faster and the mirco cell tech is only incorporated into half of the thread life/depth. Given these updates, I would still buy another set of Tread Wright tires, as they are a good compromise of price, performance, and eco friendliness.

2011 a New Years Resolution

I am going to lose weight, work out more, stop smoking, stop drinking... and the list of things go on and on that people say they will do. As a child in school I remember an exercise that the teacher would do annually. The "New Years Resolution" essay. I promise to get better grades, I promise to be nicer to people. What a crock. If you want to make a change in your life, there is no reason that wait till December 31st to do so. The one benefit of a making a resolution is the planning. If a true change is desired, it is easier to make it successful with some careful planning. Setting a date for the start of the event, though it doesn't need to be January first, allows one to work out the details and get use to the idea that the change is coming.

That said, here is my new years resolution: Write in my blog at least once a week for the year 2011. What started out as a place to record events and documents repair jobs, has become a outlet for personal expression. It is a place where the thoughts in my head get to live without driving me crazy. I often have meetings in my mind regarding current projects that are attended by several members. There is the technical advisor, the safety coordinator, public relations, doc control, and the project manager. These meeting minutes are recorded here in this blog and the topic can then be laid to rest.

Happy New Years all. And I look forward to seeing you in blog world.

Busy Busy - A New Start

Life. It tends to get in the way of everything else. I have almost abandoned this blog in the last few months as I let life get in the way. However in its absence I discovered that writing in my BLOG provides me with a much needed outlet for expression, and a source for my immortality. Some men conquer nations and build empires to leave their mark for eternity; I will leave this BLOG. That is until something ill fated happens to the blogger.com server and all that I have toiled over is lost forever.

As a reader this lull in new articles might come as a blessing in disguise. For what ever experiences I have been busying myself with, is for more fodder for this BLOG, and for you to read, enjoy, learn, and experience. Yes the BLOG is not dead, but I plan to make a grand reappearance. Come January 1st 2011 I will start this blog up again. And as part of the new and improved MrPulldown.com I will strive to have a new post at least once a week, maybe more. Topics I have been researching include: Hot tub permanent installation, dirt bike modifications and rides, backcountry ski tech, the 300zx SMOG saga, and of course the much anticipated BABY section.

So till we meet in the new year, do what you can to get by, for the legacy will continue.

Wrist Rocket Slingshot - My Childhood Companion

I spent much of my childhood roaming the backyard of my parents house with a pocket full of rocks and a slingshot in my hand. Not just any sling shot but a wrist rocket.



My dad first introduced me to sling shots one day as we were doing yard work and trimming trees. He came across a forked branch and said, "This would make a perfect sling shot." After we finished our work we went in the house and began hunting for supplies. A few rubber bands from the kitchen and then a scrap of denim from beneath my mothers sewing machine. Soon I was in the back yard knocking over soda cans like a pro.

A sling shot however should not be confused with a sling. The weapon David use to defeat Goliath. A sling does not use an elastic band, and is also used to hurl a much larger stone. A sling uses two cords attached to a rock holding pouch. The rock is swung and one of the cords is release to send the rock flying.

Several years (?months) later, while shopping at Fedco (does anyone remember that store?) my father sees a commercially manufactured slingshot with a wrist support. He immediately placed the item in the shopping cart. I think the purchase was actually for himself. Having a wrist support and surgical tubing increased the efficiency of a sling shot incredibly. The one we purchased that day was a deluxe folding model. However the plastic grip eventually cracked and I replaced it with a wrist rocket original (the one picture above).



Last week, I was in the hardware store and above the drawers of nuts and bolts was a single replacement band for a wrist rocket type sling shot. I immediately placed it in my shopping cart. As soon as I got home, I found my wrist rocket (I knew exactly where it was) and replaced the broken sling, and went in my back yard to fire off a few shots.







I am very happy that I get to take this part of my fathers childhood and pass it to my child.

Reno Ride 200 Enduro

Every year the Reno Dust Devils Motorcycle club hosts the Reno Ride 200. A 200 mile dirt bike ride over the course of two days. I found out about the event last year, but was still to much of a rookie to participate. Both in my riding ability, and in the condition of my machine. I have spent the remainder of last years riding season and this to prepare.

Though I rarely participate in organized events, they are great to help you get into a new activity. I will be participating in this years Reno Ride 200, at least the first day. The first day is the big day; 130 miles.

If anyone is interested in doing this ride, let me know.

vroom vroom

The power of the SUN

Solar energy. What is there not to like about it. It's free, clean, and renewable. Though most of the time we think about turning light into electricity or heat, we often forget about one of the oldest forms of solar power: clothes drying. When I was a youngster, almost all of our clothes were dried in the sun. We never thought of using a gas or electric dryer unless it was raining out.

Pluses to drying your clothes in the sun include: free, great smell, and disinfecting. Cons to sun drying of your clothes include: time consuming, sun bleaching, and stiffness.

I had some time this weekend to wash a load of baby clothes. Instead of using the dryer I opted to line dry the items. Though I could have used a foldable drying rack, the cable railing of the deck provided amble drying space.

The first step was to wipe down the line. Being outside, even lines which appear clean will cause a mark on white clothes. Next I hung and affixed a clothes pin to each article of clothing. After several hours, I took the clothes down and threw them into the dryer for a quick fluff. This softened the clothes and removed the unwanted starchiness of line dried clothes.

We often go to great length to save a buck. Coupon clipping, DIY project instead of hiring out. But line drying clothes is a easy way to save some money, and our earth, while have great smelling clothes.

Monkey See Monkey Do - Peeling Bananas the Monkey Way

Most of us have grown up peeling bananas the human way; Stem side first. This is easy if the banana is ripe, you have nails, or a knife. However have you ever tried to peel a banana only to have the stem fold and not brake apart from the rest of the peel. This usually bruises the top portion of the banana.

If you have ever spent any time watching monkeys eat bananas, you know that they do the peeling quite differently. They peel it from the base side. Hey if the pros do it this way, why shouldn't we.

Since watching this video, my life has been forever changed. I now peel my bananas the monkey way, and am nery again frustrated with a banana that won't peel or becomes bruised by my effort.

CSA - Produce Box

We received our first produce box of the season. Boy am I excited. Recently I have become more aware of where my food comes from. Aware of the bad farming practices, the dangers of pesticides and genetic alternation of our food. Aware of the negative effects food has on our health and environment. Our family made a decision to put forth an effort to "eat better". Eating better does not simply mean what types of food we eat but where we get our food, and how it is grown. Spending more money on quality food is worth it. I rather not have cable TV, or wear designer jeans, in exchange for local organic food.

Our CSA, Community Supported Agriculture, comes from a small farm in New Castle California: The Natural Trading Company. Up here the growing season is too short and no farms exist. However just down the hill from us plants flourish. The farm is within 100 miles of us, and we get a box delivered once a week. Pick up locations are grouped. In today's box we received: arugula, squash, spring garlic, spring onions, Kale, sugar snap peas, lettuce, pea shoots, bok choy, kohlrabi, naval oranges, gala apples, and ruby grape fruit. Eating has become an adventure!

Find a local CSA in your area, and start reaping the benefits.