tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3644008814956274972024-03-14T01:47:00.150-04:00PLEASE NOTE: MY BLOG HAS MOVED TO WWW.WILLIAMKRUIDENIER.COM AS OF FEBRUARY, 2014. SEE YOU THERE!PLEASE NOTE: MY BLOG HAS MOVED TO WWW.WILLIAMKRUIDENIER.COM AS OF FEBRUARY, 2014 SEE YOU THERE!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1080125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364400881495627497.post-50418135604766192312012-11-17T17:33:00.000-05:002012-11-17T17:36:54.017-05:00Country Come to Town<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My neighbor's chicken flock wanders into my yard occasionally in the mornings when he lets them range. This Plymouth Barred Rock rooster strutted his stuff up near my back door. (It's in HD if you want to bump the resolution up.)</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364400881495627497.post-76269724965326162262012-10-17T20:21:00.001-04:002012-10-18T09:54:04.356-04:00Great Video<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If your computer will push 1080p at full screen, you will love watching this sample video taken with the newest GoPro HD video camera. (Adjust the resolution of the video to 1080p, or the highest your computer will push smoothly, and click on the full screen button. And the enjoyment factor multiplies with the quality of your speakers/subwoofer -- the soundtrack is awesome.)</span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364400881495627497.post-21529970252015434302012-09-21T11:45:00.002-04:002012-09-21T11:47:46.117-04:00The Fallacy of Redistribution<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;">Sometimes Mr. Obama's economic naivete and lack of history is stunning—or scary. With the revelation this week of the tape on which he says he believes in economic redistribution of wealth to some (unspecified) extent, comes the need for a history lesson. Not from me, but from Dr. Thomas Sowell, African-American economist at Stanford's Hoover Institution. He schools Obama on what happened in the Soviet Union when government began taking over the agricultural output of the nation's farmers. Guess what? The farmers simply stopped producing and millions of people died of starvation under Stalin. Sowell points out that people are not widgets that can be moved around according to a plan. If people don't like the plan, they react with intelligence and emotion. And people innately don't like what they have produced being taken from them by people who produce nothing (i.e., government).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;">Dr. Sowell, author of more than 30 books on history and economics, has the perspective that our president seems to lack. If you have any inclination to vote again for this president, I encourage you to read this short piece (and others) by Dr. Sowell. (This is not a pro-Romney article. It is an article about the lack of historical perspective relative to one of Obama's stated goals.)</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">Dr. Sowell's article is <a href="http://townhall.com/columnists/thomassowell/2012/09/20/the_fallacy_of_redistribution/page/full/" target="_blank">here</a>. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364400881495627497.post-56423836803421271442012-09-18T13:17:00.002-04:002012-09-18T13:23:29.557-04:00Why Don't They Run Into Each Other?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">Check out <a href="http://www.flightradar24.com">FlightRadar24.com</a> for a real time look at every plane in the sky, updating in real time about every 30 seconds.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/70612546@N00/8000339163/" title="Screen shot 2012-09-18 at 1.16.18 PM by William Kruidenier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8296/8000339163_e0c90f4cd4_z.jpg" width="640" height="448" alt="Screen shot 2012-09-18 at 1.16.18 PM" /></a></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364400881495627497.post-82644163452146920992012-09-18T08:57:00.004-04:002012-09-18T09:10:49.307-04:00Kruidenier Cadillac<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">Mike at <a href="http://www.vintage-snapshots.com/">Vintage-Snapshots.com</a> came across a photo taken on Locust Street in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1914 (the year my father was born), and was kind enough to share a digital copy with me. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">The photo is important to me as it features the sign for the Kruidenier Cadillac Company, founded by my great-grandfather, Dirk Kruidenier, in the early 1900's (on the right side of the photo). Dirk Kruidenier emigrated from Holland with his family as a six-year-old in 1854 and settled in Pella, Iowa, moving later to Des Moines where he engaged in business and ultimately became the Cadillac dealer in the region. His son, Edward, also worked in the business and my father and his two brothers grew up around cars as young men. I don't know what happened to the dealership, but am grateful for this photo. (More on Dirk Kruidenier <a href="http://williamkruidenier.blogspot.com/2010/07/pictures-from-pella.html">here</a>.)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">Thanks again to Mike for the photo and the detail enlargement:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/70612546@N00/7999603661/" title="DesMoines1914-Cadillacsign_2500 by William Kruidenier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8171/7999603661_83b7d9c056_z.jpg" width="640" height="388" alt="DesMoines1914-Cadillacsign_2500" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/70612546@N00/7999630263/" title="Cadillac-detail by William Kruidenier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8447/7999630263_cdca03fba6_z.jpg" width="640" height="556" alt="Cadillac-detail" /></a></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364400881495627497.post-27066752930470509382012-09-17T19:11:00.005-04:002012-09-17T19:19:39.622-04:00Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and Others Are M.I.A.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">Why have the organic and healthy food industry leaders failed to come out in support of Proposition 37 in California that would require labeling of GMO/GE foods? (Read about these graphics <a href="http://www.cornucopia.org/2012/08/prop37/">here</a>.)</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/70612546@N00/7997829440/" title="missing by William Kruidenier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8299/7997829440_3edf38ef3b_z.jpg" width="414" height="640" alt="missing" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/70612546@N00/7997829656/" title="prop37-poster3 by William Kruidenier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8452/7997829656_6e9e148c48_z.jpg" width="414" height="640" alt="prop37-poster3" /></a></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364400881495627497.post-33880391361091458872012-09-17T18:27:00.006-04:002012-09-17T19:09:24.469-04:00Frankinfoods<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5s6Fq89C9Hs/UFenwJmMZgI/AAAAAAAAAxM/hcIMdLr9eWE/s1600/Genetic-Roulette-DVD-front_small1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5s6Fq89C9Hs/UFenwJmMZgI/AAAAAAAAAxM/hcIMdLr9eWE/s400/Genetic-Roulette-DVD-front_small1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5789280291659736578" /></a>This week only (or perhaps they'll extend it) you can watch online a new documentary movie on the dangers of GMO/GE foods. <i>Genetic Roulette</i> contains the testimony of numerous scientists, doctors, farmers, and others on the increasingly abundant evidence of the impact of genetically altered foods—ESPECIALLY on children.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">For all practical purposes, America's supply of conventional corn and soy is all GMO/GE food. This film has renewed my commitment not to eat any conventionally-grown food. But organic food is not free from danger either. Scientists have discovered that the Bt bacteria (<i>bacillus thuringiensis</i>) that is the mainstay of organic pesticide production for brassica crops, is harmful to humans. Bt, which has been inbred into GMO/GE crops, has been found to have harmful impact in the human gut when those GMO/GE are consumed. But that means that organically-grown crops with Bt residue might be something to care about when Bt has always been considered "harmless to humans." (Of course, in organics the Bt is not inbred into the crop and is subject to thorough washing, etc., of the organic crops.)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">This is a powerful movie. If you eat anything with conventional grain, corn, or soy in it (especially soy-based infant formula), please give this movie a watch. It's over an hour long, but well worth the time. You can watch the entire documentary <a href="http://geneticroulettemovie.com/">here</a>.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">Note: If you live in California, please vote "Yes" on Proposition 37 in November. If Prop 37 passes, food produces would be required by law to label their foods as containing GMO/GE foods, something they are not now required to do (in contrast to Europe where such labeling is required). The <a href="http://www.cornucopia.org/">Cornucopia Institute</a> has more information about the Prop 37 initiative. If this initiative passes in California, the nation's biggest food state, it will bode well for it becoming law nationally.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364400881495627497.post-15699450854084663462012-09-06T08:57:00.008-04:002012-09-18T12:40:36.729-04:00BMI, Meet WHR<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E67t1bJXMGs/UEii55XWgDI/AAAAAAAAAwg/nSrwgcd6BQ8/s1600/rec-big-belly-and-measuring-tape-credits-thinkstock-03-26-12-md.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E67t1bJXMGs/UEii55XWgDI/AAAAAAAAAwg/nSrwgcd6BQ8/s400/rec-big-belly-and-measuring-tape-credits-thinkstock-03-26-12-md.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5785052836892409906" /></a><i><b>(Narcissistic disclaimer: No, that's not a picture of me.) </b></i> <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>BMI (Body Mass Index) has long been a measure of "health" because it correlates weight with height. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">A new ratio—waist circumference to height, or the Waist-Height Ratio (WHR)—is being shown to correlate better with disease prevention. Short answer: Waist circumference should be less than half one's height. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">For example, I am six feet (72 inches) tall and I wear a size 36" (waist size) pant. But my waist measurement is actually pushing 37". Therefore, I am over the maximum ratio of <1:2 (<36:72). Not good.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">Obviously, I have known this for some time simply because I store fat in my belly. I can look at my belly and see that it is too big—not obese, but not trim. I don't know why, given my diet (very little fat), a vegan diet of whole foods, etc. Too few calories and too little movement, and the wrong kinds of exercises, have resulted in accumulated fat. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">I have read several studies recently about the dangers of sitting—something I do most of every day as a writer/editor in a home office. I bought a pedometer a week ago to measure the number of steps I take every day and it averages between 2,500 and 3,000. Health guidelines say we ought to average 10,000 steps per day. When I was in another city recently on family business and was moving all day long, I discovered I had lost weight when I returned. So lack of movement in my daily vocation is a significant problem for me. (Studies show that people who sit most of the day live shorter lives than people who "move" most of the day.)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">I began rowing on my Concept 2 rower two weeks ago (after a long layoff), about 5,000 meters per session to start, and am riding my bike less. An hour of stationary bike riding produces lots of sweat but very little abdominal or upper body stress, which rowing does. At the same time, I returned to exercises that will hopefully strengthen my core and gradually cut down on body fat. And have begun walking as well—I did 12,547 steps yesterday and am up to 5,578 today after a morning walk. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">So, a WHR of <1:2 is my goal. Dr. Greger has a brief overview video on <a href="http://nutritionfacts.org/video/keep-your-waist-circumference-to-less-than-half-your-height/">WHR</a> here. </span></div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364400881495627497.post-1664751514522572222012-09-04T13:57:00.003-04:002012-09-04T14:02:44.474-04:00Often Wrong But Never in Doubt<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">"Often wrong but never in doubt." That's how Dr. Thomas Sowell describes President Obama as he reviews the shallowness of the president's knowledge of history and his closed-mindedness to the broader world of ideas. Dr. Sowell is an African-American Senior Fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institute and author of more than 30 books on economics, history, and policy. Read his September 4 article <a href="http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/sowell090412.php3">here</a>. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364400881495627497.post-81533249607443484932012-09-03T16:00:00.002-04:002012-09-03T19:55:40.176-04:00What Year Is It?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">Gee, one wonders what Obama has been doing for four years. Looks like he's just dusted off his previous speeches for this run:</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fZgQhnNRSuw?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364400881495627497.post-15113093998785920862012-08-29T08:17:00.005-04:002012-08-29T09:54:10.415-04:00What a Way to Go<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">When three members of the New Zealand Defense Force were killed in Afghanistan recently, and their bodies were returned to New Zealand for burial, fellow members of the NZDF performed a traditional Maori <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haka">haka</a> in their honor. We've seen New Zealand rugby teams perform a haka on the field, but I've never seen this military version. It's spine-tingling. In addition to a tribute for their fallen comrades, the way these soldiers meet the hearse head-on is like a defiant challenge to death, angry that death has taken their friends. Who can't identify with that feeling? America is too young and civilized to have these kinds of passionate rituals embedded in our national DNA, but it's thrilling to see them where they exist. Though just for a moment at the end, it's comforting to see the Anglican (?) priest leading the hearse into the cemetery, representing the One who said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26)</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">The NZDF released this video on Aug 25, 2012. I've left the "related videos" option "On" -- following this video you'll see other NZDF military haka (plural is same as singular). If I met a demonstration like this on the battlefield I would immediately ask for terms of surrender. (If you have time, there are two great videos of the New Zealand All Black rugby team performing a haka before matches with Wales and France. The Wales team kept their distance, but give the French credit -- they went toe-to-toe with the All Black. Whew. )</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xI6TRTBZUMM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></span></div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364400881495627497.post-56063649700501376172012-08-23T23:02:00.002-04:002012-08-23T23:07:47.276-04:00Good for Them<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">BIOLA University is one of a growing number of Christian and Catholic universities that are suing the federal government over the forced funding of contraceptive and abortion "rights" of their employees. Good for them! The day has finally come when it is necessary for Christians to stand in the public square and defend their right not to have their consciences blemished by the dictates of government.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><object width="640" height="360"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RlfdFQx-9Jk?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RlfdFQx-9Jk?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="360" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364400881495627497.post-74877836368779685962012-08-14T12:11:00.003-04:002012-08-14T13:05:59.635-04:00Das Kannonball<div><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DYsH3l3_MpY?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="480" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364400881495627497.post-40555671219693510842012-08-10T10:06:00.002-04:002012-08-10T10:09:47.603-04:00Go Nuts<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">Here's a good example of why I like <a href="http://nutritionfacts.org/">Dr. Michael Greger</a> -- the information is great, but his style makes it totally enjoyable (three good laughs in 2' 33"):</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5bmKEHVdbmY?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364400881495627497.post-43627538381329786582012-08-10T08:37:00.004-04:002012-08-10T08:42:25.420-04:00Stuff I Want 1.0<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">Pulled up next to this at a stoplight earlier this week. Welcome to North Califorlina:</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/70612546@N00/7752469840/" title="IMG_0321 by William Kruidenier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7273/7752469840_9b91a25c08_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_0321" /></a></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364400881495627497.post-82686378265249226632012-08-09T09:52:00.001-04:002012-08-09T09:53:51.551-04:00Financial Calculators<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">An amazing collection of personal financial calculators for help with financial planning and decisions. <a href="http://financialmentor.com/calculator">Link</a>.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364400881495627497.post-15581334138534045692012-08-08T14:07:00.003-04:002012-08-08T14:14:50.229-04:00The Sinking Ship U.S.S. America<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">This five minute analysis of the federal budget is a clear picture of why the budget cannot be balanced under present circumstances. When I see the image in the video of the combined House and Senate gathered for a State of the Union address, sitting in their positions of power, it's almost nauseating to think of how utterly incompetent they are as evidenced by their lack of action concerning the financial crisis we face. Though the presenter in this video is a career accountant, you don't have to be an accountant to understand the numbers he points out, and how they cannot ever equal a "balanced" position.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><object width="640" height="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/EW5IdwltaAc?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EW5IdwltaAc?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="480" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364400881495627497.post-73550944674120441202012-08-01T13:29:00.002-04:002012-08-01T13:44:32.575-04:00Eye Candy<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">Irresistible photos from the last couple of days:</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">First, a shot of Canon's professionals' gear room at the London Olympics—shelves of massive Canon telephoto lenses, smaller lenses, and DSLR cameras. Neither the <a href="http://www.cnet.com.au/see-inside-canons-gear-room-at-the-olympics-339340968.htm">C/NET article</a> where I saw the pics, nor the Flickr account of the photographer (<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/inkiboo/7604803546/in/photostream/">Gerard McGovern of Getty Images</a>), explained the purpose of this treasure trove. Does Canon sell or rent this equipment to photographers? Don't know—I'd just like some nice Canon person to drop a 1D X and their biggest lens in a box and ship it to North Carolina. Really—would they miss them?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/inkiboo/7604803546/" title="Canon London 2012 Olympic office by inkiboo, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8281/7604803546_e84d5fc9b8_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Canon London 2012 Olympic office" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/inkiboo/7604804042/" title="Canon London 2012 Olympic office by inkiboo, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8434/7604804042_d35ac5694a_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Canon London 2012 Olympic office" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/inkiboo/7604803804/" title="Canon London 2012 Olympic office by inkiboo, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7252/7604803804_8da7c6c561_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Canon London 2012 Olympic office" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">From cameras to craftsmanship of a different kind—is this the coolest use of space you've ever seen? Note especially the drawers built into the kickplates on the three steps on the right. (I can't remember where I found this picture. If it's yours, let me know so I can give you credit.)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/70612546@N00/7692447226/" title="396847_384922401562760_1739561156_n by William Kruidenier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7274/7692447226_cd938968fd_z.jpg" width="640" height="460" alt="396847_384922401562760_1739561156_n" /></a></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364400881495627497.post-79421438532373679712012-07-30T11:46:00.002-04:002012-07-30T11:47:40.620-04:00Rise in Popularity of Vegan Diet<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">New <i>U.S. News and World Report</i> article on the surging popularity of a vegan lifestyle, mainly for health reasons. <a href="http://health.usnews.com/health-news/articles/2012/07/24/me-give-up-meat-vegan-diets-surging-in-popularity">Link</a>.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364400881495627497.post-59942722933137055422012-07-29T11:21:00.007-04:002012-07-29T14:47:40.473-04:00The Dust of His Feet<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/70612546@N00/7669169166/" title="clouds-background-landscapes-other-desktop-wallpapers_for_desktop by William Kruidenier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8292/7669169166_44d198efce_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="clouds-background-landscapes-other-desktop-wallpapers_for_desktop" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">I had never noticed this verse in Nahum before: ". . . and clouds are the dust of His feet" (1:3). </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">The whole sentence, from <i>The Message</i>, provides a fuller context: </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">Tornadoes and hurricanes are the wake of His passage,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">Storm clouds are the dust He shakes off His feet.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">What if they really are—clouds, the dust of God's feet? Just as we can track little Pig-Pen through the frames of a Charles Schulz <i>Peanuts</i> panel by the trail of detritus he leaves in his wake, what if we can track God's path through the heavens by the clouds that are the dust from His feet?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">Give me credit for knowing that clouds have a scientific explanation, and for knowing that anthropomorphisms were common to the ancients when describing their deities (including the Bible's authors). </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">But I also believe in what missiologist Paul G. Heibert called <a href="http://www.michaelsheiser.com/UFOReligions/FlawofExcludedMiddle.pdf">"The Flaw of the Excluded Middle"</a> in his seminal article by the same name that lit up Christendom's "chat rooms" in 1982. Heibert, a missionary-scholar, had found his Western, scientific worldview totally inadequate to explain the spiritual phenomena he encountered in non-Western, non-scientific cultures. There, he found an interaction between heaven and earth that the West, on the basis of observable science, didn't believe existed: the overlap of heaven and earth, spirit and matter—a third dimension where the spiritual activity of heaven impacts the physical activity on earth. As a gentle rebuke to Western Christianity, Heibert accused us of having a flawed cosmology—flawed for having excluded (ignored) the middle realm that exists between heaven and earth. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/70612546@N00/7669412194/" title="Screen shot 2012-07-29 at 11.56.04 AM by William Kruidenier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8007/7669412194_40e71b88b0_o.png" width="461" height="251" alt="Screen shot 2012-07-29 at 11.56.04 AM" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: middle;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">As a biblicist, he knew that middle realm existed in Scripture (e.g., Daniel 10:1-21; 2 Corinthians 11:12-15; 12:1-6), but it had been excluded by Enlightenment-bred thinkers. He preposed that the middle domain be re-acknowledged as a way of better explaining what we observe on, and from the vantage point of, earth.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">Back to clouds—I have no way of knowing whether they are the dust of God's feet or not; whether they tell us anything about the activity of God in heaven. But the more I find myself thinking like a scientist ("No, clouds having nothing to do with God"), the more willing I am to simply say, "I don't know." Why be dogmatic about something I can't possibly know for sure? Why treat the ancients, who wrote such things, as primitive poets rather than insightful realists?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">My goal in life is to see God's footprints and fingerprints everywhere they exist and to know His movements better as a result. Not to see what isn't there, but not to miss what is. </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364400881495627497.post-26207503293042618212012-07-27T12:16:00.004-04:002012-07-27T12:22:33.597-04:00Selective Biases<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L1tv8iMPXnw/UBK_Z8MZ_LI/AAAAAAAAAvw/1YJlhdoLQNY/s1600/409642_466620703363119_1107236504_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L1tv8iMPXnw/UBK_Z8MZ_LI/AAAAAAAAAvw/1YJlhdoLQNY/s400/409642_466620703363119_1107236504_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5769884524990823602" /></a></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;font-size:medium;" >All of us are probably guilty of selective biases, as this illustration demonstrates: "Hey, I'm happy to give up chicken to make my point. Give up gasoline? Not so much."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364400881495627497.post-48135111125604074022012-07-26T09:34:00.002-04:002012-07-26T09:37:53.752-04:00How Not to Die<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">The always entertaining <a href="http://nutritionfacts.org/">Dr. Michael Greger's</a> latest <a href="http://nutritionfacts.org/video/uprooting-the-leading-causes-of-death/?utm_source=NutritionFacts.org&utm_campaign=12498d02d8-RSS_VIDEO_DAILY&utm_medium=email">hour-long survey</a>, based on last year's scientific research, on how not to succumb to the leading causes of death. Might be the best hour you spend this year.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/30gEiweaAVQ?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364400881495627497.post-63369777854942733902012-07-25T09:26:00.004-04:002012-07-25T09:34:12.957-04:00Risk, Fear, and Worry<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4rD-4XLPz8Q/UA_1E6iqRVI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/Hv_VirSQGSc/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 275px; height: 183px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4rD-4XLPz8Q/UA_1E6iqRVI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/Hv_VirSQGSc/s400/Unknown.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5769099112467809618" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">Seth Godin has the enviable skill of seeing things clearly and describing them plainly. I found his description of risk, fear, and worry particularly helpful. (<a href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2012/07/risk-fear-and-worry.html">Original on his blog</a>.)</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;color:#663333;"><i>They're not the same.</i></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;color:#663333;"><i><b>Risk</b> is all around us. When we encounter potential points of failure, we're face to face with risk. And nothing courts risk more than art, the desire to do something for the first time--to make a difference.</i></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;color:#663333;"><i><b>Fear</b> is a natural reaction to risk. While risk is real and external, fear exists only in our imagination. Fear is the workout we give ourselves imagining what will happen if things don't work out.</i></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;color:#663333;"><i>And worry? <b>Worry</b> is the hard work of actively (and mentally) working against the fear. Worry is our effort to imagine every possible way to avoid the outcome that is causing us fear, and failing that, to survive the thing that we fear if it comes to fruition.</i></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;color:#663333;"><i>If you've persuaded yourself that <b>risk</b> is sufficient cause for <b>fear</b>, and that fear is sufficient cause for <b>worry</b>, you're in for some long nights and soon you'll abandon your art out of exhaustion. On the other hand, you can choose to see the three as completely separate phenomena, and realize that it's possible to have risk (a good thing) without debilitating fear or its best friend, obsessive worry.</i></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;color:#663333;"><i>Separate first, eliminate false causation, then go ahead and do your best work.</i></span></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364400881495627497.post-24423040977184767572012-07-22T09:31:00.005-04:002012-07-22T12:50:33.965-04:00Much from Little<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">My "garden" at present consists of a small plot in front of my house that gets good sun—a bit less than 100 square feet. Even with my limited skills, this small plot produces well. In due course, I'll replace these summer plants with fall greens. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">In these four photos, you can see the progression of growth:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/70612546@N00/7621894548/" title="garden 1 by William Kruidenier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8429/7621894548_a3e9a386cc_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="garden 1" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/70612546@N00/7621894764/" title="garden 2 by William Kruidenier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7106/7621894764_3dc8b6c79c_z.jpg" width="640" height="426" alt="garden 2" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/70612546@N00/7621900254/" title="IMG_0314 by William Kruidenier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7119/7621900254_58146a4704_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_0314" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/70612546@N00/7621902028/" title="IMG_0315 by William Kruidenier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8290/7621902028_7a1de41d4d_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_0315" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">Here's a collection I brought in Friday morning:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/70612546@N00/7621897798/" title="IMG_0313 by William Kruidenier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7135/7621897798_564be7c6e3_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_0313" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">Unfortunately, for the first time, I have had a problem with birds sitting on the tomato cages and helping themselves to the tomatoes. At least they have good taste—here is a decimated Brandywine. Brandywine's are an heirloom and not prolific producers, so every one lost to the birds is missed sorely. Tomato purists say the Brandywine is the world's best-tasting tomato, but they are low producers (though large, with big shoulders) and susceptible to all manner of disease:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/70612546@N00/7621896094/" title="IMG_0310 by William Kruidenier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7270/7621896094_9381eb3638_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_0310" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">I've had at least three different kinds of volunteer squash come up from seeds in the compost I spread. I'm not sure what variety is in the first picture, but the second looks like it will be the beautiful half-yellow and half-green zephyr squash:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/70612546@N00/7621903168/" title="IMG_0318 by William Kruidenier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8287/7621903168_05afd79022_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_0318" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/70612546@N00/7621905066/" title="IMG_0320 by William Kruidenier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8026/7621905066_f8beefd045_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_0320" /></a></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364400881495627497.post-14876685228723065892012-07-20T10:09:00.006-04:002012-07-20T10:58:40.010-04:00Live and Learn<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">The back "corner" of my lot was filled with pine trees which I greatly dislike. They drop dead branches, pine cones, and fall over in ice or wind storms (though none of mine ever did). I always wanted them gone and should have tackled it when I first moved in this house 12 years ago—when the trees were 12 years smaller. I finally, on impulse (a bad move) decided to remove them. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">The two pictures (the only ones I could find quickly) show what the back corner looked like with the trees in place:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/70612546@N00/7609499488/" title="IMG_0912 by William Kruidenier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7259/7609499488_89830b194a_z.jpg" width="518" height="389" alt="IMG_0912" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/70612546@N00/7609499616/" title="IMG_2045 by William Kruidenier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7120/7609499616_75814856ce_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="IMG_2045" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">When a crew of ne're-do-well tree cutters came through the neighborhood looking for work, I hired them to just drop the trees and trim the limbs into a pile. My plan was to then hire somebody with a chipper to chip the limbs into mulch, and find a wood harvesting company to give the trees to for free if they would haul them off. All the above was a really bad idea. With the building business off, I discovered nobody wanted my huge pine trees—not even for pulp. They weren't worth the cost of retrieving them. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">So this is what I was left with (plus a big hole in my wallet). Somehow, these trees look much smaller in these pictures than they actually were standing next to them. Most were 50-70 feet tall before being cut. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/70612546@N00/7609498972/" title="IMG_0287 by William Kruidenier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8022/7609498972_151189c5e9_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_0287" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/70612546@N00/7609499212/" title="IMG_0289 by William Kruidenier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7129/7609499212_9a9cbee167_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_0289" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">So, I had to bite the bullet and hire a professional tree service to come in and clean up the mess: grind up the branches and limbs, grind the stumps, take down four more huge trees still remaining, and haul off the logs. They told me they could have done the entire job from scratch for just a little more than what I paid them to clean up the mess the other crew left. Ouch.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">They took down four more trees and cleaned up all the mess in about six hours. And they had the equipment to do it:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/70612546@N00/7609500176/" title="IMG_3707 by William Kruidenier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7248/7609500176_d2e9d926fb_z.jpg" width="509" height="339" alt="IMG_3707" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/70612546@N00/7609500290/" title="IMG_3708 by William Kruidenier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7260/7609500290_e930169f6f_z.jpg" width="509" height="339" alt="IMG_3708" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/70612546@N00/7609499760/" title="IMG_3705 by William Kruidenier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8162/7609499760_82f47250dd_z.jpg" width="509" height="339" alt="IMG_3705" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">I had never had stumps ground before, so was fascinated with this machine. I had originally planned to have a backhoe dig the stumps out because I wanted the surrounding roots pulled up as well so I wouldn't hit them when I dig new holes to plant new trees/bushes. But this grinder digs a hole 2-3 feet wide, cutting out the large roots on either side of the stump:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><object width="640" height="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HLmPBORtdOc?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HLmPBORtdOc?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="480" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">I want one of these: (I kept all the mulch from the grinder and had them spread it out since I won't be planting grass in this area. My plan is to fill the area with fruit trees and bushes.)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><object width="640" height="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Esd_bZCrQ0c?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Esd_bZCrQ0c?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="480" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">So, here's what a couple weeks and way too much money accomplished. It was an expensive education, but I learned my lesson: Go slow, get numerous estimates, DON'T hire people that knock on your door looking for work. The fence on the left is my property line. My neighbor's pines will continue to drop pine cones and limbs into my new clean space, of course—but at least I can now toss them back over the fence into his yard instead of having to get rid of them myself. (The owner of the clean-up tree crew and I were talking about fruit trees, and he told me about the fruit trees he had seen on a recent cruise to Belize. Apparently the tree business is good thanks to guys like me.)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/70612546@N00/7609500402/" title="IMG_3714 by William Kruidenier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7278/7609500402_a3d6ff257d_z.jpg" width="509" height="339" alt="IMG_3714" /></a></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1