Dakota Today

*** A little site news for "Parts is Parts" blog

Along with Dakota Today and a few other blog variants, one my son and I started a few years ago is titled "Parts is Parts" and it concerns vehicle repairs, etc.

I had not published much on that for sometime. Yesterday a friend added a comment there that is worth checking.  Today I added a post on the need to check and recheck bolt or nut torque on wheel bolts used with aluminum rims.

You may find it interesting if your vehicle has aluminum rims and you or someone else has recently worked on wheels, brakes, etc.  PARTS IS PARTS.

*** Stay tuned and may your wheel bolts stay torqued--- Doug Wiken

*** Good cheap Laptop Case

I have a laptop.  It is a 17 inch or so and heavy.  I bought a case for it when I bought it.  Something like $35 for that case.  Then after getting and using the laptop, I detested the keyboard and the pad for mouse simulation which I always managed to touch at just the wrong time.  So, I bought a wireless keyboard and mouse to use with it.  That helped a lot.  But, it was tough stuffing laptop, mouse, charger, and keyboard in the original case.  It also turned out to be hard on the added keyboard.  Soon keys weren't working, etc. 

I bought another keyboard and mouse and decided to keep it in the box it came in.  But, that and the laptop, etc would not fit in the laptop case or bag.  We looked at some for larger laptops, etc., but the prices on anything larger than that for small laptops alone were ridiculously high for a few cents more leather or plastic and a slightly longer zipper.  Then while buying groceries I saw those zipper insulated bags for hauling frozen foods home in the hot summer.  Hmmmm.  Interesting.

Price was only about $7, so I got one.  No problem sticking the keyboard, mouse and box in it and the laptop with the original case also went into it.  Not the classiest looking case by any means, but it sure does work and the insulation provides a tiny bit more protection for everything.  It is easy to carry, but a bit large compared to custom cases. Probably room for a few sandwiches, etc in there as well, but that is probably less than a wonderful idea when another one just for grub and drinks would cost less than half of a wireless mouse at a good sale price.

***Stay tuned even if you would never, ever put a laptop in a case sanitary and insulated for frozen meat and vegetables--- Doug Wiken

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***Nikon lens cap modification for tether

I found a "deal" on a new Nikon Coolpix.  It is a quite powerful point and shoot camera.  I will have some photos here soon as I learn more of the features.  What I did not like about the camera was the lens cap with no way to tether it to the camera.  It did not take me long to misplace that lens cap.  I did find it today after looking in a half dozen places.  I decided I would get it tethered to the camera strap similar to the Canon point and shoot I have been using (and used to shoot photos below).

I first bought a 1/16 inch drill bit.  Then I happened to have a broken Edie Bauer crank flashlight and it had a wrist strap.  I got that removed and it happened to be about the right length.  I drilled two 1/16 inch holes about an eighth of an inch apart with a small lenscap rib between them.  I drilled from the inside out which worked well.  Photo below shows the inside of the lens cap.

The doubled cord loop was pushed through one hole and back out and then the tether was threaded through the loop. That was a bit of a pain, but a toothpick helped. This is a bit like the Canon cap.  I suspect a thin shoelace might work as well and I may ultimately make one of that, but for today, this works.  Photo below shows outside of the lens cap.

Why Nikon did not make the lenscap with a tether is beyond me.  This is not a cheap camera (some say it is in fact over-priced), and this failure to include a tether appears to be a way of cheaping out and making the otherwise very good lenscap nearly useless in the real world.  It is substandard design for any real utility.  But, a simple remedy is available if you purchase one of these Coolpix cameras.

***Stay tuned even if this is late afternoon---- Doug Wiken

 

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*** Nearly worthless product documentation and design

In the last week, we have been working on a project or two that involves some electrical devices and tools.  Mostly what we learned is that the documentation that comes with many products has instructions in multiple languages all printed in type nearly too small to read without a magnifying glass and diagrams and details smaller than my little fingernail.  Those diagrams and illustrations were  all too small to actually provide  the necessary useful and useable detail necessary for "how-to-do it".

Fortunately, we found most of the needed information in technical books we had which had larger full-color illustrations and detailed text.  Another damned learning experience.

Problems with documentation are just part of the problem.  Look at electronic products like radios, TV remotes, car controls, etc. and often you will find small light gray type on only slightly darker gray plastic that is barely readable in good light let alone what is often the ambient light for such products.  An engineer friend who worked in the aviation industry said that they tested such designs in simulators to make sure accurate control and data reading was unambigous and easy.  Testing products with people totally unfamiliar with them might be a good idea.  If engineers and others intimately familiar with how the product is supposed to work, determine the interface and the documentation, it will seem as if it is working no matter how rotten the interface or the documention.  They know what it is supposed to do.

I suspect some of the problems with product documentation result because the products and documentation are produced in China and shaving a half-inch off the size of a documentation paper may save a few dollars even if it also makes the product unuseable by a significant percentage of ultimate consumer purchases.

Now to get into bright sunshine with magnifying glasses and study the documentation and crappy device interface on a battery backup/surge protector for computers and other electronics.

**** Stay tuned if you can see the controls--- Doug Wiken

 

*** This and that..GOP mythology and vehicle gremlins

First, Bob Mercer has a few facts for all those South Dakotans convinced that the solution to every problem is slashing federal spending.

Bob Mercer...Biggest source of funds to SD is Federal Government

And for something completely different, a short story about vehicle repair.  A friend who lives a few hundred miles from SD drives (when it is running) a 1995 Chevrolet G20 Van.  He literally searches for gold and other twinkly minerals.  Anyway, the van headlights have been working erratically recently.  The first problem that showed up was that he low beams would not come on.  Driving with only brights there will lead to traffic tickets in a hurry.  He has a back problem from a serious work injury and can't crawl under the dash or under the engine, so he took it to one of the better vehicle repair shops.

They nailed him a healthy chunk of change for the parts and labor and said it was fixed.  Friend then took off to visit his son a 100 miles or so down the interstate.  He decided to return that night since his vehicle now had good lights.  He drove about 50 miles and then lost both brights and dims..total blackness at 65mph except for reflectors along road illuminated by a vehicle behind him.  He eased off to the shoulder and flipped the combination turnsignal, dimmer do-it-all and finally the dim lights came on.  He drove a few miles and they went out, but then the brights worked until he got off interstate onto highway heading home.  The lights flickered off a few more times.

He got the Van back to the shop a few days later and told them that they must have missed something.  They checked everything and claimed nothing was wrong.  He drove the van to get groceries and turned on the lights.  He noticed no left side dim light coming on in the store reflection.  About that time the lights started blinking off and on like lights connected to a hazard flasher.  He got it back to the shop to show them the recent problem and that he was not dreaming.

The shop called him back later that afternoon and told them they had figured out what was wrong, "Alien beings had taken control of his Van."  This morning they called and told him that actually Alien beings were not responsible after all.  The new switch they had put in was defective and  one headlight had a broken low-beam filament.

*** Stay tuned and beware the aliens and vehicle gremlins--- Doug Wiken

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*** Weather or not, propane vs. electricity, insulation

Not quite so cold.  South wind is miserable, but not frigid.  Temperature has increased this evening.  Now about 38F, but wind is 15 with gusts to 20.  Makes feels like temp around 29F.

Sounds like we might get a week of not-so-terrible weather according to KELO.  I should not be griping about snow because gumbo in yard has 3 inch wide cracks 20 feet long.   Some good spring rains after most guy's herds are done calving would be really good.

Mitchell Daily Republic has the EARL rancher-of-sorts cartoon.  Today hit a few things directly and indirectly.  Earl's wife is standing waiting outside the ice-covered outhouse near a bare tree also with hanging ice.  She says something like this, "When we married, he promised me a life in the romantic outdoor west."  While this is an all-white cartoon, this also says a bit about those who romanticize the life and culture of the native plains people in the 1800's.  We are all trying to conserve propane with the current high prices.  Those prices and shortages are hitting the Native Americans hard these days, but I do wonder how they would be doing in buffalo skin teepees with temperatures and wind like we have been having.

More seriously, I talked to PR man at our local electric coop today.  He said that with a 91% efficient propane furnace, propane would have to be less than $1.90 per gallon to produce heat at same price as a simple resistance electric heater.  Assuming instead, an electric heat pump with ground source for ambient heat and cooling source, then propane would have to be less than 45 cents per gallon to compete.  He said he has a foam-insulated workshop with heat in concrete floor.  He said heating that costs less than "feeding his poodle the expensive dog food it prefers".

On this rambling detour, our state and federal governments should be putting money into home and business insulation and proper window orientation for best winter passive heat, etc.  With enough sensible building and retro-fitting, we would not need fleets of ships and flights of fighter planes, bombers, etc to protect oil tanker shipping and desert oil fields.  

Even if some nearly inevitable waste got into such energy saving programs, the benefits would last for generations.  And, compared to waste and fraud in programs such as New Orleans flood relief and military recruitment and procurement, energy change waste could be negligible by comparison and would generate real savings and benefits for the "general welfare".

*** Stay tuned and think insulation, better windows, better window orientation, etc.--Doug Wiken

 

 

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*** Hamilton Beach 2- in- 1 coffee maker.....carafe leaks

It sure looked like a good idea.  I checked the Amazon recommendations and most buyers were very favorably impressed.  Neat idea, has both a 12 cup carafe and a 16 oz insulated mug with separate brewers.  The 12 cup side uses coffee filters.  The 16oz mug side has a filter-spoon for the coffee.  It is a fine metal mesh.  Separate water tanks for each.  Users at Amazon liked that the carafe did not dribble when pouring.

Well, a local store is liquidating inventory for conversion to a new parent chain.  They had the Hamilton Beach "two in one" for $41 instead of the $79 asked at Amazon.  So, ever on the lookout for scavenger deals and interesting products...what a combination, I bought it. Started off more or less as reviews indicated, but the 12 cup brewer required tall paper filters such as those sold for Bunn Brewers.  A regular coffee filter was not high enough and carafe had a lot of grounds in the coffee.

Tried the single mug brewer and it worked as promised.  A quick 16 oz mug of coffee.  Then I tried the 12 cup brewer again with taller filters.  Looked like that worked.  Then I poured a cup of coffee and the carafe did not just dribble under the spout, it just plain leaked.  The seal between the glass part of the carafe and the plastic top ring and pour spout leaks.  See image below.

The coffee on the counter was leaked  just from pouring the coffee cup half-full.  This suggests a very mediocre fault in what might be an otherwise pretty good idea.  A better idea would be to combine the Brew Station with the single mug addition eliminating the leaky carafe.

I am going to try some black silicone sealer around the outside between edge of black plastic and glass part of carafe... or maybe a carafe from an old MisterCoffee brewer  No returns on liquidated merchandise.  I will edit this when I find out if the silicone seal idea works.

*** Stay tuned...and caffine-satisfied--- Doug Wiken

 

*** What is wrong with Obama?

Today Obama announces that suddenly over 800,000 illegal aliens can stay in the US if they aren't already criminals.  Well, the are already criminals.  They invaded the US illegally.

Obama claims all kinds of talent in the illegal aliens who just want to be Americans and work.  The Hispanic lobby regularly demands Spanish language in schools and government.  They do not want to learn English first.  Hispanics including many of those here illegally regularly fail in schools or perform abysmally. There are exceptions of course in any ethnic or social group.

Obama could safely say some of these 800,000 might be special.  We know already of many Hispanics who are talented and skillful and speak US English without a hint of their background. He claims this is a problem which must be solved and then proposes "fixing the problem" in a way which will only make the problem worse.  The solution to the illegal immigration problem is deportation as fast as possible.

The last thing the US with a developed welfare system and economy needs are the millions of poorly educated illegal aliens who come from a country with a corrupt government with citizens having little regard for legality or education.  Contrary too to Obama is his idea that this is just right.  We have millions of US citizens languishing in prison for crimes less serious than illegal entry to the US.  Is Obama going to give them blanket immunity?

Since when is official malfeasance right for America?  Obama talks about a nation of laws and then supports millions of law breakers.  Obama may not have failed on the economy, but he has failed to secure the border. Obama becomes a law breaker by turning his head on this issue and aiding and abbeting illegal aliens  in the name of partisan expediency. If Obama says it is not immunity, it is immunity.  This is an issue where nothing he says can be believed.

12 Million, 20 million.  It is claimed it is impossible to deport all of them.  If it was possible for millions of illegal aliens to enter the US, it is certainly possible to deport that many and just as fast as they walked across the border..

We are still spending billions of dollars on military expenditures to hold our enemies off our shores.  It makes no sense to allow an army of millions of illegal aliens to invade the US.  It makes even less sense to throw up our hands and say we can't get all of them out of here.

Why our polticians like Obama feeding us bullshit?  Because they think it is politically expedient and will help them in elections.  Because they want support from the Catholic Church already mixing state and religion.  Because they think cheap illegal labor will bust unions and drive down labor rates in the US.  Because huge influential corporations want cheap labor and the equivalent of communist state collective farms.

And what do we get from Public TV?  A conference on the issue with 4 Hispanics and one opponent of fixing a broken system by making it worse.  Flooding the US labor system with illegal aliens is a killer attack on good jobs.

They spew forms of insanity unsupported by logic, facts, law, or history because we let them get by with the nonsense.  Our house is not your house.

Link added June 18, 2012--   SD Politics-- Obama on Obama Executive Ruling

*** Stay tuned, the election is still months away--- Doug Wiken

 

*** Do we need these?

The Fine Homebuilding Magazine got here today.  One of the interesting gizmos that was covered was a wall outlet that included 2 USB charging ports as well as regular 120VAC oulets.  It is from Newer Technology.

Power 2U AC/USB wall outlet at Amazon Aprox $26

Reviews at Amazon indicated some problems with the product.  It is large enough that a large outlet box is required.  Another suggestion there included a link to the product below.

Belkin Mini Surge Protector Plugin at Amazon Aprox $14,

Anyway, I suppose some people have a desperate need for these products and perhaps we will have more need for them in the future, but they may just be an interesting gizmo few of us need.  What do you think?

** Stay tuned even if you need a USB charger to stay logged in here---- Doug Wiken

 

*** The things you find when you search for Menard Kitchen Cabinets

I thought I'd see if Menards had a kitchen cabinet planning site or other information.  I found a site that had something, but it was a crappy site.  Another link turned up on Ripoff's.  You may find it interesting if you ever shop at Menards.  I'm not sure we will ever walk into one of their stores again even if I now  have one of their gift cards.

Ripoff site...Menards charges shoplifiting

I have no idea if these stories are true, exaggerated, or accurately report some peculialy stupid store and police behaviors in Minnesota and Wisconsin. .

** Stay tuned, shop carefully, leave your tape measures, bolts, at home and clear your pockets before shopping ---- Doug Wiken