Ted’s essays

Bosco at eleven point seven weeks

The photo does not capture how BIG his feet and forelegs are. This boy has a sturdy foundation. Better still, he is super attached to HIS PEOPLE. He prances up to us any time and all the time with long tail waving all the way. Of course he still is a puppy and eager to chew on us and everything else that comes his way. We need to make sure there are acceptable things to chew on always available. According to puppychart.com, he is destined to be 95 pounds as an adult, which is larger than the standard for either part of his mix, German Shepherd or Pit Bull … and he was not the large Alpha in the […]

asparagus

One might assume I am a pessimist expecting TEOTWAWKI too soon to do any long-term projects. That one would be wrong. While I continue my drive to be prepared for Bilderberg-engineered disasters, I also recognize their schemes continue to be frustrated by events beyond their control. So I prune fruit trees, plant blueberries and build an asparagus bed as if I might get to enjoy the fruits of that labor two or more years hence. Yesterday it was blueberries. Today asparagus. On the north side of our year-round creek I put four roots each in their own discrete beds. This is much like their natural habitat. I’m thinking they may like it a lot … and reward me by populating […]

machete

I would guess I have had a favorite machete for over 30 years. Since our move that began in August I do not think I have seen it – Not lost, but not found yet either. However, I needed my machete sooner rather than whenever. Searching the Internet uncovers many choices, a large number of which do not understand the tool … more charitably, their customers have something else in mind. A machete is a brush hacking instrument. It may serve other roles, but first, foremost, primarily, by design, and by function it must be a good brush hacking instrument. Weight, balance, blade length, handle, edge and all factors must hold up to whacking branches, canes, saplings and such for […]

12-volt lighting

Last month in Studio wired I showed you my breakthrough getting my studio 12-volt emergency lighting operating. I accomplished a couple of refinements recently. Besides the obvious advantages of having lights regardless of power grid failures, my 12-volt LEDs provide lighting options in addition to, instead of, or in combination with the various 110-volt lights I have installed. Prior to connecting up my antique meters, I was running on a gut-feeling that I had to be real conservative in my use of the 12-volt to avoid excessive depletion of the batteries, thus shortening their lives. The meters tell me I was wrong by A LOT. While modern digital meters consume almost no energy, my antique analog meters have a […]

A beautiful humanity

As a youngster, I observed that my Dad loved the Lil’ Abner comic strip. Dad was a smart man. Among the characters in this comic was Joe Btfsplk, with his unpronounceable name and doomed life where disaster surrounded his every moment. I am sometimes reminded of Joe when I find a black cloud inside a silver lining. All that came to mind when I watched this video clip. street orchestra from Ted Dunlap on Vimeo. Please take a couple minutes to watch the video. Any normal, well-balanced person would enjoy this unquestionably beautiful clip. It is warm and uplifting. They would simply stop there. Enjoy it. Appreciate it. Unfortunately, in the here-and-now, with the current situation in world affairs, […]

Intermittent Fasting, a review

I began intermittent fasting January 2017 eating modest-sized regular late-morning breakfasts and evening dinners with no food intake between. It was very successful in the obvious weight loss that inspired my adoption of the regimen. I wrote about it here: fasting – by Ted Dunlap, on May 31st, 2017 losing it – by Ted Dunlap, on February 11th, 2017 I think I also enjoy the more subtle changes in mind and body that others have written about. It may well have me feeling stronger, happier, more optimistic and at peace. Those are hard to quantify or pin on any cause, but I simply feel younger now than I did over a year ago. While I achieved the number I wanted […]

Super Pup, part 1

Missy’s Beagle Lab cross is more the former than the latter. Scooter is fundamentally a pack dog. She’s been pack-less nearly all her life. That is not the best situation for a Beagle brain. It has her more nervous than she would be in her natural habitat. I am more attracted to dogs of substance. Size, muscle, but most of all, self confidence. I have surreptitiously been watching for a mastiff downline mixed with another medium sized breed. Mutt, but with some genetics that are known for peaceful self-confidence and strong intelligence. I also wanted a situation where the dog came to us without the baggage of a bad start in an ugly home. Most of all, I wanted […]

handheld radio recommendation

Tytera MD-390 Progress in two-way radios is similar to that in all other electronics. That is to say this recommendation will not be the optimum choice years from now. Nevertheless, this radio can serve you well for many years. The other caveat is there are many good choices. This is only one of them. I am making this suggestion to help the novice find a solid handheld transceiver that is well received within the amateur radio community. In a crowded field of feature-rich radios, the MD-390 has most of what you would want while being in the lower part of the $25 to $500 price range ($130). IMPORTANT NOTE: Make sure you order this in the 400-480MHz UHF (ultra-high-frequency) model […]