Arab Spring – Opinion

Arab Spring – Opinion

So let me get this right, the whole Arab problem started when a young Tunisian Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire after he was banned from selling fruit to earn a living (1).   It would seem that in various parts of the Arab world a small but growing segment of the people in each country wish to attain meaningful employment and to achieve a subsistence standard of life.  It stands to reason that many more wish for a better life.  To me that they no longer wish to be slaves to dictators because dictators seek their own self interests.  It has taken a long while for a bottom up revolution and its about time that the Middle East populations overthrow their oppressors.  The scum bag dictators in each Middle East country will do everything in their power to suppress the Arab Spring revolution.

The western nations seemingly tried to help this overthrow in Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan only to discover that another set of scum bags were waiting in the wings to take control.  The little guys, like Mohamed Bouaziz’s of the Middle East, had no chance to make any political gains when fecal minded tribal leaders, self serving Islam clerics, medieval minded “royalty” and selfish military entrepreneurs use their innate power position advantages to retain power from the people who ideally and actually own the country.

The former national dictators of Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria actually seemed quite capable of keeping the lid on any wild political aspirations.  They seemed adept at controlling tribal, sectarian and military interests in their country.  When the United States unscrewed that lid with the bombing in Libya (2), the invasion of Iraq (3) and Afghanistan (4), new groups of individuals with way less intellect, compassion and legitimacy moved into the vacuum.  A new set of self serving scum sucking dogs took over.  The little guy in each country was a pawn once again but now with the same or more oppression.  In each country, many people died from the lid being opened.  Each individual who was killed was nothing more than a blade of grass for the scum dogs to trample upon.

The Arab Spring at first seemed to be a new bright beginning for the Middle East but one must understand that the humane being is innately less compassionate if they are in power but self serving and out of that selfish to the point of denying anyone else from attaining any gain (5).   It takes intellect, a good education and a philosophy (not religion) that wishes everyone to attain a better life. Lifting the whole boat is a proven economic solution.  Such compassionate individuals that have a three digit IQ are rare.

In some measure, the Middle East ongoing failure, is due to the education system of the Middle East being retarded (6), deficient in that it utterly fails to teach students how to measure  and analyze problems by detecting the separate components and properties of any problem and giving each component an importance values so a better understanding of solutions arising out of realizing which are the more important components first and less important components later can be thought out and proposed (7).  Right now such intellectual explorations are not taking place but instead, factors that may seem to work to keep the ruling class in power and making the elite vast amounts of money takes precedence.

(1) http://www.npr.org/2011/12/17/143897126/the-arab-spring-a-year-of-revolution(2)http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/u-s-bombs-libya
(3) http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/war-in-iraq-begins

(4) http://www.britannica.com/event/Afghanistan-War

(5) http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-wealth-reduces-compassion/

(6) https://efareport.wordpress.com/2011/02/23/education-failures-fan-the-flames-in-the-arab-world/

(7) First item http://nationalinterest.org/feature/the-ultimate-fatal-attraction-5-reasons-people-join-isis-11625

 

 

 

 

Bird Feeder, Scoop n’ Funnel Review.

Bird Feeder, Scoop n’ Funnel Review.

I love using my Cedar Works Scoop n’ Funnel for putting bird seed into my bird feeders.  This device offers two methods of putting bird seed into a feeder.  One method is to close the valve shut, dip the scoop into the bag of bird seed and then dump the contents into the bird feeder.  Most feeders have a rather small opening at the top and his funnel bottom fits perfectly.  I never use the scoop method but rather put my bird feeders on the ground and then put the small opening funnel into the top.  I then carefully aim the bird seed bag contents into the funnel top opening.  This funnel also has a slide valve to shut off the seed from flowing out of the funnel when you lift the funnel out of the bird feeder, a really nifty feature which gives this device TWO methods of filling your bird feeders, scoop and funnel.  I seldom use the valve but every once and a while I overfill the funnel.  You only need to close the valve and then move the funnel back to the bird seed bag to dump the extra seed back in the source bag.

I have no idea where I purchased this funnel.  I have had it for years and love it.

October 2015, I decided to review this product and part of the review process was to check the Internet and see where I can be purchased.  It is hard to find.  The cost should be close to $5, well worth the cost.

  • Cedar Works (Not sold by this company?)
  • Product #: 100080570
  • Mfg Part #: BE203A
  • UPC: 016544552035

  • Pennington  (Seems to be a current product as of March 2019.)
  • Classic Scoop N Funnel

I do recommend this funnel!

Since the first product review, I found that I can no longer find this product being sold by Cedar Works.  The closest product is Pennington Bird Seed Classic Scoop N Funnel.

Bird feeder funnel.
Bird feeder funnel.

 

Updated: 3-6-19 due to 404 Not Found error for the link to the product.  I removed the link.  I then found that Cedar Works no longer shows this product.  I have tried to track down a good vendor to provide a web site link but the company Pennington fails to show this in their catalog.  I also updated how to use the device.
Changed URL to Bird Feeder, Scoop n’ Funnel Review.
Gardeners Globe Cage Bird Feeder and Mixed Seed Globe Cage Feeder Review

Gardeners Globe Cage Bird Feeder and Mixed Seed Globe Cage Feeder Review

Gardeners Globe Cage Bird Feeder And Mixed Seed Globe Cage Feeder Review

 

A near perfect bird feeder is Gardeners Globe Cage Feeder and Mixed Seed Globe Cage Feeder (see picture below).

Globe-Bird-Feeder-with-rain-hat

The problem with these feeders is they only let small birds enter.  Another problem is that California squirrels apparently are very intelligent.  “My” squirrels can unscrew the lid and get to the inside top of the feeder.

Squirrel opens bird feeder lid to feed from it.
Squirrel opens bird feeder lid to feed from it. Sorry but my daughter used her cell phone camera to take this inferior picture.

I decided to lock the top lid into its closed position.  I did this by drilling a carefully positioned small hole for a small screw to be put in and lock the lid.  If you decide to improve this bird feeder and also wish to drill this hole make darn sure that the lid is turned to be locked so the holes line up properly.  Do not drill anywhere close to the wires.

Image shows a globe bird feeder with lid lock screw drilled and lock screw being applied.
Globe bird feeder with lid lock screw drilled and lock screw being applied.

 

“My” squirrels now need to get a Phillips screw driver and learn how to use that tool to unscrew this bird feeder and get to its treasure.

I conditionally recommend these feeders.  You could start out to see the intelligent level of “your” squirrels. If they are low wattage light bulbs, you may not need to drill a lock hole.

Short Circuit LED Light Show Classic White Product Review.

Short Circuit LED Light Show Classic White Product Review.

My daughter and I were shopping at Home Depot for some Halloween decorations when she spotted a light bulb that would randomly turn on and then off to simulate a short circuit.  She had to have it so dad purchased it for her.  The first bulb lasted one night but then would not flicker.  The bulb stayed on solid.  We returned the first bulb and purchased another and it too stopped flickering within a few hours.  We returned that bulb too and will not buy any more.
Short Circuit Light Show LED
Product number: 1001 261 480.
Cost: $9.98
Not recommended.

Short-Circuit-LED-light-bulb

Review date: October 2015
Updated again: 3-6-19:  Link Short Circuit Light Show LED to the product was removed.
Thwarting A Squirrel Attacking My Bird Feeder

Thwarting A Squirrel Attacking My Bird Feeder

I really have no idea when or why I started to feed birds but I have not stopped since starting.  It seems that in a lot of endeavors I try there crops up some element that tends to spoil the experience sometimes.  For me it’s squirrels.  I had no idea going into this hobby how much a squirrel can challenge my bird feeding efforts. I started putting my bird feeders in the back yard hung from a patio cover.  The feeder was free from attack for a month or two but then those fur ball beasts found it and would find all kinds of ways to get into the feeder.  I placed the feeder way out from anything that the squirrel could use to get to but I was amazed to see them leap great distances on to the feeders and feed themselves.  I moved the feeders to the front of the house and I had about one month of non intervention before they discovered the new location.  I put up a plastic shield over the top of one feeder but that only protected the feeder from rain.  I then purchased a Squirrrel-Be-Gone Wild Bird Feeder (purchased at Home Depot) which has a very clever door system.

Image shows the Squirrel-Be-Gone Wild Bird Feeder label.
Squirrel-Be-Gone Wild Bird Feeder label.

 

There is an outer box shield that aligns to bird feeding stations if there is no heavy weight on the outer box.  When a squirrel jumps on this box the outer box slides down closing all the feeding ports.   Birds do not weight enough to close the ports.  This outer box has a spring that allow for this action.  It took the local squirrels a week or two to start opening the top lid.  The top lid is held by a spring but my squirrels must work out at the local gym because they lift that door with glee.

Image shows the top of the bird feeder and the spring that keeps the lid down.
Image shows the bird feeder top lid. Note the spring that holds the lid from squirrels getting into the top of the feeder.

I tightened the spring and found that one squirrel ate the plastic down from the top.  That bird feeder had to be thrown away.  It was a battle of wits and I was running out of ideas.

One day I found that the bottom of the bird feeder had dropped, probably from a squirrel attack and all the bird seed fell to the ground.  I drilled two holes and put screws with bolts to anchor the bottom plate.

Suddenly, one day, I thought of the perfect solution to the top being lifted by “my” squirrels.  I would cut a plastic PVC pipe about 5 and 1/2 inches and slide it down the bird feeder hanging loop. I could easily remove that pipe when I needed to remove the lid and put more seed into the feeder.

PVC pipe cut to 5 and 1/2 inches slid down through the bird feeder wire.
PVC pipe cut to 5 and 1/2 inches slid down through the bird feeder top wire hanger.

The reason the pipe works is that the wire hanger comes out of the feeder at a much wider distance than the diameter of the pipe.  When the squirrel tries to lift the feeder lid, the lid  presses down because the lid can not go straight up because the wires are held close together by the pipe in the shape of an inverted Y.  This PVC pipe system has worked for over six months now.  I even removed the spring that holds the top lid down as I found that it was no longer needed and putting bird feed seeds into the top was much easier.  The squirrels still try to lift the top lid to get to the seed at the top of the feeder but the wire and pipe combination is way too much for these little fur ball beasts to overcome.  Finally, a humane being outsmarted a squirrel!

The Squirrrel-Be-Gone Wild Bird Feeder is not recommended unless you are willing to modify it.  Now that I made improvements to my feeder, it is my favorite feeder.

Updated:  3-6-19, Squirrrel-Be-Gone Wild Bird Feeder (purchased at Home Depot) link removed because timeout error.

 

 

Some Tips To Enhance Malibu Lights For Halloween

Some Tips To Enhance Malibu Lights For Halloween

Here are some tips to consider for lighting your Halloween lawn decorations.

  • Put a carved pumpkin over a light.  Many stores sell plastic pumpkins that you can carve out.  Just add a large enough hole at the bottom of the pumpkin so it can be placed over a Malibu light.
A very old Malibu light fixture model 8301-9300-01 which had bad electrical connector is shown hard wired to a main power line and a plastic pumpkin ready to be placed over the fixture.
A very old Malibu light fixture model 8301-9300-01 which had bad electrical connector is shown hard wired to a main power line and a plastic pumpkin ready to be placed over the fixture.

The image below shows the results viewed at night.

Plastic carved pumpkin was placed over Malibu light.
Plastic carved pumpkin was placed over Malibu light.

 

  • Add color to some of your Malibu Lights.

Malibu-Filters

In the image above is the Malibu filter kit I purchased.

 

Malibu-Glass-Color-Filters-usedAs you can see in the image above, the Malibu blue glass filter fits perfectly into the 8301-9300-01 light fixture.  I just laid the glass filter on top of the bulb.  When I screwed in the top of the light fixture, the filter was held in place.

 

8301-9300-01-with-black-wrap-painted-whiteIn the above image is a Malibu 8301-9300-01 light fixture with Black Wrap.  Black Wrap is a professional black aluminum foil that is used by professional lighting people to block light.  I put it partially around the lamp so the light is directed only to the Halloween decoration.  I painted the inside of the Black Wrap with white paint to make more light goes toward the decoration.  When Halloween is over, I only need to slip the Black Wrap off the light and I end up with perfect driveway parking lights along the side of my driveway.

Below is another example where I put glass filters into Malibu spot instruments.

Color-glass-filters-from-subject-perspective In the image above, you can see how powerful the color light comes out.   In the image below, you can see the results as seen at night.

 

Color-Glass-Filters-results