Kit building fun.

Question:

> Nice to hear that the 600 Grit worked out okay. Send some pictures wouls > you I would love to see it "wet" as the korina looked really nice "dry".

Some day I am going to have to get a digital camera, but there’s always another bass-related item that’s more pressing. The wood got real dark compared to its dry state and stayed that way. I liked it better dry. It looked more "raw." It’s a little too dark. I wanted more contrast between the wenge neck and the body. > Are you going to seal the body after oiling or leave it raw and maintain > the oil to it?

The Velvit Oil instructions said to sand wet with 400 and let the sawdust and oil slurry fill the pores, but I was worried the sawdust would look funny in both the dark and light areas of the wood. Looking at it now, maybe I should have done it that way. It would have looked OK plus the surface would have been harder. And the 400 would have made it look more like raw lumber. But yes, all I did was de-fuzz the body with 600 and soak it in Velvit Oil. Very easy to touch up. It is supposed to be cured in 24 hours but with all the humidity in the air here, I will probably not hear the real sound of the body until December. > By the way I was cruising the site again today looking for the next > project. Saw a very nice 5 string in Wenge

I really like 4-string Fender-style parts best. Eventually I hope to have a library of bodies, necks, and pickups that I can interchange at whim. The dinky J body fits my build best. I think I want a passive J. Maybe I’ll buy a JJ routed light hard ash body next and specify the bridge pickup centerline at 2 1/8". I am seriously thinking about a three-pickup J with the third pickup up by the neck. Maybe I’ll find out where the Guild Starfire neck pickup centerline was placed and re-proportion to long scale. Nobody makes a pickup with that spacing, but blade magnets will keep spacing simple. I played it on "Ants Marching" last night outdoors; the passive Squier P with flats just mumbled way too much on that tune. The Alembic electronics on the new bass were super crisp (and zero hiss; Mica told me on the phone just to totally shield the cavity and I’d be OK and it’s dead quiet). I hate changing basses between tunes (don’t have a mixer, so I’m changing axes, changing EQ, changing levels, hoping not to forget to plug something in). Maybe I will put SIT Power Flats on the new bass and play it all night tonight. I have one set that’s almost broken in. Usually I dig in too much outdoors. I wore two yellow foamy earplugs at sound check and found myself playing with a light touch (where I play my best), but lost a little too much detail. I wore the drummer-side plug for the concert and it was perfect. Today I’ll bring my Westones and try them out (have never used them). > and thought that the Vesters time might just be up.

What’s the Vester? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I wondered how the wife was going to feel about losing the > dining room table again for a few weeks? It’s a bad place…..

Response:

> Get good enough at it and you may be able to do just that. There are > more than a few out there who assemble parts and sell the finished > product. People like the "Burger King" thing, have it your way.

I’d have reservations. Paid assembly strikes me as risky as building full customs, even if I have the buyers bring me the wood themselves. People can change their minds, then back out. Or endlessly pick nits that don’t exist. Most builders offer only a limited menu of options. Many sell through dealers, figuring the loss of profit an acceptable cost of not having to deal with customers. Some charge exorbitant prices for the smallest variations. Some make the deposit high enough that risk disappears. There’s only one full-custom outfit that I can think of that’s absolutely thriving, and that’s Alembic, and I’d guess their "other existence" as pipe rack and semi-custom builders is much bigger and enables them to survive in the full-custom market.

Response:

> P. S. – Wgere did you get the "Velvet Oil". I am not sure I have heard of > this.

Off the Web. I like it a lot. www.velvitoil.com Got the bass together. Loud as hell. I’d paid Warmoth an extra 40 fish to pick out a nice light body. Big wow. Love the sound. Still needs the extra preamp installed, some kind of string retainer (haven’t decided which yet), and general setup.

Response:

Hello Kurt, Nice to hear that the 600 Grit worked out okay. Send some pictures wouls you I would love to see it "wet" as the korina looked really nice "dry". Are you going to seal the body after oiling or leave it raw and maintain the oil to it? By the way I was cruising the site again today looking for the next project. Saw a very nice 5 string in Wenge and thought that the Vesters time might just be up. I wondered how the wife was going to feel about losing the dining room table again for a few weeks? It’s a bad place….. Blaine

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Assembling bass parts today (got the neck Thursday and the body Friday). The > J neck is wenge with wenge fretboard and stainless frets and will stay raw. > I installed the Ultralight cloverleaf tuners and nut but will slot the nut > later. I had fun finding the right positions for the controls and drilling > all the holes (lots of holes). I liked the black korina dinky J body’s raw > plank look and did only enough sanding with 600 grit to de-fuzz it. I > slathered it with Velvit Oil and let it soak in for 30 min, then it started > raining so I brought it in and wiped it down with a terry hand towel. The > rain stopped and I slathered it again and let it sit 30 min, then wiped it > dry. It’s fairly dark now with a nice dull finish, but I expect it to > lighten up a tad as the solvents evaporate. It got dropped and dented on the > front edge near the rear strap button while I was out getting my Chinese > take-out (love roast pork with black bean sauce) but in contrast with paint, > this is a super low-maintenance finish. A little sanding and a little more > Velvit Oil and it was good as new. I’m shielding the control cavity now. > It’s an interesting problem due to the irregular shape of the cavity (there > are bosses protruding into the hollow to provide strong surroundings for the > cover screws). Have to find a small piece of aluminum angle tomorrow to ma ke > a bracket for the EMG PA-2 preamp that will go on the J bridge pickup only > to balance output with the P pickup. Only awaiting two shipments, an updated > chip for the filter (haven’t heard back from Mica yet) and a set of repro > old J knobs bought on eBay (the two large volume and small tone set). This > is too much fun. Wish I had the bucks to build a different bass every week > or two!

Response:

Assembling bass parts today (got the neck Thursday and the body Friday). The J neck is wenge with wenge fretboard and stainless frets and will stay raw. I installed the Ultralight cloverleaf tuners and nut but will slot the nut later. I had fun finding the right positions for the controls and drilling all the holes (lots of holes). I liked the black korina dinky J body’s raw plank look and did only enough sanding with 600 grit to de-fuzz it. I slathered it with Velvit Oil and let it soak in for 30 min, then it started raining so I brought it in and wiped it down with a terry hand towel. The rain stopped and I slathered it again and let it sit 30 min, then wiped it dry. It’s fairly dark now with a nice dull finish, but I expect it to lighten up a tad as the solvents evaporate. It got dropped and dented on the front edge near the rear strap button while I was out getting my Chinese take-out (love roast pork with black bean sauce) but in contrast with paint, this is a super low-maintenance finish. A little sanding and a little more Velvit Oil and it was good as new. I’m shielding the control cavity now. It’s an interesting problem due to the irregular shape of the cavity (there are bosses protruding into the hollow to provide strong surroundings for the cover screws). Have to find a small piece of aluminum angle tomorrow to make a bracket for the EMG PA-2 preamp that will go on the J bridge pickup only to balance output with the P pickup. Only awaiting two shipments, an updated chip for the filter (haven’t heard back from Mica yet) and a set of repro old J knobs bought on eBay (the two large volume and small tone set). This is too much fun. Wish I had the bucks to build a different bass every week or two!

Response:

Get good enough at it and you may be able to do just that. There are more than a few out there who assemble parts and sell the finished product. People like the "Burger King" thing, have it your way. Kirk P. S. – Wgere did you get the "Velvet Oil". I am not sure I have heard of this.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Assembling bass parts today (got the neck Thursday and the body Friday). The > J neck is wenge with wenge fretboard and stainless frets and will stay raw. > I installed the Ultralight cloverleaf tuners and nut but will slot the nut > later. I had fun finding the right positions for the controls and drilling > all the holes (lots of holes). I liked the black korina dinky J body’s raw > plank look and did only enough sanding with 600 grit to de-fuzz it. I > slathered it with Velvit Oil and let it soak in for 30 min, then it started > raining so I brought it in and wiped it down with a terry hand towel. The > rain stopped and I slathered it again and let it sit 30 min, then wiped it > dry. It’s fairly dark now with a nice dull finish, but I expect it to > lighten up a tad as the solvents evaporate. It got dropped and dented on the > front edge near the rear strap button while I was out getting my Chinese > take-out (love roast pork with black bean sauce) but in contrast with paint, > this is a super low-maintenance finish. A little sanding and a little more > Velvit Oil and it was good as new. I’m shielding the control cavity now. > It’s an interesting problem due to the irregular shape of the cavity (there > are bosses protruding into the hollow to provide strong surroundings for the > cover screws). Have to find a small piece of aluminum angle tomorrow to make > a bracket for the EMG PA-2 preamp that will go on the J bridge pickup only > to balance output with the P pickup. Only awaiting two shipments, an updated > chip for the filter (haven’t heard back from Mica yet) and a set of repro > old J knobs bought on eBay (the two large volume and small tone set). This > is too much fun. Wish I had the bucks to build a different bass every week > or two!

Response:

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In: Digital Camera

OT: Web Hosting

Question:

Aw geez…..nuttin yet Lisa. Plan on it tho, but I wouldn’t go holdin my breath. Iffin I gets around to it I’ll put up a link. Which reminds me…..wasn’t it you with the art work? Did cha put any of it up? I don’t remember seeing a link. Ripley / hates learnin new stuff…..glances over shoulder at new digital camera…..sigh…..lazy broad > Hey, Ripley, > The same question, back at ya, where’s your link? I wanna see, unless it’s > private, of course! > Thanks!! > Lisa > Four months, two weeks, 15 hours, 2 minutes and 55 seconds. 2732 cigarettes > not smoked, saving $353.75. Life saved: 1 week, 2 days, 11 hours, 40 > minutes.

— Spanking clean Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Response:

>I know there are a few website entrepreneurs here, so any advice and/or >direction would be appreciated!

Hey GX…..hope this helps you compare: I use a leading UK Web Hosting company and this is typically what is offered: Home Package: Virus scanning – 1POP3 mail account Free Authoring software and FTP (NetObjects Fusion 7) 100 POP3 Accounts 500MB Web Space (My site is currently 45MB including media files) 3000 MB Monthly traffic (Bandwidth) Full Stats Ready to run CGI Library Cost is…..$9 per month…add $1.90 for frontpage extensions Full Professional Package: 1000 POP3 accounts 2000 MB Web Space 40 GB Bandwidth Continuous Backup Priority Routing Firewall protection plus….For Linux Hosting (standard..I use it) Free CGI programming PHP3 & PHP4, Pearl " mysql databases supported Secure Shell Access Microsoft hosting: Frontpage extensions ASP Scripts Access Database supported MS SQL database .NET Framework 1.1 Cost is….for Linux…$32 per month ..for Mic……$37 per month They offer other packages in between. e-commerce packages are also available: Business: 50 MB web space 100 item catalogue 2 shipping methods free email, chat and phone support Web space and all traffic included Professional: 200 MB web space Unlimited item variants 600 item catalogue multi-currency support 5 shipping methods Online credit card clearing other stuff…lol All that lot should give you some idea of comparative costs. The web host I use isn’t the cheapest, but they have massive bandwith avaiable and extremely fast servers. They also have 0% downtime…so reliability is pretty good. If I were looking for a reliable supplier…these would be the sort of standards I would aim for. And we haven’t even considered *dedicated servers*….hehe

Response:

(tagging on here, lost the original) Xena, I use Powweb and am quite happy with it. They charge $7.77/mth ($20 setup fee) and you get 650 megs of space…a huge amount. You also get 45 gigs of bandwidth a month. My site was getting over 1,000 visits a day at its peak and was still barely putting a dent in the bandwidth limit. I have over 250 pictures (each one at 800×640 resolution plus a 150×112 thumbnail), plus over 150 pages in my domain. With all that, I’m not even using 10% of the space I have allocated. When I saw their deal, I ran, not walked, away from Geoshitties….err..Geocities. Their address is www.powweb.com. Worth a look, imo. Lee OF – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > My advice, is you get what you pay for. > My last business, I was paying about $40 a month, for > a basic web server, very few expensions (i.e. no cgi, no > scripts, no ASP support) and around $60 a month when > I did need ASP support. > I know there are a lot cheaper, or even free webhosts – > but the cheap ones I looked at were cheap because > 1. No tech support – only support via e-mail, for business > this is not always a good thing > 2. SLOW…… Nothing worse that people leaving your > site because it takes 10 seconds to load. With Cable/ADSL > connections, most people want a web page NOW! Not in > 10 seconds like they are back on 56K modem. > And, beware the cheaper sites which might have Popup’s > on them (normally all the free ones) – nuthin’ pisses me off > more than some unrelated popup when surfing – and that > stupid little thingo (flash script I’m amagine) on sites like > GeoSites is just as bad IMHO. > Check what you are likely to need, and go from there I guess. > If you are going to have fully enabled E-Commerce, you > are going to need scripts at the very least (such as CGI), but > more likely something like ASP/Java. In additional, you will > possibly need MS Access/SQL support for the underlying > database that goes along with the e-commerce (are you building > this yourself? or getting a pre-made e-commerce product?) > Hope this helps and doesn’t confused matters too much > Just e-mail me if you want further info, will help where I can >As some of you may know I have been busy working on a new e-business >website, and I am a brand-spanking new owner of two domains tonight! >Whoo hoo! >However, finances are tight at the moment and I’m having difficulty >sorting through all the different web providers. Pay by the month? Per >year? How much? What do I really need for e-commerce? >I know there are a few website entrepreneurs here, so any advice and/or >direction would be appreciated! >-GX >– >"To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that >we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic >and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." >- Theodore Roosevelt >— >http://home.earthlink.net/~goddessxena/index.htm >http://www.unknownnews.net

Response:

"Lee in Duluth MN" wrote > (tagging on here, lost the original)

Me, too. > Xena, I use Powweb and am quite happy with it.

Me, too–again. Binnie Bee turned me on to them a while back, and I’ve never had cause to regret using them. I’ve been very happy w/ them for about 16 months, now. Consider the enormous amounts of crap that you’ve seen cycled thru the Quit Buddies site–and then consider what a crummy housekeeper I am, and the fact that all the old pages and silly bits are just lying around unused and ignored in files over there… I haven’t come close to using up my allotted space, and I add new stuff *daily*. No problems, quick responses to my questions, and I only ever had one incident when I couldn’t upload something or change a page because they were doing some sort of routine maintenance or other. Check ‘em out.

Response:

> (tagging on here, lost the original) > Xena, I use Powweb and am quite happy with it. They charge $7.77/mth > ($20 setup fee) and you get 650 megs of space…a huge amount. You also > get 45 gigs of bandwidth a month. My site was getting over 1,000 visits > a day at its peak and was still barely putting a dent in the bandwidth > limit. I have over 250 pictures (each one at 800×640 resolution plus a > 150×112 thumbnail), plus over 150 pages in my domain. With all that, > I’m not even using 10% of the space I have allocated.

So, Lee…what’s the addy of your site, so’s one could take a look-see?? 8^) — Spanking clean Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Response:

As some of you may know I have been busy working on a new e-business website, and I am a brand-spanking new owner of two domains tonight! Whoo hoo! However, finances are tight at the moment and I’m having difficulty sorting through all the different web providers. Pay by the month? Per year? How much? What do I really need for e-commerce? I know there are a few website entrepreneurs here, so any advice and/or direction would be appreciated! -GX — "To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." – Theodore Roosevelt — http://home.earthlink.net/~goddessxena/index.htm http://www.unknownnews.net

Response:

My advice, is you get what you pay for. My last business, I was paying about $40 a month, for a basic web server, very few expensions (i.e. no cgi, no scripts, no ASP support) and around $60 a month when I did need ASP support. I know there are a lot cheaper, or even free webhosts – but the cheap ones I looked at were cheap because 1. No tech support – only support via e-mail, for business this is not always a good thing 2. SLOW…… Nothing worse that people leaving your site because it takes 10 seconds to load. With Cable/ADSL connections, most people want a web page NOW! Not in 10 seconds like they are back on 56K modem. And, beware the cheaper sites which might have Popup’s on them (normally all the free ones) – nuthin’ pisses me off more than some unrelated popup when surfing – and that stupid little thingo (flash script I’m amagine) on sites like GeoSites is just as bad IMHO. Check what you are likely to need, and go from there I guess. If you are going to have fully enabled E-Commerce, you are going to need scripts at the very least (such as CGI), but more likely something like ASP/Java. In additional, you will possibly need MS Access/SQL support for the underlying database that goes along with the e-commerce (are you building this yourself? or getting a pre-made e-commerce product?) Hope this helps and doesn’t confused matters too much Just e-mail me if you want further info, will help where I can

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> As some of you may know I have been busy working on a new e-business > website, and I am a brand-spanking new owner of two domains tonight! > Whoo hoo! > However, finances are tight at the moment and I’m having difficulty > sorting through all the different web providers. Pay by the month? Per > year? How much? What do I really need for e-commerce? > I know there are a few website entrepreneurs here, so any advice and/or > direction would be appreciated! > -GX > — > "To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that > we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic > and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." > – Theodore Roosevelt > — > http://home.earthlink.net/~goddessxena/index.htm > http://www.unknownnews.net

Response:

Hey, Ripley, The same question, back at ya, where’s your link? I wanna see, unless it’s private, of course! Thanks!! Lisa Four months, two weeks, 15 hours, 2 minutes and 55 seconds. 2732 cigarettes not smoked, saving $353.75. Life saved: 1 week, 2 days, 11 hours, 40 minutes.

Response:

>I know there are a few website entrepreneurs here, so any advice and/or >direction would be appreciated!

Response:

"Lee in Duluth MN" wrote > (tagging on here, lost the original)

Me, too. > Xena, I use Powweb and am quite happy with it.

Response:

So, Lee…what’s the addy of your site, so’s one could take a look-see?? 8^) — Spanking clean Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Response:

— Spanking clean Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Response:

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In: Digital Camera

Shops in Sydney

Question:

I’ll be going to Sydney soon, and would like to know where in Sydney to shop for this stuff, as cheap as possible: – Digital camera – DVD’s/CD’s – Levis’ outfit/clothes I’ll be staying in Darling Harbour, so hpefully the shops will be in that area, but any recommondation will be appreciated! Thanks, Geir L, Norway

Response:

> I’ll be going to Sydney soon, and would like to know where in Sydney > to shop for this stuff, as cheap as possible: > – Digital camera > – DVD’s/CD’s > – Levis’ outfit/clothes > I’ll be staying in Darling Harbour, so hpefully the shops will be in > that area, but any recommondation will be appreciated! > Thanks, > Geir L, Norway

The Darling Harbour area is close to the Central Business Area of Sydney. The shopping available is competitive and you would have little trouble in obtaining a good price on the goods you are seeking. The weekend markets at Paddys, also nearby, offer the lower end of consumer goods and you can pick a bargain, but beware of "rip-offs". Have a great time in Sydney. Geoff Lilico

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I’ll be going to Sydney soon, and would like to know where in Sydney > to shop for this stuff, as cheap as possible: > – Digital camera > – DVD’s/CD’s > – Levis’ outfit/clothes > I’ll be staying in Darling Harbour, so hpefully the shops will be in > that area, but any recommondation will be appreciated! > The Darling Harbour area is close to the Central Business Area of Sydney. > The shopping available is competitive and you would have little trouble in > obtaining a good price on the goods you are seeking. The weekend markets at > Paddys, also nearby, offer the lower end of consumer goods and you can pick > a bargain, but beware of "rip-offs". > Have a great time in Sydney.

Thank you for your answer! Another question; I guess that the local newspapers sometimes announce the local bargains and sales, but which newspaper should I go for in Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart (Tasmania)? Thanks again! – Geir L, Norway

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > I’ll be going to Sydney soon, and would like to know where in Sydney > > to shop for this stuff, as cheap as possible: > > – Digital camera > > – DVD’s/CD’s > > – Levis’ outfit/clothes > > I’ll be staying in Darling Harbour, so hpefully the shops will be in > > that area, but any recommondation will be appreciated! > The Darling Harbour area is close to the Central Business Area of Sydney. > The shopping available is competitive and you would have little trouble in > obtaining a good price on the goods you are seeking. The weekend markets at > Paddys, also nearby, offer the lower end of consumer goods and you can pick > a bargain, but beware of "rip-offs". > Have a great time in Sydney. > Thank you for your answer! > Another question; I guess that the local newspapers sometimes announce > the local bargains and sales, but which newspaper should I go for in > Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart (Tasmania)? > Thanks again! > – Geir L, Norway

Whilst there are the normal daily bargains, the major sales are held in July and January. The Telegraph is the newspaper to look for in Sydney. Geoff Lillico

Response:

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In: Digital Camera

OT-Newsreader question posting binarys

Question:

**** I once was told infinite wisdom abounds in the AS3 halls ******* binary,newsgroups Ok, It’s not porn. Really. How do I take a local pic from a digital camera and shape it up and post back to a binary group. As an attachment? I follow the alt.binaries.food group and they are constantly posting pics 1,500 kb or less. How do I format them to attach as binarys? Any FAQ link would be helpfull. TIA Craig

Response:

>**** I once was told infinite wisdom abounds in the AS3 halls ******* >binary,newsgroups >Ok, It’s not porn. Really. >How do I take a local pic from a digital camera and shape it up and >post back to a binary group. As an attachment? >I follow the alt.binaries.food group and they are constantly posting >pics 1,500 kb or less. How do I format them to attach as binarys?

You just need some basic image editing software, to crop or resize your picture. If you don’t already have something (usually, your digital camera will come with at least a simple program) look here: http://www.tucows.com/imgedit95_default.html Then save your picture as a JPEG (extension .jpg). Then, in your Free Agent newsreader, check your Help menu for assistance on specifying your picture as an attachment. It’s pretty easy. Easier than quitting the freakin’ cigs, that’s for sure. Need more, just YELL! Mike VOF+ with the pictures to prove it. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Any FAQ link would be helpfull. >TIA >Craig

Response:

>I follow the alt.binaries.food group and they are constantly posting >pics 1,500 kb or less. How do I format them to attach as binarys?

What Mikey said… Agent is excellent for this, and Photoshop Elements is brilliant for image editing. It has, as do a number of other, a superb facility for saving your jpeg files at any size or level of compression you want I’ve never posted to binaries, but the same rules apply for posting pics to websites, and for emailing steveb

Response:

> I’ve never posted to binaries, but the same rules apply for posting > pics to websites, and for emailing > steveb

Oh? so the steveb in alt.binaries.fetish.zebra isn’t u?

Response:

>Oh? so the steveb in alt.binaries.fetish.zebra isn’t u?

Nah mate…zebras are for beginners.. alt.binaries.fetish.giveanelephantahardon.twice

Response:

>I follow the alt.binaries.food group and they are constantly posting >pics 1,500 kb or less. How do I format them to attach as binarys?

Response:

> I’ve never posted to binaries, but the same rules apply for posting > pics to websites, and for emailing > steveb

Oh? so the steveb in alt.binaries.fetish.zebra isn’t u?

Response:

>Oh? so the steveb in alt.binaries.fetish.zebra isn’t u?

Nah mate…zebras are for beginners.. alt.binaries.fetish.giveanelephantahardon.twice

Response:

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In: Digital Camera

Visiting Lagos, Nigeria

Question:

Hello everyone I shortly have to travel to Lagos, Nigeria on business. I’ve been invited by one of the banks, and a representative will meet me at the airport and help me get around town. So that parts ok. But given the reputation of Nigeria in general and Lagos specifically, I googled about and read plenty of web pages / travel blogs. Has anybody reading this been to Lagos? If so, how recently and could you please summarise your experience? I’d like to know if I should leave the Rolex, iPod and TiBook at home or if some of the stories are just that, stories. Am I going to have trouble with Customs / Immigration, particularly with my personal property? And how prevalent are bribes? Is what you read just BS or true? Should I plan for this, especially when entering and leaving the country? Finally, what shots did you get? I haven’t been to a GP yet and wasn’t sure about precisely what to get. I’m sure the good Doctor will know, but it doesn’t hurt to be an informed patient. FWIW, I’m American but live in London and will be travelling BA. I’ll be travelling alone, and staying at Le Meridien. Thanks for your help - I appreciate any information you can give me. I know that more than likely it will be ok, but just wanted to ask. Take care

Response:

leave the valuables at home. Lagos is the Nairobi of West Africa. If you show off what the others don’t have your only asking for trouble. Change your $ only at banks. You didn’t say how long your going for but if for only a couple weeks, take the basics only in one sack. You can get your clothes washed anywhere and you can buy the necessities for pennies. As for vaccinations, Malaria pills depending on how long your there, tetnus and your Hep ones. Just be very mindful of your health when you go there, don’t eat from the street venders, don’t eat salads, make sure you eat foods that you can peel(banana, mango, orange etc..) eat vegetables only if they are well cooked. Make sure all your food is well cooked. watch out for scams bigtime and also when buying things at market.. make sure the item is in the box and it is what you paid for. ie: my friend bought a cd/tape player from the market. The seller had many to view and check out. the box was sealed like new when he got it, however, when he opened it, it was only filled with rocks and sawdust. when he went back to the market to confront the guy he was gone. no one heard of him and he just dissappeared. Nigeria has a large Muslim population so keep the cultural aspects in mind. don’t believe everything you hear, experience it for yourself. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Finally, what shots did you get? I haven’t been to a GP yet > and wasn’t sure about precisely what to get. I’m sure the good Doctor > will know, but it doesn’t hurt to be an informed patient. > FWIW, I’m American but live in London and will be travelling > BA. I’ll be travelling alone, and staying at Le Meridien. > Thanks for your help - I appreciate any information you can > give me. I know that more than likely it will be ok, but just > wanted to ask. > Take care

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> leave the valuables at home. Lagos is the Nairobi of West Africa. > If you show off what the others don’t have your only asking for trouble. > Change your $ only at banks. > You didn’t say how long your going for but if for only a couple weeks, take > the basics only in one sack. You can get your clothes washed anywhere and > you can buy the necessities for pennies. > As for vaccinations, Malaria pills depending on how long your there, tetnus > and your Hep ones. > Just be very mindful of your health when you go there, don’t eat from the > street venders, don’t eat salads, make sure you eat foods that you can > peel(banana, mango, orange etc..) eat vegetables only if they are well > cooked. Make sure all your food is well cooked. > watch out for scams bigtime and also when buying things at market.. make > sure the item is in the box and it is what you paid for. > ie: my friend bought a cd/tape player from the market. The seller had many > to view and check out. the box was sealed like new when he got it, however, > when he opened it, it was only filled with rocks and sawdust. when he went > back to the market to confront the guy he was gone. no one heard of him and > he just dissappeared. > Nigeria has a large Muslim population so keep the cultural aspects in mind. > don’t believe everything you hear, experience it for yourself.

Yep, I’m afraid everything you’ve heard is probably true. Just think the worst and guard against everything, and you’ll probably be OK. As a ‘company’ man with a local ‘guide’ you’ll probably be insulated from a lot. (But our agent out there once tried a big con on us!!!!!). I would like to say that underneath all this is a culture that you might find and enjoy, but I never did in some years of visiting (and I am normally a very keen ‘in depth’ traveller). Out of Lagos (Kano, Ibadan, Benin City, Port Harcourt, etc.) you *will* find the attractive Nigeria, although always be on your guard. And, incidentally, the climate is xxxxxxxxxxx!!!!!!! Xxxxxxxx hot and xxxxxxx humid with it. Doesn’t help if your power (mainly, electricity for air conditioning, which frequently goes off) is not backed up by generators! Try and enjoy your stay! I have no regrets that I’ll probably never to back to Lagos again. Surreyman

Response:

Why is a bank inviting you to Nigeria? That in itself sounds dodgy to me. They are not wanting you to "look after" some money for them, are – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hello everyone > I shortly have to travel to Lagos, Nigeria on business. > I’ve been invited by one of the banks, and a representative will > meet me at the airport and help me get around town. So that parts > ok. > But given the reputation of Nigeria in general and Lagos specifically, > I googled about and read plenty of web pages / travel blogs. > Has anybody reading this been to Lagos? If so, how recently > and could you please summarise your experience? I’d like to > know if I should leave the Rolex, iPod and TiBook at home or > if some of the stories are just that, stories. > Am I going to have trouble with Customs / Immigration, particularly > with my personal property? And how prevalent are bribes? Is what > you read just BS or true? Should I plan for this, especially when > entering and leaving the country? > Finally, what shots did you get? I haven’t been to a GP yet > and wasn’t sure about precisely what to get. I’m sure the good Doctor > will know, but it doesn’t hurt to be an informed patient. > FWIW, I’m American but live in London and will be travelling > BA. I’ll be travelling alone, and staying at Le Meridien. > Thanks for your help - I appreciate any information you can > give me. I know that more than likely it will be ok, but just > wanted to ask. > Take care

Response:

Heh. No, I work for a Financial Services firm that sells Financial Services to banks. We just sold to a bank in Lagos, and I’m going down for post sales support. In the Western world this is a fun thing to do but I’m not so sure about Lagos. Anyhow, thanks to everyone who replied. Between this thread and my own googling I’ve decided to visit butt nekkid, or as close to nekkid as I can be and get on the plane from Heathrow. : Why is a bank inviting you to Nigeria? That in itself sounds dodgy to me. : They are not wanting you to "look after" some money for them, are

:> Hello everyone :> :> I shortly have to travel to Lagos, Nigeria on business. :> I’ve been invited by one of the banks, and a representative will :> meet me at the airport and help me get around town. So that parts :> ok. :> :> But given the reputation of Nigeria in general and Lagos specifically, :> I googled about and read plenty of web pages / travel blogs. :> :> Has anybody reading this been to Lagos? If so, how recently :> and could you please summarise your experience? I’d like to :> know if I should leave the Rolex, iPod and TiBook at home or :> if some of the stories are just that, stories. :> :> Am I going to have trouble with Customs / Immigration, particularly :> with my personal property? And how prevalent are bribes? Is what :> you read just BS or true? Should I plan for this, especially when :> entering and leaving the country? :> :> Finally, what shots did you get? I haven’t been to a GP yet :> and wasn’t sure about precisely what to get. I’m sure the good Doctor :> will know, but it doesn’t hurt to be an informed patient. :> :> FWIW, I’m American but live in London and will be travelling :> BA. I’ll be travelling alone, and staying at Le Meridien. :> :> Thanks for your help - I appreciate any information you can :> give me. I know that more than likely it will be ok, but just :> wanted to ask. :> :> Take care :> :> :>

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Heh. No, I work for a Financial Services firm that sells >Financial Services to banks. We just sold to a bank in Lagos, >and I’m going down for post sales support. >In the Western world this is a fun thing to do but I’m not so >sure about Lagos. >Anyhow, thanks to everyone who replied. Between this thread >and my own googling I’ve decided to visit butt nekkid, or as close >to nekkid as I can be and get on the plane from Heathrow. >: Why is a bank inviting you to Nigeria? That in itself sounds dodgy to me. >: They are not wanting you to "look after" some money for them, are >:> Hello everyone >:> >:> I shortly have to travel to Lagos, Nigeria on business. >:> I’ve been invited by one of the banks, and a representative will >:> meet me at the airport and help me get around town. So that parts >:> ok. >:> >:> But given the reputation of Nigeria in general and Lagos specifically, >:> I googled about and read plenty of web pages / travel blogs. >:> >:> Has anybody reading this been to Lagos? If so, how recently >:> and could you please summarise your experience? I’d like to >:> know if I should leave the Rolex, iPod and TiBook at home or >:> if some of the stories are just that, stories. >:> >:> Am I going to have trouble with Customs / Immigration, particularly >:> with my personal property? And how prevalent are bribes? Is what >:> you read just BS or true? Should I plan for this, especially when >:> entering and leaving the country? >:> >:> Finally, what shots did you get? I haven’t been to a GP yet >:> and wasn’t sure about precisely what to get. I’m sure the good Doctor >:> will know, but it doesn’t hurt to be an informed patient. >:> >:> FWIW, I’m American but live in London and will be travelling >:> BA. I’ll be travelling alone, and staying at Le Meridien. >:> >:> Thanks for your help - I appreciate any information you can >:> give me. I know that more than likely it will be ok, but just >:> wanted to ask. >:> >:> Take care >:> >:> >:>

I think Lagos is just the right place for Spam to go!! I think he should go with the Rolex and laptop and also take a digital camera and anything else he may need. Lagos will definitely be good for him. Pat — Pat Anderson

Response:

Well the trip was pretty un-eventful. Except I tripped and managed to knock myself on a hole in the street on Victoria Island, Lagos. Now I’ve got to say this : those folks ain’t got much but what I dropped all over the streets down there when I fell got returned to me. This simply would NOT have happened in either New York (where I lived for thirteen years) or London (where I’ve lived for about seven). I don’t carry a wallet and my credit cards from my shirt pocket went flying all about. But everything was returned – no problems. Amazing testament to those folks. Absolutely no problem. Took all the toys and returned with all the toys, scary stories notwithstanding. I figured between my own insurance and the firms, anything that got "confiscated" I wouldn’t be paying for. I appreciate all the useful feedback but to be honest, I get far more problems from the rather xeno-phobic British Immigration people than I did from the professional and curt folks working the same job in Laogs. No problems at all entering or leaving Lagos.

Response:

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In: Digital Camera

Kenya & Tanzania Info please.

Question:

Hello I am retired 66 year old and will be taking a Globus 2 week safari (1st week in Kenya, 2nd week in Tanzania) first two weeks in August. Will most of the wildebeests be in the Maasai Mara by then or will they still be arriving, judging from the late start of the migration as per several posts in this group. Also in order to cut down on land travel time the tour includes 2 travels by air. One from the Maasai Mara back to Nairobi. The other on the end of the Tanzania week from Arusha to Nairobi to catch the home bound return flight the day after. Could some one tell me what kind of planes are used for the trips ? Are they small 8 passenger Cessna type planes,or commercial short range Propeller type planes . In other words is this a regular commercial service or just for the safari crowd? I would guess it is a commercial run . I was thinking in a small plane flying lower, it might be possible to get some extra shots of the country side. Last question as Photography is a big part of taking a safari do any of the lodges sell digital camera storage media and supplies? I have bought a ImageTank to store my shots, but in case it got stolen or malfunctions I would by mighty upset if I had to wait four or five days to buy some extra cards. before we returned to Nairobi. Thanks Karl

Response:

>Could some one tell me what kind of planes are used for the trips ? >Are they small 8 passenger Cessna type planes,or commercial short range >Propeller type planes . In other words is this a regular commercial service or >just for the safari crowd? I would guess it is a commercial run . >I was thinking in a small plane flying lower, it might be possible to get some >extra shots of the country side.

Karl, my answers will be a bit vague, because I don’t know everything precisely, but I hope to give you a better feel for the situation. The planes used here go from small Cessna single engine six seaters through the very popular Cessna Caravan (1 turboprop, gear not retractable) to somewhat bigger planes like the Beech King Air (2 turboprop) and even the DC-3 in original form and also converted to turboprop. Smaller planes are more often used, with 8 to 14 seats. They don’t fly very low, except for takeoff and landing, so use these phases of flight for some photos. Low flying is not even permitted over nature reserves, minimum altitude there is 1,500 ft, rather than the normal limit of 500 ft. You could try to ask the pilot to climb out at a lower rate after takeoff. >Last question as Photography is a big part of taking a safari do any of the lodges >sell digital camera storage media and supplies? I have bought a ImageTank to >store my shots, but in case it got stolen or malfunctions I would by mighty upset >if I had to wait four or five days to buy some extra cards. before we returned to > Nairobi.

I don’t think the lodges sell much of this stuff. Don’t rely on it. Better bring an extra storage module. Perhaps you can borrow one from a friend. Hans-Georg (currently in Kenya) — No mail, please.

Response:

In message – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Hello I am retired 66 year old and will be taking a Globus 2 week safari >(1st week in Kenya, 2nd week in Tanzania) first two weeks in August. >Will most of the wildebeests be in the Maasai Mara by then or will they >still be arriving, judging from the late start of the migration as per several >posts in this group. >Also in order to cut down on land travel time the tour includes 2 travels by >air. One from the Maasai Mara back to Nairobi. The other on the end of the >Tanzania week from Arusha to Nairobi to catch the home bound return flight >the day after. >Could some one tell me what kind of planes are used for the trips ? >Are they small 8 passenger Cessna type planes,or commercial short range >Propeller type planes . In other words is this a regular commercial service or >just for the safari crowd? I would guess it is a commercial run . >I was thinking in a small plane flying lower, it might be possible to get some >extra shots of the country side. >Last question as Photography is a big part of taking a safari do any of >the lodges >sell digital camera storage media and supplies? I have bought a ImageTank to >store my shots, but in case it got stolen or malfunctions I would by >mighty upset >if I had to wait four or five days to buy some extra cards. before we >returned to > Nairobi. >Thanks > Karl

On the aircraft Karl, we went to both the Mara and Amboseli on light aircraft with Air Kenya. They are anything from four to twelve seaters, usually, but not always, twin engined. They are used for safari traffic and for other uses. For instance, we lived in a fairly remote area in Kenya for three years and had to travel up to Nairobi by light aircraft, mostly Cessna but other aircraft were also used. It`s well organised in Kenya and there is a separate airport, called Wilson, for this traffic. Someone else can probably tell you about the photographic side but I would say take what you need with you. The lodges don`t carry large stocks and you will pay a lot more. Pat — Pat Anderson

Response:

Hi, For the current migration you can have a look here http://www.wildwatch.com/sightings/migration.asp. If you are ready with that than you could have a look on my site http://www.outtoafrica.nl for a predepature look. Hope you will like it and have a great time. Regards Paul – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hello I am retired 66 year old and will be taking a Globus 2 week safari > (1st week in Kenya, 2nd week in Tanzania) first two weeks in August. > Will most of the wildebeests be in the Maasai Mara by then or will they > still be arriving, judging from the late start of the migration as per several > posts in this group. > Also in order to cut down on land travel time the tour includes 2 travels by > air. One from the Maasai Mara back to Nairobi. The other on the end of the > Tanzania week from Arusha to Nairobi to catch the home bound return flight > the day after. > Could some one tell me what kind of planes are used for the trips ? > Are they small 8 passenger Cessna type planes,or commercial short range > Propeller type planes . In other words is this a regular commercial service or > just for the safari crowd? I would guess it is a commercial run . > I was thinking in a small plane flying lower, it might be possible to get some > extra shots of the country side. > Last question as Photography is a big part of taking a safari do any of the lodges > sell digital camera storage media and supplies? I have bought a ImageTank to > store my shots, but in case it got stolen or malfunctions I would by mighty upset > if I had to wait four or five days to buy some extra cards. before we returned to > Nairobi. > Thanks > Karl

Response:

> Also in order to cut down on land travel time the tour includes 2 travels by > air. One from the Maasai Mara back to Nairobi. The other on the end of the > Tanzania week from Arusha to Nairobi to catch the home bound return flight > the day after. > Could some one tell me what kind of planes are used for the trips ?

When we flew from Nairobi to Arusha and back a couple of years ago it was on about a 12-seater – we got superb views of Mt Kilimanjaro but too high to see any game. —

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Also in order to cut down on land travel time the tour includes 2 travels by > air. One from the Maasai Mara back to Nairobi. The other on the end of the > Tanzania week from Arusha to Nairobi to catch the home bound return flight > the day after. > Could some one tell me what kind of planes are used for the trips ? > When we flew from Nairobi to Arusha and back a couple of years ago it was on about a > 12-seater – we got superb views of Mt Kilimanjaro but too high to see any game. > —

Thanks so much for every one that replied, I will keep your recommendations in mind. Guess I will buy a 4th 256 MB memory card to safeguard against problem with the ImageTank storage unit. Hans-Georg you mentioned DC-3 s, don’t those things ever die? Last and only time I flew one was around 1962 on a short flight from London to Berlin-Tempelhof. Got the greatest shock when after takeoff the top of the wing developed many wrinkles, due to bending of the wings, I doubted it would make the channel crossing. LOL I only hope the current knee-jerk reaction of BA to not fly to Kenya is lifted by July 31. As I am booked with BA from Toronto to Nairobi , their website is not specific but mentions passengers to Kenya would be rerouted via Tanzania. Using Kenya Airways would be a better choice. Thanks Karl Quies

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > Also in order to cut down on land travel time the tour includes 2 > >travels by > > air. One from the Maasai Mara back to Nairobi. The other on the end of the > > Tanzania week from Arusha to Nairobi to catch the home bound return flight > > the day after. > > Could some one tell me what kind of planes are used for the trips ? > When we flew from Nairobi to Arusha and back a couple of years ago it >was on about a > 12-seater – we got superb views of Mt Kilimanjaro but too high to see >any game. > — >Thanks so much for every one that replied, I will keep your >recommendations in mind. >Guess I will buy a 4th 256 MB memory card to safeguard against problem with >the ImageTank storage unit. >Hans-Georg you mentioned DC-3 s, don’t those things ever die? Last and only >time I flew one was around 1962 on a short flight from London to >Berlin-Tempelhof. >Got the greatest shock when after takeoff the top of the wing >developed many wrinkles, >due to bending of the wings, I doubted it would make the channel crossing. LOL >I only hope the current knee-jerk reaction of BA to not fly to Kenya is >lifted by July 31. >As I am booked with BA from Toronto to Nairobi , their website is not >specific but >mentions passengers to Kenya would be rerouted via Tanzania. Using >Kenya Airways >would be a better choice. >Thanks >Karl Quies

Karl, The DC3 looks pretty impressive sitting at the airport. I haven`t been on one but a friend flew to the Masai Mara on one. I didn`t realise Hans Georg had already posted. He is a pilot so knows best. I`m in Britain so I`m aware of BA`s decision not to fly to Nairobi. It will probably be back to normal by the time you go. Kenya Airways is also a good airline. We flew London/ Nairobi with them the last three times we went. Pat — Pat Anderson

Response:

>Hans-Georg you mentioned DC-3 s, don’t those things ever die?

Karl, no, never. Some years ago they had a flying contest at Wilson Airport (Aero Club of East Africa, of which I’m a member), where they had, among other tasks, to hit gas balloons with a Cessna 152. After watching for a while, some diehard pilots decided to fire up the DC-3 and take part in the competition. I still remember the big bird coming in at low level. Don’t think it ever hit a balloon, but it was great fun for everybody. Nowadays most of them are converted to turboprop, perhaps sadly. Hans-Georg — No mail, please.

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In: Digital Camera

G&L L2000 $200 Woohoo! (long)

Question:

> To make a long story even longer (if anyone is still reading this) > I checked the serial number and indeed it is a 1996 number! I put > on a new set of strings and they were very easy to intonate > exactly. My dillema is the neck. I know G & L will make a neck > for me but it will cost $250 and take 6 to 9 weeks. It looks bad > (I will try to get a digital camera and link some pictures) the > tuning keys are now black,

If you can get the truss rod adjustment to work and you get the neck set up right, I’d be inclined to leave the burnt part alone, if it’s scructurally sound. The scortches will make a great conversation starter! I love beat-up, funky old guitars that have lived a hard life.

Response:

This is my story. In 1969 I traded my cherry red Gibson EB-O straight up for a Fender Precision. It came in a beat up yellow tweed case with bright red interior, and the finish (two tone sunburst) had lots of dings. It had a maple neck with everything original intact (the bridge cover with the rubber damper pads, the pick up cover, and the thumb rest attached to the anodized aluminum pick guard.) At the time, I thought I was getting a great deal because the Precision had a wonderful sound. ( I promise, I’m getting to the woohoo) Being young and naive, two years later, in 1971, (I wrote the date in the bass when I took it apart) I decided to refinish the Precision. I had waited over a year to get my Precision Fretless Maple neck that I had special ordered in 1970. It was gorgeous, so I figured I needed to rub off that ugly brown and yellow two tone sunburst and turn my Precision into a "natural". As you might have guessed by now, the date penciled on the end of the neck and in the pickup cutout when I took it apart was 9/57! This was one of those moments in your life that you wish you could go back and re-take. (Just put it all back together and stick it in the closet for 20 years!) Of course, at the time it seemed cool that the bass was relatively old, but the date had no significance and I proceeded to alter the original state of the instrument. I missed the booming bass of my EB-O so I brought my now "natural" Precision to a local music store and had them install a Gibson humbucker in the neck position and move the original pickup way back toward the bridge. To top it all off I had a really nice dark rosewood pickguard cut and this bass was looking radical! Fast forward to two days ago. I had brought my Precision to my local music store to be altered once again. (I now knew of the vintage value but I also knew that the alterations had devalued the instrument.) My plan was to install Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder in original position with all new wiring and pots and new white pearloid pickguard. I needed a bass for this weekend, and I was hoping my Precision was ready. When I found out it wasn’t, the store manager said he would give me a lender for the weekend. Then I saw something out of the corner of my eye. I could tell by the shape it was the headstock of a G&L but it looked strange. Now I could see that it was charred. The store manager said he had just put it on the floor. It was an L2000 that was new when it was caught in a store fire in 1996. It had sat in a warehouse and couldn’t be sold. He said it had something to do with insurance. The body was a beautiful transparent cherry red and in very good condition. The headstock was split at the seam (G&L cut their necks in half then put in the truss rod and glue them back together) down to the first string post from the intense heat. But everything else was still intact so I asked him how much. When he said $200 I tried to remain nonchalant and asked him calmly if I could try it. As soon as I sat down to play it another customer walked up and said he wanted it if I didn’t. I had made up my mind as soon as the price had come out of the store managers mouth, and now that I knew that all the electronics worked and it sounded better than I could ever imagine, I got it! To make a long story even longer (if anyone is still reading this) I checked the serial number and indeed it is a 1996 number! I put on a new set of strings and they were very easy to intonate exactly. My dillema is the neck. I know G & L will make a neck for me but it will cost $250 and take 6 to 9 weeks. It looks bad (I will try to get a digital camera and link some pictures) the tuning keys are now black, and I need to tighten the truss rod to take some bow out of the neck, but I hesitate to do that because it feels kind of stiff and hard to turn. (Probably from sitting so long in the warehouse) Should the truss rod on an L2000 be tight or relatively easy to adjust? Anyway, I really enjoy this list and any insight or comment would be welcome.

Response:

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In: Digital Camera

Filling in the swimming Pool

Question:

sorry I gave wrong link to album ..its http://photos.yahoo.com/riverbuny1 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Thanks Bill, > We started working on retaining wall the winter before last, luckily it > was a mild one. We are currently just finished up siding a 2 story pool > house my husband built for me. Also building the fence around the > pool. One end is 4 foot with 18 inches of horizontal and vertical > lattice at the top. The long end that connects up to pool house will > just be 4 foot because the view is a meadow and woods. The other long > end is the retaining wall. I do have some polaroids we took early this > spring as we worked. The solar cover is on pool here, and we still have > landsscaping to do. I plan on getting a digital camera soon. The pool > house has horizontal wood siding we stained golden pine, French doors in > front, with 2 crankout windows on each side of door, with another > regualr size door on side facing house. There are 2 gable sliding > windows upstairs, each end and a crank out in front upstairs over door. > The poolhouse sits kittlycorner to pool so we are in process of putting > in flagstone patio and still need to do the steps up hill to house > deck. Theres alot of construction going on, we are inprocess of > building a 3 bay garage/workshop (2 cars 1 boat) master bedroom upstairs > over cars and workshop that will have its own sliding door and deck > leading to pool. We are doing everything ourselves so it takes alot of > time. > some pics at website > http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/riverbuny1/lst?.dir=/Lins&.view=t > >wow, I can not even fathom this idea. > >To the person wondering at what age you get tired of your pool…… I > >will be 40 this summer. We always had an above ground pool but last > >spring my dream came true and we had a 16 x 36 ft inground built. It is > >and will always remain my most prized and cherished possesion. My boys > >are 5 and 13 and thou they love it too, this pool is "my baby" Every > >time I look at it I feel happy. I’ll be swimming until the day I die. > > Linda > It sounds wonderful Linda! Do you have a digital picture of it you can > share with us? Is it hard to maintain? How much time do you have to > spend cleaning your pool every week? Are you in a part of the country > where the pool water is warm yet? Enquiring minds want to know! > Bill

Response:

Guess the lady likes her pool! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > wow, I can not even fathom this idea. > To the person wondering at what age you get tired of your pool…… I > will be 40 this summer. We always had an above ground pool but last > spring my dream came true and we had a 16 x 36 ft inground built. It is > and will always remain my most prized and cherished possesion. My boys > are 5 and 13 and thou they love it too, this pool is "my baby" Every > time I look at it I feel happy. I’ll be swimming until the day I die. > Linda

Response:

> wow, I can not even fathom this idea. > To the person wondering at what age you get tired of your pool…… I > will be 40 this summer. We always had an above ground pool but last > spring my dream came true and we had a 16 x 36 ft inground built. It is > and will always remain my most prized and cherished possesion. My boys > are 5 and 13 and thou they love it too, this pool is "my baby" Every > time I look at it I feel happy. I’ll be swimming until the day I die. > Linda

Well perhaps it will be different for you. There are some who love to swim and continue on into their senior years doing so. For me the shine of having a pool wore off after a few years. Peter H

Response:

>wow, I can not even fathom this idea. >To the person wondering at what age you get tired of your pool…… I >will be 40 this summer. We always had an above ground pool but last >spring my dream came true and we had a 16 x 36 ft inground built. It is >and will always remain my most prized and cherished possesion. My boys >are 5 and 13 and thou they love it too, this pool is "my baby" Every >time I look at it I feel happy. I’ll be swimming until the day I die. > Linda

It sounds wonderful Linda! Do you have a digital picture of it you can share with us? Is it hard to maintain? How much time do you have to spend cleaning your pool every week? Are you in a part of the country where the pool water is warm yet? Enquiring minds want to know! Bill

Response:

Thanks Bill, We started working on retaining wall the winter before last, luckily it was a mild one. We are currently just finished up siding a 2 story pool house my husband built for me. Also building the fence around the pool. One end is 4 foot with 18 inches of horizontal and vertical lattice at the top. The long end that connects up to pool house will just be 4 foot because the view is a meadow and woods. The other long end is the retaining wall. I do have some polaroids we took early this spring as we worked. The solar cover is on pool here, and we still have landsscaping to do. I plan on getting a digital camera soon. The pool house has horizontal wood siding we stained golden pine, French doors in front, with 2 crankout windows on each side of door, with another regualr size door on side facing house. There are 2 gable sliding windows upstairs, each end and a crank out in front upstairs over door. The poolhouse sits kittlycorner to pool so we are in process of putting in flagstone patio and still need to do the steps up hill to house deck. Theres alot of construction going on, we are inprocess of building a 3 bay garage/workshop (2 cars 1 boat) master bedroom upstairs over cars and workshop that will have its own sliding door and deck leading to pool. We are doing everything ourselves so it takes alot of time. some pics at website http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/riverbuny1/lst?.dir=/Lins&.view=t – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->wow, I can not even fathom this idea. >To the person wondering at what age you get tired of your pool…… I >will be 40 this summer. We always had an above ground pool but last >spring my dream came true and we had a 16 x 36 ft inground built. It is >and will always remain my most prized and cherished possesion. My boys >are 5 and 13 and thou they love it too, this pool is "my baby" Every >time I look at it I feel happy. I’ll be swimming until the day I die. > Linda > It sounds wonderful Linda! Do you have a digital picture of it you can > share with us? Is it hard to maintain? How much time do you have to > spend cleaning your pool every week? Are you in a part of the country > where the pool water is warm yet? Enquiring minds want to know! > Bill

Response:

wow, I can not even fathom this idea. To the person wondering at what age you get tired of your pool…… I will be 40 this summer. We always had an above ground pool but last spring my dream came true and we had a 16 x 36 ft inground built. It is and will always remain my most prized and cherished possesion. My boys are 5 and 13 and thou they love it too, this pool is "my baby" Every time I look at it I feel happy. I’ll be swimming until the day I die. Linda

Response:

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In: Digital Camera

Ping Ripley

Question:

/me misses your posts that she wishes *she* had written Or did I miss some post where she said she was going on holiday? Maddie, non-smoker since March 25, 2003

Response:

Oooooo I don’t think I’ve ever been pinged before!! many smeared about all over the house. Also thanks to eBay I maxed out my ram, got a me!!! In between all this madness there’s the new digital camera to play with :-) all the beautiful flares coming up, riding the mower and even mowing, my sweet mama was in hospital for a bit so I escape……as in would not co-operate…..yeah mom….so they sent her packing……she’s ok…….back to her usual sweet full of it self. :-D Also discovered my neighbor had the french doors that go in my livingroom so I have been sanding and staining them, rearranging furniture, got the dog’s shots, changed the oil and rotated the couldn’t tell!! Ripley — "If your ship doesn’t come in……swim out to it." - Jonathan Winters - – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > /me misses your posts that she wishes *she* had written > Or did I miss some post where she said she was going on holiday? > Maddie, non-smoker since March 25, 2003

Response:

Hey Rip…miss reading your posts. Sounds like you’ve been a busy lady, but promise you’ll post at least once a week so that I don’t go thru ‘Ripley withdrawals’ again?…. Sally OF ps….what is your seller id on Ebay when it comes time for you to put up those auctions?? I’m addicted to Ebay….I collect teddy bears but love dolls, too…..

> Oooooo I don’t think I’ve ever been pinged before!!

dolls…I now have over 50

since I already have so > many smeared about all over the house. Also thanks to eBay I maxed out my ram, got a

> me!!! > In between all this madness there’s the new digital camera to play with

all the beautiful > flares coming up, riding the mower and even mowing, my sweet mama was in

hospital for a bit so I the great > escape……as in would not co-operate…..yeah mom….so they sent her packing……she’s > ok…….back to her usual sweet full of it self. :-D > Also discovered my neighbor had the french doors that go in my livingroom

so I have been sanding > and staining them, rearranging furniture, got the dog’s shots, changed the oil and rotated the > Seems like all I’m accomplishing is making hugemongous messes everywhere!! progress of > Ok…….that’s enough of that…..my mind’s all over the

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> couldn’t tell!! > Ripley > — > "If your ship doesn’t come in……swim out to it." > - Jonathan Winters - > /me misses your posts that she wishes *she* had written > Or did I miss some post where she said she was going on holiday? > Maddie, non-smoker since March 25, 2003

Response:

Ripley: >Oooooo I don’t think I’ve ever been pinged before!!

… My pleasure : ) So happy to hear from you! Maddie, non-smoker since March 25, 2003

Response:

> Sally OF > ps….what is your seller id on Ebay when it comes time for you to > put up those auctions?? I’m addicted to Ebay….I collect teddy > bears but love dolls, too…..

gonna sell. So far just been buying stuff <sweat> gotta quit that!! I think you can click on cityofdistribution.com They also have a site and sell them wholesale :-) Ripley / not behaving and liking it real well

Response:

/me misses your posts that she wishes *she* had written Or did I miss some post where she said she was going on holiday? Maddie, non-smoker since March 25, 2003

Response:

> Oooooo I don’t think I’ve ever been pinged before!!

dolls…I now have over 50

since I already have so > many smeared about all over the house. Also thanks to eBay I maxed out my ram, got a

> me!!! > In between all this madness there’s the new digital camera to play with

all the beautiful > flares coming up, riding the mower and even mowing, my sweet mama was in

Response:

Ripley: >Oooooo I don’t think I’ve ever been pinged before!!

… My pleasure : ) So happy to hear from you! Maddie, non-smoker since March 25, 2003

Response:

> Sally OF > ps….what is your seller id on Ebay when it comes time for you to > put up those auctions?? I’m addicted to Ebay….I collect teddy > bears but love dolls, too…..

Response:

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In: Digital Camera

Help!!! I've got brown blotches all over my new lawn!!!!!!!

Question:

Are you sure you don’t have bugs killing your lawn…

Response:

I unintentionally did the same to my yard. I didn’t turn off the spreader when I made my turns – burned some very nice "horseshoes" into the yard. Worse than that – I didn’t water it enough. (Houston has some pretty hard heat even in the spring.) I raked the areas of all the brown stuff, re-planted with Pennington’s starter seed, and covered with some light top soil (emphasis on the light.) Two weeks alter, could never tell I had a problem. Jim

Too much fertilizer, which can be intentional or accidental, can burn the grass. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Is there any chance that the problem area are where you turn with lawn > spreader, so’s they got extra heavy dose? Spreat at rate recommended on > product label? Set the spread rate properly on spreader?

Response:

Try this site: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/growgreen/yardcare.htm and then click on "lawn problems" to download an extremely useful (and relatively small) PDF file on common lawn problems and pests. You might also want to give your county agricultural agent a call as this may be a common problem in your area. HTH – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hi, > Can anyone tell me what is going on in my new lawn. There are 4 or 5 > brown patches all over my lawn. They are irregular in size and range > from 2 feet to 7 feet in size. I put down some Ringer Lawn Restore > about a month ago and doubled the dose in those ares that appear to > have the brown patches. Why would theorganic fertilizer cause this to > occur? > Is it a fungus feeding off the organic ingredients in the fertilizer? > How can I treat this problem? If I sould a little desperate, I am. I > spent weeks last autumn putting this lawn in and spent a few thousand > dollars to get it looking pretty good except for these damn brown > patches statring to sprout up all over my lawn. > If it were the middle of summer, I could understand that it might be > where the sun is beating down on th grass all day and buring it up. > But hell, its early spring and it just rained 1 inch last week. HELP!

Response:

Contact your County Extension Agent in your area. They should be able to help.

> Try this site: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/growgreen/yardcare.htm and > then click on "lawn problems" to download an extremely useful (and > relatively small) PDF file on common lawn problems and pests. You > might also want to give your county agricultural agent a call as this > may be a common problem in your area. > HTH

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi, > Can anyone tell me what is going on in my new lawn. There are 4 or 5 > brown patches all over my lawn. They are irregular in size and range > from 2 feet to 7 feet in size. I put down some Ringer Lawn Restore > about a month ago and doubled the dose in those ares that appear to > have the brown patches. Why would theorganic fertilizer cause this to > occur? > Is it a fungus feeding off the organic ingredients in the fertilizer? > How can I treat this problem? If I sould a little desperate, I am. I > spent weeks last autumn putting this lawn in and spent a few thousand > dollars to get it looking pretty good except for these damn brown > patches statring to sprout up all over my lawn. > If it were the middle of summer, I could understand that it might be > where the sun is beating down on th grass all day and buring it up. > But hell, its early spring and it just rained 1 inch last week. HELP!

Response:

>There are 4 or 5 >brown patches all over my lawn. They are irregular in size and range >from 2 feet to 7 feet in size. I put down some Ringer Lawn Restore >about a month ago

Do you have pets or do wild animals roam the block?sounds to me like a grub problem,pull up some of the brown grass look for little white worms.

Response:

>" >I see by your reply address you are in the Chesapeake (sp?) area. I’m a bit >further north, but have lotsa experience in lawns. >It’s almost impossible to diagnose w/out a photo though. Do you have a >digital camera? >Was the lawn grown form see or sodded?

The lawn was re-seeded last fall. It had died during the drought that plagued the Mid-Atlantic last year. It’s a combination of 70% tall rescue 20% bluegrass and 10% red fescue >Were the patches there last fall as well? No. >Are the patches growing in size? Yes >Do any of your neighbours have the same problem?

Not that I can tell. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Peter H

Response:

Are the patches mostly round? There are certain types of grubs that will cause this type of blemish.

Response:

>Hi, >Can anyone tell me what is going on in my new lawn. There are 4 or 5 >brown patches all over my lawn. They are irregular in size and range >from 2 feet to 7 feet in size. I put down some Ringer Lawn Restore >about a month ago and doubled the dose in those ares that appear to >have the brown patches. Why would theorganic fertilizer cause this to >occur?

Doubling up on lawn chemicals can be like doubling up on prescription meds. "A lot" is not necessarily better than "a little". Too much fertilizer, which can be intentional or accidental, can burn the grass. Is there any chance that the problem area are where you turn with lawn spreader, so’s they got extra heavy dose? Spreat at rate recommended on product label? Set the spread rate properly on spreader? Buried debris or rotted stumps? >Is it a fungus feeding off the organic ingredients in the fertilizer? >How can I treat this problem? If I sould a little desperate, I am. I >spent weeks last autumn putting this lawn in and spent a few thousand >dollars to get it looking pretty good except for these damn brown >patches statring to sprout up all over my lawn.

Worth the cost of taking a plug from the edge of the problem spot, and a sampling of soil from several locations, to your county extension service or whomever in the neighborhood can do soil/plant analysis. It sounds like the kind of problem caused by funguses, but that is not my area of expertise. >If it were the middle of summer, I could understand that it might be >where the sun is beating down on th grass all day and buring it up. >But hell, its early spring and it just rained 1 inch last week. HELP!

If there was a hard freeze, there is a chance the young grass was killed by cold before it matured. Don’t know fescue and blue – we have St. Augustine. If the soil analysis is ok, just sod or reseed the problem areas. Grubs can cause patchy damage, and are easy to judge by lifting a sq ft section of sod and counting them. They favor damp conditions. Drainage is ok so the lawn isn’t soggy all the time? Water once a week and deep enough? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

>Big-ass dog. You should lay off of the barbituates..

Not possible. There is a fench around the property. BTW, its Percocet and Valium

Response:

I see by your reply address you are in the Chesapeake (sp?) area. I’m a bit further north, but have lotsa experience in lawns. It’s almost impossible to diagnose w/out a photo though. Do you have a digital camera? Was the lawn grown form see or sodded? Were the patches there last fall as well? Are the patches growing in size? Do any of your neighbours have the same problem? Peter H

Response:

Hi, Can anyone tell me what is going on in my new lawn. There are 4 or 5 brown patches all over my lawn. They are irregular in size and range from 2 feet to 7 feet in size. I put down some Ringer Lawn Restore about a month ago and doubled the dose in those ares that appear to have the brown patches. Why would theorganic fertilizer cause this to occur? Is it a fungus feeding off the organic ingredients in the fertilizer? How can I treat this problem? If I sould a little desperate, I am. I spent weeks last autumn putting this lawn in and spent a few thousand dollars to get it looking pretty good except for these damn brown patches statring to sprout up all over my lawn. If it were the middle of summer, I could understand that it might be where the sun is beating down on th grass all day and buring it up. But hell, its early spring and it just rained 1 inch last week. HELP!

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hi, > Can anyone tell me what is going on in my new lawn. There are 4 or 5 > brown patches all over my lawn. They are irregular in size and range > from 2 feet to 7 feet in size. I put down some Ringer Lawn Restore > about a month ago and doubled the dose in those ares that appear to > have the brown patches. Why would theorganic fertilizer cause this to > occur? > Is it a fungus feeding off the organic ingredients in the fertilizer? > How can I treat this problem? If I sould a little desperate, I am. I > spent weeks last autumn putting this lawn in and spent a few thousand > dollars to get it looking pretty good except for these damn brown > patches statring to sprout up all over my lawn. > If it were the middle of summer, I could understand that it might be > where the sun is beating down on th grass all day and buring it up. > But hell, its early spring and it just rained 1 inch last week. HELP!

Big-ass dog. You should lay off of the barbituates..

Response:

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In: Digital Camera