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Bob L commented about Hotel Video of Hot Water on Demand Shower and Sink, On Sunday November 1st, 2009 09:03:08 AM
Instant on water heaters are an extremely common way of supplying hot water. They come in both gas and electric. They can be sized for a sink, like that one, or as a whole house unit. In modern US homes, they are often put in bathrooms/kitchens that are far away from the main gas water heater. This allows the user to get hot water pretty much immediately but still get most of their hot water from the less expensive gas unit. The unit will work until the hot water from the pipes warms up past some set point. They are also used in those cases where a room/area is added as an occasional guest house. This allows them to just run one water line (which may have to be drained in the winter, so one line can be better). I have seen the gas ones in homes in Poland and in pictures of homes elsewhere in Europe. They are usually placed on a wall that is common to both the kitchen and the bathroom to easily supply both.
Some of the advantages are that they are small and can be put almost anywhere as opposed to a large water tank. If the gas ones don't use a pilot light, they do not use energy when no one is using hot water (except maybe a transformer for the ignitor). The electric ones don't generally use any power unless needed. In countries with 220V electric supplies running a power line to the unit is easy (lower amps needed for 220V). The tank style water heaters lose energy all day. The tank style heaters can run out, but the instant on ones put out the same amount of hot water all day long. In old buildings, there may only be one water line going to a room, and this is an easy way to put hot water in a room. Also, as you found, you only really need to run one pipe to the shower also. More water, cooler, less water, warmer.
Some of the disadvantages of them are that they are more expensive than a typical water tank (assuming no additional water lines would need to be run). They will only heat up a certain amount of water a certain amount of degrees, so if you turn the water on too high, you are screwed. They require a rather high current to run, especially on 110V systems. They can get clogged up with deposits like a tank can, but will stop working when they do.
These are actually very similar to the electric shower heads.
I don't travel as much as you do, not even close. You go home almost as often as I travel. BUT I have seen these heaters a number of times, just never a single one in a room. They have always been bigger units outside the room someplace. I suspect, if you followed the water lines in hotels with hot water, you would see these more often. Look under the sink, in utility closets, etc.
I looked into these a couple of times and know people that have the larger gas units. The gas units that they sell in the US are rather expensive, and it does not look like energy savings alone would be a large driver. The heat lost from a tank heater is not sufficient to give a quick return, if any, on the high cost of an instant on. The smaller electric ones are fairly cheap, and if you use hot water only occasionally, don't need a high flow, and you have a large enough electric service, they can save you money in the long run. But I think the driving force behind getting these is not energy savings but rather, space, ease of install, ease of maintenance.
If you can stand the temps of the water coming out of the system, it is not really killing much for bacteria etc, BUT it does tend to make soap work better, and you are more likely to both take showers and take longer showers if they are warm and comfortable. The temps that a water heater tank is supposed to be at WILL kill many bacteria, the water temperature that we take showers in is a rather comfortable temp for Legionnaires disease amongst others. So, it is recommended not to turn your tank water heater down too much, even though it saves lots of energy. The lower temps don't affect an instant on, as the water is not hot long enough to encourage growth.
my favorite:
http://www.neatorama.com/2006/01/12/poor-mans-hot-water-heater/
Here are a few more home made hot water supplies at thereifixedit.com
http://thereifixedit.com/2009/08/10/epic-kludge-photo-running-water-is-relative/
http://thereifixedit.com/2009/07/20/epic-kludge-photo-dear-landlord-plz-stop-trying-to-kill-me/
Comment About Hotel Video of Hot Water on Demand Shower and Sink
Bob L commented about Glenn Beck Entitlement Mentality, On Friday October 30th, 2009 05:21:39 PM
Andy HoboTraveler.com said: *When a job goes overseas it is because the American people felt entitled to earn more than another country.*
Very True. But add that the US has one of the highest business taxes in the world, many more regulations, environmental considerations, the *not in my back yard* mentality...... Along with sometimes just really bad decision making in big companies. Sometimes a manager convinces his managers that moving jobs overseas will save the company money, just so that he can say that he *did something*, even though in the long run it is bad for the company. Not to mention many other things driving it including Government incentives to move jobs out. etc etc etc..........
Comment About Glenn Beck Entitlement Mentality
Bob L commented about My America HoboTraveler.com 2009, On Tuesday October 27th, 2009 09:23:02 PM
Very nice. I love small towns/cities. A bit too built up for my taste, but I have never been a city boy.
Bob L
Comment About My America HoboTraveler.com 2009
Bob L commented about Obama Becomes Eunuch, On Tuesday October 13th, 2009 06:44:11 AM
Andy, as a person who has always worked hard, you might not feel BHO has done a good job if you were still paying taxes in the US.
The only people that I know personally that like him, have been on some sort of public dole for years, and are hoping that they will get more. I realize this is not representative of his fans as a whole, just my little sample. You must remember, the president does not really have a lot of power to improve a country, especially very quickly, but he can stifle a country's growth, and kill an economy. All he has to do is create uncertainty amongst those that create jobs. The business men I have talked to are on a wait and hold mentality right now. They do not want to invest in a business or create anything new until they figure out in what way the Government is going to go. They don't want to risk their money, then have the small profit margin taken away by some new Govt' regulation. As an example, the Obama Bucks that are being handed out for infrastructure repair are now supposed to go to Union people. The state where I live does not have many union workers, and as such has a very good standard of living. But these bucks are now going to other states. Anyone that was hoping to do well in construction due to theses Bucks, has had to reduce the number of people they can hire, since the Union Wages are so much more than the prevailing wages. Just one example where the Govt's policies have unintended negative results. That is the way with most Govt intervention in almost anything.
Kim, you said: *Stastics show that in the USA, people of color, do less well, than indigenous whites. Much the same as in Europe. These issues suggest implicit racism.* I disagree. This might show that the effects of past racism, which caused a large population of poor blacks with no hope to get ahead, but it does not indicate present racism. Yes, there is racism here, as there is everywhere to some extent. Both against blacks etc, and against whites etc. Something happened a while back. In the days of Martin Luther King, there were leaders that preached to the blacks to become solid citizens, to WORK to change the world, to be men. Somehow the culture changed until we get rap music telling the men to treat their women like w**res and promoting violence etc. What happened here? I don’t know. I have no solution. I work, and have worked with many black people in offices and have never found a difference between any of the races or any real problem between people that work together. I don’t even like that term racism, because we are ALL one race, the human race. There is no real, or at least visible, racism that I see in the places I have worked, but there is a certain tension in some cases if the blacks are far outnumbered by others. That tension is to try and not offend and be called a racist. There is always the concern of a lawsuit. It takes years of hard work to create a good reputation, and mere accusation to destroy it.
What I would like to see is more people of the black communities, and the entertainment communities, and all the people, working to reduce the promotion and glorification of violence. I want people to STOP being so tolerant. We keep promoting tolerance of everyone. Even behaviors that are bad and dangerous. Look at some of the crap on TV. How about we use some good old fashioned disapproval for a change. When someone we know or any public figure behaves badly, how about we let them know we don't like it. Show them we disapprove. Say to them, *Don’t to that in public. Or at all for some things*. We have become a nation, or maybe a world of people who tolerate anything, except intolerance.
Ya' know, if you count the number of words I write and divide by 100 you can tell how many cups of coffee I had during the day.
Comment About Obama Becomes Eunuch
Bob L commented about Cultural Fatigue, On Saturday October 3rd, 2009 09:17:26 AM
*An armed society is a polite society*
Although, it is not the guns that make this culture polite, but rather the politeness of this society that makes gun ownership a good thing. I was asked by an Englishman once if I would intervene if someone was breaking into my neighbors house. I told him that it was a silly question, of course I would. What kind of neighbor would I be if I did not? I don't know if this gent was typical of the English attitude, but he seemed shocked. Now, yes, if I thought there was time I might also call the police, but not necessarily.
Comment About Cultural Fatigue
Bob L commented about Which country do you want me to visit, On Thursday September 24th, 2009 09:42:49 PM
So, Mira, write about this already. 8^)
You don't write much lately, but a few of your older readers miss your viewpoint on the world.
Comment About Which country do you want me to visit
Bob L commented about Gaddafi Marks his Territory in the USA, On Thursday September 24th, 2009 06:47:35 AM
Andy qrote: I have one agenda, I want you to look for truth that is not negotiable, truth that does everyone agrees on, that is easy to say, that is the truth. The moment you start to need persuade to believe the truth, then there is a problem.
I would mistrust a truth that everyone believes in more than any other. History is full of *truths* that everyone believed. Don't trust Mob intelligence.
Comment About Gaddafi Marks his Territory in the USA
Bob L commented about HoboTraveler.com in La Union Philippines, On Saturday September 19th, 2009 08:10:25 PM
Aparently it is easy to mess up a comment by using separators. My last message lost my input, so here it goes again:
Your mom wrote:
....told lots of stories to friends about you as well as strangers, worried sometimes and most of all we have kept you safe by praying every single day for you. We know every day how fortunate our family is that you stay safe and provide your brother and sister's children great material when they are doing their homework. There is always one free room waiting for you when you are in the USA and that is called Home.
...................................
The love and caring of family is the best thing a person can have. You are a lucky man.
Having a place to call home, even if you don't live there is a great thing also. I still call my dad's place home, even though we sold the place. I still consider the town I grew up in home, even though I have not lived there for many years and rarely go there. It is a foundation of my life, and will always be remembered as it was. They say that home is where the heart is, but having a physical location gives a certain strength to the feeling.
My father hated motorcycles, but when I started traveling by motorcycle, he started telling his friends my travel stories. He was proud of what I was doing, even though he worried and wished I would chose a different path. Family is something that everyone should have, and if one has a caring family, that person should nurture his relationship with his family, as I know you do.
Comment About HoboTraveler.com in La Union Philippines
Bob L commented about HoboTraveler.com in La Union Philippines, On Saturday September 19th, 2009 06:18:44 PM
Your mom wrote:
....told lots of stories to friends about you as well as strangers, worried sometimes and most of all we have kept you safe by praying every single day for you. We know every day how fortunate our family is that you stay safe and provide your brother and sister's children great material when they are doing their homework. There is always one free room waiting for you when you are in the USA and that is called Home.
Comment About HoboTraveler.com in La Union Philippines
Bob L commented about HoboTraveler.com in La Union Philippines, On Saturday September 19th, 2009 06:12:17 PM
I really don't care where you go, you find and report on the reality of all places in an honest way. It may not make everyone happy, but I am always happy to hear your views.
If I were to vote at all, I would just vote to have you change from culture to culture, with as much of an extreme change as possible. Maybe go from Asia to the middle east to africa to europe to the USA. The larger the change in cultures, it seams, the better your writing. Maybe you could go out to Aridzona with Wade and the two of you could write your observations together. That would be an interesting read.
Bob L
Comment About HoboTraveler.com in La Union Philippines
Bob L commented about Egotistical People are Better Looking, On Friday September 18th, 2009 04:08:28 PM
Or he just does not care what people think of him. I don't much care, and have no problem walking around a pool with my large belly.
What, you think that the guy should just sit at home with the doors locked?
Comment About Egotistical People are Better Looking
Bob L commented about Medical Tourism Hospitals in Big Cities, On Thursday September 17th, 2009 07:15:43 AM
*Fun stuff, but truly a scary Charlie Foxtrot if I was truly going to die from this. I am just in pain, that gets less every month. I think it will disappear if I ignore it.*
To partially e Gen John Stark *Death is not the worst of evils.*
As you often write, quality of life is probably most important. We will all die, but not everyone will live. But as you continue to show us, good quality of life comes mostly from what we make of life rather than the roll of the dice. I have seen people who were perfectly healthy and in a good financial position except maybe a little hay fever who had a terrible quality of life because they beleived that life sucked and created their own troubles, real or imagined. I have also met people who seemed to have everything going against them, with serious health issues and various dissasters beyond their control who had a great quality of life, mainly because of a good attitude and making the best of what good things there were in thier lives,
So, you have some pain, you are not letting it stop you, just slow you down and you are doing something to correct it. Still a good quality of life. Of course, you are also busy. What I think most people would have a hard time doing if they tried to travel like you is to keep busy in some productive manner. It takes an incredible amount of drive and creativity to keep yourself busy while on the move. That, I think, is the key to being happy and having a good quality of life. I know 80 year olds that are as active as they can be, dispite any health issues, and they are happy as anything. I know healthy 40 year olds who don't do much of anything past thier jobs they don't like and the TV. They are as unhappy and have about as poor or a quality of life as anyone can have.
"The most depraved type of human being
is the man with no purpose"
--Atas Shrugged
Comment About Medical Tourism Hospitals in Big Cities
Bob L commented about I am tired of Travel Fantasies, On Tuesday September 15th, 2009 11:51:01 AM
AsiaBill said: *the government does little to restrict unhealthy diets being promoted by the same corporations who finance their election campaigns.*
I like the rest of what you said, but I don't get this statement. It does not fit in with the rest of what you said. You want the Government to restrict what we eat? You don't think good nutrition is taught in schools? You don't think that most people know what and how to eat? In my opinion, people are duped because they want to be. They want to take the easy way out. Eat whatever they want and take a pill to fix it. Sure, the advertising is out there to try to get you to eat crappy food, because that is where the profit is, but I think it is a small percentage of people that don't know how to eat. They just don't want to believe because it is inconvenient.
****I've also been influenced by such one sided propaganda and didn't realize it or admit it til about 7 years ago ****
Yes, we all go through this from time to time. We, as a species seem to be easily brain washed. We often do it to ourselves. We all, at one time or another, will *know* something, then, at some point we will be convinced of the opposite, then we will *know* that fact. As we get older, hopefuly we become better at filtering this, although I don't think it ever goes away. For some people it actually gets worse.
Don't blame the brainwashers, and don't blame the people that are making a profit off of our self brainwashing. We must blame ourselves when we let ourselves be easily fooled, and try to improve ourselves.
Comment About I am tired of Travel Fantasies
Bob L commented about Diagnosing Sciatica in Philippines, On Monday August 17th, 2009 06:28:46 AM
I had issues with leg pain etc similar to what you describe. No back pain though. This started after getting a cramp in what I later found out was the piriformis muscle due to some minor physical trauma. I was on a bike at the time and had to push throught the cramp. I felt the muscle *give* and everything was fine. Except I ended up with numbness, and various other issues. Nothing major in my case, but a serious anoyance.
Stretching, similar to what was in the video helped a lot. Over the years, the problems have mostly gone away, other than some numness on the skin of my leg in a few places, one small patch in which the hair all fell out. I dont know if the stretching helped cure the problem, but it definitely reduced the symptoms. I found that almost any stretch that I could feel in the periformis muscle helped. I also sometimes used a tennis ball to masage the muscle if it felt tight. I can even use a hard chair to massage it.
I dont know if you have this other problem, but I sometimes get serious pain in the muscle behind the shoulder blade. I was shown by a physical therapist that if you put a tennis ball in a sock (just to hold it, not necessary) and either lean against a wall or lay on it, you can use it to massage the muscle. Works wonders for me. I suppose this method could be used for any hard to reach place that needs massaging.
Comment About Diagnosing Sciatica in Philippines
Bob L commented about I Need a Predictable Environment, On Wednesday August 12th, 2009 05:20:39 PM
Maybe now you are beginning to understand why people stay in their 9-5 jobs, why they go on vacations to exotic places, yet stay in resorts that try to imitate some ideal version of where they just left. People (and animals) are not comfortable in unfamiliar surroundings. They need something fixed, something stable. Each day needs to be somewhat predictable. The (or rather a) difference between you and them is that you have taken chaos as your predictable environment. You have chosen, or it has chosen you, an environment where the odd and the dumb and the frustrating IS your familiar environment. A day without problems to solve would seem unstable. You say you want a boring life for a change. Then, I suggest you continue doing what you have been doing. You want a challenge, then go back to the US and get a full time cubicle job. For you, that would be a serious challenge. THAT is your sub-Saharan African rain-forest adventure. That is your deep dark dangerous environment.
I listen to (uhh, errr, read?) you criticize *tourists* and realize that you are a tourist. Just a VERY different one. For you, a resort is a place where you can work your 9-5 job, which appears to be learning how to survive or adapt to environments that most tourists would wilt in, and feel like you are home. As you say, you are living out there, not vacationing, but in a way, you are a tourist. Although, frankly, I have never found a description of the differences between a tourist and a traveler that satisfies me.
Although, you are not exactly a traveler either. You live in different places. Maybe only for a short time, IF you think of a city as the *place* you live in. But if you modify *place* to be, say, the Philippines, or even Asia, then, maybe you are living in a place long enough to be considered a temporary resident.
Or not...... Just thinking out loud here. I am going to go have a beer and come back and read this post to see if it still makes any sense.
Comment About I Need a Predictable Environment
Bob L commented about Philippines Alpha Females, On Wednesday August 5th, 2009 06:57:48 PM
I think, in the past, most women realized this. Everyones grandmother was to be feared more than any man. Somehow in the quest for *equality* this understanding was lost. Blame it on the 60s, blame it on the loss of the nuclear family, blame it on MTV or the Martians. I dont know. It seems to me that many of the few women in western cultures that realize they have the power, tend to abuse the power.
Maybe I just watch too much Old TV.
Bob L
Comment About Philippines Alpha Females
Bob L commented about The Culture Punishes for Asking Questions, On Friday July 31st, 2009 07:08:54 PM
I wanted to comment on Garys comment, but it is too big of a subject, and I only wanted to add details to it, so begged out and did not. But I want to add one something that I would bet Andy has already figured out for this situation, as he seems to have figured it out for so many others, being so much more self aware than the average person. A person can decide what they allow to bug them, at least once they figure out what is bugging them.
An example, that may fit Andys Thai GFs situation, in a way. My GF would get tweaked every time she went to her mothers house. I would see it and was helpless. Then, of course, I would have to suffer the *mood* and get yelled at for nothing. Remember that a good woman will attack the ones closest to them, because they feel safe attacking them (men do all the same stuff, just differently, and that is not the subject of the moment 8^) So dont think I am picking on women.)
A woman has a bad day, and will come home and yell at her husband. If he yells back, he lost. If he ignores it completely , he lost. If he is understanding, and she is worth a s**t everything gets better once the steam is released.
Oh yeah, my example. Anyway, after living through this for a while, I pointed out to my GF what was happening and suggested that she no longer let her mother push her buttons. When her mother pushed, my GF shrugged it off, changed the subject etc. Basically realized what was happening within her, and stopped it. This put a stop to her mothers actions, as it was not getting the reactions she wanted. Now they are friends again.
Andys Thai GF needs to realize what it happening within her, and deal with it. That is difficult enough if it is an individual thing, but is *extremely* difficult, I would think, if it is a cultural thing. But then, who here doesnt have some ghosts to deal with?
Bob L
Comment About The Culture Punishes for Asking Questions
Bob L commented about The Culture Punishes for Asking Questions, On Friday July 31st, 2009 06:47:36 PM
Note, I am not supposed to explain cultures because I do not have a degree in cultural studies.
The lack of degree makes you more likely to be honest. The unbelievable amount of real world experience makes you the ideal person to explain cultures. No BS, no PC.
Bob L.
Comment About The Culture Punishes for Asking Questions
Bob L commented about My Thai Girlfriend Comes to Baguio Philippines, On Sunday July 26th, 2009 02:48:46 PM
I have been following your site for years. Andy, I love this post. It explains a lot. Your writing seems to go in phases as the the quality, readability and positive/negative ratio. This, from a quality of writing and readability standpoint is one of your best. It also appears to be the most honest and heart felt one I can remember. Let the losers make their snide remarks. I think we are going to see a much happier Andy now. Congratulations on finding a woman that is interesting in traveling with you. Congratulations also on figuring out yet another aspect of your likes/dislikes. Sometimes defining things to ourselves about ourselves is the hardest thing to do in life. And the lack of definition can make us ugly, as we dont understand why we are not happy, when we should be.
I am glad you shared this with us. My recommendation would be to leave this young lady out of as many of your posts as possible, as anonymity is a very valuable thing, and hard to come by. And almost impossible to regain once lost.
Bob L
Comment About My Thai Girlfriend Comes to Baguio Philippines
Bob L commented about Water Fountain in Thailand, On Monday July 6th, 2009 08:15:56 PM
I have seen friends that NEVER travel get sick, apparently from the water, when traveling to other parts of the US. No matter how clean your water is, there are always small amounts of *bugs* in it, even if dead. I think, although I have no proof, that people whose systems are used to only one small part of the world, when they drink water from another, they can get sick. Not very sick, just the body getting used to different bugs. I also think that a lot of the time that vacationers get sick and claim it is due to the water, that it is probably more likely due to that sixth margarita, or that third trip to the all you can eat buffet.
Sometimes when I do business travel, I get sick. This is usually due to changing my diet from a fairly reasonable amount, to having three big meals a day, along with snacks and maybe a few beers.
Bob L
Comment About Water Fountain in Thailand
Bob L commented about Unemployment 2009, On Monday July 6th, 2009 02:42:39 PM
Little Blossom said : Starvation comes to us in many forms, however the form in which you speak of, from lack of nutritional consumption, can be found right here in the U.S. Kentucky, Virginia, N and S Carolina, just to name a few, have starving children. Then there are those cases of horrible abuse: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/11/nyregion/11starve.html
I can only imagine the lack of static’s on such cases, because Ive been into the heart of Kentucky, and there are children there that dont have indoor plumbing, shoes or a closet full of clothes. They drink contaminated water from wells and some of them Ive encountered (dont know the stats!), dont even have a birth certificate!
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Not to be argumentative, I really do care as you do, but some points need to be made here. In the US, there are so many forms of help for children that there is no reason for starvation. It happens, as you have witnessed, but it does not have to happen. It is not for lack of availability of food.
Indoor plumbing is a luxury. Clean drinking water is not. This is something that even the poorest people should be able to get, but dont always. There are enough charities that donate shoes etc that again, this should not (but does) happen. A closet full of cloths is an extreme luxury. Protection from the elements is not. Again, there are enough charities donating cloths that all children should have some cloths (but often dont). A birth certificate is yet another Govt requirement that should be a voluntary thing. Then again, having a social security number is supposed to be voluntary.
Although I have been to the areas you speak of, I have not been involved with the types of folk that you have. I would like to hear their stories, as in, why are they in such a predicament? I would suspect the reasons are many, with alcahol abuse being a big part of it. And, as in your argument, abuse is probably one of the, if not the, biggest factor, for whatever reason it happens. Fear of the Govt probably is a big factor. (don*t want to ask for govt assistance for fear their children would be taken away). Maybe too much pride to take charity, but not enough to actualy do the work necessary to better themselves. Ignorance is probably pretty big too. And probably some mental health issues. Too many generations of living poor to know the differenct might be a factor also.
What it comes down to, in my opinion anyway, is that no child has to starve in this country. Nor does any adult for that matter, but the help for that is not as plentiful.
It sounds like you are doing a lot to help. Do you have a web site or organization that you work with?
Bob L
Comment About Unemployment 2009
Bob L commented about Room Needed in Philippines, On Monday July 6th, 2009 09:26:26 AM
Nicholas said : ***I think you should concentrate on one thing a time and finish that. Now you have alot of stuff going idea, which is good. But get your shit together and finish them one after one!***
A e from Atlas Shrugged: ***The most depraved type of human being ... (is) the man without a purpose.-- Ayn Rand***
Or better: ***A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others.-- Ayn Rand***
There are 24 hours in a day that must be filled with something. Whether you fill it with one project that you end up finishing, or 10 projects that never get completely finished is besides the point. At the end of the day, you must feel that you have accomplished something.
Comment About Room Needed in Philippines
Bob L commented about July 4 in USA 2009, On Monday July 6th, 2009 09:03:50 AM
Jack and Jane Verburg said: ***Happy 4th. of July. Yes, you are right...Americans do not appreciate the freedom they have. There is nothing worse then listening to some person wine about THEIR government when they have never experiences 3rd. world enviroment.
Once you have, you are never the same.***
From my perspective, there is nothing worse than someone whining about how their Goevernment is not doing enough about something or another. The less involved the Govt is in our lives, the better.
I have experienced the 3rd world. (OK, maybe the 2nd world....) It has made me complain about my Govt even more. I have seen what a Govt can become, and the more I complain, and the more I do the better of a citizen I am. We must fight every law and every decision that does not make sense. Even if it does not affect us directly at all. We must also consider what each law would be like if taken to the extreme, as laws tend to get stronger and more extreme over time. Recently our state made it ILLEGAL to have a diving board on your pool that is on YOUR property. I fought against this law, even though I do not have a pool and dont know anyone else that has a pool. I fight against tobacco taxes and regulations even though I dont smoke. Anything that can stop the encroachment of big governent. This will keep our country from becoming like the others.
You dont think it can happen here? I know a man that was working on a project that required taking a photos of the outside of courthouses around the country. He was repeatedly harrassed. In one case he was surrounded by SWAT like police and held for questioning. All in the name of Der Fatherland Security, or whatever. Did I happen to mention that this man was a retired judge?
I am more concerned about the person that does NOT complain about the Govt. It means he either does not understand, or is a sheep.
Bob L
Comment About July 4 in USA 2009
Bob L commented about Thailand Market Shrimp and Fuzzy Fruit, On Monday July 6th, 2009 08:32:41 AM
***A writers job is not to think for you, a writers job is to make you think and feel. The tools of an internet writer are different than a magazine writer.***
You definitely make me think and feel. But as provocative as your writing is, the comments section completes it. Comments add such a great dimension to this (and any). Different readers see different things in your writings. For example, I never would have seen this post as one that would encourage a lively discussion, yet it did.
Bob L
Comment About Thailand Market Shrimp and Fuzzy Fruit
Bob L commented about Back Pain Relief in Thailand, On Thursday July 2nd, 2009 10:32:30 AM
# Andy said: Insurance is always a redistribution of money.
Yep, kinda a voluntary form of socialism. My biggest single gripe about health insurance is the fact that pre-existing conditions can make it impossible to get (or afford) insurance, or they will just not pay for the condition. But, I hate government intervention almost as much. Quite a dilemma.
# Andy said: If the USA offers free health services to it citizens, I am not going to noble and say no, I will stand in line like the rest of the sheep.
As will I. Baaaaaaa
Bob L
Comment About Back Pain Relief in Thailand
Bob L commented about Unemployment 2009, On Thursday July 2nd, 2009 10:24:58 AM
I suppose it depends on how they calculate unemployed. My girlfriend is considered unemployed, and receiving Obaba-Bucks (an extension to unemployment). She is also working 20 hours a week. If it were not for Obama-Bucks, she would probably be working 60 hours a week somewhere to make up for it.
There are almost always jobs available out there. They can be hard to find, and they may not pay enough to make it worth it (read, your standard of living will change), but there are almost always jobs available.
There are many people, however, that are unemployable. They do nothing to make anyone want to hire them, and nothing to try to keep their job if they do somehow find one.
Note, I am not saying things are easy. These are hard times. Congress keeps playing games and changing the rules, so it is difficult for employers to make decisions. Taking money from those willing to produce, and giving it to those that are not. The media demonizes business as if it were there fault, yet they are the ones that create jobs (NOT Congress). The media has people so scared that even those with $$$ are not spending them, which makes fewer sales, which means fewer jobs. And the circle goes round and round.
Comment About Unemployment 2009
Bob L commented about Back Pain Relief in Thailand, On Wednesday July 1st, 2009 09:41:38 AM
I was all set to slam you for calling for free health care, until I re-read your statement:
I am hoping Obama helps give me free medical in the USA… hehehe, maybe I can nationalize in England or Canada and get them to pay…
And realized you did not beleive it to be free, just free to you. Having re-read the statement, I see that you understand that I am being forced at gunpoint to pay for it. Nothing wrong with you taking advantage of something that we, as voters, allow.
Bob L
Comment About Back Pain Relief in Thailand
Bob L commented about Empowerment Worries Me, On Thursday June 25th, 2009 07:16:50 AM
Horia said: Can you blame the woman who posted some days ago asking about how to get to some pygmys in Africa? Can you accuse her of ignorance, such as the other guy who posted.
I guess I would be the other guy who posted. I did not intend to accuse her of ignorance. I truly am interested in what her viewpoint is on this subject. Why these pymies? Did she see them, does she know thier true plight? Is it random? I know nothing about these pygmies, never heard of them. I dont know if they are in need of help or not. I would love to hear her reasons for helping out this specific group.
There are some very good charities out there, and there are some that are just feal good money holes.
Bob L
Comment About Empowerment Worries Me
Bob L commented about Thailand Foreigners Take Our Smile, On Wednesday June 24th, 2009 05:55:45 AM
Ann said:
.....Batwa (pygmies) ...... and we would like to help them.
I would be interested in hearing why you think they need help, what kind of help you are planning on giving them and why you think it will help them.
I hear this term raise money to help them.. all the time. But most of the time it comes down to offering charity to people who just need a job. Or in some cases, there is no plan on what to do with the money, but the beleife that money will somehow majically solve some imagined problem. I am curious.
Bob L
Comment About Thailand Foreigners Take Our Smile
Bob L commented about Two Farmers in a Field, On Thursday June 18th, 2009 06:22:34 AM
Next thing you know you will be expecting people to do their part and support themselves. Or not steal. Or bathe once in a while.
Bob L
Comment About Two Farmers in a Field
Bob L commented about Buddhist vs. Islamic Architecture, On Tuesday June 16th, 2009 10:50:59 AM
Mormon Tabernacle Choir ???
(just joking)
Bob L,
Comment About Buddhist vs. Islamic Architecture
Bob L commented about Zipper Repair Travel Tip, On Monday June 15th, 2009 06:38:31 AM
Careful when doing this. You can break the zipper or squeeze it too much. It is not just squeezing the sides. If you look at a broken zipper, you will see that the tail end is cantilevered. You want to squeeze tail the end down some too. The tail end may be the real key to making this work as it will bend more without breaking.
Bob L
Comment About Zipper Repair Travel Tip
Bob L commented about Tanzania Human Interest Stories, On Wednesday June 3rd, 2009 05:53:25 AM
We have all deleted comments now and could show, maybe we can do inside password area so not punished by google.
I am not so sure I would want to see ALL of it. Maybe just a small sampling once in a while. ** out the bad words. I know there are bad people out there. Being reminded once in a while is a good thing. Being flooded by reminders would be a bad thing.
Bob L
Comment About Tanzania Human Interest Stories
Bob L commented about Tanzania Human Interest Stories, On Tuesday June 2nd, 2009 11:22:19 AM
Great post. Would it be possible to meet Annas Mother and arrange some language classes for a very small fee without breaking a social rule? I realize you are not really intersted in trying to learn the language, but I would think doing it this way would get you closer to a family to see how they live and think, maybe learning more about the social norms.
Andy wrote: .....I could increase my hate mail without a problem and make enemies out of good people like Anna.
More hate mail would be interesting to see, but not at the expense of hurting good people. And, as you have written before, even good people will ask for money in many cultures. I know I have had this happen a few times. It was almost as if the request was being said out of obligation, as if it was just expected that I should be asked, not that I was expected to give.
Bob L
Comment About Tanzania Human Interest Stories
Bob L commented about Bus Kabanga to Kahama Tanzania, On Monday June 1st, 2009 11:10:17 AM
It helps those people that need someone to help. Keep them down, and you can send them aid and say you are helping the world. Much better to send them food than to teach them to farm.
Or am I being cynical?
Bob L
Comment About Bus Kabanga to Kahama Tanzania
Bob L commented about Crazy Trip to Burundi and Tanzania, On Friday May 29th, 2009 07:49:24 AM
Nice to see some numbers showing what things cost in US$, although EU$ would be fine too. I would like to see, in each post, either what things cost in $ or some easy way to convert, as in this one where you mention 5k francs ~ $10 It is sometimes frustrating when someone mentions how many thousands of whatever currency something costs, but there is no easy way to figure out how much this costs in a more mainstream currency.
Bob L
Comment About Crazy Trip to Burundi and Tanzania
Bob L commented about Africa Travel Fatigue Travel Tip, On Thursday May 21st, 2009 07:52:24 AM
I just went back through a few weeks of comments. Emey, I would like to see a more detailed post from your friends as to just what they found offensive in these articles. Do they feel that the posts are inaccurate? What in the posts do they find racist? They do realize that these posts are day to day journal type stuff, not polished, finished magazine articles, correct? In my quick scan I could find nothing that even spoke about race other than saying that a black persons body is different from his and that the people here are undiluted with the white race for the most part. Hell, MY body is different than his, and I would not find that offensive. And I do not find it offensive when people suggest that the dark coloring of those on my mothers side of the family might be because of their relative proximity to Africa. Although, to suggest that an area of Poland is close to Africa is a bit of a stretch. Close to the Med, sure. And the med is close to Africa, so.....
This is a great venu for somewhat controversial issues related to culture, travel and pre-conceived notions. I dont know if Andy would agree with me, but I like it. Explore new ideas through readers comments and his posts.
Comment About Africa Travel Fatigue Travel Tip
Bob L commented about Africa Travel Fatigue Travel Tip, On Thursday May 21st, 2009 07:18:06 AM
Que Bob for his routine stick up for those with different opinions post..... Moi Moi has an interesting point. It is easy to read posts AND comments in a negative light. But realistically, they all count. Writing from your feelings will tend to upset someone. But to have the courage to do it is commendable. Thanks for adding to the comments Moi Moi.
Emey post is very interesting also. I only have had a few black friends through the years. But none of them have any interest in going to Africa because they think it would be much worse than Andy shows it to be. I think maybe your friends need to go to the places Andy is going with a similar budget. I would not be surprised if thier opinions would then be worse than Andys. I do not see any racist comments in the posts, as I see it they are comments about Nationalities and culture, not race. But then, I am not in the same shoes as your friends.
Bob L
Comment About Africa Travel Fatigue Travel Tip
Bob L commented about The Future of Internet Access, On Thursday May 21st, 2009 06:29:16 AM
I use an extension cord for my USB all the time, it keeps me from breaking the USB port. What I really would like is to get some 3 inch or so cords so that I can have the flexibility, without my flash dipping in my drink.
Comment About The Future of Internet Access
Bob L commented about Sudden Need to Clean Backpack, On Wednesday May 20th, 2009 06:02:16 AM
I thought this post was pretty good. Good tips with real world examples. If a post is boring to you, dont read it. There are many posts on subjects I have no interest in. Only takes a few seconds to realize when is not worth reading to YOU. I think Andy most every post Andy has is interesting to someone. Even if it is only interesting to Andy, that is OK too.
Bob L
Comment About Sudden Need to Clean Backpack
Bob L commented about Danger in Kisoro Uganda, On Tuesday May 19th, 2009 05:52:40 AM
The just wait statement is pretty typical, even in the US. When the ATM messes up, they want you to wait until they can have a good view of the situation. The ATM emptied and accounted for, all computer transactions processed etc. The times I know of, everything was taken care of automatically. In fact, it is more likely to come out ahead in an error than behind. For example, I had an issue where I tried to get $200, but the machine stopped at $160. The bank voided the transaction. When I brought up their error, (Damned Christian Guilt) it was suggested that I forget about it.
This, of course, does not help the traveler, as waiting can be an issue, especially when you really need the money.
Be safe, Bob L
Comment About Danger in Kisoro Uganda
Bob L commented about Nylon Jackets for Backpacks Travel Tip, On Saturday May 16th, 2009 05:52:01 PM
The old military jackets had big buttons sewn on the shoulders. They also came with flaps that could hold gloves and hats and things, but the buttons were there mainly, I think, to hold the straps of the various bags that would be carried.
Bob L
Comment About Nylon Jackets for Backpacks Travel Tip
Bob L commented about Invention is Observation Travel Tip, On Saturday May 16th, 2009 05:41:28 PM
Cant wait. I know you will have some great ideas.
Bob L
Comment About Invention is Observation Travel Tip
Bob L commented about Nylon Jackets for Backpacks Travel Tip, On Friday May 15th, 2009 10:55:29 AM
Sew or glue a sticky rubber to the shoulder strap of your pack. There is a rubber they sometimes put on shelves in kitchens that works. other options might be to smear some RTV (silicone adhesive) on the straps.
Then, it wont matter what you are wearing.
Bob L
Comment About Nylon Jackets for Backpacks Travel Tip
Bob L commented about Kisoro Uganda Photos, On Thursday May 14th, 2009 09:15:39 AM
I wonder if the amount of ambition is inversely proportional to the amount of aide? And which came first, the amount of ambition or the aide?
Bob L
Comment About Kisoro Uganda Photos
Bob L commented about Uganda Restaurant Serves Peas, On Wednesday May 13th, 2009 12:42:42 PM
Make yourself a steamer (super simple). Almost anything that can be cooked can be steamed. Takes minimal energy. Can use your alcohol stove or your electric water heater.
Bob L
Comment About Uganda Restaurant Serves Peas
Bob L commented about People Stink Travel Tip, On Friday May 8th, 2009 08:07:37 AM
Having this list of comments is probably the best thing I have seen on yours, or any Blog I have ever visited. I love reading comments to old posts, I love being able to see them all at one time, in one place. It is great to see both nice and nasty comments. How seemingly mild statements inflame some people.
Dj Hams said For a person that has traveled a lot, you are full of stereotypes..... CHOSE YOUR WORDS WISELY!
I have to assume that Dj is not a regular visitor of your site, or he would know that your written English is not always precise. And thats OK. Yes, we are all full of stereotypes. Sometimes travel eliminates them, sometimes it re-enforces them. These kinds of posts help increase the discussion of these subjects.
And to think, this post was just a travel tip to use a Menthol Rub............
Everyone is a prisoner of his own experiences.
No one can eliminate prejudices -- just recognize them.
--Edward R. Murrow
Bob L
Comment About People Stink Travel Tip
Bob L commented about Africans are Good at Languages, On Friday May 8th, 2009 07:46:28 AM
You make many good points. When most people talk about the abilities of a race (or gender) or individual person, they tend to say either that we are all the same, OR each race etc has specific abilities due to XXXX. I believe neither side is true. There are so many factors that it cannot easily be defined. I like your statement about accelerated evolution. Something that is seldom talked about. We are seeing some of that in poor areas of the US where the strong and most aggressive are likely to have the most babies with the most women. I dont know if this is really true, but that is what I am getting from what I see in the news and other input.
If, in fact, Africans are genetically inclined to be better at languages, maybe it has an evolutionary cause. There have been many languages in Africa through history, and not a lot of writing of them. To survive and thrive, you probably had to, in history, be very smart, and good at taking up languages.
Again, this may be true, I dont know. But, one of the many factors is the environment a person grows up in. For example, you grew up on farms. You had mechanical things to do and play with. You needed to figure technical things out. You may have had a natural ability to do these things, but had you instead grown up in an environment where you had no opportunity to learn these things, this talent may have atrophied. I grew up in an environment with a lot of mechanical things etc. So did my brother. He has NO mechanical/technical aptitude. Was that due to natural abilities, or lack there of? Maybe. But it could be something else. My brother did not have the patience to sit with my father and play with these things. He is older and in his formative years my father had less time to help him along with these things. There were more kids in our neighborhood his age during that time, and many more other distractions. So.... was it nature or nurture that caused these differences? I contend that it is both. Had our ages been reversed, I would probably be less technical, and he more, but technical things would have still been easier, more natural, for me, and harder for him.
I have worked with a number people of all races in an office environment. In office environments, you will get people from all walks of life, with all kinds of histories. Other than physical makeup, I see no distinction between any two peoples from similar environments. Abilities, manners, etc tend to be the same. Even the physical makeup seems to change a little over generations. Kids in third and fourth generations seem to be getting heavier, for example. I was working with a black guy recently that was the same age and grew up in a similar environment to one of my nephews. Both came from parents that had decent money, but who had grown up in good solid blue collar families. Both sets of parents went to college etc.. If you stood the two of these men next to each other, and ignored skin color, they could be brothers. Similar voices, similar mannerisms, similar physical makeup, similar intellects, similar jobs. (both were engineers), similar natural abilities.
I could pull up a ton of examples that would support these points. And I am sure you could pull up thousands more than I ever could. Culture and environment seems to be the final deciding factors in who we are, although these factors are not alone in deciding who we are. We have all seen babies that were stubborn from birth, and others that were happy from birth etc.
For years I had been convinced that this whole evolution thing about natural selection was missing something big. That there was more to it. It seemed to happen too fast. It seemed to me that it only took a generation to change some things, and that nobody had to die for the change to take place. And that the animals/people/plants were too stable when there was no reason to change. I felt change was being passed down to the next generation through another means as well as natural selection. Well, it turns out I was right, in a way. according to one theory. It is not simply that the ones most fit live and prosper while the ones that dont die off. There are triggers in the genes of animals (and maybe plants) that can be triggered by various environmental factors. Have plenty of food when you are growing up? The genes of your offspring may have triggers tripped to make them taller or bigger, even if they dont have plenty of food. You grow up during a famine, your kids may be small, even if they have plenty of food. I dont know a lot about the theory. I dont even know if it is a popular one and I certainly dont know how accurate it is, but it does explain a lot about how we are who we are and how people of the world can be so different, yet so much the same.
Bob L
Comment About Africans are Good at Languages
Bob L commented about Solar Electricity for BlackBerry Storm, On Thursday May 7th, 2009 08:10:27 AM
If the pack really is AA batteries, either NiCd or NiMh then what I would do is take the batteries out of the pack. Get a simple plastic holder for them and wire this into your solar pack. They sell ones that hold 8 cells in many electronic stores, but you can make up your own if you like. Rewire this for the 10 cells, although, you might be better off making it 12 cells as that would be a little closer to the voltage you need. Remember, a car battery is more than 12 volts to start with, and when the car is running it is arround 14.5 volts. There are losses in all parts of the system, so go with 12 cells. Anyway, take these out and charge them in your AA battery charger, then put them back in the solar pack.
Another possibility is to take the batteries out all together. It is unlikely that the open circuit voltage will be too high for the Crackberry. Generally, the battery in the device keeps the voltage where it belongs. If you are really concerned about this, you could put in a 12V Super Capacitor, but those will be hard to find where you are, unless you hit a big city, and even then....
Yes, I would get a voltage meter. They make super small ones, but a quality small one is expensive. You want to be able to measure voltage and amperage. For the Crackberry you should not need one that measures more than probably 300 mA, but check your Wall-Wart (AC Chaarger), that will give you the absolute maximum.
Your solar panel output will be significantly reduced if inside of the glass window. Even more so if there is a screen (unlikey where you are). ANY shadow on the panel will pretty much wipe out any output. Even if one tiny section of the panel is shadowed it will reduce to worthless.
It is a great idea to have multiple phone batteries. Just use the phone to charge them. Thats what I do. Charge one, switch, charge, switch etc. This can be done on your puter too. Carry more than one battery to get better up time during an outage. Better than trying to carry around a motorcycle battery.
Forget about trying to keep the computer charged with solar, unless you want to carry a BIG panel. Yeah, if you are only going to use it for a very short bit every day, but otherwise....
As I understand it, charging the Crackberry off of the puter USB is pretty much automatic, but that assumes you have power for your puter. Here is a link to one guys view. Look around, should be easy.
http://www.jan-jansen.be/index.php/2008/05/25/blackberry-usb-driver-charging-via-usb
With a bunch of acceessories, including external chargers, etc:
http://www.shopblackberry.com/_blackberryaccessories/cgi-bin/pd.cgi?page=categoryandcategory=On20the20Goandfrom_category=Lifestylesandpid=
And this for USB charging. I think it is really just a plain cable, without any real power conditioning. I would think this came with your phone.
http://www.shopblackberry.com/_blackberryaccessories/cgi-bin/pd.cgi?frompage=categoryandpage=product_detailandfrom_category=Lifestylesandcategory=For+the+Officeandpid=F2222HYW3RG3YJN5864
There are ways of travelling light that some people do, but it is risky since if one link in the chain fails, you are screwed. You get a power supply for the puter that works on 12VDC or international AC. You use the USB port to charge your phone, AA batteries etc. Forget solar. The only thing I can see using Solar for on the road would be a Sattelite phone if I was going to be FAR away from power for a long time.
Find out how much a Motorcycle battery costs in your area, and a charger. If you are going to stay in an area with intermittent power for a LONG time, it might be worth buying one, then dumping it when you leave. You dont need a fancy charger if you are not planning on keeping the battery for a long time. Just a cheap one. Maybe get one that works on both 220 and 110 AC. This is assuming you have a way of using your laptop off of 12 VDC. The power supplies that do this as well as 110 are not known for their reliability or low cost. You can use an inverter, but that adds yet another thing to carry. There is NO PERFECT solution.
Of course, you could always just relax when the power goes off and do what the locals do. Nothing.
Comment About Solar Electricity for BlackBerry Storm
Bob L commented about Uganda Cattle Photos, On Saturday May 2nd, 2009 06:28:19 PM
Cattle is cows is cattle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattle
Wiki is loaded with info, sometimes true
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ankole-Watusi_(cattle)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nguni_cattle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_breeds_of_cattle
There are a few people up our way (New Hampshire) that are raising these:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_cattle
They are tough and handle the winters well. There was one nearby that my girlfriend really liked and she named it Snuffles. As in Snuffleupagus.
Bob L
Comment About Uganda Cattle Photos
Bob L commented about The Balance Later Travel Tip, On Saturday May 2nd, 2009 06:06:03 PM
Ya gotta stay sharp. Funny thing happened today, kinda made me think of what you talk about. A friend needed change for a $20. I pulled out some change, ones and fives, then, in all the change back and forth, I put the extra change back in my wallet. I was with good friends so my guard was down. Turns out I never got the $20 for my change. Was not on my guard, so let this happen. It took my friend a bit to realize he shortchanged me. Good thing he was a friend.
As soon as you let your guard down, or let your trust take over, you can lose.
Bob L
Comment About The Balance Later Travel Tip
Bob L commented about Bumology 101 in Kenya Africa, On Thursday April 30th, 2009 07:03:39 AM
jo jo said Wade, my reading of moi mois comment is different than yours.
Jo Jo, I agree with you. I read the comment as teh bums are the vulnerable ones.
It is easy to read things into what someone writes. I am guessing that MoiMoi is a new reader on this site. Much of what Andy says can be interpreted in many ways since it is blunt, off the cuff writing. If I had never read anything Andy wrote and this was the first article I saw, I would be inclined to agree with MoiMoi. But knowing Andys writings, I think the points he was probably trying to make hold up. My interpretation is more along the lines of this being a Recipe for becoming a bum, not a how to become one if you want to. Or maybe signs of someone who is becoming a bum. I thinnk the key sentance here is when a person walks away from civilization and does not know how to return When he does not know how to return. This does not necessarily mean that the person chose to walk away, although that sometimes happens with Druggies, but that they could not return for whatever reason (drugs, mental illness etc.). Of course, I could just be reading my own feelings into someone elses writing.
Bob L
Comment About Bumology 101 in Kenya Africa
Bob L commented about Barefoot Hoe Farming in Kenya Africa, On Sunday April 26th, 2009 06:57:16 PM
Lots of people like to farm barefoot to feel the moisture of the earth. It feels good in hot weather too. The only problems that I can think of is that there are some parasites that can get into you through the earth and there is always the possibility of glass or other sharp things in some areas.
The easier part is, unless you have boots, you are likely to get stones in your shoes. If you have trouble buying shoes, you would not want to ruin them just working in the yard.
I have listened to people say oh those poor children, running around without shoes... Hell, I NEVER wore shoes when I was young.
OK, that was off topic. But, I really love your real world examples of peoples lives. None of that flowery Oh these poor people or Oh wouldnt it be great to live the simple life like this or whatever. No SPIN.
Thanks.
Bob L
Comment About Barefoot Hoe Farming in Kenya Africa
Bob L commented about Digging Water Well in Kenya Africa, On Sunday April 26th, 2009 06:31:36 PM
Depends:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_well#Dug_wells
Comment About Digging Water Well in Kenya Africa
Bob L commented about Mosquito Net Stops 20 Bees in Room, On Thursday April 23rd, 2009 05:42:58 PM
Put a hot bulb just outside the door. Turn off everything in your room. Then, when all the bees etc have moved outside, close the door.
OR, just have one candle and nothing else in the room. Have a fire extinguisher ready in case any of the flaming bees hit something flammable.
The bees are probably going to what is warmest. There is also a possibility that the transformer is buzzing, but unlikely.
I would think that there would be someway to set up mosquito netting over the windows/doors. Not easy, but should be possible.
Bob L
Comment About Mosquito Net Stops 20 Bees in Room
Bob L commented about He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother, On Friday April 17th, 2009 07:03:29 PM
Why do babies cry?
Because they imitate their parents.
A sorta off topic example, for easter, the family was gathered for easter. One couple that has two boys, 5 and 7 or something, were complaining about how they cant seem to control their kids. They dont know what is wrong with them etc. I was sitting with the mothers of the kids parents. The three of us agreed, the children were acting just like their parents, only more so. Kids are the perfect social scientists. They will adjust their behavior to what gives them what makes them happy. USA, and other so called developed places tend to be about what you own, and control and stress. Supposedly less developed places dont try to control so much, there does not seem to be as much emphasis on competition and stress. Frankly, in my limited experience, people seem happier. And people from the US (and I suppose other places) just dont get it.
Another tangent.... due to too much coffee on my part today I suppose. Maybe I just need to hear myself talk. I went on a trip with a local dive shop to Belize. We took a shuttlebus through Dangringa, a town I had been to before on the bike. The folks in the bus were commenting on how sad it was to see the kids in town, with nothing, living in shacks, and how bad their lives were etc, etc, etc. They could not accept my comments that these kids had a great life in many ways. That their life was not horrible. Heck, these kids had more stuff than I did when I was young. They had IPODS, backpacks with wheels, bicycles, LOTS of friends and places to play, good schools, etc, etc, etc. Why do people equate things with a good life? Why cant they accept that a good life, is a good life, no matter how it happens?
OK, coffee is wearing off, Ill shut up now.
Bob L
Comment About He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother
Bob L commented about Travel Tip on Water Clarity Test, On Friday April 10th, 2009 04:05:53 PM
I would not worry about it. The pics dont show too well, but the water looks fine to me. Yes, it may be river water, but as long as there is not too much sewage in it and you dont drink it I dont see a problem. A common problem in some areas is iron in the water (or other minerals). I know of one place in New Foundland Canada that the water was so brown it looked like someone had diarrhea in it. The water came from a reservoir in an area with TONS of iron in it. The streams were all the same color, as was any well water. Safe enough to drink. Well, I drank it, anyway.
Bob L
Comment About Travel Tip on Water Clarity Test
Bob L commented about Throw Away Trash Packing Tip, On Saturday March 28th, 2009 10:33:12 AM
I cant understand leaving trash on the floor for the maid to clean anyway, BUT dont only worry about the floor.
Shake out the blankets and sheets, look under furniture cushions, open all drawers, under furniture, behind doors, etc..
Comment About Throw Away Trash Packing Tip
Bob L commented about Guatemala Paperboy, On Wednesday December 24th, 2008 04:20:00 PM
I agree, it is much better to read the paper versions of a paper. Easier to scan and filter etc. But for many of us, we have so many interests and sources for news etc, that we tend to leave ourselves little time to do things like read the paper. Sad. And of course, the whole paper is not on-line and you only get to read what they decided to put up on the web.
Bob L
Comment About Guatemala Paperboy
Bob L commented about Christmas Trees in Guatemala, On Wednesday December 24th, 2008 03:57:00 PM
Merry Christmas ! ! ! !
When I was there on Christmas Eve, the town was so quiet, I got a bit drunk and went back to my room early. At midnight the fireworks started, then I started hearing English voices outside my room. It turns out a couple could not get to their hotel because of all the fireworks, so they ducked down the alley that lead to my little hotel. The family that ran it fed them and invited them to stay until the fireworks calmed down.
The next day they had a parade where all the children dressed up, like Halloween, and danced down the streets. Rather a nice place to be for Christmas. I just wished I had known what was going to happen, I would have stayed up to see the Christmas eve festivities.
Bob L
Comment About Christmas Trees in Guatemala
Bob L commented about No Batteries No Photos, On Tuesday June 24th, 2008 09:28:00 AM
You can always try something like this:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=41427
This is chinese junk of course, and it claims it will charge NiCd batteries, but does not say NiMh. Probably better to get a 12V version of one of these and use a smart battery charger that uses 12V input.
Of course, this assumes you will have view of the sun, and it is yet another thing to carry.
Personally, I would just bring a bunch more batteries. You can get cheap ones at:
http://www.all-battery.com
Along with cheap chargers.
Bob L
Comment About No Batteries No Photos
Bob L commented about Best Value Seat on the Plane, On Tuesday June 24th, 2008 09:11:00 AM
Ask for "Emergency Exit Seating" over the wing.
Some emergency seating has a bulkhead in front of you. Although there is more room for your knees, you have no seat in front of you to put your feet under and no luggage space in front of you and sometimes no tray, or just the little one that comes out of the chair arm.
Bob L
Comment About Best Value Seat on the Plane
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