The Empty Cabinets of my Mind

Caught in the Act

I've seen the infamous Google car shadows in online maps, and yes they do look just like one imagines flying saucers or UFO's anyway might look, but finally I caught a photo of one in real time:

Now I wonder, did it take a picture of me taking a picture of it? 

Once I was talking on the phone with a friend who was some 5 states away and during our conversation I typed in the address he said he was at to see what that area looked like and was astonished to see his car sitting in front of the house of the friend he was visiting.  I was able to tell him the colors and makes of the other cars parked alongside of him, and as he was sitting in his car during this conversation, I astounded him by describing a white truck that turned left onto the cross street right ahead of him.   More spooked than astounded, I think.

The likelihood of that happening again anytime soon is probably infinitesimal. 

Rotten Egg Smell?

It has been a long time since I smelled a rotten egg. But I read an article recently explaining that some of the newer homes have that odor coming out of the walls.

It is normal in some older homes for the water to have some sulpher (hydrogen sulfide gas actually) smell in the water, and according to government sites exposure to this is not dangerous. In fact, exposure to a little bit of this gas is said to be good for you.  In one study they apparently injected low doses of the stuff into heat attack victims to try to prevent tissue damage. 

However, in newer homes if the smell is coming from the walls then it could be a warning of gas emissions at a level that is damaging not only to people, but also to expensive appliances such as air conditioning units and microwave ovens, or even to jewelry.  One link with more information about this problem is http://www.chinesedrywallproblem.com and also various other groups are starting campaigns to advise the public on the problems.

Homeowners in Florida, and some other states have experienced unacceptable levels of hydrogen sulfide gas emissions which have destroyed copper coils and even nails and screws.   Upon investigation, it was found that coal ash had been added to the gypsum in the dry wall.  This causes a bad chemical reaction that apparently has resulted in some infant deaths.   The elderly are also at risk.

Business Quality Audio

That is what I get from my Plantronics Bluetooth mobile headset.  That is, when I remember to stick it on the cute little charger. 

I don't know how the folks at HeadsetHome knew that Plantronics is the brand I use, but they were right on target, so of course I accepted their invitation to mention plantronics headsets  in my post.

Whenever PayPerPost sends me an e-mail saying my post has been approved for payment, they say to tell all my friends how easy that was. Hmmmm. With the new Version 4.0 it really is easy. I liked the old PayPerPost a lot and was afraid that change might bring complications, but there was no learning curve at all. Like they said, it was easy. Setting up my plantronics headset was easy too. My heart sank when I first started reading the directions, and learned that you have to "pair" the devices before using them the first time. But they pretty much paired themselves. Good thing, too, because I was holding my breath and if it took too long I might have given the term Bluetooth a new meaning.

What is a Gerrymander Anyway?

I used the word "gerrymander" in my previous post and had to look it up to make sure of the correct spelling.  While doing so I found something interesting about the word.  The Gerrymander is a fictitious monster named after one Elbridge Gerry, who was the Governor of Massachusetts in 1812 and meant to stay that way by allowing his electoral district to be tampered with.  A political cartoonist of the time, drew this commentary on the situation:

A voracious bird with a beak for trouble

It was as a result of this work of art that the term gerrymander was coined.