Richard N

>>Beyond this, I've found that FULL stainless thermos flasks >>stay hot for over 24 hours, but partially full ones get cold >>within a few hours. Hmmmm, a case of Liliputian physics? >>Or something else? > >Hypothesis... > >Partially full ==> sloshing ==> more circulation ==> >bringing more hot liquid into contact with colder parts of >flask (at the neck) ==> more efficient cooling (higher >temperature differential at the neck) ==> cold beverage ??? > >Totally full ==> no circulation ==> the liquid develops an >even gradient of temperature from the neck down ==> less >efficient cooling ==> beverage stays hotter, except at the >top. > >How to test this? Fill a flask to the brim; leave it for a >few hours; open and pour it carefully; see if the liquid at >the top is noticably cooler than the liquid at the bottom, >with a relatively steady gradient all the way down. Final answer???? After you try the above, try the experiment below. You have a small ice cube (1"x1"x1") and a block of ice (one cubic foot). Both are at the same temperature when you place them on a (your) counter. For 1 point: Which one will reach room temperature first? For 10 points: Why? Hint: Hot or cold, the basic reason is the same. Another puzzler: A Thermos is really a very intelligent piece of apparatus that always performs correctly. Without switches or settings, it automatically keeps the contents hot or cold! When you put hot water in a Thermos it keeps the water hot. With cold water it keeps the water cold. How does it know? Richard N Living to learn. Romany, White with Blue trim

My theory, based on local, on the water, knowledge of the area at night during the months of October and November. Cuttyhunk: On the first of November only a few houses are occupied and very few (if any) lights would be visible from Nomans. Aside from some dimly lit homes on the island and possibly one or two street lights, the island is basically dark. And, because of the location of the houses and topography of the island, I doubt any of the lights could be seen from nomans. On a clear night, twinkling lights along the coast from Narragansett to New Bedford and the Brenton Reef light are visible from Cuttyhunk and the Vinyard. Based on weather conditions described, the lights should also have been visible from Nomans. What Nomad assumed to be Cuttyhunk, was most likely the bright light on the tower at Brenton Reef. (aprox. 90 degrees to the left of Gay Head) . And, I suspect the twinkling lights were from Narragansett , Newport. or Sakonnet Point. Just my 2 cents. Richard N Living to learn. Romany, White with Blue trim

I also have a Princeton Tec Aqua Strobe (clear lens). Small, rugged and bright. 2 years old without a problem. I usually check it between trips to test the batteries. Just applying grease to the O-ring may not be a good way to insure a good, reliable seal. Cleaning and reconditioning is highly recommended. My simple procedure for cleaning and reconditioning O-rings and seals - Remove the O-ring (seal) while being very, very careful to prevent scratches or cuts to the ring and housing surfaces. Wash the O-ring in dish washing liquid to remove particles (sand, salt, etc.) that could score the ring and surfaces. Wash the O-ring housing surface and inside lens surface to remove particles and old lubricant. Inspect the O-ring and lens. The O-ring should be round, smooth and shiny. If the outside surface is flat, it should be replaced. The inside surface of the lens should be smooth and free from scratches. If you notice any surface scratches, cuts, or irregularities, stop, and order new, replacement parts. Since I always use "303" on rubber gaskets to prevent breakdown, I also spray some on O-rings. If nothing else, it makes them look like new. Grease: silicone type grease used by plumbers. Available at most hardware stores, Home Depot., etc. A small tube will last a lifetime. Use, very very sparingly. Place a very small dab on your finger tip and coat the O-ring with a very thin film to act as a lubricant and insure a good seal. All you need is a smooth thin coat without any obvious or noticeable amounts (lumps) of grease. NOTE: If you use too much grease, you risk the danger of collecting dirt that will, over time, scratch the housing surfaces and cause the seal to leak. While reassembling, be careful to prevent lint or particles from entering the housing or attracting to the O-ring. Total time to recondition your seals: slightly more than it takes to read this post. Richard N Living to learn. Romany, White with Blue trim

The nice thing about a Feathercraft is that it is easily shipped by UPS or FEDEX. Based on my experience, Lyle Hanckock (Folding Kayak Adventures) usually has every model and color in stock, ships within 24 hours and has the best prices. Website: www.foldingkayak.com I purchased a boat from him a few years ago and am happy to say that he greatly exceeded my expectations on both service and price. Great company. Lyle Hanckock Folding Kayak Adventures 5036 47th Ave NE Seattle, WA 98105 U.S.A. 1-800-586-9318 Phone/Fax 206-522-8249 Email: Lyle@foldingkayak.com Lyle will have it arrive at your designated location on any date you choose. Richard N Living to learn. Romany, White with Blue trim

A wonderful eulogy for a fine companion . And, my sympathy to Liz and friends. Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

Rick, You are on-the money!!!!!! Excellent review of a sensational product. I'll second your endorsement. It is one of the most versatile piece of equipment I've seen!! I call it the "Leatherman" of cover ups. Seal Suit is not only an important safety item that sits in your boat on standby, it is also a very practicle and versatile cover-up to be used on land or while paddling. It's a must have! For $145.00.....it's cheep (price). Bomb Proof construction and well thought out design. One size fits all (cockpits and people) I keep one in my boat at all times. BTW.... I think the manufacturer is Rasdex and distributed in North America by GRO. So........Where's the boat? Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

Here.....Here. My hat's off to Sir Christopher! He IS a very wise man!!!! Murphy's law dictates that you should NEVER expect gadgets to be the primary resource to bail you out. Although I do have and regularly use high tech gear (toys), I personally consider electronic equipment nothing more than items of convenience. When gadgets fail, and they do, the only reliable resource is YOU. Unfortunately, for many who have/use them, electronic "toys" provide a false sense of security. They have become short cuts to avoid learning the basics. Case in point: Yesterday I witnessed two people with plastic rec boats launching on a nearby lake. No floatation, no spray skirts. They were proudly wearing pfd's (that's good) and they had an overabundance of safety gear (strobe, VHF radio, paddle floats, GPS, etc.). Although they had all the "stuff" and felt secure, it was glaringly obvious that they didn't have a clue regarding the basics. Take away the "stuff" and they most likely would never have the courage to venture off the beach. For me, it was a frightening sight. Although you may have all the "toys" and use them frequently, my feeling is that you should continually hone your personal skills to enable safe passage without reliance on high tech gear. When things go bad, it's skill, experience and knowledge that count. The "stuff" is only convenient and helpful supplemental equipment. Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

Thank you Dee, Brian, Gary and Bob: The Trip Leader training committee, and especially Scott and Rick, commit to an enormous amount of time preparing, presenting and guiding us throughout the program. My sincere gratitude to them, to you and to all the other trip leaders who assisted during the sessions. The generous sharing of your knowledge and experience is truly appreciated. Many thanks again! Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

Congratulations Bob & Geri!! Would you consider coastline bagging? Paddling the entire coastline of a state. Island Bagging? Paddling to or around, all of the "off shore" islands within each state. Or, paddling to and climbing (hiking) to the highest point on each island. Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

It appears that the 470 (new last year) has been replaced by model #471. I haven't found any apparent difference between the units except for the change in model number. Features, functions and appearance appear to be the same. The real good news is that if you find a 470, Standard Horizon is offering a $50.00 rebate through June 2004. [http://www.standardhorizon.com/through%20June%2004.pdf] You may be able to find a closeout price less than $300.00. Applying the $50.00 rebate would bring the price to around $250.00 "Now That's A Bargain". Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

My experience.... I've been using a Vertex Standard (Standard Horizon) Model No. HX470S for over a year without any problems. It's been slammed, dropped, submerged and sprayed for over a year. Although it has been to hell and back, it's still "ticking". Works like a charm! The 470's improved design incorporates a drop-in charger that eliminated the troublesome charging port. The rugged magnesium case has shock absorbing rubber on the lower corners. Sure..... it costs a little than other models, but it has proven to be extremely durable and reliable. [http://www.vxstd.com/en/products/products_marine.html] If it should ever die......I would immediately, without question, buy another. Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

Hay.....Christopher! Check the following links: bottom of page Rescue Hook Molded Sheath With Clip (attaches to lash tab) Also, they have a new model with a larger handle area for gloved hand use: Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

Also, scroll down the page to download the Coast Pilot! Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

Liz: The above activities list is only for the month of June. Wait until you see July and August! ;-)) Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

"So I assume this means we want more "theme oriented" sessions? basic rescues? advanced rescues? self rescues? 1001 uses for a paddlefloat? " Why not? Just do it! I guess we all took a bite out of the "apple".......and liked it! Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

The following link will take you to a very interesting product. Makes sense to carry a pair of these in your day hatch. Let me know if anyone is interested in a group buy. I'm sure the price would be less than $15.00/pair. Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

Brian: You are on-the-money regarding the 3 pack PocketRocket. All of the pieces are very small. If you drop a piece on land (launcher, or flair) you just bend over and pick it up. At sea.............hummmmm! On the other hand, they have a "MiniFlair 3 Kit" that is standard issue in all US Coast Guard rescue vests. It uses the same launcher and flairs as the PocketRocket. The difference is that it contains 8 flares (vs. 3) in a rubber bandoleer that has a secure storage slot for the launcher. It's a tight, very compact package (6" x 2.75" x 0.75"). Bandoleer and the launcher are designed to allow them to be tethered together. Just attach a 20" tether from the launcher to the bandoleer and wrap the line around the kit or flemish against one side. As with any pyro device, a heavy duty ZIP type plastic bag or sealing the kit in an airtight food sealer bag would be a good idea. The complete kit will easily fit into a PFD pocket. Easy to operate with gloves. The "MiniFlair 3 Kit" with 8 rockets takes up less space than a 3 pack of the "StarBlazer. Hand held flairs.....NOT ME. Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

Where would I find an on-line version of the article? Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

Leon: It's really sad to hear of your accident. I hope you're soon back on the water practicing to paddle the pants off of the competition. BTW: pictures, any pictures? LOL Get well soon! Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

Hi Jim: Link to photo: http://i2.tv2.dk/images/s/f51a2dedb9936a87...6ffd10741/94868 Talk about ugly! Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

Great article on signaling: [http://www.equipped.com/signal.htm] The following launcher and flares are part of the official inventory in all US Coast Guard rescue vests. [http://www.orionflares.com/Marine/Products/aerial/pocketrocket.html] [http://www.leaderkeeper.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=22_28&products_id=125] The first link is for a 3 pack of flares in a small waterproof tube. **Pro: very small size, waterproof case, will fit in your PFD. **Con: IMHO, because the rockets and launcher are very small you must be very careful when you open the waterproof tube. It's almost like playing with marbles. If you're wearing gloves, it is difficult to work with the contents. The Coast Guard (second link) version contains 8 flares in a bandoleer that has a secure storage slot for the launcher. It's a tight, very compact package **Pro: The bandoleer and the launcher can be tethered together. Easy to operate with gloves. **Con (minor): No waterproof case. A heavy duty ZIP type plastic bag or sealing the kit in an airtight food sealer bag would be a good idea. [http://www.painswessex.com.au/Marine/flares.htm#Miniflare3] [http://www.lifesupportintl.com/miniflare3SignalKit.htm] I personally prefer the larger model because it is not possible to tether the contents of the small (3 flare) package. NESC should have access to both models. Hopefully the above information is helpful. Richard N Living to learn.

Just found this excerpt from a published paper: svibanj-lipanj 2001 Psihologija braËnih odnosa NZADOVOLJSTVO U BRAKU UZROK NEVJERE “……..Bjorn Daehlie koji je pro©ˆle godine osvojio 8 olimpijskih zlata. Njegova vrijednost na granicama ljudskih moguÊnosti iznosi nevjerojatnih 94 ml 02/kg/ min. Drugi je poznati biciklist Eddy Merckx sa 84 ml/02/kg/min. ......" Mr. sc. George Salebi, dr. med. I stand corrected! Bjorn Daehlie is #1 94 or 95 is probably as good as it gets! Where's Andrew Binks when we need him? Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

Scandinavian cross country skier Vegard Ulvang has been measured with one of the highest max VO2 values of any athlete (in any sport). ****GONG***** (but not the highest) Wow.....at 93 ml/kg/min, this guy was beyond super human. But.....wait... "Hold your tickets" !!!!!! Mike has the name of the real #1 Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

Talk about a hoot!!!!! 178 History of Hingham "Towards he bead of the harbor, hardly a mile south, lies BUTTON ISLAND. This little heap of rock and gravel, hearing no trees nor shrubs and but little glass, is not worth visiting." It's in the book! That's what is says. [http://www.usigs.org/library/books/ma/Hingham1893/h1landmarks.html] Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim

Name the island - 8. (name) Location: 42° 15' 05" N 70° 53' 04" W Thanks to Sean and this fun game, we'll learn the name of this little landmark that's less than 100 yards across. Richard Living to learn. Romany White, Blue trim