Rhythm of the news

Auto-Tune the News

Add a little rhythm and the news gets better

First "Invest" of the season

The Weather Underground link below is to the first tropical weather pattern starting to develop in the E. Pacific. CNA calls for more gusty winds this afternoon - yesterday was the coolest weather we've seen in weeks and today should be about the same. Yesterday's high temp was 82.4F/28C - low was 75.5F/24C - humidity ranged from 64 to 74%. The constant breeze is keeping the ocean temperature down to just below comfortable

Invest 90 on the Weather Underground
ConAgua

Invest 90 is it's name and we'll have many Invests over the year, 91's 92's, etc. I always wondered what the numbering denotes or even the term Invest . This is the best I could come up with from a weather related message board.

These "Invests" are usually first listed on the Navy's weather page.... and are numbered 90-99 and have a letter attached, identifying the basin in which are they are located. L- Atlantic. E- East Pacific. W- West Pacific., etc...etc...etc... Once an Invest is declared, the NHC starts running model data on that particular system."

Tropical weather on the west coast of Mexico

Swine Flu in Puerto Vallarta Mexico

In this video you can see how things are going normal and there is no clear evidence of any pandemic or swine flu anywhere. The weather is beautiful and Puerto Vallarta México is ready to welcome anyone who wants to have a nice time in this region of Mexican Pacific.

Vote Mexico for the Amazing Race - Discovery Channel

Vote Mexico for the Amazing Race - Discovery Channel

... and help the clobbered tourist industry

http://www.tudiscovery.com/race/inicio.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Amazing_Race_en_Discovery_Channel

The Amazing Race en Discovery Channel (English: The Amazing Race on Discovery Channel) is a reality television game show produced by Discovery Channel Latin America in association with Disney. The Amazing Race en Discovery Channel will feature eleven teams of two, with a pre-existing relationship, in a race across Latin America to win US$250,000. The race will be produced by RGB Entertainment

Curiosity almost killed the cat

Over two days missing and I had given up. Tomas, the last of the crew, wouldn't leave me alone assuming he was missing his companion of 3 years. Had another cat die about 6 months ago and I was sure there was someone in the neighborhood that didn't like cats or my cats.

Talking to the boys on the beach yesterday and remembering I had given Molly (the missing) worm pills just days before she disappeared .... they warned me about the vet I used and convinced me I might have given her dog pills because the vet is irresponsible.

So what do I hear this morning but a meowing from over my garden wall. Taking a peek I see Molly in the window of the house next door behind screens. Nobody is living there now and I think someone checks on the house about once a week. She must have snuck in and didn't get out in time.

Sorry neighbors but I had to cut a little screen on the back window to let her out. Will replace it if and when I see the owners. Tomas is now off my back since I'm not his only company.

Mexican Threadless Insulators

I got an email from Colin Jung related to my post on glass bottle insulation of rebar. I assume he thought I migh know something about these supposedly Mexican insulators in the foto below. He also sent a link with further info on what people thought these things are. I've never seen these in Mexico that I remember. Maybe they are regional. They look like old power line insulators to me.

Mexican Threadless Insulators, a.k.a. Fence Post Insulators

This is in reference to excellent ICON Post. Information about Mexican fence post (fencepost?) insulators:

Re: Verdict please? Colin Jung, Sunnyvale, CA Regarding the so-call Mexican threadless insulators that have been floating around the hobby and were originally sold by Jack Risselman (aka Katfish on eBay), I got obsessed several years ago trying to uncover the origins and use of these glass items. Fortunately, I am over it now, but will share what I learned. Sorry I don't have a photo of one nor can I find a photo of one on the ICON photo gallery. Is that possible? These "Mexican threadless insulators" are identified by the NIA as questionable items.

I spoke to Dale Huber who has hunted for insulators in Mexico for decades. He has never seen one in service nor has he found any in the wild.

Thinking they may be identified as a decorative/ornamental fence post cap/cover, I have done some extensive googling and have been unable to find any merchants (mexican or otherwise) that sells them.

I have searched through an unknown number of on-line Mexican vacation photos without finding any photos showing them in use on fences.

I have contacted major fencing material suppliers in the southwestern U.S. and the sales reps just scratch their heads when I ask them about these glass items.

Only Jack knows the real, full story..... but he has already told us what they are, even though any outside or independent documentation is sorely lacking.

Colin Jung

A link to the foto and other peoples opinions

Just had to admit I need a new camera

I have 3 Sony cameras and only one is working. All are FD (floppy drive) cameras and the newest also has a memory stick. I've loved these things for the last 5-6 years (one is from 2000) but they are just wearing out. I'm convinced it's the salt air and humidity here along the coast of Mexico which effects everything electronic ... but what are you going to do.

I did just buy a set of jewelers screwdrivers and will try to take apart the older two that don't work. There is a chance just the contacts are corroded but who knows what the inside of the camera looks like.

Anyway, the Canon Powershot looks to be 10 times the camera with larger zoom and can take as much video as you have room for (not 15 seconds like mine). This puppy will be waiting for me at my sisters back in the states. Hope it's what I need.

The Canon Powershot SX10is is canon's leading "ultra zoom" P&S digicam. It has a 10MP 1/2.3" CCD image sensor (6.16mm x 4.62mm). The Powershot SX10is features an Image Stabilized lens which is equivalent to a 28-560mm zoom on a full frame 35mm camera, an enormous 20x zoom! It's not slow either with an aperture of f2.8 at the wide end of the zoom range, dropping to f5.7 at the telephoto end.

In movie mode the Powershot SX10 IS can record up to a file size of 4GB or 1 hour (whichever comes first) at 30fps in either 640 x 480 or 320 x 240 formats.

Contrabando and the Flu

From day to day and restaurant to restaurant the rules seem to change about what they can serve, how they can serve, who can be open ... etc. The only hard and fast rule I've run into started Sunday with the no serving of alcohol.

We brought a cooler with beer, coke and snacks 'cause we heard everything was closed but the beach places looked to be operating as normal. When our waiter came over he checked the cooler for contrabando ... and then just said the beer is OK if we keep it covered. Everyone else made the 1 block trek to the local store to buy their beer or ordered coco's and added tequila

So much for saving us from the flu .....

From the Guadalajara Reporter

“First there was last fall’s financial crisis. Then came the drug war. Now this,” he said wearily. “I had already started cutting work hours for the staff. Now I may have to consider some layoffs. I hate to be a pessimist, but my overhead is tremendous. I can’t afford to close down the restaurant for a week.”

At press time it appeared that members of the restaurant sector had agreed to keep their doors open come what may, with backing from the national restaurant chamber (CANIRAC). “Most of us will stay open for food service and suspend bar sales,” said Javier Raygoza, whose family runs central Chapala’s Restaurant Superiors, pointing out, “That should work to meet the main objective – preventing large conglomerations of customers.”