Category Archives: Miscellaneous

And here is the “catch all” category for stuff that doesn’t have its own.

PDXXFit (1 or 2 X’s)

by Woodsbum

A little over a month ago I decided to make a change in my life. I went full on idiot and started paying someone to kick my ass a couple times a week. My goals were pretty simple in theory:

I want to be in less pain when I do serious physical activity and be able to move better

Sounds like a simple plan, right? Believe me that it isn’t when trying to do it alone. Booze and my Catnapper easy chair are just WAY too accessible when I overexert myself. Having someone push me into getting into better physical condition really was essential. Searching online for workouts, buying training applications, reading books, blah, blah, and blah just were not enough to make me push past the pain and just get in better shape (and I know pear is a shape, just not the one I want to be).

Luckily, I have a highly motivated daughter that used to work at LA Fitness. She knew several trainers from there and knew one of their Master Trainers that opened his own place. After a couple of weeks of her badgering her friend, I got a call to come in for an assessment. This was my first experience with crossfit or any of the crossfit methods of training.

Let me back up a little bit so no one thinks that I have never seen the inside of a gym. Back when I was in the military, I used to work out at least 4 days a week on a slow week. At my height of being a gym rat I would do 2 – 3 workouts a day and run 3-7 miles several days a week. This didn’t include my 16-18 miles a day I commuted via bicycle or the rock climbing I did on the weekends. To say that I was quite active was truly an understatement. Then one evening I fell down an embankment that is steep enough I call it a cliff. It messed up my back pretty bad and made it difficult for me to continue that level of physical activity. Due to constant pain, I slowed down on the workouts to the point where I was only hitting a body bag a few times a week (20-30 minutes) and some weight training. Weight packed on and I was no longer feeling good about myself or my physical condition. That was when I finally decided that I needed outside help.

Back to my phone call and first appointment with a guy named Marco: At first I will admit. I was very skeptical. He didn’t have any of the normal gym equipment that I have always used and was accustomed to seeing. There were racks of medicine balls, kettle bells everywhere, several tug o’ war ropes and about 6 or 8 squat racks. No where did I see a single stair stepper, which was good because I agree with Po from Kung Fu Panda on that: “My old enemy: stairs.”

Marco sat down and talked with me, did some biometric measurements, assessed my physical condition (abysmal), and set me up with a schedule to really start training. Now mind you that Marco has a weird fetish about squats. He loves to make people do squats for days and then do more. I think he likes to see if he can make himself tired through other people doing squats. Squats, squats, squats and more squats…..

I am poking fun at Marco and the crazy workout stuff that he has me doing, but in all seriousness I feel so much better. Not only am I moving better, but I am feeling better overall. It really is working and I am still amazed at how badly a “Battle Rope” and ball slams kick my ass. Not once I have I had to do an exercise that actually hurts either my beat up joints or back. His methods are amazing.

Right now I am almost half way done with my 12 week program. When I am finished I will report back on my overall progress, but I can assure you that I am really pleased thus far. If I can keep this up and get past that “hurting to bad to continue” hump that I was stuck at, I will be able to actually get back out and do the things that I love doing. Although playing basketball will never be an option for me ever again, I should be able to hike and backpack without killing myself. Even my hunting trips should be easier. Most importantly, I will be in better physical condition to go play with my grandchildren.

Although I am unsure as to how Marco works things with regard to private training, group training, or the sort I really would recommend that you look him up if you are in the market for a good trainer. He would be the one to discuss pricing and scheduling, but I know that his dedication to both his craft and his clients is really unmatched from what I have seen.

Give him a call. I highly recommend it if you are looking for a way to get back in shape, but don’t want to waste money on the disinterested and overpriced personal trainers at the big box gyms.

Marco’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mypdxfit/

Marco’s Website: http://www.mypdxfit.com/

Leatherman Tread

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by Woodsbum

My wonderful wife ended up getting two discount coupon codes to Leatherman that give special pricing. For my birthday she gave me the codes and told me to pick out what I wanted……

What a freaking AWESOME lady!!!!

Leatherman Tread

Anyway, one of the things that I picked up was their multitool bracelet called a “Tread.” I found it quite interesting and actually wanted to pick up the additional pieces that allow this to be a watch band. Fast forward about a month and lots of me looking for my watch, me messing with the bracelet, and testing this bad boy as much as I could. Here is what I found.

The Allen wrenches on this are SAE. For some stupid reason every Allen headed bolt that I run into is metric. I have yet to even come close to being able to use one. The screwdrivers have received quite a bit of use, however. Interestingly enough, the bracelet is MUCH easier to use as a screwdriver than a multitool. It seems that it is designed to fold flat with the tool sticking out, thus giving a good handhold to really torque on things. It works quite effectively. There is a cutter type thing that opens letters and cuts string quite well. That is all that I have been able to find to cut with it. The pokey thing that is described as a SIM car remover does work decently as an “Electrical Device Reset Button Pusher.” Other than the beer bottle opener, these are the tools that I have found a need for.

I think that swapping out the square headed bits for metric Allen wrenches would have been a better idea, but all said and done it does work well. For those of you with small wrists, you may have to take out a few links. Mine actually fits perfectly right out of the box. This is kind of odd because I have huge wrists and nothing every seems to fit them. Even my FitBit is on the last notch and pops off on occasion. The Tread is also quite heavy, which I like. It makes it feel like you are toting an actual piece of metal on your arm. Too many tools are just novelty items. This may be novelty and gimmicky, but it at least will take a beating.

Once I find my watch and get some batteries in it I will marry the two up and make it into a watch band with the adapter I purchased.

If I was to do it over again, I would definitely pick it up for the price I got it for. At MSRP, I would think twice just due to the lack of daily use. Spending $170 on a bracelet or $170 on a nice knife will always find me looking for things to cut. It is a great piece of gear, though.

Cheers!

Leatherman Tread

Wyoming Wolves

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by Woodsbum

It appears that a Wyoming court has finally used some common sense. The wolves that have been decimating the native wildlife are finally going to be regulated. Good job!!!

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/court-rules-wyoming-wolves-stripped-federal-protections-012455855.html

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By Laura Zuckerman

(Reuters) – Wolves in Wyoming should be stripped of Endangered Species Act protections and management given to the state rather than the U.S. government, a federal appeals court ruled on Friday, a decision that opens the door for hunting of the animals.

U.S. wildlife managers in 2012 determined that wolves in Wyoming had rebounded from the threat of extinction and that the state plan to oversee the creatures was adequate to ensure their survival.

But conservation groups sued, contending the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had acted in an arbitrary and unlawful fashion in finding Wyoming’s plan acceptable. They argued the state would fail to maintain the animals at certain population levels and would subject a portion of them to being shot on sight.

A U.S. district judge sided with environmentalists in a 2014 decision and the several hundred wolves in Wyoming were once again placed under federal safeguards.

The state, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agency and others appealed that ruling and, on Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia reversed the lower court, finding that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had indeed “exercised its judgment in a reasonable way” in concluding that Wyoming’s management plan would provide wolves with sufficient protections.

“The record demonstrates that the Service reasonably and adequately responded to concerns about the reliability of Wyoming’s management plan,” the court said in the opinion.

The decision was quickly hailed by Wyoming’s Republican governor, Matt Mead, who said in a written statement, “This is the right decision for wolves and for Wyoming.”

Mead said the state will once again assume management of wolves once the 2012 delisting rule is formally reinstated but the time frame was not immediately clear.

Conservationists decried the ruling, which they said they were still reviewing.

“But we’re going to continue to fight to protect wolves from hostile and extreme state management policies where they exist,” Tim Preso, attorney for the environmental law firm Earthjustice, told Reuters by telephone on Friday.

Wolves were hunted, trapped and poisoned to near extinction in the Lower 48 states before coming under federal protections in the 1970s.

They were re-introduced to the Northern Rockies in the mid-1990s over the objections of ranchers and sportsmen, who feared wolves would prey on livestock and game animals favored by hunters.

In 2011, wolves in Idaho and Montana were delisted through an unprecedented act of Congress. Both of the Northern Rocky Mountain states have liberal hunting and trapping seasons tied to wolves.

(Reporting by Laura Zuckerman; Editing by Dan Whitcomb and Sandra Maler)

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Avian Cholera in WA State

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by Woodsbum

I received an email notification that I felt I should pass along:

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WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/

January 27, 2017
Contacts: Kyle Spragens, (360) 902-2522
Dr. Katie Haman, (360) 870-2135

Tests confirm outbreak of avian cholera
in dead ducks found near the Tri-Cities

YAKIMA State and federal wildlife-diagnostic centers have confirmed an outbreak of avian cholera near the Tri-Cities, where more than 1,200 dead ducks have been reported in the past week.

The disease was confirmed in dead ducks found near Burbank, Wash., and tested by the USGS National Wildlife Health Center and the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab. The birds tested negative for avian influenza, a different disease fatal to waterfowl and other birds.

Avian cholera is caused by the bacterium Pasteurella multocida and is one of the most common diseases among ducks, geese and other wild North American waterfowl, said Katie Haman, a wildlife veterinarian at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

“Humans are not at a high risk for infection with the bacterial strain causing avian cholera, though infections in humans are possible,” Haman said. “We advise people to avoid handling sick or dead birds, and to report any they find.”

Reports can be filed online (http://wdfw.wa.gov/viewing/observations/sgcn/), by email (Wildlife.Health@dfw.wa.gov), or by calling 1-509-545-2201.

According to the USGS National Wildlife Health Center, the bacteria kill waterfowl swiftly, sometimes in as few as six to 12 hours after infection. Live bacteria released into the environment by dead and dying birds can subsequently infect healthy birds. Avian cholera is highly contagious and spreads rapidly through bird-to-bird contact, ingestion of food or water containing the bacteria, or scavenging of infected carcasses.

“As a result, avian cholera can spread quickly through a wetland and kill hundreds to thousands of birds in a single outbreak,” said Kyle Spragens, WDFW waterfowl manager. “The bacteria are hardy and can survive in water for several weeks and in soil for several months.”

WDFW and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are working to minimize the spread of the disease through careful carcass collection and disposal to reduce the amount of bacteria in the environment.

Signs displayed by infected birds include lethargy, convulsions, swimming in circles, and erratic flight. They may also show mucous discharge from the mouth and nose, and soiling of the feathers around the vent, eyes, and bill.

Wildlife managers encourage waterfowl hunters in Walla Walla, Franklin, and Benton counties to clean and disinfect gear, such as waders and decoys to help minimize potential further spread of the bacteria.

A 10 percent bleach solution or warm soapy water can be used for disinfection. Leaving the gear in direct sunlight for several hours will also kill the bacteria. Waterfowl hunters are advised to use gloves when cleaning harvested birds, and if white spots are seen on the liver, err on the side of caution and discard the bird directly into a garbage bag.

Although bacteria from wild birds do not typically cause infections in mammals, dog owners should prevent contact between their pets and sick or dead birds encountered. Additionally, vehicles that have accumulated mud should be run through a commercial car wash.

For more information please visit: https://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publications/field_manual/chapter_7.pdf andhttps://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publications/fact_sheets/pdfs/cholera091102.PDF

Apple Pie

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by Woodsbum

With Christmas right around the corner, it is time for me to start making my specialty booze. I normally make Apple Pie, Amaretto, and Kahlua. This last weekend was my Apple Pie run.

Apple Pie

My recipe is essentially the following:

3 frozen apple juice concentrate cans
Apple cider
2 cups brown sugar
2 cups Capt Morgan Spice Rum
High proof grain alcohol
Cinnamon sticks

What I do is the following:

Mix the apple juice cans, about a quart of the apple cider (if using 180+ proof grain alcohol), and the brown sugar in a large pot and bring it to the spot where it is almost, but not quite boiling.
Add your Capt Morgan Rum
Remove the pot from heat and move it to a place AWAY from flame or hot burner. Add your grain alcohol. If you are using single run moonshine, you might want to cut down on the apple cider at first. Try to eyeball a mixture that will give you about 45% – 50% alcohol by volume. If you are running 180-190 proof booze, you need to just do about a 50/50 mix. If you are using 120 proof stuff you might want to sub out some the cider for an additional concentrated juice can to do a more 2/3 booze to 1/3 boiled stuff mix.
When you get it all added and mixed, move the pot back to the heat. Heat it up again to the point where you are starting to get some decent steam, but NOT boiling.
Take off the heat and put in Mason jars with a cinnamon stick or two. I use 1 stick per pint of Apple Pie. This seems to give the best flavor in my opinion.

(Optional) You can add a vanilla bean or two to each jar if you wish. This gives is a nice, smooth finish. When I use vanilla beans, I go big and put in several. I figure the cinnamon and vanilla can just fight it out to see what flavor rules.

Once in a jar, make sure you let it sit for a few days at least. The longer that it sits, the more mellow and smooth the drink is. Some stuff I have had that was sitting for almost a year was so smooth that you couldn’t taste the alcohol, but was still sitting at over 100 proof.

When I start on my other boozes, I will add those recipes as well. My Kahlua is really incredible.