plain & simple: I Love Windchimes

Plain and simple: as the title of the posts says "I LOVE WIND CHIMES". I currently have 8 chimes in my garden this year in all different shapes, sizes and materials. Even the Shepard's hooks are of my favorite things: cats, butterflies and dolphins. I'm not worried about what the neighbors might think as I love to listen to the different sounds and tones especially at night.

Recently I did an internet search for chimes and discovered a site that has the most fantastic Music of the Spheres Wind Chimes which were developed by a Texas company in 1989. Their chimes, known as the Stradavarius of wind chimes are made of tempered aluminium tubing to keep them rust free and able to withstand the elements.

This line of chimes range in size from regular garden size to the largest: the Basso Profundo Music of the Spheres Chimes which totally fascinated me . This wind chime is more like a work of art. It is 14' tall and has 6 tubes, the longest of which is 8'3/5". It weighs 200 pounds and is considered to be "the mother of all wind chimes". Each hand cut tube is tuned to A440 (the standard orchestral pitch). It has a polyethylene clapper that gives excellent tonal quality and the craftsmanship gives it excellent outdoor durability.

I learned a lot of new information at the Outdora site. I never really thought much about the sound of chimes until I looked at the Music of the Spheres Chimes descriptions. There are many different sounds/tones that are acquired by using the latest technology to achieve the high standards in acoustics and visual quality. The Soprano (30") is the smallest of the chimes. Others, increasing in size include: the Alto, Mezzo, Alto, Westminster, Bass and Contra-Bass.

Nuclear Shutdown

If you have a family history of heart disease, have ever had a heart attack , know someone who has, the news of a nuclear reactor being permanently shut down may have a major impact on the quality of life. The Canadian reactor shutdown has caused a shortage of a radioactive isotope used to detect cancer and heart disease.

Approximately 40,00 patients each day undergo medical imaging procedures using the isotope technetium-99. 80% of nuclear medicine scans use it.

91% of hospitals, pharmacies and commercial imaging groups that responded to a Society of Nuclear Medicine survey said that the shortage has affected them. The Canadian reactor and another one in the Netherlands (which is shut down for several weeks for maintenance) produce most of the U.S. and European supply. The U.S. is able to get a small supply from South Africa.

Technetium-99, processed from molybdenum-99, is used in body scans for cancer, heart disease and kidney illness. It's combined with a substance to target a specific tumor or organ.

Some tests are now using a different isotope. The radiation dose is higher, it takes longer to do the tests and the image quality is not as good.

**From an article by The Associated Press

Rain Rain Go Away

Rain rain go away,
Come again another day.
Little Johnny wants to play;
Rain, rain, go to Spain,
Never show your face again

This is an old children's school bus song. It's been the story of our weather in mid-Michigan all summer and it looks like that's the way the autumn is going to be. Not only have the weeds grown better than ever due to the huge amount of rain we've gotten, but the leaves are coming off the trees earlier due to the severity of the winds that accompany the rain. Usually in the middle to the end of September the leaves start to change color and gradually fall of the trees. They're not going to be many left for the color change.

Last year, I had a gutter protection system installed and I'm so glad I did with the early leaves that are coming down. The system helps eliminate one of the projects I used to have to do: clean the gutters of leaves and other debris before the snow came. It was always a mess and a project I put off for as long as I could.

Using the Black Magic Filter Gutter Screen Protection System, you avoid mold, mildew and fungus. This gutter protection system lets water flow through your gutters at the rate of 310 gallons per hour. It reduces both ice and ice damage. and as there is no standing water, there are no mosquitoes. The Black Magic Filters fit inside 5" or 6" K-style design gutters. They are quick and easy to install and require only scissors or a cutter. The filter, made from non-woven poly are guaranteed not to collapse, cave in , crumble, dent bend or separate.

With gutter protection from the GutterPiller Twisted Wire Gutter Protection System, you'll save a lot of maintenance time will not void any roofing or siding warranty. There is no cutting, nailing, screwing or roof penetration. The Filters can be used over downspouts and will work on floor and driveway drains to keep leaves and debris out.

BIKING for Health & Taxes

A 150 pound person who does one hour of moderate bicycling burns about 500 calories. 5 days of riding burns approximately 2,500. In one month, 2 pounds could be lost with no change in diet.

A little known fact is that if you ride a bike to work, you may be eligible for a $20.00 a month ($240.00 yearly) tax credit. A bill is now in the works to increase that to $40.00 per month. Employers give you the credit in pre-tax dollars and then you can deduct the expense off your federal income tax.

At the University of Oregon 20 elliptical machines generate a portion of the electricity for the buildings that house them. It's a small amount of power that this produces but it's going "green" in a positive way.

(From an article by Michael O'Shea)

In The Cool Of The Evening

The weather is changing and it's not just due to the seasons. I really believe that something is happening with global warming because the last few years have seen dramatic changes in normal weather patterns. I live in mid-Michigan and for the past month or so, temperatures have been way below normal. It's only in the mid 70's during the day and at night, the temperature has been dipping to the low 40's. We've been experiencing weather that is normally seen in late October and early November.

I have a screened in patio that I like to use at night, especially when the crickets are chirping (don't like those little buggers chirping when I'm trying to sleep tho). With the lower night time temperatures, it's not really comfortable sitting on the patio, so I started looking for outdoor heaters.

I spent some time searching the internet and found a website that has a fabulous selection of them. Outdora carries both residential and commercial outdoor heaters and offers free shipping. You have a choice of gas or electric in a wide range of styles and prices. They're easy to light and have adjustable heat settings to control the temperature. Safety is also a major consideration so many models will shut off when tipped over and they come with safety latching systems. Infrared heating (which is odorless and eco-friendly) keeps an area warm, and the heat doesn't get blown away in a breeze.

One outdoor heater, the Sunglo 24 Volt Suspended Natural Gas Heater, with Auto Ignition doesn't take up floor space, is compact and has a reflector to maximize the heat. Other models can be ceiling mounted, or wall mounted. There are several table top models available also. Accessories including heater covers, wheel kits and valve and hose kits are available.

Jimmy Hoffa "Appears" Again

Once again my fair state of Michigan is in the news. (Remember General Motors and Michael Moore?)

Supposedly, it's now known where Hoffa's body is buried. Since his disappearance (and presumed murder) in 1975, Jimmy Hoffa has been reported to be buried in the concrete of bridges, under the 50 yard line in several football fields, ground up or stuffed into drums.

Hoffa, General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters from 1958-1971 was convicted of jury tampering and attempted bribery in 1964 and was imprisoned in 1967. He didn't officially resign as the Teamster's President until 1971 which was part of a pardon agreement with U.S. President Richard Nixon.

In 1975, Hoffa mysteriously disappeared near a restaurant in Bloomfield Township, MI. He's been presumed dead since that time. Recently, Hoffa "resurfaced" again supposedly buried under a red barn at U.S. 23 and Clyde Road in Hartland, MI (Livingston County). Rumor has it that Hoffa is stuffed into a 55 gallon drum in a 10 foot deep hole in the middle of the barn since he was last seen outside the Machus Red Fox Restaurant in 1975.

This last episode in the Jimmy Hoffa saga came about recently when Dan Moldea, author of the book "The Hoffa Wars" said Ted L. Stall told him he had first-hand knowledge of Hoffa's death and burial. Moldea believes Stall is a liar who " sent him on a wild goose chase". Stall says Rolland McMaster, a former Teamster who died 2 years ago, detailed the story of Hoffa's execution and burial. Three years ago, the FBI searched a farm in Milford Township under a similar tip.

To date, the FBI has chosen not to act on this latest tip.

Cameras, Cameras and More Cameras

I love pictures and although I'm not that good at taking them I keep on trying. Recently I came across a web site that had the answers to my photography questions: Shopwiki, a one-stop shopping site. The first thing I looked at was the Cameras and Photography Buying Guide which was an excellent starting point. I was looking for a digital camera that was a step up from what I currently have but didn't want to get in over my head with a camera that was too complicated. The guide told the capabilities of cameras (both 35mm and digital) and camcorders and described what the camera brands were known for including Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Pentax and Casio.

I was fascinated by the underwater cameras and the information that was given. I am basically a land creature but was fascinated by what these cameras could do. The snorkelers, who stay close to the surface, had cameras (eg. Suprema Point & Shoot 35mm) that were perfect for them and the cameras for the seasoned divers (Sea & Sea Motor Marine 11-EX for example) could go up to 150 feet deep. There were even underwater cameras (Frog Eye Waterproof Camera) for children that can go up to 12 feet underwater.

One of the cameras I really liked was the Canon PowerShot . It's a very user friendly point and shoot digital camera with prices ranging from inexpensive and compact to high-end and compact. It's easy to use and has many automatic features including auto focus.

Whether you're an amateur or professional photographer, Shopwiki has cameras, lenses and accessories that will meet everyone's needs. Their products are high quality, well known brands.

Sight Reading For The Piano

Have you always wanted to be the one everybody gathered around at the party? The one who can play the piano? If that's not you, this is definitely the piano course you want.

Yoke Wong's piano sight reading music, designed for beginners to late intermediate piano players, is based on many years of teaching experience with children and adults. Practicing the exercises leads to progress where you'll gain speed and accuracy. Even people who have been playing piano for several years often have trouble with sight reading music and this course will give you the needed advantage.

The course "Mastering The Art of Piano Sight Reading" comes with a 45 minute DVD, 1 CD rom of exercises and a 177 page manual of music exercises which will help you with note recognition, harmonic intervals recognition and melodic intervals recognition. The course also offers a bonus DVD ("Advanced Sight Reading Techniques") with a downloadable study guide to help you play works by the masters including Mozart and Beethoven."

Yoke Wong's sight reading music course comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee and can be ordered online or by using the toll free telephone number.

"Three Coins in the Fountain"

I'm probably giving away my age if I talk about the 1954 movie "Three Coins in the Fountain". The story revolved around the Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy. Wishes were supposed to come true if you threw coins into it. To make a long story short: I love fountains whether large or small, indoors or outside.

Recently, I went to a Home and Garden Expo . I go yearly as I love to daydream about the things I would like for my ideal home. Naturally, I spent a lot of time drooling over the garden fountains. The selection of what's available is awesome. The fountains come in many types including tiered, cascading, free standing, tabletop, wall mounted and more.

The fountains that really intrigue me are the solar ones. Not only do you save money on electricity, they're easy to install and no wiring is required. They have the latest solar technology and operate in direct sunlight. Many of the solar garden fountains have underwater solar panels and low voltage water pumps.

Various materials are used for the fountains including ceramic, terra cotta, fiberglass and copper and come in various colors. I think my favorite is the terra cotta fountain that has several basins that guide the water to the largest basin.

A garden fountain not only adds beauty to your yard. It's eco-friendly and entices birds to drink, swim and splash. The sound of the water is relaxing and the fountain is low maintenance. You can add a festive touch with fogger kits that have multi-colored LED lights.