Several Small Items

Well, look who finally got off of his butt and decided to write a new blog entry! (Of course I'm referring to Kilzer's up-and-coming "My Detailed Description of my Great Visit to Moab (complete with photos and drunken videos)") And since that epic tome is on it's way, I thought I should do some catching up as well.

I've got a few blogs started, but I've been waiting for the right photos to post with them (we all like those pretty colors). Nonetheless, I've been slacking in my blogging duties, although with good reason (in my mind, they're good, but I've talked myself out of them). First of all, we've had a run of good weather lately, so I've either been working on the farm or playing in the ocean during the days. We've got a lot of pineapple to plant still, but we also had a summer swell that made for some really great waves (and by "great", I mean "they kicked my butt all over the place"). Finding a balance hasn't been difficult, though, because any time in the ocean is time well spent, and some days you're just too beat up or sore to even consider going to the beach, so work really sounds like a pleasant break from the abuse. Back to the blog-slacking though, no matter what the day's activities, I'm always really worn out and have very little energy in the evening.

"So why don't you blog anyway? It doesn't take that much energy to type!" (that's what I can hear everyone thinking right now, because I know you all wait with bated breath for my every word - ha ha ha) Well, the truth is, I found a bit of an escape though Netflix. I've fired the account back up, and while the DVDs are good, I've lately become sucked into the instant online viewing feature. It doesn't have all of the best movies ever, but it can be really handy. For example, last week Skye and I watched "Mad Max," which I own. I've always dug that movie. Afterwards, though, I really wanted to watch the other two in the series. And wouldn't you know it? Both "The Road Warrior" and "Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome" were available to watch online. And yes, I did spend the entire next day saying either "Two men enter, one man leaves," or "Bust a deal, face the wheel" or "Master Blaster runs Bartertown!" I'm sure it was hell for everyone involved, and I should have just written a blog instead of melting my brain with post-apocalyptic pre-Braveheart Mel Gibson drivel.

Another overtone to my blog-crastination is my complete and total lack of anything to say which would or should have any value to anyone else. I've been following some blogs, from FBIBlogs and from other places, and the main thread is that these people have a lot to say about things they're really passionate about. Things with meaning. Politics, the local economy, current films, etc. And here I am, with gems like "I'm gardening!" and "Oooo Spinal Tap!" But that's just how I roll. I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that.

But I've gotten over all of that. I'm done worrying about it, and I'm done slacking off (only because Netflix doesn't have Season 2 of The IT Crowd available for online viewing). So I've decided to share a few things with you today that aren't quite important to make a whole blog entry about, but are worth mentioning (as far as anything I have to say is):

"we could go for a walk and you could kiss me on the..."

That's right... I've built a "veranda" (don't worry....no one else got the Three Amigos reference either). And to be fair, I haven't built a veranda at all, because as we all know, a veranda is a large, open porch, usually roofed and partly enclosed, as by a railing, often extending across the front and sides of a house. And what I've built is a small porch off of the back door out of palettes and scrap lumber laying around the yard, and then covered it with a tarp held up by some thick bamboo. It's a little flappy on top yet, but I think this evening I'm going to try and get my hands on some long, thin, flexible bamboo and make a kind of support like a dome tent pole to help hold the back of the thing up. If that works out, I'll post some photos. Still, it's a nice place to sit, out of the sun, and, more importantly, it's a porch I can pee off of and not get rained on. :)

Freakbook is at it again....

That's right. You heard me. Facebook has pissed me off yet again, even though I don't really use it.

Stupid Facebook....

I've been kicking around the idea of reviving my old website: cameronwalter.com It's like the Six Million Dollar Website - I can rebuild it......I have the technology. At least until Facebook messed it all up a couple of weeks ago.

Stupid Facebook.....

I had this great idea to create a site that was more interactive than the original, boring cameronwalter.com (that one was all black and white...the new one would be white and black..WITH some gray!). I figured it'd be like a mix between a blog and an RSS reader and a forum like the board we all used to like years and years ago. One of the elements would be a real-time update of everyone's status, like updates from my blog, as well as Kilzer's and Jo's, twitter updates from Dan and myself, and Facebook status updates from those folks who use that, being Jen and Kilzer (since he'd rather post there than on his blog :P ) All was well and good, until about two weeks ago when Facebook pulled the RSS feed option (basically a way to post that info to another website or reader program) from it's site on the grounds that it's a breach of their privacy policy. Ok... fine. I kinda get that. But what's really strange is that they've pulled the option for RSS feeds, but they haven't stopped making the feeds. They still give feed access to application developers (aka: people trying to figure out how to use your info to present you with the best possible advertising). So the logic is it's a breach of privacy for people who know you to use your status updates, but it's not for people you don't know to try and sell you something.

Stupid Facebook.....

On the flip-side, they'll still let you add other feeds to Facebook. For example, Kilzer could add a feed to his Facebook page, so that every time he writes something on his blog, it shows up on Facebook. But now it's a one way street only. Adding to Facebook is fine, but taking from Facebook is not fine.

Stupid Facebook.....

In case you haven't noticed, I'm not a fan of Facebook. I see the appeal and the utility to a point, but...well...let's just say there are things I don't like about it *self-editing to not offend any one*. So I thought I had the problem all solved so that I could see Kilzer and Jen's status updates without having to log on to Facebook and wade through the mire of...well.... stuff...that's there.... and all.... with the what-have-you and the whoozawhatsit. *more self-editing, to not offend my mother or younger readers* But whatever. For now, the website and and it's wonderful goodness is on hold until I figure out something else that excites me as much as my last idea did (until stupid Facebook killed it). And all I've got to hold on to, the only light at the end of the tunnel, is that word on the virtual street is that Facebook is on its way out, even if it's not in its death throes just yet.

That's enough for today.

(jeez, I'm long-winded for a guy who has nothing to say)

This Blog Goes to Eleven!

Dang! How did I miss this?!? SPINAL TAP is playing the Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien tonight! Apparently, they've found someone to brave the drum kit for them (from which he'll certainly catch a bad case of rabbit flu and die instantly or something) and tonight they're going to rock it (tonight they're going to rock it) tonight they're going to rock it TONIGHT!

And this brings us to a crazy quirk of time and space.

I find this out too late to inform any of my friends back home, and early enough for me to wonder what time that show is on here, look it up, and then remember that I don't have a TV anyway, and then impatiently wait for a video of it to pop up on the internet sometime tomorrow.

*sigh*
To quote David St. Hubbins, "Well, I'm sure I'd feel much worse if I weren't under such heavy sedation."

I'm a Twit...er.............er

That's right. Any of you use Twitter? I never really saw much point in dealing with it, given the short post length, and kinda chaotic interface. Then I heard about the role it's been playing globally, and more specifically lately in Iran. Frankly, I find that amazing. Granted, the linked article is certainly more commentary than fact, and there's a lot of speculation as to exactly how much of a role Twitter played in uniting people in Iran, but the concept is so very very intriguing.

So I had to sign up to see what it's all about. To be honest, I've got all kinds of suspicions (in the neighborhood of 14) that this is going to be a short-lived experiment. It appears that it's basically the format of the update/comment section of Facebook or MySpace, beefed up to be more public and available for anyone to see.

Since I'm the type that doesn't feel the need to tell everyone I know what I'm doing or thinking at every moment of the day (but instead prefer to save it all up for one long diatribe a week, complete with photos, dialog, and bad puns), it's difficult for me to wrap my mind around how this will be a good thing for me.



Although maybe it's not all bad...... :)

So if you tweet, and wanna meet, take a seat and tweet tout de suite. @cam3ron42

The Revolution may (but probably won't) be Twittered.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

I know, I know, you're reading that title thinking this is going to be a post about Better Than Ezra. While I do enjoy their music, and I think that particular album was very good (although not many people have ever heard of it), this post is actually about my garden.

I say "my" garden, but of course it's the garden that Kalewa, Kaleo and I have started and are currently working on. Although I've already talked on the phone with most of the people who will actually care about this, I figure this is a good way to add some photos to the discussion, as well as keep track of things that work for us, and things that don't. Also, I hope that through comments, and other blogs (namely Jo's and the one Jen's going to start up about her garden *hint hint*) we can create an ongoing conversation that will benefit us all.

That's what I hope for. In reality, I figure this is going to be the "before" post of the garden, followed sometime this fall with the "after" post.

Let me start off by saying that I'm a novice gardener at best. I planted some flower last year at the house in Ft. Collins, and they did pretty well, for the most part. I also tilled and amended the soil for a portion of the yard that Liz used as a garden last summer, but as we both got busy, the garden may have been a little neglected. So with this process, I'm learning. I feel I know the basics, but as the devil is in the details, I realize that I have a lot to learn.

I know there are a nearly infinite number of resources out there, either through books or the internet or neighbors or friends, that are full of advice for general or specific issues. I've read some stuff, and talked with some people, and I figure I'm just going to throw out what we're doing here for people to see.

To begin, we decided to go with supported raised beds.

We built 5'x12'x8" boxes out of Hardy siding boards. While this material is evil to cut, it will be safe for the plants, and it'll last for decades. We tilled the soil under the beds, added the boxes, and then filled the beds with more loose soil, some black cinder, and some leaf mulch. As you can see from the photos, we built four of these beds to start with. For now, we're only using one of them as a vegetable/herb garden. The other three are for when we're feeling more confident that we'll be able to manage more beds. For the bed we planted veggies and herbs in, we also added a bit of chicken manure to help kick-start the beds with a little fertilizer. We mixed everything together, and then let the beds sit for a few days.

Prior to this, I'd started some herbs up in trays with a cinder and promix mixture.

This was a mistake. Next time I'll start them in separate pots, or in trays that have the separate cells for each plant. When planting time came, it was very difficult to separate the individual plants out. I was very worried about transplant shock. Also, I think for some of the herbs, I may have transplanted them too early. But, as the other plants were ready, the soil they were in was disturbed, and I felt I had to transplant them too. Other than the thyme (which I'm faithful will come along soon enough), everything seems to be doing ok now. Still....lesson learned.

So what we started with was two kinds of basil, thyme, parsley, dill, pole beans, some green onions we grew from some some we had cut to use in the kitchen, a couple of carrots (salvaged the same way as the onions),and a couple of sunflowers. We also planted some flower seeds along the edges of the bed. After everything was planted, we put a straw mulch down on the beds to help preserve the moisture in the soil, and hopefully keep the birds and such from eating any seeds.

The same day we planted in the bed, I started some tomatoes, hot peppers, bell peppers, squash, and eggplant in some starter pots. They've sprouted (mostly) and I think I'll be putting them into the garden in the next two to three weeks.

Two days ago, I direct planted some broccoli, chard, collards, spinach, and lettuce seeds. Those should be starting to come up this week. I also started some other flowers in some starter pots, as well as a tray of salad mix lettuce. I'm hoping to plant all of them in the garden at about the same time as the tomatoes and peppers.

So what about the other three beds? Well, we put down "green manures", or plants that are quick to grow and will aerate the soil, and we're going to chop them down before they seed and simply work the whole plant back into the soil, where it will add nutrients and organic material for future plants.

Lessons I've learned so far:

• Plant in separate cells (already discussed)
  
• When you buy straw, it's not just straw. It's also got straw seeds in there. Had to pull all of that out by hand. On the upside, we're thinking that now maybe we can grow our own straw instead of having to buy it.
  
• Some seeds can be left in an oven that's preheating to 350 degrees in order to bake a rhubarb crunch, and most of those seeds will still be (amazingly enough) viable.
  
• A potato rake is a super handy tool for mixing in leaf mulch.
  
• You don't need a sprinkler system in Hilo. (I'm guessing I'll learn later that it's more important to find a way to keep some of the rain off of some of the plants)
  
• Those beach balls hanging in the air around the garden? They do a GREAT job of scaring away the birds......for about three days (cardinals, especially). Then they're just gaudy decorations.
  
• Jen needs to start a blog about her garden.

That's all for now. More to come later.

Raising Money and Awareness for the National MS Society

Hi Everyone.

I know I usually write about silly things, and the times they're not silly they're typically not made up of much more than self-involved prattle, but for once I thought I should post about something a little more important than that.

My friend Annie is doing a 150 mile bike ride in Colorado to raise awareness and funds for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Her life has been directly affected by MS.

In Northern Colorado, estimates are that almost one in every 1,000 people has Multiple Sclerosis. That's pretty staggering, given that there is no defined cause, no cure, an incredible array of symptoms, and no universal treatment.

I know that my readership is small, but I also know that it's full of good people who are willing to help out if they can. So I'm asking two things:

1) If you've got a couple of extra dollars or more in your budget this month, please condiser donating here. If you don't, you don't. No worries. These are trying economic times.

2) Whether you're able to donate or not, please send this off to some people you know and ask them to do the same. Even if we raise awareness, that's good enough for me. Use the "Email Post" button at the bottom of this post, or copy and paste the URL (http://cameronomicon.blogspot.com/2009/06/raising-money-and-awareness-for.html) into an email. If you're not the mass emailing type (I can relate) mention this post on your blog or twitter or facebook page. Just please help get the word out.

Now, those of you who know me know that I don't often jump on bandwagons, and I'm not the fundraising type. But I believe this is important and I'd feel remiss if I didn't ask you all to take a look and pass it on.

I've included the email that Annie had put together, which has some good info and links to some really great sites to check out.

Thank you all for your time.

About the Ride

On June 27-28, 2009 I will be cycling in the 24^th Annual Colorado Bike MS Ride. This challenging weekend ride is 150 miles from the Denver area to Ft. Collins and back. This ride is hosted by the Colorado Chapter of the National MS Society and proceeds from the event go towards freeing the world of MS.

Why I Ride

I’ve registered for the Colorado Bike MS ride to fulfill a personal challenge to help people with MS and their families lead powerful lives and help the National MS Society fund research.

Every hour in the United States someone is newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. MS generally strikes in the prime of life and 73% of those diagnosed are women. In additional to those scary statistics, Colorado has one of the highest prevalence rates of MS in the country!

As you know, my family has been directly impacted by MS.

Jennifer Sobey, Trieva Ikenouye, Annie McFarland

That day I will ride for:

Jennifer Soeby

Lost her battle with MS

1980-2007

Trieva Ikenouye

Diagnosed with MS

2009

Please Join Me in the movement to do something about MS now with your donation, even a $5 donation will help me reach my fundraising goal of $2000. To make a donation people visit my personal Bike MS 150 website at http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/amcfarland. If you would like to donate via check (make it out to “NMSS Colorado Chapter”) or cash (I’ll send you a receipt), please send it to:

Annie McFarland *email Cameron for the address*

To learn more about MS please visit the National Multiple Sclerosis website

Good News, Everyone!

In the words of Philip J. Fry, "But existing is basically all I do!" Well, that may have been true when Futurama was still on the air, but lately Fry, Bender, Leela and the whole gang haven't been playing much of a part in the world.

Until now.

That's right. It seems that Comedy Central has decided to take a chance on some new episodes of Futurama. I think Fry summed it up best when he said, "It's just like the story of the grasshopper and the octopus. All year long the grasshopper kept burying acorns for winter while the octopus mooched off his girlfriend and watched TV. Then the winter came, and the grasshopper died, and the octopus ate all his acorns and also he got a racecar. Is any of this getting through to you?"

So, all of you chumps and chumpettes, dust off the pimpmobile and drive on up to your favorite television set and get ready to laugh your shiny metal ass off. So to speak.

How my '73 BMW Saved TheM@'s Life - Twice

As I'm sure you all remember from my post "On the Road Again.....", I've recently acquired a 1973 BMW 2002 (which is still, unfortunately, yet to be named).

When Matt decided to come out to visit, he got a lot of advice from several people he works with.  In fact, Thanh, who has spent a lot of time here on the Big Island, even sent a list of things to do while Matt was here.

At the top of the list: Don't go to the Hilo side of the island or else some local will try and beat the crap out of you.  <---I'm paraphrasing that part a bit, for various reasons.  Since I can see Hilo from my yurt, Matt was obviously out of luck.  I'd heard stories about locals taking issues with people, and trying to pick fights and such, but in my time here so far, I'd never had anyone be even remotely antagonistic towards me.  So I told Matt he had nothing to worry about.

When Matt arrived, we sat down for dinner with Kaleo and Kalewa, and after dinner Matt pulled out the list.  Upon reading the first item, with a bit of a chuckle, Kaleo got very serious and said that it was true, we would probably have someone try and start something with us.  I laughe it off, and said that I'd been here all this time, and I've never had any troubles.  

"You will," she said.

Well, whether I thought she was right or not, I was convinced that she'd jinxed us.

A couple of days later, Matt and I went to the liquor store, to pick up some beer.  On our way out we passed a local guy on his way in.  Walking up to the car, there was a lifted truck with four guys in it (waiting for the guy we just passed at the door).  One guy was leaning out the back window.

"Hey!" he hollars, looking right at me.

I'm thinking, "Crap, here it is....."

"Yeah?" I say back, as now I'm standing in front of the guy, putting the keys in the door lock of my car, trying to figure out if I'll have time to set the beer down without breaking it if the guy (and his three friends) jump out of the truck in a hurry.

"Nice car, man."

HA!  I start wondering what I was all worked up about, and they guy and I start talking a bit.  As I'm told, with a new paint job and some new rims, I'd have a "sweet ride."  Matt and I laughed about it on the way home.

Later in the week we were at the grocery store, stocking up (on beer again, I'm sure) and getting out of the car in the parking lot, these two big guys, clearly into the alcohol already themselves, were walking out.

One of the guys said something to me.  First thing through my mind was that last time it turned into nothing, but that these guys are drunk and rowdy, and NOW we're going to have that confrontation everyone's so worried about.

Once I got past the intoxicated slur, and switched my ear back to Hawai'ian Accent Mode, I realized that the guy was not angry at all, but was asking me if I was selling my car.  Weird way to start a conversation, sure, but hey, given the circumstances, I'll take it.

Anyway, that was it.  Which leaves me to choose between three possible conclusions:

1) The Hilo side of the island has a bad image based upon the way things were in the past, rather than how they are now.  I mean, reputations have to come from somewhere, right?  But in my time here I haven't seen anyone fighting anyone.  People here now are just the same as people anywhere else, and as long as you don't act like a jerk to anyone, they won't act like a jerk to you. (mostly, but that applies to anywhere)

2) We just got lucky, and I've continued to be lucky, and sooner or later I'm going to have to deal with an irate local for no logical reason.

3) My car is just cool enough, but still just crappy enough, that everyone digs it, and by association, me (at least enough to not pick a fight with me).

I'm going with #3 with a smattering of #1 mixed in.

My Recent Involvement with the FBI

Not THE FBI, of course, but still, it's interesting.

The Cameronomicon has been added to fbiblogs.com (there's another link via image over there on the right.  -------->

This particular FBI (From Big Island) is a collection of blogs* (see exaggerated side note below) of various people here on the Big Island of Hawai'i.  It was created and is managed by Damon Tucker and I think it's a really interesting project, and and I'm happy to be a part of it.  (of course, I got the invite before I started talking about the crazy food replicator guy, so I believe the un-invite will occur at any moment now...  :) )

From what I've learned, my blog was brought to Mr. Tucker's attention by Guava Bee, who I'd like to take a moment to thank. (Thanks, Guava Bee, if you're reading.)  I'd also like to thank one Andrew Cooper, for not only confirming that the fbiblogs.com site is bringing a bit more traffic to my blog, but also for graciously identifying the fish from the photos I posted on my Kealakekua thread.  Thanks to Guava Bee, Damon, and Andrew, I can now with certainty say "That's a yellow tang!" instead of "OOoooo! Pretty fishies!"  And I believe we can all agree that that alone makes the world a better place.

So, faithful readers (both of you), go check out fbiblogs.com and read up on some of the interesting things happening on and about the Big Island.  They are, after all, the "Big Islands Best Blogs."

That said, I'm off to replicate 7 strengths of bacon.  If I'm not back in a week, someone tell my mom the polar bears got me.

* EXAGGERATED SIDE NOTE: I think there should be a word for a collection of blogs.... Collections of books are called (originally enough) "collections" or "libraries" although the thorough and exhaustive 7 minutes of searching on Google, I can find no real difference between the two. I suppose some would say that a "collection" is private, while a library is not, but that's not really true.  You can have a private library and a public collection.  I also thought it might have something to do with the quantity of books, but I can find no official minimum number of books required to earn the title "library."  Therefore, I'm officially stating that the one true and defining difference between a collection of books and a library of books is the Dewey Decimal System.  I'm sure someone who is a librarian (I know more now than I ever have) will speak up and deny this, but TOO LATE!  It's already been officially stated!  

But now I'm off topic.  We need a name for a collection of blogs.  Blogosphere, as much as I don't like that name, implies all of the blogs everywhere.  I don't know.  I'm at a loss here.  Kilzer, you're good with names....  rock something out here so we can all sleep at night.  Thanks.