Cap'n Bob & the Damsel

CapnBob

Announcement: Never Forget Tribute Going Away Gone

UPDATE 08/05/2018: As of today, the Never Forget Tribute distribution has been disabled. The final count appears in the right sidebar for the time being.

nfsmall.jpgLast week, I ran a check to evaluate the increment rate of the Never Forget Tribute hit counter. The observed rate seemed to be much lower than the hit statistics displayed in the right sidebar column.

The hit counter itself is accurate in that each time the tribute is served up remotely, the count increments. The hits per hour and hits per day figures, however, are an estimate based on extrapolation from a given date in the past where the number of hits was known. I had a back-burner plan to write a script that would keep a running estimation of the hit rate, but that never came to fruition. And, now, it seems, that won’t be necessary.

I updated the estimating script to more accurately extrapolate the hit rate from a known count from a week ago, and, as you can see, the hit rate is quite a bit lower than what it had been in the past. There are probably several reasons for the decline in the hit rate:

  • several browser platforms have discontinued or reduced support for Flash® animations (i.e. Firefox, Chrome)
  • the shift from computers to smart phone platforms which have minimal or no support for Flash®
  • a general decrease in bloggers displaying the tribute

At any rate, we have decided to discontinue distribution of the Never Forget Tribute. It’s not that we have forgotten the terrorist attacks on America on September 11, 2001, but that circumstances indicate that tribute hits are asymptotically approaching a zero hit rate.

We will NEVER FORGET 9/11!

The termination of support will be accomplished in a couple of stages:

  1. Initially, we will attach a notice to the tribute stating our intentions and a link to this post.
  2. Finally, we will disable the scripts that are activated with each remote link.

I expect the initial state to go into effect this week. Depending on responses in the comments here (if any), I will deactivate the distribution within a month.

OPTIONAL – For those displaying the tribute, you may remove the code from your website as follows:

<script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="http://capnbob.us/graphics/never.php"></script>

The ffile name may also be never118.php or never100.php.

28 Jul 2018 by Blogosphere Cyberspace Never Forget

Caught on Google’s Aerial Image

walking-the-dogs-on-google-maps-2.jpg

I was casually looking at the Google™ satellite map of our neighborhood (actually an aerial photo mosaic, not taken from a satellite) when I noticed a couple of objects on our neighbor’s driveway. I zoomed in to have a closer look and the conclusion I came to was that the objects in question are us walking our dogs!

Our morning routine after breakfast: we feed and then walk the dogs. We generally walk them up the road to the west toward our neighbor’s house up the hill from us. In the image, the dark colored part of the road running to the left side is where we are. You can see our light colored cowboy hats, our shadows and the dogs and their shadows. Damsel is further up the road than I am by about 30 yards. The image below will clarify where we are in the top image.

walking-the-dogs-on-google-maps.jpg

I think it’s a funny coincidence that we happened to be out where we were when the aerial photo plane flew over. I estimate the time frame for the image is last summer. My clues are that the RV is not in the usual place as it was being serviced down in Avondale last year and the shadows are shorter on the north side indicating summertime.

11 Jul 2018 by Arizona Critters Humor Retirement Technobabble

Hurricane Chris

goes-atlantic-coast-chris.gif

This is an animated GIF from the GOES East Atlantic Coast region satellite imagery view. When this animation was taken, Hurricane Chris was putting on a show as it drifts slowly northeastward. There doesn’t appear to be any hurricane threat to the Atlantic Coast at this time.

I posted about the utility of the GOES East images on the Minstrel site earlier. Obviously, the satellite images can be used for news and entertainment as well.

10 Jul 2018 by Environment Technobabble

Happy Independence Day!

Patriotic Bandana

As is usually the case, Damsel and I are celebrating the 4th of July by cooking a special dinner. Today, it will be grilled Filet Mignon steaks with Damsel’s Potato Salad and the all-important baked beans.

In the image above, the Damsel is arranging some items on the top shelf of the pantry while wearing her patriotic bandana as a hatband for the essential big hats needed in our desert during the summer.

We started watching Mel Gibson’s “The Patriot” last night and will finish it this evening. We hope everyone is enjoying their holiday and pray for those that are on duty today.

04 Jul 2018 by Holidays Patriotism

Flag Day 2018

New Flags

Today is also the anniversary of the foundation of the United States Army. Hooah and happy birthday to our active duty Army and Vets!

Damsel and I decided that Flag Day will be the annual hoisting of new flags, both the US and Arizona banners, and the retirement of the old ones. A year in the Arizona weather is just about as much as a flag can take, regardless of the quality of the flag. We purchase the highest quality we can get and proudly fly them here.

These are the new flags just hoisted this morning. The US flag has embroidered stars and sewn stripes with a reinforced header and grommets. Likewise, the Arizona flag is heavy duty and manufactured to the Arizona State flag specification. Both are made in the USA and certified by the Flag Manufacturers Association of America.

We will take the retired flags to our American Legion Post who will properly dispose of them. Click on the image to enlarge.

14 Jun 2018 by Arizona Military Patriotism

Varmint Control

Havahart Small Animal Trap

For the last couple of days, one of our small Antelope Ground Squirrels has been getting into mischief in the courtyard. Damsel has several planters out there and the little varmint tries to dig up the roots for a snack, I guess.

Today, we caught it in the act of burrowing down into one of the pots. After running the squirrel off, I went into the garage where the trap in the image above is kept in between varmint attacks. I got the trap set up and baited it with a peanut butter smeared tortilla chip. When the little critter shows up again, I assume the peanut butter smell will attract it into the cage and ==SNAP== the doors will close with the squirrel inside.

The plan is, that if something other than a squirrel or rat takes the bait, we will release it (cactus wrens, etc.). If it is a rat, I will drown it. If it is a squirrel, I will release it a couple of miles down the road where it can return to a similar habitat.

We’re pretty sure that we have a problem with just one individual squirrel and not a bunch of them. I will update this post when there is something to report.

UPDATE: 06/03/2018 1:32 PM – Gotcha!

Gotcha

Click on the image to enlarge.

02 Jun 2018 by Arizona Critters Home & Garden

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