Category Archives: Other

Solar Farms – The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly

Utilizing solar energy is something we should be doing more of since it’s clean and renewable, at least cleaner than biomass energy. That’s the good part about solar energy. Right now we need more infrastructure built up. That’s the bad part. To do so requires a large investment in solar which investors don’t like because they can find better ROI’s elsewhere. That’s the ugly part. This holds true for personal systems and larger scale systems, at least until the solar world becomes more profitable.

There hasn’t exactly been landslide success for solar panel farms. There have been a few successful small scale operations. There are plenty of companies that will fill your personal, or possibly small neighborhood or community needs. If this is all you need and you’re willing to commit the capitol upfront then start making a few calls to find the right developer or installer.

Solar systems are actually pretty simple, especially off-grid connections. Expenses go up when you need to tie into the grid because it normally requires an inverter, special permits, and sometimes certified installers. It all depends on your local, state, and federal laws. Again, total off-grid usually doesn’t require much in the way of permits, and if you can change the battery in your car you can likely do most of it yourself. Always check with local authorities though. You don’t want to build any small solar panel farms and then have to change it, or worse, tear it down.

When it comes to larger investments, there may or may not be great opportunities in solar farms. The field of photovoltaic science is advancing extremely rapidly. Think computers in the early 90’s. Are they going to be a part of everyone’s life, like computers seem to be today? That reality is entirely possible. However, no one seems to have deciphered the right code or formula to bring solar power into the mainstream. Just like on the small scale, solar farming requires a pretty significant upfront cost with a somewhat questionable payback return. Some critics argue that without government incentives and subsidies, it wouldn’t be profitable in the least. However, if we look at computers, the first generations were exorbitantly expensive. So the great questions, and where the inherent risk lies, is whether or not the technology advances will bring the upfront costs down and payback and return on investments up. Someone needs to be the Bill Gates or Steve jobs of solar energy and eventually the cost of solar will decrease to a good level that nearly all can afford, and profit greatly from.

Should You Purchase A Fly Rod Combo Or Build Your Own

As a beginner to the sport of fly fishing you can take one of two routes when it comes to choosing your gear. You can either balance a fly fishing rod and fly fishing reel that are purchased separately, or you can purchase one of the many fly rod combos that come already balanced from the factory. For beginners, fly rod combos may be a better choice for you to help ensure you have the easiest time learning how to cast, but a separately purchased rod and reel will give you something that you can grow into rather than having to upgrade once you have perfected your cast.

Fly Fishing Rods – If you are looking for a new fly fishing rod you will first want to think about the type of locations where you will be spending the most time fishing. If it is going to be in large lakes and open rivers, you will want a longer rod that helps you cast further and more accurately.

Fly Fishing Reels – Before you try to save money on a new fly reel you are going to want to make sure that you avoid buying one that is built from plastic parts. Instead you will want to make sure that it is constructed with metal parts and that it is sealed if you are going to be using it in the saltwater.

Fly Rod Combos – Fly rod combos usually take care of the aspects of balancing the reel to the rod, and the type of line that you need. However, you still want to follow the rules of purchasing a metal reel, and matching the length of the rod to the type of waters that you are going to be fishing in. You also want to make sure that the combo comes with a weight forward or double tapered fly line to help ease your way into casting accurately.

Tips for Buying Your First Pair of Bird Watching Binoculars

If you are interested in bird watching and don’t have binoculars to help you out, you are definitely missing out on quite a bit. When you buy a quality pair of bird watching binoculars you no longer to squint trying to see what exactly you are looking at or climb up a tree to get the best view. You will be amazed at what binoculars can do for your hobby and they don’t have to cost a fortune.

Many people avoid buying binoculars because it can be confusing with all the different styles and models available. Some people also assume that a good bird watching binocular will cost you several hundred dollars but that is not true at all. The thing to remember when buying binoculars is that they all have two numbers which can tell you a lot about them. The first number is the power of the lens while the second is the field of vision or how much area you can see through the lens. So, for example, the Bushnell Falcon 10×50 would mean it has a power of 10 magnification and it has a 50 millimeter lens.

When looking to buy bird watching binoculars you need to keep a few things in mind such as how fast you focus on an object. Some of these products will have instant focus levers and buttons that make the job of focusing so much easier. You don’t want to miss seeing a bird flying away because you can’t focus your lenses properly.

Another thing to consider is the weight of the binoculars. If you like to bird watch for several hours at a time you don’t want to get a heavy pair that is gets too heavy for you to have around your neck or to even hold. Look for lightweight options so that you can use them for longer periods of time.

Lastly, realize that you may have to negotiate on some aspects of your binoculars. For example if you want a higher magnification to see birds up close and personal you may have to look for a pair that doesn’t have as wide of range. On the other hand if you want to have wide angle binoculars you have to remember that the magnification or power may not be as good as some of the higher priced models.

If you are still having trouble looking for a quality pair of bird watching binoculars that doesn’t cost you a fortune you may want to see if you can get a recommendation from other bird watchers. If you belong to a bird watching group, an outdoorsman group or some kind of bird watching forum online ask other people what model they are using. This is probably one of the best ways to find a pair that works well and will have you enjoying your hobby all day long.

Essential Equipment For Family Holiday Camping Trips

Most families have been camping together at one time or another. For some it was a first and last time. Not everyone enjoys the outdoors. But for those families that do take to the natural world of camping they tend to find every opportunity to get outdoors again. Holiday seasons are particularly popular times for family camping trips. The ease of making arrangements while school is out and the range of activities on offer from Park Rangers is inviting. The key to any family camping adventure is to make sure you have all the necessary equipment to enjoy all weather conditions and to be comfortable away from home.

Of course the most essential part of any camping equipment inventory is a tent. There are tents to suit every family, as well as single person or twin hiking domes. Depending on the size of your family and your tent you could find a tent that one person could carry while hiking. Alternatively you could find a secure structure that you could leave up while you spend the day exploring the trails. Large family tents commonly have two rooms that both open onto a corridor down the center. This in turn has two openings at either side. The advantages of corridor tents is that they avoid letting dirt and sand into the sleeping quarters. There are other, slightly smaller tents, with only one room that have an entry ‘foyer’ where you can come in and take off your shoes comfortably before going into the main sleeping areas.

Apart from a tent you’ll also need some warm sleeping bags that are going to stay dry in any weather. Because of the advances in technology most sleeping bags easily fit the bill. Unless you are planning a snow camping expedition a standard sleeping bag should be sufficient. Also, make sure you have good quality packs for hiking, a quality cooking stove and utensils, a tarpaulin to create shade and possibly a fold-out table and chairs. It is also advisable to invest in a fully stocked first aid kit. Because you are going to be away from emergency services it’s essential to make sure you can respond to any injuries with first aid. Finally, it’s advisable to have some old towels, fuel, ropes, torches and a radio.

Unfortunately, camping equipment can be an expensive investment, particularly for families on a tight budget. In my experience if you want to build up a good supply of quality equipment (it’s always best to buy something that will stand the test of time rather than save money and run into maintenance or replacement problems later on) you should discuss as a family the idea of each member of the family devoting their gift giving and receiving to building up a camping inventory for 24 months. Everyone can buy some things and contribute this way and with Sear’s coupons and several stock-take sales during this time you’ll have a great supply of equipment in no time.

Buying Good Wireless TV Headphones

When it comes to TV headphones, wireless is the way to go. Sennheiser cordless headphones are one of the best brands of stereo and game headphones. They reduce the amount of background noise you hear while using them. Wireless TV headphones also make the quality of the TV program you are watching and listening to a lot better than normal. These days the world is filled with the many sounds. With all the electronic sounds, cars, crowds and other various noises, these noises make it hard to watch your favorite television show. It would be wonderful not to be interrupted with all the noise of other TV’s in the house and children’s video games. That’s what TV headphones do; they reduce the background sound of the world around us.

Wireless Headphones allow you to still be able to listen into your favorite show that is on while still being able to do chores around the house. They allow you to roam freely around the house with no problem. There are times when two spouses get into arguments over the TV being too loud. Sometimes it’s a problem if the husband has the TV up to loud and it is bothering the wife while she is trying to read. With wireless TV headphones that no longer is a problem. Now all the husband has to do is slip on his wireless TV headphones and turn on his favorite show. The wife will not be disturbed by the husband’s TV show and she can read in peace.

TV headphones have made things so much easier for many people. Wireless TV headphones have made life more civil between spouses when it comes to competing for the sounds surrounding us.