This is a link to the local library system. If you have a ‘Black Gold’ library card you can enter and open an e-account, then you can download e-books for free. These can be used in Kindle, i-pads and probably phones and stuff too. Since before the Library of Alexandria people have tried to get more learning…. avoid extinction, read!
“Knowledge is learning something every day. Wisdom is letting go of something every day” ~Zen Saying
“There are three kinds of men. One learns by reading, a few learn by observation. The rest have to pee on the electric fence for themselves” ~W Rogers
California has its share of ‘issues’… high taxation and tight regulation stifles business… yet these same prohibitors tend to force a work-around solution…. and the end result is that our environment is relatively clean for the tens of millions living in this space, and we have a thriving ‘Underground’ economy.
Red-Hot Chili Peppers sang a couple of good songs mentioning California, one is about California, another is about a girl named Dani California…. Good songs both… enjoy!
Psychic spies from China Try to steal your mind’s elation Little girls from Sweden Dream of silver screen quotations And if you want these kind of dreams It’s Californication
It’s the edge of the world And all of western civilization The sun may rise in the East At least it settled in the final location It’s understood that Hollywood sells Californication
Pay your surgeon very well To break the spell of aging Celebrity skin, is this your chin Or is that war your waging
[Chorus:] First born unicorn Hard core soft porn Dream of Californication Dream of Californication
Marry me girl be my fairy to the world Be my very own constellation A teenage bride with a baby inside Getting high on information And buy me a star on the boulevard It’s Californication
Space may be the final frontier But it’s made in a Hollywood basement Cobain can you hear the spheres Singing songs off station to station And Alderon’s not far away It’s Californication
Born and raised by those who praise Control of population everybody’s been there and I don’t mean on vacation
[Chorus]
Destruction leads to a very rough road But it also breeds creation And earthquakes are to a girl’s guitar They’re just another good vibration And tidal waves couldn’t save the world From Californication
Pay your surgeon very well To break the spell of aging Sicker than the rest There is no test But this is what you’re craving
This study says “direct medical costs average about $6,649 a year for people with diabetes.” and that 25 million people in the US have diabetes. Diabetics may make $160,000 less in their lifetime due to work and opportunities missed. But some say “You get the sugar because it’s in your family, my granny,… aunt and sister all got it, and I suspect I will also.” But NO…. you are NOT condemned to diabetes if you do not have it yet. You may well have a susceptibility to it, just as some do with alcoholism and drug abuse… if this is the case, come to grips with it and modify your behaviors so you are not condemned to a life of medications, illness and amputation….
This will become a bigger issue as the price of medical care is passed on more to the government… it is said that 1/3 of the US population will be diabetic in another 20 years…. that’s a lot of costs to be borne by the people, and they will petition the government to regulate our food choices to ‘save’ ourselves. Look for taxes on sugary, fatty, high-calorie, starchy, and fast-foods….. and corresponding food credits for the poor so they can buy healthier foods.
Have you ever filled out a form, and as soon as you turned it in you wished you’d added another line?
Ever spoken to someone, and when they drove off, you recalled something else you’d wanted to tell them?
LIFE is like that also….. when people are on their deathbed they think of their life and the people they loved….
It is said that no-one lays on their deathbed and complains that they should have put more hours in at work…. and striven harder for success..
Instead it seems the common wish expressed is one of sadness, that the dying did not fully live life, spend more time with family…. material posessions don’t really matter to people at the end…. and no matter how much money you made, you’ll never be able to fully stave off the end….
Here’s a good article, written by a hospice nurse…. she details some of the thoughts of the dying that she met during decades of this work…..
They break down to five concerns…
1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.
It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.
2. I wish I didn’t work so hard.
This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.
By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.
3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never
became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a
result.
We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.
It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical
details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end.
That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.
This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again. When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.
Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.
“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth”
~Buddha
The Central Coast is relatively unspoiled….
Although it’s been travelled and lived in for thousands of years…. it still seems very rural
But you can count on the fact that you’re not likely to go anywhere that no one else has ever been….
Unless you’re an extreme climber or diver.
‘Second Hand’
~Bachman-Turner Overdrive~
No reason to get excited
But I feel a change blowin’ in the wind
Everythin’s filled with confusion
So let’s start the world over again
And get it second hand, slightly used, soiled
Get it second hand, carelessly abused, spoiled
I see you’re looking to find new horizons
But there are footsteps everywhere you go
And somebody else has been asunder
The sunshine has wilted and crawls?
I’ll get it second hand, I’m dazed and confused
Turn back the second hand, I pay all my dues
I got rid of my dues and I’m all fixed up
Watch me talk about it,
Second hand, yeah used, second hand
I got it second hand, all used up
Don’t waste your life… live it
Don’t be a human ‘doing’…. be a human ‘being’!
“The real question is not whether life exists after death.
The real question is whether you are alive before death”
~Osho
Slow Dance
by David L. Weatherford
Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round,
or listened to rain slapping the ground?
… Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight,
or gazed at the sun fading into the night?
You better slow down, don’t dance so fast,
time is short, the music won’t last.
Do you run through each day on the fly,
when you ask “How are you?”, do you hear the reply?
When the day is done, do you lie in your bed,
with the next hundred chores running through your head?
You better slow down, don’t dance so fast,
time is short, the music won’t last.
Ever told your child, we’ll do it tomorrow,
and in your haste, not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch, let a friendship die,
’cause you never had time to call and say hi?
You better slow down, don’t dance so fast,
time is short, the music won’t last.
When you run so fast to get somewhere,
you miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
it’s like an unopened gift thrown away.
Life isn’t a race, so take it slower,
hear the music before your song is over.
The hill we grow our organic edible cactus on is very steep. This makes it a good spot for the cactus as the south-facing hillside means none of the plants are shaded by the others around them. The soil is good for the plants, and the cold air drifts down the hillside and away from the plants. But while this prime location is good for the plants, the steep hillside makes for extreme challenges in maintenance. We needed a vehicle that could get up the hillside safely transporting stone and soil and cactus.
Kubota RTV 900 with bed up
Kubota RTV 900 with bed up
Kubota RTV 900 with bed up, looking at the engine/transmission
Kubota RTV 900 from behind. Note the huge bar, this is a heavy and solid machine, but this hurts its use in jumps and ‘fun’ stuff.
Kubota RTV 900 with tractor tires… it really digs in and is stable offroad, but slow
Kubota RTV 900 with tractor tires…
Kubota RTV 900
Kubota RTV 900
Kubota RTV 900
Kubota RTV 900
Kubota RTV 900 carrying dirt/rock
I looked at several Utility vehicles and ATV’s to find one that would work for our particular circumstances. Our uses for a vehicle in this spot are extreme and very focused in intent and use….. we need to have a dump bed-box behind so that I can easily dump loads of rocks, soil or waste cactus without having to dismount on the steep hillside…. we had to have four wheel-drive as two wheels would not have the traction needed on the steep scree slopes. We needed to have Roll-Over Protection System (ROPS, AKA Roll-Bar), for more safety we wanted to have engine braking so that the vehicle is slowed by the engine when coming downhill…., and we wanted durability and longevity (I prefer not having to work on equipment a lot).
I went to a number of websites and read comments about the various brands available…. and while many people extol one brand/model over another, most people agree that the expectations and uses of the unit determine the relative performance in various uses. For instance, if you want to go fast the Polaris, Bobcat, and JohnDeere brands have several models that are greatly favored by hunters and off-road enthusiasts. I also really liked the idea of the all-electric Huntve. Most of these vehicles can reach speeds of 40 MPH, most are gasoline engines with excellent throttle-response and four-wheel drive capabilities. some also offer electric lifts on the bed to dump items. But it seems none of them have all of the things I was looking for….. and with our steep narrow paths, it’s doubtful I’d be going over 5 mph very often….
In the end it is the Kubota RTV 900 that we chose. It does not go fast, it’s slow getting up hills, it is based on tractor technology with a unique hydrostatic transmission that gives the engine-braking that increases my safety greatly on this steep ground. And I can haul a thousand pounds of rock, back it into a small spot and dump it without having to leave the seat when on a narrow terrace.
The Kubota RTV900 also has hydraulic Quick-Disconnects (QD’s) that can be easily opened and a hydraulic-powered tool added in, to run on the hydraulic system…… for me I can see the use of a hydraulic-powered two-person hand-held auger (for drillling into the ground for posts), a pole-chainsaw, and a hydraulic jackhammer being some tools I might occasionally rent for a day or three of use.
There are a few things that one should know about this machine, and some of them are listed on the complaints that others have posted about it…. one is that the transmission is designed to slow and even stop the vehicle when throttle is reduced….. some people complain this will nearly “pitch you out the windshield”… personally, I like that feature…. if I get scared about a steep spot I am in, I can take my foot off the throttle and the vehicle stops. Also when going steeply downhill with 500 lbs of waste cactus I can stay in low-range and not have to keep my foot riding forcefully on the brakes… the engine itself will keep the engine speed low… in fact, I have to keep my foot on the throttle to even continue going downhill for very long. Another great feature of this transmission’s braking feature is the fact that if I decide to stop going downhill and come to a stop, I can then shift into reverse and reverse direction without a heart-stopping slide downhill while applying throttle… the machine will stay in place until I give enough throttle to overcome the engine-braking feature and it will then continue back uphill. The sense of control with this machine is excellent.
Another item often mentioned as a problem is the sticky shifting, and lack of shifting while in motion. Like many tractors this one does not allow shifting while in movement…. you might start in low-range to get out from the shed, then stop and shift into high range to drive to the work-site, then again down into low or medium-range to move around the work-site. No shifting on-the-fly here…. if you’re going off-road into terrain that calls for frequent shifting, you’ll find yourself stymied by the constant stops to shift into another range. If you are travelling with friends with more conventional ATVs and UTVs, you’ll find yourself behind the pack most of the time while the fast responsive machines whiz by on the road, and fly past you on jumps. This machine is not one built for sport… it is built for work. Another shifting issue often mentioned is sticky shifting, especially into low-range and into reverse. I’ve found this is not really a real ‘issue’ once you learn two things…. one, have the wheels facing straight ahead.. this relieves pressure from the system and allows things to unbind better… two, if you cannot shift easily, ‘blip’ the throttle once or twice, this will allow the shifter to engage, even when the wheels are turned. Ive found shifting from 4WD to 2WD or the other is a bit challenging if the wheels are not straight, I often find I have to drive foward (or back) for a dozen feet in order to stop and shift into/out of 4WD… for some folks this might be a real problem…. but since I automatically shift into 4WD before I need it, it’s not a real issue for me.
Two items I’ve not seen listed as a detraction are the location of the key-switch on the console and the location of the parking brake by the open doorway. The key-switch location and the small cab for my size (6’4″ 250 lbs) have resulted in my left knee turning off the engine several times when turning in my seat to look behind me as I back into narrow steep spaces….. and at times I am leaving the cab on a steep slope downhill on the left…. I have to take extra care that I do not accidentally smack myself against the parking brake which is located alongside the doorway opening on the left…. I’d hate to accidentally disengage the brake while dismounting. I am sure the engine braking on the shut-off engine would help prevent a runaway vehicle…. but as I grow more comfortable with it, I’ll be testing the safety on slopes in various modes of operation.
Again, any vehicle, is designed to perform certain functions, and some functions cannot be retained in order to more narrowly focus use. I agree that most people might well be better-off with one of the other UTV vehicles….. but for us the Kubota RTV900 fits our uses better than anything else I’ve seen or driven. I’m VERY happy with our machine and have been using it nearly daily hauling much heavy dirt, rocks and waste cactus. It’s been stable with a low center-of-gravity, a tractor-y low-end torque which feels very strong, and the handling is similar when filled with 750 lbs of rocks as when the large and strong bed is empty.
Another factor in our choice was our satisfaction with our old Kubota tractor we got nearly 20 years ago from a contractor friend who wanted a newer stronger model Kubota. So this old machine had a lot of use before we got it, and it still runs fine. So I like the experience I have had with Kubota in the past.
The video above is a Kubota video that shows what I consider to be the best aspect of this vehicle.. the engine braking transmission and the 900 cc diesel engine. Keep in mind the video is a commercial by Kubota… so I find it amusing to watch the overacting of one fellow driving the John Deere Gator.
The video below is from the Polaris company… they are comparing one of their machines to the Kubota RTV900.
Like the Kubota com-video, this one extoles the virtues of their machine in ways that refelct positively on their product. Yet I cannot disagree with anything they say…. the Kubota has no real storage area in the cab (but I’m not likely to be far from anything I need), no tie-downs in the bed (which I’d just bang up with rocks), little cab-room (but longer would reduce my turning radius), lower wheelbase (and perhaps lower COG?), runs on diesel (but I’m happier with the low-end torque of a diesel), smaller fuel tank (but diesel gives you more hours of operation per gallon), and the Kubota is not nearly as good at higher speeds, or extremely boulder-y terrain.
In short, if you are going to go off-roading, away from home, hunting, or wanting to take jumps, mudholes etc, you are better off with the Polaris or John Deere. The Kubota is heavy, massive and strong and built for slow steady work, not sport.
QR codes (Quick Response) is the strange black box with squiggly marks in it on some labels. This is a technology that allows users of ‘smart phones’ to scan the code which will bring them to a website…. this code is often used by food producers like us, because we want people to find our unusual and perhaps unfamiliar food in a market, and be able to find our website quickly so they can see preparation and recipe information.
Edible Cactus QR Code
Our labels are part of a marketing campaign designed and implemented by ‘Top 10 Produce LLC’
The QR code will take people to our website where they can pick from cactus recipes and preparation/nutritional information.
Even though we have this QR code, I personally do not have a smart phone as we have no cellular reception at our home, and I am only out of the canyon for a few hours each week…. so even though I love technology, I can’t use the technology of cell-phones well enough to pay for a smart-phone and the added costs of data service
Ineptocracy: (in-ep-toc’-Ra-cy) – a system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.
