Bees are diminishing in numbers all over the country, I have heard. This could be disastrous! In my garden I almost Never see a regular honey bee; there are bees, but of many different and rather strange species - some very small, some look flattened, etc. but no normal ones.

I agree with you about wasps, Dave. Growing up in Texas I got stung many times by yellow jackets and have a well developed fear and loathing for them. Btw, hope the car's all fixed & no more problems.

Alex - sorry you had to kill an innocent creature, but putting him out of his misery was the right thing to do. Still, I knows it makes you feel bad, but it shows the kind of heart you have. It's good to hear about folks who don't kill without a second thought, or even for a thrill.

Ken

Originally Posted by sepulchre

Bees are diminishing in numbers all over the country, I have heard. This could be disastrous! In my garden I almost Never see a regular honey bee; there are bees, but of many different and rather strange species - some very small, some look flattened, etc. but no normal ones.

Dave was right about that 'mite' thing - it did in my late grandma's hives in fact (50 @ their height, 20 or so @ the end, & falling faster, & faster)... I couldn't recall WHAT the exact cause was, but do, now (after Dave mentioned it). Too bad, & lol, on the 'bee spit' thing, because they take the nectar into "communal stomachs" they have iirc, & regurgitate it upon delivery into the wax cells they make to hold it while it 'ages/matures' etc. iirc... man, many MANY years since I had to recall all of this.

AND, you're right - it can be disastrous, because they are a MAJOR source of pollination.

Originally Posted by sepulchre

Alex - sorry you had to kill an innocent creature, but putting him out of his misery was the right thing to do. Still, I knows it makes you feel bad, but it shows the kind of heart you have. It's good to hear about folks who don't kill without a second thought, or even for a thrill.

Ken

It 'bugged me', pun intended... I like spiders too, but, not this time - hey, I really DO realize, the "spider was just being a spider", & saw a 'walking cheeseburger' more-or-less, in HIS web, & was feeding HIS family & himself, too, in the doing of it...

Heck, when you come RIGHT DOWN TO IT?

I was probably "interfering" in the spider's abilities to feed he & HIS OWN, too, when I think about it... it's NOT like he was "some evil spider" (though he surely looked it, very ugly one, some are beautiful imo), he was just being himself.

It's just that I respect bees, of all kinds (well, not so much wasps, but... they're trying to live too, in their own way - heh, I used to watch wasps stealing honey from honeybees hives too, which they DO try to do @ times, giving you an indication of their 'character', as they do not work for it themselves usually, like bees/bumblebees do, @ least not that I have seen)... & I hate good things, being hurt.

APK

P.S.=> Dave's right about "pettable bees" too, lol, & my little niece (who's photo I have put up here before) tried to pet 'bumblebees' & got herself stung more than once in trying it... but, did she give up? No... because, lol, one day??

My mother shows me how she found some bees (wild ones, that live in 'hovels/holes' beneath the ground, near a neighbors' bushes @ their base), picked them up, BY THE HANDFULS no less, & was holding them... they must have been somekind of 'stingless bee' is my guess, because otherwise? My niece would have hands the size of catcher's mitts, from stings, otherwise... was pretty neat to see though!

They were VERY tiny bees, smaller, & 'darker' in color (especially around the circle stripes on their abdomens).

EDITING NOW - Dave's also correct about 'stealing' from the bees, which IS exactly what you do, when pulling the wooden frames with the wax cells in them... after 'smoking them out' with a bellows can (what I call them, & we used apple tree leaves inside of those)... this stops them from getting the signal from the QUEEN, to "attack intruders/kill" etc. et al... because, otherwise? You'd be dead, pretty fast (they will swarm & cover you, stinging you to death, fast).

FRESH honey is awesome by the way...

Anyhow/anyways: You just don't steal more than the bees can live without (I don't recall the %'s my now late grandparents used, but I just recall them telling me "especially near winter, do NOT rob from them more than they require to survive the winter", & that's the 1 'golden rule' I recall, when stealing their 'liquid gold' from them)... apk

Originally Posted by DaveMo~

Strange, that I came in here to tell a bumblebee story and there's one already here.Dave

Yea, I just have to quit that!

You know: The "hacking of others' brains"...

(See - it's just that hacking/cracking computers wasn't enough of a challenge anymore, is all, & gets "old" etc. et al...)



* Bear w/ me on that note... lol!

APK

P.S.=> I don't 'hack/crack' other folks' computers by the way, lol - heck, I actually TOTALLY do the OPPOSITE (tell them how to stay safer online), but... thought it'd make for a good joke here is all (the "esp" is running on FULL today or something, I dunno, but - coincidences abound, eh?)... apk

Hello to all...it's a warm day where I live. I wish you all a great weekend too. I am newbie and I am astonished by the wealth of knowledge many of you possess. That's awesome indeed. I 'm having issues but who isn't right???

Originally Posted by User Name

Hello to all...it's a warm day where I live. I wish you all a great weekend too. I am newbie and I am astonished by the wealth of knowledge many of you possess. That's awesome indeed. I 'm having issues but who isn't right???

Likewise to you man, likewise to you - & imo @ least? It's WHAT forums, are all about: Sharing know-how, helping others, & also having a nice time getting to know others (most likely folks you will NEVER meet in this life in person, "text people" all of us, lol) as well.

On issues? Heh - every DAY man, everyday... most, I don't know about you guys, I get sometimes TOO 'carried away' over, but, maybe that's better than just "blowing them off" too, I don't know!

APK

Continuing the build of the "APK Hosts File Grinder 4.0++", after I literally destroyed my last compiler setup (dumb mistake on installing an older "VCL control", which was built in an older version of the compiler I use, Delphi, & this sometimes demands you put in 'conditional statements' to compile correctly in later versions of this compiler - I did not, hosed my last setup, lol!)

That's ok, because?

Well, now, FINALLY??

I am getting ready to setup an FTP server (this, believe-it-or-not, IS going to be the 'hard part', because I do not intend to serve it up from THIS account I use online, & instead, need more 'stable space').

(Albeit, one DEDICATED TO THIS, only (holding a HOSTS file users can download & secure themselves (& speed themselves up with too), rather than building it themselves, which the app lets you do, but it is SOME work (adding all the HOSTS file entries sources, importing the files of others so it is comprehensive, etc. et al)).

What I want it to do, is allow the user the option to build their own... which it does now anyhow, from many other sources, & into the MOST space on disk + memory efficient form possible...but... to save them time & effort?

Also, the ability to haul in a NEW current one from this FTP server, &, have it be TOTALLY up-to-date for them (vs. known online threats on bad sites & servers etc.), & install for they also - no effort! To save them time & effort.

The mechanics of THIS setup, via FTP, & some FTP code for download (& then LZCopy API calls (because I intend to use LZ Compression so the file is smaller & thus, downloads faster, IS FREE (from OS api's in windows, & nearly as good as WinZip/WinRar on FULL-MAX compression too, without using extra .DLL files to distribute (big on "1 moving part only construction" here is why in my apps, less complexity, less to break down etc.)), to install it etc.) & done...

Easy as pie.

All the code's working @ this point, solid + fast as I can get it, so... this ought to be 'smooth sailing'...

HOWEVER, the FTP server won't be "here" (my current home location, which is going to change shortly anyhow - looking for better job now, & have offer in other part of USA, so, that means moving time, ugh... oh well!)

Anyhow - By that, it means I do NOT want to "punch holes" into this system's (my home rig) security for the ports the program will use (probably NOT std. port 21 FTP)!

So, thus, I am going to look into using space that my ISP/BSP normally allots for personal webpage space instead (the file will be sub 5mb, & I am nearly certain they give you THAT much).

Question is - will my ISP/BSP allow it for FTP space, rather than a website?

-------------------------------------------
Personally, on a side-note, about HOSTESS:
-------------------------------------------

Also, I know of 1 other set of people doing a program like mine (Hostess is its name, & it came FAR after I built my first version of this program circa 2002-2004 (theirs started in 2005 iirc)) - they actually HAD that "problem" (popularity, & 'bandwidthing out', which I had happen to myself years ago with "APK 3dFx Tuning Engine 2000++" for 3dFx's Voodoo videocards, & with Earthlink/Mindspring as my hosting providers - told me 'unlmited bandwidth' on home-user level agreement, but, once those downloads started? They wanted "business account" level fees, regardless of their 'false advertising' that way (& it is FALSE, imo)).

I would not doubt they saw posts of my original one & built their own (they do everything my first one did, & also do this 'live update' part I have been planning too)...

Except?

Well, THEY kept @ it, distributing it publicly, & actually doing pretty well, which I honestly find surprising! Not that their app did well, but that folks "got into HOSTS" usage, period (usually the "province of geeks" lol!)

I kept my original build to myself years ago (as I didn't think it was 'good enough' imo @ least, & now it is, AND like I said here earlier? I didn't think "normal end users" would be interested in these files, as they sometimes demand upkeep for speed, & upkeep to keep security @ 110% etc.)...

Do I think they 'copied my idea'?

Very possibly!

HOWEVER, that IS how it goes in this field - on my first commercially successful application I had, I was told this by my boss @ an NCR subsidiary in Kennesaw Ga. USA... copying is rampant, expect it!

(& I have proofs of the origination date of MY original app, was pictured here too, but on forums from LONG ago in fact, prior to their app even coming into existence).

Then again, & I often say this: There is VERY LITTLE ORIGINAL THOUGHT, & perhaps, they too saw the value of HOSTS files too, & did their apps, without having seen mine (which I know was the first of its kind - as I have NOT seen one that started prior to 2005, & mine definitely, did).

Who knows... still, a lot says they did, but I cannot PROVE that. No big deal, just do a BETTER one is all it takes. I can DO that, or try.

-------------------------------------------

Anyhow, on HOSTS files?

See again:

I didn't think 'normal users' would be "into" HOSTS files usage - this is changing, as of late, (apparently, but with good reason - there is probably 10x the threat level out there today, as their was 5-7 yrs. back or so, online).

So, I suppose, it makes sense on HOSTS files being on the 'uptake' by normal users now (for lack of a better expression) - they work: For BOTH speed online (better) & certainly for security online, especially today (MUCH better).

APK

P.S.=> The ONLY thing that 'scares me some' here, is that getting tied into a project like this?

Well - Means "upkeep"...

(Which I do anyhow, for myself, & testers/friends/family... nearly DAILY updating this HOSTS file of mine as of late, but on avg. once every 3 days or so)...

I say this, because I've been 'tied into' apps that are 'hardware specific' too, like vidcards, & since those 'update/upgrade' every 9-12 months or so? It's TOUGH to keep up @ times AND IS "UPKEEP", & to be blunt about it? A pain!

I figure, an application of shareware/freeware size (usually mine span between 2000-5000 lines of self-written code on my part), should be DONE 100% & that's it, within 1-9 months of its origination, & that is it, done (usually, this IS the case, & has been in my experience @ least)...

Thus - I am only hoping this one does not "explode" with so many users it either:

1.) Floods out the bandwidth demand from my ISP/BSP space, for which they start charging 'business account prices' for, though MOST OF ALL OF THEM imo, falsely advertise, as "unlimited bandwidth" (gotta LOVE that, right?)

or

2.) That I get "bought out", which HAS happened for me before, & I did NOT like the things I was asked to do (@ times, not all) when changing it over to "their way of seeing it"...

In my experience, one thing about that happens, I am not crazy about:

Usually, once you're bought out, you 'sold your soul for rock-n-roll" as far as I am concerned, & are then just another "employee answering to 'THE MAN'" etc. (not always bad, but... well, we all know THAT deal, lol!)... apk

If I talk about my accomplishments for today, hmm, it would only be survival. I'm alive still. The next accomplishment was getting on here to say I survived. LoL!

Speaking of arachnids, well a few posts back. I had to stand guard one day near a building that was only a superstructure (not outside walls, just steal work). Part of my guard was to walk up to the fifth floor (top floor) and just survey the area. I walked over to one corner and there was a spider that was hanging from a single strand out in the air with the wind blowing him closer and closer to one of the main outside beams. As he finally contacted that beam, he made an anchor point and then let the wind carry him to the next piece of metal support about a foot away. Now that he had a bridge, I watched him make a web ready for catching food. It only took about any hour and a half or so for him to build about a 1 foot by 1 foot web. It was very interesting to watch and then see him mount the center to stay on his patrol for incoming meals.

I did pay attention to my other work. And I came back to visit him later that evening and noticed that he had a fresh meal in his web. Seems like the food chain is interesting even on that level.

And my apologies to him if he was a she.

I wish my day had been as filled with accomplishments.

Dave

Originally Posted by DaveMo~

If I talk about my accomplishments for today, hmm, it would only be survival. I'm alive still. The next accomplishment was getting on here to say I survived. LoL!

LOL, wanna know the FIRST thing I thought of Dave? Ala a "rorshak" test?? The film "True Lies"... with YOU, as the "Arnold" role! Hehehe, just back from a "secret mission", in time for dinner w/ the wife, etc.!



(Yea, I know - I'm "weerd" @ times (most of the time)).

Originally Posted by DaveMo~

Speaking of arachnids, well a few posts back. I had to stand guard one day near a building that was only a superstructure (not outside walls, just steal work). Part of my guard was to walk up to the fifth floor (top floor) and just survey the area. I walked over to one corner and there was a spider that was hanging from a single strand out in the air with the wind blowing him closer and closer to one of the main outside beams. As he finally contacted that beam, he made an anchor point and then let the wind carry him to the next piece of metal support about a foot away. Now that he had a bridge, I watched him make a web ready for catching food. It only took about any hour and a half or so for him to build about a 1 foot by 1 foot web. It was very interesting to watch and then see him mount the center to stay on his patrol for incoming meals.

They are pretty ****** amazing, which is why I stated I don't MIND spiders... heck, even "brown recluses" (but, these? You kind of HAVE to 'knock off', especially IF YOU HAVE KIDS!!! I'm not "with that", but, if you get the opportunity?? Well..., because if not?? They can knock YOU off, or rather, PARTS of you off (lol, not really funny though) & it's NOT a pretty sight (rotting almost like leprosy)).

Heh - iirc, on the 'arachnids' note? Iirc, TICKS are arachnids too, & these are B O G U S (all parasites are).

Originally Posted by DaveMo~

I did pay attention to my other work. And I came back to visit him later that evening and noticed that he had a fresh meal in his web. Seems like the food chain is interesting even on that level.

And my apologies to him if he was a she.

LOL, yea right (on the last part) - GOOD point!

Originally Posted by DaveMo~

I wish my day had been as filled with accomplishments.

Dave

It was, you filled me in with an "interesting tale" I can relate to... so, there you go, one "notch on your belt" right there man!



* Heh, speaking of brown recluses: I was doing a contract in Mobile Alabama in 2004 iirc, & I was out on the docks of the trucking firm I was doing the work for... having a smoke on break - while there, I did pretty much what you stated in your tale above.

Well, this guy who works there on the dock just about "flips out" on me, lol, yelling:

"GET OUTTA THERE MAN!"

(I was like "WTF?!?")

This WAS my 'first contact' w/ a 'brown recluse'... tiny little sucker, cute too, but deadly... I had my face about, oh, 5 inches from him (he could easily have leapt out @ me & did my face in permanent, because the bites cause these horrendous boils @ first, & then the "rot" I spoke of if left unchecked & death I suppose, even (necrotic rot in "wrong/bad spots" etc. on a guess).

NOT a "good way to have gone" imo @ least - or, to bear a horrible scar/missing chunk of flesh due to it. Especially facially, of course, folks notice that first imo!

(Well, w/ women? It's YOUR SHOES they notice first, man! lol...)

APK

P.S.=> My FAV spiders I saw 'in the dirty ole' south'?

BANANA SPIDERS:



I wanted to take one home here up north, but, it would have died (they do not do well in cold).

Flipping cool looking, & HUGE (webs so strong, almost like nylon (well, not THAT tough but, you get the point))... apk

For "posterities' sake", here is that garden I have been speaking of here, circa June 7th 2008 - today, July 28th 2008:

**********

(Apologies - Photo quality's NOT "the greatest", admittedly, because I was in a hurry (rechargeable batteries I have, 15 minute type by EverReady, are finally about to 'die' on me, for good I think this time, so... I had to rush the shots!))

**********

FRONT & CENTERED-VIEW #1:

**********



**********

This... IS a particular plant of the lot, in "Vampire", below!

(LOL, I call him that, because he "Rose from the Dead", surprisingly (my buddy Jack says its ALL miracle grow)).

(Hey - Note the tiny white cross, in the background buried into the dirt? Yes, it's intentional... he was going to die, or, so I thought, so I thought it appropriate)

Early on, something knocked him down to 1 leaf & a stub (right now, he's only about 3" bigger than when I first bought him in fact, to give you an idea here & some scale) - Personally? I really didn't think he'd make it but alas, I was wrong (good I was too)):

**********



**********

"Vampire" #2 (Close-Up, for detail - PURE evidence, of the power of powdered eggshells, miracle grow, + weeding & watering):

He also got "special-treatment" in that I put stones ALL THE WAY AROUND HE, so I could spot weeds easier (to not rob his growth, especially he vs. the other plants) & also so the ground did not get light around him - stops weeds too, lack of light (& also, MAY help keep him warmer @ night, because sometimes summer or not, it gets a BIT chilly (relative term of course)):

**********



**********

Front Left-Hand-Side View:



**********

Front Right-Hand-Side View:



**********



* Well, there 'tis: The "tomato crop" I've been ranting & raving about here since it went into the ground in early-June 2008...

At this point, each plant's (except "nosferatu/dracula" up there, lol, who is the 'runt of the litter' @ around 1.5 ft. now, but not his fault) is approximately up to 5++ foot height's now!

----

IF you're wondering "why all the posts/stanchions"? Well, to keep them growing UPWARDS!

(Cherry Tomatoes & Other types have a tendency to grow down & sideways, promoting mold & what-not, on the leaves AND FRUIT (IF the plant hits the ground, especially moist ground))

Plus, I'd rather eat the tomatoes than molds/funguses OR slugs/snailsfeasting on them instead of myself, my friends, neighbors, & family - yes, usually if I do stuff like this? EVERYONE gets a piece that I know, why not!

(On slugs/snails chowing on tomatoes... I am not sure they eat them or not though, admittedly (but taking NO chances either on that account, by raising them via posts & twine, instead of cages (my tenant uses those)))

Anyhow - What I do, is tie twine/jute rope around the posts & "guide" the plants thru them, to promote 'upward' growth, & it seems to work (it was the way I was taught @ least, to do it). Each plant's got about 50-100 small greenish-orangy fruits on them now... (ALL, except poor "vampire" up there - but he's flowering, & that means he WILL bear fruit, probably by late August/Sept. I am guessing)

SOooo - that all "said & aside"? Well, about 2 weeks from now?? We're talking "CHERRY TOMATO CITY", PEOPLE!

----

For JUST $2.00 U.S. Dollars invested in these plants (for my "eggshells & miracle grow" + banana peels (thanks again Sepulchre on this tip) "growth-experiment")?

Guys - I'll EASILY get back hundreds of dollars worth of FREE food, & also have a nice productive (even somewhat fun) hobby to pursue as well thru the rest of the summer too.

I used to think doing stuff like this was sort of lol, Oh, I dunno "flaky" but, it has practical merit, that actually turns up pretty cool in many ways too. Glad I got into it, recommend it to anyone actually.

----

(Yee-hah... they go great in salads, and believe-it-or-not, Roasts of ALL kinds in the oven too (adds a 'zing' to the food, by all means!))

She's not doing bad @ all... especially considering it's ONLY a month & 1/2's worth of growth, & I have nearly 4 more to look forward too, & especially NOW - they are VERY near to 'edible quality', judging them, "color-wise" @ this point!

APK

P.S.=> All-in-all though - I was out to see if I could "out garden, the gardener" my tenant, via putting a lot of care in them too, weeding & watering daily/religiously too... not TONS of work, but, needed!

The results show, bigtime, because these plants are 2-3x as large as his, AND, they all came from the SAME crop/batch @ the local farmer's market we visit on Thursdays or Saturdays, he & I, @ times. They're replete with more density & shoot growth too + height (about 1-3 feet taller), also fruit too (much more on my plants, by far @ this juncture)! Thus, the results were/are very apparent @ this point too - as each plant bears approximately 50-100 fruits on them, as is, now currently!

The idea being, to surpass your teacher(s) one day, of course, ala:

Kung-Fu: "When you can snatch the pebble from my hand, it will be time for you to go..."

Type idea... apk

Per Dave's last post: Things aren't always "daisies & balloons" in this life, & sometimes? Man - it's a PAIN IN THE BUTT, with unexpected hassles!

E.G.-> Rear tire got a flat today, there went $15 for the plug ("Fix-A-Flat" only held the 'wound' in it for the ride to the service station, since it wasn't like merely a nail in my tire, but this flat chunk of metal, really odd!) + another $25 for gas.

I.E.-> "Bye bye $50, in minutes" (includes the cost of the "fix-a-flat" I had to use the "nurse the wound", worst stuff you can put in a tire imo, but it works, if only temporarily).

Anyhow - The station I go to is 2 blocks from my place, where this really GOOD vietnamese mechanic Peter who owns it is... &, he plugged it fast + perfect!

(He is a "M.E." (mechanical engineer) for years by professional trade before starting his own business(es) in 1987 that my family, friends, & I go to for mechanical work (& before he, the man who owned the station too, as I @ least, try to help the local folks in my local area's economy as much as possible rather than "big business franchise" places))

About 2 yrs. ago, he bought out my former mechanic Dave's place (who used to let me do work on my own @ times by renting lift time to me, & air wrench time etc.), & he told me when all was "said & done", it ran him $20,000 U.S. Dollars JUST to get under way & get the rights/legals in for just being able to pump gas there too!

(That alone took him an extra 3 months to get THAT straight - he was trying to tell me, I think, since I told him "You have the right idea, starting your OWN SHOW" etc., that even IF you are your "own boss", there are still headaches!)

Ain't that life?

Anyways/anyhow - He's a great guy, glad I know him (he's inspiration in 1 regard - he is his OWN boss & great @ what he does + charges the MOST reasonable prices for this kind of work I have EVER seen... good thing too that he is only 'around the corner" almost literally, 2 blocks away tops).



* LOL, but, that wasn't the "end of it"...

Additionally - Peter was cool enough to point out (& I am ticked @ myself I DIDN'T NOTICE IT (because I usually only pay attention to the front brakes mostly, since they are 90% of your 'stopping power' & all that)) that my back brake pads are getting MIGHTY low... he could have been VERY "uncool" & let it go, so I had to pickup rotors, ontop of pads (added expense, pretty relatively 'big' one too, by comparison of costs of pads to rotors parts on disk brakes).

Sux!

Ahhh... mainly because there goes another $50 in labor for BOTH rears being done, & probably around $50 x 2 for the parts (rotors, & pads, assuming I can't "turn the rotors" to shave them smooth again! That's "assuming the worst" of course, if they can't be 'turned' (I don't think they need to be, there are no grooves on the rotors, not yet @ least - & I won't drive much till then, so there hopefully WON'T be by then - he & I both figured I have a 2-3 weeks until I ought to get them done, but, I will do it next payday))...

HOWEVER - that way, in my "being the good pessimist"? I don't get "too disappointed/ticked off" (if stuff costs more than I expect).

His estimate was very close to around my own for the parts, which I am looking into now online actually...

I wasn't sure of his labor charge for it is all, & he's easily 1/2 of what I get quoted from others typically (this guy's a BARGAIN & 1/2, & my family + friends who go there 'spread the word' for him to get more business whenever we can).

BUT, needs doing so... next payday, it's off to his shop 1 more time, for rear brakes. So... "bye, bye to 1.5 - 2 Benjamin Franklins", NEXT week, for brake parts & the job itself being done... oh well! Gotta be done - I don't have the "C" clamps you need to do it yourself (or even a GOOD floor jack - used to have one, cannot find it for the life of me, & I looked today), & nobody else to help me (for pumping fluid thru the lines so no air's in them, etc.)

APK

P.S.=> Cars, as much as I really like/enjoy them, & as useful as they are? ARE EXPENSIVE PAINS IN THE YOU-KNOW-WHAT - the human body, as frail as it is, has 1 great thing going for it, vs. machines: SELF-REPAIRING abilities! apk