107 DEGREES - GENERAC BACK ON LINE - MICROWAVE BACON - PAMPAS GRASS - JIBBER JABBER

 

Temperatures heading back into the high double digits this coming week. No rain in sight.

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

GENERAC BACK ON LINE 

The Generac whole house generator has been offline and come to find out the positive battery terminal had corroded into dust. It fell off as I pulled on it from the battery. Trying to find someone to help or repair is costly and time consuming. Can take weeks to get someone to come help with a repair and service.

Fixing batteries with problems like this is straightforward and repairs I have made dozens of times. But there is a learning curve in shutting off the system and making sure it will not turn on in the event of a power outage. Also getting the generator back online.

I went to YouTube and found all the help I needed. It often takes a few different videos to get good information from someone who knows what they are doing and can also teach via their video. My son calls this "YouTube University" for learning repairs. 

I serviced the battery, fully charged it and followed the step-by-step procedures I have been putting off learning all of the ins and outs of full servicing of this generator, but being with out a whole-house generator in a power outage is not an option for me. Being self-sufficient in times like this is an absolute must.

I have watched others perform maintenance, oil filter changes and new battery replacement on our unit. Asking questions, taking notes and learning from the net has been valuable.

The upside of all of this effort is that I now better know the functioning of the generator and how to troubleshoot and safely perform some basic maintenance. Dad taught me well when I was very young and working in auto shops and gas stations in the early 1960's provided a lot of OJT and basic mechanical knowledge that still pays off today. 

The side-by-side is a valuable tool here and I am on it several times a day working. All the tools and needed items moved easily to the generator site and made repair work easier. I would be lost with out this rig. This is indeed my helper at this time of my life.

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

MICROWAVE BACON
 

I never thought I would ever be a fan of microwaved bacon, but the bride has the process mastered. We use microwave bacon from Sam's club which seems to have the best favor and crunch. Also the best price and quantity (personal opinion). No muss no fuss.

------------- 

PAMPAS GRASS 

I usually share some thoughts every summer about pampas grass and this summer follows suit. With weeks and weeks of dry high heat, direct sunlight and no rain, this plant thrives. Blooms beautifully without any maintenance. There must be a lesson in survival and thriving here.

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

JIBBER JABBER 

HOW TO KILL A ROBOT DOG -Field Ethos

I was not surprised to see this article pop up in one of my blogs. I have been following the advancement of robotic dogs and the such for years now. The progress has been steady and advancements in keeping with research/development and a commitment to bring these machines into mainstream.

Has advancement in this technology come so far and to a point where these robots are now seen as a threat to humans? A threat that others are seeing and thinking that maybe the time has come to figure out a way to defend oneself against them is some manner, some how and some way. How to stop such a machine if it is life threatening?

I am not advocating here, just sharing a point in time where the advancement of robots have come to a point where folks are sharing ways to combat them. Maybe a normal progression in things like this?

It did not take long for the advancement of airplanes to be used in warfare. How about the use of drones in warfare? It was just a few years ago my son and I were playing with these as toys and learning a way to gain new photographic perspectives. 

Lioness Season 3  (Lioness Season 3 premiered on August 2, 2026, and new episodes stream weekly on Sundays on Paramount+.) (found on Paramount Plus) has a very telling and dramatic showing in the first episode of the use of drones in today's warfare. An eye-opener. 

I have been reading and hearing for years now of how all of this new technology could be used like this. And it appears that is has evolved in warring arenas successfully.

To what point here? Showing photographs of robotic dogs alongside a suited up and armed combatant is hard to ignore.

Right now, our home protection is two cats (not robotic). I wonder if a robotic dog would be distracted by a robotic cat? Food for thought. If I play that movie in my mind, I find myself laughing. 

---------------  

Appreciate the visit this week.