blog.ecorrado.us

23:59:60 2005 December 31

It seems that we will have an extra second this year (NPR, links to a page containing a link to audio of an interview). The extra second will be 23:59:60 Coordinated Universal Time, or 6:59:60 PM here on the east coast. The reason for the added time is to keep uniform time within 0.9 seconds of the Earth’s rotational time. This is the first time in seven years that a second has been added. Not sure what I’m going to be able to do with this extra second, but it is interesting none the less (well, maybe not too interesting).

Air filter testing 2005 December 28

While trying to figure out of there were any tricks to replace the low beam headlights in my 2003 Mazda 6s*, I was side tracked by reading about air filters. Since my air filter was about ready to be replaced, I decided to search the Internet for some information about which ones are better. I did find one scientific test, which (not surprisingly) showed that filters the block the most dirt, also restrict the air flow the most. Other web sites suggested (at least as far as paper air filters go) that the best air filter make and model will depend on the car and that you really need to just look at them and decide which one looks like it has the best design and filter area. That is what I’ll do when I go to the store and decide which one to purchase. Incidentally, during my search for air filters, I found an interesting oil filter study.

* There is no trick, but you need to have a lot of patience. Some fourms on the Internet claim that you have to take the front bumper off. The manual says you have to take it to the dealer. I did not have to go to the dealer or take the front bumper off, and was able to replace the lights. The only thing I ended up having to take off was the radiator overflow tank on the passenger side and the fuse box cover on the driver side. The passenger side was easier for two reasons. First, there is a little more room to maneuver the bulb and see once the radiator overflow tank is off; secondly, I already replaced the other one so I had some clue what I was doing. The thing that was odd about this was that both low beams burnt out at the same time. At first I was thinking something else was at fault, but the fuses and everything were OK, and it was indeed the case that the bulbs broke at the same time.

Merry Christmas 2005 December 25

Compliments of the Season, Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, etc., to one and all from ecorrado.us!

UMASS Darthmoth ILL Story a Hoax 2005 December 24

For those in the library-world that have been following the UMASS Dartmoth’s student supposed visit from Homeland Security agents after requesting an inter-library loan (ILL) of a book it was a big hoax. The student admitted to making the whole thing up. As many in the library community reported, the story seemed fishy from the beginning because some details in the story didn’t check out from the beginning. For example the original story claimed the student needed to enter his SSN to make the request while it is clear that UMASS uses an 8 digit number – which can’t be the SSN since it has nine digits; requesting a specific edition of a book without the proper title; and the article saying the book was popular in the 50′s when it wasn’t published until 1964 — just to name a few fishy aspects of the story. (I read these facts on LISNEWS.org and the ALA Council [E-mail] List). I’m not sure why the hoax was pulled, however I’m glad to see that many in the library community was so active in trying to nail the details (and truth) of this story. It is a good thing that we know the truth about this incident instead of speculating whether it is true or not. I’m not sure if it wasn’t for librarians we would have ever found out the truth about this hoax.

Springs Speedway racing this year 2005 December 22

Many of you may remember that I’ve been following the Springs Speedway saga. The Springs Speedway track, located in Auckland NZ, was almost forced to shut its doors forever because of noise complaints. I decided to check up on the status of the track today and they are racing this year. Apparently, a workable compromise between the city, track, and the complaining residents was worked out and the track was able to keep the sounds below the limits during the first meet. This is good to hear. In other good to hear news about race tracks a little closer to home, Big Diamond Raceway will be operating again this year under new management.

Christmas Karaoke 2005 December 21

I haven’t been anywhere during a karaoke night in a long time. Most of the ones I’ve been to in the past made me want to scream and run away just at the sight of a karaoke machine. However, Tuesday night I was at the Clarksburg Inn and they had Christmas Karaoke. I was all prepared to head out the door, but the guy sitting next to me convinced me I should listen to some of the karaoke regulars as they were real good. Since he offered to purchase a pint if I stayed for a few songs, I humored him. Well, he was right. These guys had excellent voices and if you didn’t know that some guy in the bar was singing the songs, you could have sworn it was some famous singer. Since it was “Christmas Karaoke” many of the songs were Christmas songs – which was fun. Luckily, no one tried to sing anything by Meatloaf. I might have to reconsider karaoke nights and instead of running out the door at the first sight of the machine, I should just makes sure I am prepared to run out the door as soon as the first note of Paradise by the Dashboard Light gets played.

Outlaw Sprints not out of the woods yet 2005 December 19

Seems like the WoO Sprints have another challenge. The NSL has apparently become the NST. Looking at the driver names seems as though it is the same cast of drivers, only different management. This time someone with experience running a sprintcar series. You can read about it on Hoseheads. Maybe this one will last a little longer then the NSL.

North Wilkesboro Speedway 2005 December 11

I’m not sure how much chance there is that this will happen, but it looks like the best chance in a long time that North Wilkesboro Speedway will re-open in 2006. What that chance is, I don’t know. These people seem to have a pretty concrete plan on what they want to do. I’m not sure whether they can pull it off though. I’d really like to see it happen, and if it did I’d be sure to make a trip down over the summer. However, I’m not going to hold my breath. anyway, good luck to the people who are trying to make this happen. Here is the press release… (more…)

Turkey Derby, Wall Township Speedway, Nov, 26 2005 2005 December 7

I know this is a little late, but on the Saturday after Thanksigiving I went to the Turkey Derby at Wall Township Speedway. On the agenda was three 50 lap races for the Wall modifieds and 100 lap race for tour-type modifieds. There was also some street stock races and Legend cars. All of the races had a little more yellow flags then I would have liked, but I guess they could have been worse. Of the four modified races, only one of them was won from outside the front few rows, but the racing was still not bad for the one grove Wall Speedway. The 100 lapper for the tour type modifieds was won by John Blewett III who inherited the lead when Teddy Christopher blew a tire. Teddy did charge back up to about 5′th but got caught up in an accident and that ended his day. (more…)

LISTA is now free 2005 December 5

Ebsco has recently announced that Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts (LISTA) will be provided as a “free resource to anyone interested in libraries and information management.” Being a librarian at a college that doesn’t have a MLS program, this is great news (even though it is only abstracts). For those not familiar with the database, according to the announcement “LISTA indexes more than 600 periodicals plus books, research reports, and proceedings. With coverage dating back to the mid-1960s, it is the oldest continuously produced database covering the field of information science.”