Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Bird Watching Life Lists – Keeping A Record
If you're a birder, you want to keep a list of sightings when you bird watch. Your life lists should be kept in a bird watching journal.
Life List
A life list is a record of the species of birds you've sighted over time. Typically, the list is kept in a journal. Each entry notes the bird species, the date, location and any notes you want to add. Depending on your particular bird watching exploits, you can keep one global list or separate lists as you see fit.
For many bird watchers, one life list simply isn't enough. So, how can you break down your lists? Here are a few ideas:
1. House Lists – A list of birds sighted around your home.
2. Yearly Lists – A list for each year you bird watch.
3. State Lists – A list for sighting by particular state.
4. Trip Lists – Journals for particular bird watching vacations or tours.
5. Wish Lists – A list of birds you haven't seen, but hope to. You simply cross them off as sightings occur.
Computer Life Lists
You can purchase computer life list programs or use online variations. Each program is different, but most come in a checklist format. You enter information and the program spits out your list.
The problem with using computer programs is…well, the computer aspect. Unless you are willing to lug a laptop around with you, there is going to be a delay between sightings and your journal entries. Using a computer program is also troublesome if you want to keep a collection of sketches of particular species you've identified. For most birders, a computer list is a supplement to a good journal, not a replacement.
Bird watching is an extremely personal passion. If you're just starting, you may think you don't need to keep a life list. The problem with this approach, of course, is you will regret the decision if you later decide to do so. All those sightings will be gone with time…
If you're going to start bird watching, make sure you keep a life list journal from the outset. As I like to say, "Preserve the experience!"
Rick Chapo is with Nomad Journals - Makers of bird watching journals. Read more bird watching articles at NomadJournalTrips.com.


The Waterloo Boy Tractor: Beginning of the John Deere Two Cylinder Tradition
The Waterloo Boy Tractor: Beginning of the John Deere
Two Cylinder Tradition
By: Dave Cole
Waterloo Boy Model N 1916 to 1924
Anything that can be done on the farm by horses, can be accomplished by the Waterloo Boy Tractor.
The Waterloo Boy tractors had a water cooled, two cylinder engine that burned kerosene, a cheaper fuel for farmers to purchase. The transmission was located on the left side of the engine, instead of in line or behind the engine. It had automotive type sliding gears, the Model L and R had only one forward speed, while
the Model N had two. (Although bull pinion gears as an in
field add on were available by special order for farmers
who found the need for more speed)

The Model R Waterloo Boy Tractor
Until 1919, the Model R Waterloo Boy tractor was sold in 13 different styles, from the A to the M. Style N, which became
the Model N Waterloo Boy tractor was introduced in 1917.
The Model R was much the same as the Model L, except that the R was given a 6.5 bore where the L had a 5.5 bore, both had a 7 inch stroke.
A little over 8,000 Model R's were manufactured, including those shipped overseas.

The Model N Waterloo Boy Tractor
The Model N Waterloo Boy was manufactured from 1917 thru 1924.
It was known as a 12-25 tractor because the tractor delivered 12 horsepower at the drawbar and 25 horsepower at the belt pulley, at 750 revolutions per minute.
The new and improved Model N had two forward speeds, 2 1/1 and 3 miles per hour.
Pulling a 3 bottom plow, or a 9 foot disc harrow, or 2 binders, the new Waterloo Boy Model N had two forward speeds with a 6.5 bore and 7 inch stroke engine. It delivered 16 drawbar horsepower
and 25 at the belt with an engine rpm of 750.
The outer bull pinion gear on the final drive was changed to
have the teeth face the inside of the drive wheel to decrease
wear on the final drives and help shield them from dirt.
The Model N was an immediate success with almost 5,000 units being sold in 1918.

Waterloo Boy and Deere & Company
Noting the success of the Waterloo Boy Tractor, Deere and Company's sales manager Frank Silloway began to investigate.
The philosophy of upper management was that Deere and Company
could no longer just manufacture implements, it was time to
move on to the business of selling tractors.

While Deere and Company had been experimenting with various tractor designs since 1912, nothing had proven itself to be a seller on the market.
After much consideration and despite the consternation of
certain board members, Silloway believed the Waterloo Boy
Model N was the second best tractor on the market, the first
belonging to the International Harvester Company.
Sales in 1919 did hit a slump, mostly due to Henry Ford's introduction of the Fordson tractor, but the board members
of Deere and Company did take an option to purchase the
Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company.
On March 14, 1918, an agreement was reached by the board
agreeing to purchase the Waterloo company for $2,350,000.

On January 20, 1920 Deere and company were officially in the tractor business. The acquisition gave many more sales opportunities to the Waterloo Boy tractor as Deere and Company
had an already established dealer network across the United States.
The new John Deere Waterloo Boy tractors were to be painted John Deere green, except for: hub caps - red, gasolene tank - red.
The Waterloo Boy decals were were still used, however the John Deere decals were placed on the front.

In March and April of 1920 the Model N had the privilege of
being the first tractor tested at Nebraska under the new tractor testing law.
The tractor exceeded the advertised 12 - 25 and became also the first tractor to be certified.

The Waterloo Boy Overtime Tractors
Export of the Model R began in 1917 with tractors going to Denmark, England, France, Greece, Ireland and South Africa.
Most of these exported to England were purchased by L. J.
Martin, head of the Overtime Tractor Company, London.
Upon arrival these tractors received a new paint job, decals
and serial number and a new name....Overtime.
In Great Britain, the Waterloo Boy tractors burned paraffin,
the British equivalent of kerosene.

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For a complete history of all the John Deere Two Cylinder Tractors, visit our tribute to the Johnny Poppers and also see pics of our working 2 cylinder tractors, along with a whole bunch of Cool Green & Yellow stuff
http://petcaretips.net/john-deere.html


Introduction to Sudoku
Have you ever played with a Rubik's Cube? You may have mastered the Rubik's cube and are looking for a greater challenge. Try the puzzle game called Sudoku. Sudoku is a number placement puzzle that requires logic skills and patience. It is a fantastic puzzle game that can be found in newspapers, books and online games websites.
How do you play Sudoku?
The Sudoku puzzle consists of a series of grids. The grids include one large 9 x 9 grid that houses, nine 3 x 3 smaller grids. The purpose of the game is to place a number from 1-9 in each of the grid cells. You don't have to worry about finding the sum of the numbers of the rows, columns, like in Magic Squares.
No addition is involved; however there are three conditions that rely on each other and must be followed. Each number 1-9 can appear only once in each column, once in each row, and once in each small 3 x 3 grid. Mathematically, Sudoku puzzles are a derivation of Latin Squares.
The famous mathematician Leonard Euler created Latin Squares. They are a prevalent part of discrete math. Basically, a Latin Square consists of an n x n table filled with numbers, letters, or symbols. Each symbol can only appear exactly once in each row and exactly once in each column. Sudoku puzzles take the Latin Square one step further with the 3 x 3 smaller grid constraints. The fact that you have to make sure that each small 3 x 3 grid contains each number 1-9 only once significantly increases the complexity of the puzzle.
Sudoku puzzles come in varying levels of difficulty. The amount of numbers given initially in the 9 x 9 matrix varies. One would think that the more numbers you are given initially, the easier the puzzle would be to solve. This is not always the case because the "placement" of the numbers has a profound effect on the complexity of the puzzle.
Where did Sudoku puzzles originate?
Sudoku is the Japanese word for "placement puzzle". Sudoku swept Japan in the mid-1980's. Before that, however, a puzzle constructor in the United States named Howard Garnes created the first puzzle of this type in 1979. It was called "Number Place" instead of Sudoku. It was published in the Dell Magazine Math Puzzles and Logic Problems.
How do you solve a Sudoku puzzle?
Good question! The key is to have patience and use your logic skills. Don't just use a trial and error method. Many players construct their own puzzle solving techniques and methods, which they share in Sudoku player online forums.
You can start anywhere in the puzzle, but as a beginner start by focusing on the top three smaller 3 x 3 grids. Look at the initial numbers and start with the number "1". Check to see if a "1" appears in the other two smaller 3 x 3 grids. Then find cells in these smaller grids where you can possibly place a "1" while still adhering to the rules. You will also need to take into consideration 3 x 3 grids that are attached to the given grid. It is like dancing on eggshells, but the key is to look for patterns. Logically, you need to prove why a number should go in a certain cell.
Sudoku is a clever puzzle game that will sometimes make you feel like you are going around in circles. However, practicing on different puzzles will help you to understand certain techniques that work and those that lead you to a dead end. The beauty of the game is that there are a great number of Sudoku puzzles to solve. Time yourself. Many puzzle solvers can finish a puzzle in 10 to 30 minutes. Get out your stopwatch and see how fast you can solve a Sudoku puzzle.