Srinivas Rao Vemulapally
Chennai India,
This person is a thief. Deal with him at great risk.
Aka: Edward Waya
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
Six Reasons Why Google Adwords Sucks
1. Google will give your keywords a "low quality score" but will not tell why.
2. You can screw for weeks with improving your landing page, keywords and ads all you want, but your quality score still won't move.
3. Google will lower your quality score suddenly and without warning, raising your cost per click 20 times. By the time you figure it out, you will have paid $3.00 for each click you were previously pay .15 cents for
4. Google will "recommend" new keyword "opportunities" for you, but these keywords will register as "low quality" if you add them to your keyword list.
5. Google reps will say they will call you back, but they really won't. They don't care.
6. Google thinks they know more about your business than you do, but they really don't.
If there were another game in town, I would move all of my Adwords business today. Google is acting like an evil monopoly. Google Adword's suck-ass quality can only bode poorly for Google as emerging competitors like Facebook, Bing-Yahoo, Baidu and others begin to get their acts together.
The unfortunate bottom line is that Google doesn't give a shit about serving its small long-tail customers. Now that they're a giant, they could give a shit about the ants that built the pile that is now Google.
2. You can screw for weeks with improving your landing page, keywords and ads all you want, but your quality score still won't move.
3. Google will lower your quality score suddenly and without warning, raising your cost per click 20 times. By the time you figure it out, you will have paid $3.00 for each click you were previously pay .15 cents for
4. Google will "recommend" new keyword "opportunities" for you, but these keywords will register as "low quality" if you add them to your keyword list.
5. Google reps will say they will call you back, but they really won't. They don't care.
6. Google thinks they know more about your business than you do, but they really don't.
If there were another game in town, I would move all of my Adwords business today. Google is acting like an evil monopoly. Google Adword's suck-ass quality can only bode poorly for Google as emerging competitors like Facebook, Bing-Yahoo, Baidu and others begin to get their acts together.
The unfortunate bottom line is that Google doesn't give a shit about serving its small long-tail customers. Now that they're a giant, they could give a shit about the ants that built the pile that is now Google.
Monday, November 08, 2010
Why MLS Soccer is better than than NFL Football
1. Soccer rules are easier to understand. Yellow Card, Red Card, off sides. Compare that to the complexity of the NFL rules.
2. Games start and end pretty close to the expected times.
3. Scoring is easier to understand. Put the ball in the net for a point. No touch down, field goal, extra point, two point conversion and touch back nonsense.
4. Gives you something in common with the other 95% of the people in the world
5. Virtually non-stop action.
6. Virtually no interruptions for TV commercials during game action.
2. Games start and end pretty close to the expected times.
3. Scoring is easier to understand. Put the ball in the net for a point. No touch down, field goal, extra point, two point conversion and touch back nonsense.
4. Gives you something in common with the other 95% of the people in the world
5. Virtually non-stop action.
6. Virtually no interruptions for TV commercials during game action.
Monday, November 01, 2010
Minnesota soccer teams
I'm on a soccer binge.
After watching the world cup games, I realized there was much I didn't understand about the game. After 30 years of NFL football, I have to be honest -- I need to learn something new. My wife is English, so I've always felt a little out of place at English family gatherings. When my brother-in-laws took me to a Brighton-Hove Albion game, I just didn't quite get it. But I persisted, and now since the World Cup games, I haven't been able to totally leave my interest in soccer behind.
For the past 3 months, I've been watching MSL soccer, I subscribed to UEFA matches on DirecTV, and have been watching La Liga and BPL games on Fox Soccer channel.
Lately I've been trying to get my head around soccer, and how it is organized in the U.S. and my state of Minnesota. I was surprised to learn that Minnesota has 3 soccer teams that compete in the 2nd and 4th tiers of the US Soccer Pyramid.
NSC Minnesota Stars
NASL (2nd Tier)
Blain, MN (Twin Cities)
Rochester Thunder
USL Premier Development League (4th Tier)
Rochester, MN
Minnesota Kings
National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) (4th Tier)
Minneapolis
Saint Paul Twin Stars
National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) (4th Tier)
St Paul
It would be nice if the PDL teams could play the NPSL teams. We could get a nice cross state rivalry going between the Twin Stars, the Kings and the Thunder.
After watching the world cup games, I realized there was much I didn't understand about the game. After 30 years of NFL football, I have to be honest -- I need to learn something new. My wife is English, so I've always felt a little out of place at English family gatherings. When my brother-in-laws took me to a Brighton-Hove Albion game, I just didn't quite get it. But I persisted, and now since the World Cup games, I haven't been able to totally leave my interest in soccer behind.
For the past 3 months, I've been watching MSL soccer, I subscribed to UEFA matches on DirecTV, and have been watching La Liga and BPL games on Fox Soccer channel.
Lately I've been trying to get my head around soccer, and how it is organized in the U.S. and my state of Minnesota. I was surprised to learn that Minnesota has 3 soccer teams that compete in the 2nd and 4th tiers of the US Soccer Pyramid.
NSC Minnesota Stars
NASL (2nd Tier)
Blain, MN (Twin Cities)
Rochester Thunder
USL Premier Development League (4th Tier)
Rochester, MN
Minnesota Kings
National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) (4th Tier)
Minneapolis
Saint Paul Twin Stars
National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) (4th Tier)
St Paul
It would be nice if the PDL teams could play the NPSL teams. We could get a nice cross state rivalry going between the Twin Stars, the Kings and the Thunder.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Alibaba.com - the place where scammers run wild.
After reading online what a great success the Alibaba.com market place is, I thought I would try it out. I wanted to buy about 500 usb flash drives for a software promotion. After checking the front page of Alibaba, it seemed like a great place to buy in bulk direct from China.
But now, I am so disappointed in Alibaba. I don't think I will ever use it again, nor will I ever advise anyone to waste their time trying to find credible sellers on Alibaba.
After locating a product I wanted, I entered my information as requested to get a quote. I thought I was sending my information to one company.
Wrong. Alibaba collects your information and blasts it out to hundreds of scammers who want to steal your money. They offer crazy prices. People like "Mr. Jon" or "Mrs Kaka" will fill up your email inbox trying to get you to send money through Western Union. They promise "free units" and "free logo printing" and even a "discount" if you send the money. They have websites that are so clearly fake, with their name photoshopped across the top of a huge building.
Yes, now hundreds of these people have my name, email, phone and address.
What a waste of time and energy to use Alibaba. Stay away from this scammer market place. Pay more from a US distributor and get what you ordered.
For shitsake, do NOT Western Union any money to China. You will never see it again.
But now, I am so disappointed in Alibaba. I don't think I will ever use it again, nor will I ever advise anyone to waste their time trying to find credible sellers on Alibaba.
After locating a product I wanted, I entered my information as requested to get a quote. I thought I was sending my information to one company.
Wrong. Alibaba collects your information and blasts it out to hundreds of scammers who want to steal your money. They offer crazy prices. People like "Mr. Jon" or "Mrs Kaka" will fill up your email inbox trying to get you to send money through Western Union. They promise "free units" and "free logo printing" and even a "discount" if you send the money. They have websites that are so clearly fake, with their name photoshopped across the top of a huge building.
Yes, now hundreds of these people have my name, email, phone and address.
What a waste of time and energy to use Alibaba. Stay away from this scammer market place. Pay more from a US distributor and get what you ordered.
For shitsake, do NOT Western Union any money to China. You will never see it again.
Monday, August 02, 2010
What bait do I use to catch crayfish in Minnesota
I have posted a few times here about my obsession with Minnesota crayfish. I've also introduced some friends to the idea that our freshwater crayfish are a tasty, yet underutilized resource.
A frequent question I get is, "What do you use for bait?"
Catfood works well, especially tuna or seafood catfood. Just punch some holes in the can and put it in a crayfish trap. I have found that a can of catfood can attract crayfish for up to 3 days. The only problem to this approach is the expense.
A less expensive bait I often use are bullhead. Around here, bullhead are easy to catch. I'll go down to the dock and pull out about 20 bullheads. I'll usualy slice up about 3 per crayfish trap. I can also freeze the extra bullheads for later use. Fresh or frozen seem to work about the same for me. Its a good way to help your lake, and the crayfish, since bullhead will eat crayfish.
Another question is, When can you catch crayfish in Minnesota?
The Minnesota crayfish season opens in April, and I have caught them right away in April. However, they seem most active when the water is warm. I keep a thermometer hanging off our dock, and presently the water is about 80 degrees F, and crayfish are very active in my traps. Although trap activity drops off as the water cools, I have caught them as late as November.
What kind of traps do I use?
I love the plastic "Trappy" traps that "Trapper Arne" imports from Sweden. They last a long time, are easy to store, and are lightweight. I use these much more than my heavy, rusty wire traps.
Where do I trap?
In my weedy lakes, I usually find crayfish near the shorelines. Deeper water trapping has not been very productive for me. I usually look for a rocky shoreline, and put my traps into about 1 to 4 feet of water. I have not had much luck trapping in rivers, but I know there are crayfish in the rivers.
Good luck!
A frequent question I get is, "What do you use for bait?"
Catfood works well, especially tuna or seafood catfood. Just punch some holes in the can and put it in a crayfish trap. I have found that a can of catfood can attract crayfish for up to 3 days. The only problem to this approach is the expense.
A less expensive bait I often use are bullhead. Around here, bullhead are easy to catch. I'll go down to the dock and pull out about 20 bullheads. I'll usualy slice up about 3 per crayfish trap. I can also freeze the extra bullheads for later use. Fresh or frozen seem to work about the same for me. Its a good way to help your lake, and the crayfish, since bullhead will eat crayfish.
Another question is, When can you catch crayfish in Minnesota?
The Minnesota crayfish season opens in April, and I have caught them right away in April. However, they seem most active when the water is warm. I keep a thermometer hanging off our dock, and presently the water is about 80 degrees F, and crayfish are very active in my traps. Although trap activity drops off as the water cools, I have caught them as late as November.
What kind of traps do I use?
I love the plastic "Trappy" traps that "Trapper Arne" imports from Sweden. They last a long time, are easy to store, and are lightweight. I use these much more than my heavy, rusty wire traps.
Where do I trap?
In my weedy lakes, I usually find crayfish near the shorelines. Deeper water trapping has not been very productive for me. I usually look for a rocky shoreline, and put my traps into about 1 to 4 feet of water. I have not had much luck trapping in rivers, but I know there are crayfish in the rivers.
Good luck!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Target Corp. $150k Donation to Republicans tosses millions of dollars of goodwill into the toilet.
What the hell, Target Corp? You donate $150,000 to the anti-gay Republican candidate for Minnesota Governor, but you have donated exactly $0 to the Democrats?
I always felt really good about Target until they made this insane political contribution. As a Minnesotan, for most of my life I have gone out of my way to favor the Home State company over the Walmarts and KMarts. I saw the good work they did donating millions of dollars to Minnesota schools and organizations, and I rewarded Target by giving them my loyalty.
Why would Target consciously decide to throw away this good will, by making a controversial political donation that will help bring a Homophobic Jerk to the highest office in Minnesota? Is that Target's vision for our state?
I guess some genius in the research department must have told someone important that only Republicans shop at Target, and that there is no way that Minnesota Democrats could ever be offended by your corporate meddling in Minnesota politics. You knew you would lose some gays, but they all shop at The Gap anyway, right?
Effectively immediately, my family and I will take our back-to-school shopping across the street to Walmart. The paltry $10,000 to $12,000 that my family typically spends at Target in a year (Groceries, staples, toys, TV's, books, DVD's) will certainly not make dent in Target's corporate wallet.
But it will make me feel better.
If Target will support Republicans over Democrats, then I have no further reason to support Target.
I invite you to join me in boycotting Target.
I always felt really good about Target until they made this insane political contribution. As a Minnesotan, for most of my life I have gone out of my way to favor the Home State company over the Walmarts and KMarts. I saw the good work they did donating millions of dollars to Minnesota schools and organizations, and I rewarded Target by giving them my loyalty.
Why would Target consciously decide to throw away this good will, by making a controversial political donation that will help bring a Homophobic Jerk to the highest office in Minnesota? Is that Target's vision for our state?
I guess some genius in the research department must have told someone important that only Republicans shop at Target, and that there is no way that Minnesota Democrats could ever be offended by your corporate meddling in Minnesota politics. You knew you would lose some gays, but they all shop at The Gap anyway, right?
Effectively immediately, my family and I will take our back-to-school shopping across the street to Walmart. The paltry $10,000 to $12,000 that my family typically spends at Target in a year (Groceries, staples, toys, TV's, books, DVD's) will certainly not make dent in Target's corporate wallet.
But it will make me feel better.
If Target will support Republicans over Democrats, then I have no further reason to support Target.
I invite you to join me in boycotting Target.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
No Minnesota Flag at Target Field? Welcome to the new Home of the Hennipen County Twins
Last Sunday was my first trip to Target Field, home of the "Minnesota" Twins. It was a great experience, and even the outcome of the game couldn't have been more exciting as the Twins rallied in the 9th for four runs to beat the Chicago White Sox.
/
My brother and I drove nearly 460 miles that day, for seven hours. Going to a Twins game is a special experience for us, something we don't get to do every weekend because of the cost and distance. We're happy to make the effort though, to support our "Minnesota" Twins.
It was a moving experience to watch the American Flag hoisted above Target Field, on the original flag pole that stood at the old Met Stadium.
Yet, something weird was going on.
The Minnesota Flag flying next to Old Glory was not really the Minnesota Flag. This one had "Hennepin County" scrawled along the bottom in big, boring white letters. Wait a minute... this isn't even the Minnesota flag, its the Hennepin County flag!
I would never begrudge Hennepin County from flying their flag over target field. It should be there, because they stood up and made a major contribution to keeping the Twins in Minnesota, and funding this park. We owe them a debt of gratitude.
But come on! To not fly the Minnesota Flag over Minnesota Twins ball games at Target Field is a slap in the face to us "outstate" Minnesotans. This is the flag carried overseas by the Minnesota National Guard soldiers. As boring as the Minnesota Flag is, its still our flag, and should be present, flying right next to that beautiful Hennepin County Flag.
I don't know what the official reason is to deny the Minnesota flag a place of honor at Target Field. Maybe it is intended to be a nasty dig at the State of Minnesota. It might reflect the childish attitude that, "if they didn't pony up, then they don't deserve to have 'their' flag flown at Target Field."
What the Twins and Hennepin county don't understand is that the Minnesota Flag is the flag of all Minnesotans, not just Governor "Dumb Ass" Pawlenty. And all Minnesotans who buy food, hospitality and beverages in Hennepin County are helping to fund this glorious ball park through a sale tax, not just residents of Hennepin County.
Come'on Twins -- don't be so petty. Fly the Minnesota Flag at target field. Either that, or change your name to the Hennepin County Twins, and then see if I'm motivated to drive 460 miles to support "your" baseball team.
/
My brother and I drove nearly 460 miles that day, for seven hours. Going to a Twins game is a special experience for us, something we don't get to do every weekend because of the cost and distance. We're happy to make the effort though, to support our "Minnesota" Twins.
It was a moving experience to watch the American Flag hoisted above Target Field, on the original flag pole that stood at the old Met Stadium.
Yet, something weird was going on.
The Minnesota Flag flying next to Old Glory was not really the Minnesota Flag. This one had "Hennepin County" scrawled along the bottom in big, boring white letters. Wait a minute... this isn't even the Minnesota flag, its the Hennepin County flag!
I would never begrudge Hennepin County from flying their flag over target field. It should be there, because they stood up and made a major contribution to keeping the Twins in Minnesota, and funding this park. We owe them a debt of gratitude.
But come on! To not fly the Minnesota Flag over Minnesota Twins ball games at Target Field is a slap in the face to us "outstate" Minnesotans. This is the flag carried overseas by the Minnesota National Guard soldiers. As boring as the Minnesota Flag is, its still our flag, and should be present, flying right next to that beautiful Hennepin County Flag.
I don't know what the official reason is to deny the Minnesota flag a place of honor at Target Field. Maybe it is intended to be a nasty dig at the State of Minnesota. It might reflect the childish attitude that, "if they didn't pony up, then they don't deserve to have 'their' flag flown at Target Field."
What the Twins and Hennepin county don't understand is that the Minnesota Flag is the flag of all Minnesotans, not just Governor "Dumb Ass" Pawlenty. And all Minnesotans who buy food, hospitality and beverages in Hennepin County are helping to fund this glorious ball park through a sale tax, not just residents of Hennepin County.
Come'on Twins -- don't be so petty. Fly the Minnesota Flag at target field. Either that, or change your name to the Hennepin County Twins, and then see if I'm motivated to drive 460 miles to support "your" baseball team.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Koman Coulibaly - No, we have not forgotten
Koman Coulibaly probably thinks the uproar of his bad call has simmered down. No, Mr. Coulibably, we're still all here, watching and waiting for you to fuck up again. And when you do, we will be on you like hot scalding water. Its just a matter of time.
The name Koman Coulibaly is a rallying cry for fair play in futbol, and a cry for FIFA to institute Instant Review now.
Glad to see that komancoulibably.com has been appropriated by a fan. It will give us a rallying point.
The name Koman Coulibaly is a rallying cry for fair play in futbol, and a cry for FIFA to institute Instant Review now.
Glad to see that komancoulibably.com has been appropriated by a fan. It will give us a rallying point.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Koman Coulibaly and FIFA: Why do they hate fans?
If you want to know why Soccer (hereafter called Football) is not top ranked sport in the USA, look no further than Referee Koman Coulibaly who made infamous calls that denied team USA a win against Slovenia on July 18.
It has been hours since Coulibaly's horrifically bad day, and still no word on what the penalty was that was so egregious that it denied the USA a well deserved victory.
As SFGate reported, "You'd think the comments on FIFA's website about the USA v Slovenia match would reflect the outrage expressed by many Americans, but not one as of this writing concerns the call. I've got to believe FIFA's eliminating any comment that would call the outcome into question. That's the only reason for such a development and that's outrageous in itself."
Outrageous, in the least.
As Peter King at SI said, "FIFA deserves equal blame, for putting a system in place that allows incompetent officiating to skate free. So what if we never see this official again? The damage is done. He was in far over his head, and he blew the call that decided the game. He can disappear now, and in all nations but America, the story will blow over. Nice racket you've got going, FIFA."
No explanation has been offered for Coulibably's insult to the game, and certainly non is forthcoming. After all, FIFA invests Referees with full and uncontested control over the game. Make a horrifically bad call, no problem! Need to supplement your Referee income by accepting bribes from a bookie, no problem: there will be no appeal, and no review by FIFA.
There are no rules in FIFA football: but there is "Law."
The "Laws of the Game" are set by FIFA and the conspiring UK Football Associations. The rest of the world has no voice, so shut up! There is a distinctly British traditionalist, classist approach to all of this. Screw the commoners (or as they are called today, "Fans") -- Football's great tradition of fucking fans must be upheld! The British football aristocracy has only contempt for the fans and the players, much as a nobleman might have contempt for the peons.
FIFA rules Football with an iron fist, recalling the glory days of the Victorian British Empire. It carries forward their world view that life is unfair, and there is nothing the commoners can do about being screwed by the ruling class. Britain may have lost its empire, but damned if it will lose control of Football! Damned if they will budge an inch on tradition or open up the "laws of the game" to a democratic or an instant replay process.
Fans around the world know when they've been screwed. Koman Coulibaly and his FIFA masters are undoubtedly laughing at this cruel boner up the ass to budding US football fans.
Until there is a modicum of justice in FIFA to address or review such incompetent, shitty calls such as Coulibaly's, Americans are justified in telling FIFA to go fuck itself.
Being a fan is a serious long term emotional investment, one that can span generations. Just as I would advise any woman who is being beating by her "loving" husband to leave him, even if he promises never to do it again, so I would advise US Soccer fans not to give FIFA's game all of your love. You never know when FIFA is going to turn around and smack you in the face for no reason. If Americans want to be smacked in the face by such shit calls, the money is better spent on home grown sports entertainment. American sports are ever answering the fans pleas for fair play in their sporting events. God Bless the NFL, NASCAR, NBA, MLB, NHL, PRB, Tennis, even the National Rugby League for implementing fair play through instant replay. No, its not perfect, but its a helluva lot better than letting a Koman Coulibaly run roque.
Time for FIFA to follow the lead of those sports. Americans want fair play. Wake up, FIFA!
It has been hours since Coulibaly's horrifically bad day, and still no word on what the penalty was that was so egregious that it denied the USA a well deserved victory.
As SFGate reported, "You'd think the comments on FIFA's website about the USA v Slovenia match would reflect the outrage expressed by many Americans, but not one as of this writing concerns the call. I've got to believe FIFA's eliminating any comment that would call the outcome into question. That's the only reason for such a development and that's outrageous in itself."
Outrageous, in the least.
As Peter King at SI said, "FIFA deserves equal blame, for putting a system in place that allows incompetent officiating to skate free. So what if we never see this official again? The damage is done. He was in far over his head, and he blew the call that decided the game. He can disappear now, and in all nations but America, the story will blow over. Nice racket you've got going, FIFA."
No explanation has been offered for Coulibably's insult to the game, and certainly non is forthcoming. After all, FIFA invests Referees with full and uncontested control over the game. Make a horrifically bad call, no problem! Need to supplement your Referee income by accepting bribes from a bookie, no problem: there will be no appeal, and no review by FIFA.
There are no rules in FIFA football: but there is "Law."
The "Laws of the Game" are set by FIFA and the conspiring UK Football Associations. The rest of the world has no voice, so shut up! There is a distinctly British traditionalist, classist approach to all of this. Screw the commoners (or as they are called today, "Fans") -- Football's great tradition of fucking fans must be upheld! The British football aristocracy has only contempt for the fans and the players, much as a nobleman might have contempt for the peons.
FIFA rules Football with an iron fist, recalling the glory days of the Victorian British Empire. It carries forward their world view that life is unfair, and there is nothing the commoners can do about being screwed by the ruling class. Britain may have lost its empire, but damned if it will lose control of Football! Damned if they will budge an inch on tradition or open up the "laws of the game" to a democratic or an instant replay process.
Fans around the world know when they've been screwed. Koman Coulibaly and his FIFA masters are undoubtedly laughing at this cruel boner up the ass to budding US football fans.
Until there is a modicum of justice in FIFA to address or review such incompetent, shitty calls such as Coulibaly's, Americans are justified in telling FIFA to go fuck itself.
Being a fan is a serious long term emotional investment, one that can span generations. Just as I would advise any woman who is being beating by her "loving" husband to leave him, even if he promises never to do it again, so I would advise US Soccer fans not to give FIFA's game all of your love. You never know when FIFA is going to turn around and smack you in the face for no reason. If Americans want to be smacked in the face by such shit calls, the money is better spent on home grown sports entertainment. American sports are ever answering the fans pleas for fair play in their sporting events. God Bless the NFL, NASCAR, NBA, MLB, NHL, PRB, Tennis, even the National Rugby League for implementing fair play through instant replay. No, its not perfect, but its a helluva lot better than letting a Koman Coulibaly run roque.
Time for FIFA to follow the lead of those sports. Americans want fair play. Wake up, FIFA!
Sunday, June 06, 2010
How to fish for bullhead
Bullhead are considered a rough fish in Minnesota. Bullhead are certainly not among the most desirable fish in this state, which prides itself for its high quality fisheries. Yet, fishing for bullhead does provide some unique advantages.
Why fish for bullhead?
In our lake, it seems we are always hooking bullhead when we don't want to. I've caught them on lures, and have even seen them try to stuff large sucker minnows down their small bodies. They can be very aggressive when there is something to eat, even when its twice their size.
Yet, set out to intentionally catch bullhead and you will find there is some technique to catching these buggers. The biggest problem we have is getting the bait past the sunfish in our lake, down to the bottom where most of the bullhead are. To accomplish this, but sure to use a heavy weight that will take your hook right down to the bottom. Bullhead can out-muscle other fish on the lake bottom.
What kind of bait to use when catching bullhead?
Bullhead will eat anything and everything. Generally, the smellier the bait, the better. Worms make great bait for bullhead, but sunfish will also aggressively fight for worms. I've found that leeches work well. If you bunch a leech on a hook, it is more difficult for the sunfish to eat, yet bullhead and their larger mouths can take them in quite easily. The other advantage of a leech is that the skin is much tougher than a worm and it is more difficult for sunfish to tear a leech off the hook.
Tip: bullhead have a sense of smell that is better than a bloodhound. Plant some bait in a container at the bottom of the lake and you can bring in a swarm of bullhead. I like to use plastic strawberry or blueberry containers that have many slits to drain water; just fill it with worms or even cut up bullhead, and drop it into the water at the end of your dock. Soon you will have bullhead sniffing around. Be sure to retrieve the container when you are done fishing.
The special equipment we use for catching bullhead includes a standard rod and reel, a medium size weighted hook (to send it to the bottom quickly), a thick workmans glove for handling the bullhead (they are slippery, and they have nasty spines that can be painful if you are stuck), and a five gallon bucket for containing our catch. Leeches, worms or any other kind of bait will work.
Our "family record" for catching bullhead stands at 42 black bullhead. Generally we quit for lack of endurance, rather than lack of bullhead action. To encourage the kids interest in fishing, I pay them a bounty of 10 cents per bullhead. It keeps my kids busy all afternoon and only sets me back about $2.
Interesting facts about bullhead
They are a North American native species of fish
They are found in the fossil record going back at least 300 million years
They have an incredible sense of smell, better than any dog
They can "smell" with most of their body
There are three main species: black, yellow and brown
They can survive very low oxygen conditions
Enjoy!
Why fish for bullhead?
- In Minnesota, the limit for bullhead is 100 and the season never closes.
- Bullhead can provide fast and plentiful fishing action for kids
- Fishing bullhead helps take pressure off of more desirable species
- You can eat them and they are fairly easy to clean (in our muddy lake, they do not taste very good. If you're going to eat them, catch them out of a clear lake with a sandy bottom or a clear stream).
- Thinning the lake of bullhead helps other forager species by reducing competition, such as a walleye and rock bass.
- You can toss them in the garbage without having to feel guilty
- In many states you can cut them up and use them as bait for other fish
- They can thrive in very low oxygen conditions, and can be stocked where other fish can't survive, such as small ponds and ditches.
- Since so few people actually fish for bullhead, maybe you'll get lucky set a new state record! It is very unlikely that big one's are "fished out."
In our lake, it seems we are always hooking bullhead when we don't want to. I've caught them on lures, and have even seen them try to stuff large sucker minnows down their small bodies. They can be very aggressive when there is something to eat, even when its twice their size.
Yet, set out to intentionally catch bullhead and you will find there is some technique to catching these buggers. The biggest problem we have is getting the bait past the sunfish in our lake, down to the bottom where most of the bullhead are. To accomplish this, but sure to use a heavy weight that will take your hook right down to the bottom. Bullhead can out-muscle other fish on the lake bottom.
What kind of bait to use when catching bullhead?
Bullhead will eat anything and everything. Generally, the smellier the bait, the better. Worms make great bait for bullhead, but sunfish will also aggressively fight for worms. I've found that leeches work well. If you bunch a leech on a hook, it is more difficult for the sunfish to eat, yet bullhead and their larger mouths can take them in quite easily. The other advantage of a leech is that the skin is much tougher than a worm and it is more difficult for sunfish to tear a leech off the hook.
Tip: bullhead have a sense of smell that is better than a bloodhound. Plant some bait in a container at the bottom of the lake and you can bring in a swarm of bullhead. I like to use plastic strawberry or blueberry containers that have many slits to drain water; just fill it with worms or even cut up bullhead, and drop it into the water at the end of your dock. Soon you will have bullhead sniffing around. Be sure to retrieve the container when you are done fishing.
The special equipment we use for catching bullhead includes a standard rod and reel, a medium size weighted hook (to send it to the bottom quickly), a thick workmans glove for handling the bullhead (they are slippery, and they have nasty spines that can be painful if you are stuck), and a five gallon bucket for containing our catch. Leeches, worms or any other kind of bait will work.
Our "family record" for catching bullhead stands at 42 black bullhead. Generally we quit for lack of endurance, rather than lack of bullhead action. To encourage the kids interest in fishing, I pay them a bounty of 10 cents per bullhead. It keeps my kids busy all afternoon and only sets me back about $2.
Interesting facts about bullhead
They are a North American native species of fish
They are found in the fossil record going back at least 300 million years
They have an incredible sense of smell, better than any dog
They can "smell" with most of their body
There are three main species: black, yellow and brown
They can survive very low oxygen conditions
Enjoy!
Friday, May 28, 2010
Minnesota Pledge of Allegiance
The Minnesota Pledge of Allegiance
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the Great state of Minnesota.
And in this world, where ‘er I roam, Minnesota will be my home.
Beautiful, tolerant, strong and free, Minnesota is part of me.
And in this world, where ‘er I roam, Minnesota will be my home.
Beautiful, tolerant, strong and free, Minnesota is part of me.
-Author Unknown.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Out of work? Live in the boondocks? Here's an idea for you.
There are thousands of counties in the United States that are not served by the 4th estate. No newspaper coverage, no reporters asking questions, lots of unattended township, school district and city meetings taking place outside of public scrutiny.
The conventional wisdom is that the public dialog is doomed. With newspapers laying off reporters and going out of business, who will fill the void?
You will.
If you can write and have the fortitude to sit through boring meetings so that we don't have to, that's valuable.
How will you make money? Advertising? Subscriptions? Free will offering? Grants?
Figure it out and get to work.
You can become the Huffington Post or the Minnpost.com of Backwater County. Get started today.
The conventional wisdom is that the public dialog is doomed. With newspapers laying off reporters and going out of business, who will fill the void?
You will.
If you can write and have the fortitude to sit through boring meetings so that we don't have to, that's valuable.
How will you make money? Advertising? Subscriptions? Free will offering? Grants?
Figure it out and get to work.
You can become the Huffington Post or the Minnpost.com of Backwater County. Get started today.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Hey cool! I saw a meteor fireball!
On Wednesday night, April 14, 2010, I saw something I had never seen before in my life! Driving down Minnesota Highway 10 west of Lake Park, MN, about mile marker 30, at 10:08 pm (I especially noted the time), a bright fireball that seemed to flash green and white caught my attention in the southern sky, at about 45 degrees. Backlighting the clouds, it appeared to be "fuzzy," and moving rapidly toward the east.
My first thought was that it was a large airplane landing, but I knew there was no airport capable of handling a large airplane within 30 miles of my location. The second thought that flashed through my head was that an airplane was crashing. A moment after the light disappeared into the ground, there was a very bright flash, like a bright lightening strike. It occurred to me that it might be a meteor, yet it wasn't like any meteor event I had ever witnessed. I really wasn't certain what I had just seen, or if I had really seen it.
At 10:10 pm I called my wife to tell her what I had seen. I didn't call it in, thinking that a 911 operator would probably just think I was nuts.
Low and behold, today's local newspaper had a story about it.
http://wcco.com/local/large.meteor.midwestern.2.1636044.html
http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/275579/
My first thought was that it was a large airplane landing, but I knew there was no airport capable of handling a large airplane within 30 miles of my location. The second thought that flashed through my head was that an airplane was crashing. A moment after the light disappeared into the ground, there was a very bright flash, like a bright lightening strike. It occurred to me that it might be a meteor, yet it wasn't like any meteor event I had ever witnessed. I really wasn't certain what I had just seen, or if I had really seen it.
At 10:10 pm I called my wife to tell her what I had seen. I didn't call it in, thinking that a 911 operator would probably just think I was nuts.
Low and behold, today's local newspaper had a story about it.
http://wcco.com/local/large.meteor.midwestern.2.1636044.html
http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/275579/
Scott's 2010 guide to catching crayfish in Minnesota!
Minnesota has an abundant crayfishing resource, yet very few “crayfishers.” This must change, because crayfish can be a very fun and delicious activity that we can enjoy for six months out of the year.
Because the Minnesota angling guide includes very little information about crayfishing (also known as crawfishing down south) I have collected this information from various sources, and where possible I will reference the law in Minnesota code.
Crayfishing is good for Minnesota. By using rough fish for bait (which is permitted), crayfishing helps to make use of this underutilized resource. In addition, crayfish are good eatin’! They are a delicacy in the deep south, where crayfish aquaculture is big business, and trapping is a serious sport. In areas where crayfish are abundant or invasive, crayfishing can help to control the population.
General Rules
Season: The open season for taking crayfish is April 1 through November 30. (6259.0100 sub1). You’ll need a Minnesota angling license (unless you are a resident under the age of 16).
Size Restrictions: Crayfish less than one inch in length from tip of rostrum to tip of tail must be returned unharmed to the water. That’s too small for eating anyway, so toss them back. (6259.0100 sub1)
Trap Requirements: Crayfish may be harvested with gear allowed for rough fish and minnows (minnow traps). Mesh size for crayfish traps may not be less than one-half inch, stretch measure (6259.0100 2.B).
Minnesota law requires that you tag your trap with your name and address. This can be done by cutting out a 1” by 3” piece of plastic from a used plastic milk container, and writing on with a sharpie pen. Attach your tag to your Crayfish traps with a piece of wire. Be sure your tag is “legible.” (6259.0100 2.A) If you attach floats to your traps, they must not be more than 4” square or 4” in diameter (6259.0100 2.C), which is about the size of a regular bobber. It seems a bit small to me, but there you go.
Traps can be checked from sunrise to sunset, but DNR doesn’t want you lifting traps at night. Nighttime is when crayfish are most active.
I found no restrictions on the number of traps that an angler can set.
Bait: Minnesota allows the use of rough fish for bait, which is very effective for catching crayfish (6259.0100 2.D). I’ve found carp and bullhead to be easy to catch and very good bait. If you don’t like the mess of rough fish, you can bait your traps with inexpensive cans of cat food (tuna flavor works well). Puncture the cans with a screw driver and place them in your traps. I’ve found that a single can will attract crayfish for up to four days.
You can use the crayfish you catch as fishing bait, but only the body of water where they were caught. You’ll discover that bass, northern pike and even muskie love crayfish!
Transporting Crayfish:
The Minnesota DNR is concerned about invasive crayfish species like the Rusty Crayfish. It is not lawful to transport crayfish from one body of water to another or to release them into the wild.
Using Crayfish
A licensed angler (or a Minnesota resident under the age of 16) can have up to 25 pounds of crayfish for personal use.
Of course the best use for them is food, because they are delicious when boiled up with some crab mix.
If you are catching crayfish for bait, you can only use them in the body of water where you caught them. If you want to move them from one lake to another, harvest them commercially, or sell them, you will need to obtain a permit from DNR.
Getting Started
Getting started is easy. Go buy a minnow trap at your favorite bait shop, and a can of cat food at the grocery store, tie a rope to it, and drop it in the water.
Finding a good hole will require a bit of trial and error. You never know where you will find crayfish. Don’t overlook the boat marina, or even the golf pond.
Generally on lakes, you can find crayfish along the shoreline, particularly a rocky shoreline. I have trapped them in one foot to ten feet of water, but not much deeper than ten feet. Shallow ponds may contain crayfish. On rivers, look for eddies and places where water moves slowly.
Species
Click here for more information on the species of crayfish available in Minnesota. All of them can make a good meal for you! In my area, calico and northern clear water crayfish are abundant.
The Rusty Crayfish is a large clawed invasive crayfish species that outmuscles Minnesota’s native crayfish, and its spreading. That’s the bad news. The good news is that the Rusty is good eating, with meaty claws! Concentrating your trapping the Rusty while using rough fish for bait would have the triple benefit of providing you with a delicious meaty catch, reducing the rusty population and reducing the rough fish population. Visit the DNR website to find information about lakes infested with the edible rusty crayfish.
Eating Crayfish
Five pounds of boiled crawfish (or crayfish) will make a very nice meal.
In the southern U.S., crawfish are a delicacy. In Minnesota, there is absolutely no reason why our crayfish should not be a delicacy, except that culturally we haven’t discovered the joys of crayfish.
Before boiling your crayfish, place them in a cooler filled with cold clean water and leave set for several hours or overnight. This will help purge the dirt in their digestive track. All crayfish will turn red after they are boiled.
There is no shortage of advice on the internet about how to cook and eat crayfish. Crayfish can be boiled in a crab boil seasoning. Their meat can also be added to any dish of your choice (try them in a chili, a gumbo, or with a wild rice dish!).
Enjoy!
Because the Minnesota angling guide includes very little information about crayfishing (also known as crawfishing down south) I have collected this information from various sources, and where possible I will reference the law in Minnesota code.
Crayfishing is good for Minnesota. By using rough fish for bait (which is permitted), crayfishing helps to make use of this underutilized resource. In addition, crayfish are good eatin’! They are a delicacy in the deep south, where crayfish aquaculture is big business, and trapping is a serious sport. In areas where crayfish are abundant or invasive, crayfishing can help to control the population.
General Rules
Season: The open season for taking crayfish is April 1 through November 30. (6259.0100 sub1). You’ll need a Minnesota angling license (unless you are a resident under the age of 16).
Size Restrictions: Crayfish less than one inch in length from tip of rostrum to tip of tail must be returned unharmed to the water. That’s too small for eating anyway, so toss them back. (6259.0100 sub1)
Trap Requirements: Crayfish may be harvested with gear allowed for rough fish and minnows (minnow traps). Mesh size for crayfish traps may not be less than one-half inch, stretch measure (6259.0100 2.B).
Minnesota law requires that you tag your trap with your name and address. This can be done by cutting out a 1” by 3” piece of plastic from a used plastic milk container, and writing on with a sharpie pen. Attach your tag to your Crayfish traps with a piece of wire. Be sure your tag is “legible.” (6259.0100 2.A) If you attach floats to your traps, they must not be more than 4” square or 4” in diameter (6259.0100 2.C), which is about the size of a regular bobber. It seems a bit small to me, but there you go.
Traps can be checked from sunrise to sunset, but DNR doesn’t want you lifting traps at night. Nighttime is when crayfish are most active.
I found no restrictions on the number of traps that an angler can set.
Bait: Minnesota allows the use of rough fish for bait, which is very effective for catching crayfish (6259.0100 2.D). I’ve found carp and bullhead to be easy to catch and very good bait. If you don’t like the mess of rough fish, you can bait your traps with inexpensive cans of cat food (tuna flavor works well). Puncture the cans with a screw driver and place them in your traps. I’ve found that a single can will attract crayfish for up to four days.
You can use the crayfish you catch as fishing bait, but only the body of water where they were caught. You’ll discover that bass, northern pike and even muskie love crayfish!
Transporting Crayfish:
The Minnesota DNR is concerned about invasive crayfish species like the Rusty Crayfish. It is not lawful to transport crayfish from one body of water to another or to release them into the wild.
Using Crayfish
A licensed angler (or a Minnesota resident under the age of 16) can have up to 25 pounds of crayfish for personal use.
Of course the best use for them is food, because they are delicious when boiled up with some crab mix.
If you are catching crayfish for bait, you can only use them in the body of water where you caught them. If you want to move them from one lake to another, harvest them commercially, or sell them, you will need to obtain a permit from DNR.
Getting Started
Getting started is easy. Go buy a minnow trap at your favorite bait shop, and a can of cat food at the grocery store, tie a rope to it, and drop it in the water.
Finding a good hole will require a bit of trial and error. You never know where you will find crayfish. Don’t overlook the boat marina, or even the golf pond.
Generally on lakes, you can find crayfish along the shoreline, particularly a rocky shoreline. I have trapped them in one foot to ten feet of water, but not much deeper than ten feet. Shallow ponds may contain crayfish. On rivers, look for eddies and places where water moves slowly.
Species
Click here for more information on the species of crayfish available in Minnesota. All of them can make a good meal for you! In my area, calico and northern clear water crayfish are abundant.
The Rusty Crayfish is a large clawed invasive crayfish species that outmuscles Minnesota’s native crayfish, and its spreading. That’s the bad news. The good news is that the Rusty is good eating, with meaty claws! Concentrating your trapping the Rusty while using rough fish for bait would have the triple benefit of providing you with a delicious meaty catch, reducing the rusty population and reducing the rough fish population. Visit the DNR website to find information about lakes infested with the edible rusty crayfish.
Eating Crayfish
Five pounds of boiled crawfish (or crayfish) will make a very nice meal.
In the southern U.S., crawfish are a delicacy. In Minnesota, there is absolutely no reason why our crayfish should not be a delicacy, except that culturally we haven’t discovered the joys of crayfish.
Before boiling your crayfish, place them in a cooler filled with cold clean water and leave set for several hours or overnight. This will help purge the dirt in their digestive track. All crayfish will turn red after they are boiled.
There is no shortage of advice on the internet about how to cook and eat crayfish. Crayfish can be boiled in a crab boil seasoning. Their meat can also be added to any dish of your choice (try them in a chili, a gumbo, or with a wild rice dish!).
Enjoy!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Removing Private Data from Your PC
I recently discovered that one of the laptop computers my kids use to play games had been compromised by a virus. It underscored the need for a) better antivirus protection and b) simply removing informaiton from the computer that is no longer needed. Why leave traces of important personal information where it can be found and harvested by God-knows-who?
I found a nifty little piece of software called Privacy Eraser Pro which set up very easily. I'm told it "exceeds the US Department of Defense DOD 5220.22-M and NSA clearing and sanitizing standard," which sounds good to me. The bottom line is that now when I delete something, its erased, gone, destroyed, forever and ever, Amen.. Privacy Eraser Pro obliterates your file data so that it is gone forever and can not be recovered by a virus, your wife, the FBI, or NSA. These days, that sounds good to me. Afterall, every day we all leave a wake of personal information behind us that will persist long after we have left this earth. I feel just a little better knowing that when I delete something on my computer using Privacy Eraser Pro, its gone for good.
This baby knows where your information is stored. It will find and permanently clean out your browser history across multiple browsers, shred your trash bin, obliterate form data and those deleted files in your file system which are recoverable, clean out the list of songs you've been listening to, and so on.
If you're interested, you can download a free trial of Privacy Erase Pro.
If you buy Privacy Erase Pro, please use this link so that I can get paid, and I'll buy you a beer the next time you're in Minnesota.
I found a nifty little piece of software called Privacy Eraser Pro which set up very easily. I'm told it "exceeds the US Department of Defense DOD 5220.22-M and NSA clearing and sanitizing standard," which sounds good to me. The bottom line is that now when I delete something, its erased, gone, destroyed, forever and ever, Amen.. Privacy Eraser Pro obliterates your file data so that it is gone forever and can not be recovered by a virus, your wife, the FBI, or NSA. These days, that sounds good to me. Afterall, every day we all leave a wake of personal information behind us that will persist long after we have left this earth. I feel just a little better knowing that when I delete something on my computer using Privacy Eraser Pro, its gone for good.
This baby knows where your information is stored. It will find and permanently clean out your browser history across multiple browsers, shred your trash bin, obliterate form data and those deleted files in your file system which are recoverable, clean out the list of songs you've been listening to, and so on.
If you're interested, you can download a free trial of Privacy Erase Pro.
If you buy Privacy Erase Pro, please use this link so that I can get paid, and I'll buy you a beer the next time you're in Minnesota.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Donate online to Tracy Potter for U.S. Senate
A good friend of mine, Tracy Potter, is running for the U.S. Senate seat in North Dakota. You can donate to Tracy Potter's senate campaign through Potter's Act Blue website.
Potter is a honest, hardworking North Dakotan. He will serve ND well in the U.S. Senate. Potter is an approachable, caring family man who supports ND family values. As a part of the Democrating majority, Potter will remain and independent voice and will bring his creativity and common-sense problem solving abilities to bear on the opportunities and problems the United States faces in the 2010's.
Potter is a honest, hardworking North Dakotan. He will serve ND well in the U.S. Senate. Potter is an approachable, caring family man who supports ND family values. As a part of the Democrating majority, Potter will remain and independent voice and will bring his creativity and common-sense problem solving abilities to bear on the opportunities and problems the United States faces in the 2010's.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
How to remove the "Bing.Zugo" toolbar hijack
Today I discovered that the Bing.Zugotoolbar had hijacked by Internet Explorer browser. Naturally, I want it unintalled, since its really bothering me. It forces me to use their search page, and seems to re-route my browser to other pages when I type in a URL. God knows what kinds of stats they are collecting on me, or if they're monitoring my key strokes.
I first went to my Windows control panel > add/remove programs, but there was no unintall program listed for either Bing or Zugo.
Now, right click on the Windows Start button in the lower left corner of your screen, and choose "Open Windows Explorer." Navigate to:
C:\Program Files\SearchToolbar
In this folder you will find the hidden Zugo uninstall programs. I ran these and they did indeed seem to remove Zugo from my computer, at least the file sin the directory. They did leave behind registry entries that continue to affect browser settings.
If you have Firefox installed, then you have an extra step to perform.
I first went to my Windows control panel > add/remove programs, but there was no unintall program listed for either Bing or Zugo.
Next I went to Internet Explorer > Tools > Manage Add-ons. Scroll way down to the bottom of the list (probably why they chose a name that begins with a Z) and you will see the Zugo toolbar listed. Click on these items and disable them.
Now, right click on the Windows Start button in the lower left corner of your screen, and choose "Open Windows Explorer." Navigate to:
C:\Program Files\SearchToolbar
In this folder you will find the hidden Zugo uninstall programs. I ran these and they did indeed seem to remove Zugo from my computer, at least the file sin the directory. They did leave behind registry entries that continue to affect browser settings.
You will have to remove the Zugo keys from your registry with RegEdit, Windows Registry Editor. Be very careful here, since messing up your registry can be bad thing.
In Windows, click Start and type: Regedit
After RegEdit loads, navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Zugo
Right click on the ZUGO folder and DELETE
If you have Firefox installed, then you have an extra step to perform.
1. Open FireFox and instead of a url, type: about:config
2. Firefox will give you a scary warning, but go in anyway. We must be brave.
3. Locate the keyword.url line. It should look like this:
4. Use your mouse to right click on keyword.url, then select Reset
That should do it!
While this is certainly a browser hijack, I can't tell if it is malware of any sort, or a virus. Dr. Web reports the threat level of Zugo as "ignore" but that doesn't seem wise to me. I've reported this as Malware to Google and to everyone else I can think of, but the issue doesn't seem to get much attention.
Neither Panda Anti-virus software or Microsoft Security Essentials caught this as of this writing. Caution is order. Clearly, this is a company that make money when their crap is installed on your computer influencing what you see and where you go. That is always a bad thing.
Beware of Zugo.
If this has helped you, please pay it forward. I suggest making a donation to the Electronic Frontier Foundation (www.eff.org). They are a non-profit organization that has lawyers and smart people fighting to preserve your internet privacy and freedoms. They are WELL worth your support. Please at least sign up for their free newsletter so you can learn about important internet privacy issues facing all of us.
If this has helped you, please pay it forward. I suggest making a donation to the Electronic Frontier Foundation (www.eff.org). They are a non-profit organization that has lawyers and smart people fighting to preserve your internet privacy and freedoms. They are WELL worth your support. Please at least sign up for their free newsletter so you can learn about important internet privacy issues facing all of us.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Deaf Viewers Complain to Fox about Sarah Palin Subtitles; College students hold "Palin Parties."
(New York) The non-profit organizations "Accuracy in Translations" complained to Fox News today following Sarah Palin's appearance as a Fox "news" analyst last night.
"Deaf viewers rely on accurate translations to understand what is being communicated," said Holly Krapp, President of AIT. "Last night, no one could understand any of the translations of Palin. They just made no sense whatsoever."
An angry Fox News representative, who declined to be named, said, "There was nothing wrong with the translations!"
Meanwhile, across America college students plan to hold "Palin Parties." A Palin Party is where college students turn on Fox News when Palin is on the air, but turn off the volume and just read the Palin subtitles. "Its hillarious! Much funnier than Conan O'Brien," said Missy Monday a student a Wheaton College. "When you actually read what Palin's saying instead of hear her, it truly makes no sense whatsoever. I mean, its funny to listen to her, but its just crazy to read her subtitles."
"Deaf viewers rely on accurate translations to understand what is being communicated," said Holly Krapp, President of AIT. "Last night, no one could understand any of the translations of Palin. They just made no sense whatsoever."
An angry Fox News representative, who declined to be named, said, "There was nothing wrong with the translations!"
Meanwhile, across America college students plan to hold "Palin Parties." A Palin Party is where college students turn on Fox News when Palin is on the air, but turn off the volume and just read the Palin subtitles. "Its hillarious! Much funnier than Conan O'Brien," said Missy Monday a student a Wheaton College. "When you actually read what Palin's saying instead of hear her, it truly makes no sense whatsoever. I mean, its funny to listen to her, but its just crazy to read her subtitles."
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