Eagle's eyes

April 29, 2005

Eagle Vision

Before we talk about eagle vision, I wanted to answer a frequent question from today regarding the corncob in the eagles' nest.

Not far from the two cam nests is a field where the Refuge staff has grown corn for migrating waterfowl. Eagles do not eat corn (neither do ospreys), but the eagle parents bring cornstalks from the field to the nest for nesting material, and sometimes an ear of corn comes along for the ride. It looks like the eaglets are pecking the corn out of curiosity, but we don't think they're eating it. Eventually the cob will probably get buried or knocked out of the nest. :-)

And now on to the topic of eagle vision...

As the eaglets grow and develop, we continue to see more adult-like features on their bodies. One example is the bony ridge that can now be seen over the eaglets' eyes. Most raptors have this ridge over each eye as it helps shade their eyes from the sun and makes it easier to see and track prey. It serves the same purpose as a visor that a human would put on top of their head.

In addition to the helpful bony ridge, eagles also possess what is regarded as the sharpest, most powerful set of eyes in the animal kingdom. It's believed that their eyesight is about four times sharper than a perfect human eye. In fact, the eagle's vision is so legendary that it's responsible for the idiom "eagle eye," which means a person with unusually keen sight.

An eagle eyeball is almost the size of a human eyeball even though the eagle's head is smaller than an adult head. Along with their large eyeball, eagles also have two foveae, or centers of focus, on each eye, which allows them to see both forward and to the side at the same time. And as a further bonus, eagle eyes have around 1 million light-sensitive cells per square millimeter of retina, while humans only have about 200,000 cells.

Ornithologists state that an eagle can spot a moving rabbit from about a mile away. If the eagle is flying 1,000 feet high in the sky, it's believed it can spot prey over about three square miles.

Despite their tremendous eyesight, one of the hardest tasks for the eaglets will be learning to fish from the air. Fish often have dark coloring on top of their bodies, so they are difficult to see from above. In addition, water refracts objects and makes it difficult to judge their exact location underwater. Many juvenile eagles "catch" dead fish more frequently than live fish until they learn the art of sky fishing, which is an acquired skill that will take time to develop and will impact their chances for survival.

Until next time,
Lisa - webmaster

Posted by Webmaster at April 29, 2005 06:55 PM

Buying a used forklift—wisely

.There should be little slack in the gear shift lever action.

.Check for hydraulic line and fitting leaks.

.Draw line on ground. Leave engine running. Wait 5 minutes. Move truck. Look for leaks.

.Look for these leaks on the ground: - Transmission - Differential - Mast and tilt cylinder

.Engine

.Radiator

.Are the tires "clunked" or unevenly worn?

.Look for black residue in the tailpipe.

.Look for rusty water in the radiator.

.Ask your operator if the steering "feels right." ( Go anti-clockwise )

By Bill Buckhout, Contributing Writer
April 15, 2002

When purchasing a used forklift truck carefully look at maintenance records, give the vehicle a thorough inspection, and a test drive. The article features an in-depth inspection checklist.

Purchasing powered industrial trucks does not have to be a monumental capital expenditure. In certain material handling situations, a used forklift truck makes fiscal sense.

Consider buying a used forklift if:

• The truck will be used only for a single shift.
• The forklift will be used for no more than five hours a day.
• The forklift will work no more than five days per week.
• The operation is not a high-throughput, nonstop type.

What to Look For

If one or more of these criteria fit your company's situation and you decide to purchase a used forklift, you need to know how to spot used equipment with a troubled past. Here are four tips to help you select a used forklift truck that will add to your bottom line instead of draining it.

1. Availability. The principal sources of used forklift trucks are other end users and dealers (either trade-ins, former rental fleet units, or lease retirements).

In general, a used rental truck is often the better buy, because owners of new engine-powered forklifts run them, on average, for seven years before trading them in. Electric-powered forklifts usually are kept for eight to 10 years.

Typically, both types are operated for 1,500 hours per year in single-shift operations. Over the past five years, availability of retired trucks that were leased three to five years has increased. This means companies have more low-hour machines to choose from. In addition, a short-term-rental forklift truck accumulates about 1,000 hours of use per year and usually is replaced every three to five years. However, this lower use level carries a higher price. Rental forklifts and lease-retired forklift trucks usually sell for 10 to 15 percent more than other used forklift trucks.

2. Maintenance. When you find a likely candidate, be sure to evaluate its condition. Consider how well it has been maintained. Ask to review the forklift's maintenance records, if they are available. If maintenance records are not available, make sure a thorough mechanical inspection is performed prior to purchasing the vehicle.

3. Inspection. Now it is time for a hands-on examination. Make sure a mechanic comes along to give the prospective investment a thorough evaluation.

Start by checking mast operation, both without a load and with the forklift's full rated load. Only a qualified operator should do this inspection. Look for smooth operation and lack of binding. Tilt the mast forward and back fully to see if there's excessive play (3/8 in. or more) between the mast channels, as well as between the carriage and the mast. Also check for excessive side carriage play. If the forklift truck has an attachment, such as a paper roll clamp, put it through its paces to make sure it will do the job it was designed for.

Look for leaks from the transmission, differential, mast and tilt cylinders, engine, and radiator. It's best to do these checks after the forklift truck is fully warmed up.

Be aware, even small leaks are warning signs. Carefully examine the extent of the leak and its source to determine the cost of the repair before purchasing.

Inspect the brakes while carrying the forklift's rated load. Remember that when it's traveling at 5 miles per hour, a forklift should be able to stop smoothly within one to two truck lengths.

4. Test Drive. Before road-testing a forklift truck, take a moment to examine the vehicle's appearance. Badly dented or gouged body panels may signify rough or careless operation.

Now it's time to put the prospective acquisition through a road test. Drive it through a tight figure-eight pattern in both forward and reverse gears. The forklift truck should have a quick response to the steering wheel and accurate tracking.

Although kicking the tires is not necessary, don’t forget to check them. If they have not been replaced recently, look for uneven wear. This may signal axle misalignment.

Take a Closer Look

If the prospective forklift truck passes these four tests, your search for a good used truck may be over. However, the inspection should not stop there.

Make sure a mechanic covers the 14 points on the in-depth inspection checklist (see Side Image). Inspection of these areas can help you ensure your company gets a truly good deal on a used forklift.

The in-depth inspection checklist

If a used forklift passes the initial inspection, take a closer look. Be on guard for:

1. Low oil pressure

2.Worn rings or valves.

3. Radiator damage.

4. Rust in engine coolant.

5.Discolored transmission fluid.

6. Bowed or scored mest channels.

7. Scored marks on the mests hydraulic cylinder rods.

8. Downward drift of an elevated carriage.

9. Leaking hydraulic control valves.

10. fork cracks, welds, bends, or distortions.

11. Excessive fork wear.

12. Loose steer axle knuckles or tie-rod ends.

13. Chassis problems, such as cracks or chassis rewelding.

14. Missing safety equipment.

YouTube - Ufo in Moscow 23.09.07

YouTube - Ufo in Moscow 23.09.07

How Credit Cards Work -1. Introduction to how credit cards work

Have you ever stood behind someone in line at the store and watched him shuffle through a stack of what must be at least 10 credit cards? Consumers with this many cards are still in the minority, but experts say that the majority of U.S. citizens have at least one credit card and usually two or three. It's true that credit cards have become important sources of identification -- of you want to rent a car, for example, you really need a major credit card. And used wisely, a credit card can provide convenience and allow you to make purchases with nearly a month to pay for them before finance charges kick in.

That sounds good, in theory. But in reality, many consumers are unable to take advantage of these benefits because they carry a balance on their credit card from month to month, paying finance charges that can go up to a whopping 23 percent. Many find it hard to resist using the old "plastic" for impulse purchases or buying things they really can't afford. The numbers are striking: In 1999, American consumers charged about $1.2 trillion on their general-purpose credit cards.

In this article, we will look at the credit card -- how it works both financially and technically -- and we will offer tips on how to shop for a credit card. (Experts say this should be a project on the scale of shopping for a car lone or mortgage!) We will also describe the different credit card plans available, talk about your credit history and how that might affect your card options, and discuss how to avoid credit card fraud -- both online and in the real world.

Let's start at the beginning. A credit card is a thin plastic card, usually 3-1/8 inches by 2-1/8 inches in size, that contains identification information such as a signature or picture, and authorizes the person named on it to charge purchases or services to his account -- charges for which he will be billed periodically. Today, the information on the card is read by automated teller machines (ATMs), store readers, and bank and Internet computers.

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the use of credit cards originated in the United States during the 1920s, when individual companies, such as hotel chains and oil companies, began issuing them to customers for purchases made at those business. This use increased significantly after World War 2.

The first universal credit card -- one that could be used at a variety of stores and businesses -- was introduced by Diners Club, Inc., in 1950. With this system, the credit-card company charged cardholders an annual fee and billed them on a monthly or yearly basis. Another major universal card -- "Don't leave home without it" -- was established in 1958 by the American Express company.

Later came the bank credit-card system. Under this plan, the bank credits the account of the merchant as sales slips are received (this means merchants are paid quickly -- something the love!) and assembles charges to be billed to the cardholders at the end of the billing period. The cardholders, in turn, pay the bank either the entire balance or in monthly installments with interest ( sometimes called carrying charges).

The first national bank plan was BankAmericard, which was started on a statewide basis in 1959 by the Bank of America in California. This system was licensed in other states starting in 1966, and was renamed Visa in 1976.

Other major bank cards followed, including MasterCard, formerly Master Charge. In order to offer expanded services, such as meals and lodging, many smaller banks that earlier offered credit cards on a local or regional basis formed relationships with large national or international banks.

( We will continue discussing with the topic of What Credit Card Numbers Mean. See ya!)

52% of songs on MP3 players are legal

The biggest change that a switch to digital media has meant is the ability for people to carry whole music libraries around, and copy material between devices in a few minutes rather than waiting on hour for a C60 tape to copy on a double deck tape recorder.

THE TIMES has published some data on the extent of music copying among young people. Most people knee jerk responses to data have centered on peer to peer networks, but copying a friends CD, sharing tracks via e-mail or simply copying it off their computer are very common. For the range 18 to 24, some 96% admitted to some from illegal copying, dropping to 89% for 14 to 17 year old, roughly two thirds copy CDs from friends.

While the survey reveals an average of 1,770 songs on MP3 players, with some 48% of these breaking the copyright laws. Interestingly the 14 to 17 age group had some 61% tracks that they did not have the rights to use. A big question that is left unanswered is weather people listen to the illegal music as much as stuff they've bought, a great deal of the tracks may be where someone has purchased the hit tracks from a music download service and then copied the rest of an album from a friends CD collection.

"I was one of those people who went around the back of the bike shed with songs
I had taped off the radio the night before. But this totally dwarfs that, and anything
we expected...

The positive message is that 80% of downloaders said they would pay for a legal
subscription-based service, and they told us they would be willing to pay more than
a few pounds a month".
Fergal Sharkey, chief executive of British Music Rights

It is interesting to see that some 80% of people suggest that they would pay for a legal subscription based service. The big problem with these services is that you are locking yourself into a product, meaning that of you miss a monthly subscription payment all the music you have downloaded may expire. A hybrid service, whereby a subscription of for example 8.99pound give you access to a wide range of music for download, ten tracks a month that can be downloaded as permanent files so that even if you cease that subscription you can keep the favorites in your music collection may be one way that music download services could evolve.

The music and film/video industry would love to be able to put a stop to the copying that goes on, but for the music industry in particular its target audience of teenagers and young people may not have the disposable income to actually go out and buy more content. So current moves like the BPI/Virgin Media alliance may reduce the amount of copying that goes on, but produce little extra income to the music industry.

Exports | Made in... | Economist.com

Exports | Made in... | Economist.com

Economist.com

Economist.com