Thanks to the EPA, gas cans are getting worse, and my guess is, so is the environment. Intentions were noble: requine gas cans to be designed to leak less fumes and cause less spills, to protect the environment.  However, the new required designs are also very slow to pour because there is no vacuum release valve. The “self venting” output nozzle is supposed to obviate the vacuum release valve, but it is much slower.  It gurgles more than pours.

I live on a lake (hence the stupid name of this blog?) and we all use these gas cans to fuel our boats. Until this week I was the only neighbor who had not drilled or poked a hole in the gas can to make it pour faster. One friend uses a nail to plug the hole. Another neighbor used an ice pick to make the hole and doesn’t try to plug it up with anything. Clearly, these custom modifications leak more fumes than either the original market gas cans or the new EPA required gas cans.

You can imagine this going on all over the country. This is a good example of unintended consequences.

On a DIY kick lately, I went over the top to add a vacuum release valve to mine. Drilled a  1/2″ hole, screwed in a 1/4″ brass nipple, and topped it off with a 1/4″ brass cap.  Looks good and doesn’t leak any gas fumes noticeably. See the pic.

I had thought about spending the big bucks for a racing fuel gas can but decided against it. I guess the volume is just too low for these things to be priced anywhere close to a regular gas can. But if you want to splurge instead of modify, take a look at cans like this:
VP Racing Fuels Square Jerry Can – White 3524

You can also spend more money and buy one of the old designs, new but manufactured before the EPA ban.

Just google “non-EPA gas can” and you’ll see all the complaints and all the alternatives to get around this regulation.

Here’s a funny video of someone modifying their gas can:

 

Before the recent cold snap I got a chance to cut up on the lake.  I attempted to barefoot after not doing it for a few years. The result was I bobbled back and forth for about a hundred yards and then face planted.  Just thought I’d post one personal item to shed some light on the new name of the blog: Internet Lake.  Enjoy my embarrassing demonstration.

One more weekend to train for the longest ride of my life so far.

If you want to donate to a good cause, just click this link here, then click on the link on the thermometer:

My MS donation page

The tropical storm that passed around three sides of Orlando a couple weeks ago brought our lake up so we can use it from the dock.  Before the dock was so high and the water so shallow the kids couldn’t jump from the dock.  Because our lake gets water from other lakes too high, not just the rain, ours went up at least four feet. Yahoo.

Yesterday I was reminded of something Vint Cerf said in one of his talks in one of the ICANN Meetings I attended while at Afternic.  He pointed out how the Internet had changed our social life everywhere, even the simple routine of having dinner at home with your spouse.  In fact, he said at home is where he noticed the Internet’s impact the most. He said when he or his wife used to have a question about something during dinner conversation, they’d have to just table it.  However, with the Internet they could just google the answer right then and there.

I fixed my garbage disposal yesterday by googling “troubleshoot garbage disposal” and finding a page titled “Garbage Disposal Hums But Doesn’t Grind.”  It told me how to use a hex key to force the impellers to move and hopefully dislodge whatever was jamming it.  It worked and I saved money and felt more at peace with my environment at home (a Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance reference).

I cook sometimes just because it is so easy to find recipes, reviews of recipes, and even video demonstrations on how to cook. I doubt I would ever have dabbled in this area if the Internet didn’t make it so easy.

I think about Vint Cerf’s message when I notice how the Internet has improved our lives profoundly at home.

For the 3rd year in a row our family attended Coble Waterski/Wakeboard School for four days of intense waterski or wakeboard instruction. Here’s a pic of me working my way through the slalom course.

I’m letting my fellow CFCRers have first dibs. If no takers there I’ll probably offer it on eBay. See more pics here. Here’s the description:

2006 BMW K1200GT

152HP
Factory electric cruise control
ESA
Heated seats & grips
On board computer
BMW Trunk
Bill Mayer leather seat
Baher intercom system with cable for bike to bike push to talk, cable for cell phone, cable for Garmin GPS w/ XM or iPods
Extra power port in dash
Extra passenger power port
Mounts for GPS, XM antenna, cell phone, and bike-to-bike radio or iPod
Remus Carbon Fiber Genesis slip on exhaust (stock exhaust included)
Adjustable footpeg lowering kit and shift extender (not installed)
Carbon fiber tank guard

Like new condition, 8,000 miles

Asking $16,900

The only reason anyone should blog is because he or she has something to say.

I plan to write about the domain name industry where I spent the last five years because I think I can help balance the discussions. Most folks that write about domains are biased on the optimistic side.

I plan to write about economics because I think it is the most effective tool for understanding almost everything.

I used to instruct college students how to develop database-driven websites. I still love to discuss information technology and plan to do some of that on this blog.

As I evolve this site, especially by adding links to the blogs and sites I like most, I will try to write about them.

If YOU want to do me a big favor that requires little effort, please leave a comment. Ask a question, say hi, disagree, anything you say will probably help my motivation to blog.

Also feel free to give me some pointers about blogging. I admit to still being a beginner even though I have dabbled at it before. You can email be. My address is my first name at this domain name. Get it?

Thank you for reading!