Edward Lye

paul wheaton wrote:

I don't have any of those tools.

In my experience, I always use control ropes because
I always find that a sudden breeze in the wrong direction
can quickly ruin your day.

These are practical examples that avoid the use
of the Euler–Eytelwein formula. They are purely
trial-and error methods with good success . . .
so far.

The first example is supposed to demonstrate the
descent of a substantial branch that overhung
the property fence. Unfortunately a stray tiny
branch snagged the rope and due to other pressing
matters and prolonged neglect, the rope
deteriorated/snapped before I resumed filming.

The first video shows how I dismantle a tree/branch
in small stages and how I avoid whiplash or
unanticipated sudden motions that could knock
me off the extension laddder or break something.

I described this method at another post:
https://permies.com/t/24998/woodland/timbertool-tree-jack
I think it is the last post. A diagram and more detailed
description can be found there.



The ladder is secured to the tree via both rope and
chain - I take lots of precautions and it is loose
enough to prevent any storm sway from damaging the
ladder.



With two or three wraps around the capstan (in
this case the top bar of a swing), and a small
weight, the load is unable to move due to the
friction imposed. Adding a second weight in the
middle allows you - with appropriate
manipulations - to advance or reverse while
maintaining a secure hold on the load. the
intention is to lower the branch in increments
as I cut away at the bits reaching the ground.



ascent part2

In the second demonstration, I transport an old
table to the balcony. The table weighs 12.5 kg
and is extremely difficult to manouever through
the house and up the stairs all by myself.

I used two static capstans in this case. The pulleys
are two tyre-less wheelbarrow wheels. The Moringa
outgrew its pot and toppled against the balcony.

I have tied it to the balcony and my remaining cat
Leeseunggi easily scales it to reach the balcony.
She descends via the Neem tree where the extension
ladder is currently positioned.

The photo shows the intended location of the
table.

Why?

It is just a stop gap measure. For some
unknown reason, during the 3 to 5 inch storms,
the gutter overflows there and the waterfall
is enough to overpower the lip of the roof tiles
thus flooding the ceiling underneath.  

The rope I used was deteriorated at the bleached
spots and splintered but held together long enough
for the mission. I have retired that.

Do not attempt these unless you can accept the risks.

EDIT:

In hindsight, I should have used captive pulleys because
if the rope escapes one pulley, the load will swing and
almost certainly cause the other to escape and the load
will come crashing down.

The same thing will happen if one rope breaks.

Two ropes gives false security. I failed to include
a safety/failsafe rope.

In reality, the drawing shows the rope at the pulley
drawn incorrectly. There is a limit to simulating scenarios
in the mind. In reality, it is better reversed as the rope
will not have to rub against any surface. You adjust
according to what you find on the ground.

In contrast the captive branch technique has
withstood a dozen trials.

"Every plan fails at the first contact with the enemy."

. . . continuing from the post above, the money shot is here:

Mike Turner wrote:I needed to prune some branches 30 feet from the ground,  

Same requirement. Different height.

I found two discarded curtain poles and joined them.

Altogether 127 inches tip-to-tip. About 10.5 feet.

My first blade mount failed as you can see in the video. I failed to
reinforce it and the grain split.

The second mounting is a success. The axis of the saw teeth is parallel to
the axis of the shaft and slightly "above" it. So when the saw rests on the
branch, the blade is vertical.

I prefer a thick blade because the branch can twist and squeeze the blade.
A thinner blade may bend permanently if I push too hard.

I prefer a straight blade so the thrust I exert travels close to the axis.

It is heavy and unwieldy and bends a lot. Sometimes It behaves very like
a fishing pole for deep sea fishing. But I have cut all the branches
I could reach with this. Next involves ladderwork.

If I had some structure nearby I would suspend this pole and ease
the effort. Right now I have to support part of the weight as well
as push-pull.

The centre of gravity is clearly marked if you watch carefully.

Fail:

[youtube]https://youtube.com/shorts/DGpCDmnO-64?feature=share[/youtube]

Success:

[youtube]https://youtu.be/xC1zRStP1oI[/youtube]

This is not my ritual.

This is Pooja's ritual.

Everything you see in these 2 videos no longer exists.
And that includes my wife's 3-cylinder 993CC hatchback.

Pooja dropped by famished and gobbled down Nothouching's
biscuits and chicken wings . . . and never left.

We didn't realize he was neutered but I am not changing
his name. He responds so well to that name.

One day some dogs escaped from a neighbour's house and chased
Pooja over the fence to the back neighbour and couldn't find
his way back.

When you have two cul-de-sacs, it is a pain to get to your neighbour
especially when a drop separates us.

I called out and luckily Pooja came towards my voice. The neighbour
was suspicious but teaching him his name works.

Mittens never knew her name so I couldn't summon her if she went
missing.

Notouching was hit-and-run on 19Oct2023 and exactly 2 years later,
Pooja died at the vet on              19oct2025 and in between,
3 of the litter of 4 died. The sole survivor is Leeseunggi.
Again, misgendered but I am not correcting that because that
helps to confuse the Angel of Death who seems to be dropping by.

This is from an email that describes the ritual :

" Apparently cats like ritual.

With Notouching, we had a secret handshake.
She might not like it but she never protested.

In the morning I refresh Leeseunggi's water bowl
in the kitchen. Then I empty/clean/replenish
the cat biscuits. I empty the pan on some
flower pots and refill it. Next I light a stick of
incense at Notouching's grave so her spirit knows
where to find me.

Then I take the water meter reading at my two
neighbours. Why? Because around 50 years, a house
breaks down. The roof tiles are sagging, the water
pipes clog up and the water line from the water
meter rusts and leaks.

Already, house number 15 has such
a leak in their garden. About 1cubic metre
- one ton - 1,000 litres -
of water a day. I informed them but they prefer to
pay the water bill instead of getting a plumber.
Chinese not concerned about money?
They are not wealthy.

How long? Since the MCO. It is super quiet when I
walk down to buy breakfast. You can do the math.
Our MCO started 18Mar2020. Behind their house is
a drain leading all the way to Kenki. It is
always filled with water. Guess where it
comes from.

Almost just as long is a similar leak at
Taman Midah MRT station. This time about 3
petrol tankers worth of water per day - 90 tons.
I reported this but they ignored me.
Even tried YB Teresa Kok and Father
Andrew Manickam. The Good Samaritan 2.0 .

Why? I want to avoid a Highland Towers/Jalan
Masjid India sinkhole.    

Pooja established this ritual. As I take the
reading at number 77 - China, he plants himself
right in front of the gate. I give him a body
rub in full view of passers by and cars driving
past. Hajiwon also did that and she would go
full stretch with eyes closed. Leeseunggi is
more reserved. She prefers private sessions.
Just the two of us.

Barring rain and occasional disappearance,
this always happens. It is more than a ritual.
It is also a daily covenant. If I am there early,
he spots me and eagerly waddles towards me in a
straight line totally disregarding any cars.

Last week was different. He shuffled towards me
like he was just placating me and fulfil an
obligation. It was the last time. I felt
something was off.

It is then I take our water meter reading.

He still hasn't eaten. Just a sniff at the
tuna, sardine and mashed egg.

Without oxygen, a human can last 3 minutes.
Without water, 3 days.
Without food, 3 weeks. Something like that.

I don't know about cats. I washed Pooja
yesterday. Whatever is coming out is muscle
being broken down for fuel. He drinks
occasionally. I will rinse him again today.

It is the new ritual."        

KFC + Yuzu



The 15-second commercial opens with a trio boarding a KTM train, then skateboarding through hills and fields, passing a highway sign showing distances to Melaka, Seremban, and Kuala Lumpur. They arrive at a picnic spot, where one of the girls runs up to a nearby fruit tree and picks a yuzu. In an instant, the scene glitches, transforming the anime characters into real-life people enjoying their KFC limau Jepun meals. As they continue eating, the glitching between animation and reality persists, but in both worlds, they savor the KFC Japanese Yuzu burger and fried chicken with the same delight.

I just retort-biochar anything organic. Fruit rinds. Shellfish. Bones. The rest are composted. The garbage collector essentially has nothing to collect. And all these go into static-deposit-and-forget wire mesh enclosures. If any plant wants those nutrients, they can send roots out. I don't measure anything and then fret over the numbers. But then again, I don't operate a farm or food forest.

Plastics - bags, drinking straws, one-time-use-food-containers, coffee cup lids, blister packs - are all forced into plastic Ecoladrillos . . . but that is another story for a later thread/post.