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Before Ma Bell came to town, and long before DSL, it was barbed wire, of all things, that brought rural communities together. A Sears telephone hooked up to barbed wiremiles of which were already conveniently strung along fencesconnected far-flung ranches in the recently settled American west. Thus an ingenious and unregulated telephone system sprung up a hundred years ago.
More than just physical wire differentiated these rural telephone systems and their more formal urban counterparts. Without switchboards, without individual lines, and without telephone fees, the barbed wire telephone system became its own social network. Today, we might see elements of "personalised ringtones, chat rooms and online music" in this telephone network, as Bob Holmes writes in a feature at New Scientist.
Since the system had no switchboard, every telephone along the fences would ring at the same time. Each house had its own distinctive ringtwo short one long, for exampleand it was considered impolite to listen in on another's call. Of course, when things got lonely out there on the ranch, there was no guarantee of privacy.
But to expect a network of private, secure connections was all wrong, even in those pre-NSA days. The communal line became a thing unto itself, according to historian Rob MacDougall:
Talk was free, and so people soon began to "hang out" on the phone, just as they do today in online social networks. "People would read the newspaper over the telephone," says MacDougall. "They'd have musical nights where someone would play their banjo, someone else would sing along, and others would listen." The shared line could even serve as a rudimentary broadcasting system. On many fence-phone networks, a single, very long ring would signal a "line call," an announcement of interest to everyone on the system. This might be a weather report, weekly livestock prices, word that the train would arrive late, or news of an emergency such as a prairie fire.
In its heyday, these independent telephone networks supposedly included 3 million people, more than the official Bell system. Sometimes the rural systems became more sophisticateda switchboard, for example, might operate out of someone's kitchenbut it worked remarkably well in its simplicity.
Insulators to improve the phone connection, especially during rain, were made of whatever cowboys could find, including leather straps, corn cobs, straps of tire. Glass is a particular good insulator, as you might expect:
Before Prohibition came in 1919 every town had at least one saloon and most had several. Saloons discarded bottlesbeer bottles, whiskey bottles, wine bottles. You name it, if it came in a bottle and could be consumed for pleasure, saloons stocked it and, when the bottles were empty, discarded them. Glass is one of the best electrical insulators there is. Bottles were collected from behind the saloons, the necks were broken off, wooden pegs were whittled to fit into the broken bottlenecks, holes were drilled in the pegs, and the "glass insulators" were nailed to fence posts.
By the 1920s, most of these fence line phones were replaced by formal company systems. Barbed wire fences still abound today at borders keeping people either in or out. For few decades there, though, barbed wired brought people not apart but together. [New ScientistTexas Hill Country]
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ABC A cubby house and chook pen were destroyed in a deliberately lit fire at Mile End.
Police are investigating whether separate series of deliberately lit fires in brush fences in the past few days are the work of the same arsonist.
Eight brush fences and a tree were set alight in Semaphore and surrounding suburbs in Adelaide's west overnight.
It follows several similar incidents at Mile End the previous night and at Alberton and Cheltenham four nights ago.
Police say they spoke to a man early this morning but did not have any evidence to arrest him.
He is now considered a suspect and police are looking to track him down.
Ethelton resident Thelma Masters owns one of the homes that were attacked and says it was only the efforts of her neighbour that stopped the fire from spreading.
"There's a lot of timber work there on my pergola," she said.
"It just would've gone up straight into the unit. I'd have probably lost my unit."
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Police seek suspected arsonist after another series of fence fires
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The government will provide 50 per cent subsidy to farmers to put up solar fences on their farms, said Minister for Forests B. Ramanath Rai on Thursday, as an obstacle against entry of wild animals and to reduce man-animal conflict
During his visit to the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office here, the Minister told presspersons that the department had put up elephant-proof trenches and installed solar-powered fences around some stretches of the reserve forests and national parks. This is part of the Karnataka Sustainable Forest Management and Bio-diversity Conservation Programme. However, if farmers want to get solar fences installed by private companies, we will grant them 50 per cent subsidy, he said.
The Minister said his department was not against development. However, only such projects that will directly benefit people will be permitted. People who submit applications for land in deemed and reserve forests should keep in mind the various rules governing forests in the State.
The Minister said the process of resolving the confusion over the C and D categories of land (degraded forest land) had commenced. According to the law, there is no provision to regularise encroachments on forest land after April 27, 1978. However, we have received over one lakh applications seeking regularisation of land. A Cabinet subcommittee has been formed to study the issue and take a decision, he said.
He said 700 posts in the department would be filled shortly. The department is also encouraging farmers to grow sandalwood. We are giving away saplings at Re. 1 and Rs. 2 each to farmers. These farmers will also get an incentive of Rs. 10, Rs. 15 and Rs. 20 for each sapling annually, in the first, second and third year respectively, to ensure its growth, the Minister said.
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Farmers to get 50 per cent subsidy for solar fencing
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Gold Cup bid unlikely for Dude -
January 3, 2014 by
Mr HomeBuilder
12:30 Southwell 12:40 Musselburgh 13:00 Southwell 13:10 Musselburgh 13:30 Southwell 13:40 Musselburgh 14:00 Southwell 14:10 Musselburgh 14:30 Southwell 14:40 Musselburgh 15:00 Southwell 15:10 Musselburgh 15:30 Southwell 15:40 Musselburgh 16:00 Wolverhampton 16:30 Wolverhampton 17:00 Wolverhampton 17:30 Wolverhampton 18:00 Wolverhampton 18:30 Wolverhampton 19:00 Wolverhampton 18:15 Dundalk 18:45 Dundalk 19:15 Dundalk 19:45 Dundalk 20:15 Dundalk 20:45 Dundalk 21:15 Dundalk 11:10 Deauville 11:40 Deauville 12:15 Deauville 12:50 Deauville 13:20 Deauville 13:50 Deauville 14:20 Deauville 14:55 Deauville 15:25 Deauville 10:30 Fairview 11:00 Fairview 11:30 Fairview 12:00 Fairview 12:45 Fairview 13:25 Fairview 14:05 Fairview 14:40 Fairview 15:10 Greyville 15:45 Greyville 16:25 Greyville 17:05 Greyville 17:40 Greyville 18:15 Greyville 18:50 Greyville 19:25 Greyville 17:25 Aqueduct 17:25 Tampa Bay Downs 17:54 Aqueduct 17:55 Tampa Bay Downs 18:23 Aqueduct 18:25 Tampa Bay Downs 18:52 Aqueduct 18:55 Tampa Bay Downs 19:15 Sunland Park 19:21 Aqueduct 19:25 Tampa Bay Downs 19:40 Turf Paradise 19:40 Sunland Park 19:50 Aqueduct 19:55 Tampa Bay Downs 20:05 Sunland Park 20:10 Turf Paradise 20:19 Aqueduct 20:20 Tampa Bay Downs 20:30 Sunland Park 20:40 Turf Paradise 20:48 Aqueduct 20:50 Tampa Bay Downs 20:55 Sunland Park 21:10 Turf Paradise 21:17 Aqueduct 21:20 Sunland Park 21:24 Tampa Bay Downs 21:41 Turf Paradise 21:46 Sunland Park 22:12 Sunland Park 22:12 Turf Paradise 22:38 Sunland Park 22:43 Turf Paradise 23:00 Penn National 23:04 Sunland Park 23:13 Turf Paradise 23:15 Turfway Park 23:27 Penn National 23:30 Sunland Park 23:44 Turfway Park 23:45 Delta Downs 23:54 Penn National 00:12 Delta Downs 00:13 Turfway Park 00:15 Charles Town 00:22 Penn National 00:40 Delta Downs 00:42 Turfway Park 00:43 Charles Town 00:49 Penn National 01:08 Delta Downs 01:10 Charles Town 01:11 Turfway Park 01:16 Penn National 01:36 Delta Downs 01:37 Charles Town 01:40 Turfway Park 01:43 Penn National 02:04 Charles Town 02:04 Delta Downs 02:09 Turfway Park 02:10 Penn National 02:31 Charles Town 02:32 Delta Downs 02:37 Penn National 02:38 Turfway Park 02:58 Charles Town 03:00 Delta Downs 03:07 Turfway Park 03:25 Charles Town 03:28 Delta Downs 03:52 Charles Town 03:55 Delta Downs Musselburgh Southwell Wolverhampton Dundalk Deauville Fairview Greyville Aqueduct Charles Town Delta Downs Penn National Sunland Park Tampa Bay Downs Turf Paradise Turfway Park Musselburgh Southwell Wolverhampton Dundalk Deauville Fairview Greyville Aqueduct Charles Town Delta Downs Penn National Sunland Park Tampa Bay Downs Turf Paradise Turfway Park
Grand National 2014 Antepost: Monbeg Dude 25/1
An outing over fences at some point in late February or early March would appear to be Scudamore's preference at the moment, although another start in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup, in which he was pulled up last year, is less favoured.
Last season's Welsh National winner struck for the first time since that occasion when taking a Grade Three at Cheltenham's December meeting.
It sparked Aintree dreams for his syndicate of owners, rugby players Mike Tindall, James Simpson-Daniel and Nicky Robinson, while Tindall's wife Zara Phillips has been coaching Monbeg Dude in the jumping department.
"He had a couple of weeks off but he's back cantering and is in great form," said Scudamore. "I think it's really all roads to the National, and I don't think he will run again until the weights come out.
"He's a novice over hurdles, so that's an option, but he jumped so well last time you might want to keep him over fences. There aren't a whole lot of options over fences in between, and I haven't spoken to the boys yet.
"I might put him in the Gold Cup, just in case he didn't take to schooling over the Aintree fences or something, but it would be very much an outside chance he'd go for it. He would have a lot to find on the ratings and it's just over three weeks away from the National."
New Sky Bet customers: Free 30 matched bet
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Gold Cup bid unlikely for Dude
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Kate schooling flat/fences – Video -
January 1, 2014 by
Mr HomeBuilder
Kate schooling flat/fences
For sale katy.hodge1@gmail.com for more info.
By: katy hodge
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Knockenduff Stud Beginners Chase 2m -
January 1, 2014 by
Mr HomeBuilder
Verdict
KANDINSKI is very consistent and should gain his reward in a race that won't take much winning. His opening run over fences behind Coolking at Sligo would be good enough and he should make further progress. All Day Long looks the main danger as there's a line of form over hurdles through Coolmill that puts him very close to the selection. Ring Ben was well beaten on his only start over fences in 2012 and has been inconsistent over hurdles while Dougal Philps was beaten a long way on his debut over fences at Clonmel.
Inch Rock (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, ridden and no impression before 3 out, 11th of 17, 47l behind Apache Jack (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f mdn hdl in Dec.
Kandinski (IRE) 2-1fav (11-12) Tracked leaders on inner, improved to dispute lead travelling well 2 out, ridden at last, headed and no extra inside final furlong, 2nd of 12, 2 3/4l behind Coolking (11-12) at Sligo 2m 4f beg chs hvy in Oct.
Miller Of Glanmire (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Tracked leader in 3rd, 5th 3 out and no impression approaching next, weakened,, 9th of 18, 29l behind Giantofaman (11-4) at Thurles 2m mdn hdl in Nov.
Ring Ben (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Soon mid-division, 8th approaching 6 out, 5th approaching straight, soon no extra, 5th of 17, 34l behind Horendus Hulabaloo (11-8) at Limerick 2m 6f mdn hdl sft in Dec.
All Day Long (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, closer in 2nd 3 out, no impression from next, 5th of 9, 33l behind Sizing Gold (11-12) at Navan 2m 4f beg chs in Dec.
Worrel Creek (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Alw pr, not qckn with ldrs when 5th 4out & mstk, but kow, 5th of 17, well behind Witness Of Fashion (12-2) at Tattersalls Farm 3m ire ptp sft in Dec.
Liam O' Haodha (IRE) 33-1 (10-8) Soon mid-division, pushed along briefly 4th, under pressure towards rear approaching 6 out, behind from before 4 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Tidy Zag (11-6) at Cork 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 80-95 sft in Dec, 23 ran.
El Soro (FR) 10-1 (11-4) Soon tracked leaders and took keen hold early, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, 10th of 11, well behind Briar Hill (11-12) at Wexford 2m 2f mdn hdl sft in Nov.
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Knockenduff Stud Beginners Chase 2m
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"SWINGING FOR THE FENCES" - [The Legend of Zelda WindWaker HD Episode #6]
This will be my EPIC play through of The Legend of Zelda WindWaker HD Follow me on #Twitter - http://twitter.com/JDWitherspoon ...
By: runJDrun
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"SWINGING FOR THE FENCES" - [The Legend of Zelda WindWaker HD Episode #6] - Video
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Diamond is Chain Free – Video -
December 31, 2013 by
Mr HomeBuilder
Diamond is Chain Free
Sweet year old Diamond gets her zoomies on after she #39;s released into her newly fenced yard. No more chains for this sweet pup thanks to Fences For Fido.
By: Fences For Fido
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The roads are so buckled that it seems as though an earthquake must have hit recently. Fences dont run straight, but roll along property perimeters in gentle waves.
And, on close inspection, many of the houses that line the lumpy roads and sit behind the wavy fences seem to be tilted to one side some to the east, some to the west, some to the south.
For people passing through this odd little area in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood of Vancouver between Main and Fraser, 15th and about 22nd the hobbit-like feel to the place is distinctive but puzzling.
Even those who live in the district arent always sure whats so different.
What they dont realize is that the area was known from the early days of Vancouvers existence as the Tea Swamp a small, mucky lake that provided a rare open clearing in the densely forested city-to-be where a rich variety of plants could grow. It was the engineering work of the areas beavers, who blocked some of the main streams that ran down the Mount Pleasant slope into False Creek.
Among the plants that flourished was a specific kind of rhododendron that produced something early settlers called Labrador tea, which First Nations groups (who passed by the area on an old route that is roughly where Kingsway runs now) gathered and used as a treatment for everything from whooping cough to arthritis to hair loss.
The bog also attracted birds of all kinds. Pioneers who lived in the area in the late 1800s and early 1900s bragged about the teal or grouse they caught there.
But, in a growing city, that land wasnt left to the birds and the rhododendron bushes for long. Some long-ago genius put in drainage that turned the swampy bog into something that looked like solid ground. And people started building houses and roads, without doing anything in particular to anchor them. That was true until as recently as the 1960s, as the many off-kilter Vancouver Specials in the area demonstrate.
The result: heaved streets, wavy fences, tilting houses.
Dylan Cartier lives in one of them, on the top floor of a bungalow his father, Barry, owns. It tilts south. When something falls on the floor, you know where its going to end up, he says matter-of-factly.
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Vancouver’s tilting homes are distinctive, but puzzling
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Wellington, Dec 31 : Legendary Australian fast bowler Brett Lee and British TV host Piers Morgan have reportedly 'mended fences' over dinner and expensive red wine after Lee cracked Morgan's wrist and ribs in a controversial cricket media stunt.
The former Australian cricketer and the British media personality have been at the centre of international media attention following a stunt that saw Morgan enter the nets during the tea break of the fourth Ashes Test to face down six brutally quick balls from Lee, which were criticised as being irresponsible and dangerous.
According to Stuff.co.nz, however, the two were spotted dining together at a Sydney restaurant, with Lee footing the bill for dinner and Morgan quipped that the bowler had to compensate him for every rib that he broke and the bruise on his hip.
Stating that the dinner and the wine, which he termed as magnificent, was Lee's way of saying that there are no hard feelings, Morgan insisted that despite his wounds, he has no regrets and hoped that his message got through to the English cricket team that they have been a 'bunch of wusses' in the winter Ashes.
--ANI (Posted on 31-12-2013)
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