Thursday trivia

1/8/09, 1:15 PM #1

Dan Donaldson
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Thursday trivia

Who was the first to note (or at least write down) that the number of rings in a tree was an indication of its age? This person also determined that the width of the rings was related to the annual moisture in the area.

- - -

I have been woodworking for about 25 years now, and would consider myself an enthusiastic amateur. My claim to fame (or infamy) has always been fixing stuff. I spent time in the Air Force in the 60's then went to work as an electronic technician for civil service. I finally got my EE, and being fed up with the civil service nonsense, took a job with Ford Motor Company until I went with the split to Visteon last year. I got interested in music and started playing in a bluegrass band. I wanted a new guitar, and that kind of led me into woodworking. I bought some books, a few tools, and built a guitar. Luckily, I didn't know any better than to try that as a first ever project. I still play it when I get a chance, so it must not be too bad if it can live for over 20 years. After a stint in Mexico for my job, I moved into a new house and built a small shop. Since then I have been collecting tools and skills, probably more of the former than the latter ;-). Finding this site has done more for my skills and enjoyment than anything else. I have learned a lot and really enjoy the friendships that I have made here. I have been married to LOML (Lori) for 32 years now and have 6 kids. When they are all gone, I want to get a 1 bedroom house (so there is not room for them to move back in) and at least a 6 car heated/air conditioned garage for a shop. (Dream on...)

Re: Thursday trivia

1/8/09, 1:44 PM #2

Ken Oakley-Sunny St. Cloud, Fla.
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Re: Thursday trivia

Eve? Woman have a thing about rings.

Re: Thursday trivia

1/8/09, 2:18 PM #3

Thomas Skaggs
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J.R.R. Tolkien

I believe the book was called "Lord of The Rings"

Tom

Re: Thursday trivia

1/8/09, 2:37 PM #4

John Veerkamp, Western Mo
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Re: Thursday trivia

Paul Bunyon?

Re: Thursday trivia

1/8/09, 3:07 PM #5

Dan Donaldson
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uhhh..............no to first three ;-)

- - -

I have been woodworking for about 25 years now, and would consider myself an enthusiastic amateur. My claim to fame (or infamy) has always been fixing stuff. I spent time in the Air Force in the 60's then went to work as an electronic technician for civil service. I finally got my EE, and being fed up with the civil service nonsense, took a job with Ford Motor Company until I went with the split to Visteon last year. I got interested in music and started playing in a bluegrass band. I wanted a new guitar, and that kind of led me into woodworking. I bought some books, a few tools, and built a guitar. Luckily, I didn't know any better than to try that as a first ever project. I still play it when I get a chance, so it must not be too bad if it can live for over 20 years. After a stint in Mexico for my job, I moved into a new house and built a small shop. Since then I have been collecting tools and skills, probably more of the former than the latter ;-). Finding this site has done more for my skills and enjoyment than anything else. I have learned a lot and really enjoy the friendships that I have made here. I have been married to LOML (Lori) for 32 years now and have 6 kids. When they are all gone, I want to get a 1 bedroom house (so there is not room for them to move back in) and at least a 6 car heated/air conditioned garage for a shop. (Dream on...)

Re: Thursday trivia

1/8/09, 4:52 PM #6

Steven Antonucci
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WAG Darwin?

Re: Thursday trivia

1/8/09, 7:19 PM #7

Lee Schierer - McKean, PA
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Re: Thursday trivia

He could also see the stars!!!!

Lee

Re: Thursday trivia

1/8/09, 9:41 PM #8

Lee Schierer - McKean, PA
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His Grand father could be a fir!

Re: Thursday trivia

1/9/09, 12:29 AM #9

Dale Lenz
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Re: LdV

Was he one of your past Grandfathers, Dan, : ' >. Thanks for the education

Re: Thursday trivia

1/9/09, 12:40 AM #10

Dale Lenz
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Re: Me thinks, Lee, got the answer, first.

Re: Thursday trivia

1/9/09, 3:26 AM #11

Dan Donaldson
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Re: Thursday trivia (answer)

As so adroitly stated ;-), it was Leonardo Da Vince. (Sometimes I wonder if there is anything this guy was not involved in ;-))

- - -

I have been woodworking for about 25 years now, and would consider myself an enthusiastic amateur. My claim to fame (or infamy) has always been fixing stuff. I spent time in the Air Force in the 60's then went to work as an electronic technician for civil service. I finally got my EE, and being fed up with the civil service nonsense, took a job with Ford Motor Company until I went with the split to Visteon last year. I got interested in music and started playing in a bluegrass band. I wanted a new guitar, and that kind of led me into woodworking. I bought some books, a few tools, and built a guitar. Luckily, I didn't know any better than to try that as a first ever project. I still play it when I get a chance, so it must not be too bad if it can live for over 20 years. After a stint in Mexico for my job, I moved into a new house and built a small shop. Since then I have been collecting tools and skills, probably more of the former than the latter ;-). Finding this site has done more for my skills and enjoyment than anything else. I have learned a lot and really enjoy the friendships that I have made here. I have been married to LOML (Lori) for 32 years now and have 6 kids. When they are all gone, I want to get a 1 bedroom house (so there is not room for them to move back in) and at least a 6 car heated/air conditioned garage for a shop. (Dream on...)

Re: Thursday trivia

1/9/09, 1:24 PM #12

Lee Schierer - McKean, PA
Guest

Well.....

Leonardo wasn't the name I had encountered. I had read :"A. E. (Andrew Ellicott) Douglass (July 5, 1867, Windsor, Vermont � March 20, 1962, Tucson, Arizona) was an American astronomer. He discovered a correlation between tree rings and the sunspot cycle.

"Douglass tracked this into past centuries by studying beams from old buildings as well as Sequoias and other long-lived trees. Noting that tree rings were thinner in dry years, he reported climate effects from solar variations, particularly in connection with the 17th-century dearth of sunspots that Herschel and others had noticed. Other scientists, however, found good reason to doubt that tree rings could reveal anything beyond random regional variations. The value of tree rings for climate study was not solidly established until the 1960s."

Douglass founded the discipline of dendrochronology, which is a method of dating wood by looking at the growth ring pattern. He started his discoveries in this field in 1894 when he was working at the Lowell Observatory."

Lee

Thursday trivia

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