Fence Project - Fencing Types

Wire mesh fencing.

During this project, I had to determine the best type of fencing for the project. Each of my researched types had positives and negatives. The following is my research findings.


Chainlink fencing
+Cheap
+Durable
-Doesn't really work with the nature atmosphere

Plastic fencing
+Cheap
-Not very durable
-Doesn't really work with the nature atmosphere

Wooden fencing
+Very durable
+Works well with nature atmosphere
-Difficult to do; more time-consuming
-More expensive than other methods
-Cumbersome

Metal wire mesh fencing
+Very durable
+Cheap
+Easy to install
-Doesn't work all that well with nature atmosphere, but is used in many other places in the area

I ended up going with the metal wire mesh fencing, because it was best suited for the situation. It is also what the Parks, Trails, and Rec. center had recommended to use. It is rust-resistant and was very easy to install with U-shaped nails that go into the wooden posts.

Fence Project - Fencepost Setting

The image I used to model my setting plan.

After deciding the type of post, I had to decide how I wanted to set the posts in the ground. I had read online that the rule with fenceposts is that 1/3 of the post length should be underground. My posts were 7 feet long, so that meant about 2 1/3 feet would be underground. I had then found out that with wooden poles, there needs to be some gravel underneath to allow water to disperse and not pool in the wood, which would rot it faster. Websites had said about 6-8" was a sufficient amount of gravel. I went with this, but rounded it to 8" to make the total hole depth 3' flat. Once the gravel was in, we put the poles in, then while keeping them level, we added concrete and water, and mixed it around a little bit to make sure it was all mixed. The concrete was necessary in this case because of the vandalism in the area; I wanted to make sure that nobody could take out these posts. This whole process was way easier said than done, as digging a 3-foot hole is probably one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I wouldn't have been able to do more than probably 3 holes without the help of my friends.

Fence Project - Fencepost Types

A metal T-post.

For my Eagle project, I had to research many different fence possibilities. One detail was the posts themselves. There are three main types: round metal posts (used mainly for chainlink,) wooden 4x4's, and metal T-posts. There are advantages and disadvantages to each, listed below.


Round metal posts
+Strong, durable, heavy
+No sharp angles, so a curved fence is easier to do
-Mainly used for chainlink fencing, which is not in my plan
-Sort of expensive
-Not the best for a forest environment
-Need concrete

Wooden 4x4 posts
+Strong, heavy
+Relatively cheap
+Fit in with forest environment well
+Work with the fencing specified by Lafayette Parks, Trails, and Rec. center 
-Need concrete
-Cumbersome
-Susceptible to rot

Metal T-posts
+Don't need concrete
+Works with almost all types of fencing
+Cheap
+Easy to install
-Easy to remove
-Not strong; flimsy
-Tacky; not suitable for permanent barriers

I decided to go with wooden 4x4 posts. I ruled out metal T-posts because there had been vandalism in the area, and the temporary fences put up by the Trails department had been ripped out by vandals. I needed something stronger. I ruled out the round metal posts because they weren't suitable for the environment, but the wooden 4x4's were, so I went with that. I found them at about $12 for one 10-foot length, and I needed 10 of them.

Bernie Madoff's Son Kills Himself

Mark Madoff, son of infamous Bernie Madoff, is dead at the age of 46, on the exact two-year anniversary of his father's arrest.

Madoff’s eldest son Mark hanged himself Saturday by a dog leash on a metal ceiling beam in his Manhattan loft apartment. The death was officially ruled a suicide by hanging Sunday by the city medical examiner.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Bernie Madoff says he's not attending the funeral because he wants to protect his family's privacy, but the New York Post noted that it's against the prison's rules to let an inmate leave for a funeral, even of an immediate family member, unless the prisoner has two years or less left on their term.
I feel like Bernie said what he said for some good PR, which is a sad thought, but a true one. I think this serves as a cruel lesson to show that a life of deception and greed is not worth living, and that you can ruin your entire family by doing so; not just yourself.

Mental Sickness Break 4

Netflix Stock is Up

Netflix stock has been steadily rising over the course of its lifetime. It seems like a great investment opportunity, as the field of online movie rentals is expanding while physical rentals are declining. The highest point of the stock at $209.24 happened when Netflix announced a new streaming-only option for a different price, as opposed to streaming and mail rentals for more money. This looks to me like a solid opportunity to make money.

Salesforce, Inc. Stock is Up

Stocks of Salesforce, Inc., ticker symbol CRM, are up higher than usual these days.

This is due to a number of things-- but not much that will hold up over time. It would've been a great idea to invest in mid-November, as you can see-- but now might be a good time to sell short.  It's at the 52-week high, and the yearly patterns don't get higher than this. Buy buying these stocks, you may make some profit, but it doesn't look bound to be much.