Monday, March 6, 2017
Has The Weird Magnet Struck Again?
When you drive across southern Wayne County on I-64 in Southern Illinois you had best be careful. For many years there has been speculation that a mysterious force, known as the "Weird Magnet" makes people behave in a crazy fashion. Folks have been known to stop and disrobe while driving through, and there have been many other instances of bizarre behavior. Here's the latest, reported in the Wayne County Press from Thursday, March 2, 2017:
"Florida Man Blames Crack Cocaine On Prostitute" Yes, he really did that! A truck driver from Palmetto, Florida was stopped last week on I-64 in southern Wayne County. When the door of the truck was opened, the trooper "discovered a plastic baggie containing approximately one gram of a rock-like substance that field-tested positive for crack cocaine." A pipe with cannabis was also found by the State Trooper. The truck driver told the cop that the cocaine "belonged to a prostitute he met in Laredo, Texas and she had left it in the vehicle." I guess maybe he was going to take it back to Texas and return it!? The driver also told the trooper that the cannabis "belonged to his cousin in Florida."
The driver was taken to the Wayne County Jail, where I assume a good laugh was had by all personnel.
You can subscribe to the Wayne County Press (213 East Main, Fairfield, IL 62837) for $57.00 per year and enjoy this type of entertainment twice a week.
Tuesday Torque: Beautiful Music From A 6 HP M, 1919
Watch the first video, and then compare the IHC M to the IHC Titan from 1917 in the second video. Same horsepower, but size, weight, ease of operation all changed markedly in two years.
Sunday, March 5, 2017
Our Tipping Pin Oak
We have been watching our big pin oak tip with great consternation, because it is going in the pond, and there is no pulling it back. It will become a "project" and there is no way to fight it. Back in November 2015 the lean was 5 5/8" in 2 feet.
November 2015
March 2017
The tree is 90 feet tall, so 7" in two feet represents 315" off center at the top. I had predicted that this tree would be in the pond by Christmas 2015, so I am not very good at predictions, but there is no doubt that this tree is going down. It will be a project.
Saturday, March 4, 2017
Friday, March 3, 2017
Weekend Steam: Pouring Babbitt Bearings
Here's a skill that everyone should have. I learned about babbitt bearings when I was a kid, and have done it a few times. That skill was important in my oilfield job, where I was expected to be able to pour wire rope sockets. I did a bunch of those for a small fleet of pulling units and spudders, and none of them failed. This video shows the process on a Minneapolis traction engine that is being overhauled.
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Stimulating Brood Production...
...and preventing starvation!
We have had a warm winter, and the bees have been active many days. That burns up honey, and honey is needed for survival, and for raising brood. Ignore your bees and you risk having the hive die out just when things finally bloom.
Susan has given her hive three sugar cakes so far in late winter, and the bees are looking good. I look at them every day to check for skunk damage. We have been lucky so far. Skunks can wipe out a hive if you aren't watching out for them.
We have had a warm winter, and the bees have been active many days. That burns up honey, and honey is needed for survival, and for raising brood. Ignore your bees and you risk having the hive die out just when things finally bloom.
Susan has given her hive three sugar cakes so far in late winter, and the bees are looking good. I look at them every day to check for skunk damage. We have been lucky so far. Skunks can wipe out a hive if you aren't watching out for them.
Unholy Toledo! Our Cities Are Sewers
Note the news hack questions why the murder victim was at the scene. If you get in the way of a heinous perpetrator it is probably your fault! Sheesh!
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Ruger's Auction To Benefit The Massachusetts Shooters Foundation
This fine pistol will be selling in just three hours after I post it, so go look, and make that winning bid. It is a P-90 Decocker in .45 ACP; a fine gun in a fine caliber. The next bid price at posting is $695, so the price is reasonable for a benefit auction. CLICK HERE to read all about it.
Update: Five minutes to go and it is just $700 for the next bid. Jump on it; they aren't making this anymore!
$695 it is. Someone got a good deal!
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