Chatterbox Winter 2019-2020

[MikeF90]

rvos1979

Fed is suspending hours of service rules for grocery and paper loads, not sure if our company will allow it, though.

At any rate, please drive safe and as careful as your situation allows. And a Huge TIA for any paper products you can send our way. There may be some panic buying / hoarding, but here the double whammy of closed businesses / schools and work-at-home is causing a large uptick in residential water and toilet paper consumption. I hope that the supply chains can adjust and quickly.

BTW those 'special hours for seniors' are mostly a PR stunt. One or two hours a week, really? This senior is also SOL because a medical condition usually precludes me from getting up safely at O-dark thirty to drive to the store. How about letting us back order TP online so the suppliers can estimate the actual demand?

[tree68]

Deggesty

...they were still asleep.

At least it didn't throw them out of bed.

Settling in here - things seem to be evening out.  The stores are establishing "senior only" shopping first thing in the morning, to give those of an age a shot at what's been stocked overnight, before the vultures arrive.

Schools are all closed, but staff has been getting personal belongings, study materials, and meals out to the kids.  Now that the malls and most other places of amusement are also closed, the kids can't go hang out there, so they'll either have to stay home or gather at friends' houses.  Oh, the humanity!  Of course, they won't notice unless they look up from their phones.

Of course, some of us get to go out whether we want to or not.  My FD (me included) stood by at another station yesterday while those local firefighters dealt with a barn full of antique snowmobiles that went up in smoke.

Got a new electronics project yesterday - maybe I'll spend time on that today...

[Deggesty]

Damage outside the Magna area seems to have been scattered-perhaps mainly to older buildings. My daughter (who for some reason is concerned for me) lives five miles south of where I live, in Sugar House. She did not mention any damage to her house (built in the twenties), but some houses were damaged, edpecially one shown on the evening news which seemed to be brick (her house is frame).

As to the "jello bowl," we lived south of it for many years. When we first saw mention of its presence west of Salt Lake City, my wife was worried until we learned that we were not in it.

[rvos1979]

Running about a day behind this week, had to wait for my giant rolls of unmade paper plates to take to another mill, then the trailer needed some work. Load home is waiting for me at the mill, more paper plates. Fed is suspending hours of service rules for grocery and paper loads, not sure if our company will allow it, though. 

 

Big concern right now is for my sister, this week has been rough on her. With everyone panic buying groceries, she is trying to figure out how to feed her daycare kids. She's hoping to order online and get a slot for Sunday right now, hopefully it turns out...........

[mudchicken]

At above 4.9, Uncle Pete and TRAX started running at restricted speed and the Track, Bridge & Signal budgets took a hit.(Operating took a backseat to M/W until inspections cleared the R/W for normal service...expect trainmasters, superintendents and dispatchers to "have kittens" while sitting on their hands)....Everything within 100 miles of the epicenter is included for inspection (Response Level II, Ground motion level 1*)and everybody is down to restriced speed until cleared by M/W. - Paraphrasing AREMA 9.1.2.2.2 from practical experience. If the aftershocks are above 4.9, start over.

(*) as Johnny stated, there will be extra attention paid to the "jello bowl" liquifaction areas. I imagine this is TRAX/UTA's first major event. Also, solid state electronics start looking really good about now.

Magic Fingers for those old enough to remember?

[Deggesty]

MikeF90

 

 

Deggesty

A little after 0700 (MDT), I had an experience I do not remember having for about 75 years--a 5.7 magnitude earthquake shook the building; its epicenter was about 15-20 miles west of here.

 

 

That's quite a hot spot - dozens of 2.5M+ aftershocks within the last day (see USGS map). RR info - epicenter is astride the UP Lynndyl sub in Magna, route to the Shafter (west) and Caliente (southwest) subs.

On the Tehachapi loop cam we can see more MOW work near Woodford siding on the UP Mojave sub.

 

Yes, Mike, I felt nothing yestarday--and the news I saw made no mention of them, nor did I see anything in the Salt Lake Tribune about them

[Deggesty]

Chuck, the Wasatch Fault runs along the bench on the east side of Salt Lake City. In the 46 years that I have lived here, however, the truly noticiable tremors have been out in the valley (in places where the soil is subject to liquefaction), sometimes closer in than the one this morning. Thise whi are concerned are just waiting for the Wasatch Fault to really let go. When you drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon, you pass a sign that informs you that you have crossed  the fault ;ine. I have never seen such a sign in Little Cottonwood Canyon, though I do not dout thet the ski resorts in that canyon are all east of the fault line. 

Incidentally, some of the other residents here did not notice the temblor; they were still asleep.

[BaltACD]

If the World ever stops shaking we are in BIG TROUBLE.

[MikeF90]

Deggesty

A little after 0700 (MDT), I had an experience I do not remember having for about 75 years--a 5.7 magnitude earthquake shook the building; its epicenter was about 15-20 miles west of here.

That's quite a hot spot - dozens of 2.5M+ aftershocks within the last day (see USGS map). RR info - epicenter is astride the UP Lynndyl sub in Magna, route to the Shafter (west) and Caliente (southwest) subs.

On the Tehachapi loop cam we can see more MOW work near Woodford siding on the UP Mojave sub.

[ChuckCobleigh]

Deggesty

A little after 0700 (MDT), I had an experience I do not remember having for about 75 years--a 5.7 magnitude earthquake shook the building; its epicenter was about 15-20 miles west of here.

Johnny, there are a bunch of dots on the World Quakes map in your area. The last significant shaker we felt here in San Diego was the Easter 2010 quake from just south of Mexicali, BN. Of course, the Golden State gets a lot more seismic activity, though the last seven days only show 5 above 3.0 on the California-Nevada quake map. Never considered SLC as a quake hazard, though.

[Deggesty]

A little after 0700 (MDT), I had an experience I do not remember having for about 75 years--a 5.7 magnitude earthquake shook the building; its epicenter was about 15-20 miles west of here. The power went off for a moment, but was recovered (the internet connection took a minute or more to recover). Once the tremblor stopped, my major concern was elevator operaton (I live on the third floor), but there was no problem when I went down for breakfast a few minutes later.

When the building manager arrived (after I ate breakfast), he told me that traffic lights were out (I hope those on the streets remembered how to treat four-way stops), and TRAX (light rail) lost power. About five minutes ago, an aftershock hit, but it was very brief.

Early one morning, when I was about eight or nine years old, I woke early to hear the windows in the house rattling; I thought at first that a large truck was turning the corner in the highway in front of the house,but realized, as the shaking continued, that it was an earthquake in Upcountry South Carolina (we lived fifty miles south of Charlotte, N.C.)

 

[JoeKoh]

afternoon

Rain has arrived in Nw Ohio.Ns sent a westbound stack train after work.Had a load going to Pennsylvania stopped because of the virus at the recieving company. Matt picked up the wire for the rest of the yard.People are still in panic mode.Tomorrow starts spring.

stay safe

Joe

[tree68]

A chilly +20F this morning under clear skies.  Great syruping weather for the past few days.  I don't tap, etc, but what I'm hearing from the folks I know who do sounds pretty good.  

"Hunkering down," like most everyone else.  Of course, I'm involved in one of the great "social distancing" hobbies - ham radio.  Talked to 14 people this morning on the "Rooster Roster" net, and kept my distance from all of them.  We're holding an "on the air" meeting tonight, too, instead of the usual face-to-face get together.

We shall survive, as the song goes.

[ChuckCobleigh]

Checked in this evening on the Tehachapi Loop webcam, mostly to see whether they got any snow down that low (they didn't). Did get to see on the rewind a UP rail train making a delivery at the loop. It looks like they were mostly done with their time at about 2 pm, as they were heading into Woodford siding before they got out of camera range. Interesting work to watch.

[CShaveRR]

We ventured out in the car today, getting as far afield as Michigan City.  The nice folks at Great Lakes Cafe treated us to a meal of corned beef and cabbage (something I haven't had in about 70 years!), but wouldn't let us eat it there.  We brought it home, except for the soup, which we ate in the parking lot between the two big railroads (to no avail...nothing showed up while we were there).

On our way there, we noticed that in East Chicago the tank cars involved in CSX's wreck of several weeks ago were still sitting in the ballast alongside both CSX and IHB's lines (that wreck must have happened pretty close to the diamond there).

Gasoline was $1.919 at Porter.  Porter is also where we saw the only freight train for which we could get into position.

[mudchicken]

mudchicken

 

 

blhanel

 

 

mudchicken

Was supposed to be teaching Saturday morning near Omaha. Then came the 50 person limit and now the 10. State facility won't postpone or reschedule. Getting weird on several levels. A clandestine meeting of 90 or so Nebrasky mudchickens used to wearing reflective orange and yellow can't really be discreet.

 

 

 

 

Get a bigger room and spread 'em out- 6 feet spacing between persons!

 

 

 

 

 

as long as it's six feet out and not six feet under. (I think we got the measurement thing covered in that room.)

 

 

Nebraska gave-in this morning and put it off for at least six weeks.. Looking at 12" + of snow on the first day of spring (some things don't change)

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

tree68

. . . OTOH, no one has made noises about actual travel restrictions, etc.  Yet.

There's some interesting Constitutional law on that, under the "Privileges and Immunities" clause, especially for interstate travel.  Could set up a clash between the various 'emergency' acts and the Constitution.  Of course, that could take months to resolve, and in the meantime the courts will no doubt defer to the governmental action to restrict travel.  And as Tom Clancy wrote in Executive Orders (1996) in the context of a nationwide Ebola virus outbreak, "the Constitution is not a suicide pact".

- PDN. 

[Deggesty]

My daughter did some shopping for me today. No facial tissues left on the shelf (I hope the people realize that these do NOT dissolve in the sewer system); I do have a stock of them. She did find some other paper products that I need, and bought a good supply for me.

The cataract procedure for my left eye was set for this Friday--and it is postponed indefinitely. My daughter will take me for the follow-up for the first procedure  Friday and we will look into reading glasses in the optical shop. The follow-up was set for tomorrow, with one physician, and it was changed to the opthalmologist who did the work on me.

[tree68]

ChuckCobleigh

Still looking for my sourdough English muffins, though.

Yeah - the bread aisle was still empty...

OTOH, no one has made noises about actual travel restrictions, etc.  Yet.

[ChuckCobleigh]

tree68

Today, the milk cooler was full...

It's not like those darned cows can take a day off. Still looking for my sourdough English muffins, though.

[tree68]

Went to town today to get ink for the printers and made a stop at the grocery store for a few items I forgot yesterday (like oyster crackers, chili seasoning, and a couple of ingredients for chili - a crock pot of that is in my future).

Yesterday, the milk cooler was empty,  I'm sure the person who got the last bottle felt triumphant.

Today, the milk cooler was full...

[JoeKoh]

afternoon

Ns was clear after work.Working on chores here.The sunshine is nice today.More to do.

stay safe

Joe

[mudchicken]

blhanel

 

 

mudchicken

Was supposed to be teaching Saturday morning near Omaha. Then came the 50 person limit and now the 10. State facility won't postpone or reschedule. Getting weird on several levels. A clandestine meeting of 90 or so Nebrasky mudchickens used to wearing reflective orange and yellow can't really be discreet.

 

 

 

 

Get a bigger room and spread 'em out- 6 feet spacing between persons!

 

 

as long as it's six feet out and not six feet under. (I think we got the measurement thing covered in that room.)

[Deggesty]

Carl, chemotherapy can do strange things. 14 years ago, I was scheduled to have two courses of tablets. I had no problems with the first course, but the second course had the effect of causing flaps to grow on my feet (since I am not much for swimming, I did not need them). The remedy was a course of liquid infusion, which involved going for treatment every three weeks; this course sapped my strength, and I retired about three months earlier than I had planned. Thankfully, the treatments were successful, and after going back annually for about seven years, I have not had any more cancer problems--but the radiation that I was given still roams around in my body, not knowing that it is no longer necessary and works where it is not needed. 

[blhanel]

mudchicken

Was supposed to be teaching Saturday morning near Omaha. Then came the 50 person limit and now the 10. State facility won't postpone or reschedule. Getting weird on several levels. A clandestine meeting of 90 or so Nebrasky mudchickens used to wearing reflective orange and yellow can't really be discreet.

 

Get a bigger room and spread 'em out- 6 feet spacing between persons!

 

[JoeKoh]

evening

Ns was clear after work.Ran errands and csx was clear as well.Ohio's primary put off until June 2nd for now.Fourth quarter,graduation and party put on hold for now.Matt was also told not to report to work for 2 weeks.Going to keep working as long as it's allowed.Tomorrow is St.Patricks Day.Hope I can get in with my green eyes.

stay safe

Joe

[mudchicken]

$1.74 in Parker on the SE fringes of Denver. $2.34 where I'm at.

Was supposed to be teaching Saturday morning near Omaha. Then came the 50 person limit and now the 10. State facility won't postpone or reschedule. Getting weird on several levels. A clandestine meeting of 90 or so Nebrasky mudchickens used to wearing reflective orange and yellow can't really be discreet.

[CShaveRR]

Johnny, I haven't really finished any therapy.  I was taken off my previous chemo pills because they were very expensive (to the provider; I paid nothing), and because they weren't having any effect.  I'm hoping they'll come up with something new soon, because right now I'm on nothing at all except hormone therapy, administered twice a year.

[BaltACD]

MikeF90

The tanker ships full of cheap crude oil have not arrived on the west coast, prices still above $3 here.

On the water supply front, it is still snowing like gangbusters in the northern Sierras (see Truckee cam). The weather front from this weekend may be headed your way - heads up!

Looks like it is time to shovel the snow load off the gas station porticos in Truckee.

Isn't there a state law that gas in California can't go below $3.  [/sarcasm]