Good evening everyone.
Lets get the evening started with a Kona Brewing Longboard Island Lager.
-Photograph by Kevin Parson
This one has just enough Hops to be Hoppy, but not too bitter for my taste.
One of the cutest little kitties ever meet Jiggy MacFinkster:
I made a Pork Roast for dinner tonight. It did not turn out as good as usual. There was not much fat that cooked out of this one, and the meat was not as tender.
I will try harder to pick out a better Butt Roast next time.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
York1 gmpullman I like planting trees around the property. There's one here I actually dragged home from the GE plant where I worked, a large-tooth Aspen, that is over fifty feet tall today. We've probably planted over a hundred trees around here over the last 30 years or so. Ed, I'm the same way. There were no trees on our property when we bought it, and now we live in a forest. My pride and joy is a Dawn Redwood. My father got it as a twig for free when he ordered some garden plants. I stuck it in the ground, thinking I would be mowing over it in a short while. Instead, it took off, and is now over 30 feet tall. It's a deciduous conifer. It looks like a fir tree, but it's leaves turn rust red and fall off each year. The local nursery man is surprised it grew here. I had a friend who saw it one fall and thought it was a dead fir tree. He offered to help me cut it down! I had to convince him that it would come back in the spring. Kevin, I miss the palm trees of New Orleans. I really wish I had a large indoor area with lots of windows so I could grow one indoors here.
gmpullman I like planting trees around the property. There's one here I actually dragged home from the GE plant where I worked, a large-tooth Aspen, that is over fifty feet tall today. We've probably planted over a hundred trees around here over the last 30 years or so.
Ed, I'm the same way. There were no trees on our property when we bought it, and now we live in a forest.
My pride and joy is a Dawn Redwood. My father got it as a twig for free when he ordered some garden plants. I stuck it in the ground, thinking I would be mowing over it in a short while. Instead, it took off, and is now over 30 feet tall.
It's a deciduous conifer. It looks like a fir tree, but it's leaves turn rust red and fall off each year. The local nursery man is surprised it grew here.
I had a friend who saw it one fall and thought it was a dead fir tree. He offered to help me cut it down! I had to convince him that it would come back in the spring.
Kevin, I miss the palm trees of New Orleans. I really wish I had a large indoor area with lots of windows so I could grow one indoors here.
I want to put a baobab tree on my layout. I know that three grows in Brooklyn, but this one will be in the Bronx!
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Not the Bronx, but train and Baobab tree:
York1 John
Gluttony MacJelly lazing around.
-Photographer, location, and date unknown
Blizzard at sea
Lizard at sea
One more desirable this time of year. There will be a test on Monday.
TF
Go for it!
in the Bronx if you wish so
POST HOG! POST HOG!
I'd Herd dis wons Soon ekspexting. Use mite-B abel to get seedling.
https://youtu.be/swpv4k8YQRw
Chooka-chooka hoo la ley
Looka-looka koo la ley
Good Evening,
Wet day here and tomorrow is supposed to be wetter. So far this has been in the top 5 on record for snow and now we are getting rain. We had a drought last summer.
John, do you know where that photo was taken? Have seen a few baobab trees in Africa. They can live for centuries. My guess is Zimbabwe for the country. They are still using some steam there.
Did some errands today. Have been driving more lately so likely will only get a month out of this tank of gas. Ray is right about the cost of charging vs. gas but there is the issue of the capital cost for an electric. In my case a car like his would set me back 50k plus my car and as I drive less than 5k miles/ year it wouldn't be a good investment. Besides I love the sound of that straight six when it is winding up.
Time to shut down for the night.
CN Charlie
Baobab trees are suitable for zones 10-12. I am in zone 10, so that is good.
However, wet soil will kill them, so that is bad.
There is a nursery here that says they can get one... they sure are awesome looking.
My Madagascar Palm is doing great, maybe I might try a second exotic tree from Madagascar.
It has been a great day, but I am tired, and it is time to hit the rack.
The World Is A Beautiful Place
-Photograph by my Youngest Daughter
I will be back for more tomorrow.
JaBear SeeYou190 I think my brass purchases are pretty much concluded HMMMMMMMMMMMM??!!
SeeYou190 I think my brass purchases are pretty much concluded
HMMMMMMMMMMMM??!!
You win.
I just bought another brass tank car.
Good morning Diners. Tea and toast please, Chloe.
A sunny St. George's Day.
Seeing all the grandchildren today.
Electric cars versus petrol/diesel cars. I do a fair amount of long distance driving. I want to get from A to B quickly. With a petrol or diesel car if I need to fill up the tank I fill up at a gas station and off I go - five minutes max.
If I had an electric car I would have to wait much longer for the car to fully charge. I cannot see any benefit of having an electric car; or am I missing something?
Stay safe everyone.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
NorthBritIf I had an electric car I would have to wait much longer for the car to fully charge. I cannot see any benefit of having an electric car; or am I missing something?
Hi David,
I don't think you are missing anything at all! In fact, you have identified one of the very serious drawbacks of the current EV situation.
Let's imagine that it is 10 years down the road and everyone is driving EVs. Instead of taking 5 minutes to refuel as you suggest, it can take several hours to recharge an EV. Even a quick refresh will require an hour. That poses the question of how many charging stations will be required in a major city, and perhaps more importantly, how much space will all those recharging stations take up. Instead of the five minutes that is required to refuel now, let's assume that most people can get away with a one hour recharge. At five minutes per filling, the average gas pump can refuel 12 cars per hour. At one hour per recharge, the recharging station can recharge precisely one car per hour. In other words, there will have to 12 times as many recharging stations then there are current gas pumps. Okay, what's the current cost of real estate in your average large city?
I would also ask what am I expected to do while I sit there for an hour, or two, or three..... That's not a problem for those who can work from a portable device, but I am retired! I can only play so much solitaire!
Granted all of the above is not set in stone, but the questions need to be asked and answered! I think it is a bit foolish of us to be counting on technological improvements to address these issues.
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
SeeYou190You win. I just bought another brass tank car.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
hon30critterI would also ask what am I expected to do while I sit there for an hour, or two, or three.....
Have you ever considered trying scratch building something, Dave???!!!
Never occurred to me!
Good morning, everyone. I'll have something different for a change -- how about a bowl of oatmeal? That's supposed to be good for my old system.
The wind is howling this morning. I wish it would rain more.
Track fiddlerI'd Herd dis wons Soon ekspexting. Use mite-B abel to get seedling.
TF, that's funny stuff! You've obviously been paying attention when Lion posts!
Charlie, you are correct as usual. That photo is from Zimbabwe (I haven't been there!).
Kevin, while I don't have a desire to move, I am envious of your ability to grow just about anything in your climate. Whenever I look through a seed catalog and see something really interesting, it's almost always restricted to one of the warmer zones. I wish dandelions would have that restriction.
David, I've mentioned before how lucky you are to have your grandchildren near. I do get to see all of mine, but it takes a lot of travel. Last week I put 1,300 miles on the car just to see several of them.
Dave, that's exactly the issue with us going too fast to all electric. Last week I got my first ride in my daughter's Tesla. She loves it for commuting. However, they can't drive it to see us. Maybe there will be breakthroughs in charging systems and the power grid.
Bear, before I joined this forum, I had no idea that a large part of the world's economy depends on GERN products.
For everyone I haven't mentioned, I hope you all are doing well. I still have not read through all the back posts I missed while I was gone, but I'll get there before the diner leaves the stockyards.
I'm still a little sore from my battle with my fence post, so I think this will be a good day to just stay in the layout room and do some bridge construction.
hon30critter I would also ask what am I expected to do while I sit there for an hour, or two, or three..... Have you ever considered trying scratch building something, Dave???!!!
hon30critter
I would also ask what am I expected to do while I sit there for an hour, or two, or three.....
Scratchbuilding is not allowed.
While the battery is recharging you are expected to be on fire watch duty.
Mornin'
Just tried to reply but got a "Forbiden" message. Well, this one came through....
All I will say right now is the Technology is a developing item. Also that you plan ahead and do other things while the car is charging. Ever have lunch while on the road? Need to use restrooms? Go shopping? No need to just sit in the car for 4 hours????
My tesla has the small battery and can't use the full power of the new V3 Tesla Supercharger (250,000Watts). That said it will charge the battery from 61 miles range to 230 miles range in 18 minutes. Yep, done that.
I have already been looking at a trip out to visit a guy out west on Vancouver Island. Charging should not be a problem. I will drive North of the Border as they already have the charging stations to do it. Will stay at hotels/motels that have chargers on the way. Get up next morning... Full battery!
Not suggesting that everyone run out and buy Electric Vehicles quite yet. But the time is getting nearer where they will be mainstream. According to my son (in England) there will be no new sales of Gas or Diesel Vehicles in the UK by 2030. He already has to take the train into London when he meets with a guy named Boris and others in Government on the technology. And yes, he has to pay to park and take the train... ;)
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Yeah, it’s possible I did win BUT if I did, then so did the bloke who has just bought another brass tank car.
I am definitely a winner on this one.
I will share it in Weekend Photo Fun after the model arrives. It showed up with a Buy It Now at less than half of what I have seen them sell for.
York1Kevin, while I don't have a desire to move, I am envious of your ability to grow just about anything in your climate. Whenever I look through a seed catalog and see something really interesting, it's almost always restricted to one of the warmer zones. I wish dandelions would have that restriction.
There are plenty of problems growing things down here. The biggest is weeds. Weeds will take over everything if you turn your back for a moment.
Droughts are another one. We get four or five months a year with no rain. We are in that position right now. Every year people act like it has never happened before. In four weeks we will all be drowning in rain, same as every year.
Most lawns, including mine, are more weeds than grass. With the watering restrictions right now, almost all the lawns in my neighborhood are dying.
A lot of plants are banned because of high water needs. Every year they threaten to add Hibiscus to this list, but they never do.
maxmanWhile the battery is recharging you are expected to be on fire watch duty.
Hmmmm..... My son say's the risk is "about the same as for gas". Depends on who you read, I think. Forbes published this:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/neilwinton/2022/03/02/electric-car-fire-risks-look-exaggerated-but-more-data-required-for-definitive-verdict/?sh=32fbcc42327e
Today it is 84°F outside. Wednesday's high is expected to be 40.
Everyone's needs for vehicles is quite varied, of course. We could use an EV but it wouldn't be our only vehicle. I bought a new pickup in 2019 and have just over 5000 miles on it. My needs are very light, indeed.
I had given some thought on the recharge situation.
Imagine if you will, quickly exchanged "battery packs" like your power tools have. Why couldn't an electric vehicle be designed to use, say, three or maybe four "standardized" designs of a battery package.
You would drive into the exchange station, sort of like a Quick Lube or a car wash, where your "spent" battery would be lifted — or dropped — depending on the design, using automated handling equipment. Off you go with a fully charged "power pack" while the depleted battery would be inspected, carefully charged, monitored and ready for another vehicle in a few hours.
Quite similar to how many places do the propane tank exchange these days. Took me a while to get used to that.
I know of three people who have lost their vehicles (all Fords) to fire, and in one case a guy's house burned down. He had a Crown Vic with the "faulty" cruise control switch that was always "hot" and tranny fluid would leak into the contact area. Although I appreciate that battery fires are worse to deal with.
For now my only EV is my 2008 Club Car.
IMG_6608 by Edmund, on Flickr
I love studying photos like this. Look at how many interactions are going on here. Cars backed in for a quick getaway.
Rock Island commuter train New Lenox IL 1978 by Mark LLanuza, on Flickr
Maybe it is a Friday and all these arriving commuters are ready to get their weekend started. And there's the Preiser "big man" in the orange shirt!
Cheers, Ed
Snowing in the lands of Dakota Norsk.
Hre are North Dakotas Traffic Photos... I-94 west of Dickinson:
Closder to us...
I-94 is closed west of Dickinson, Between here and Dickinson "No Travel is Advised."
I'd take their advice if I was ewe!
Where did the day go?
I am off to sleep.
Pretty in Blue —
New Oakway by Mike Danneman, on Flickr
Happy Sunday!
Good Morning,
Yesterday was a very stressful one for us. The storm Lion got came here but we had a lot of rain including a thunderstorm. The rain melted snow too and then with the frozen ground ran into the window wells at the side and front o f the house. We had water coming into the basement from the small lake along the front. I put in a small submersible pump I use to pump out the pond but after about 3 hours it quit. Luckily the water was gone by then. Got water in the workshop window, first time in 32 yers. Only damage may be to a small section of flooring in the basement. The underlay is supposed to wick away moisture. It was the only one that was approved for below grade at tn casehe time. I have extra flooring if I need to replace but not the saw to cut it. We were up most of the night emptying pails of water from the laundry window well.
Rain has stopped and now cold and very windy. About 30F. Will try the pump inthe pond in case it just needed to cool down. A replacement has been ordered for Tues. delivery. It is the kind that uses a garden hose..
That is my excietment for the week. I now have a summer project to stop that from happening again. I am afraid I will need a contractor to replace the window wells as the sides are to low to let me build up the ground sufficiently. Aso the AC unit is out there and was in 6 inches of water for a time. Hopefully it survived.
Hi Everyone,
Brunhilde, coffee with cream, please.
Raining here now. Rained all day Friday, but it was a slow soaking rain. I'm sure the crops and the water table welcomed that.
A thought on electric cars. What happens when these are ready for the scrap pile. What happens to the batteries and all of that acid and other toxic substances. My opinion, but I don't think the mfrs have thought this all the way through.
Example: in WWII, the German army had diesel powered tanks, which is fine until you're in a Russian winter. Then if you shut them off, you'd never get them started again. oh well, Vinnie will probably delete this.
Lion: we went through ND on I-94 last September. First time in North Dakota. I'm glad we didn't experience the snow like in your pictures.
Yes, they do grow sunflowers in ND as a cash crop. We drove by fields of of them.
Nothing else exciting to report. Glad to see most everyone is ok.
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
up831What happens when these are ready for the scrap pile. What happens to the batteries and all of that acid and other toxic substances.
https://www.epa.gov/recycle/used-lithium-ion-batteries
It gets recycled!
howmus up831 What happens when these are ready for the scrap pile. What happens to the batteries and all of that acid and other toxic substances. https://www.epa.gov/recycle/used-lithium-ion-batteries It gets recycled! 73
up831
What happens when these are ready for the scrap pile. What happens to the batteries and all of that acid and other toxic substances.
Yes, gets recycled. But removal/replacement doesn't look like a shade-tree mechanic job.
A couple of weeks ago I noticed this Maple was ready to come down. I had made plans to clear a path, get out the come-along and persuade it into the right direction.
Nature had other ideas as a bit of wind the other day took care of the top half for me
Tree_Down-2 by Edmund, on Flickr
How lucky we were that the other Maple there kept the fallen trunk away from the caboose roof! Close call for sure!
Tree_Down-1 by Edmund, on Flickr
With a slingshot, kite string and some nylon rope I got the slings pulled over and into position to give her a tug.
Tree_Down by Edmund, on Flickr
Now the cleanup and cut the rest of the trunk and then the second trunk which will be easier to deal with. At least it's leaning away from the caboose. Lots of standing dead trees over the past few years, Emerald Ash Borer and a Beech Blight has taken its toll. For some reason several of the maples have gone, too.
At least I've never had to buy firewood.
Otis_cordwood2 by Edmund, on Flickr
My money's NOT on the Pontiac —
CP_2860_Widetrack-Pontiac by Edmund, on Flickr