Sunday, September 27, 2015
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Hummingbirds
This is the first summer of my life, where I fed, and watched, hummingbirds. It's been rewarding; mostly because their existence is fascinating.
It's probably good hummingbirds are so small. If they were as large as a crow, their territorial fights would end with broken windows and mayhem around the yard. They don't get along well with each other, and it's not uncommon to see one become "Emperor" of the feeder, and spend almost all its energy chasing off other hummingbirds that come to feed.
Still, they give me moments of peace. When one finally comes to the feeder, and decide it's where to feed, it's comforting to watch such a tiny critter finally roost, after it's full of the sugar water I provided.
It's time for the hummingbirds to move further south, and eventually arrive at their winter grounds. Until then I'll enjoy their antics, as they wander around the yard and feed at the feeder. Some will return next Spring. I'll enjoy them, when they return.
It's probably good hummingbirds are so small. If they were as large as a crow, their territorial fights would end with broken windows and mayhem around the yard. They don't get along well with each other, and it's not uncommon to see one become "Emperor" of the feeder, and spend almost all its energy chasing off other hummingbirds that come to feed.
Still, they give me moments of peace. When one finally comes to the feeder, and decide it's where to feed, it's comforting to watch such a tiny critter finally roost, after it's full of the sugar water I provided.
It's time for the hummingbirds to move further south, and eventually arrive at their winter grounds. Until then I'll enjoy their antics, as they wander around the yard and feed at the feeder. Some will return next Spring. I'll enjoy them, when they return.
Thursday, September 24, 2015
A New Stupidity
I might be more observant, but I doubt it.
I find more people - mostly young - walk down the street, without any knowledge of the traffic approaching, and in the travel lane. While this is inherently dangerous, the attitude of not paying intention appears to be due to stupidity. To exacerbate this problem, many are walking with their heads down, while they examine their cell phone.
The only cure for this problem involves logical thinking. I'm afraid such efforts are becoming more difficult for too many people.
I find more people - mostly young - walk down the street, without any knowledge of the traffic approaching, and in the travel lane. While this is inherently dangerous, the attitude of not paying intention appears to be due to stupidity. To exacerbate this problem, many are walking with their heads down, while they examine their cell phone.
The only cure for this problem involves logical thinking. I'm afraid such efforts are becoming more difficult for too many people.
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Highway Stripes
Most people don't know what highway stripes signify. That,and the distance between stripes
The stripes are 10 feet long, and forty feet from nose of stripe, to nose of stripe. Otherwise, there's thirty feet between each stripe.
Years ago, stripes were painted on the pavement. For decades, a thermoplastic is used instead. The plastic arrives in bags, is heated in pots, and sprayed like paint on the pavement. As the plastic is sprayed, glass beads are sprinkled on top to add reflectivity at night. Without it, the stripes are hardly seen, and water on the paving almost completely obscures.
Stripes have different colors, but for highway markings, they are yellow and white. White designates the lanes in one direction, and yellow is used to signify the boundary between opposing traffic lanes.
Broken lines are used to indicate lanes. On a highway with only two way traffic, these stripes are yellow, since traffic flows both ways. On highways with multiple lanes, the broken lines are white.
Solid lines indicate the driver is to keep inside their lane and not cross the line. On highways with two lanes, and opposing traffic, the line on the right will be a solid white, and the line between opposing traffic will be solid yellow. In curves, a broken yellow line will have a solid yellow line adjacent to signify which lane of traffic is not to pass slower traffic. If it's on the side you're driving on, it indicates you are prohibited to pass, and the line will remain, until there's enough sight distance to pass safely. If there are two solid lines, crossing the center line is prohibited for both lanes of traffic.
On multiple lane highways, the right line is solid white, except where it follows the right side of an exit ramp. Beyond the ramp, the white line continues. Entrance ramps will have a safety "island" of diagonal stripes before the break at the entrance. The merging lane white line eventually ties into the white line in the outside travel lane.
A yellow solid line is found on the left side of the inside lane of multiple lane highways. Even if there's a large grass median, the yellow line is painted to signify the demarcation of opposing lanes of traffic.
Solid lines come in different widths. The typical four inch solid line indicates travel across the line is cautioned and only for a specific purpose. Roads with continuous center turn lanes have these. Travel is allowed, but only with caution, and the lane is never to be treated as a travel lane. Drivers are expected to only use the lane for acceleration, and deceleration, when traffic allows. These line are left out at intersections and driveways.
Eight inch wide sold lines are never to be crossed. These are found at entrances, and exits, to signify the traffic in the other lane has the right of way, and dangerous conditions are presented if a driver crosses the line. When the eight inch line is broken, it signifies a combination entrance/exit ramp, and drivers are to be extra cautions when crossing the line to exit, or merge.
Between the stripes, or on solid lines, raised reflective markers are placed to help mark the pavement at night, or in low light conditions, such as during a heavy rain. On two lane roads, the center of the lanes will have reflectors that show amber both ways. On multiple lane highways, the center line markers are white toward facing traffic, and red on the opposite side. Otherwise, if you you're driving, and see red reflective markers ahead, you're driving against traffic. An occasional blue marker indicates a fire hydrant is at that location.
If you got this far in this post, you're interested, and will notice such things as you drive. When you understand the basic rules for stripes, you begin to notice those that are worn, or missing reflective markers, which can be found scattered on the shoulder.
Whether interested, or not, the stripes on the highway are regulation markings. Failing to observe what they indicate can lead to traffic fines, or worse, a head-on collision on a rural highway, late at night.
One other thing: Years ago, an old TxDot worker asked me which lane I drove in, when going over an overpass on an empty highway late at night. I answered it depended, and he cautioned to always stay in the right lane. He further explained that someone driving the wrong direction will have a tendency to try and stay in what they think is the right lane. By staying in the right lane, the odds are they'll pass you, and you'll have another head-shaking moment to add to your list.
The stripes are 10 feet long, and forty feet from nose of stripe, to nose of stripe. Otherwise, there's thirty feet between each stripe.
Years ago, stripes were painted on the pavement. For decades, a thermoplastic is used instead. The plastic arrives in bags, is heated in pots, and sprayed like paint on the pavement. As the plastic is sprayed, glass beads are sprinkled on top to add reflectivity at night. Without it, the stripes are hardly seen, and water on the paving almost completely obscures.
Stripes have different colors, but for highway markings, they are yellow and white. White designates the lanes in one direction, and yellow is used to signify the boundary between opposing traffic lanes.
Broken lines are used to indicate lanes. On a highway with only two way traffic, these stripes are yellow, since traffic flows both ways. On highways with multiple lanes, the broken lines are white.
Solid lines indicate the driver is to keep inside their lane and not cross the line. On highways with two lanes, and opposing traffic, the line on the right will be a solid white, and the line between opposing traffic will be solid yellow. In curves, a broken yellow line will have a solid yellow line adjacent to signify which lane of traffic is not to pass slower traffic. If it's on the side you're driving on, it indicates you are prohibited to pass, and the line will remain, until there's enough sight distance to pass safely. If there are two solid lines, crossing the center line is prohibited for both lanes of traffic.
On multiple lane highways, the right line is solid white, except where it follows the right side of an exit ramp. Beyond the ramp, the white line continues. Entrance ramps will have a safety "island" of diagonal stripes before the break at the entrance. The merging lane white line eventually ties into the white line in the outside travel lane.
A yellow solid line is found on the left side of the inside lane of multiple lane highways. Even if there's a large grass median, the yellow line is painted to signify the demarcation of opposing lanes of traffic.
Solid lines come in different widths. The typical four inch solid line indicates travel across the line is cautioned and only for a specific purpose. Roads with continuous center turn lanes have these. Travel is allowed, but only with caution, and the lane is never to be treated as a travel lane. Drivers are expected to only use the lane for acceleration, and deceleration, when traffic allows. These line are left out at intersections and driveways.
Eight inch wide sold lines are never to be crossed. These are found at entrances, and exits, to signify the traffic in the other lane has the right of way, and dangerous conditions are presented if a driver crosses the line. When the eight inch line is broken, it signifies a combination entrance/exit ramp, and drivers are to be extra cautions when crossing the line to exit, or merge.
Between the stripes, or on solid lines, raised reflective markers are placed to help mark the pavement at night, or in low light conditions, such as during a heavy rain. On two lane roads, the center of the lanes will have reflectors that show amber both ways. On multiple lane highways, the center line markers are white toward facing traffic, and red on the opposite side. Otherwise, if you you're driving, and see red reflective markers ahead, you're driving against traffic. An occasional blue marker indicates a fire hydrant is at that location.
If you got this far in this post, you're interested, and will notice such things as you drive. When you understand the basic rules for stripes, you begin to notice those that are worn, or missing reflective markers, which can be found scattered on the shoulder.
Whether interested, or not, the stripes on the highway are regulation markings. Failing to observe what they indicate can lead to traffic fines, or worse, a head-on collision on a rural highway, late at night.
One other thing: Years ago, an old TxDot worker asked me which lane I drove in, when going over an overpass on an empty highway late at night. I answered it depended, and he cautioned to always stay in the right lane. He further explained that someone driving the wrong direction will have a tendency to try and stay in what they think is the right lane. By staying in the right lane, the odds are they'll pass you, and you'll have another head-shaking moment to add to your list.
Saturday, September 19, 2015
Summer Hangs On
We had a short cool spell last week, which yielded low sixties in the mornings, with highs in the mid eighties. It didn't last long, and Summer returned.
For the last week, it's been in the low to mid seventies near the coast in the mornings, and around ninety two in the afternoon. Rain is prevented by a ridge of high pressure, so the heat is hanging on.
This weather pattern will last a week, or so, but we'll get a front, some rain, and the sun won't be able to overcome the cool any longer. After that, the chilly evening will be filled with the aroma of burning leaves and the feel of Autumn will settle in.
I enjoy Autumn more than any other season. I like the temperature, the azure skies, and the brilliant oranges of sunset. I feel a contentment I find no other time of the year.
For the last week, it's been in the low to mid seventies near the coast in the mornings, and around ninety two in the afternoon. Rain is prevented by a ridge of high pressure, so the heat is hanging on.
This weather pattern will last a week, or so, but we'll get a front, some rain, and the sun won't be able to overcome the cool any longer. After that, the chilly evening will be filled with the aroma of burning leaves and the feel of Autumn will settle in.
I enjoy Autumn more than any other season. I like the temperature, the azure skies, and the brilliant oranges of sunset. I feel a contentment I find no other time of the year.
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
My Solution
We don't need bombs; we need coat hangers. Why? Because coat hangers are much more dangerous than bombs.
If we dropped thousands on our enemies, within seconds, they'd be so tangled up in coat hangers, they couldn't move. They would beg for wire cutters and never want to fight us again.
If we dropped thousands on our enemies, within seconds, they'd be so tangled up in coat hangers, they couldn't move. They would beg for wire cutters and never want to fight us again.
Monday, September 14, 2015
Another One Bites the Dust
Way back when, when dirt was still new, R.E.O Speedwagon was a far cry from the pop music that brought them fame. Gary Richrath cooked on the guitar.
He's passed. No reason was given for his passing, but at the young age of 65, there's no telling the cause.
May he rest in peace.
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Fire and Steel
Steel is a wonderful building material, but has a fault that designers protect against, but there's never a guarantee it will work long enough.
The fault? Heat. At high temperatures, steel changes. The material becomes plastic, loses strength and fails as a structural support. In building fires, you can see the damage in the twisted girders and columns after the fire is extinguished. Intense heat caused the steel to loose rigidity, so the weight of the structure caused sagging, with an eventual failure.
With skyscrapers, this fault is known, so exposed steel is exposed to fire proofing. The fireproofing has a design problem, too. It's usually brittle, so impacts can lead to spalling of the material and exposing the steel. That, and poor workmanship. Without fireproofing, even low heat fires can cause damage to steel.
Even the rebar in a concrete foundation will distort in fire. After a containment pit was struck by lightning, the oil in the pit burned for over an hour, before it was extinguished. The damage was something I'd never seen before. Large concrete girders holding equipment lost the outside layer of concrete, when the concrete spalled due to the intense heat. The rebar between the stirrups was sagged like spaghetti, which I found surprising. I thought only an oxy/acetylene torch could provide such heat, but my thoughts were proven otherwise. Seeing one inch rebar sagging in two foot span was something to see.
The World Trade Center Towers were built of steel, but the structures were innovative. The core of the building provided most of the strength, and the floor were supported by trusses, with the external structure much lighter.
A truss is an interesting building component, since it's composed of small steel rods, and angles, which are constructed in a lattice work to gain strength through cross members and bracing. They work,are lightweight, can handle substantial loads, but are more susceptible to heat. Heat that takes a long time to cause a large steel member to start distorting, can cause distortion in a short period of time on a truss. I've read that firefighters are aware of this, and detest working a fire in buildings with trusses for supports.
When the jets hit the towers, they immediately caught fire. With almost full fuel tanks, the fires were destined to burn for a long time. Jet fuel, due to it's composition, burns at high BTU's and the temperature increases, when aided by strong drafts, such as those found on a tall building.
It's theorized the initial crash removed much of the fireproofing on the trusses, which exposed them to the heat. Since the trusses were supporting light weight concrete, their failure would lead to the materials on the floor they supported to fall to the floor below. If the floor held, the event would have ended, but there were multiple floors above the fire.
When the floors started falling, they slammed into the floor below the fire, which caused it to fail. The added weight sheared the other floor, and the debris fell to the next floor below. Within seconds, the banging of the floors was a constant noise included in the rumbling. Firefighters that survived described the banging as the floors collapsed and the buildings fell.
I've read of conspiracy theories about the destruction of the World Trade centers, but find they don't satisfy the known physics involved. Some may find it comforting to think something more sinister was the cause of the destruction, but it doesn't fit with what I've read about, and experienced.
The World Trade Towers were a marvel of modern architecture, and engineering, but the biggest fault was always there. While planes caused the fire, a conflagration of the same proportion, without any intention would have caused the same disaster. All that was needed was fire, and time.
The fault? Heat. At high temperatures, steel changes. The material becomes plastic, loses strength and fails as a structural support. In building fires, you can see the damage in the twisted girders and columns after the fire is extinguished. Intense heat caused the steel to loose rigidity, so the weight of the structure caused sagging, with an eventual failure.
With skyscrapers, this fault is known, so exposed steel is exposed to fire proofing. The fireproofing has a design problem, too. It's usually brittle, so impacts can lead to spalling of the material and exposing the steel. That, and poor workmanship. Without fireproofing, even low heat fires can cause damage to steel.
Even the rebar in a concrete foundation will distort in fire. After a containment pit was struck by lightning, the oil in the pit burned for over an hour, before it was extinguished. The damage was something I'd never seen before. Large concrete girders holding equipment lost the outside layer of concrete, when the concrete spalled due to the intense heat. The rebar between the stirrups was sagged like spaghetti, which I found surprising. I thought only an oxy/acetylene torch could provide such heat, but my thoughts were proven otherwise. Seeing one inch rebar sagging in two foot span was something to see.
The World Trade Center Towers were built of steel, but the structures were innovative. The core of the building provided most of the strength, and the floor were supported by trusses, with the external structure much lighter.
A truss is an interesting building component, since it's composed of small steel rods, and angles, which are constructed in a lattice work to gain strength through cross members and bracing. They work,are lightweight, can handle substantial loads, but are more susceptible to heat. Heat that takes a long time to cause a large steel member to start distorting, can cause distortion in a short period of time on a truss. I've read that firefighters are aware of this, and detest working a fire in buildings with trusses for supports.
When the jets hit the towers, they immediately caught fire. With almost full fuel tanks, the fires were destined to burn for a long time. Jet fuel, due to it's composition, burns at high BTU's and the temperature increases, when aided by strong drafts, such as those found on a tall building.
It's theorized the initial crash removed much of the fireproofing on the trusses, which exposed them to the heat. Since the trusses were supporting light weight concrete, their failure would lead to the materials on the floor they supported to fall to the floor below. If the floor held, the event would have ended, but there were multiple floors above the fire.
When the floors started falling, they slammed into the floor below the fire, which caused it to fail. The added weight sheared the other floor, and the debris fell to the next floor below. Within seconds, the banging of the floors was a constant noise included in the rumbling. Firefighters that survived described the banging as the floors collapsed and the buildings fell.
I've read of conspiracy theories about the destruction of the World Trade centers, but find they don't satisfy the known physics involved. Some may find it comforting to think something more sinister was the cause of the destruction, but it doesn't fit with what I've read about, and experienced.
The World Trade Towers were a marvel of modern architecture, and engineering, but the biggest fault was always there. While planes caused the fire, a conflagration of the same proportion, without any intention would have caused the same disaster. All that was needed was fire, and time.
Friday, September 11, 2015
Trains in the Distance.
I listen to train horns daily. Over time, they're just part of the background; the horn, and rumble of engine, something not allowed to distract.
When the weather is right, and the morning is very calm, the train horn reverberates; echoes returning after brief seconds and the lonesome sound almost leading to moments of melancholy. The sound is truly lonely and leads to sobering thoughts.
When I was about 15 years of age, my grandmother died one autumn. We returned to Oklahoma for the funeral, which was surreal and my first experience with the loss of a close family member.
The night after the funeral, before I fell asleep, I laid in bed, thinking of the day, and enjoying the chilly breeze that wafted through the window by my bed. I don't remember my thoughts, but I remember the haunting sound of a train horn off in the distance. I sat up for a moment, looked out the window, and examined the yard in the dim light. A chapter ended in my life. I knew I would probably never return to the house; and never did.
So, I listen to train horns, examine my thoughts, and relive moments in my life. It's a good thing and leads to moments of solace.
When the weather is right, and the morning is very calm, the train horn reverberates; echoes returning after brief seconds and the lonesome sound almost leading to moments of melancholy. The sound is truly lonely and leads to sobering thoughts.
When I was about 15 years of age, my grandmother died one autumn. We returned to Oklahoma for the funeral, which was surreal and my first experience with the loss of a close family member.
The night after the funeral, before I fell asleep, I laid in bed, thinking of the day, and enjoying the chilly breeze that wafted through the window by my bed. I don't remember my thoughts, but I remember the haunting sound of a train horn off in the distance. I sat up for a moment, looked out the window, and examined the yard in the dim light. A chapter ended in my life. I knew I would probably never return to the house; and never did.
So, I listen to train horns, examine my thoughts, and relive moments in my life. It's a good thing and leads to moments of solace.
Thursday, September 10, 2015
I Guess I Should Write More
If I had to summarize my life at the moment, I'd have to say I'm busy, or not, or have a lot on my mind, and need to write, but stay pissed off at politics and don't want my blog to be a consistent rant at the low life, puke crap, bottom feeding, thieving, lying, reprobate politicians that suck the life out of the country, have more vacations in one year than I've had in my career, and don't have a clue.
Saturday, September 5, 2015
When the Real Issue is Avoided
Kim Davis is in jail because her conscience, due to her religious beliefs, prevented her from issuing marriage licenses that she would attest to, when signing. Otherwise, she didn't want to officially attest to something she might not agree with, or was unconscionable.
Some gay couples wanted a license, so they sued in Federal Court. The judge ordered her to issue marriage licenses. When she wouldn't, he held her in contempt and sent her to jail.
Some side with judge, and think his actions were appropriate. They believe the judge acted correctly in demanding Kim Davis issue marriage licenses, and sign the document.
Some side with Kim Davis. They believe the judge acted beyond his capacity and violated her rights.
Personally, I think the entire mess could have been avoided. Kentucky could have changed the form, or gone through the process of removing Kim Davis from her elected office. Of course, that would have taken time, might have not yielded the intended results, and the problem would have continued. Still, it was the correct method and those that didn't like the method could have changed it through the legislative process.
Those wanting the license, could have gone to another county. The clerks in those counties were issuing licenses to same sex couples.
So, we now have Federal Judge holding a woman in jail, without breaking any law, and he won't let her out, unless she signs marriage licenses she refuses to sign. The judge, who I feel didn't have the wisdom or experience to hold his office, now can't back down, even if his contempt order is beginning to look like a petty, arbitrary decision.
How will this end? It's going to get ugly. The radical gay activists have thrown down the gauntlet, without thinking of the perception of the public. Their rights don't supersede the rights of others, and with a woman in jail for no other reason than refusing to sign a document, their platform is shaky and they are only a very small percentage of the population. The process required by the Constitution was bypassed, judicial activism is removing the rights of other individuals, and the public is becoming angry at the audacity.
So what is the real issue? The right of an individual to determine their heirs and the automatic right to benefits allowed to heterosexual couples. That was not asking much, but Social Security benefits, and many pensions, prevent such things. Instead of changing the wording for legal rights of individuals, the entire definition of marriage was changed. I call that foolishness, but apparently, foolish behavior is common with government officials.
Some gay couples wanted a license, so they sued in Federal Court. The judge ordered her to issue marriage licenses. When she wouldn't, he held her in contempt and sent her to jail.
Some side with judge, and think his actions were appropriate. They believe the judge acted correctly in demanding Kim Davis issue marriage licenses, and sign the document.
Some side with Kim Davis. They believe the judge acted beyond his capacity and violated her rights.
Personally, I think the entire mess could have been avoided. Kentucky could have changed the form, or gone through the process of removing Kim Davis from her elected office. Of course, that would have taken time, might have not yielded the intended results, and the problem would have continued. Still, it was the correct method and those that didn't like the method could have changed it through the legislative process.
Those wanting the license, could have gone to another county. The clerks in those counties were issuing licenses to same sex couples.
So, we now have Federal Judge holding a woman in jail, without breaking any law, and he won't let her out, unless she signs marriage licenses she refuses to sign. The judge, who I feel didn't have the wisdom or experience to hold his office, now can't back down, even if his contempt order is beginning to look like a petty, arbitrary decision.
How will this end? It's going to get ugly. The radical gay activists have thrown down the gauntlet, without thinking of the perception of the public. Their rights don't supersede the rights of others, and with a woman in jail for no other reason than refusing to sign a document, their platform is shaky and they are only a very small percentage of the population. The process required by the Constitution was bypassed, judicial activism is removing the rights of other individuals, and the public is becoming angry at the audacity.
So what is the real issue? The right of an individual to determine their heirs and the automatic right to benefits allowed to heterosexual couples. That was not asking much, but Social Security benefits, and many pensions, prevent such things. Instead of changing the wording for legal rights of individuals, the entire definition of marriage was changed. I call that foolishness, but apparently, foolish behavior is common with government officials.
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