Water Logged and Pickle Juice

The climate where I live isn't as hot as a desert, but with the humidity, the heat index can bring conditions as brutal as any desert. Working outside brings sweat immediately, and it doesn't dry. Clothes are soaked within minutes, and regardless of how much water you drink, it doesn't replace the electrolytes. Your stomach is bloated with water, and severe heat cramps are soon to arrive. 

I've tried many different things, but a supplement called Medi Lyte is a big help, and nothing helps better than slugging a few gulps of juice from a bottle of pickles. Products like Gatorade help, but I found too much will not do the job, and have seen people vomit after drinking too much. 

When I worked, we would fill two large water jugs each day. One was plain water, and the other had half the powdered Gatorade that was considered the right amount. I kept supplements on hand, and watched the crew closely. Over the years, I had a few I had to place in an air-conditioned truck to cool down, and had one I had to call for an ambulance. His reaction to the heat led to hyperventilation, which aggravated his heat exhaustion. I had one employee that had to be driven home because his heat cramps prevented him from driving. 

I had days where I know I drank well over a gallon liquid during a day at work. On one project, I literally poured sweat from my work boots in the evening. The 16 hour days, brutal heat, and lack of sleep whittled 20 pounds off me in a month. If I had to do it again, I wouldn't.

So, stay hydrated, avoid exposure to the heat, and keep a bottle of pickles handy...just in case.

Looking at the News

- According to a report, Obama, and his minions, intentionally created false reports to influence the 2016 election, and continued this subterfuge throughout the first term of Trump. I'm waiting to see how this plays out, but thinking some strong words, a wrist slap, and warning are the only consequences.  

- A reporter has PTSD due to their encounter with angry citizens after the attempt to kill Trump. Harsh words are certainly destructive, especially when you consider the reporter probably received an award for not pissing their pants in first grade.

- Comey's daughter was fired. She should be happy. She will now have a substantial amount of money for a book, become the darling of the Democrats, and can pontificate without losing her job.

- Out of the 160 missing in the Guadalupe flood, careful analysis of the list has revealed only 3 are missing. I really don't know what to think of this, except someone kept the list from the media and did a good job of whittling away at the names when someone was accounted for.

- NPR has lost a huge amount of its funding. Tears are common, people are upset, and there's now more money for the government to squander.

-Stephen Colbert's show is ending. One report stated it was losing millions, which I can see. If most people are like me, those watching could be counted in one living room.

-The only person that truly knows what happened on Epstein's island is languishing in prison, with information that some people would rather not be revealed. I think she should have her sentence commuted, be protected from future prosecution, and allowed to spill the beans. I'll buy some popcorn if this happens. 

- Local news reports show crime is rampant in the nearby bigger city. The usual suspects are revealed by photographs, and it's not hard to envision where they started their life.

- An order from Amazon disappeared somewhere in Texas. If someone happens to find it, I hope the parts fit their lawnmower. 

Keeping The Electricity Flowing

My electricity is furnished by a co-op. It's a different critter from the huge companies that have to bow to the whims of shareholders. There is no profit to be realized, and it shows. They go along the transmission lines with a machine that has a telescoping boom with a spinning blade on the end. From what I see, they keep the limbs about 10 feet from the lines. Since the go from the ground, to the top, limbs can't sag into the lines during an ice storm. Although the proximity of the trees doesn't prevent them from falling, and causing problems, keeping them from touching during high winds is a plus. I dealt with that where I used to live. The big, conglomerate power company didn't give a rodent's fanny about my concerns. 

It looks like it would be fun to operate. The cab is enclosed, so swarms of wasp, or bees, can't attack during the work.

Saturday Musings

We've had a wet Summer so far. Plenty of rain, and a shower at least twice a week. Since it's Summer, the showers can be tropical in nature with a deluge that can bring over an inch of rain in less than an hour. The yard loves it, and if I was inclined to do so, would need mowing twice a week. 

The flood in Kerrville is raising the question of "How did this happen?". I can answer that. The Guadalupe is known for floods, since much of it meanders through limestone hills with little soil. Floods happen, time allows people to forget how bad they can be, and the river doesn't forgive those that wait to go to high ground. It's a tragedy, and the near future will bring an awareness not seen for decades.

I don't know what to think of the Epstein file debacle. If the evidence isn't there, there's nothing to see. From my perspective, the evidence isn't nearly as important as investigating the investigators. Until the public is insured there were no improprieties, the suspicion will be toward government employees that committed crimes as egregious as the crimes committed by Epstein.

The economy may be better, but inflation is worse. That is the most destructive force in any economy, and if it's not handled, the results will be terrible.

For some reason, a neighbor allowed 21 Pekin ducks to escape. I have a feeling they didn't want to keep feeding them, and they've taken residence in our pond. They're nasty, loud creatures, that remind me of why I'm not a fan of ducks. I have a nephew that likes to duck hunt. Without a season on domestic ducks, he needs to fill his freezer. Duck gumbo is one of the best meals I ever ate. Maybe they'll invite me over.

Local city governments are assuring me of my decision to not live in a city. They show an incompetence that rivals the worst of any government, piss off money for astoundingly stupid things, and while their streets fall into disrepair, a shooting is becoming a daily occurrence.

I've been watching where the moon rises every night. It isn't the same every night, and from what I've read, it's the difference between its orbit at 5 degrees from the ecliptic and Earth's 23.5 degree tilt from the ecliptic. I used to not notice such things, but now I do. I haven't gone so far to attempt the mathematics to determine the location every night, although I could probably find a chart on the internet. It's not that important at this time, and I'd rather do something else...maybe take a nap.

The Power of Water

My wife found this photo on the internet. It's an example of how moving water has power that is only equaled by the most powerful of hydraulic machines. The guardrail, which was attached to a post, was twisted like a rubber band when the water spun the post around the attachment point. 

I've placed this type of rail. The rail at the far left is called a Thrie-Beam bridge connection. It's attached to the concrete rail barely seen on the far left. Immediately after the attachment, there are four wood posts closely placed on 18 inch centers, and after that, the next post is 6 feet, 3 inches from the last post in the configuration. You can see where the post was pulled from the concrete mow strip, spun until it finally was torn away, and the rail was twisted in the process. 

This is the destruction humans faced when the flood waters on the Guadalupe tore through the flood basin. Such force doesn't leave much, when people are caught in the flood. Remains may never be found since there may not be any to be found. 

God rest their souls.