Remember Me

Since the switch to the new blogspot I have been unable to get the site to "remember me" and have had to re-enter my e-mail address and password every time I logged on. Well I finally went to the "help" section and found my problem. In case anyone else is having that problem, here is a possible solution. It is happening because you are using Internet Explorer 6.0. You can switch to Firefox to fix it. But since I use AOL, my browser is automatically IE6.0 and here is what I had to do: Under Internet Explorer select "settings" then "internet options" then "privacy". At that location enter "google.com" as a site you want to always allow. It worked for me.

Wildlife ala Metro Minnesota

Thanks Mark. There is a part of me that yearns for wilderness. I have had to suppress that urge, but I can't think of much that would be for me more thrilling than to see moose, bear, wolves outside my front door. It's a little more subtle around here. But last week as a part of Jo's birthday celebration we went for a walk into a local "woods". Jon took the camera and discovered the correct options for capturing close ups.

Wildlife

I was walking to the front door a few days ago and didn't even see this moose until Holly asked if i saw the moose in the yard!








Here she is by the picnic table so you can get an idea of the size.








This animal is a little smaller. It is a muskrat in the pond back in the woods. I stood real still and it swam up close because of curiosity.






I have seen quite a few wild current bushes around the garden and woods. They grow around decaying stumps and wood.

40,000 lbs/sq inch

If you click the above title you will find the answer you have all been wondering about in greater detail. There are also some more plant photos in marksalaska.






It took several weeks to cut off the old 180's that were cracked on the inside. Had to grind them smooth for the new ones to be welded on. Some welders from Louisiana came to do most of the work using mirrors etc. for the difficult welds.





Here is a photo of the Syngas machine that uses the 1500# steam to run the turbine that runs the compressor. We've been running since about May 2.

Thank you for the "Happy Birthday"!

I cannot leave comments as yet so don't expect too much from me. I'll try to get on every several days to a week and try again.

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you....

Happy Birthday dear Dean and Jean
Happy Birthday two YOU

......and many more

Early Thanks for the Birthday Greetings!

I just wanted to thank everyone ahead of time for the Birthday greetings that you will probably post to Jean and me!

grandmajean

Let's see first if this works and if it does I will see if I can respond to any postings.

ICE out of control

We tried to start up our plant about a month ago and had a little problem with leaking water in our 1500# steam system on the reformer. We are now making ammonia as of yesterday!!!
Here is the QUESTION of the WEEK: How many pounds of pressure does water make enclosed in pipes like this, when it changes to ice?? (send your answers to the comment section below)

Sentimental Value

One thing I forgot to include in my favorite books post is the 7 book series: The Chronicles of Narnia. My dad started us off young on these beloved stories. For awhile when I was about 7 it became our nightime ritual to read them before bed. I still have not grown tired of all of these adventures. The two I especially love are The Magicians Nephew and The Silver Chair.

Quick and dramatic, or careful and quiet

Perhaps it's time I weigh in on the music question...

It's a timely question as I've just recently discovered a great site called Pandora. It's a site where you can virtually create your own radio stations. For example, you may want to create a Bob Dylan station. It will play some Bob Dylan songs plus other songs it deems Bob Dylan fans would enjoy. As it plays songs you give them thumbs-up or thumbs-down and it gradually creates a station that plays more and more songs that you appreciate.

As I've been creating stations I've come to realize that there is very little music that I liked 30 years ago that I still enjoy. However, one artist whose music I enjoyed almost 35 years ago and still enjoy today is Dan Fogelberg.

Listen to some samples from his Home Free album (try 'To the Morning', 'Stars', and 'Hickory Grove'). Also, try some samples from his Souvenirs album ('Illinois', 'Souvenirs', and 'There's a Place in the World for a Gambler').

These were his first two albums. He's made a number of albums since then, but in my opinion none of them are in the same league with these first two. How can someone make two great albums in the early '70s and not continue make great music? This brings me to my next point.

Wired had an interesting article last summer (actually, I didn't get around to reading it 'til 2 months ago - Mark, did you read it?) regarding a new theory suggesting that creativity comes in two distinct types - quick and dramatic, or careful and quiet. The first type of geniuses are “conceptual innovators” who 'make bold, dramatic leaps in their disciplines. They do their breakthrough work when they are young.' Some examples would be Edvard Munch, Herman Melville, and Orson Welles.

The second type would be the “experimental innovators.” 'Geniuses like Auguste Rodin, Mark Twain, and Alfred Hitchcock who proceed by a lifetime of trial and error and thus do their important work much later in their careers.'

I think this explains Fogelberg's decline - he was a conceptual innovator - but there wasn't much after that first 'bold, dramatic leap'. On the bright side, this may indicate that many of us, who are unquestionably experimental innovators, may not create our best work until well into our nineties...

Clever Clue of the Month

Once again we had a lot of clever clues to choose from this month. It wasn't easy, but we've narrowed your choices down to six. Vote on what you think is the best one today. (Click here if you need any explained.) Check the Clever Clue page on Wednesday to see the winner.

Beetle juice ................................GAS
Write seperate checks? ......................MISSPELL
Takes to a higher power? ....................CUBES
Target for middle management? ...............WAIST
Lush surroundings? ..........................BAR
Hit bottom? .................................SPANK