PN:
Joe’s Comment – This week has been very enjoyable. Not only did the weather improve, not only did the days become longer than 1/2 day aka 12 hours, not only did Spring sprung, but the lowly Taurus has made it through its second Winter with grace and economy.
Damn if I don’t like that car a lot. Named her Ireland. She is sending signals that the front brakes might need new pads, and a small patch of surface rust is now visible on the rear left wheel arch. Whatever! My friend Levi sold her to me for the princely sum of $400.00 CDN, which used to be a months worth of beer (give or take) when I used to imbibe. Since I bought Ireland, I’ve replaced the battery, fixed the battery cables (no extra cost), and changed the oil twice. On top of that, the average fuel economy is approaching 20 miles per Imperial gallon.
Sweet!
And Nora, my F350 diesel, who hasn’t had any mechanical servicing other than oil changes in 6 years, made it through another Winter, too. She needs front brake pads, front U-joints, a new water pump, and an oil change.
This has been an easy Winter $$$ wise regarding vehicles.
I was disappointed on November 1st last year when the early onset Winter weather came (and didn’t dissipate until three weeks ago).
So disappointed that I said to Hell with everything and put down my tools, left off from yard work and yard clean-up and yard organization.
I didn’t do nothin’ for 5 months, more or less.
And a big Gomer Pyle to me –
Surprise, surprise, surprise!
My world didn’t end.
I didn’t shovel snow.
I didn’t drink myself stupid (I’m already stupid enough, thank you).
I read. I researched. I made plans. I scrapped those plans and made new plans.
I didn’t shovel snow. I didn’t worry about what if.
This is a new precedent.
Maybe next time Old Man Winter arrives uninvited, I’ll take 6 months leisure.
If I could jump I’d click my heels in joy!
What a weight off my old hairy back…..
Here’s an artist’s interpretation of me, for future Winter reference, so swear I –
Peel me a grape, Winter! You suck to me!
Canadiana
Quick Dick McDick
A new release from Saskatchewan’s ambassador to the world.
This episode is about curling, and how small town folks get together to make the sport possible.
Joe and I endorse small town life. It is a great place to raise kids, and a great place to retire.
Many people, after small town schooling, move to the “Big City” to pursue higher education and / or a career that just doesn’t exist in rural communities.
Later, many of these same people who have succeeded in their careers or work or pursuits yearn to return to a rural lifestyle. Joe and I included:
Dr. Patrick Moore
Finally!
Recognition of Doctor Moore for his lifetime contributions.
In this video, Carole Taylor of BC Legends sits down with Dr. Moore for a conversation about his past, present, and his future direction.
Joe and I hold Dr. Moore in great esteem:
International News
Nordstream Pipeline
Joe and I were nonplussed by the seemingly staged explosions which destroyed the pipeline that fed natural gas to Europe from Russia.
It seemed too coincidental to be a coincidence.
We still adhere to Steven Bannon’s proclamation that “there are no conspiracies, but there are also no coincidences”.
We read a number of articles that pointed fingers at Russia, at the United States, and at accidental causes.
We were flummoxed, too.
Why would Russia destroy one of their golden gooses? Putin and Co. certainly have the energy resources that Europe needs, and Western currency is the standard. It allows a Putin Russia to thumb their nose at the West.
What about the United States of America?
The US wants out of the job of being the world’s police that they undertook to keep Stalin and Co. at bay after the Second World War.
That doesn’t explain why they would endanger millions of Europeans with a possible energy shortage. What would be the possible benefit?
On top of it, Joe and I are ignorant about the “PMCS” required to operate a pipeline: the Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services.
Just another global concern wherein Joe and I might think we have enough data to have an opinion, make a judgement, and step right square into a cow paddy with bare feet.
Realizing our lack of knowledge about gas pipe lines, deep sea environment, and European political realities, so we shelved our analysis until more data was available.
Then we found commentary from the website “The Lawdog Files” about the actual mechanics of the pipe line, the ability of the Russian maintenance services, and the probable cause of the explosions is compelling.
Joe and I are suspecting accident or more correctly, accident as a result of poor maintenance.
You can read the entire oped here.
Joe and I are skeptics, and cynics, and always Missourians – you gotta show us.
So what tipped the balance?
More data, more information, more understanding.
Here’s a quote from the article –
“In my experience when anything involving energy-industry hydrocarbons explodes … well, sabotage isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. And honestly, when it comes to a pipeline running natural gas under Russian (non)maintenance, an explosion means that it’s Tuesday. Or Friday. Or another day of the week ending in “y”.
“But, LawDog,” I hear you say, “It was multiple explosions!”
Yes, 17 hours apart. No military is going to arrange for two pipes in the same general area to be destroyed 17 hours apart. Not without some Spec Ops guy having a fit of apoplexy. One pipe goes up in a busy shipping lane, in a busy sea, and everyone takes notice. Then you wait 17 hours to do the second — with 17 hours for people to show up and catch you running dirty? Nah, not buying it.
The Nord pipelines weren’t in use. To me, that means it’s time for maintenance! Hard to maintain pipes when product is flowing.”
Joe and I didn’t know the pipeline wasn’t in service.
Joe and I didn’t know the explosions were 17 hours apart.
We certainly didn’t know that even when running, natural gas pipelines are high maintenance.
Little details that change the entire story.
We read the “rest of the story”, which details the complexity of pumping natural gas, the maintenance issues that arise, the Russian reluctance (perhaps a USSR artifact) to admit anything, and to never admit wrong doing or an accident.
According to LawDog, a dangerous condition that occurs when pumping methane type gases in low temperature / high pressure is called a “hydrate plug”.
Traces of water in the gas act as “host” molecules, and molecules from the gas, called “guest” molecules, bond with the host to form a precipitate, which is what forms the plug. You can read all about it here.
Health
Oxalates
Back in November of 2021, Sally K. Norton (oxalate expert) had a conversation with Dr. Paul Saladino (Carnivore M.D.) about the hidden danger of oxalates / oxalic acid consumed in the average diet. We included that interview in Sunday Rant – 0423. That wasn’t the first Sally Norton conversation we have included. An earlier conversation was included in Sunday Rant – 0223.
The conversation below is more recent, from March 2023. A return engagement.
Joe and I have been aware of our oxalate consumption since the first time we heard Ms. Norton speak of the subject. Our interest was captured when she spoke of some of the side effects of oxalate shedding – we have had four of them over time with our body!
What the hey is going on.
The human body, Joe and my body, is not designed for a high oxalate load. Shedding oxalates is a complex process, and if too many oxalates are absorbed, your body cannot dump them quickly. Instead, your body stores them in various places. This can cause terrible problems, such as kidney stones.
Each person is different in their tolerance. Also, some people have serious reactions to sudden cessation of oxalate ingestion – much like cold turkey in a very sick alcoholic, stopping suddenly can be deadly.
We found a website to use as an oxalate content look-up here. Simply click on the first letter of the foodstuff you are curious about, look down the list, read the good or bad news.
Joe and I bought Sally’s book, “Toxic Superfoods“, and found it an easy read for a layperson such as us. Our nasty was spinach and beet greens. Who knew?
Sally K. Norton did, and she tells all (thank you Ms. E. Thrasher):
Joe’s Garage
Kalashnikov
Mikhail Kalashnikov invented the AK-47.
Joe and I don’t know if he worked through the entire alphabet from A to AK and on the 47th iteration got it right.
Or maybe the famous firearm he invented was to meet a military specification, abbreviated as such.
Joe and I say Jimmy Crack Corn (we don’t care).
What we found so incredible in this video is that passing 700 hot loads in a row through this weapon didn’t kill it.
It was still functioning without a failure while the barrel and wooden forward grip smoked furiously.
Then the bozo throws it in a puddle to cool it off.
Sometimes dirt simple is the answer: