Wednesday Morning Edition 2456672

Oh, MY!  Talk about DRY!  That's The Sierra Nevada Range you're looking at in this photo.  Incredibly dry!
Believe it or not, this photo was taken with a GoPro HERO3 camera at about 100,000 feet from a balloon.
Now get this--the balloon was launched by middle and high school students from Bishop, California.
Scroll down through this morning's Space Weather report to read more and see a larger version of this photo

http://spaceweather.com/

Sue Malone write an awesome Part I story about Big Bend, Texas

http://mohotravels.blogspot.com/2014/01/1-10-2014-big-bend-part-1.html

Supposedly, Americans eat 1.23-billion wings on Super Bowl Sunday.
Will there be a chicken wing shortage this year?  No.  Read about it here:

http://www.kitchendaily.com/read/will-there-be-chicken-wing-shortage-2014?hpt=hp_bn8

Your Daily Dose O' History--Chuckwalla Slim

http://www.minrec.org/labels.asp?colid=840

Sweet Story about VW Vans.  Be sure to check
the awesome photo gallery and read the captions.

http://www.sfgate.com/travel/departures/article/Taking-to-the-road-in-the-old-VW-bus-5129653.php
 

This isn't any ordinary bell and this is any ordinary bell story.

http://www.voanews.com/content/restored-korean-friendship-bell-rings-again-los-angeles/1829441.html

Here's a second story about this awesome bell:

http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-c1-korean-bell-20131209-dto,0,577098.htmlstory#axzz2qQ3kIBh2

The megaload is news again.  Montana issued the permit.

http://missoulian.com/news/local/megaload-could-move-into-bitterroot-valley-wednesday-night/article_fed0ea40-7d66-11e3-98ce-0019bb2963f4.html

AT skiing? Free heelers?  Whazzup with that?  Read on...

http://missoulian.com/lifestyles/recreation/ski-areas-confront-free-heel-freeloaders/article_c1443c5a-7d5b-11e3-ab09-001a4bcf887a.html

http://www.skiessentials.com/page.cfm/Chairlift-Chat/GUIDE-TO-AT-SKIS.html

https://middlebury.collegiatelink.net/organization/freeheelers

We quizzed one of our Dear Facebook Friends in the Ketchum-Sun Valley area about this and here is what Eric had to say: "The policy is no one can skin up during normal hours of operation.  You can skin up before the lift opens.  So it's a risk management policy and not a banning.  I am for this policy as I have been involved in ski patrol for over 25 years.  Free heelers and uphill AT ski folks are members of the snow sports family.  Fattire Bikes are the newest members with 40 or so of the new bikes for rent in the Wood River Valley.  (see https://www.facebook.com/fatbikeadvocacygroup )The history of skinning in this valley is it's own book.  It's rumored that there are more back country skiers in this valley than season pass holders at Sun Valley."

And, finally...your Pow-Wowerful Music for today.

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2014/01/14/listen-powerful-sounds-2nd-gichi-manidoo-giizis-powwow-153112

Yuma Riverfront

Here's three dozen photos from our visit to the Yuma Riverfront Park, January 11.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.714832165216726.1073741826.100000698462134&type=1&l=9a01707d83

An Old Iron Horse

And thus begins a new chapter for Da Blog.  We are using a long-dormant Facebook account to put up photo albums which we will then link to over here on this blog.  Facebook's Photo Album feature continues to be much easier to use than Google's Picasa features.  For one thing, it's easier to get a screen shot of a photo collage to use as a single photo here.

This album shows our visit to a 1907 steam engine that sits along Yuma, Arizona's riverfront park.  Sweetie Susun and I both love old trains, old rails, old engines, whatever.  It was so nice to be able to get inside this engine and look around.  As you should know by now, you don't have to be a Facebooker to view this album.  Here's the link:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.714832165216726.1073741826.100000698462134&type=1&l=9a01707d83

Chez Wally

Preserved for posterity are these photos of our very first night in a Wal-Mart parking lot.  There's more to the story and we will come back and edit this post within the next few days.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.714843981882211.1073741829.100000698462134&type=1&l=c0c1670869

Tuesday Morning Edition 2456671

VERY little interesting stuff in today's Morning Edition.  We roamed EXTRA far and wide to try to find some interesting stuff.  As you can see, it was a real slow day for interesting stuff.

Meditation Rebranded to "Quiet Time."  Amazing statistics!
In the first year the number of suspensions fell by 45 percent.
Within 4 years, the suspension rate was among the lowest in the city.
Daily attendance rates climbed to 98 percent!

http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/openforum/article/Meditation-transforms-roughest-San-Francisco-5136942.php

When we checked in at the Red Rock Visitor Center January 2,
we thought things looked a little different.  Little did we know.

http://dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=127374

Yesterday we put up this graphic and forgot the link!
Seems thousands of people enjoy watching cat videos.
And now this Film Festival appears in Boise, Idaho.

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2014/01/12/2968812/apocalypse-meow-internet-cat-video.html

Hum, they didn't say contest entrants have to be from Seattle...

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/artspage/2014/01/10/show-us-your-silly-walk-and-win-spamalot-tickets/#mid=&offset=&page=&s=

I took a tour of this Supercomputer "back in the day."
For the past 47 years, I've told people that the unit
 seemed to fill a building.  Glad to see some proof.

http://www.jconline.com/article/20140112/NEWS/301120016/Once-powerful-Purdue-supercomputer-gets-second-life-Seattle-Living-Computer-Museum

Monday Morning Edition 2456670

First haiku for The Seahwaks--now this:
Seattle scientist distills 2,200-page report into haiku

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2022657923_climatehaikuxml.html

And what should be the centerpiece of UCLA's meteor display?
Why a great big chunk of metal from the Arizona's Meteor Crater!

http://www.latimes.com/science/la-sci-meteorite-museum-20140111,0,7358495.story

Nah.  Even if we won the Powerball we wouldn't do this.

It would be like eating chocolate all day long, every day.

http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-pacific-yellowfin-20140112,0,3788477.story#axzz2qFViRDDs

Buried DEEP in the link below is this statement: A Brazilian
surfer rode a wave estimated to be nearly 100 feet!

http://www.sfgate.com/sports/jenkins/article/Waves-cause-fear-on-Oahu-s-North-Shore-5122575.php

REI has a new CEO.  Very interesting story.

http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2022635511_reiceoxml.html?cmpid=2628

Getting hopping on hops is much harder than you think.

http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2022651500_apxfoodandfarmhopshurdles.html

Add caption

Sunday Morning Edition 2456669

Excellent summary article about Saturday's Raven presentation in Prescott.

http://dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1086&ArticleID=127315

Steve Estes comments on "One For The Verde" are highlighted
in the Sunday editions of Camp Verde & Cottonwood newspapers.

http://www.verdenews.com/main.asp?SectionID=36&SubSectionID=1193&ArticleID=58117

This is NOT what is happening in the US West this winter!
It's so dry in San Francisco that .01 inch of rain made news!

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Weak-storm-brings-smattering-of-rain-to-Bay-Area-5135125.php

Seattle Seahawks Fans created an earthquake yesterday.

http://seattletimes.com/html/seahawks/2022650831_beastrun12xml.html

California top export is almonds--NOT wine!

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-california-almonds-20140112,0,5408540.story#axzz2qC8RfDhK

OMG--Wayne Ranney does a "selfie" in London!

http://earthly-musings.blogspot.com/2014/01/rendezvous-in-surprising-sunny-london.html

Traveling vicariously with Sue Malone.

http://mohotravels.blogspot.com/2014/01/1-8-2014-diving-into-texas.html

Thanks to Nanette South Clark for helping us learn
Light Bulb Wars have been around a LONG TIME!

http://anengineersaspect.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-end-of-incandescent-light-bulb-war.html

That's all for today!

Blog Traffic Picks Up

Thanks for reading this blog!  As you can see, traffic has picked up considerably since we started writing here again.  Our Statistics package says there was a daily average of 32 visitors and 54 page views this past week.  The average time spent on the blog was 3.5 minutes.

We're going on a Road Trip today.  We found a small travel trailer way down in Yuma, Arizona.  The attraction of the trailer is definitely not its price.  The price is triple the "blue book" for this year and model.  The attractions are the size, features, quality of ownership, condition, weight and "curb appeal."  Small travel trailers are in very high demand these days.  In fact, old junkers from the 1950s, 60s and 70s are commanding ridiculous prices.  It is very difficult to find a small travel trailer in good condition for a relatively low price.  Newer smaller travel trailers are insanely expensive.  It's going to be very interesting to see if we wind up pulling home a new Family member.

Thanks to Pat & Tom for an awesome breakfast and a great game of golf yesterday!  Let's make it a tradition--Nine on the 9th each January, OK?  As you can see, Sweetie Susun didn't play.  She brought pom-poms and made a wonderful cheer leader for Tom, and and Little Yonni.

Have a great day & Many Cheers!  jp

Nine on The 9th

We hoping this becomes a new tradition each year--golfing nine holes on the 9th of January.  Thanks, Pat & Tom for a great day!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.714842045215738.1073741828.100000698462134&type=1&l=785eb4c416

Thursday Morning Edition

Taken by Klaus Brockhausen & Jon Garabette at 10:07 pm, January 8th, 2014, on Cleary Summit, Fairbanks, Alaska

Ol' Sol is acting up.  The Big Question is where and how far south will the Aurora be seen tonight? Who's gonna get lucky?  Chance are a big chunk of Idaho might be able to see some auroral activity.  As of this morning, it's now looking less likely that the aurora will make a rare appearance in Arizona.

The last time we personally saw the aurora this far south was in December 1992 at the Dugas Road exit on I-17.  It takes a huge whopper of a solar storm to send the colorful display down into the Southwest.

Last night we read this snippet and got excited about the possibilities:

"Federal space weather forecaster Joe Kunches said the sun shot out a strong solar flare late Tuesday, which should arrive at Earth early Thursday. It should shake up Earth's magnetic field and expand the Aurora Borealis south, possibly as far south as Colorado and central Illinois. He said best viewing would probably be Thursday evening, weather permitting
.
The University of Alaska's Geophysical Institute predicts much of Canada and the northern fringes of the U.S. should see the northern lights. Chicago, Boston, Cleveland, Seattle and Des Moines might see the shimmering colors low on the horizon."

In any event, Space Weather reports NOAA forecasters estimate a 90% chance of geomagnetic storms on Jan. 9th when a CME is expected to hit Earth's magnetic field. The speed of the solar wind around Earth could spike to 700 km/s (1.6 million mph) shortly after the impact, sharply compressing Earth's magnetosphere. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras.

The source of the incoming CME is AR1944, one of the largest sunspots of the current solar cycle. The active region sprawls across more than 200,000 km of solar terrain and contains dozens of dark cores. The largest could swallow Earth three times over.

The sunspot is almost directly facing Earth. This makes it a threat for geoeffective eruptions. NOAA forecasters estimate an 80% chance of M-class flares and a 50% chance of X-flares on Jan. 9th.

The best way to track "whazzup" with Ol' Sol is here: http://spaceweather.com

Yesterday, we reported that not one but three West Coast football teams are in the playoffs.  Well, you know those "West Coast Types."  Lo and behold The Seattle Times is promoting a Haiku contest to spur on their beloved Seahawks.  Back in the Midwest where most of the NFL teams are located, most football fans probably never heard of haiku.  When a newspaper promotes a haiku contest for an NFL team, ya definitely know ya ain't in Kansas no mo, Toto!

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/seahawks/2014/01/07/show-12th-man-spirit-in-17-syllables-with-a-hawks-haiku/

Meanwhile, down in San Diego, the enterprising interim Mayor there has done a foodie bet with the Denver Mayor on the outcome of this weekend's Chargers-Broncos game.  It's a fun story:

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/jan/08/chargers-broncos-denver-bet-mayors-playoffs/

Many of our Dear Friends have worked at one time or another in the food service industry.  Our very first job was as a bus boy at an Indiana Holiday Inn.  And so it goes...  So this story is for anyone who has ever been a table server or interfaced directly with customers in a restaurant or bar.

http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/waitress-gets-6k-tip-positive-attitude

Speaking of foodie stuff, the venerable Crock Pot surfaces once again in a Seattle Times article.  OK, stifle those yawns, Readers!  Buck Up!  This is a good story.  Honest.  I mean, really, here it is, OK?

http://seattletimes.com/html/foodwine/2022614200_slowcookerxml.html?cmpid=2628

Remember the two dummies who posted a video of themselves destroying rock formations in Utah? They sure got in a lot of trouble.Well, it seems this sort of "gee, look what we did" can get you in trouble in other ways, too.  This video cost these guys at least $225.  Nothing is harmed in the video but the moose sure is stressed.

http://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/case-you-missed-it-moose-chase-costs-snowboarder-225

We checked in on Tucson's Daily Star newspaper and could this little video of an informal Flash Mob in downtown Tucson.  One of our Dear Friends in Clarkdale is planning a Flash Mob for a Special Person so we figured we'd include this video for Krysta.

http://youtu.be/2afTxNGVf-w

Last but not least, Shade The Raven is going to Meet The Public in Prescott Saturday.

http://dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1086&ArticleID=127182

If we were going to be around here Saturday, we'd go.  This will be our last Morning Edition for "awhile."  What's "Awhile?"  Well, we don't know.  We're heading out on a Road Trip Friday morning and don't know how long we're going to be gone.  Chances are we will be back next week sometime.  Exactly when is debatable so the word "Awhile" is about as close as we can get in describing our absence.

Thanks for reading.  Have a great day & Many Cheers!  jp

Read more here: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2014/01/08/2962877/northern-lights-may-expand-south.html#storylink=cpy

John Hance

We found this great article on John Hance in a June 1949 Arizona Highways. Enjoy!

Riverman is CNN's Hero

This is a cool story.  A guy who has devoted a big chunk of his life to cleaning up rivers gets CNN's "Hero of The Year award.  For those of us who love all rivers, it's an "Aw..." kinda moment!

http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/19/world/hero-of-the-year/index.html?hpt=hp_bn8

Here's the guy's website.

http://www.livinglandsandwaters.org

Meanwhile in the Hoh Rain Forest, another guy gets featured by National Geographic.  He may not be Big Foot but he sure is Bare Foot.  Definitely a human "out on the edge."

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2022614214_forestdwellerxml.html

Soeaking of humans "out on the edge," Dear Friend Wayne Ranney leaves today for another one of his famous "Where's Wayne-O" trips.

"This Wednesday, January 8, I will begin a 24-day Private Jet Adventure with TCS & Starquest Expeditions called Cape to Cape. This will be an epic journey to two continents and nine countries along the Atlantic Rim."

We call them "Where's Wayne-O" trips with a tip of the hat to the old "Where's Waldo" game.  We have fun trying to figure out Where's Wayne-O while following his far flung travels vicariously.  Happy Trails, Wayne!

http://earthly-musings.blogspot.com/2014/01/africa-and-south-america-journey-begins.html

OMG!  A Velvetta Shortage!  Say it ain't so!

It's probably been 40 or more years since we've knowingly eaten Velvetta.
However, for whatever reason, Velvetta continues to be wildly popular.

Here's a snippet from one of the many media stories covering the purported shortage.  Three links are below.

"If you're in one of the areas experiencing a Velveeta shortage, you'll just have to ration your usage for the next few weeks until supplies return to normal. Until then, double-dipping has graduated from frowned upon to full-on party foul."

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/dont-double-dip-velveeta-warns-shortage-2D11874498

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/01/07/kraft-velveeta-cheese-shortage/4358509/

http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-dd-velveeta-shortage-queso-super-bowl-20140107,0,677180.story#axzz2pl9Suw1i

Speaking of foodie stuff, people are eating mo butta.  Gotta love it when butter is deemed a "healthy food."  Hopefully, someday they will say that about bacon.

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-butter-20140107,0,6405296.story#axzz2pl8rJwbe

One more HOT Foodie story about some Texans trying to woo Huy Fong away from California.

"Here's at least one hitch: Huy Fong has been buying peppers from the same Southern California farm for decades. The peppers arrive at the plant within hours of being harvested and are used quickly after that."

http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-dd-texas-invites-huy-fong-foods-make-sriracha-20140107,0,4285954.story#axzz2pl9Suw1i

We promise this is the LAST of the Polar Vortex coverage.  Honest.  It has overstayed its welcome.

How cold was it?  Why it was so cold, an escaped inmate turned himself in so he could go back to his warm jail cell!

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/cold-weather-chases-escaped-inmate-back-to-prison/

And, finally--a frozen tongue in cheek piece entitled the Polar Vortex Fashion Guide

http://www.sfgate.com/weather/slideshow/Your-Polar-Vortex-fashion-guide-77245/photo-5691070.php

Perhaps you have realized or noticed that not one but THREE West Coast footballs teams are still in the playoffs and their first names begin with an "S": San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle.

We went looking for interesting, off-beat stuff on the three teams and found the following links.

First, the San Diego newspaper did a piece on what might be the appropriate theme song for QB Phil Rivers.  Since we love rivers so much (real rivers, not the QB) it was a fun article to read.

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/jan/07/should-phillip-rivers-have-a-theme-song/

Second, the Niner QB is a legit tough guy and playing in a short sleeve jersey with no gloves during Sunday's Ice Bowl II definitely add to this guy's growing legend.

http://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/Kaepernick-bares-arms-tats-toughness-for-victory-5116735.php

Third, and finally, just how big is the geographical area of Seattle fan base?  Huge, we say....H-U-G-E!
Way bigger that we once thought and actually pretty amazing in size and scope.

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2022605986_fangeographyxml.html

How big was the copper pit landslide near Salt Lake last year?  WAAAY bigger than anyone first thought!

http://news.yahoo.com/utah-avalanche-largest-modern-history-221000689.htm

How about a fun good samaritan story with a Happy Ending?

http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/social-media-leads-las-vegas-local-reuniting-family-lost-camera

And, finally, another great blog post from Sue Malone as her travels continue:

http://mohotravels.blogspot.com/2014/01/am-i-on-trip-or-am-i-just-living-life.html

Idaho PBS "From The Vault"

Thanks to Dear Facebook Friend Barbara Reeder Cutler, we bring you this little 2-minute gem showing a brief birds-eye view of the Sawtooth Mountains. Barbara keeps a close eye on "all things aerial" and we will certainly be posting more such videos now that we learned this morning how to actually do the embeds. Idaho Public Television makes great use of Facebook but they don't often post their short videos anywhere else. Until this morning, we've been very perplexed as to how to help our non-Facebook-user Friends see some of IPTV's awesome shorts. Thanks for posting this, Barbara.

Post by Outdoor Idaho.

Cross Pollination

There are quite a lot of items on Facebook that we would love to be able to cross-post (or pollinate, if you will) here on Da Blog. This morning, we learned that we can indeed post a Facebook video on this blog. Let's see if it works for you and me.

 This video is of the Montezuma Well outflow getting diverted back into Wet Beaver Creek less than 100 feet from the Well outlet. For many weeks, the full outflow has been streaming down the normally dry wash across our property on the far West End of the National Monument.

 We've always wondered how they divert the outflow whenever they need to make repairs on the upper end of the ditch. Now we know.

Post by Montezuma Castle National Monument.

Tuesday Morning Edition

Sunrise on The Mogollon Rim, January 7, 2013, as seem from 2nd Chance Ranch at Montezuma Well, Arizona.

Good Tuesday Morning!  Lots of links to share this fine early January day.  Let's start out with The Eagle.  No, not the rock group--we're talking real golden eagles here.  Dear Friend Joanna Dodder Nellans wrote a really fine report about the release of not one but THREE goldens near Mayer.  The story is awesome and there's some fine photos in the gallery, too, plus a bonus TWO videos.  Great way to start the day.  Link are below the photo.

http://dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=127115

http://dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=99&SubSectionID=1638

Ok, moving right along, how 'bout a story on a lucky llama that got to watch "Let's Make a Deal" on TV?

True story and here's the link to prove it:

http://www.jconline.com/article/20140106/NEWS/301060025/Well-behaved-llama-warms-up-while-watching-Let-s-Make-Deal-

Yes, Virginia, it's really, really C-O-L-D back there east of the Mississippi.  My Home Town newspaper provide a decent overview of how the Polar Vortex has been affecting Laugh-Yet, Indiana.

http://www.jconline.com/

Going with the flow, here we have a New York Times article on The Colorado River's droughty future:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/06/us/colorado-river-drought-forces-a-painful-reckoning-for-states.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=1&

For all you many Farm Folk who dote on this blog, there's a dating website for you.  Who'd a thunk such a thing?

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2014/01/07/2960362/love-blooms-on-dating-website.html

We might have to go to Yuma Friday.  Who knows who long we might be down there.  Looks like there's an event at the old Territorial Prison that could be worth checking out, even IF the admission price is a little on the steep side:

http://www.yumasun.com/features/reach-for-the-sky-gathering-of-the-gunfighters-returns-to/article_28d94618-7725-11e3-a5b3-0019bb30f31a.html

And sooo... how 'bout this plan--the online retailer Zappos plans to Zap all their managers.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-leadership/wp/2014/01/03/zappos-gets-rid-of-all-managers/?tid=pm_pop

Here'e a tale of some expensive Search And Rescue training gone awry at a mystery slot canyon deep in the West Fork of Oak Creek Canyon near Sedona:

http://azdailysun.com/lifestyles/recreation/hiking/ropes-that-rescue-slotted-for-controversy/article_af132d7a-75c2-11e3-91a4-0019bb2963f4.html

http://azdailysun.com/slot-canyon-fire-stirs-up-controversy/collection_3e0d16cc-772f-11e3-bd0a-0019bb2963f4.html#0

By a long and winding road this morning, we arrived at NASA's Earth Observatory.  When all else fails to entertain you, perhaps these photos can brighten your morning.

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Images/?eocn=topnav&eoci=images

 A fun snow shoe story from the Jackson Hole newspaper.  When we lived in Snow Country, we quickly realized the only way to truly survive the winters was to embrace snow and cold and get out in it and have some FUN.  Snowshoes were our preferred method of fun back in those days.  That's why he found this story interesting and learned about the root beer, too.

http://planetjh.com/2013/12/30/get-out-phelps-overlook-death-defying/

Very surreal photo of the megaload crossing The Salmon River Bridge in Salmon, Idaho.

OK, our coverage of the megaload continues.  Here is Laura Zuckerman's report from this morning's "Post-Register" in Idaho Falls.  (Copyright 2014) (Editor's Note: A Bonus Johnny Rustywire story appears below the megaload story.)

SALMON -- More than 100 people endured temperatures in the single digits late Sunday night to watch a rig weighing 901,000 pounds crawl through downtown Salmon and across the bridge over the Salmon River.

The load, nearly 400 feet long and almost two stories high, contains part of a giant water treatment system bound for the tar sands of Alberta, Canada.

The rig, owned by Oregon shipper Omega Morgan, is on the last leg of a journey of more than 470 miles in Idaho. It is one of three such shipments planned in the coming weeks from Oregon into Idaho on a route that cuts through such cities as Arco, Leadore and Salmon.

The megaload got underway south of Salmon on state Highway 28 around 10 p.m. Sunday and approached the river bridge, the only road linking the city's east and west sides, about half an hour later. It was flanked by six Idaho State Police troopers.

The bridge was blocked by the megaload for roughly 45 minutes while it navigated a 90-degree turn off that structure and lumbered onto U.S. Highway 93 north toward the Montana line.

Anna Schroeder, 18, of Salmon was among the crowd that gathered for the late-night road show.

"I came to watch it cross the bridge; after this, I'm going home to bed," said Schroeder, who was wearing slippers and wrapped in a fleece-lined blanket.

A tow truck was staged west of the bridge to haul off any vehicles that might be chained to the structure by protesters who never materialized.

Numerous law enforcement and emergency vehicles were stationed on either side of the bridge so authorities and first responders could address medical crises, fires or other emergencies despite the blockage of a main artery.

"We're here until it crosses the bridge," said volunteer firefighter Kenny Martens of Salmon.

Advance crews raised utility lines and temporarily removed some road signs in the path of the megaload, which traveled about 50 miles to park early Monday morning in a pullout on Highway 93 north of Gibbonsville.

It is awaiting permission to cross into Montana, where highway officials are reviewing a revised travel plan submitted by Omega Morgan in December.

Loads of the same size or larger are expected to crisscross Idaho in the coming months as the demand for supplies and equipment climbs along with energy production tied to the Alberta tar sands and the shale oil boom in northwestern North Dakota and northeastern Montana.

The Shoshone-Bannock tribes last week expressed concern about the megaload's impacts on their homelands along the Salmon and other Idaho rivers where they still exercise fishing and hunting rights gained by treaty. They said they expected "full and complete mitigation" linked to any damages or accidents resulting from the shipment.

Idaho has not required a bond for the megaload.

-----------------end of megaload story------------

And, finally, we give you this short gem from Johnny Rustywire via Facebook.

i am trying to remember a story...about Jim Marshall... some time ago someplace down the road between Two Gray Hills and Newcomb this Jim Marshall came into the community...you started to hear stories about him and they were not good ones.....that one was a rough one...some said he was just born mean....i didn't know him but everyone talked about him whispering about him....that he was staying with one sister and then when her sister came to visit her he then ran off with that sister and moved in with her.....that when the first sister came to visit that he was so violent that he bit the tip of her finger off...i wondered how could such a thing happen now days...we are not living in the dark ages anymore....anyway there was a meeting at the chapter house and it was talk about him...Jim Marshall....i drove on down there and stopped at burnham junction to check the mail....i was inside getting a cold pop when i heard that Jim Marshall was there....outside of the place sitting in a pickup....i went outside and sat down drinking my pop wondering what he looked like this Jim Marshall....some said he was just plain no good....i wanted to see him but as i looked around i didn't see anyone around...he must have left when i was inside...so i left....i couldn't make the meeting and wondered what happened about the whole thing....after a week on coming back from a road trip i stopped at the chapter house and my curiosity got the best of me...i asked about him and what they decided to do with him...no one seemed to really care about it...i thought this Jim Marshall has sure got the community spooked and people must be afraid to even talk about him...so i went home....the next day i stopped at the burnham store and asked what happened with Jim Marshall....they said he ran way a couple of weeks ago and hasn't been seen around anywhere....i said that guy sure was no good from what i hear.....the ladies at the counter just laughed...i said how come you are laughing about the no good worthless person Jim Marshall....they then pointed to the bulletin board...and there was a picture of him Jim Marshall posted on there......he was just a dog....

Monday Meanderings

Can you imagine the mayor of your city or town with a stash like this one?  Well, this guy served as mayor (with stash) for 16 years!  It's actually, the best stash I've ever seen.

Here's the link:

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/57336981-78/snarr-mayor-murray-dan.html.csp

Yeah, news about the cold weather "back there" continues to dominate the media.  It's pretty amazing.  Most of the Midwest is really cold this morning.  It's -13 in my Home Town and lots colder elsewhere.  The wind chillds are truly chilling, even just to look at the numbers.  Get this, Chicago has received almost three feet of snow this season so far compared to 1.3 inches so far last season.  The 35 inches Chicago has received is more than 3 times normal.  In Lafayette, today could be the coldest January 6th since World War II!

See: http://www.jconline.com/article/20140105/NEWS07/301050022/Coldest-day-since-WWII-may-store

WOW! Sixteen hundred applicants for 3 dozen blue collar jobs?  Yes, 'tis true.  Read about it here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/hagerstown-ice-cream-plant-revival-attracts-hundreds-of-desperate-job-seekers/2014/01/05/8cc26fec-74a0-11e3-8b3f-b1666705ca3b_story.html?hpid=z1

Meanwhile with the Megaload--it got as far as a few miles south of Salmon, Idaho yesterday.  Here's Laura Zuckerman's story in this morning's Post-Register (Copyright 2014).

SALMON - Crowds streamed onto Highway 28 south of Salmon on Sunday to view a massive load of oilfield equipment destined for the tar sands of Alberta, Canada.

The megaload hauled by Oregon shipper Omega Morgan departed Saturday night from Howe after an unplanned, two-day layover caused by mechanical and weather problems.  

It entered Lemhi County and journeyed through Leadore overnight and parked Sunday morning on a roadside pullout about five miles south of downtown Salmon.  

The 901,000-pound load is 76 feet longer than a football field, stands nearly two stories high and needs two lanes for travel.

Gawkers lined the highway Sunday to view the megaload. The atmosphere was festive, with parents snapping pictures of their children in front of a shipment that is pulled by one truck while two others push it from behind.

"It's cool," said Casey Ririe, 9.

Ririe and his family were traveling Highway 28 on Sunday en route to their home in Idaho Falls when they encountered the big rig.

Tony Anderson of Salmon stood on the shoulder of the highway while motorists slowed to navigate the gapers' block.

"I just wanted to see it," he said. "I've been following it on the Internet. It's bigger than I thought and it certainly is causing a stir."

The megaload has been dogged by detractors during its journey from Oregon and along a route in Idaho that will see it log more than 470 miles. But the rig has generated excitement and even admiration in some quarters.

"I've been waiting a long time for this; it's a thrill," said Jeanette Phillips of Salmon.    Megaload protests elsewhere have been tied to worries about the climate implications of expanding oil and gas development and about transforming the Pacific Northwest into so-called "high and wide" industrial corridors.

The outsized load was expected to travel through downtown Salmon on Sunday night. It must cross the bridge over the Salmon River, the only roadway linking the east and west sides of town, before turning right onto U.S. Highway 93 North en route to the Idaho-Montana line.

The giant rig, required to travel in Idaho from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., must layover in Lemhi County before climbing Lost Trail Pass and crossing into Montana. That state does not expect to issue a permit for the megaload until later this week.

Into the Wild--for a fee, of course.

http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2022600418_apxsemesterinthewild.html

Boondocking in the Sonoran Desert with Sue Malone:

http://mohotravels.blogspot.com/2014/01/1-5-2014-surprise-boondock.html

Not much to report on our end of things.  Spent 7 hours rigging for today's activities.  Will be spending 8 hours staging those activities today.  Busy, Busy.

By the way, THIS is why we moderate comments....it came in as a comment to this post only a few minutes after we put it up.  We would LOVE to let comments go up without moderation but we simply can't allow this kinda stuff on our blog. Thanks for your understanding.

Blessings Two Years Ago

Two years ago today, I finally saw the light. It was a huge day for me two years ago.  I wrote a blog post about it and you can read it here:

http://www.livesimplecaremuch.com/2012/01/i-finally-saw-light.html

My work in Lafayette, Indiana, two years ago was the hardest work I have ever done.  Two years ago today, the worst was over and I could begin to make way toward the light at the end of the tunnel.  Prior to January 5th two years ago, I really wasn't sure the light at the end of the tunnel actually existed!

Perhaps the Biggest Blessing of Two Years Ago was The Weather.  The Weather was surreal for an Indiana January.  I often said to people that the weather was so nice because my Mom mad ea Deal with God and kept the weather nice for all the work I was doing back then.  I honestly believed what I told people.  Many of them politely rolled their eyes but, honest, it made sense to me at the time.

January weather in Indiana is generally brutal.  Once in awhile it's beyond brutal.  And so it is now.  Totally beyond brutal.  I have no clue how I would have survived two years ago if the weather then was what it is now.  Frankly, I don't think it would have been possible to do what I did then in the kind of weather they are having now.

The January 2012 Weather was a Great Blessing and I Thank God for that Blessing.  Looking at the weather Lafayette is experiencing right now all I can say is "Thank God I didn't have to deal with such weather two years ago!"

This article really sums up just how bad it is there Sunday night.  Trust me, It's going to get a whole lot worse before they turn on the light at the end of the tunnel.

Brutal is an understatement.

http://www.jconline.com/article/20140105/NEWS07/301050016/Storm-forces-closure-65-Tippecanoe-travel-limited-emergency-only

Sunday Greetings

(Dateline: 2456662) Sunday Greetings!  This Morning Edition continues to be dominated by the giant, weird weather gig back in the Midwest.

We will focus on only two aspects of this huge story--football and food.

First, football.  The California Coastal Boyz (AKA: The San Francisco 49ers) are playing AT Green Bay, Wisconsin today.  Kickoff is 2:40 pm Arizona Time, which makes it danged near 5 pm back in The Land of the Cheese Heads.  It looks like Frozen Tundra Fans copped a huge break this afternoon.  The gametime temperature is expected to be a rather balmy high of perhaps 3-5 degrees and the windchill only maybe near zero to perhaps a few degrees below zero.  Those kind of conditions should be a downright yawner for lifelong Packers fans.

There was some talk that today's game could have been the coldest ever played, surpassing the famous Ice Bowl (December 31, 1967) when it was 13 below zero.  Nah, this game will be a walk in the park compared to -13!

Heck, it's going to be so balmy in Green Bay, the NWS actually CANCELLED today's Wind Chill advisory.  Check it out:   "THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREEN BAY HAS CANCELLED THE WIND CHILL ADVISORY...WHICH WAS IN EFFECT FOR TODAY. WIND CHILLS ARE ONLY EXPECTED TO BE IN THE SINGLE DIGITS AND TEENS BELOW ZERO TODAY...SO THE WIND CHILL ADVISORY HAS BEEN CANCELLED."

This is classic Green Bay stuff here, folks.  Even if you are not a football fan, you really must tune into the pre-game this afternoon to watch the TV cameras zoom in on the fans in the stands.  They will be wearing all sorts of unimaginable warm clothes.  It's going to be a classic sight to see and we won't miss it, even if we have to go to a sports bar to see it.  Packers Fans are the hardest of the hard core when it comes to watching football in the worst possible weather conditions.  Chicago Bears fans come in a distant second place in that dubious distinction.

For a nice generic weather article about the impending storm, see: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2014/01/03/an-astonishing-dangerous-cold-snap-is-about-to-descend-on-the-u-s/

OK, let's move on to food, shall we.  As you know, I grew up in Lafayette, Indiana, and spent well over half my life in the Heart of The Midwest.  So, what's been going on back there is a generic Food Panic.  It happens every single time there is a Great Big Hoop-Dee-Doo Snowstorm in the forecast.   The TV people absolutely LOVE to scare the bee-jee-burrs out of their viewers.  Typically, if you are watching a local TV channel at a time like this, you probably think this is your absolute LAST CHANCE to survive Armageddon but ONLY if you get to the store RIGHT NOW and buy absolutely everything you can possibly fit into your cart.

I've personally witnessed this amazing phenomena many a time during my life in the Midwest.  It's incredible.  You should see the look in people's eyes.  You can't believe how full their carts are.  Once in Northwest Indianapolis, I saw a full blown fist fight break out in a group of men struggling to get the last loaves of bread from the shelves.  I've seen people crying in front of empty shelves.  It's freaking pathetic.  I once saw a near riot when a bread truck actually made it to a grocery store.  The poor delivery guy actually had to hide in the truck and let the looters ransack his truck.  Better that than get trampled!

Anyway, here is a rather tame article about the Food Gig from my Home Town, Lafayette, Indiana.

http://www.jconline.com/article/20140104/NEWS07/301040025/Shopping-frenzy-before-storm

As you know, we are no longer using Google News.  This development has caused us to go searching for other news sources.  We've now set our Google Chrome browser to open on the front page of "The Washington Post."  Of course, we are checking out all sorts of other news outlets and media sources but we're going to start each day with the WP.

Why's that?  Well, it's all about Amazon Dot Com and the guy who started Amazon way back in the early dawn of the internet--Jeff Bezos.  Bezos is clearly a genius and has become a billionaire who knows how many times over.  We were quite surprised not long ago when Bezos up and dropped $250-million cash to buy The Washington Post, lock, stock and barrel, as they once said back in the day of flintlock firearms.

We have high hopes that Bezos is going to gradually reinvent the WP and make it a global leader in comprehensive, balanced news coverage.  We suppose the staid old WP is going through a huge sea change with Bezos at the helm.  Naturally, whenever something happens to the owner, you can bet it's going to get covered by the WP, even if it's about Bezos getting stoned in the Galapagos Islands--kidney stoned, that is.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/bezos-floored-by-kidney-stone-on-vacation/2014/01/04/4ffcc9d4-7592-11e3-8def-a33011492df2_story.html

While we may not be very interested in what's going on with the innards of the owner, are are finding the WP headlines far less salacious that those of Google News...and that alone makes it worthwhile to use the WP as our morning gateway page.

OK, moving right along, we will be watching this news outfit pretty closely, too.

http://mountainwestnews.org

Indian Country Today is going to be on our daily hit list as well.  Here's a great article from ICT for your Sunday morning reading:

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2014/01/02/indians-rule-10-ways-natives-made-waves-arts-and-culture-2013-152939

Most of the High Country News is behind a paywall and unavailable.  However, there are some items available for free public reading.  We got a kick out of this humorous look at Bozeman, Montana.  When we passed through in 2005, it's nickname at the time was "Boze Angeles."

http://www.hcn.org/blogs/goat/top-10-reasons-not-to-move-to-bozeman

The Voice of America has been around since like maybe George Washington.  You can count on VOA to avoid sensationalizing the news.  You can also count on VOA to help you learn about such esoteric things as "mosquito neurons."  No kidding.

Why would we be interested in Mosquito Neurons?  Well, trust me, mosquito repellent is a REAL BIG DEAL with us.  Bears and mosquitoes own The Best Country left in America.  Us humans need a different kind of spray to keep each creature at bay.  Any news of a more effective and economical repellant for either menace is very welcome news.

http://www.voanews.com/content/promising-mosquito-repellent-announced/1822921.html

In local news, the Camp Verde ALCO is closing:

http://cvbugle.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=40949

Nothing of note happening in the Salt Lake or Idaho Falls newspapers.

From Challis, Idaho, we learn:

From the Challis Messenger:

The HUB -- Help Us Build -- donated $35,140 to 31 Custer County civic and charitable causes in 2013, eclipsing the $32,800 raised during 2012. Since the thrift store first opened its doors in 1976-77, it has helped raise $660,799 for charitable causes. The money raised in 2013 went to volunteer and nonprofits in Challis, Clayton, Stanley, Mackay and the Pahsimeroi Valley.

Most of our Dear Friends know of our ten-year Love Affair with the HUB.  (HUB = Helping Us Build).  The HUB is Planet Earth's Finest Thrift Store, bar none.  To know The HUB is to Love The HUB.  Oh, the stories we can tell you about The HUB!  After shopping at the HUB for four summers, we finally got a chance to honor the HUB in late 2007 after we became Director of the Eastern Idaho Retired & Senior Volunteer Program.  Here is the photo album of that memorable day in Challis when we got to shower the HUB Volunteers with the Love they so richly deserve!

https://picasaweb.google.com/117214000776076564030/ChallisRecognition

And, finally, we will always and forever check in on the Pickles cartoon strip.
Our personal narrative is below these strips from Thursday and Friday.

Yesterday was an incredibly fun day.  We visited three sites here in The Edge of Flat Earth Country.  Marika, John, Chip, Kathy, Jodi, Dexter, Jean and we traipsed out into the hinterlands to view various interesting things that cannot be described in detail here (or anywhere) because of their cultural sensitivity. While we were out and about, we quite literally stumbled into Steve Ayers and his wife doing a day hike with their dogs.  We got to see some really interesting stuff and enjoy some flowing water, too.

Today, I will be taking picture of a flag raising this morning and then rigging for my bi-weekly Guy Gig which takes places tomorrow morning.  Susun will be resuming leadership of her Sunday Stroll and then visiting Betty at Sedona Winds.

Lastly, one of our Dear Facebook Friends is Sue Malone.  We met Sue when we read what you see below on her Facebook sometime this summer.  We were so smitten with her writing, we introduced ourself online and said, "Hey, your'e a good writer!"  We asked Sue to put this on her blog and she did so a few weeks ago.  We decided to put it here because it's such a classic little piece of writing.  We are enjoying Sue's blog as she begins a three month Road Trip that will take her from Oregon to Florida and back.

Well, that's all, folks.  Thanks for reading and Many Happy Cheers!  jp

by Sue Malone

I remember chocolate colored water thick with sticks and rocks hurtling down the wash behind our house during the monsoon floods.      Leaping with a thrill from huge boulder to huge boulder they used as fill to try to stem the flow, which for me was a magic wilderness of danger and roaring water.      I remember the soft bellies of horny toads when you caught them, the sharp prick of stickers in your feet from goatheads...who ever wore shoes?          the smell of dust when the first drops of rain hit after all those dry months.      How incredibly green the San Gabriel Mountains looked in April with the tall candles of yucca backlit against a setting sun. The muted happy sound of kids voices on the playground as I lay on my back watching sky so blue it looked very nearly black.      The milky way and pungent pines of Mt. Baldy on a summer night of camping.      I remember the sweet sad feeling of yearning when the winds blew and the smog vanished leaving behind air that was so sharp and clear that you could actually see the sparkles floating around it in...dreaming of a magic place to live where the air was like that all the time. climbing to the top of the hill in Sierra Madre Canyon, among the prickly pear and agave and morning glory and old live oaks to the digger pine that was high enough to let me see Catalina.      I remember how golden a warm apricot tastes when picked from your hiding place in the tree, and how bitter a surprise an unripe olive can be. ...Childhood in LA in the 50's.... .....Warm as an apricot and bitter as an uncured olive.