Wyoming and Idaho

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We are back from a quick vacation. I managed to score three (actually several more) bucket list items in 4 days. 1.) Long Snowmobile Trip. 2.) Yellowstone Park and 3.) Wyoming. I reached my 50th State --Wyoming! And we took a 90 mile snowmobile trip in Yellowstone National Park. We went to the "Craters of the Moon--National Monument and Preserve" in Idaho and also stopped at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) where I got to see (with my own eyes) the very cool nuclear powered twin turbojet engine. It was a successful experiment in the 1950s and 1960s. https://whatisnuclear.com/safety-minutes/htre-3-meltdown.html Of course, I had my Radiacode scintillation detector with me and yes, the apparatus is "Hot". The screenshot of the readings from my three walk-arounds the artifact. I swear you could smell the radiation. There was a very un-natural burnt smell something reminiscent of burned bakelite. Although, I am quite certain the emitted radition was not the source...
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Cool Creatures the Tsunami washed up!!

The above link is definately worth checking out. It is in Russian but the pics are worthwhile. We live on a bizzare world.

I went to the hamfest in Marathon this morning. I picked up a few connectors, some 100Mbps NICs for a buck a piece and a few other morsels of electronics.

I am receiving quotes for my new truck. The prices are coming in where I expected (a lot lower that most would think they would). I will sell my current truck in the summer. I will make a decision on a truck and a dump trailer soon.

I have been asked to speak to of a bunch of gun instructors tommorow about presentation skills. That should be fun. They are having the seminar at the Gander Mountain store so I will pick up a few lures when I am down there. Maybe some game loads too... I know, I need a clay pidgeon launcher. I will look for one of them as well.

This past week I was riding around with electric fork lift service techs in the Albany area. It was worthwhile. At first, I had to figure out what was bothering me, but I figured it out. I had to look at my role knowing what they do for a living. Having worked in the field and as a mechanic myself, I feel terrible that I cannot do a better job for these guys because of political impedance. The techs are alone. They need information so they can get out of the cold freezer where they are having a problem with the product. Or as I like to joke, so they can rub the metal flakes out of their eyes with their cold, bloody, greasy hands (really happens often). The overall resultant effect was a reaffirmation of the purpose of what I do for a living. I like helping the techs out. When you are in the field you are surrounded by reality. Things are obvious. Working in corporate, reality is scarce even in a high performance environment.

I am working on radios, computers, and some other stuff this weekend.

The air outside is cold, the snow is attached to the branches of the trees and the sun has brilliantly illuminated the still life. It is winter. It is very pretty.

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