Chazd's (Charles Dowdell's) News Burps

The weather has been spectacular in Atlanta. Even this weekend we had spring showers and they were pleasant. I am working on getting the irrigation system going. Since I am on a lake I can pump water from the lake for lawn irrigation. I remember from last year the houses on the lake had greener yards than the surrounding homes. I have the 2 HP pump apart trying to figure out the plumbing and how to install it. It now looks like I need to get a new impeller assembly. The computer blew a power supply yesterday, I got a new one in this morning. Unfortunately, I had to modify the chassis for the new supply, but it works well. In looking it up, I discovered I bought the computer in 2004. I really have to get something newer and faster. Although, since I bought something good in 2004 it has not really shown its age. I probably just pushed the inevitable purchase off awhile longer. Some pilot friends and I went shooting the other night. I think there were more females at the shooting range th

Last week was busy and fast, and action packed. I had my Birthday at my Dad's last weekend in MA, attended and spoke at a conference in RI and then took a few days off vacationing in NYC, NY, PA and NJ. I also spent an hour or so in downtown Greenwich CT. It was many States, Cities and Towns. Great fun! Angie and I visited a number of interesting places, including the site of the original Woodstock concert in 1969, various casinos (no gambling at all) and Centralia, PA. Centralia, PA was worth the effort getting to. The whole city of Centralia was demolished because of an underground coal fire that has been burning underneath for 50 years. It is coal's equivalent of Chernobyl. Although the gentleman I interviewed (a native of Centralia) says the the $42 million USD buyout of the residents of Centralia was just a means to access the huge coal vein through the surface someday. During our visit, there were a bunch of different 4 wheeler- type vehicles gathered. It was very reminis

I am in Rhode Island at a conference, well it was a conference. The conference has been shut down for security sweep certainly related to the bombing in Boston. I was told to go to my room. Feels a lot like house arrest to me. I am not sure I like all this.

I am still studying Portuguese (Eu Estudo Português). If you are studying Spanish the following Reggaeton song might help. Nevertheless, you will probably like it anyway. I have a neighborhood party at my house this Friday. I am looking forward to it. I am speaking at a conference somewhere next week and I am taking a couple of days of vacation after that. The weather here in Atlanta was fantastic today. Spring has been a real treat here on the lake. I am taking pics of blossoms that I will post. I had a bit of a tragic event here. My 1970s vintage Macintosh Power Amp leaked just a little bit of smoke out of of the number one magic music generator stack. I had to slip the Dynaco in its place for the party this Friday. We are going to run the Macintosh into the depot for a full diagnostic and refurb. Luckily, I was home and managed to capture some of the smoke in a bag. The Dynaco runs a little hotter, but it gets the job done.

As I become more and more internationally minded I find some interesting insights emerge. For example, I have determined that Countries are very much like dairy farms, The cows are the citizenry. Some counties squeeze the cows harder than others, some farmers make the cows feel better than others. Citizens are owned and branded by their countries. Good cows give more milk (money) and there will always be dry cows. How the farmers treat their livestock is a matter of principle not always profits. The parallels go on and on, have some fun with these thoughts.

Spring is coming on strong here in Duluth. Between the good job, low cost of living, my house on the lake, short commute and good weather I like it here. I am having a Neighborhood party this Friday at my House. I figured it is a good way to meet my neighbors. Our Neighborhood Association has a beach on the lake, a swimming pool, clubhouse and events of different types including CLIFs, (Cardinal Lake its Friday). The blue trees are part of an art project the next town over. It originated in Australia. I think it will catch on and spread more and more around the world. Blue Trees The other tree behind the glass is my orange tree that has been with me since 1997 when I took an orange seed out of my mouth during lunch, and planted it in a styrofoam cup in my office in Rochester NY. Now it is with me in Duluth, it is asking me to spend more time outside. Things sure have changed, but I enjoy my tree.