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Upper Peninsula Michigan and Auction Win Outcomes

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I was up in Wisconsin and the UP (upper peninsula) in Michigan. It was a lot of driving after launching/landing in Appleton WI. I got an item off the bucket list by driving across the "Mighty Mac". Altough it was built in the late '50s. It is still the longest suspension span in the Northern hemisphere. It is a crazy long bridge with a crazy long suspension span. It was good to see the bridge in context of the seemingly endless forests of Northern Wisconsin and Michigan. The culture in the two haves of Michigan are noticibly different as you might expect. Great time meeting with folks both in WI and MI. The tractor I won in auction, seems to have paid off. This time I beat the odds. It was a really good deal. I have the "no-key, non-running, may have hydraulic problems, unknown hours" -auction win, running well with minimal cost and time. I have some more tweaks, maintenance and minor fixes but the major risks are gone.
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Angie and I went on a long urban hike this weekend. We got to see the homeless people in SoCal living in tents up close. Amazing differences in this county from block-to-block and street-to-street. Here is a nice pic of ducklings we saw trying to make their way in the concrete jungle.
I am amazed that Don Shipley's channel on You Tube was recently terminated. I spent a lot of study time in grad school studying the future of digital censorship. To me, the termination is crazy. The show was entertaining as well as exposing -- Don has been quite respectful and equally quick to prove fraudulent actions. I can only imagine who has the power to terminate his channel. Don Shipley - Wikipedia A recent posting on a new/different channel https://youtu.be/m80VN0Vt69Y
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We rented a car to drive around SoCal this weekend. With 460 HP and a 10 speed paddle-shifter, the Mustang GT was definitely a good car to rip around the desert. I am glad I didn't get stopped for speeding, because at times I think they put you in jail for how much I was over the limit. We did pick up some bugs (I am told they were butterflies) and we did have to go through border control checkpoints a couple of times. We went to Anzo-Borrego and the Salton Sea which is a post-apocalyptic desert community. The sea (lake) has become so polluted and depleted. The fish can no longer live there. It was pretty interesting. The palm trees are dying, and the housing has disappeared or has become rundown. Since we were already in the groove for alt- post apocalypse scenes we also went to visit Slab City.
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I saw this truck but actually Rorschach test. I had to look at it awhile to realize it was a dent not a Flamenco Dancer.
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I am moving into a new office for work this week. My commute was about 2 miles. Now it is yards. This is the view from my new 5th floor office window. You can see my apartment. I have an envious commute for SoCal -- understatement. Lots of folks drive (or ride) 2 hours each way a day. I am very lucky. Concentrate on your fortunes, not your misfortunes. We all have both. Our new offices are "temporary" for two years as they build more on the main campus.
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My flying club (I am part owner) just bought another plane, a piper warrior. That makes 4 planes total at Aeroventures. A 152, (2) 172Ns and the Warrior. All hangered. N733XE gets a new Penn Yan Engine this week. I wish I was there to help with the engine. I haven't been flying much at all. However, there are opportunities at John Wayne airport (SNA). I live about a mile away. There is a flight school with several decathlons.
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One of the things I find interesting in SoCal is the workman waiting outside Home Depot to help you with your projects. They flag you down and wave to you as you leave. I have not seen this behavior any other HD I have been too. And I have been to many in many different states. Illegal immigrants are a significant component to the economy in SoCal. It is expensive here. You have to find desperate people to work at low (affordable) wages. The politicians will pull at heart strings through words like justice, fairness, compassion, but only to get the economic boost for their constituents.