Wondering about a CME.

The sun is flaring up again.  Yep, it is shooting at us here on Earth.  Oh, don't worry, unless you are an astronaut.  You see, the Earth's atmosphere will protect us from most of the effects.  But it may cause extra active "northern lights".  Since the CME (Coronal Mass Ejection) is on the part of the sun facing Earth, it will be shooting charged particles right at us.  The atmosphere, as I said above, will protect us to a degree, the closer to the north poles the less protection you will have.  The particles can easily hit the Earth through the poles.  So, here in North America, the closer you are to the North Pole the more adverse will be the effect.

Back quite a few years ago (not sure, but I believe it was in the 1930's) we took a direct hit here on Earth.  The telegraph operators said that fire came shooting out of their telegraph keys.  When the CME particles hit the wires, it induced a voltage spike and a higher than normal current in the wires.  If we were to get hit that hard in today's world of electronics, communication satellites, and millions of miles of telephone and electric wires and cables, it could reek havoc and cause a lot of damage.  We are so dependent now a days on electronics, that we are now a lot more vulnerable then we were back when the last huge hit occurred.

Just think what all depends on electronics and radio transmissions.  Don't think it would be a good time to fly anywhere.  But don't worry too much, although this CME is four times the width of the Earth, we are still a small, moving target that is about 93 million miles away.  Here is a picture of the sunspots that will break off and become a CME:

As you can see, they are pointing directly at us.  Hope I didn't scare you, but even if I did, I want you to have a great day, you hear?

Wondering about Tonto.

I was reading Hermit Jim's blog about the Lone Ranger.  That got me thinking about Tonto, his loyal Indian sidekick.  You remember Jay Silverheels don't you?  He was the Mohawk actor who played Tonto on the Lone Ranger show.  Remember that TV show?

 

And here is Tonto with the Lone Ranger:

 

But when I was a kid, I used to listen to the Lone Ranger on the radio.  That was before we had a TV, but I still listened to it after we got a TV.

Almost forgot to include Johnny Depp's portrayal of Tonto:

Then there was Straight Arrow.  That was also a radio show and Nabisco Shredded Wheat had the dividers in its box printed with all kinds of tips and information on Straight Arrow.  I used to collect them all.  Sure wish I still had that collection.  How many remember Straight Arrow?

He was a good Comanche Warrior and I loved to listen to all his exploits on radio.

Well, I guess I just gave my age away.  Probably most bloggers will not remember that radio show.   Let me know if any of you have listened to that show and know who Straight Arrow was.  Now, you all have a great day, you hear?

Wondering about My Dad's Niece.

I got a pleasant surprise last night, my Dad's niece called and we had a lovely chat.  She is in her early 90's and is spry and quick witted and loves to travel.  In fact, she is planning a trip to China.  She is the last surviving Evelyn in our family.  It was, for awhile, quite confusing.   What do I mean by it being confusing?  Well, let me start from the beginning.  My Dad's sister was named Evelyn.  When she grew up, she married a man named Jim.  They had a son, and of course they named him Jim.  This Jim grew up and guess what, he married a girl named Evelyn.  An of course their son was named Jim, too.  So that gives us two sets of Jim and Evelyn and three Jims, all with the same last name.  Now tell me if that don't get confusing at times.  I believe there is also another younger "Jim", too.

Dang, it is colder this morning than it was yesterday.  When I first looked this morning it was seventeen degrees.  I guess we have to have a few cold days every four or five years to control the bugs (grin).  It doesn't get this cold here, but it did!!  I believe I heard on the news that we set a few new records.  Now you all keep warm and have a great day, you hear?

Wondering about the Rescued Jungle.

Baby it's cold out side!!!  Hey!!  I thought that I was living near the balmy, warm East Coast of Texas.  Maybe I slept too long and woke up on the shores of Lake Michigan. . . Nope, I pinched myself and looked back outside and sure enough, I am still in Texas, but it ain't balmy nor is it warm.  Yes, I know all you readers who live up north will laugh at me, but hey, I have lived here for a long, long time and got used to warm to hot weather, but this is ridiculous.  Actually I prefer too cold to too hot.  You can always put more clothes on but you can only take off so much.

Don't believe me?  Here is a picture I just took of my thermometer just outside the back door on the screened in back porch:

And it is suppose to be in the teens or single digits tonight and maybe tomorrow but they are predicting highs in the 70's by the end of the work week.

In the mean time, most of the jungle on the back porch moved into the cozy, warm house.  This picture is what ended up on the table by the back door:

This next one is on the big wooden chair in the kitchen:

The last one is on the big wooden bench seat in the living room:

Some didn't make the cut and ended up being thrown out.  Those where either dead or dying.  Some others got trimmed back.  But, the survivors seem to be very happy and doing well in the warmth of our home.  Now, you all keep warm and cozy and have a great day, you hear? 

Wondering about a Long Rifle.

Wandered on down to the Flea Market today and I saw a very long barreled rifle and I just had to take a picture of it to share with you.  Have you ever thought that taking that shot would be a lot surer if you could just get a closer to the target or prey?  That has been the case for me many times.  Well this gun solves that problem with its extra long barrel you don't have to get close, the end of the barrel is already close.

We went inside, after walking past most of the outside tables and vendors to get in out of the chill of the strong north wind that started to blow out there.  While we were there, the temperature dropped about twenty degrees.  Yep, it was 62 when we left and 42 when we got back.  42 isn't that bad but the gusts of wind almost blew me over.

The booth we stopped at was operated by Mrs. Outlaw.  She and her now deceased husband, started in that flea market back 28 years ago.  She is a fixture there for sure.  Anyway, it was her booth that had the long barreled rifle hanging above the entrance.  Here is a picture of the booth:

And a cropped view showing the gun:

There have been a few times that I could have used that firearm but I don't think I would want to lug it around the woods hunting.  Heck, it would get to where you are going five minutes before you would (grin).  Hope you are all warm and fuzzy, and I want you to have a great day, you hear?

Wondering about a Jill Look-A-Like.

My wife came across some unusual Altered Art today and we thought that we should share them with you.  One, especially, looks like Jill of Recycled Daze.  I think, the artist she is, she would like and appreciate them.  Here is the one that reminds us of Jill:

We brought four of them home with us, but because I am so late posting today (had to run to town for some things) that I will wait until another day to post the rest of them.  You all have a great day, you hear?

Wondering about Water Volcanoes.

If I were to guess what the most abundant molecule was in the whole universe, I would have to say that it is water.  Of course there is probably more free hydrogen and oxygen than there is the combination of the two into the water molecules, but they are simple molecules and water is a little more complicated.  Yes, water is quite abundant out there in space and on other planets and moons.  One of Jupiter's moons spews water from, yes, water volcanoes.  Here is an artists conception of what they would look like:

This painting shows the icy moon's volcano with Jupiter in the back ground.  The Hubble Space Telescope took pictures of icy volcanoes on Europa (a moon of Jupiter) and also on Enceladus (a moon or Saturn).  Our solar system is a wondrous place and the universe is ever more wondrous.  Our Earth is just a microscopic speck in our universe and theory has it that there are many more universes.  Live every day in awe of the beauty and wonder that is all around us and have a great day, you hear?