Friday Christmas Confusion

Twelve Days of Christmas Confusion

Performed by Angel City Chorale 

Artistic Director, Sue Fink Video edited by, Alex Chaloff, Annika Benitz 

Angel City Chorale Website

Independence Day

Today is Independence Day - a day to celebrate the birth of this great nation of ours.  Casting-aside the yoke of British oppression it is on this day that we recognize and celebrate the Declaration of Independence of the United States on July 4, 1776.

To be absolutely clear, the Congress had voted to declare independence two days earlier - on July 2 - but it was not formally declared until July 4.    

Take a few moments from your celebration today to go to this link and take a handful of short quizzes.  Test your knowledge of the Constitution by measuring your Constitution I.Q.  You can also find out which of the Founding Fathers you are most like and which one you would likely vote for. 

In case you are wondering I not only aced the ten question Constitution Quiz - I am also most like James Madison and would likely vote for Benjamin Franklin.  But I digress.

Ordinarily I would say something snarky about British royalty today but I am going to demure.  Recent SCOTUS action notwithstanding I'm tickled that we don't have a present or future president with the absolute powers of a monarch.  

Nevertheless, coming off of a charming family vacation in the United Kingdom I have a new found appreciation and fondness for the the people that live there.  And all of the pomp and circumstance that comes with British royalty is sorta quaint. 

So while this has nothing to do with our national birthday celebration today; here's a short video clip from Buckingham Palace of the procession leading-up to the changing of the guard.

Everybody likes the precision drill of a marching band.....  

Sunday Morning Deficit Hawk

Speaking of the 800 pound gorilla in our government's living room that nobody wishes to acknowledge here is something you can do on your own to see how you measure-up on the debt ceiling discussion.

I've been called a lot of names in my life but this is something that I'm actually proud to be called

Deficit Hawk

How much would you cut the national debt? 

You can play the game over here at the Washington Post. 

Independence Day

Today is Independence Day - a day to celebrate the birth of this great nation of ours.  Casting-aside the yoke of British oppression it is on this day that we recognize and celebrate the Declaration of Independence of the United States on July 4, 1776.

The Congress had voted to declare independence two days earlier - on July 2 - but it was not formally declared until July 4.    

Take a few moments from your celebration today to go to this link and take a handful of short quizzes.  Test your knowledge of the Constitution by measuring your Constitution I.Q.  You can also find out which of the Founding Fathers you are most like and which one you would likely vote for. 

In case you are wondering I not only aced the ten question Constitution Quiz - I am also most like James Madison and would likely vote for Benjamin Franklin.  

I'm positively tickled we don't have a king or queen running the show.

Happy Birthday America!
     

Word of the Day

Perihelion

Today, (actually last evening after midnight) our planet earth reached its closest position in its annual orbit around the sun.  This is called perihelion.  To be sure that is about three million miles closer than our position with the sun in June of this year when we will be stretched furthest away.  Called aphelion   

You're probably scratching you head over the fact that the overnight temperatures have plunged into the single digits lately.  If we're closer to the sun why aren't we warmer?  That would be a consequence of the tilt of the earth on its axis.  Living in the northern hemisphere we're tilted away from the sun and it is wintertime.  If you live in the southern hemisphere you are tilted in the direction of the sun and it is summertime.  You may recall that only a couple of weeks ago we celebrated the winter solstice - that time when we are tilted the furthest from the sun.  The proximity of perihelion with the solstice is merely coincidental.

If you want to impress your acquaintances and coworkers here is a fun factoid.  Astronomers tell us that the earth is distancing itself from the sun at a rate of about 1.5 centimeters a day.  While that might add-up over the course of billions of years we're still attached at the hip with our closest star.

As with all stars the fate of our sun is preordained.  As it ages and begins to run out of fuel it will morph into a red giant phase; and all the planets closest to the sun (including earth) will be incinerated in a spectacular and fiery denouement.  We're toast!

Have a good day.

And you're welcome.

Independence Day

Today is Independence Day - a day to celebrate the birth of this great nation of ours.  Casting-aside the yoke of British oppression it is on this day that we recognize and celebrate the Declaration of Independence of the United States on July 4, 1776.

The Congress had voted to declare independence two days earlier - on July 2 - but it was not formally declared until July 4.    

Take a few moments from your celebration today to go to this link and take a short handful of quizzes.  Test your knowledge of the Constitution by measuring your Constitution I.Q.  You can also find out which of the Founding Fathers you are most like and which one you would likely vote for. 

In case you are wondering I not only aced the ten question Constitution Quiz - I am also most like Thomas Jefferson and would likely vote for James Madison.

Happy Birthday America!  I'm positively tickled we don't have a king or queen running the show.
    

Turkeyfoot

There is a prank around deer camp where the newest hunter finds a turkey foot under his bunk pillow.  Someday I'm going to get around to making use of all of the turkey legs shrink-wrapped in the chest freezer - re-purposing those spurs is going to make for a terrific Man Necklace replete with spurs, colored beads, bear claws, silver and feathers.  Like this - but more spurs and more fancy...

It will be a talisman.  Just you wait.  

But I digress.

Turkeyfoot is also the colloquial name for big blue stem prairie grass.  Which is now coming into all of its late summer glory.

Don't take my word for it.  If you were to walk in there this stuff is more than six feet tall.  You could get lost in it!  

The people that did the burn are chortling over all the deer that are going to hide in there during the hunting season.

Zealotry

In keeping with my new-found and pejorative moniker of tree farm owner and a forest product zealot.I thought it would be appropriate to post a photo of what a tree farm looks like.

 click on the creepy tree farm for a better look

Yup.  .A scary terrible place, the tree farm is. 

My feelings are still hurt but I'd like to raise a toast to zealotry. 

Friday Music

The song Rocket Man was composed by Elton John and Bernie Taupin and originally performed by John on the 1972 album Honky Château – it became a hit single, rising to No. 2 in the UK and No. 6 in the US.   

In keeping with the spirit of lifting everything-up and sharing a breath of fresh air here is the bluegrass version….

NORAD Santa Tracker

The North American Aerospace Defense Command conducts aerospace warning, aerospace control and maritime warning in the defense of North America.  For over 60 years, NORAD and its predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) have tracked Santa's flight. Follow Santa as he makes his rounds around the world.

Redirect to NORAD here.

To track Santa's route in 3D use the navigation controls on the upper right to change the view. Icons show locations Santa has been spotted. Click on an icon to learn more about the location. Video icons indicate that Santa Cams have recorded footage of Santa at that location. Click on an icon to watch the video.

The toolbar on the upper left is used to change the camera between following Santa and free roaming, to switch between 3D and 2D, and for other tasks.

In addition to the navigation controls, hold the left mouse button and drag to rotate the view, and use the mouse wheel to zoom in and out.

Fake News

Fake news has been in the real news lately as a dark and insidious force.  But fake news can also be harmless fun especially when people get pranked on social media.

click on the image to enlarge

 

To be sure the product pictured above is a fake and can be found only in a photo posted last week on Instagram by Adam Padilla.  The creator was inspired by seeing his two-year-old daughter seated at the kitchen counter.

A whole bunch of people got faked and it inspired all manner of Faux Facebook Rage.

How to Repurpose a School Bus

2001 Thomas FGW-1200 72 Passenger Snub Nose Rear Engine Diesel School Bus - #26
- VIN#: 1T7HR4B2311100168 -- Miles: 125,232 -- Hours: 6702 ( Speedometer Changed so not actual hours ) -- Transmission: Allison - MD 3060 -- Engine: Cummins ISB Diesel 215hp -- Wheel Base: 235 -- GWVR: 30,000 -- Dimensions: 37' L x 8' W x 10' H -- Equipment: AM/FM Cassette Radio; Electric Defrosted Mirrors; Air Brakes,
- CONDITION: Tow-Away -- Needs Injection Pump -- Engine Has oil leaks by timing cover and side cover -- Minor rips and tears -- Rust, Scratches, Dings, Dents, Stains, Rips, Wear, Dirty, Etc. -- Inspections Encouraged - SOLD AS IS
- SELLER INVENTORY #: 2001 Thomas FGW-1200 72 Passenger Snub Nose Rear Engine Diesel School Bus - #26
- SELLER: Luxemburg Casco School District
- LOCATION: 318 N Main St, Luxemburg, WI 54217
- CONTACT: Dave Budzban at 920-366-0592 or dbudzban@luxcasco.k12.wi.us - Inspections are highly encouraged. Please call or email with questions and to schedule appointments for inspection or pickup - By Appointment Only - Mon - Fri - 8 am - 4 pm - Appointments are required, no walk-ins. 

Found this gem on the Wisconsin Surplus Online Auction Site.  You have to tow it home but it could be yours.  Current bid is $535.

Could leave it up on the north 40 and put it a wood stove.  

A nice private getaway or another hangout for deer camp...

The Big Pour

Nothing like watching a big cement mixer dump a load.  Makes an old guy feel like a kid for a change.


Raising a toast to concrete flat work...

Photoshop Phun

Fun photo effect...

Storm Chaser

A few years ago The Frau and I traveled to Grand Isle, LA to join daughter and son-in-law at their fish camp in Cajun country.

I wrote a series of posts over at the other blog chronicling the trip.

Anyway, when the kids visited with us here at The Platz last week daughter introduced me to this video clip that Captain Herk filmed earlier this year.

Balls of brass these Cajuns have...

Projects

Just finished mounting a turkey fan and beard from last spring's bird.  This is the second mount I've completed.

It's been down on the basement workbench dessicating in a rub of borax and salt.

Gander Mountain carries the prefabricated walnut mount and hardware.

This one is destined for my office at the day job.

The nest box in the background is for a friend.

click on image to enlarge

Back In The Saddle

click on images to enlarge

Eighteen days since the hip replacement and I've been making steady progress.

Today - the ladies and I fired-up the four-wheeler and ventured forth for a romp.  Me riding with Sister and Girlfriend tearing along.

With my trusty crutch we swapped the memory cards from the trail cameras so there'll be some selected pictures to follow.

Feels terrific to be back outdoors...

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

A sudden and large storm moved through recently - over and done-with in a manner of moments.

The Frau snapped this photo of a double rainbow.

Very cool.

Field of Dreams

The Kolberg Braves got their ass thumped by the Maplewood Mets last Sunday.

Very shocking.

Door County hosts some very talented teams and Kolberg (only a couple of miles down the road) has been dominating the league recently.

The Frau and I like a good Brewers game on occasion but it's so costly.

The Door County Baseball League is really a field of dreams - affordable admission, a six pack of icy brewskis for $8 and a couple of (charcoal-grilled) brats for $5.

Peanuts - $1.50.

One of the best Sunday afternoons you can spend with your main squeeze and you'll be hard pressed to spend more than $30.

Side Pork Fest

click on images to enlarge

Belly/Side/Side Pork - The belly, although a fattier meat, can be used for steaks or diced stir-fry meat. Belly pork may be rolled for roasting or cut for streaky bacon - Wikipedia

Of course if you live in Brussels, WI you can build a festival around this cut of pork and raise money for your local volunteer fire department.

In the big cities there always seems to be buckets of money laying about for the fire department to have virtually anything they want.

In Brussels, or any other small town in America, volunteer fire departments are always holding fundraisers to make ends meet.  A succession of brat frys, chicken BBQs, pancake and porkie breakfasts are routinely scheduled to purchase a defibrillator or two, pay-off a grass truck, fire engine, tanker or finance an air boat to fetch stranded ice drinkers from the Bay.

The BUG (Brussels, Union, Gardner) Fire Department held their first Side Pork Fest today.

The Frau and I went over there in the afternoon to take-in this gastronomical event.  A hamburger topped with side pork on a bun-$5.  Side pork dipped in chocolate-$2.  Side pork straight-up-$1.  Pitcher of  Bud-$8.

Live music at the ball field with the Kentucky Headhunters as the closing act.

For any of you who have never grilled side pork on your Weber it is a messy proposition.  Flames and smoke everywhere.  But very tasty.  And considering the flare-ups probably not a bad idea to have the fire fighters doing the grilling.

Simply lay your slices on the grate, sprinkle liberally with Lawry's Seasoned Salt.  Grill until crispy and serve with catsup, BBQ sauce, mustard, grated Parmesan or whatever.

Yum! 

Sidepork Fest was no different - only gigantic in scale.  I inquired about how much of this greasy delicacy was on hand for the event and was told that the fire department had 1000 pounds of it on hand for grilling.

Returning home it was showers all around. We both felt like we had a molecular layer of grilled pork fat all over...