Earthshaking news

[altivo]

Well, not really. There was an earthquake here early this morning, apparently, but I didn't notice. Might be that the peculiarities of this particular area damped out most of the vibrations, or maybe not. But I was awake at about the right time and should have noticed it if it was as long and definite as people are describing. Supposedly it was felt all the way in Ontario, with at least one noticeable aftershock mid-morning here. Nope, didn't feel that either. I'd say I'm just so used to the noise of heavy trucks and the vibrations they cause that it didn't seem any different to me, except that the dogs didn't notice either. And they really should have. Simon is so sensitive to thunder that he starts getting all nervous and hides from it long before I can hear it. Sarah barks at anything the least bit unusual. Both were quiet this morning and behaving normally.

I found it amusing that once I knew the thing had happened, the best information about it that was immediately available on the net came from the Xinhua Chinese news agency rather than from any source within the US. That changed of course once the USGS "declassified" their data or whatever it is they have to do.

In spite of two days of thunderstorm predictions, we've not even had measurable rain. I don't imagine this will continue, though the thunderstorm predictions do extend through Monday pretty much.

Gas prices in Harvard jumped 11 cents last night, to the highest in the region (higher even than Chicago) for no apparent reason. They've risen by more than 30 cents since the beginning of the month, and are now at $3.77 a gallon. That's a full 31 cents higher than the price in Capron (12 miles away) was on just Wednesday afternoon. I smell something fishy. There are four stations in town, and their prices always change together within about 15 minutes of each other.

Driving in on US14 after work to meet Gary for dinner, I passed a new (I think it's new) subdivision. Yet another land-wasting development. It's called "Horse Farm Acres" though I'm sure there will be no horses there. Perhaps it was a horse farm before the developers bought it. Anyway, the amusing thing was right next to the edge of it, there's a real horse place, at least judging by the buildings and fences, though I saw no horses at 6 pm. They might have all been indoors or behind the buildings. Anyway, there was a sign in front of it identifying it as "Poop 'n' Scoop Farm." I'm sure the suburbanites moving in next door won't like that very much.

Speaking of poop scooping, we (well mostly Gary) are in the process of moving a large pile of aged sheep poop onto various garden and flower beds. It has taken a week to get through just half of it, and it seems really funny that it isn't there where it has been for the last couple of years. Hopefully the veggies will be pleased with it, though.

And, I'm off work now until a week from Monday. Then I'll be off again the following Thursday until the next Wednesday. Not going anywhere this week, just staying home, which is often the best vacation of all for me. Then if all goes well and gas prices don't keep climbing to infinity, quickcasey and I will be driving down to Ohio for the first weekend in May to have some fun with aerofox and loriana. Right after we get back I have a two day weavers' workshop on doubleweave techniques, then back to work for me. I'll end up with only one extra vacation day carried into the new fiscal year, which is within the acceptable limits.

Comments

[quickcasey.livejournal.com]

I am looking forward to it.
Things by then may have changed for me. I will e-mail everyone this weekend with an update. I may have a new job in the company.
But this trip will happen.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Even if I have to hitch up the boys to a wagon and drive there? ;p Lessee, hay is about $3 for a 40 pound bale. They eat only about 1/3 to 1/2 bale a day each, though if they were pulling the wagon all day probably I'd have to supplement them with more grain at about $10 for 50 pounds, say a pound or two each every day. However, their average speed with the wagon is probably 15 to 20 mph. We might make 100 miles a day without stressing them too much, so figure four days going and four coming back? That means 8 bales of hay ($24) and 16 pounds of grain ($3.20) or $27.20 total in fuel round trip? (Assuming we can get them enough water for free.) I'm betting no matter what vehicle you choose to drive, we won't do anywhere near that well...

In reality of course I'd need to find something like an Amish buggy in case of rain, but they are lighter than the wagon except we'd probably have to pack most of the hay because "hay stations" are hard to find these days. Ten bales of hay and a sack of grain would be 450 lbs. of added luggage, though it would get lighter as time went on because they'd eat it and emit "fertilizer" along the way.

[loriana.livejournal.com]

*hugs you*
Awww... wouldnt want to do that to da horsies. I know they dont seem to mind, but to me that seems a LONG haul to make 5 days.

*smiles and hugs again* I am way looking forward to spending time with you and casey! *happy dance about you both*

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Excellent. I wouldn't want you to be dreading it. :)

I need to exchange messages with you foxies about kitchen tools so I know if I should bring anything of my own for making the best pizza.

And I hope we can find time to talk fursuits a little. I'd like a chance to look at the way you put your head together. I need to find a source for teeth and eyes, too. Trouble is, I want blue eyes, like a husky, rather than normal yellow wolf eyes.

[loriana.livejournal.com]

*hugs you tigh* I hope things work out as you desire them in the company.

Aero and I are so very much looking forward to your visit!
*continued happy dance about you both*

[altivo.livejournal.com]

*hugs back, with an extra for Aero too*

I'm sure we'll have fun. I just don't want to disrupt your lives too much.

[tinbender.livejournal.com]

$4.77 or $3.77? O.O

Enjoy your vacation!

[altivo.livejournal.com]

$3.77, though it hardly matters. At this rate it will be $5.77 by July. As long as people keep voting for oil barons, I don't expect any improvement.

[goldenstallion.livejournal.com]

Dear Rider.

I often think of riding Tonka to/from work. Unfortunately the roads here are scary to think of riding the shoulders or even the ditches. Once I hit 131 it would be better taking backroads. Distance from house to work is 16 miles so figure a couple hours for an easy walk.

I am always amazed how these Amish buggies cook along at a trot. One passes, you look away, you look back and the buggy is a dot on the distant horizon. Brown, Standardbred mares, usually, all sweaty but seem in good shape (bet they are in excellent body/muscle tone).

Tonka is FAT. So it would be slower going.

Gas is a little cheaper here but not by much. So taking my motorcycle whenever possible (just got registered and insured but still needs a new battery and some TLC).

Imperator

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yes, I've thought a lot about riding to work too, but there are the same problems here. Distance about the same, which makes for a pretty long commute time. Drivers who are deliberately rude or even aggressive toward horses. Most of the way the state highways could be avoided but there's one bad stretch about two miles long and then inside the city of Harvard it would be real ugly. The absolute show stopper though is nowhere to put Tess while I'm at work. She couldn't be safe there for eight hours and that is unacceptable under any circumstances. I may have to look into getting a small motorcycle just to save on fuel costs. I really don't like riding one in weather conditions though, other than warm and sunny.

The Amish do know their horses. It's an essential cultural skill for them, as it was for everyone up to about a century ago. Some say that they are not the kindest of masters, though. They use the animals up, not by abuse, but simply by treating them as utilities. They get the bare minimum of what is necessary, no more and no less, and are worked as hard as possible, again no more and no less.

Big ol' Tonka would lose some weight if he was working regularly. He'd look handsome. You should ride him more just around home. ;D

Glad to hear you got the motorcycle insurance thing taken care of. Be careful riding (I know you are, but I care what happens to you so I have to remind you.)

Love,
Rider

Fuel

[avon-deer.livejournal.com]

The reason is nothing more than pure profiteering. For a long time here we had prices just hovering under the £1 a litre mark. Once they penetrated this barrier (sometime last year), and it did not lead to the predicted riots, they sky was the limit as far as the forecourt owners were concerned. It is now around £1.12 a litre for unleaded, and £1.19 a litre for diesel (the fact that diesel is more expensive than the more expensive to produce petrol in the first place is in itself a farce).

The fact of the matter is the motor car, which started as a tool of freedom is now a tool of slavery. Many people now CANNOT live without then (ie, it is literally impossible). We are simply hooked on oil, and have no where else to go for any alternative. So they will continue to jack the price up on a captive market. The formula is simple, the oil companies (in collusion with our government) get people hooked on their product. The government then remove the underused alternatives (such as trains and buses), and the oil companies are free to charge whatever they wish without any fear of competition, and in the knowledge that people HAVE to pay. There are another group of people who use the same marketing technique....they are called Cocaine dealers.

Re: Fuel

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Pretty much my thoughts too. In US history there have been several clearcut conspiracies that helped create this situation. And I use the word "conspiracy" correctly in this case, because we're not theorizing but simply analyzing known history. One thing that is different here than in Europe, though, is the role played by the automobile manufacturers.

Sixty years ago, just after World War II, the automakers began to buy up mass transit systems in the US and shut them down. City bus lines, trolley systems, passenger rail lines, were purchased by automobile companies and then liquidated. The idea, of course, was to increase the dependency of Americans on the private automobile, which succeeded tremendously.

The number of alternatives to the automobile over here is even more limited than it is in Britain. In most of the US, there are none at all.

[plushlover.livejournal.com]

[altivo.livejournal.com]

And at last it becomes clear why they've carried that hypocritical 9/10 of a cent all these years. It was to save room for the extra digit when the price reaches $10/gal. in another year or two.

Regular unloaded

[gabrielhorse.livejournal.com]

Suddenly, I'm very glad I had that car accident years ago and took up walking to my destinations ^_^

[animist.livejournal.com]

Thought of you last night - we were visiting an older couple from our church who had a beautiful wooden mosaic on the wall. He's a woodworker and did the piece from memory of his father's farm, and it featured his father's two Clydesdale horses. Really fine work, looked like a painting with different kinds of wood as the palette instead of paints. Take care!

[altivo.livejournal.com]

That kind of wood work is nearly a lost art. Just getting the various kinds of wood is a challenge now.

[animist.livejournal.com]

He's well known locally. I have not had a chance to visit him at work, but just at his home workshop. I should take a day off and visit him:

http://www.forestcenter.com/workshop.asp

It is an art! If money were not tight, I'd commission him. But he's got a back log, and I am sure he's way out of my price range.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Thanks for that link. I know Gary will be interested, too.

[animist.livejournal.com]

I'm tempted to buy that wolf portrait

http://www.forestcenter.com/marquetry.asp

[altivo.livejournal.com]

The raccoon is pretty good too.

[deffox]

Gas is cheap here. Only $1.175 last I looked. And the thousandths digit still changes.

Oh wait, that's litres. It's around $4.46 US/gal. Even with a fuel efficient car it still is approaching $200 in gas to visit my old area.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Time for the auto makers to break with the oil cartel and improve their designs. Otherwise, people will be spending so much for fuel they won't be able to buy new cars. (gasp)

[deffox]

I wouldn't mind having a more efficient car most of the time. It's sticker is 34 mpg, but with my lead foot I usually get 32. Though once in a while I need the extra cargo room over the smallest cars.

I can't believe people are still driving trucks that get only 7 mpg.

And I spoke too soon on gas prices. I had to fill up today, and it was $1.202/litre, or 4.66 US$/US gallon.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

It's $3.68 here in Marengo today, but $3.77 in Harvard, just 15 miles up the highway to the north.

Check my post for today to see fox photos. Blurry but real. ;p

[saythename.livejournal.com]

Yes I did read about the Sheep poop...but I wanted to comment on the
"earthquake". A 5 plus on the richter scale means a lot more here in the
East than out west. The few that have happened "locally" are memerable for;
1)A very VERY loud BOOM! 2)A wall shaking so I thought it would fall on
me, and 3)The glass in the hallway display case at college in the Science
Building breaking, that I had to clean up because the "exhibit" inside
was one we'd just put in there. Just rocks, no little critters killed.

I've also noticed the difference in how the USGS functions these days
compared to even say the late 90s.

*le sighs*

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I remember two earthquakes that I actually noticed. Both were less than 5 but the situation was right. One was when I was in college, and we were all eating lunch in the co-op dining room when there was a rumble and a crash, and stuff fell off a shelf in the pantry. We thought a vehicle had gone over the curb and hit the side of the house, but it turned out to be a quake.

The other happened in the Chicago area back in the early 80s. The shock came while we were driving on the expressway, and I remember wondering what we had hit, because the car lurched even though the roadbed seemed smooth. Again, afterward, we learned that there had been an earthquake.

But several others, including this one, I haven't noticed at all.

shiver me timbers :P

[gabrielhorse.livejournal.com]

I've heard there's a rumor another one might be headed for that area as well- probably an eventuality anyway... does that part of the country get mudslides, too?

Re: shiver me timbers :P

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Mudslides? Generally no. Most of the midwest doesn't have enough precipitous topography for those. Some areas along the Mississippi or Ohio Rivers might see landslides of one sort or another in isolated areas if a significant earthquake hit.

You're probably thinking of the New Madrid fault, which runs through the Missouri/Illinois/Kentucky meeting point. There was a really big earthquake there back in the early 1800s, and every now and again someone will start a panicky rumor that "another one is due" but the truth is, geologists really have no idea when or whether there will be another big quake like that in this region. Generally, earthquakes big enough to be noticed are pretty scarce here, one every twenty years or so and none of them located in built up areas where the damage would be significant.

Re: shiver me timbers :P

[gabrielhorse.livejournal.com]

Heh... yeah, I know it sounds pretty far-fetched... just curious.