Gas 2.339 at some stations this AM.

The Difference

A co-worker moved to MN last December from Atlanta Georgia, city girl moved to the sticks.  She lives nearly 2 hours away from work by 2 lane highway thru woods and swamps.  There has been some discussion here about "when she hits the deer", but it hasn't happened.  Until now.

The deer wasn’t dead, so the car behind her stopped, got out, and shot the deer, which surprised her somewhat.  What really got her was that they then asked if she wanted them to load it in her car or if she minded if they took the deer!!!   Of course, SHE didn't want the bloody thing in her car!

I'd have taken the deer.  And I'd have shot it myself.

Deer opener is just over a week away.

And the price drops

Gas in GR this morning is at 2.459, although I am told that at 6AM this morning in Bemidji it was at 2.35 (some people I work with live in Bemidji).

Nymex crude is at 68.40, Brent is at 64.24 at the moment.

Been fighting with a Blackberry that doesn't want to sync with Outlook.  Even when it does sync it dupes all recurring appts.  About half the time the Desktop would crash taking Outlook with it.  Finally figured out how to wipe the BB calendar (options, RSET).  Uninstalled BB Desktop, rebooted, logged in as another user, deleted all temp files and BB/RIM related files and folders, rebooted, installed the BB Desktop.  It appears to be working at this moment.  What a PIA.  The BB sync process is SO unreliable compared to the HotSync or ActiveSync process.  I don't EVER recall having a problem like this with the Palm and when there is a problem like this with Windows Mobile usually rebooting the PC and the device cures the problem.  RIM can't make it that easy.  And people wonder why I don't recommend the Blackberry.

Another Weekend

and winter is fast approaching.

Gas was at 2.519 this morning.

Matt and I got the windows pretty well winterized, better than ever before I think. Spent most of Saturday on that, taking advantage of the nice, sunny, 60 degree day to get some outside work done.

Sunday was colder (40's) and windy, with drizzle and rain off and on. I spent most of Sunday in the shop on a woodworking project I've been wanting to tackle.

I have a small collection of swords, mostly made by Windlass Steelcrafts and purchased from Atlanta Cutlery or Museum Replicas (same Co. for my purposes). Nothing fancy or exotic, nothing antique and just one really special sword. I've been displaying the swords on my gun rack that I made 1-1/2 years ago, but a gun rack is not a sword rack. I bought a small sword rack somewhere (don't recall) but it wasn't more than a scaled down gun rack, and besides, I have more than 3 blades. Also, most of the swords have scabbards, a couple of which are worth looking at, and it's not a good idea to store the blade in the scabbard. And, even if I don't have them now, I hope to aquire more blades that have etchings or other patterns on them, and you can't see them when they are scabbarded.

So, I wanted to build a sword display rack. I also wanted to be able to display the scabbard along with the sword.

Here is what I came up with:

Instead of making one big loop for a rifle, I made a loop big enough for a scabbard, then continued forward and down with a small squared notch for a blade. The squared notch keeps the blade vertical so that it doesn't fall over. You can best see it in the bottom, empty slots.

The rack is currently unfinished. It probably won't get finished until sometime next summer because it's getting too cold to stain and varnish it now. I made it out of some scrap 3/4" oak plywood that has been banging around the barn for a while and it's pretty rough.

I may very well end up building a newer one. The first thing I noticed is that the 3/4" inch plywood is too thick and takes attention from the swords. I first made a practice 3 sword table rack from 1/4" inch OSB, which was ugly, but I think that 1/4" ash or oak would look very nice, so I might try to get some later and try it.

My other problem with both the sword rack and the gun rack is that both are made from plywood. I knew when I made the gun rack from CD plywood that it wouldn't be pretty and that there would be voids, but when I made the sword rack from oak AB plywood I didn't expect to find as many or large voids like I found.

So, I think that on my list of 'things to do when I feel like woodworking' is a new sword and a new gun rack. The new sword rack made from 1/4" or 3/8" ash and the new gun rack made from 3/8" or 1/2" ash. And probably including some kind of storage compartment for polishing/dust cloths.

Oh, and if you're interested, from top to bottom in the sword rack we have the Windlass replica of a Confederate Cavalry Saber, the Windlass replica of Lt Patton's Cavalry Sword, the Windlass replica of an Enfield Bayonet, a Windlass Tai Chi sword, and last a replica of the Dragon Ball Z sword belonging to Evolena that came from Medieval Weapon Art, but they 'forgot' to send the matching scabbard and finally sent a generic one to her. I had problems with MWArt myself; I ordered the Patton Sword from them and after saying it was "in stock" when I ordered it they said that it was backordered. Took several weeks to receive it, and MWArt never replied to any of my emails. Now I see that MWArt has been renamed "Realm Collections"; I do NOT recommend them.

Here's a picture of the gun rack and the purchased sword rack:

The blade at the top is the Windlass "Modern" katana blade, I'm still thinking about what to use for a hilt and grip (I am starting with a Katana blade,but am not making a katana); next is a wooden prototype of a sword design that I'm working on that is loosely based on the blade shape of the Enfield bayonet; next is the Remington Model 4 .22 single shot, probably manufactured about 1920. I inherited it from Dad, it was a very accurate gun, but after the second 22LR shell blew in half I decided it was time to retire it and so it has been made inoperable. Next is a Moisin-Nagant M44 stamped 1946 that has been made inoperable. Bottom on the gun rack is an inoperable 12 gauge double-barreled damascus wound black-powder shotgun dated 1893 manufactured by E. Daoust & Co. that I believe belonged to my grandfather.

Below the gun rack is the store-bought sword rack. Currently, it's sole occupant is "Sting" from "Lord of the Rings" and its scabbard. Sting is my special sword, a gift from Betty. You can see that the rack is just a mini version of a gun rack.

One of the other things I need to change about the gun rack is the loop spacing. In this photo, the barrels on all three guns have been shimmed up so they are sitting level. Part of the problem is that the M44 has 1/4" of shims, the shotgun has 1/2" of shims, and the 22 has 1-1/2" of shims. The only way to get them all to sit level is to shim them or build a custom rack with the spacing built in. When I built this one I built in (as I recall) 3/4" difference between the two sides of the rack, but it wasn't enough for these guns.

And, note how my prototype sword is resting. The hilt end should probably be 1/2" higher than the tip end. I should probably factor that into my next sword rack.

Just had a wild idea after re-reading this. I should make both racks of 1/4" Plexiglas! On second thought, maybe not. 1/4" x 24" x 96" Plexiglas (enough to make 2 of each) is well over $100. I'll have to think about it some more.

Matt and I also worked some more on the living room window, we got it rocked on three sides and Matt has taped and mudded it. I'm hoping I can figure out what to do with the right side of the window so Matt can get it mudded. If we get that done and if we get time, we might be able to paint it next weekend and then I will still need to figure out the trim around the window. Don't have any idea what I can do with the outside; I can't find a source for the asphalt siding that is on the house (and falling off). Easiest thing I can think of is to reside that side of the house, but I don't really want to do that. Probably end up putting some CDX plywood around the window and painting it some color that almost matches the siding.

Snow

Snow in Saturday's Forecast!!!!!

Gas is at 2.589, highest I recorded was 3.699 on 8/30/08. This will be a help to the budget, once I get it straightened out again.

Oil is at about $63/bbl, down from a high of about $121 at the beginning of August 2008. They say it will be a month or so before the pump prices get down the rest of the way.

Stock Market is down over 300 points just today, from a NASDAQ high of 2860 Oct 31, 2007 down to 1572 as of 3 PM Eastern.

Crazy Week

Winter is fast approaching and I'm nowhere near ready, mostly running in circles around here.  Nothing is winterized yet.  Had a tire blow-out on Vger.  Matt got the Head from Stripez off to the machine shop.  Starter died on the WC.  Muffler fell off RumJohn.  One of my credit cards lowered my limit, raised my interest, and penalized me for going over the limit.  My bedroom window is still open.  Propane tank is still empty.  Matt plowed the garden under.  People at work have been making changes without consulting with the affected personnel causing havoc and confusion.  People have been making "plans" and starting projects without planning.

I'm looking forward to a long rest.  Wish I could hibernate over the winter like a bear.  I'm afraid that I will keep looking forward to that rest for too long.

Gas was as low as 2.749, then went back up to 2.799, this morning at 2.769 (I filled up last night at 2.799, of course).  Economy is still in chaos, with 'most every government in the world printing money as fast as the presses can spin.

Busy Weekend

Very busy. Replaced the living room window.

Rain off and on all weekend, I would guess close to .5" (couldn't see it in the dark this morning).  More T-Storms on the way now.  It was nearly 70 yesterday, 60 overnight, pushing 50 right now.  Low tonight supposed to be in upper 20's.  Need to remember to put away the rain gauge before it gets broken.

Gas at 7 AM this morning was all over, one station at 3.079, another station at 2.899, another at 2.819, but most stations are at 2.849.

Noon addition:  Raining pretty hard right now, temp in upper 40's.

Rain

Almost black outside and water is coming down in sheets.  As near as I can tell from the NWS website we've gotten about 1/4" of rain since this morning.  It's also a bit chilly, 39 degrees F.

Leaving for Bemidji in a little bit, guess I'll find out if putting Goop on the windshield molding had any effect.

I paid 3.149 this morning for gas.  Rumour yesterday said that gas in Fosston was at 2.889.  Brainerd is at 2.89.  Bemidji at 2.90 to 2.99 today.

Update: Goop didn't do a damn thing.

Economics

Quoting from www.thegartmanletter.com:

Dennis Gartman, the editor and publisher of the Gartman Letter,  has been in the markets since 1974. Born in Akron, Ohio, Gartman received his BA from the University of Akron and MA from North Carolina State University.  After finishing his graduate work in the mid 1970s, he worked as an economist for Cotton, Inc. analyzing cotton supply/demand in the US textile industry.  From there he went to NCNB where he traded foreign exchange and money market instruments.

In 1977, Mr. Gartman became the Chief Financial Futures Analyst for A.G. Becker and Company in Chicago, where he also served as an independent member of the Chicago Board of Trade, trading in treasury bond, treasury note and GNMA futures contracts. In 1985, Mr. Gartman moved to Virginia to run the futures brokerage operation for the Virginia National Bank, and in 1987 began producing The Gartman Letter on a full-time basis. 

"...we are more frightened now for the future of the global capital markets than we have been at any time in our thirty+ years of watching, commenting upon and taking part in them. We are fearful... and we mean this fully... that we have passed the tipping point; that things are now spinning out of control; that forces have been unleashed that cannot be stopped without some truly massive, truly strong-handed, governmental action including the closure of markets and limits upon bank withdrawals, et al. These are troubling times, and our fear is palpable and growing. Worse, these concerns are giving rise to the likelihood that the Left shall be in ascension, and that manifestly left-of-centre, interventionist government lies ahead here in the US and in Europe. Higher, rather than lower taxes will be the end result. Greater... indeed very much greater... intervention in the capital markets lies ahead. Trade and act accordingly."

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I'm not sure what to think.  I think that there is a lot of "spin" being placed on the news.  I think a LOT of companies did some VERY questionable things.  I think that a lot of companies should fail.  I think that quite a few executives should have their "Golden Parachutes" forcibly removed.   I also think that a result of the turmoil will be that Government will become bigger and more Socialist in nature (alreeady happening as the US begins to run more (formerly) private companies).  I also think that anyone who thinks that the US government can run a company more efficiently or effectively than they were run before has their head up their a*s.  

I have quietly wondered for some time if there was a revolution in the making.  Goverment has taken over more and more of the power constitutionally reserved for the People.   And the People have been vocal about it.  And the Government has doled out pacifiers to quiet the People, and has also taken some forceful measures to quiet the People who would not be satisfied.

But, in times of Economic hardship, People do not revolt.  They are too busy trying to feed their families and maintain their homes to revolt.  Oh, they may revolt at the end, when they have nothing to lose, if they are not too weak from hunger.  However, I suspect that the current combination of crisis, with the Financial Markets collapsing, food supply chains being broken, crackdowns on terrorism, and the general curtailment of personal freedom and the lack of personal responsibility, will combine to bring something like the Dark Ages back. 

The Dark Ages?  I refer to the general demographic decline, limited building activity and material cultural achievements in general.  I think that we will see a loss in our standard of living.  I think that we will not be able to travel as much.  We may be able to interact more in a virtual fashion (unless the tech police have their way).  There will be less freedom to choose our own path in life.  The creative arts will be curtailed.  

Check out this blog posting here on MSN Money.

Maybe it's the weather, but I do think I am being very pessimistic today, don't you?

Rain Now

It's pouring rain outside right now, looks like it will continue all morning.

Vger has, for some time, been leaking water across the top of the windshield. A drop here and there. It has worsened over the last couple of months to the point that now my seat was wet when I got in this morning. No, my window was closed. Don't know if there is anything I can do. Might try putting some sealant across the top of the weatherstrip. Might help long enough for the weather to turn colder.

I see that gas in Brainerd is still at 2.999, Bemidji is at 3.119 and Duluth is at 3.299. Grand Rapids is at 3.339 this morning.

Gas Ripoff

Had to go to Brainerd twice this weekend.

On Friday 10/3, gas in GR is at 3.429. Gas in Aitkin is at 3.249. Gas in Brainerd is at 3.229.
On Sunday 10/5, Gas in GR is at 3.429. Gas in Aitkin is at 3.179. Gas in Brainerd is at 2.999.

2.999. WOW, thought I'd never see it that low again. And to think I wouldn't have considered that low at all two years ago.

This morning in GR gas is STILL at 3.429.

According to www.minnesotagasprices.com, gas in Bemidji is at 3.119 on Sunday. Duluth is at 3.399.