Multi-piece masts

July 26, 2004

I was given a great idea when I needed to put in a mast for the satellite internet transmitter. The mast, which needs to be made from schedule 40 2-inch galvanized pipe, is a massive 10 feet tall. To make it easier to handle we cut it into several pieces. That was a great idea until it came time that the satellite dish was mounted to the top, serving as a sail as well the dish has done a better job of tightening and loosening the threads than we ever hoped to. It turned out that we weren't able to use the nifty t-joints we'd put in to run the cable as we'd hoped. Note to self, next time

Wasted Water

July 23, 2004

An amazing story out of Denver today. It seems for the last decade Denver Water has been running a 4-inch fire hydrant at full flow into the sewer. That's right, while Denver has been suffering through dry year after dry year each week more than 3 million gallons of treated, potable water are going down the drain. The article says that Denver Water hasn't been able to find anybody who could use the water.

I'd suggest they need to replace the folks running Denver Water with some who are slightly better at their jobs. In a market where water is a scarce commodity they can't find anybody who wants the 1.5 billion gallons of water they've sent down the drain. Let's see it only took a few seconds of reading the article to come up with several workable solutions.

Discourse

July 22, 2004

I had a great lunch yesterday with a couple of Senator Reid's staffers. We met to talk about a great program - Nevada Boys' State. It's a program I participated in while in high school and was a counselor for the next year. I look forward to getting back involved with a great program. We also had a great discussion of issues that we don't see eye to eye on. For example we discussed the LIncoln County Development Act of 2004 which the Senator co-sponsored. It reminds me though, why I choose to go back to work in education. It is refreshing to be in an institution where open discourse and debate can occur without people walking away hurt afterwards.

Hal Foss Award

July 22, 2004

Congratulations, belatedly, to a friend of mine Cheryl Kennedy. Cheryl was the recipient of this year's Hal Foss award, given by the National Association of Search and Rescue. According to their website the award "is the most prestigious award presented by NASAR." A life member of Larimer County Search and Rescue and substantial contributor to the Larimer County Sheriff's Support Team, Cheryl has been extremely dedicated to the furthering of search and rescue in northern Colorado and across the country. I have many fond memories

More Sadness

July 20, 2004

The sad news comes this morning that Phil Calvert of the San Gorgonio Search and Rescue team has passed away from injuries suffered in Sunday's accident. Calvert and Scott Johnson's names will be added to the memorial slide show that will be shown at next year's MRA convention. Here is last year's MRA Memorial Slide Show.

Meanwhile the search that prompted the call has an added homicide investigation as police pursue the possibility of foul play.

Thank you and farewell

July 18, 2004

This morning brought the sad news of the passing of Scott Johnston, 30 of Redlands. Johnson was one of five people in a vehicle responding to Joshua Tree National Monument to continue the search for a missing hiker. The five were in a county Suburban and were hit head on by a Ford Ranger that crossed the center line.

The tragedy is a somber reminder to those who have dedicated a part of their lives to this wonderful pursuit just how dangerous it is. Even the most careful of responders counts on a great deal of good fortune in making it home each time they are called to serve. In the brief time that I too was a part of this wonderful line of service I can count many times were the safety margin was razor thin and perseverance and good fortune have more to do with the outcome than wide safety factors that all would like to claim.

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