Topic: Well, My Fellow okies and others in the Central US. (Read 8118 times)

Sirgod · « **on:** January 31, 2011, 06:23:41 pm »

News guy just said coldest weather in 15 years is hitting our state, mostly in OKC, and on up through Tulsa, towards Vinita/Miami.

I suppose , just try and check in here on this thread so we know all is safe for ya the next few days.

Stephen

Fedman NCC-3758 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 31, 2011, 07:58:33 pm »

Al Gore must be in town eh?

Sirgod · « **Reply #2 on:** January 31, 2011, 08:22:43 pm »

LOL, well I appreciate the joke, but I made this out of general concern for our members here bro. I know it is a pretty good sized storm through Middle America, and of course, I worry about peeps I have known here for well over a decade now.

Stephen

manitoba1073 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 31, 2011, 08:43:27 pm »

Yea, its hitting us tuesday night. calling for 2-3in an hour downfall for upto 6+ hours.

Bonk · « **Reply #4 on:** January 31, 2011, 08:45:24 pm »

Oh this is gonna be good.

(Kinda like how Toronto will never live down calling in the Armed Forces to clear snow a few years back...)

Lemme check the temps and see just how wimpy...

It is -20°C here tonight. (Environment Canada) A good freezer temp.

I just checked NOAA, OKC is 0°C tonight. /Me slaps knee and chuckles. Good one Stephen.
Oh wait... its -1°C now...

I've dug through more snow this week than you guys will all year. Probably moved several tons by hand today alone.

I saw this thing on TV a while ago where the Canadian Armed Forces were doing cold performance research (standard manual dexterity tests at -27°C) I couldn't believe how wimpy they were. Yeah, maybe they are all Olympic class long distance runners - but not so tough, not so tough at all. (Probably too many from Toronto, lol) -27°C is not that cold. I perform optimally at those temperatures actually. The machine can run full tilt with no cooling requirements and minimal rehydration.

I just came in from outside, I have to wash my hands in cold water (which feels quite warm) hot water is painful. Mind you, I did come close to getting frostbite on the toes this year, but that is just poor circulation due to age and smoking. More exercise will fix that.

Ever read H.P. Lovecraft's Cool Air? Sometimes I think that is me.

Sirgod · « **Reply #5 on:** January 31, 2011, 08:56:46 pm »

LOL With Bonk.

Yeah, we don't get it like they do up north, that's for sure. But that is kinda what makes it risky for us down here.

I swear, we went from Grass fires all weekend, to a blizzard with 3-4 foot drifts expected, in like 2 days. Not to even mention all the dang Earthquakes out here lately.

I still remember though 2009, when we where caught unaware, and had power in the state off in some places for 3 weeks. Of course, the biggest problem I had was just boredom, as I can kill a tree and cook in the fireplace.

Stephen

Bonk · « **Reply #6 on:** January 31, 2011, 09:05:07 pm »

Quote from: Sirgod on January 31, 2011, 08:56:46 pm

I still remember though 2009, when we where caught unaware, and had power in the state off in some places for 3 weeks. Of course, the biggest problem I had was just boredom, as I can kill a tree and cook in the fireplace.

I kinda like it when the power goes out . Sometimes that "boredom" is good. (so long as you still have some kind of heat... but at -1°C all one needs is some wool socks and a cosy blanket.)

marstone · « **Reply #7 on:** January 31, 2011, 09:14:50 pm »

Yeah we have been having -13F for awhile now. Colder sometimes. But if you are bot used to it alittle cold can be a PITA.

Bonk · « **Reply #8 on:** January 31, 2011, 09:19:40 pm »

Just don't leave the beer in the trunk!

(thinking back to days of youth when we had to drink fast before it froze...

No wonder vodka is so popular in Russia

)

Sirgod · « **Reply #9 on:** January 31, 2011, 09:23:33 pm »

Heh, when I was a young punk kid all of about 13, My Friend Tate, Mike, and I had gotten ahold of some vodka, and decided to put it in the freezer to chill it real fast.

Needless to say , we got busted, when the bottle exploded all over the place, and marinated all the meat in there during the thaw.

Reminds me of another thing, I bet some of our Korean vets can recall. Remember all the warnings not to fill up the Fuel Drums to the top with Diesel?

Stephen

Bonk · « **Reply #10 on:** January 31, 2011, 09:35:04 pm »

Quote from: Sirgod on January 31, 2011, 09:23:33 pm

Reminds me of another thing, I bet some of our Korean vets can recall. Remember all the warnings not to fill up the Fuel Drums to the top with Diesel?

Got me curious there... I thought water was the only compound to lose density on a liquid to solid phase transition?
edit: wait a minute... I have a hard time seeing diesel freezing at all... getting really thick... but freezing?

Quote from: Sirgod on January 31, 2011, 09:23:33 pm

Needless to say , we got busted, when the bottle exploded all over the place, and marinated all the meat in there during the thaw.

Methinks your vodka was watered. Or one darn cold freezer. 40% shouldn't freeze before -40°C (wild guess - gotta go look it up now... I want to know. A bottle of vodka is expensive!)

edit: I see 40% freezes at only -23°C. I'm surprised. That freezer must have been about -25°C then. http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/ethanol-water-d_989.html

We've got the tractor tires filled with Calcium Chloride solution. That should be good be good down to -35°C.

We used to make "moosepiss". Recipie: everyone raids their folks liquor cabinet, takes one inch from every bottle and replaces it with water. Then mix it all when we meet up. Nasty. Nasty. Just nasty.

Disclaimer: of course, please drink responsibly (if at all). Looking back, I do not recommend underage drinking at all. If only had that liver now...

Sirgod · « **Reply #11 on:** January 31, 2011, 10:00:14 pm »

Yeah, on the Diesel thing man. It's the same for most off road truckers in cold climes. What happens is it turns to jelly, and expands in cold temps.

as for the Vodka, I couldn't tell ya how cold the freezer was, my god that was almost 30 years ago. well 27 years I suppose. I can tell ya my Butt was warmed up pretty good though after the fact.

Stephen

Bonk · « **Reply #12 on:** January 31, 2011, 10:05:11 pm »

Quote from: Sirgod on January 31, 2011, 10:00:14 pm

Yeah, on the Diesel thing man. It's the same for most off road truckers in cold climes. What happens is it turns to jelly, and expands in cold temps.

Expands. Far out. I must read up on that.

Quote from: Sirgod on January 31, 2011, 10:00:14 pm

I can tell ya my Butt was warmed up pretty good though after the fact.

Proper ting!

Sirgod · « **Reply #13 on:** February 01, 2011, 12:20:08 am »

Here ya go buddy.

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091218090711AAzz5a1

Like most fuels, diesel is a mix of hydrocarbons, and the components have different freezing points. For Number 2 diesel, as the ambient temperatures drop toward 32 degrees F (0 degrees C), it begins to cloud, due to the paraffin in the fuel solidifying. As the temperatures drop below 32 F, the molecules combine into solids, large enough to be stopped by the filter. This is known as the gel point, and generally occurs about 15 degrees F (-9.5 degrees C) below the cloud point.
This wax then forms a coating on the filter which results in a loss of engine power. The same thing happens on starting an engine when the temperature is below freezing. The filter becomes almost instantly coated with wax - usually, enough fuel gets through to allow the engine to idle, but not attain operating RPM. There are two common ways to overcome this: one is a diesel additive, the other is a fuel heater.
In Alaska and other colder climates, lorries are running regularly at minus 51 degrees or lower so as you see it depends on additives and heating but to freeze as in turning solid you would need laboratory conditions as nature cannot go cold enough to freeze to a low enough temperature.

I can only imagine what it was like during the Frozen Chosin days.

Stephen

manitoba1073 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 01, 2011, 12:30:53 am »

damn noobcakes, vodka is for girls. real men drink Everclear.

Kreeargh · « **Reply #15 on:** February 01, 2011, 12:58:06 am »

I hope for the best for all.
No matter what i say its all - on me so screw it.

On another note/ Sorry to bitch but damn east coasters ,yea all that side of the divide use something other than diesel to warm the masses of asses up Grow a damn tree cut it up for firewood!!!!! Your NOT the WEST you got water to waist but DONT use it for tree farms that can be a plenty, but where does the water go

to fill up the damn ocean. Renewable does not mean anything any more i guess?????? Opps cant do that so well freeze then. Want food and life

its hard to run a farm or a road truck to ship food fuel to masses
at these costs

: Food or heat take your pick? Yep media dont say that they just wine about it all

End of bitching. I guess we all have to work for nothing so a few can rest in peace.

Kreeargh · « **Reply #16 on:** February 01, 2011, 01:00:38 am »

Quote from: manitoba1073 on February 01, 2011, 12:30:53 am

damn noobcakes, vodka is for girls. real men drink Everclear.

Everclear is just a market idea get the real hooch

manitoba1073 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 01, 2011, 03:57:15 am »

Quote from: Kreeargh on February 01, 2011, 01:00:38 am

Quote from: manitoba1073 on February 01, 2011, 12:30:53 am
damn noobcakes, vodka is for girls. real men drink Everclear.

Everclear is just a market idea get the real hooch

About 10 bucks for a 5th and guarenteed to be clean. I'll stick with store bought.

Bonk · « **Reply #18 on:** February 01, 2011, 06:14:44 am »

Kreeargh, the problem is that money grows faster than trees in the Northern hemisphere. There is no financial motivation for sustainable development practices. Irving however, does have a number of replants (in view of the roads)... and I know people that make a living at tree planting during the season. (You have to be one tough bugger). So while it makes no fiscal sense, we do it anyway. So there will be something to cut in 26 years. (but almost all of that wood goes for pulp and paper... and then there was that whole softwood lumber tariff issue with the US... still in place?)

More and more people here are getting windmills and solar panels. Canadian Tire has a cool deal where they include a pro install to code and the works.

Everclear? Whassat? A 90's white rapper?

If you're serious about booze: http://www.comalc.com/uGrades.php 95% = zero hangover. Comes in a teflon lined 55 gallon drum. Requires a license. As pure as ethanol gets. While very strong and smells lovely, it does not get you very drunk. After drinking a quantity of 95% you discover that it is not the alcohol that messes you up so much in regular commercial drinks, it is all the aldehydes and ketones - they really mess with your head (and liver and kidneys).

95/5 can be used to make nice liqueurs. Stronger than 95/5 should not be consumed as the ethanol water azeotrope is 95/5 - anything stronger will have benzene or other similar co-distillates present in trace amounts. The general rule is if it clouds water, don't drink it. (Ouzo is one example of such a poison - darn tasty one - actually doesn't give me a hangover either, despite the fact that it clouds water).

Interestingly, the rat oral LD₅₀ for ethanol is 7.06g/Kg. Not that much. 0.7%.
http://www.comalc.com/msds/pdf3/MSDS_English_Ethyl_Alcohol_(95)_Feb_2011.pdf
Calcluating that out for a 180 Lb man: 81Kg * 7.06g = 577g -> 577g * 1/0.8101g/mL = 712 mL = 0.75 US quarts of 95 % ethanol to kill 50% of men in my estimation. Sounds about right. Powerful narcotic ethanol is.

Booze and cold don't mix. Almost every year they find someone frozen solid in a snowbank somewhere.

marstone · « **Reply #19 on:** February 01, 2011, 06:54:56 am »

Keep it clean, make your own.

Bonk · « **Reply #20 on:** February 01, 2011, 07:02:58 am »

I've often thought of building my own still. I could do a bang-up job of it. All glass. ($$$) Of the value added products I could produce on this land, spirits would be a good one. But a cold press for seed oils would be just as good an investment. I could make beautiful oils. The problem is shelf life of the really healthy ones though, most people get put off by them because what they buy on the shelf is rancid. (hmmm... a degasser and a nitrogen headspace bottler might help - I wonder if anyone is doing that?)

Nemesis · « **Reply #21 on:** February 01, 2011, 06:08:14 pm »

Quote from: Sirgod on January 31, 2011, 06:23:41 pm

News guy just said coldest weather in 15 years is hitting our state, mostly in OKC, and on up through Tulsa, towards Vinita/Miami.

Stephen

So it is true, Hell has frozen over.

This must mean that you Stephen (aka You BASTARD!) are responsible for the blizzard forecast to blow into my area from the States. My coworkers mostly called in to say that they weren't coming in due to weather (which hasn't arrived yet) so I was the only one who made it in and got sent home.

Sirgod · « **Reply #22 on:** February 01, 2011, 08:11:30 pm »

LOL, it's times like this I miss Fluff.

Stephen

Nemesis · « **Reply #23 on:** February 02, 2011, 01:58:41 pm »

It does look like we are only going to get part of what was threatening. Seems like we had 6" or so over night and today and tonight shouldn't add more than another 2".

The winds did blow off my bike cover though, hopefully it will turn up under the snow somewhere (I had a short ladder sitting on top to anchor it that was blown a few feet away). Fortunately I have a spare and it is covered again. I also had to turn off its alarm as the winds kept setting it off.

Sirgod · « **Reply #24 on:** February 02, 2011, 03:27:16 pm »

Here's the funny thing Nem. I have zero hot water still. Now mind you I have one water line coming into my home from the well house.

Toilets (both) work fine. Back Sink and tub/shower work.
Kitchen sink no go, but the laundry room just 10 feet away, works fine.
Master bathroom, toilet is good, no water in dual sinks, shower or tub (We have a jacuzzi tub on one end, and a Huge shower on the other.)

I've looked under the house, and don't see any broken lines. It just has me scratching my head big time, esp. since we had the water running before the storm came through.

<shrugs> at least I have my Coffee and Tea, and can flush when I'm done. But it has my baffled.

Speaking of wind, Heard on the news, that a Trampoline went berserk in Edmond due to the wind. Had Emergency services trying to catch the thing as it went from a neighborhood, to the streets, to the highway LOL. Wish someone would have had a camera.

Stephen

Bonk · « **Reply #25 on:** February 02, 2011, 04:11:39 pm »

Quote from: Sirgod on January 31, 2011, 06:23:41 pm

News guy just said coldest weather in 15 years ...

Strains of "Mandolin Wind" echo in Bonk's ears...

Javora · « **Reply #26 on:** February 02, 2011, 06:53:55 pm »

We got about 16 inches of snow here, but otherwise we are ok.

Bonk · « **Reply #27 on:** February 03, 2011, 05:19:52 am »

This was three years ago (attached). This year the banks are about half the height. When I was a kid they would routinely reach the telephone wires. So really, it is not so bad this year. Pretty light in fact. (Though snow never feels light in the shovel after about the fourth ton...

)

Sirgod · « **Reply #28 on:** February 03, 2011, 09:51:58 am »

Looks like we got some news out Of Miami , OKlahoma that went National.

http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=13962302

MIAMI, Oklahoma -- The westbound lanes of I-44 on the Will Rogers Turnpike east of Miami remained closed due to an SUV that drove off the turnpike into the Spring River.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says the vehicle was westbound at the time of the incident.

Troopers say for some unknown reason, it drove off the bridge bridge into the frozen river.

"They hit probably in a more shallow area, but that's all frozen water there," said News On 6 pilot Will Kavanagh, at the scene in SkyNews 6.

Miami Fire and Rescue and the Oklahoma National Guard were dispatched to assist with the rescue of the eight people that were in the vehicle.

The fire department lowered a basket over the bridge to the vehicle.

OHP says six people were on top of the vehicle and it is believed that two were inside the vehicle when rescue crews arrived on scene.

OHP says the westbound lanes remained at this time.

Westbound traffic out of Missouri on I-44 is being diverted to state Highway 71 south to I-40 and then west.

Eastbound traffic on the Will Rogers Turnpike was not affected.

---------------

Watching it over on our local CBS and FOX stations, (flipping back and forth.) 2 of the 8 have passed away. One of the interesting things, is they had a Dive team out of St. Louis there real fast. So they had to have flown them out , no way the roads could have been that clear to get them there that fast.

Stephen

Bonk · « **Reply #29 on:** February 03, 2011, 02:44:28 pm »

Eight people in an SUV?

I sure hope they weren't kids. Sad story.

Makes me think of some kind of indoor winter driving training facility for folks in the south, kinda like those indoor ski hills. Everyone should experience the joy of doing donuts in the snow, and gain winter driving confidence and smarts in the process.

Sirgod · « **Reply #30 on:** February 03, 2011, 04:00:21 pm »

It certainly wouldn't hurt to have a facility like that.

Yeah, It's kind of odd, and I'll have to see the footage when the 5 news come on, they say it was an SUV, but it looks to me , to be a double cab Pickem up truck.

Of course with all the snow and ice, It could just be the angle of the camera also.

as far as I know, it was adults though, thank god. Still 2 deaths, is 2 too many.

Stephen

marstone · « **Reply #31 on:** February 03, 2011, 09:48:51 pm »

Suburban holds eight (nine if bench front seat).

Brush Wolf · « **Reply #32 on:** February 04, 2011, 08:42:24 am »

I think it is a Chevrolet Avalanche. Since they are almost useless as trucks calling it an SUV fits.

Sirgod · « **Reply #33 on:** February 04, 2011, 11:37:30 am »

Ahh ok Brush. That makes sense then. Kinda like that old Car/Truck the El Camino of years long gone.

I guess SUV's also kind of took the place of station wagons.

Stephen

Brush Wolf · « **Reply #34 on:** February 04, 2011, 04:00:39 pm »

Quote from: Sirgod on February 04, 2011, 11:37:30 am

Ahh ok Brush. That makes sense then. Kinda like that old Car/Truck the El Camino of years long gone.

I guess SUV's also kind of took the place of station wagons.

Stephen

The El Camino/Ranchero actually were useful in that they were more like a station wagon with an open cargo area. There are still several manufacturers that make wagons however most of them sell for high prices or like the Subaru Outback seem to be rarely sold or traded until they have in excess of 200,000 miles on them.

I like my Explorer and have been more than happy with the fuel mileage, 16.7 at 75, from a 5.0 and the full-time AWD system.

Sirgod · « **Reply #35 on:** February 04, 2011, 06:14:25 pm »

One of the last trucks I had was an old FOrd Explorer, and I loved it. The thing was a tank.

Anywho, Turns out my pipes burst today, so I have a plumber (god willing) coming out tomorrow to fix them. I can just imagine the cost.

Stephen

Brush Wolf · « **Reply #36 on:** February 04, 2011, 11:23:37 pm »

Quote from: Sirgod on February 04, 2011, 06:14:25 pm

One of the last trucks I had was an old FOrd Explorer, and I loved it. The thing was a tank.

Anywho, Turns out my pipes burst today, so I have a plumber (god willing) coming out tomorrow to fix them. I can just imagine the cost.

Stephen

Ouch! I suggest either wrapping your pipes with insulation or putting heat tape on them. The disadvantage with the heat tape is you don't want to turn them on unless the pipes are likely to freeze. Also if you are worried about the pipes freezing leave some of the taps running.

Sirgod · « **Reply #37 on:** February 04, 2011, 11:51:11 pm »

Heh, That's just it. The pipes where wrapped, and laying between the bottom floor, and a foot of insulation... Uhm kinda like this...

Floor_____________________________

Pipes----------------------------------

Insulation **************************

Still, something on it broke, and it has to be the weather. At least I hope so, it's right under the laundry room area to boot. I figure I'll get some warm cloths on as soon as I see sun, and shimmy underneath the house. Cut away the insulation, and get a better look.

Stephen

Kreeargh · « **Reply #38 on:** February 05, 2011, 12:10:50 am »

I bet it was a joint a T or 90 near the glue spots or the joint its self broke. Is it pvc or metal and plastic flex tube trailer pipes? Those seem to break more in the center of the plastic lines at the lowest spot vrs the joints on pvc. Though i did have a 6 foot crack on a pvc line in the center one year .

Sirgod · « **Reply #39 on:** February 05, 2011, 01:18:46 am »

The Pipes underneath are PVC, however, they do go up into the trailer proper with Plex.

The storm of 2009, Led me to have to replace the kitchen fixtures with PVC as opposed to Plex.

Sometimes, I just miss aquaducts.

Stephen

News:

Topic: Well, My Fellow okies and others in the Central US. (Read 8118 times) var addthis_config = {"data_track_clickback":true};

Topic: Well, My Fellow okies and others in the Central US. (Read 8118 times)