Modern Vespa

Thanks!! I'm going to keep collecting degrees for now. When I have appropriate support, I'm pretty good at it. I'm doing the next 2 years completely online. We'll see how that goes. I didn't manage to go as gangbusters on scholarships for the upcoming year, but I did snag enough that I only need to worry about non-academic-related costs.

I have to wonder about the pollution from manufacture new vehicles as well as the operation of them. I'm probably wrong, usually am when I try to think, but I like to think by keeping a 1992 Harley going as well as a 2006 Ford Ranger the pollution from the manufacture of them has been gone for many years.

Everyone in the department pulled together and we were able to complete the large job right at 10am today. It's out for delivery now, so we'll easily meet the customer's deadline of 4pm today.

I also did jack shit over the weekend, which enabled me to keep my foot up. It's not 100% yet, but it doesn't hurt. Now that the big job is done, I can take it easier on it. And since this is a short week for us (we're only working today and tomorrow), I'll have ample time to fully recover.

Mercedes-Benz used to make that argument, they said for years that regardless of a vehicle's fuel consumption, the impact of manufacturing a replacement was much higher. I don't recall them ever publishing evidence to back that up, but I probably wasn't watching for it either.

I suspect that the truth of it would depend on the use of a vehicle though. The average Canadian drives 16,000km per year. If you're under the average, probably best to keep what you've got. If you're way over the average, chances are a newer, more efficient, cleaner running vehicle would have a net benefit.

Well the Ford Ranger sees around 5,000 miles a year and the 1992 Sportster probably less at least the last 3-4 years.

1.4C this morning at 7.30am. 'Feels like' was -2.3C

but we've got a clear blue sky

Jacksonville, FL typically gets over 4 inches of rain in the first three weeks of June, keeping everything green while cooling down the hot days.

But this year we had received only a half inch of rain all month, and nothing for the past two weeks.

Residents have gone to setting sprinklers out to keep their lawns from going brown.

I had an automatic sprinkler system when we moved into our house eight years ago, but never used it and it now doesn't work.

I am aware that we should abandon lawns, but they remain.

Yesterday, I was out on my scooter picking up plans for clients, then delivering them to their house when I ran into a quick rain shower.

I had to fold up the plans and put them under the seat to keep them from being ruined by the rain.

I got drenched, but was happy to see the rain.

But their house is two doors down from mine, and when I got there, it was dry, just blocks from where I got wet.

But this morning, my wife mentioned that it had rained overnight.

This morning, as I headed to the garage to get the scooter out for the ride to work, I could see that everything was quite wet and green.

It made me happy.

It might rain today too, and if I get caught while riding, I will still be happy.

Bill

Funny (and appropriate) how when we're desperate for rain, we'll take it anytime!

Happy Solstice people...

Most people count the whole day as the Winter solstice. However, the solstice is actually at a specific moment - when the Sun is exactly overhead the Tropic of Cancer. The Solstice will be at 20:51 (UTC) tonight. It will be the earliest winter solstice in 228 years - the last time it was this early on the 20th June was in 1796.

In Australia it will be on 21st...

Yup. And I'm thinking of going for a ride at the crack of dawn to celebrate. Expect about 5C when I leave

In the North our Summer Solstice in the UK is this evening at 9.51pm

From 9.52pm there will be thousands of people complaining that the nights now start to draw in

Except that doesn't start to happen until June 27th...

Ridden for 1 & 1/2 hours. Currently 4.5C at 10am and it's drizzling. About to climb another 1000m altitude.

Enjoying the great outdoors always cheers me up.

What is going on here?

This little scene was in our campsite when we arrived. Someone must have been feeling creative.

Today in Tempe it 112F. Right now in Prescott, it's 70F. That cheers me up.

Stoped on my way to work this morning to take this. Happy Friday!

It was nippy.

Full set at Country riding in Australia (Post 2689162)

They came out overnight. Stops everyone in their tracks.

My cactus went nuts this spring but it only fully opens at night. The pink flowers look neon in the light.

Stopped on my way home this afternoon to take this. Happy weekend.

Leuthhold,

In contrast, It has been raining cats and dogs here in Minnesota for two months. High water everywhere. It cheers me up because the whole place looks like the Emerald Isle. Warning to all those good folks down stream on the Mississippi River - get the sand bags ready.

Bob Copeland

This is Jeff. Jeff is exceptionally tall. Jeff makes my Downtown look like a toy.

This cheers me up.

I posted a picture 4 or 5 posts back in this thread of the amazing flowers that came out on the cactus in front of my house. So imagine you're a plant, a curmudgeonly bastard that offers nothing to any animal, mineral or vegetable and literally puts out needles instead of leaves and just stoically sits there through droughts and floods and peeing dogs (don't get too close!) with seemingly no plans whatsoever until one day, the longest day of the year, you produce the most beautiful flowers, made all the more beautiful by the contrast between your gruff manner and the sweetness of your gift. And then, the very next day, it's all over. Strange and mysterious, I'll say.

At least those don't stick like rotting flesh...

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cxxx5l0xly6o

It's all subjective, isn't it? I once got some dogshit on my shoe and while I was angrily attempting to clean it off (it's impossible on some shoes) my friend dreamily noted that the smell reminded him of being a kid in summer. I disremember what I said to him, but I do know that he deserved it.

Imagine what Jeff would look like on the cub

That's work in progress.

It is where Morph, this little fellow from the late 70's lives...?

My parents had one of those cacti in our garden when I was a child.

(They were since declared a noxious plant in South Africa.)

Last week, the Ospreys returned to the nest provided for them at Rapid City's Canyon Lake Park.

The same mated pair have been returning to, and using this nest for years. They feed off of the fish in the nearby lake, raise several chicks, then migrate south for the winter.

Very cool!

nope

When you know it was a good day

Totally unexpectedly I bought a Honda Super Cub yesterday.

It's being delivered on Thursday.

somerset

Congrats on your new Super Cub! Safe travels!

Victor

Enjoy the Super Cub.
I was thinking of getting an 80's Honda C90 after I read about Ed March and his adventures on a C90, he's covered 110,000 miles all over the world. The most produced motorbike ever with over 100 million being made and still going strong!

For Father's Day I was gifted go-go-gadget light up fingers. I just got around to opening the package.

I am now that much closer to becoming Iron Man.

I thought that too, once, but it turned out all the guy did was place a stent. Bummer.