midwest of the ocean

~ Monday, August 12, 2024

Many students, musicians, artists and other slightly desperate people find their way to the orchards for the few months of labor tending the apples. This starts in May with the thinning of the clusters of green apples so that just two or three are allowed to develop unhindered.

If you are fast and dedicated, the farmer might keep you for the next process called propping. The limbs get so heavy that the orchardist must support the limbs with sticks of old apple limbs specially harvested for this purpose.The rest of the summer is spent irrigrating and driving fertilizer sticks around the roots. One disturbing thing is the amount of poison these farmers put out to control the rats that come at night. This is a waste of money designed by the Monsanto people to make money. The tactic is selling by fear. I often thought this to be counterproductive since these critters are easily trapped in a system called Have a Hart box traps. This is how gypsies help the farmer. Their gift is rodent control. The gypsy has ferrets that are all muscle and slender enough to enter the rats lair and ferret the rats out of the orchard. The ferret is a ferocious little critter. Yet it becomes docile around its handler. Ferrets are especially good around barns and corn bins. In just one night, this soldier will clear the premises of the rat problem. There a few types of ferrets like the black footed ferret and soats which are a smaller variety and much less aggressive. These critters make excellent pets that will guard your children with their lives. The other way is with big cats easily trained to hunt at night. These cats can be had for free at the local humane center. The deer are simply part of the ecosystem and help fertilize the trees. The human scavengers are easily controlled and should be allowed to use the ground fruit for food. These folks are probably useful as workers and hardly a significant factor in the bottom line.

These ideas would keep the orchards flourishing and healthy with a better, safer product to offer the public. The housewife has the ultimate say on Apples. The market place rules the orchards.

All one has to do is show up and start networking to get a placement with an authority from the Employment Center out there in apple country. Once you get a placement you get housing and a very small stipend for food. Eating communally helps a great deal. You work 8 hrs a day then get ready for the next day. I found Lake Chelan area to be the most hospitable with the nicest growers who are truly concerned for your well being. You work in a group. You are given a ladder to carry. This is systematic work that pays minimum wage. This is good decent work for the younger guy or girl who needs extra money for school or children. The work is challenging but you soon become stronger being in the bright sunshine. I always enjoyed the night time gatherings over the open fires and music, singing and fellowship in the work ethic. Just go and see for yourself.

posted by Jefferson at 2:44 PM

I had the chance to fly to Fiji from Burnaby in Vancouver to visit Ba town. One of our visitors had relatives in Ba town who would welcome me. From there, I traveled to Ng which is home to the Ng Temple where the Cobra is emerging from the ground. At night, the temple worker scrapes away more soil and enhances the carving little by little. What a fool believes is beyond my comprehension as I continue to travel onward. One night, a women invited me to visit a remote community that still maintains the old traditions of ancient native Fijian culture. It was a short boat ride under a full moon with the phosphorescence trailing our little skiff. Truly astonishing were the 100 percent native Fijians dressed in loincloths living in grass huts cooking on open fires. These are the last traditionalists in Fiji.

The slit drum was sounded upon my arrival. This drum is used for everything. Different rhythms tell the island what is happening.
They sleep on dirt floors and have no contact with anyone outside of the community. I was the exception because my guide explained who I was and that I come in peace. They immediately prepared food for us. Fried fish and coconut creme, fresh fruit and vegetables wrapped in banana leaves roasted over a pit typical of the South Seas Islanders.
With morning about to break, we began the trip back on smooth waters with the moon setting and the first glimmer of sunrise forming on the horizon. I continued on to the small village of Mata ni Wai on the northern shore on Vanua Levu.

I met the Chief who had a staph infection on his foot. I took him to the hospital in Lambasa and got him antibiotics. I soon was treating everyone. A new born also had a massive staph infection. In his sleep, he kicked his legs outside of the moquito netting. His legs were swollen and he was howling. I immediately forced the parents to take the infant to the Medical Center. I ran around until I found a doctor who would see this infant. She was alarmed and put the child on an antibiotic IV drip as soon as she saw him. It is amazing how fast she got that infection under control. I soon was treating all the children.

One morning, the Grandfather of this little girl was pleading for help. The poor child was covered in sores from mosquito bites that got infected with staph. All I had with me was triple antibiotic ointment I bought at the Chemist for 7 bucks. I dabbed it on each and every infected sore. I told him to lay her down for a nap. A few hours passed. He brought the child to me again. A miracle had occurred. All her wounds were healing. Her fever was gone and the poor thing was now smiling.
I was given the chance to go spear fishing with the bruddahs. That evening the village had a massive feast in my honor. The way to know you are being honored is the fish head is given. I then passed it to the guys who showed me how to suck out the brain and eyes. I was glad to finally have some protein food.
While fishing, I decided to wait in the launch because exerting in the heat would soon exhaust me. There was a little island called Sou Sou that I thought to walk to on the sand bar forming on the falling tide. I spied a papaya plant and found a convienient bamboo pole to knock it down with. I stepped on the palm fronds. I was intently focused on the fruit, I felt something move next to my foot. I lept back. I saw the tell tale white and black of the deadly sea snake. I was standing on a pit of vipers. They come ashore to sleep and warm their reptilian bodies. Their teeth are small but if you get bitten you die in hours. No chance of survival. I thanked God for giving me awareness and the presence of mind to forget the hunger and leave the tranquil waters of Fiji.

I prowled the docks looking for transit yachts in Suva. I found another ferro cement home build with a young couple sailing the South Pacific looking for a third crew member. Yippee.....Was I lucky or what? The only requirement was I stand watch on the dreaded graveyard shift. I had no choice.

The transition from day to evening into the night was the most intriguing experience to have alone in the cockpit while the rest of the crew enjoyed their time sleeping. I would flip on the spreader lights to check the sails and look for the telltail luff at the edge of the sail. This flutter indicates a full and by surge for maximum thrust. In doing so, one attracts swarms of flying fish that are attracted by the bright light. These schools of fish would come hurtling over the rail like mini torpedoes hovering almost stationary, eye to eye with me for a moment in complete startlement. They finally banked away back to the watery world they emerged from a few seconds before. Some would get tangled in the rigging and fall helplessly to the deck. I would collect these for a nice breakfast for the next morning's feast.

We were headed to Nuku Alofa in the Northern Group of the Tongan Isles. I had applied for a job there at the International Hotel before leaving Burnaby.. When we shoved off we almost immediately ran into bad weather. One of those tropical depressions was forming into a Cyclone. The luck of the Irish.

We anchored in a fiord for the night and let the thing blow itself out. The next morning the ocean was in turmoil. Don and Linda decided to pull up the hook and go for it.
The waters are cobalt blue and very cold despite the latitude. We were close hauled and running hard against the confused seas. I was thrilled to be at sea again. I liked to put on the spreader lights because they attract fish at night. I drove the boat into a school of flying fish as big as salmon. They came flying over the rails pausing in midair. This great fish with huge eyes in a startled expression stared at me for a few seconds then returned to the sea. In the morning, there were quite of few fish on deck, perfect for breakfast. It is really hard to starve on the ocean if you have the presence of mind to take advantage of every situation. One of the overlooked feasts grow on the undeside of the boat. Barnacles and various edible seaweeds abound. Put on that facemask and get dinner.
One night. I spied a huge light coming over the horizon. It kept getting larger and larger. To my untrained eye it appeared to be a masthead light on a freighter. I quickly jumped down the hatch and woke Don out of a dead sleep. He jumped up poked his head out and chuckled. Venus rising is all he said. They had a good laugh in the morning as I fried up those fish and went to the rack that was still warm from their bodies.

We pulled into the Ha-api group of the lower string of islands in Tonga. Now protected by the surrounding islands, we could reflect on the pumice field we passed through spewed out from the many undersea volcanoes in these latitudes. Nuku alofa was a short 500 miles away.

As we pulled into the channel that eventually led to our destination, I spied another yacht anchored out. We decided to hale this yacht. We were immediately invited to dinner to trade information.

Their boat was in need of repairs and the only a boatyard that could perform repairs was in Suva where he had come from. The transom was rotting away. This is common in wooden ships making different landfalls. She is very nice schooner from British Colombia. The dinner of giant clams and fresh fish was special. I felt at home for the first time in my life.

I also had an ear infection that was getting worse. They told of a priest who treats the people in Neiafu.

The only thing was no money. He asked me to build him a back staircase out of cinder blocks. Deal....Since there was no cement, all I could do was stack the blocks into a stairway. I high tailed it to the International Hotel run by a Kentuckian.. .. about the meanest man I have ever met. The job was to paint the entire hotel white over and over again. I built a crew and started painting and painting. For over a month, I labored at this miserable job. One day, A high tech aluminum yacht pulled into the moorage. They came to have lunch and ridiculed me as I dangled from a ladder. I tricked my way onto this vessel and we set sail for the Capital on Tongatapu. Glad to leave that awful job. He never paid for my work but claimed the bar bill needed to be covered. Criminals all.

This was a motley crew of inexperienced seafolk on this salvaged ship. There was no food on board. The baby was stressed. The Captain was Swiss on the run for smuggling dope from Afganistan. His wife was Creole from the Caribbean Islands. We immediately recognized each other and had lots to talk about.

Forced to fish or die, I brought hand tied lures that I had made up in Honolulu months ago. We rigged up a sailboard mast with a clothespin and threw my lure overboard. Soon enough, a juvenile dorado started trailing it. The skipper put the helm over to slow the boat down. This gave the fish time to catch up. He took the bait. We hauled in a beautiful rainbow of a fish. As he slowly perished his bright colors became greyish. The giant fish stew was the best I ever tasted. With that lucky catch our trip was now set.

We dropped anchor offshore of Tongatapu. We immediately heard the squealing of a piglet being invited to dinner.

Sailing is about the most boring of activities especially long distance ocean voyaging. Best to make sure you can get along with everyone. The skipper can be a prick especially if he drinks at sea as many do. There are many who go to sea just to drink. Not even joking about that one. I bought my passage for 1 k. As soon as I forked it over the skipper bought 20 gallons of Popov's Vodka and nailed it into the cabin floor where he had his rack. Off we go with some of the ports opened so when we heeled over the main salon was flooded. Not a promising omen. Valhala is the next port or so it seemed.

Lori joined the crew at the last moment. The temperment changed a great deal with a woman from Minnesota aboard. As soon as we cleared the islands, I spied some type of vessel approaching us from the stern at a high rate of speed. As it got closer we could see the conning tower of a US sub on the same course heading of due south or 180 degrees on the Compass Rose. The skipper in all his mastery, thought his sailboat had the right of way. Little did he realize, it does not apply in open water. He finally saw his mistake and jumped down to start the engine. It would not start. I came down to help him saying fuel or electrical. This gave him the idea to check the connection to the battery. Sure enough and a hallelujah it roared to life. Lori calmly steered us out of danger. As the sub roared by, the commander looked back at us floundering in his gargantuan wake. The dead fish were caught up in the turbulence of that moment.

We got organized and hoisted the mainsail again, making our way to American Samoa. The waters there are filled with sharks.

We first made landfall at Palmyra atoll. There we got to explore and play. The island had been a military base. When the war ended the sailors left everything to fend for themselves. Two dogs called Army and Navy appropriately had become the fulltime occupants of this exquistely beautiful island paradise. They learned how to survive by chewing open coconuts and fishing for juvenile sharks using their legs to lure the critters in close. Working as a team, they would bite the dorsal fin and with a mighty action fling the thing onshore where it subsequently succombed just a few feet away from salvation. The dogs were smart. The would eat the organ meat first.

There was an inland lagoon filled with bonehead fish and giant mussels in knee deep crystal clear water. The surrounding vegetation held the nest of the blue and red footed boobies. You could walk up to the nests. The birds were unafraid. You are the first human they have ever seen.

The bottom of the lagoon was filled about a foot of dissolving shells from the many seabirds that fish here and discard the remains and the empty shells. It was like walking in a mush of oatmeal. I continued my circumnavigation alone. On the north shore, I came across pillboxes and other war relics. In the quiet surf was a wing of a corsair that was probably trying to land on the long runway but crashed into the surf. Its wing bore the emblem of the US Air Force. As I continued on, I turned to the Southside and decided to take a look at the life in the ocean. In the distance, was the Two Palms island. I had my mask with me. As I stepped into ankle deep water I bent over with just the mask getting wet. I was astounded.

Among the varied colors of coral heads that created valleys, Buffalo fish swam in great schools or herds if you will. There were wrasses and other colorful reef dwellers. Suddenly a bull shark saw me and made a rush towards to where I was standing. I jumped back just in time, shutting off that movie. There is danger at every step in paradise.

The skippers had been out spearfishing. They had quite a catch to barbeque that evening on the shore.

I elected to sleep after a long day hiking around the island. Glad I did. The next morning everyone who had eaten those fish were sick having been poisoned by the common fever from the coral called Ciguteria. The fish they speared were of the variety that eat coral which is poisonous, thus gaining protection from predators. Any predator dies a slow painful death. AFLfter many generations they learn which fish eat the coral.

The rest of my time was taking care of the sick. The only way to recover is to drink copious amounts of water. That was easy. The huge rainwater reservoir that soldiers built was still intact. Thus, the reason so many boaters come here. This is one of the only freshwater holdings in the South Pacific that is open for free use.

posted by Jefferson at 2:37 PM

After a few drunken dinners at the Marina we retreated to the free moorage at Keehi Lagoon. All was ready for departure. Brian took advantage of my advice and visited the Campus library and found detailed charts of Palmyra Atoll. He xeroxed everything and even blew it up into a giant foldable chart that was essential for making land fall there. Everything was stowed, the lines coiled and we slipped away before sunrise. As we heeled over on a starboard tack the portholes began taking in water. Brian had forgotten to dog down these very important fresh air ports. Took us most of the morning to put things right again. The slosh of the massive waves were beginning to affect me. I climbed on deck to lay down in the shade of the mainsail on the rough surface of the coach house. I noticed a small speck on the horizon due North. I continued to observe this speck that was quickly overtaking us. It was becoming clear we were on a collision course with a US Navy sub.

I pointed this out to Brian. He immediately uncovered the engine and tried to start it. Nothing. I suggested it could be electrical. We jiggled the terminals. Suddenly the engine roared to life.

We began motoring out of harms way just in the nick of time. The skipper of the sub looked startled as he stormed by us within hailing distance. His wake almost caused us additional issues. What a scary start to an otherwise tranquil beautiful blue sea voyage.

Next stop American Samoa. These islands were the home to the tuna indusry. Massive amounts of tuna are caught in purse sein nets. As the nets close the dolphins are trapped as well. It became my goal to teach as many fishermen the technique of backing down on the net driving the cable underwater giving the dolphins a chance to escape.

Soon we were back at sea headed due South over some of the deepest areas of the ocean. Brian accidentally left the windlass crank at the mailsail. It eventually wiggled lose and hit the deck on one bounce lept overboard much to our dismay. It was probably still vibrating as it buried itself in the bottom muck where thousands of ships from centuries past lay resting and decaying.

When we arrived at Palmyra, Brian decided we should go for a row around the lagoon. I was leaning back taking in some sunshine with my hands on the transom. Brian calmly mentioned I should pull my hands in. There was a black tip shark trailing the dingy and was about 6 inches from my fingers. I jumped as if already bitten. Welcome to Palmyra Atoll.

After a few hours onshore, I decided to go for a stroll on the shoreline. The tiny Fairy Terns were hovering over my head completely fascinated at this new creature on their beach. These birds had no fear because of their innocence and immense curiosity. It was a remarkable introduction to the nuances of being the first to be seen by these creatures.

On my walk, I brought my face mask hoping for a quick swim to cool off. I walked to the edge of the shelf of the lagoon. I put my mask on and thought it better to have a look first. Glad I did. In that moment, I saw a bull shark rushing the shelf to greet me. I jumped back startled at the agressive nature of the ocean. In that glance, I saw huge Buffalo fish schooling around the coral heads. The colorful reef fish were providing cleaning services. The wrasses were numerous and equally busy looking for food in this magnificent panorama of deeply intriguing colors that almost lured me to my untimely death. Danger lurks at every step along the path.

I continued on around the island. I eventually came upon the wreckage of a Corsair that had apparently crashed trying to land on the runway. The US insignia was still visible as a testament to the brave flyers who defended the country.

Along the beach, were pillboxes that guarded the north shore from the attack which never came. I soon completed my circumnavigation of the island finding many of the legendary coconut crabs that look like tree lobsters. I was exhausted so I swam out to the ship and soon was fast asleep.

Everyone was ashore preparing to roast the fish they speared. I was invited but chose to miss out on this free feed. Glad I did. The following day, everyone was sick and vomiting from Cigutaria poisoning.

The French MD who had arrived that morning was instantly put to work treating this new malady. It was Brian who shot this huge parrotfish that eats coral which is how the Cigutaria gets inside the fish. Some say it is a protective adaptation. I say it is the revenge of the ocean creatures. It takes three days of drinking clean water to finally rid oneself of the poison. God intervened on my behalf once again. The huge resevior provided a fast way to purge these posions. Unlimited fresh water is a treasure in the vastness of the ocean. This is what Palmyra Atoll is famous for. The largest freshwater reservoir in the South Pacific. This was built by the US Navy Seabees many years ago, before the War in the Pacific. When you study this in detail you come to realize this is a vast desert with few oasis.

This is why Palmyra attracted mariners and the US military during the war years. They built the huge reservoir that held millions of gallons of fresh rain water that falls daily on these shores. What joy to have fresh showers anytime you wanted.

There is a huge lagoon near the landing strip full on giant bonehead fish. These yatchies traveled all the way from Honolulu just to catch these fish, Florida style. It was not hard. The fish will go after anything thrown their way.

I was interested in the Blue footed Boobies nesting around this huge lagoon. These nestlings are comical birds who constantly squawk for food from the parent bird.

There are Red footed Boobies too but they have their own condominiums and keep to themselves.

The bottom of the lagoon is a soft mush made from the eons and eons of shellfish consumed by these birds. The salt water dissolves these shells combined with the intense heat from the glorious sun.

During the heat of the day the black tips cling to the bottom of the anchorage making it safer for a quick dip, a really quick dip, as it turns out. Most of the yatchies bathe at the foot of the ancient boat ramp the Navy used as a landing strip for water taxis. That gives them at least 10 feet to react to a shark attack.

Lori went on a diving expedition with the young Frenchmen who came in with a blown mainsail. They were diving from the inflatable Zodiac that everyone seems to have in the South Pacific. I was watching through binoculars when each one of them shot out of the water almost in a standing position. The 18 ft bull shark was circling the tender. There is less than 3 mm of rubberized canvas separating you from a bloody death. No one wanted to go diving again. I was getting used to these ocean threats.

I climbed up to the spreaders to have a look around. I got the bright idea to swan dive. However, I forgot the first rule of Murphys Law. What can go wrong will go wrong.

I should have rocked the boat before making that plunge. I had the leverage but not the common sense of a turd. Luckily, I missed the hull by mere inches nearly ending my South Seas adventure as a blood splat on the deck. When God is protecting you he really is protecting you.

I got my first haircut from another yatchie who had the skills. She was recently married to a French sailor. Man, was she voluptuously beautiful. Being cared for and touched by a elegant naked Parisian was almost too much for me. Then I remembered all the sharp tools she had at her disposal. I calmed down.

The 6 weeks few by. The nightly parties ended with the sunsets while the mantas lept from the waters close by. These creatures are huge. Seven feet wing tip to wing tip is the normal size. You only see them at twilight when most sea life comes alive trying to find that last scrap of food before darkness overtakes the ocean.

It was getting close to weighing anchor and moving on to American Somoa where Lori and I left the cruise under duress.

Brian had developed a possessive thing for Lori. She had spent the night on the French boat. Brain, in a drunken rage had rowed over in the morning and kidnapped her.

She started blowing her safety whistle which woke up the anchorage. The skippers were none too happy with Brian. They told him in no uncertain terms to deliver us to the closest port with an international airport. This was American Samoa. Pago Pago was your typical South Sea port . Tons of sharks greeted us as we stood offshore waiting to be granted entry.

I was glad this nightmare was over. The thousand I spent provisioning this nameless ferro hulk would never be recovered. Lori called her folks. They arranged a ticket back to Minnesota back to her waitressing job somewhere in the Twin Cities.

I spent the next few days visiting various towns along the coast. The little jitney buses were a trip with the artwork and the 47 rearview mirrors all gleaming in the sun. I made it to The Shark and Turtle village, took a look then headed back to Pago Pago.

I caught the big iron bird back to Honolulu and continued on to Seattle still dressed for the South Pacific. I was cold and wet, shivering like a dog when I finally arrived at the Front Door Inn. Ridden hard and put away wet as they say.

This was the beginning of the most interesting and pleasurable portion of my life. Not only was I welcomed and given a hot meal but a place to sleep, clothes and honest work as a roofer in Seattle.

I slept in a comfortable basement. I went to Bible class every morning to interpret the Word according to Love Israel who simply reads it as Love is Real. After the hell I went through this was so refreshing. I was charmed by their sincerity. The kids and the carpentry work by these men was astounding. They built everything they needed. They were master gardeners as well.

I soon was transferred to the Ranch in Arlington, home to 360 souls living in Army tents from Army Surplus. This was right up my alley.

There were barn dances every Saturday night with live devotional music continuing on until the Sunrise Services on the Lake.

They served the best coffee in the world. The Daily Grind was another Bistro they frequented for the finest beans imported from all over the planet.

These barn dances were meant as a gift of fellowship. Each member had a specially given name taken from the King James Bible. All the good ones like Honesty and Goodness as well as Frankness and Integrity were given to the Elders who led different groups of families. Some were loggers, some were musicians, others were bakers and candlestick makers. The skilled were assigned names like plowmen who cared for the string of Belgians horses that were massive but so incredibly gentle.

We started building better housing like the yurt on a platform. The structures had visclean windows that let in the glorious sunlight. The latticework was built with pop rivets then covered with heavy canvas of white sail cloth.

We eventually built a huge bathouse sauna complex out of the milled cedar we were producing. What a joy to get a warm sauna after a day of hard work on the ranch. It finally burned down because of some needless reason. Cedar readily burns.

I managed to live with each and every family group. I was there for two full years before being forced to leave. The hep was taking a toll. Everyone now had yellow eyes.

I left for medical treatment in Bellingham. And subsequently placed in Needhams Nursing Home in Bellingham.

After finally overcoming this illness, I decided to see if I could get in University. I was accepted and began a work/study program which led to a career in Radio Broadcasting. I was given freedom to design shows. My specialty was children's radio. The Golden Bear Airshow was immensely popular. I was invited to Akaska to expand the show there. Suddenly, I became a sensation. Teachers were bringing their 1st graders to see how radio shows were produced. I was praised but never got to a salaried position.

I coulda been somebody. LOL

posted by Jefferson at 1:50 PM

Free thinkers are going the way of the dinosaur. It does not have to be that way. Once you have a good idea stick with it until it comes to fruition. This is easier than you think. Once you are in that resting position simply direct your thoughts to figuring out how it could be used to benefit people.

I was reflecting on how the medical community might use high frequency pulses to destroy plaque build up in arteries especially the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle. These tiny vessels plug up causing something called angina which is the basis for a heart attack. When these vessels are blocked suddenly one suddenly feels a sharp pain radiating down your left arm. You are in deep trouble and need immediate care. Lay down and place an aspirin under your tongue until help arrives.

A treatment is available. One needs to weaken the crystalline structures with medication. Once that is accomplished use the same technique in kidney stone treatment by immersion in a water tank. The purpose is to transfer the high frequency pulses through a viscous material aiming the direction to a tighter focus on the heart area. Then very carefully turn those structures into sand-like debris that is easily transported by the blood to the kidneys where it is excreted from the body. This could be done in a series of treatments to insure its effectiveness.

Good results? Continue...Questionable benefit...stop and address those issues but never give up trying to find the right combination. It certainly beats open heart surgery which is risky and many times unwarranted. Death comes from the unknown condition of the patient. This is why having your medical records easily obtainable is essential.

. I got to thinking about sciatica. I came up with an idea to relieve the constant pain by using a simple protective sleeve device of plastic that is heat sensitive so that it hardens at a certain temperature once it is configured around the nerve. First you make a strip then coil it like a ribbon like a spring so that it can be placed around the nerve root that is being pressured as it emerges from the spine.

This could be easily done with a big syringe designed specifically to introduce the ribbon around the nerve root. Simply expose it to ultraviolet light as a dentist would do to harden it into the exact configuration needed. This is just one of the many causes of sciatica but could certainly improve outcomes with a simple surgery to install the protective sheath simply and easily. This does not have to be some grand surgery, Using a oversized hypodermic needle built specifically for this installation would make it certainly bearable on an outpatient basis. Of course you must treat the infection but once that is resolved the sleeve should prevent more irritation and pressure on the largest nerve in the body. There are four insertion points in the spine of the lower back. You first need to isolate the location. There are tests for that. Out patient surgery is so much more tolerable than hospitalization. Another thought is to soften the bone with vinegar by locally injecting small amounts to the spur that is causing irritation.

I also proposed the exhaust bubbler which is a absurdly simple device to scrub pollutants from car and truck exhaust. This is not a hard concept to get across but I haven't been able to spread this concept effectively except in www.blogger.com. Water is simply changed on a weekly basis in the vertical tube which could be just about anything. The muffler shops could install them in vehicles in a retro style. They don't have to be appalling. They could be clear plastic. If they could help reduce air pollution from gas cars.... why not?

If you study those tall chimneys of industry, you will see that a simple ring on the inside with spray nozzles built to withstand high temperatures to knock down most of the pollutants that these industries give off. There is nothing wrong with sharing good ideas...
.
The proof is in the testing. So I challenge any thinking individual to build a prototype to demonstrate the efficacy of such an easy solution. It doesn't have to affect performance issues or gas mileage. What comes out when you change the water is an oily black mess that clearly indicates pollution. I just made someone rich with my idea.

I already tried the Governor of California. This is what happens when you invent something and it gets lost in other ideas. I guess Arnold was too busy that day when he got the email. I also proposed another innovative idea to put more moisture in the air which would turn into fog and eventually clouds which leads to rain. This will take a corporation to initialize the idea.

Just put saltwater sprinklers on the surface of the ocean or any body of water for that matter. That way, the water evaporates and can escape the surface attraction. Over time, the winds will carry the moisture inland. The water vapor will rise into the atmosphere forming clouds that eventually produces rainfall that is so badly needed.....We are just helping nature become more efficient.

Flying kites at sea can give a new perspective on where you are especially if you mount a go pro camera. One could also mount solar voltaic cells since they make them now of flexible light plastic. One could also configure a kite that collects rainwater which has the advantage of never coming in contact with anything that would sour it. You could even turn a kite into a wind turbine by flying a kite shaped like a circular fan that tumbles in the air.

Those bike generators are small enough to get aloft and supply a trickle charge to the battery. The technology is there. Just put the pieces together.

Encapsulate an ultraviolet light emitter and swallow it. It will kill many infections in the body.

Installing high intensity ultraviolet lights in the Emergency Room and Surgical Suites could vastly improve the control of bacteria and viruses that are constantly plaguing hospitals. I often thought this would be effective in kennels as a test facility because unless you prove effectiveness, it turns into what's called the long con...

I visualized exoskeletons before they were ever invented by the military. I was working on a project to keep older people safe while walking in the hospital with air bag technology. A vest that would inflate instantly around the hips as soon as there was a rapid change in its vertical position. It could cover the head as well. It would certainly be startling but break a fall. Hospital floors are hard as rock. Why is that?

Playgrounds here are covered with a soft material that is spongy to walk on. On those recovery units, a lane could be developed along the wall where this material is applied. These lanes could be cordoned off so that those gurneys could still roll on the hard surface. Not only would this be useful for the patient but give the nursing staff a chance to utilize the freed up time for those charting episodes so needed.
I brightened upon the idea of equipping wheelchair-bound patients with exoskeletons to get them standing then walking a bit just to get the body organized by effort. No one took me seriously and I lost my initiative to produce this idea. It is still a viable concept.

I see that the army developed an exoskeleton for soldiers. Guess they have been reading Popular Mechanics which is full of new ideas. Give credit where credit is due. The original idea was mine though.

Would earthquake detection be easier if you put a sensor down a deep well? Some drilled wells go really deep. Just suspending a movement sensor in an unused well could give a somewhat earlier warning than conventional,"honey the ground is shaking" kind of alert. One could use a dry oil well or water well just as easily. A small transmitter floating on water deep inside earth would give geologists enough of a warning to begin issuing alerts. This could save many lives.

Just today, I was lying on the cement floor when I felt slight undulations. At night, I can hear the scraping of rocks over sand very deep in the earth. I woke up thinking about this since my senses were extended while resting. When I don't hear this for a period of time, I surmise it got stuck and will eventually break free sending a shock wave to the surface. Sure enough, it seems to happen that way.

I designed a magnetic hull crawler for steel container ships. This crawler would have flexible electro-magnetic tank treads designed to hold through rugged conditions. It could be configured in different modes for other purposes. Inspection would require super lighting and an excellent video camera. If you plan a maintenance expedition you could mount hot water jets to blast off the hull growth that affect speed and fuel consumption. One could mount a bulldozer type scraper on the front. By preparing the surface with a shot of bleach one can kill or disable growth so it loosens its grip on the hull. You could end the dependency on bottom paint thus cutting maintenance and downtime for repairs. The newer bottom paints can be applied underwater.

This machine does not have to be big. It could have a low profile so that it clings to the hull like a limpet. Such a tool would have multiple uses. It could be turned into a bottom painter as well.

This is a new idea. I've been in situations when a hull crawler would have been useful. It could be tethered with electrical power or powered by compressed air like a pool crawler that is used extensively in American pools. Those pool crawlers run on vacuum suction. Surely, someone would come forward and help me develop this invention.

Being a lifeguard in my youth brought to mind a rescue device that could be deployed by a drone that would drop a life ring to a tired swimmer who had been carried away by tidal action or some other calamity. It could be used remotely from the lifeguard station driven by a joystick. A mounted video camera to access the distress level of the victim and a voice link to the lifeguard so that he can advise and direct the rescue procedures to even a child. A comforting voice is sometimes all that is needed to change the outcome of a bad situation. Summoning a watercraft takes time. This would certainly be a ready sentry for all waterfront rescue decisions. There are already working models in other parts of the world.

Are you embarrassed by 'ahem' flatulence? Why not try a pair of my carbon embedded underwear to absorb all those noxious odors one can produce when battling a bout of gas? This is another very marketable item for the savvy man or woman who wants to distribute a fine product.

We call it Thunderwear. Is that thunder you are hearing? Must be.....no odor Strategically placed carbon packets next to the hole in question will eliminate and possibly mitigate any embarrassment you might have at public gatherings, Thanksgiving dinners and special occasions when the guest shows up with his load of gas to distribute. Sliders, as the silent killers are called, would be a thing of the past. Put an end to the silent killer in your shorts. It could even branch out into carbon embedded sofa cushions. Restaurant seating could have carbon discreetly positioned to hide the most revolting fumes humans can create.

Another medical idea I had was to encapsulate an ultraviolet transmitter small enough to swallow. Ultraviolet light is used in food processing centers to control bacteria. My idea was to create an adjunct to antibiotic therapies which just might give the body enough of a chance to heal itself. There are many types of diseases this would work for. Stomach ulcers and tumors would get into the light, so to speak and heal themselves. Worth a try...I have no money....The device would be returned in the fecal mass.

I really want to eliminate johnny wands which means up close and personal with the turd world. In its place I would install a maceration device that breaks up fecal matter so it passes through the tubes without the manual help. A maceration device can be retrofitted in standard plumbing. These things do not have to be very big to do the job of septic sanitation. Even that giant hamburger you ate...well, you know what happens when that monster torpedo gets stuck in the tubes. Break out the Johnny Wand. With the maceration equipped toilet bowl the problem can be solved with the flick of a switch. No more assuming the position of amateur plumber.

No one has ever thought of helping young mothers with their stroller management. Simply install an electric motor with a quick release in the push handle like those self driving lawn mowers. This will lock up the wheel so the carriage does not roll away on a downhill. Great for San Francisco or Seattle. I work for kisses from young mothers...

Spray on medical gloves would give hospital personnel added protection if used in conjunction with the standard latex glove. In the operating room in certain situations the dexterity would be vastly improved if a surgeon could feel his way rather than rely strictly on eye sight and luminescence.

An emergency cast can be made out of a plastic soda bottle and heat gun. Simply cut the ends so you have a tube. Slip it over the affected limb. You could wrap the limb in some sort of cloth first. Then slowly heat the plastic until it shrinks forming a cast once it hardens. The trick with broken bones or bone bruises is immobilization.

Not to change the subject but since I am here, I thought I'd share an idea that has been ruminating around my brain for sometime. Today I noticed in Popular Science that they can recharge a battery wirelessly, specifically on drones. Why not advance the technology and translate solar energy to electricity via a microwave from dirigibles covered with solar voltaic panels flying high in the suborbital atmosphere then beam the energy collected to a radio tower that then translates it back into electricity? Shades of Tesla.... This will be done by someone, why not you?
I just read the Chinese are working on such an idea. Wonder if they have been reading my blogs?
Then in even higher orbit, one could focus a giant lens, much like a magnifying glass on a specific spot on earth such as one of those heating towers for steam generation. As the population grows and land becomes scarce such a concept would allow a lower maintenance cost thus freeing many acres devoted to solar energy for people to enjoy or light up a city during emergencies in the dead of night. A Fresnel lens would be easy to unroll and focus the sun on a specific area...just a matter of technology.

My feet get cold in the winter. I had the bright idea to cut an old sleeping bag in half thus forming a snug footsie that could be used during the day when sitting at the computer. I thought this to be a money making item should I ever get the chance to present this to a company like REI.

Keeping buildings dry during rainstorms could be accomplished with compressed air. Simply put a spinner on a tube and much like an umbrella. The compressed air would blow the raindrops away from the building. A smaller version could be designed for personal use. This device would work for snow as well which could be easily mounted on baby carriages, shopping carts, electric wheelchairs and the like..

The America's Cup is one of the world's great contests in sailing. I often wondered how hull speed could be increased. Keeping the boat in a more upright position would certainly make the hull more efficient as it plowed through the waves. I got to thinking about how a Gyroscope maintains its vertical orientation despite being knocked around. It suddenly hit me that a giant gyroscope built into the mast and concealed as a table would certainly add force to the upright position of hull thus making the boat go faster. An electric drill could be applied to the outer edge to add more rotations. The whole structure could be incorporated into the dining salon at the foot of the mast. Bearings would be the key and a well balanced gyroscope with the correct weight would counterbalance the force of the wind on the sails thus giving more forward thrust. However, this assemblage might be construed as mechanical thus, disqualification and complaints from other 12 meter skippers. There is no reason that the average sailor would not benefit greatly by the stability that a gyroscope would provide.

Another wild invention involving helicopters. To get more lift simply extend the rotors. This could be done by mounting the extension on bearings so that it is able to swing freely and more rapidly than its parent rotor blade. This could be a retro fit for existing helicopters that need to extract rapidly as in the case of rescues at high altitudes in rugged terrain. Something to ponder if you are into aeronautics.

The oceans are rising. There is only one thing to do.. Get rid of some of that ocean. I was thinking about that problem when I remembered a scientific experiment involving centrifugal force. Please hear me out and I know what you are thinking....conjecture..

Many experiments weren't even tried because of negativity. So stop with those negative waves. Space is not that far away. Man has laid millions of miles of pipes underground. Why not build a giant pipeline to space out of PVC? It does not have to be straight up but follow the curve of the earth and inline with the rotation so that once you reach the threshold of space the momentum of rotation will be flinging water out of the tube using the siphon principal. You can set this up mid ocean so there is no chance of interference. Even on a remote island to anchor the base with a pumping station.
You continually add sections until you have enough tube to reach at least the troposphere or higher. Then slowly lift the tube in place via dirigibles until it reaches the highest elevation possible.
Turn on the pump and start the flow. The outfall should carry away into space leaving a trail of water in Earths' wake to be dispersed. Ten years of syphoning should lower the ocean levels to tolerable levels.
Sure... you would have to screen out organisms like fish and seaweed. The diameter does not have to be large bore for the first go. Over time replacement tubes could be assembled. There could be many stations like this all over the globe. This is not science fiction. This is a plumbers dream come true. Ok the salt might be a problem but it should stay in solution. The stabilizing of the oceans can be solved.

The other way is freezing or water vapor which means heating the water to near steam. the volume is certainly reduced therefore a slower discharge. then there is a tendency for condensation which means all that water could fall back to earth as rain but that is not a negative. The Earth could use more freshwater. Remember what can go wrong will go wrong.

Eventually, you could even electrolyze the water into its components of Hydrogen and Oxygen when recombined produces fresh water.. This will make the transition to a gravity free environment more likely....You choose.

I thought of inflatable fall protection for the elderly when I was at Mayo. These devices would protect the hips and head even the knees with a simple mercury switch that would activate the CO2 cartridge the instant the patient went from vertical to horizontal. This whole system could be controlled from the nursing station and deactivated when the patient returns to her bed. This is a really good idea.

Tubing the ocean through black plastic to the desert would evaporate a great deal of ocean if directed into evaporation areas thus the minerals could be harvested. The evaporated water could be turned into water vapor eventually becoming rain clouds. We need the fresh water. Mexico is using this evaporation technique for salt production. It could be easily modified to manage the ocean levels.

When I was younger...much younger in my first year of college at UNO I thought of a way to produce energy without the oil rigs and clutter my brother was into. Mine was simple. It involved an idea I heard about from Dr Heronymous of MIT. Electrolysis had been proven for some time. Mine was on a grander scale. It involved producing electricity through wind power then using the electricity to split water into its component parts....Hydrogen and Oxygen. This could be done on a remote island. I chose the Chandeleur Islands off the Louisiana coast. It was a grand vision of huge electrodes in great retort vessels separating the Hydrogen from the Oxygen by attraction. Then collecting the gases into railroad tankers without wheels and then form a train of these cars to be towed to the mainland. The Hydrogen would provide the fuel...the oxygen could be used in many ways such as hospitals and welding firms. Stored O2 will always have a place here on earth.

I had envisioned a building built on a circular slab with a roof that lifts up with the use of hydraulics salvaged from car garages. That way, you could get to know the prevailing winds and maximize electrical production. I brought home a windmill that I discovered at an old farm. Always piece by piece. Putting the many parts together is part of the experience. There were many obstacles. Capital for one was a remote possibility. The oil companies were of no help and almost destroyed the research. Competition is killed off in America. My ideas were very threatening to the board rooms of America.
Today, with the advent of reliable wind turbines, this idea might be tried again since the need for alternative fuels is no longer resented by Big Oil. They could certainly set up an electrolysis station on abandoned oil platforms. This would take America into the 21st century no longer dependent on foreign oil. Something to reflect on should you read and feel the need to heed.

Got to thinking about removing salt from the oceans again. There must be a way to do this without changing the oceans dramatically. So one thing led to another...Reverse osmosis is a tried and true method. Why not cover a Buckyball with A Reverse Osmosis membrane and toss it in the ocean? You could corral them together. What might happen is fresh water would accumulate inside over time to be collected for consumption. With a little practice and a whole lot of determination one could give ocean going people a way to survive in the great desert of the world's oceans. Just a thought....One could also create a membrane as a sphere then enclose it in a floating buckyball so it is protected from collision yet still in contact with saltwater. Over time these floaters could be retrieved by using a GPS locator blip. Experiments need to be done as how long the membranes last exposed to the violent oceans. Not all areas of the oceans are turbulent. bays and estuaries are calm. Just another idea . The membranes could be expensive so getting the costs down is essential.

Many times, I've seen cops struggle to find a flat place to write their reports in the field...Why don't we manufacture a desk-like structure that flips up or pulls out from the trunk or hood, complete with a light so they can make corrections fearlessly. Many times, a judge will throw out a court case simply because of illegible handwriting. This could be a retrofit much like those trays that drive in restaurants use. There must be a spot on the patrol car that could be turned into a shelf for writing.

The Jefferson Umbrella is a rather interesting concept. A spinning stream of air held over the head is the essential concept. Batteries in the handle and the desire to stay dry is all you need.

The other idea is a spinning air under pressure would sure blow the raindrops away. A small compressor in the handle run on batteries should provide enough force to keep you rain and snow free.

Compressed air could also be used to keep buildings dry or whole streets free of rain.
The technology is there already. High pressure air can do the trick.
Ultraviolet light is the way to control these viruses. There are many possibilities. A light bar designed to be lowered into the throat so that irradiates the vulnerable lungs reducing the viral load thus giving the body a chance to clean up the rest of the viral stragglers with a boost to the immune system. Certainly worth a try. They put tubes down the throats all the time so they can see the problem. FYI

Encapsulate an ultraviolet emitter in a swallowable sized device and have the patient ingest it.... wait three days for the return of the device.
If you are concerned it might get flushed, apply a fecal bag to retrieve the highly valued device.
There are full spectrum florescent lights available. We installed them in a restaurant in Burnaby. They worked nicely but were expensive. People certainly benefited from the exposure to full spectrum light mid winter. Sunlight is how the body builds Vitamin D in the skin. It is a chemical conversion that all mammals perform in sunlight. Notice the cat relishing the sunbeam.

Spray on medical gloves that could be used surgically. These gloves could be washed off easily with a special soap. Therefore reapplication is easy. Dexterity is enhanced thus fewer accidents. Worth considering... call the lawyer.

Electrolysis of water is certainly becoming a reality. Consider this...Installing solar electric panels on high flying balloons that electrolize rainwater or water vapor thus producing oxygen and hydrogen..

What this will do is add much needed O2 to the atmosphere. The same could be done on terra firma even at homes. This might be of great benefit to homeowners in places such as LA where pollution is the biggest problem. Open an oxygen bar for sufferers.
What's wrong with creative thinking.

Many cops struggle with an arrestee's possessions sliding off the hood of the patrol vehicle. Why not make a portable flip up desk mounted appropriately....... like those trays at the old style drive ins of the fifties? Or clip to the push bar or flatten the hood so things are not sliding away? This is a very good idea that will benefit law enforcement tremendously.

Since the oceans are rising why not get rid of that volume by tubing it to space?

After you stop laughing hear me out... There is enough PVC pipe to reach space now. If you know anything it is roughly 8 miles straight up. Surely we could assemble 8 miles of tubing and lift it to space using drigables that already exist. A pumping station on barges could push the water into space. Sure it will take a bit of time. Have you ever seen a pool being emptied? The ocean levels will fall. Then turn it off. Worth a try....

Another beautiful idea in case the world is destroyed. One could build a sphere out of fiberglass big enough to fit your family. You then build a life ring around the middle. Fill it with survival food and water enough to wait out the fires and earthquakes. Open the hatch and greet the new day; the first day of the rest of your life. you could build the sphere out of metal if you have welding skills. You could include portholes and a fresh air tube that floats in case you become submerged. Aqualungs would be essential for inspection and repairs as you wait for landfall on some remote tropical paradise well away from the planets destruction. The ocean is the safest.

Inversion might be a challenge and a full on mess. This is why you might need a second hatch on the opposite side. The float ring could be large enough for fishing on calm days and it could be used as a jogging track. One could make the sphere out of tempered glass fitted in a framework similar to a buckyball. We make waterproof windows why not configure the sphere out of wood then inlaid with safety glass that resists impact? As a start you could use auto glass that is curved enough to fit the bill. Buy a case of Sikaflex and stainless steel screws and get to work cutting and fitting, gluing and screwing, painting and scraping your way to a floating home that is uniquely suited for planetary disasters.

The ocean is your bathroom. You could mount solar panels and wind generators. It is not that far fetched to install a mast and sail.

I just thought of a way to open watermelon without those big knives. Think of a glass cutter and that tiny wheel. Notice the depth of the rind. Now make a cutting wheel with that dimension in mind. A pizza wheel might work just as well. All one has to do is start cutting with the wheel safely buried in the melon. Call the lawyer.

The melon is then easily twisted into two halves. Even a pizza slicer could be used as a demonstrator of the concept. Simply call it a new name and sell it wherever watermelons are sold. This would work on all melons like cantalope maybe on other fruit as well.

Sharp knives need to be made obsolete. These weapons cause more injuries in the kitchen than a burner stove. It would speed up food processing tremendously.

What if parking lots could be built with a vacuum system that sucks debris out of the car with just a simple connection? It could be enough to even suck body waste since toilets are in short supply.

Living in an airship is a real possibility. The great Zeppelins were suited to stay aloft for months. Why not try to build an Air City made from zeppelins? Four could be joined together to form a rectangle then a foundation could be laid in the middle using lightweight girders. Once that is achieved, other lightweight dwellings could be built, always mindful of the weight issue. These structures could be built above the 5k ceiling, well away from the normal flight of commercial jet traffic. One could organize these structures on the ground eliminating the many tendencies to increase the load.

Water could be harvested from the clouds. The sunsets would be astounding. This is a breathairean's dream come true. One could even build with synthetic spider silk which is about the lightest and strongest of natural design. This could be woven into supporting cables that could stand the test of time.

There could even be service planes that hook underneath the dirigible. These could serve as delivery vehicles or taxis. Soon enough, you would have a floating city high above the clouds. Water could be collected from passing clouds. Energy could be gathered by what is called long lining which is simply trailing a wire to collect static electricity as well as the occasional lightning strike. Men who have scientific intelligence would automatically be recruited. Only the thin need apply. This would further the evolutionary cycle and benefit the direction of mankind. Food could be grown in jars like alfafa sprouts and mung beans. Yogurt would become popular made from powdered milk. Protein powder would be a food source.

A hydrogen or helium generating system would keep everything in balance and aloft.

I think we could see this in the near future.

An umbrella that uses compressed air to deflect raindrops could be designed with a rotating sprayer at the end of a handle. The compressor could be in the handle.

Now advance the idea and scale up the compressor to protect buildings from snowfall accumulations and other fallout such as ash fall from brush fires or rain.

It just a matter of time to develop practical ideas that are not shot down by the nay sayers.

I never fully understood why flywheels weren't used for energy storage. These are simple devices that are easy to build and maintain.

You can build them any size The trick is the central hub. Bearings these days have been perfected. The auto industry has mastered bearings. One could start with a simple design and build up in mass to an astonishing size. This is the closest we have come to perpetual motion.

Ballooning and Dirigibles are overlooked as a possible home in the skies

posted by Jefferson at 1:36 PM

Cassava is grown in the poor regions of earth. It is easily grown and will continue to send out rhizomes even after harvesting. It is a perennial plant capable of producing a huge harvest if left to flourish in a sunfilled spot with adequate water and fertilizer. Even rocky areas can be utilized to produce manioc which is its other name.

It is a fast growing root crop high in iron which makes it an ideal food for women and children since iron is a major component to building blood in the human body.

Cassava also know as manioc is a starchy vegatable that can be cooked in many ways. The easiest way to cook this vegetable is by soaking it in saltwater overnight then baking it on the coals of an open fire. Usually the husk gets carbonized but that's alright since carbon absorbs many impurities in the body including heavy metals.

Once fully roasted and cooled, one then opens it like a potato to remove the long fiberous string at the center of the tuber. One could add soy sauce or a few drops of hot sauce.

One can boil the tuber or simply cut it into chunks to be included in stews which includes meats and vegetables with a broth made from beef cubes. These are found in every supermarket.

The quality of the iron is a significant inclusion in every diet.

THIS IS A VERY VERSATILE FOOD THAT HAS SUSTAINED PEOPLE THROUGH SOME VERY DIFFICULT TIMES.

posted by Jefferson at 1:32 PM