Outdoor Fun Archives - Good Shepherd News - Fastest Growing Religious, Free Speech & Political Content

Building a Raised Garden Bed – Using 5 Gallon Buckets and a little Ingenuity

The Truth News — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 03:17:46 +0000

Bucket Gardens: Building a Raised Garden Bed

Raised Bucket Garden – Using 5 Gallon Buckets and a little Ingenuity

Raised garden beds can be an easy and convenient way to grow just about anything in a tight spot. In a small space, raised beds and container gardens can provide plenty of veggie square footage and are an easy return on your investment. When you bring a little DIY ingenuity into the mix, like one savvy McCoy’s customer did, then you can bring your raised bed container garden to life with some good-looking McCoy’s buckets, a little wood, some simple tools, and just an afternoon.

Why Plant in a Raised Garden Bed?

Raised garden beds and container gardening in general can offer great benefits. When you add in buckets, you also get durable, reusable, and low-cost materials to create your garden.

Ditch the stoop: Raised garden beds allow you to save your aching back when it comes to planting, weeding, tending, and harvesting the fruits of your garden labor.
Keep it simple: Methods like “square-foot gardening” encourage you to use a small space (say, the size of a five-gallon bucket) to plant your vegetables to maximize your garden yield. It’s easy to keep track of when you plant if you do it one bucket at a time.
Control the dirt: Instead of using existing yard soil, you can fill each bucket with exactly the type of soil, drainage, and fertilizer each plant needs.
Outsmart the weeds and pests: Weeds and hungry varmints can creep into even the most well-tended gardens. However with raised gardens and especially a raised garden bed made of buckets, you can limit the potential for those groundhogs, rabbits, and other sneaky veggie stealers to wreak havoc. You can even position it in a spot that wouldn’t normally be plant friendly (like a back porch) but does keep your veg away from nosy deer, dogs, or squirrels.
Garden in a small (or rented) space: Even if you don’t have a great yard for a garden (too small or oddly situated) you can create this handy raised garden bed with buckets for a solution you can also move or store out of season. It will even work situated on top of concrete or rocks! No yard? No problem!

Supplies for Your Own Bucket Raised Garden Bed

What we love about this customer’s raised garden bed with buckets, is it uses basic materials– available at your local McCoy’s– to create a practical raised garden bed that can be used year after year and can be adapted to four, six, or eight buckets.

Note: If you’re worried about using pressure treated wood for your garden bed, you can find more information in this article.

Materials:
- 12 McCoy’s yellow buckets
- Potting soil (choose potting soil or raised bed soil, not topsoil)
- Drainage (mulch or gravel-type rocks)
- Around 56 Galvanized wood screws
- Garden plants (grow from seeds, available at McCoy’s, or add your favorite veggies or flowers)
Tools:
- Drill and drill bits
- Saw to cut wood to dimensions

How to Construct a Raised Garden Bed with Buckets

1. Make drainage holes in the buckets: Prepare your buckets by turning them over on a stable surface. Use a drill and a ½-inch drill bit to drill drainage holes. There are two places you can add holes: on the bottom or the sides.
  1. If you want the side drainage: Add one or two drainage holes approximately one inch up the side of each bucket (2-3 holes per bucket). Be careful not to press down on the side too hard to avoid bending or cracking the bucket. Side holes allow a small amount of water to remain in the bottom of the bucket in reserve, but not to swamp your plants.
  2. Alternatively, you can also choose to add drainage holes in the very bottom of each bucket. Drill one in the center and three around the bottom edge.

Note: If you have any concerns about growing food in plastic buckets, simply poke a few holes in the bottom of a large oven-safe cooking bag (like for turkey) and line each bucket with a bag before you add the soil.

1. Cut your lumber: Your bed will consist of two rows of six buckets each. The bed “frame” will hold each bucket at the top lip and the bottom of each bucket. You will need 13 (2x4x8) treated Southern Yellow Pine boards cut into different dimensions. Use our helpful color-coded graphic for the cut list.
  - Cut list:
    - Green (six, 76”): Grab six of your boards and cut each so they measure 76 inches long.
    - Red (two, 72”): Cut two boards slightly smaller than the green at 72 inches long, each.
    - Blue (five, 28”): From two boards, cut one into three, 28-inch sections and from the second, cut two lengths the same 28 inches.
    - Yellow (six, 36”): From the three remaining pieces of lumber, cut two 36-inch-long sections from each eight-foot-long board.
2. Construct the raised bed frame: Assemble the boards using the illustration as a guide. Use galvanized screws at each point to secure the boards. Use the prepared (empty) buckets as a reference as you put together the boards, ensuring that the spaces are big enough to comfortably fit each bucket, and the board below is at the correct height to support the bucket from below. (Do not make the bucket holes too snug; you’ll want to allow for any expansion from heat over time. You should be able to insert and remove the buckets from the frame as needed.)

Using two galvanized screws at each point where the boards connect (you will need a minimum of 56), screw together the cut pieces:

- Start with the legs (yellow) and screw to the two stabilizer pieces (blue) at each end as well as one (blue) in the center. The ends of the blue should overlap with the yellow. The bottom blue boards should be 10.25 inches up from the bottom of the bed legs. The top blue should be flush with the top of the yellow.
- Next, add in the two side boards (green) on each side of the bed in line with the blue. Each blue board should butt against the green, and each green should be flush with the side of the yellow.
- Lastly, use a bucket to gauge where your inner rails (red) on the interior top should be to provide stability under the lip of the bucket on either side. Use your last two green boards as the seat for your buckets. Attach them to each bottom blue board with screws or even a deck hanger.
Add drainage material and soil: You can add drainage material to the bottom of each bucket in the form of a few inches of mulch, small gravel, or other materials including broken pottery or broken sticks. This prevents the soil and roots from compacting all the way to the bottom of each pot. Then mostly fill each with potting soil after you’ve seated them in the bed frame.
Add plants to each bucket: Add just one plant or one or a few seeds to each bucket. Tomatoes, peppers, bush beans, or bush-variety squash are all good options for containers. You can grow vine plants in a raised bed but be prepared for them to spread down to the ground, which may negate some of the raised bed benefits. You can also plant herbs, lettuce, or even carrots, beets, and other root vegetables in your buckets. Water each plant well.
Add irrigation drip line (optional): You can always water your garden manually, but if you want a bit of a hands-free upgrade, try adding a simple drip line watering system to give even watering to each bucket. You can operate this drip line either manually, or via a timer.

Get it All Together at McCoy’s

Our helpful McCoy’s staff can help you make sure you have the right supplies for your bucket garden, or any other home project you have up your sleeve. If you want to go big and make a 12-bucket version like our customer created, we can help you plan the right length lumber and make sure you have all the right materials. After all, when our customers get great ideas, that makes us really happy, too! Make sure you show off your project by sharing on social media and tagging us.

source

History of July 4th, also known as Independence Day

The Truth News — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 12:20:39 +0000

History of July 4th, also known as Independence Day

July 4th, also known as Independence Day, is a federal holiday in the United States that commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. This signifies the official declaration by the Continental Congress that the 13 American colonies were separating from British rule and becoming a new nation.

Historical Significance: The Declaration of Independence, primarily authored by Thomas Jefferson, outlined the reasons for the colonies’ separation from Great Britain, asserting fundamental rights like life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Celebration: July 4th is a day of celebration across the United States, marked by parades, barbecues, picnics, and spectacular fireworks displays.

Symbolism: Beyond its historical context, July 4th is a powerful symbol of freedom, independence, and the ideals of self-governance upon which the United States was founded.

Modern Relevance: While celebrating the nation’s birth, July 4th also serves as a reminder of the ongoing pursuit of a more perfect union, acknowledging the sacrifices made to uphold these ideals and the continuing struggle for liberty and equality for all.

The Fourth of July—also known as Independence Day or July 4th—has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution. On July 2nd, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 to the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues. The Fourth of July 2025 is on Friday, July 4.

The Declaration of Independence

We celebrate American Independence Day on the Fourth of July every year. We think of July 4, 1776, as a day that represents the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States of America as an independent nation.

But July 4, 1776 wasn’t the day that the Continental Congress decided to declare independence (they did that on July 2, 1776).

It wasn’t the day we started the American Revolution either (that had happened back in April 1775).

And it wasn’t the day Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence (that was in June 1776). Or the date on which the Declaration was delivered to Great Britain (that didn’t happen until November 1776). Or the date it was signed (that was August 2, 1776).

So what did happen on July 4, 1776?

The Continental Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. They’d been working on it for a couple of days after the draft was submitted on July 2nd and finally agreed on all of the edits and changes.

July 4, 1776, became the date that was included on the Declaration of Independence, and the fancy handwritten copy that was signed in August (the copy now displayed at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.) It’s also the date that was printed on the Dunlap Broadsides, the original printed copies of the Declaration that were circulated throughout the new nation. So when people thought of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776 was the date they remembered.

In contrast, we celebrate Constitution Day on September 17th of each year, the anniversary of the date the Constitution was signed, not the anniversary of the date it was approved. If we’d followed this same approach for the Declaration of Independence we’d being celebrating Independence Day on August 2nd of each year, the day the Declaration of Independence was signed!

How did the Fourth of July become a national holiday?

For the first 15 or 20 years after the Declaration was written, people didn’t celebrate it much on any date. It was too new and too much else was happening in the young nation. By the 1790s, a time of bitter partisan conflicts, the Declaration had become controversial. One party, the Democratic-Republicans, admired Jefferson and the Declaration. But the other party, the Federalists, thought the Declaration was too French and too anti-British, which went against their current policies.

By 1817, John Adams complained in a letter that America seemed uninterested in its past. But that would soon change.

After the War of 1812, the Federalist party began to come apart and the new parties of the 1820s and 1830s all considered themselves inheritors of Jefferson and the Democratic-Republicans. Printed copies of the Declaration began to circulate again, all with the date July 4, 1776, listed at the top. The deaths of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams on July 4, 1826, may even have helped to promote the idea of July 4 as an important date to be celebrated.

Celebrations of the Fourth of July became more common as the years went on and in 1870, almost a hundred years after the Declaration was written, Congress first declared July 4 to be a national holiday as part of a bill to officially recognize several holidays, including Christmas. Further legislation about national holidays, including July 4, was passed in 1939 and 1941. source

History of Independence Day

When the initial battles in the Revolutionary War broke out in April 1775, few colonists desired complete independence from Great Britain, and those who did were considered radical.

By the middle of the following year, however, many more colonists had come to favor independence, thanks to growing hostility against Britain and the spread of revolutionary sentiments such as those expressed in the bestselling pamphlet “Common Sense,” published by Thomas Paine in early 1776.

On June 7, when the Continental Congress met at the Pennsylvania State House (later Independence Hall) in Philadelphia, the Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee introduced a motion calling for the colonies’ independence.

Amid heated debate, Congress postponed the vote on Lee’s resolution, but appointed a five-man committee—including Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and Robert R. Livingston of New York—to draft a formal statement justifying the break with Great Britain.

Did you know?

John Adams believed that July 2nd was the correct date on which to celebrate the birth of American independence, and would reportedly turn down invitations to appear at July 4th events in protest. Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826—the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.On July 2nd, the Continental Congress voted in favor of Lee’s resolution for independence in a near-unanimous vote (the New York delegation abstained, but later voted affirmatively). On that day, John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail that July 2 “will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival” and that the celebration should include “Pomp and Parade…Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other.”On July 4th, the Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence, which had been written largely by Jefferson. Though the vote for actual independence took place on July 2nd, from then on the 4th became the day that was celebrated as the birth of American independence.

Early Fourth of July Celebrations and Traditions

In the pre-Revolutionary years, colonists had held annual celebrations of the king’s birthday, which traditionally included the ringing of bells, bonfires, processions and speechmaking. By contrast, during the summer of 1776 some colonists celebrated the birth of independence by holding mock funerals for King George III as a way of symbolizing the end of the monarchy’s hold on America and the triumph of liberty.

Festivities including concerts, bonfires, parades and the firing of cannons and muskets, usually accompanied the first public readings of the Declaration of Independence, beginning immediately after its adoption. Philadelphia held the first annual commemoration of independence on July 4, 1777, while Congress was still occupied with the ongoing war.

George Washington issued double rations of rum to all his soldiers to mark the anniversary of independence in 1778, and in 1781, several months before the key American victory at the Battle of Yorktown, Massachusetts became the first state to make July 4th an official state holiday.

After the Revolutionary War, Americans continued to commemorate Independence Day every year, in celebrations that allowed the new nation’s emerging political leaders to address citizens and create a feeling of unity. By the last decade of the 18th century, the two major political parties—the Federalist Party and Democratic-Republicans—that had arisen began holding separate Fourth of July celebrations in many large cities.

Fourth of July Fireworks

The first fireworks were used as early as 200 BC. The tradition of setting off fireworks on the 4 of July began in Philadelphia on July 4, 1777, during the first organized celebration of Independence Day. Ship’s cannon fired a 13-gun salute in honor of the 13 colonies. The Pennsylvania Evening Post reported: “at night there was a grand exhibition of fireworks (which began and concluded with thirteen rockets) on the Commons, and the city was beautifully illuminated.” That same night, the Sons of Liberty set off fireworks over Boston Common.

Fourth of July Becomes a Federal Holiday

The tradition of patriotic celebration became even more widespread after the War of 1812, in which the United States again faced Great Britain. In 1870, the U.S. Congress made July 4th a federal holiday; in 1941, the provision was expanded to grant a paid holiday to all federal employees.

Over the years, the political importance of the holiday would decline, but Independence Day remained an important national holiday and a symbol of patriotism.

Falling in mid-summer, the Fourth of July has since the late 19th century become a major focus of leisure activities and a common occasion for family get-togethers, often involving fireworks and outdoor barbecues. The most common symbol of the holiday is the American flag, and a common musical accompaniment is “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the national anthem of the United States. source

A Natural Firefall at Horsetail Fall at Yosemite Valley Briefly Every Year

The Truth News — Sat, 03 May 2025 07:25:00 +0000

A Natural Firefall at Horsetail Fall at Yosemite Valley Briefly Every Year

Hundreds of photographers gather in Yosemite Valley each year for the natural Firefall at Horsetail Fall.

Everyone there has their fingers crossed for the perfect conditions. When it happens, the sunlight streams through the thin sliver of Horsetail Falls, turning it molten orange. Shutters fire as people gasp, cheer, and hug their friends and neighbors.

Here is what you need to know about this otherwise humble waterfall in 2025, and how to catch it in full sensation mode.

When to see Yosemite Firefall?
Horsetail firefall
As the sun sets, Horsetail Fall and the wall behind it are hit by the setting sun.
During mid to late February, the waterfall begins to light up 5 to 15 minutes before sunset. However, you should plan to invest several hours to get to the right place in time.

People visit Yosemite National Park from all over the country for the natural Firefall event. That means that they are finding their spot and setting up their tripods earlier and earlier in the day to get just the angle they want. In order to navigate the parking situation and have enough time to walk out to a place where you can see the Firefall, plan to arrive in the valley in the late morning or early afternoon.

Spend the time relaxing and enjoying the already-majestic Yosemite scenery, and get to know the people around you.

The “Perfect Storm” Must Happen

Like many natural phenomena, everything needs to align for it to become a reality. First, the setting sun must be at the right angle which happens to be around the second week of February. Second, the snowpack needs to be deep enough to generate enough water flow over El Capitan. Third, the sky needs to be crystal clear. We’re talking not a single cloud or haze even near the horizon. And if everything aligns for that perfect moment, it lasts for only a few, fleeting minutes.

With such a short time window and many elements intersecting, it’s a tough sight to see. The popularity of this event has skyrocketed in recent years, from only a few keen observers to hundreds and possibly thousands of spectators each year. If you are traveling to attempt to see this attraction, be aware that there will most likely be weekend reservation requirements. Requirements are usually announced about 4 months prior to the event, so make sure to check back here for more information.

How Did Yosemite’s Natural Firefall Get Global Fame

The forecast had called for clouds and it looked like we had seen the last of the fire in Horsetail Falls for 2017. As the day passed the clouds just didn’t seem to be forming up. Last minute I made the call to run up to the park and check out the color. There was a good chance it wouldn’t happen, but I had taken my good luck charm and the sky seemed to light up just for her. It was the best of the three days I shot the falls. I have so many great shots it’s hard to choose. Horsetail was glowing brighter than I’d ever seen it.

Horsetail Fall lights up. Photo by Darvin Atkeson

While the natural Firefall event of the Horsetail Fall that happens in February has been around for as long as Yosemite has existed, no one really knew about it until Galen Rowell took the first-known color photograph in 1973 for National Geographic (Interesting aside – in or around 1952 Ansel Adams did capture what was known at that time as El Capitan Fall. But since it was black and white, the unique colorful and fiery event we know of today was not conveyed). Now with the advent of digital photography and social media, this helped propel the ephemeral event into stardom.

The Original Firefall At Glacier Point

For almost a century nightly bonfires created at Glacier Point that were pushed over the cliffs toward spectators located in Curry Village below. The idea originated inadvertently in 1872 with James McCauley, the owner of the The Mountain House at Glacier Point.. Every night during the summer, he would build a campfire to entertain his guests. To extinguish the fire, he would kick the smoldering embers over the cliff. It didn’t take long for the visitors 3000 feet down below in Yosemite Valley who saw the embers tumbling down the cliff to request the Yosemite Valley Lodge to see the “Firefall.” And thus, the Yosemite Firefall was born.

Long exposure of Glacier Point Firefall from Ahwahnee Meadow

The “natural” Firefall, is much more natural and of course, rare, depending on a good stream of water flowing over Horsetail Fall, a clear sky and the right light hitting the cliffs at the right time to produce the desired effect.

Over 25 years, McCauley kept this tradition until he was evicted from Glacier Point. As the years passed, the Yosemite Valley Hotel owner, David Curry, kept hearing visitors fondly remember that activity. So, he brought it back for special occasions. This continued until 1913, when the park service banned it due to a possible leasing dispute with Mr. Curry. Reinstated in 1917, the display continued again with a break during WWII and was finally ended in 1968 by the director of the National Park Service, George B. Hartzog. His thought, and rightly so, was that it was an unnatural spectacle that was more fitting for Disneyland than a national park.

Old poster of Camp Curry Firefall – courtesy of Yosemite Archives

While long gone, its memory is still deeply embedded in Yosemite’s history. It’s as if you can still hear the master of ceremonies, the Stentor, in Camp Curry bellowing out the following exchange with the firemaster at Glacier Point…

“Hello, Glacier Point!”

“Hello, Camp Curry!”

“Is the fire ready?”

“The fire is ready!”

“Let the Fire Fall!”

“The Fire Falls!”

It’s Horsetail Fall Not Horsetail Falls

With Yosemite being the showcase of waterfalls, the definition is important. The difference between a waterfall versus waterfalls is that if the river or creek flows off a cliffside in one unique movement or drop, it’s considered a “fall.” While “falls”, also called “cascades”, generally means there are several distinct drops or falls in a particular section of a stream. A great example to illustrate the differences – Yosemite Falls which is actually made up for three sections; Upper Yosemite Fall (a single drop), the middle Cascades, and Lower Yosemite Fall (another single drop).

The Fiery Glow of Horsetail Fall

Horsetail Fall flows over the eastern edge of El Capitan in Yosemite Valley. This small waterfall usually flows only during winter and is easy to miss. On rare occasions during mid- to late February, it can glow orange when it’s backlit by sunset. This unique lighting effect happens only on evenings with a clear sky when the waterfall is flowing. Even some haze or minor cloudiness can greatly diminish or eliminate the effect. Although entirely natural, the phenomenon is reminiscent of the human-caused Firefall that historically occurred from Glacier Point.

Viewing Horsetail Fall in Late February

Due to the popularity of the event, various restrictions are in effect during mid- to late February each year daily. The dates for 2025 are February 8 through 23. In 2025, a reservation will be required to drive into Yosemite 24 hours per day on February 8–9, 15–17, and 22–23. (Visitors who arrive and pay the entrance fee Mondays through Fridays (except Monday, February 17) won’t need a reservation.) Additionally, parking will be restricted in some areas.

To view Horsetail Fall, park at Yosemite Falls parking (just west of Yosemite Valley Lodge) and walk 1.5 miles (each way) to the viewing area near El Capitan Picnic Area. If this parking is full, park at Yosemite Village or Curry Village and use the free shuttle (which stops at both) to get to Yosemite Falls parking/Yosemite Valley Lodge.

Make a Firefall Reservation (look for tickets in January)

For more information about Horsetail Fall and parking please visit the NPS Website.

Placerita ‘White Oil’: A Crude Wonder

The Truth News — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 08:58:34 +0000

Placerita ‘White Oil’: A Crude Wonder

Placerita “white oil” was showcased at the 1876 Philadelphia World’s Fair. (Webmaster’s note: No, it wasn’t. It was discovered in 1899.) It was as clear as kerosene and able to burn 100 times longer than conventional oil. One can only imagine it caused quite a stir.

Oil production in Southern California started in the Newhall area around 1850, when natural oil seeps were crudely distilled and used as “burning oil” at the San Fernando Mission.

A quarter-century later, nearby Mentryville, some six miles east of downtown Newhall, was home to California’s first productive oil well, while the state’s oldest refinery was located off of Pine Street and produced 20 barrels of refined product a day.

But the phenomenon of Placerita white oil, a see-through form of crude oil coming straight out of the ground, is rare and occurs only in small quantities. Experts who examined it in a 1974 study for the county of Los Angeles called it “a unique geologic oddity.”

It is 83 percent gasoline and, according to local historians, it used to be put directly into early engines to make them run.

George Starbuck grew up in the vicinity of the natural seeps. As a teen-ager, Starbuck said, he would take a 5-gallon can to his great uncle Tom Walker’s white oil well, fill it up and pour the oil directly into his Model A Ford. Starbuck’s grandfather, whose cabin was nearby, built a contraption on top of the well that separated the white oil from water and natural gas.

Starbuck said he was not the only one catching freebies off the well. Others in the area knew about it and would fill up their tanks.

Just try putting crude oil in an old Model A and see how far it runs.

Close to the Placerita white oil well, another well was drilled that hit natural gas. Starbuck’s grandfather laid pipes that hooked into the natural gas line. The gas was used to light natural gas lamps in the home and burned 24 hours a day.

Starbuck distinctly remembers the peculiar natural gas smell in the home because the burners from the stove were kept on around the clock, too.

While the natural gas and white oil occur close to each other, it is not clear how they are related, if at all.

One could say Placerita white oil was refined by nature. The movement of the oil from the original source through the fine sands and clay of the San Gabriel Fault Zone created a natural filtration system for the clear, kerosene-like oil, according to the county study.

Only a fraction of the original crude oil moved from the sedimentary rocks into the cracks and crevasses within the “Placerita schist” (crystalline rocks) along the Placerita Fault.

Scientists have reasoned that the movement of the oil through the crystalline bedrock, creating the natural filtration system, was unusual.

Placerita white oil is still bubbling up today on the grounds of the Placerita Canyon Nature Center. source

White Oil Seep Do You Smell That?

Marker Photographed by Craig Baker, March 26, 2024

1. White Oil Seep Marker

What you are smelling is a pool of bubbling white oil. This very rare geologic feature of translucent petroleum has been filtered by nature. This special resource originates from deep within the earth in the Placerita Schist basement complex of rocks. Geologists have theorized that the oil traveled along the San Gabriel Fault Zone where it was filtered through various layers of sediments to get to its highly refined state. The oil is said to burn longer and brighter than kerosene and early local residents could pour it directly into their Ford Model T and Model A cars for fuel.

The Southern California oil industry started in the Newhall area in the late nineteenth century. In 1898 James Evans filed a patent on a mining claim which gave him title to the Placerita Canyon property. Evans then leased the land to the New Century Oil Co. to drill for oil. Imagine how surprised the oil drillers were when in 1900 the well started gushing white oil rather that the expected black gold! In 1901, the company entered a sample of crude oil into the Pan-American Exposition held in Buffalo, New York, which was the

Newhall near Santa Clarita in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Unfortunately, the oil wells did not perform as expected and in 1902 New Century Oil went bankrupt while drilling additional wells. The company’s stock dropped from $1.00 per share down to $0.02 per share. By order of the court, all of their oil equipment assets were seized and auctioned off by the Sheriff.

Frank Walker
In the following years, Frank Walker (1886-1971), grandson to James Evans, inherited this Placerita Canyon property and used it as his primary residence along with his wife Hortense Reynier and their twelve children. Walker invented a contraption which allowed him to separate the water, white oil, and natural gas from the abandoned well. This enabled the family to capture the oil in a storage drum and route the natural gas directly to their cabin’s kitchen stove and lantern.

Erected 2013 by Placerita Canyon Nature Center. A significant historical year for this entry is 1898.

Location. 34° 22.515′ N, 118° 26.96′ W. Marker is near Santa Clarita, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Newhall. It can be reached from Canyon Trail near Placerita Canyon Road

White Oil Seep Marker

2. White Oil Seep Marker Photographed by Craig Baker, March 26, 2024

Located in Placerita Canyon Natural Area park. Hike 1½ miles east from the Nature Center, or ½ mile west from Walker Ranch Trailhead. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 19152 Placerita Canyon Rd, Newhall CA 91321, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Walker Ranch (approx. ¼ mile away); The Walker Cabin (approx. 1.1 miles away); Oil in Placerita Canyon (approx. 1.2 miles away); Oak of the Golden Dream (approx. 1.3 miles away); a different marker also named Oak of the Golden Dream (approx. 1.3 miles away); a different marker also named Oak of the Golden Dream (approx. 2½ miles away); Chinese Railroad Workers (approx. 2.7 miles away); In Honor of All Chinese Railroad Workers (approx. 2.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Santa Clarita.

White Oil Seep – Behind the Marker Photographed by Craig Baker, March 26, 2024

3. White Oil Seep — Behind the Marker

White Oil Gusher courtesy SCVHistory.com

4. White Oil Gusher

Oil/Gas/Water Separator courtesy SCVHistory.com

5. Oil/Gas/Water Separator

Credits. This page was last revised on April 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 27, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 364 times since then and 114 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 27, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.

How Big Can Mosquitoes Get?

The Truth News — Tue, 28 May 2024 16:11:53 +0000

How Big Can Mosquitoes Get?

How Big Can Mosquitoes Get? A size comparison of mosquitoes and midges. Mosquitoes and midges are pests, tiny little pests, yet they’re the most deadly animal on the planet. Here at Mosquito Magnet®, we wanted to take a look at the size difference between some of the most common biting mosquitoes and midges. In our infographic below, you can find a comparison of size between the smallest of these blood suckers – the biting midge, to the largest of them all – the gallinipper mosquito.

Biting Midges/No-See-Ums/Punkies/Sand Flies

Biting midges range in body length from 1 – 4mm (0.04 – 0.16in) These tiny pests are often so small that they can fit through typical screens on windows and doors. In tropical regions, biting midges are known to transmit filarial worms to humans and bluetongue virus to livestock. However, even when these pests aren’t vectors (carriers) of disease, their bite can be extremely uncomfortable and some people may develop an allergic reaction. On the plus-side, No-See-Ums and Gull Midges are the only known pollinators of the cacao tree. There are 4,000 – 5,000 known species of biting midges located throughout the world in tropical, sub-tropical, sub-Saharan, temperate regions and even areas with cooler climates.

Southern House Mosquito/Culex quinquefasciatus

The Southern House Mosquito ranges in length from about 3.96-4.25mm (0.16 – 0.17in). These opportunistic nighttime feeders are known to transmit West Nile Virus, Western Equine Encephalitis, St. Louis Encephalitis, Rift Valley Fever Virus and filarial nematode. The Southern house mosquito, aptly named, enters homes at dusk to feed and rest on walls and in clothing. Mature females of the species prefer human blood. Quinquefasciatus is Latin for five-banded, referring to the banded appearance of the mosquito. Culex quinquefasciatus is a sub-tropical species found in North and South America, Australia, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and New Zealand within latitudes 36°N and 36°S.

Malaria Mosquito/Anopheles Mosquito/Marsh Mosquito

Known universally as the Malaria Mosquito, the Anopheles is the primary vector for Malaria. It is typically about 5mm (0.20in) in length and, uniquely, points its stomach upward while sitting. Anopheles mosquitoes are also known transmitters of heartworm in dogs. Approximately 430 species of Anopheles mosquitoes exist, but only 30 – 40 of those species are vectors of malaria. Many of the vector species of this mosquito have become resistant to insecticides. Anopheles mosquitoes are found all throughout the world, with the exception of Antarctica.

Northern House Mosquito/Culex pipiens

Ranging in length from 3 – 7mm (0.12 – 0.27in), the Northern House Mosquito is known as the primary vector of St. Louis Encephalitis. This mosquito also transmits West Nile Virus, Western Equine Encephalitis, Heartworm in dogs and bird Malaria. Previously considered a “bird feeder,” this mosquito has gotten the taste for human and mammal blood. The female C. pipiens is known to overwinter in caves, cellars, basements and outbuildings. This mosquito is considered to be the most common mosquito in urban and suburban areas in North America.

Yellow Fever Mosquito/Aedes Aegypti

Known to be the main vector of Yellow Fever and Dengue Fever in North, Central and South America, the Aedes aegypti mosquito is typically about 4 – 7mm (0.16 – 0.27in) in length. It is also a vector of the Zika Virus. This particular mosquito strikes during early morning and late afternoon hours when the temperature is cooler, and it is rather fond of human blood. The Yellow Fever Mosquito’s eggs can survive for up to a year if conditions were not suitable for hatching and will hatch once flooded by deoxygenated water. The Aedes aegypti mosquito is found in most regions in the tropical and subtropical parts of the world.

Asian Tiger Mosquito/Aedes Albopictus

More aggressive than its competitor, the Asian Tiger mosquito has overtaken the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in certain areas. Growing to be 2 – 10mm (0.08 – 0.39in) in length, the Aedes albopictus is a vector of the Zika Virus, and a potential carrier of Dengue Fever, Yellow Fever, Encephalitis and Hearthworm. Asian Tiger Mosquitoes are aggressive, persistent daytime biters who prefer human blood over other mammals. Their name comes from their tell-tale black-and-white striped appearance. The Aedes albopictus mosquito is found in most regions in the tropical and subtropical parts of the world and can survive a wide range of climates.

Gallinipper/Psorophora Ciliata

The Gallinipper Mosquito can grow 20 times as large as the Asian Tiger mosquito – it ranges from 12.7 – 25.4mm (0.5 – 1in) – that’s an inch-long mosquito! It is second in length only to the Australian Elephant Mosquito/Toxorhynchites speciosus, which is about 1.5 inches in length, but does not feed on blood. Bites from the Gallinipper are reported to be much more painful and this mosquito can bite through clothing. Folklore says this mosquito got its name, Gallinipper, because it seems like it takes a gallon of your blood when it bites. Luckily, this mosquito is not known to carry any diseases or parasites. It does, however, feed both day and night. P. ciliata are found in North American from South Dakota through Texas and Quebec through Florida. They are also found in South America. source

How Amazing is the Joshua Tree Find out!

The Truth News — Fri, 03 May 2024 16:19:04 +0000

How Amazing is the Joshua Tree? Find out!

Joshua Tree National Park has always had a glamorous cachet—it is, after all, just two hours away from Los Angeles, so it’s no surprise the park has a fascinating history filled with Hollywood-style drama.

1. Joshua Tree National Park includes two deserts.

Many people don’t realize Joshua Tree National Park is actually composed of two distinct deserts. The southern tip of the Mojave Desert makes up its western edge and the Colorado Desert covers its eastern and southern areas. These deserts have different elevations, and as a result, different ecosystems. The Colorado Desert’s gentle slopes receive more annual rainfall and are home to desert lavender, desert agave, and colorful ocotillo plants [PDF].

The Joshua trees for which the park is named are more prevalent in the higher elevations on the Mojave side. The densest growth of Joshua trees in the world is found on the 1500-foot Cima Dome. The western end of the park even ascends into the 4000-foot San Bernardino Mountains, home of quaking aspen, California juniper, and Douglas pine trees.

2. Despite its geological age, as a national park, Joshua Tree is a Millennial.

Joshua Tree is one of the youngest national parks in the country—it received that designation in October 1994. Joshua Tree now encompasses 800,000 acres, an area roughly the same size as Rhode Island [PDF].

It’s also one of the most popular national parks, as it’s a mere two-hour drive from Los Angeles. Its popularity has been a mixed blessing: Joshua Tree has seen an average of 3 million visitors per year in the past few years, though its infrastructure was only built for 1 million annually.

This leads to long waits at the entrance gates and crowded campgrounds. Much of the park isn’t reachable by road, causing overrun trails in the easier-to-access areas.

3. Joshua trees are not actually trees.

“Joshua tree” is a bit of a misnomer.Jon Bilous/iStock via Getty Images

The Joshua tree is a member of the Yucca genus, a genus of usually stemless succulents. They can grow up to 70 feet tall, though they can take up to half a century to reach their full size. The Joshua trees live for around 150 years, and it takes decades before their distinctive branches even begin to form.

Because they store moisture in their roots, Joshua trees are referred to as the “great canteen of the desert.” Squirrels and jackrabbits find water by chewing on the trees during extreme drought, which in turn allows hawks and coyotes to find food.

The shrub is only native to northwest Mexico and the American Southwest. Though there are still nearly a million currently growing throughout the Mojave Desert, like many other species, climate change has limited their range. By the end of the century, environmentalists predict 80 percent of Joshua trees will be wiped out.

4. Joshua trees were given their distinctive name by Mormon settlers.

The Cahuilla people call Joshua trees humwichawa. Traditionally, they used the hardy plant’s leaves and seeds for baskets, sandals, and food, and even carved out its branches for use as containers.

When Mormon settlers first arrived in the area in the 19th century, legend has it that the distinctive trees reminded them of the Old Testament story of Joshua, the leader of the Israelites who held his arms up to heaven in a prayer to God to lead them across Canaan, hence the plant’s current name.

5. Joshua Tree National Park has a long human history.

Mormons may have given the national park its current moniker, but people are believed to have lived in the area for thousands of years. The rocky landscape provided shelter, as well as springs and vegetation for food. The park still contains artifacts from the Mojave, Serrano, Chemeheuvi, and Cahuilla tribes—including petroglyphs carved into many of the rock formations. By the 1800s, cattlemen, miners, and homesteaders had begun to appear on the land.

6. It snows in Joshua Tree National Park.

Snow blankets Joshua Tree National Park in February 2019.David McNew/Getty Images

The park is known for its heat: The average high in the summer months is a roasting 100° F. But like many deserts, it can become quite cold as well, and snow in the higher elevations is not unheard of. Temperatures have dropped below freezing in the winter—once reaching a record low of 10° F in 1990 —and the park gets a dusting of snow about every year. It’s actually too cold for most cacti to grow there.

In February 2021, the park saw a snowfall like it hadn’t seen in over a decade. The snow reached not only the usual higher elevations, but also the valley floor. The Joshua trees apparently love precipitation in any form, but the snow and ice typically disappear as quickly as they arrive.

7. The cover of U2’s famous album was not shot at Joshua Tree National Park …

The black and white panoramic photograph on the sleeve of U2’s blockbuster 1987 album The Joshua Tree wasn’t shot in the national park, though the image on the inside cover is in fact of one of the trees. The famous cover was actually shot 200 miles away in Darwin, California.

On a bus trip around the Mojave Desert during the first day of shooting, lead singer Bono learned of the biblical origin of the name Joshua tree and decided to make it the title of the band’s album. The next day, the cover photo was taken in under half an hour by the now-famous lone Joshua tree in Darwin.

In 2011, a Dutch music venue manager died in Joshua Tree National Park; some believed he was searching for the spot used in U2’s album cover, after he told colleagues he wanted to visit it.

8. … The Eagles, however, did shoot an album cover at Joshua Tree National Park.

Joshua Tree National Park has a long history of inspiring artists, especially musicians. The Eagles’ self-titled 1972 debut album features a scenic sunset at the park. The photoshoot occurred during an overnight camping trip with the band and photographer Henry Diltz.

As Don Henley recalls in the documentary The History of the Eagles, Part One, “We had a bag of peyote buttons, a bunch of trail mix, some tequila, a bunch of water, and some blankets. And the seven of us set out for Joshua Tree.”

In the decades since, the park has continued to feature widely in music, voted by USA Today as one of the top musical attractions in the world in 2015. Joshua Tree National Park also serves as a backdrop in the music videos for Selena’s “Amor Prohibido,” Missy Elliott’s “Lose Control,” Ariana Grande’s “Into You,” and Walk the Moon’s “One Foot.”

9. Joshua Tree National Park is the site of music history’s most famous cremation.

One of the park’s more bizarre music connections surrounds the funeral of country-rock pioneer Gram Parsons. Parsons was briefly a member of the Byrds, introduced the Rolling Stones to country music, and discovered Emmylou Harris. He visited the park in September 1973 and died of an overdose in the nearby Joshua Tree Inn on September 19.

During the trip, his road manager, Phil Kaufman, claimed Parsons spoke of his desire to be cremated upon his death and have his ashes scattered in Joshua Tree. To fulfill the musician’s final wishes, Kaufman and his friend posed as mortuary workers to intercept Parsons’s body at the airport, stopped at a gas station for gasoline canisters, and drove to Joshua Tree National Park’s Cap Rock formation, where they doused the body in gasoline and set it on fire before being caught.

There was no law against stealing a corpse, so instead the two men were only charged with misdemeanor theft for stealing the coffin, and were forced to pay several small fines. The motel where Parsons died is still in operation and his room remains its most popular. Makeshift memorials pop up on Cap Rock, but Joshua Tree doesn’t officially recognize Parsons’s link to the park.

10. Some believe Joshua Tree National Park is a UFO hotspot.

The night sky at Joshua Tree National Park is a stunning sight, aliens or not.Schroptschop/Getty Images

Area 51 isn’t the only desert locale with an extraterrestrial reputation. Joshua Tree National Park has also been dubbed a UFO hotspot. Ufologist Dr. Steven Greer hosts “Contact in the Desert,” the world’s largest UFO conference, for three days every June in the park. The conference presents on alleged archaeological evidence of aliens and how to contact extraterrestrial life. UFO enthusiasts can even stay in a Futuro house within the park.

YOU CAN BUY YOUR OWN JOSHUA TREE SEEDS HERE and grow your own! we did!

source 1, source 2

Time to make plans to view April 8th 2024 total solar eclipse

The Truth News — Sun, 07 Apr 2024 11:20:25 +0000

Time to make plans to view April 8th 2024 total solar eclipse

The path of the total solar eclipse passes west of the Mississippi River and north of the Ohio River.

The Total Solar Eclipse of 2024 is only four months away. Make your plans now!

On April 8, 2024, the moon will temporarily block all sunlight on a swath of Earth through parts of the United States.

Areas in the path of totality will see the sky darken briefly as if it were dawn or dusk. This can make the temperature drop quickly in just a matter of minutes.

The path of the eclipse brings it into the United State through Texas, and out of the U.S. through Maine. Many major cities are in the path of totality. Nashville and Memphis will only see a partial solar eclipse.

Kelly Korreck, the NASA Program Manager for the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse, says this will be the most populated eclipse in the U.S. with nearly 32 million people just able to walk out of their home and experience the eclipse.

The next total solar eclipse in the U.S. won’t come until 2044 and will only be visible from Greenland to South Dakota. The last total solar eclipse was in 2017. No two eclipses take the same path.

Because of the rarity of the event, and the amount of people traveling from across the country and other parts of the world to see the eclipse, it is wise to start booking your accommodations and travel sooner than later.

Due to high demand, hotel rooms, Airbnbs, and other vacation rental prices are likely to increase dramatically the closer we get to April. Planning a trip now can give you a peace of mind, security, and can save you money.

Proper eyewear should be worn for viewing a solar eclipse.(space.com)

As a reminder, if viewing the eclipse, you should have ISO-certified-safe solar eclipse glasses and viewers. Viewing an eclipse with the naked eye can cause permanent damage to your eye sight. source

What’s the big deal about the April 2024 total solar eclipse? Why it’s so interesting.

The sky is filled with breathtaking wonders, but one occurring on April 8 is causing people to plan trips in droves, prompting fears of snarled highways and generating headline after headline.

The total solar eclipse on April 8 is causing such a stir because the rare event — where the shadow of the moon will plunge a narrow strip of land into darkness in the middle of the day — is an astronomical experience like no other that will be unusually accessible to millions of people.

April’s total solar eclipse will fall over more places in the U.S. than the total eclipse before and after it. And the broad length of the path of totality – where Americans have the best shot of getting a clear view – is “much wider” than it was for the eclipse in 2017, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

A total solar eclipse is also far more impressive than a lunar or an annular solar eclipse. During an annular eclipse, the moon covers the Sun but leaves an outside ring some call a “ring of fire” — it darkens the sky instead of plunging Earth into a night-like darkness, which is what happens during a total solar eclipse. And a lunar eclipse – the appearance of a red moon – happens when the moon passes into the Earth’s shadow, according to NASA.

“The eclipse in 2024 could be even more exciting due to differences in the path, timing, and scientific research,” reads a post from NASA. And like past similar natural phenomena, the eclipse is expected to elicit a strong emotional reaction from the people who see it, including from those who identify with its cultural significance.

Total solar eclipses over the US are rare: The next one won’t happen for 20 years

The next visible total solar eclipse to cross over the U.S. after April will come in more than two decades on Aug. 23, 2044, according to NASA.

And that eclipse won’t be as accessible as the 2024 one: The path of totality in 2044 will only touch the states of Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota, according to the Planetary Society, a nonprofit involved in research, public outreach and political space advocacy. Another total eclipse will pass over the U.S. in 2045 that will be more accessible to Americans, including for people who live in California, Florida and Nevada.

Solar eclipses are rare in part because they can only occur during a new moon and when “the moon’s orbit is tilted five degrees to Earth’s orbit around the Sun,” according to the National Weather Service.

This eclipse will pass over millions of people and be a short drive for millions more

NASA estimates 215 million adults in the U.S. saw the 2017 solar eclipse either in person or electronically and even more people will likely see April’s eclipse.

The eclipse’s path of totality will pass over cities like Dallas, Cleveland and Buffalo, New York. And those places will attract sky gazers from all over the country.

Searches for short-term Airbnb rentals around those areas have surged. Transportation officials in areas along the path of totality are warning residents and travelers that the eclipse could create dangerous and busy traffic conditions on roads around places with the best view. source

April 8, 2024 — Great North American Eclipse (Total Solar Eclipse)

The path of totality for this total solar eclipse runs through Mexico, the United States, and Canada.

What happens during a total solar eclipse?

Our timeanddate team will be broadcasting the eclipse LIVE from the USA.

This eclipse is visible in Santa Clarita – go to local timings and animation

What the Eclipse Will Look Like near the Maximum Point

The animation shows what the eclipse approximately looks like near the maximum point. The curvature of the Moon’s path is due to the Earth’s rotation.

Where to See the Eclipse

Detailed eclipse path map

Path of the Eclipse Shadow

Regions seeing, at least, a partial eclipse: West in Europe, North America, North in South America, Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic.

Eclipse Shadow Path

The narrow path of totality—where the Moon covers the Sun completely, causing a total eclipse—runs through Mexico (from Sinaloa to Coahuila), the USA (from Texas to Maine), and Canada (from Ontario to Newfoundland). A partial eclipse will be visible across nearly all of North America, and a sliver of western Europe.

When the Eclipse Happens Worldwide — Timeline

The eclipse starts at one location and ends at another. The times below are actual times (in UTC) when the eclipse occurs. This calculation uses a Delta T value of 69.2 seconds.

Eclipse Stages Worldwide	UTC Time	Local Time in Santa Clarita*
First location to see the partial eclipse begin	Apr 8 at 15:42:15	Apr 8 at 8:42:15 am
First location to see the full eclipse begin	Apr 8 at 16:38:52	Apr 8 at 9:38:52 am
Maximum Eclipse	Apr 8 at 18:17:21	Apr 8 at 11:17:21 am
Last location to see the full eclipse end	Apr 8 at 19:55:35	Apr 8 at 12:55:35 pm
Last location to see the partial eclipse end	Apr 8 at 20:52:19	Apr 8 at 1:52:19 pm

* These local times do not refer to a specific location but indicate the beginning, peak, and end of the eclipse on a global scale, each line referring to a different location. Please note that the local times for Santa Clarita are meant as a guideline in case you want to view the eclipse via a live webcam.

Countries Where the Eclipse Is Visible

Country	Type	Start	End	Totality Duration
Canada	Total Solar Eclipse	10:40 am PDT	6:18 pm NDT	34m, 4s
Mexico	Total Solar Eclipse	9:32 am PDT	2:56 pm EST	40m, 43s
United States	Total Solar Eclipse	6:27 am HST	4:41 pm EDT	1h, 7m, 58s
American Samoa	Partial Solar Eclipse	6:20 am SST	6:33 am SST	—
Anguilla	Partial Solar Eclipse	2:48 pm AST	4:01 pm AST	—
Antigua and Barbuda	Partial Solar Eclipse	2:58 pm AST	3:57 pm AST	—
Aruba	Partial Solar Eclipse	2:46 pm AST	3:20 pm AST	—
Belize	Partial Solar Eclipse	11:13 am CST	2:47 pm EST	—
Bermuda	Partial Solar Eclipse	3:26 pm ADT	5:37 pm ADT	—
British Virgin Islands	Partial Solar Eclipse	2:44 pm AST	4:02 pm AST	—
Cabo Verde	Partial Solar Eclipse	6:49 pm CVT	6:55 pm CVT	—
Caribbean Netherlands	Partial Solar Eclipse	2:53 pm AST	3:56 pm AST	—
Cayman Islands	Partial Solar Eclipse	12:40 pm EST	2:58 pm EST	—
Colombia	Partial Solar Eclipse	12:39 pm COT	2:35 pm COT	—
Cook Islands	Partial Solar Eclipse	6:34 am CKT	7:36 am CKT	—
Costa Rica	Partial Solar Eclipse	11:18 am CST	1:24 pm CST	—
Cuba	Partial Solar Eclipse	1:31 pm CDT	4:07 pm CDT	—
Curaçao	Partial Solar Eclipse	3:01 pm AST	3:09 pm AST	—
Dominica	Partial Solar Eclipse	3:18 pm AST	3:35 pm AST	—
Dominican Republic	Partial Solar Eclipse	2:15 pm AST	4:04 pm AST	—
Ecuador	Partial Solar Eclipse	10:57 am GALT	12:43 pm GALT	—
El Salvador	Partial Solar Eclipse	11:09 am CST	1:34 pm CST	—
Faroe Islands	Partial Solar Eclipse	7:51 pm WEST	8:36 pm WEST	—
France	Partial Solar Eclipse	8:58 pm CEST	8:58 pm CEST	—
French Polynesia	Partial Solar Eclipse	5:42 am TAHT	8:16 am MART	—
Greenland	Partial Solar Eclipse	5:39 pm	7:37 pm	—
Guadeloupe	Partial Solar Eclipse	3:07 pm AST	3:47 pm AST	—
Guatemala	Partial Solar Eclipse	11:03 am CST	1:44 pm CST	—
Haiti	Partial Solar Eclipse	2:06 pm EDT	4:04 pm EDT	—
Honduras	Partial Solar Eclipse	11:12 am CST	1:47 pm CST	—
Iceland	Partial Solar Eclipse	6:48 pm GMT	8:29 pm GMT	—
Ireland	Partial Solar Eclipse	7:54 pm IST	8:29 pm IST	—
Isle of Man	Partial Solar Eclipse	7:55 pm BST	8:06 pm BST	—
Jamaica	Partial Solar Eclipse	12:51 pm EST	2:55 pm EST	—
Kiribati	Partial Solar Eclipse	6:11 am LINT	7:44 am LINT	—
Montserrat	Partial Solar Eclipse	3:02 pm AST	3:50 pm AST	—
Nicaragua	Partial Solar Eclipse	11:16 am CST	1:39 pm CST	—
Norway	Partial Solar Eclipse	8:49 pm CEST	10:12 pm CEST	—
Panama	Partial Solar Eclipse	11:35 am CST	2:16 pm EST	—
Pitcairn Islands	Partial Solar Eclipse	7:51 am PST	9:21 am PST	—
Portugal	Partial Solar Eclipse	7:01 pm AZOST	8:36 pm AZOST	—
Puerto Rico	Partial Solar Eclipse	2:32 pm AST	4:00 pm AST	—
Russia	Partial Solar Eclipse	9:50 pm MSK	10:20 pm MSK	—
Saint Kitts and Nevis	Partial Solar Eclipse	2:56 pm AST	3:55 pm AST	—
Saint Martin	Partial Solar Eclipse	2:51 pm AST	3:59 pm AST	—
Saint Pierre and Miquelon	Partial Solar Eclipse	4:35 pm PMDT	6:47 pm PMDT	—
Sint Maarten	Partial Solar Eclipse	2:52 pm AST	3:58 pm AST	—
Spain	Partial Solar Eclipse	9:01 pm CEST	8:33 pm WEST	—
St. Barts	Partial Solar Eclipse	2:53 pm AST	3:58 pm AST	—
Svalbard and Jan Mayen	Partial Solar Eclipse	—	—	—
The Bahamas	Partial Solar Eclipse	1:48 pm EDT	4:18 pm EDT	—
Tokelau	Partial Solar Eclipse	6:29 am TKT	6:35 am TKT	—
Turks and Caicos Islands	Partial Solar Eclipse	2:10 pm EDT	4:10 pm EDT	—
US Minor Outlying Islands	Partial Solar Eclipse	5:38 am	2:56 pm	—
US Virgin Islands	Partial Solar Eclipse	2:43 pm AST	4:00 pm AST	—
United Kingdom	Partial Solar Eclipse	7:52 pm BST	8:51 pm BST	—
Venezuela	Partial Solar Eclipse	1:38 pm COT	3:41 pm VET	—

All times shown in this table are local time. (Note: more than one time zone is listed.) “Totality duration” gives the time between the start and finish of totality within the entire country (not at one location).

How Many People Can See This Eclipse?

Number of People Seeing…	Number of People*	Fraction of World Population
Any part of the eclipse	652,000,000	8.19%
At least 10% partial	608,000,000	7.63%
At least 20% partial	568,000,000	7.12%
At least 30% partial	533,000,000	6.70%
At least 40% partial	489,000,000	6.14%
At least 50% partial	445,000,000	5.59%
At least 60% partial	402,000,000	5.04%
At least 70% partial	369,000,000	4.64%
At least 80% partial	294,000,000	3.69%
At least 90% partial	193,000,000	2.43%
Totality or annularity	43,800,000	0.55%

* The number of people refers to the resident population (as a round number) in areas where the eclipse is visible. timeanddate has calculated these numbers using raw population data provided by the Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) at Columbia University. The raw data is based on population estimates from the year 2000 to 2020. source

What time is solar eclipse in Los Angeles?

LOS ANGELES – A total solar eclipse crossed North America today, slicing a diagonal line from the southwest to the northeast, briefly plunging communities in Mexico, the U.S. and Canada along the track into darkness.

Outside that narrow path, the eclipse was still visible in different parts of the U.S., including California, but the moon only partially obscured the sun. Think of it this way — the further away from the path of totality, the slighter the partial eclipse was.

According to calculations by NASA, areas to the south and east of Los Angeles saw about 50% obscuration—the moon shrouding half of the sun—while much of the rest of the state saw around 25%.

The best spot to see the most coverage in the Golden State was estunated to be near Holtville in Imperial County, where nearly 59% obscuration was predicted, reaching a maximum effect around 11:14 a.m. PST, according to forecasts by meteorological and astronomical data compilers Time and Date.

San Diego was expected to see 53.8% coverage, per NASA calculations, around 11:11 a.m. PST, while Los Angeles was expected to see 48.6% obscuration around 11:12 a.m.

There were several watch parties around the Los Angeles area to celebrate the rare phenomenon.

source

What is frostbite? How cold does it need to be to get frostbite and how fast does it occur?

The Truth News — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 09:12:15 +0000

Frostbite

Frostbite occurs when your skin freezes during exposure to freezing temperatures. Frostbite symptoms can include pain, numbness, swelling, blisters and skin discoloration. It’s most common on your fingers, toes, nose and ears. Treatment for frostbite varies based on the stage.

What is frostbite? How cold does it need to be to get frostbite and how fast does it occur?

How to avoid skin injury during extreme weather in the US this week

As chilly Arctic air takes over the eastern US during a “bomb cyclone“ over the coming days, bringing powerful winds snow and ice with it, residents will be at higher risk of frostbite.

Here’s what to know about the skin injury caused by extremely low temperatures and how to avoid it:

What is frostbite?

Frostbite is when the skin and tissue freezes. It most commonly affects the most exposed parts of the body, including fingers and toes, plus the nose, ears, and face. It starts with numbness due to the cold and is often accompanied by a red colour on paler skin, followed by blisters and swelling. It can permanently damage limbs as blood flow is restricted from extremities in order to send it to the vital organs. The parts of the body with less blood will get colder and the moisture in the tissue can freeze into ice crystals.

Frostbite is skin damage caused by freezing temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius). You’re more likely to get frostbite in any situation that leads to prolonged cold exposure:

During the winter.
In windy weather conditions.
At high altitudes.
If you don’t have shelter from the cold weather.

You can get frostbite even under cold-weather clothing.

Frostbite may lead to permanent, irreversible tissue damage (necrosis). A way to prevent frostbite is to limit your time outdoors and warm up your body often if you’re exposed to freezing temperatures.

If you believe you have frostbite, go inside or seek shelter from the cold. Then, call your healthcare provider or visit the emergency room immediately to reduce your risk of tissue damage.

When does it happen?

Wind chills of around -27°C (-17°F) or more can cause frostbite to occur quickly – in less than 30 minutes. However, it can occur at -0.55°C (31°F) over longer periods of time. You cannot get frostbite above freezing temperature degrees (0°C/32°F), but you can get still get hypothermia – which happens when your body temperature goes below 35°C (95°F) degrees.

How serious is it?

Frostbite can occur in several stages, from mild to very serious. Mild symptoms include numbness, reddish skin, mild pain and pins and needles – this is a warning sign you need to get somewhere warm. Blisters will appear in more serious superficial frostbite, and the skin may even feel warm.

Severe frostbite affects all layers of the skin and the tissue below. In severe cases, those affected by frostbite may not even know they have it – as they will stop feeling pain and stop feeling the cold temperature on the areas affected.

(AFP via Getty Images)

Those with lighter skin may notice a blue-grey colour. Extremities without blood flow may die and surgery may be needed to remove the dead tissue. Amputation of limbs may be needed if frostbite is severe.

How can I avoid getting it?

Keep sheltered and keep warm. If you do have to brave the elements, make sure you are dressed warmly with plenty of layers (including those on the most vulnerable areas – so balaclavas, thick gloves, warm waterproof boots etc) and don’t spend prolonged periods of time in the cold. If you are stuck in the cold, keep moving to generate heat.

Older adults and babies are more at risk of frostbite, as are homeless people, hikers and hunters.

What do I do if I get frostbite?

Seek medical help immediately. Try not to touch, massage or itch your frostbite as it will remove the skin and could cause permanent damage. Do not walk on frostbite-affected feet.

Until help arrives, try to find a warm – not hot (no fires) – place. When there, remove all wet clothing and put warm clothes/blankets on. Do not place anything hot on frostbite, it needs to warm up gently. Warm water can help (bath of water at 37°C to 39°C (98.6°F to 102.2°F). The warming process can be painful – medical professionals will likely prescribe strong painkillers.

Who does frostbite affect?

Frostbite can affect anyone with exposure to cold temperatures. It’s most common on your fingers, toes, nose and ears. You’re more likely to get frostbite with prolonged cold exposure, especially if you:

Are younger than 18 years of age or are over 65 years of age.
Live and work in cold climates.
Are without housing.
Have an underlying medical condition like peripheral vascular disease, malnutrition, Raynaud’s syndrome, hypothyroidism, arthritis or diabetes.
Smoke tobacco products.

How common is frostbite?

Frostbite is common, but it’s less common than it used to be. This is because people have better access to cold-weather clothing and know more about the dangers of frostbite and how to prevent it.

What are the stages of frostbite?

Frostbite symptoms appear in three stages that include feeling:

Cold, sore and painful (frostnip).
Pins and needles (surface frostbite).
Numbness (deep frostbite).

If you notice any of the symptoms of the second or third stages of frostbite, get immediate medical treatment to prevent long-lasting damage.

Symptoms and Causes

There are three main stages of frostbite that look and feel differently.

What does frostbite look and feel like?

Symptoms of frostbite vary based on what stage you’re in and the severity of skin damage that the cold caused.

Frostnip: During frostnip or the first stage of frostbite, you may see that your affected skin is red to purple or lighter than your natural skin tone. Your skin may also feel cold, slightly painful and tingly. Frostnip is the warning stage when skin damage is just temporary. If you notice symptoms, get inside immediately and thaw the affected area of skin with warm (never hot) water. Afterward, you may notice small red bumps (chilblains) on your skin. Even if you have mild symptoms, visit a healthcare provider to make sure you don’t have long-term damage from frostnip.
Superficial (surface) frostbite: This is the second stage of frostbite, and it requires medical treatment. Your skin might feel warm, but the water in your skin is slowly freezing into ice crystals. Your skin contains over 60% water. This can cause a “pins and needles” feeling. In addition, your skin may sting or swell up. After rewarming, you might have painful, spotty patches or purple or blue areas of skin like a bruise. Your skin might start to peel and feel just like a sunburn. You may also get fluid-filled blisters in the area after a day or so.
Severe (deep) frostbite: In the third stage of frostbite, your lower layers of skin (subcutaneous tissue) freeze and total numbness sets in. It can be difficult to move the area that’s frostbitten or you may not be able to move it normally. Get medical attention immediately if you experience any of these symptoms. Big blisters will appear on the frostbitten skin a day or two after cold exposure. Your frostbitten skin turns black because your skin cells die after freezing. Your skin might form a hard, black covering (carapace) that falls off on its own. If it doesn’t, a healthcare provider will remove it surgically.

Frostbite is dangerous because it often numbs your skin so you may not feel that anything’s wrong at all. Contact a healthcare provider if you believe you have frostnip or frostbite.

Can you have frostbite and not know it?

Yes. Many people who get frostbite are completely unaware that they have it. This happens because frostbite numbs your nerves and can cause damage deep inside your skin. You might not notice any symptoms after coming in from the cold. It’s important to limit your time outdoors in freezing temperatures to prevent frostbite.

Where are common places to get frostbite?

Frostbite can affect any part of your skin, but you’re more likely to get frostbite on your extremities. These are parts of your body that are the most exposed to cold temperatures, even if they’re bundled up and include your:

Hands and fingers.
Feet and toes.
Face and nose.
Ears.

How do I know if my child has frostbite?

It can be difficult to tell if your child has frostbite. Infants don’t shiver like adults because they don’t have as much energy stored up. Older children are usually too busy having fun outside to notice they’re frostbitten.

If your baby or toddler is outside in the cold for even 10 minutes, it’s time to check on them. If you notice parts of their skin are lighter than their natural skin tone, red, white or gray, contact their healthcare provider.

If your children are older and they’ve been outside for more than half an hour in freezing temperatures, even with cold weather clothing on, ask them to come inside and remove their wet clothing. They should put on dry clothes and warm their body under blankets. A warm bath may also help your child warm up from the cold. Always use lukewarm, never hot, water.

How do you get frostbite?

Freezing temperatures cause frostbite. Cold temperatures (slightly above freezing) for long periods of time can also cause frostbite. You can get frostbite by:

Exposure to freezing temperatures.
Having frozen objects like an ice pack or metal pressed against your skin.
Not wearing sufficient clothing to protect your skin from the cold.

Even if you’re wearing protective clothing like a hat, boots and gloves, you can still get frostbite through your clothing.

When you get frostbite, the water within your skin freezes and crystalizes. Over 60% of your skin contains water. This damages your skin cells and tissues, which prevents blood flow to these areas of your body. Severe frostbite can damage your muscles, nerves and joints.

How long does it take for you to get frostbite?

You can get frostbite in 30 minutes or less when the wind chill is -15 F (-26 C) or lower. If you live or work in cold climates, try to limit your time outdoors to prevent skin damage.

How cold does it have to be to get frostbite?

Freezing temperatures cause frostbite. It needs to be colder than 32 F or 0 C for you to get frostbite. Remember that the temperature may be significantly colder if there’s wind, which can increase your risk of getting frostbite.

Diagnosis and Tests

How is frostbite diagnosed?

A healthcare provider will diagnose frostbite after a physical exam and possible imaging tests. During your exam, your provider will look for skin discoloration or other skin symptoms like mottling or blisters. Your provider will also ask you questions about your cold exposure. For example, how long were you exposed to freezing temperatures and what was the temperature during exposure?

Depending on the severity of your symptoms, your provider may take an imaging test like an X-ray to look beneath your skin for tissue damage.

What’s a sign of permanent skin damage from frostbite?

Your healthcare provider will let you know whether or not your skin damage is permanent. An indication that you have temporary skin damage is the presence of clear blisters. If you have blood-filled blisters, you may have permanent damage. If your skin turns black or darker than your natural skin tone, that’s a sign of severe tissue damage. In that case, you may need surgery to remove your damaged skin to prevent secondary infections or gangrene.

Management and Treatment

How is frostbite treated?

Treatment for frostbite varies based on the stage.

If you show signs of frostnip, go indoors or find shelter to get out of freezing temperatures, if possible. Next, take these steps to warm your affected skin:

Gently remove your cold weather gear, like gloves or boots. You should also remove any jewelry like rings or watches if they’re near an affected area of skin. If your clothing is wet, put on dry clothing.
Place your affected skin in a bath of warm (not hot) water. This will be a slow rewarming process that can take at least 30 minutes.
Place blankets on your affected area of skin. Don’t wrap blankets around your skin because it could cut off circulation and prevent blood flow to your affected tissues.
Avoid applying heat directly to your skin to prevent burns.

If you have signs or symptoms of surface or deep frostbite, which are the second and third stages of frostbite, visit a healthcare provider immediately for treatment. Time is critical with frostbite. You may experience severe pain with frostbite as your skin thaws.

To treat frostbite, a healthcare provider will:

Raise your body temperature in lukewarm water or by applying warm, wet packs to your skin for up to 30 minutes.
Apply wound dressings to your frostbitten skin with sterile bandages, keeping your fingers and toes separated to avoid rubbing.
Test blood flow in the affected area of your body. If you have stage three frostbite, your provider may also connect you to an IV (a needle that enters a vein in your arm to deliver fluids) to improve your circulation.
Give you antibiotics and pain relievers, such as ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®).
Rehydrate your body by giving you water (frostbite dehydrates your tissues).
Give you oxygen therapy. For extreme frostbite, your provider may have you breathe pure oxygen inside a pressurized room. This treatment, called hyperbaric oxygen therapy, helps some people heal faster by increasing their blood-oxygen levels.

Do I need surgery for frostbite?

For severe cases of frostbite, your provider may need to perform surgery to remove any dead skin and tissue after you heal. It may take days or even months to determine if you need surgery. Surgeons may need to remove (amputate) the fingers or toes if your tissue died or if you develop gangrene.

Can I treat frostbite at home?

You should seek care from a healthcare professional if you have frostnip or frostbite. If you’re in a remote area or you’re unable to go to the hospital right away, you can take steps to treat frostbite at home to prevent it from damaging your skin and tissues. Your priority is to make sure you stay warm. You should find shelter and prevent warming and refreezing of your body, which can cause more severe skin damage. To warm up, follow these steps:

Remove all wet clothing and put on dry clothing.
Elevate the injured area slightly.
Warm your skin by soaking the frostbitten area in warm water, around 98.6 F to 102.2 F (37 C to 39 C). It can be difficult to determine the temperature of the water, as your skin may be numb. Use a thermometer if you have one available. When your skin feels soft again or after at least 30 minutes, you can stop warming it.
Cover your frostbitten area with a clean cloth. If your fingers or toes are frostbitten, wrap each one individually. Make sure you keep them separated to avoid stress or pressure. Avoid tightly wrapping your fingers and toes to allow blood to circulate easily.
Try not to move the area at all while you’re thawing. Avoid walking on frostbitten toes or feet.
Don’t rub frostbitten areas because rubbing skin that’s hard or numb can cause tissue damage.

You may experience pain during the thawing process. This is normal. You may take over-the-counter pain relievers as directed by your healthcare provider.

Prevention

How can I prevent frostbite?

Here are a few tips for preventing frostbite:

Avoid going outside: When it’s cold out, try to stay indoors.
Limit your trips: If you do have to go outside, try to limit it to 10 or 15 minutes before going back inside for a few hours.
Dress warmly before going out: Dress appropriately whenever you know you’re going to be in cold temperatures. Layer your clothing. Wear warm socks, a thick hat, mittens and a heavy scarf over your face, ears and mouth.
Wear windproof and waterproof clothing: Wear clothes designed to keep the weather out and to keep your head and neck area warm.
Don’t cut off your circulation: Make sure your boots and clothes aren’t too tight. This can cause poor circulation. Keep moving to maintain a good blood flow.

When traveling in cold weather, always bring your phone with you. It’s your lifeline to medical help if you have an accident or get stuck on the road. Finally, pack a car emergency kit in your vehicle. That way, you’re prepared with first aid, food and water, gloves, boots and blankets whenever the weather turns bad.

Outlook / Prognosis

What can I expect if I have frostbite?

If you think you have frostbite, go inside and contact a healthcare provider or visit the emergency room.

The amount of time it takes after treatment for your frostbitten skin to feel better depends on which stage of frostbite you were in and for how long. If you have very mild frostnip, you may heal within a few days to a few weeks. Second-stage frostbite can take up to six months for your skin to heal. You may experience skin scabbing and skin discoloration throughout the healing process. The third and most severe stage of frostbite can cause permanent skin damage. You may need surgery to repair this type of skin damage. A healthcare provider can give you the best timeline of when you can expect your skin to heal based on the severity of your symptoms.

What are the complications of frostbite?

Complications from frostbite are possible. When frostbite continues past the first stage (frostnip), it can have long-term side effects including:

Nerve damage (neuropathy).
Sweating heavily.
Being more sensitive to the cold.
Frostbite arthritis, stiffness in your hands and feet.
Skin discoloration.
Nail damage or nail loss.
Scarring.

You’re also more likely to get frostbitten again once it’s happened.

Severe complications of frostbite can include:

Gangrene.
A secondary infection.
Amputation.
Damage to your tendons, muscles and bones.

Living With

When should I see a healthcare provider?

If you think you have frostbite, don’t wait to seek help. Immediately contact a healthcare provider or visit the emergency room. Acting quickly and removing yourself from freezing temperatures can prevent severe complications.

What questions should I ask my doctor?

What stage of frostbite do I have?
Will I have long-term damage from frostbite?
How do I take care of my skin as it heals?
Do I need surgery to treat frostbite?

source

“The Blackfeet, The Great Northern Railway, and Glacier National Park”

The Truth News — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 23:15:04 +0000

“The Blackfeet, The Great Northern Railway, and Glacier National Park”

According to their oral history, the people of the Blackfoot Confederacy have lived in what is now known as Montana for ten thousand years. Their original reservation was established by the Lame Bull Treaty in 1855. In 1895, the Blackfeet negotiated an agreement with the United States government to sell 800,000 acres of mountainous land on the western border of the reservation for the sum of 1.5 million dollars. The Federal government acquired the land for the purpose of mineral exploration. This agreement also stipulated that the Blackfeet would retain the right to hunt, fish, and gather wood on this land so long as it remained publicly owned. After several years of advocacy, most notably by Louis B. Hill, president of the Great Northern Railroad, Glacier National Park was created by an act of Congress in 1911. The portion of the former Blackfeet Reservation sold to the Federal government in 1895 became part of the newly established Glacier National Park. With this transfer, the people of the Blackfeet Nation lost their access to this land they had used for generations.

This film, produced by Quinn Smith (Chickasaw) for the IACB, explores the history of the Blackfeet people in early twentieth century, particularly in relation to the creation of Glacier National Park. The historic photos used in this film come from the collection of the Museum of the Plains Indian in Browning, Montana. Many of these images were collected from various sources by Ralph Reiner of Billings, Montana, as part of his research for an unpublished manuscript The Blackfeet of Montana. Ernie Heavy Runner and Darrell Norman, both respected Blackfeet elders, narrate the film and share their knowledge of these events and people. These images and the oral histories shared by Mr. Heavy Runner and Mr. Norman, present a unique perspective on this era from a Native American viewpoint.

Glacier National Park, The Great Northern Railway and the Blackfeet Portraits of Winold Reiss.

In this year of 2010, Glacier National Park is celebrating 100 years as a national treasure. The Park, which straddles the Montana Canadian border in Northwest Montana, is one of the most remote of all parks in the National Park system. If it was not for the effort of railroad giant, James Hill, who pushed legislation through the U.S. Congress establishing Glacier 1910, this scenic wonderland of the Northwest may not have been preserved for future generations.

Glacier National Park

James Hill envisioned a “Playground of the Northwest” that would attract people and their money from all over the world, moneyed people who traditionally traveled and enjoyed the sights and attractions of Europe. To interest visitors to Glacier, Hill, with the help of his son, Louis, embarked on an ambitious building spree, where they built a chain of hotels, chalets, boats, roads, and trails in the mountains of Glacier and created the banner, “See America First,” in order to entice visitors to the Rocky Mountain Northwest.

Many Glacier Hotel

The motive behind all this activity was to promote travel on Hill’s Great Northern Railway.

James Hill was one of several “captains” of the railroad industry in the United States, who made a fortune from investment in the transportation of goods and people on railways that linked America from coast to coast after the Civil War. In 1893, Hill’s Great Northern Railway connected the Upper Mississippi River Valley to Puget Sound.

Great Northern RouteAll along the route from Minneapolis to the Pacific, Hill promoted the Northwest as a wonderland of natural beauty; a land that still possessed many of the desirable attributes inherent in the American frontier. Hill also cashed in on the growing popularity of what historians in the twentieth century describe as the mythic West; a perception of the West in the American mind, where the exploits of cowboys, frontier army and Indians denoted adventure and unbridled heroism. The Native Americans, in particular, were of interest because of their role in promoting the “Wild West” with their performances in Buffalo Bill Cody’s wild west shows, which toured the United States and Europe between 1883 and 1917. At every stop along the tour, Native Americans in the show helped to recreate the Indian wars of the plains, audiences loved the excitement of western America. In the early twentieth century, The Great Northern helped to keep this romantic image of Native Americans alive by promoting the Blackfeet Nation, whose reservation extended along the eastern boundaries of the park; a trip to Glacier brought visitors in close proximity to the Blackfeet and their culture.

Blackfeet Indian Reservation

Traditionally the Blackfeet nation consists of three different tribes with the same language and customs; the Pecunnies (Piegans), the Bloods, and the Blackfeet. Before moving onto the Plains, and adapting a nomadic culture centered on the buffalo, the Blackfeet lived around the “forest near Lesser Slave Lake. Incessant war forced upon them by the powerful Chippewas pushed them steadily southward until they reached the wide plains bordering the Rocky mountains in what is now Montana.”[Frank Bird Linderman] The Blackfeet eventually occupied a region that ran north to south from Saskatchewan to the Yellowstone. Early Plains settlers and frontier military viewed the Blackfeet as a warrior society, who resisted white settlement in their region. At the end of the Plains Indian wars in the 1870s, the federal government moved the Blackfeet to land reserved for them east of what became Glacier National Park.

Blackfeet 1914

Once on reservations, the Blackfeet, along with other Native America Tribes, occupied the interest of anthropologist, writers and artists; many flocked to the American West in order to record what they believed were the last vestiges of Native America life. James Hill understood the draw that the Blackfeet would have as a “tourists attraction,” the search was on for an artists, who had a close association with the Blackfeet, and who could capture in Blackfeet portraits the colorful character of the people. The Great Northern Railway found such an artist in Winold Reiss.

The Blackfeet gave Winold Reiss the name Beaver Child when they inducted him into the tribe in the winter of 1919.

Winold Reiss

Reiss was born in Karlsruhe, Germany, the Black Forest region. He gained appreciation for cultural differences among people from his father, a German artist who focused his art in peasant cultures of the Black Forest. Both father and son trained at the Royal Academy in Munich. Winold was fascinated with the Indians of North American, a fascination fueled by the novels of James Fenimore Cooper. In 1913, Winold Reiss traveled to American to study the North American Indians. Reiss believed that he could use his art to break down racial barriers by picturing the honor, beauty, and dignity of all peoples. His bold style, coupled with his attention to detail of racial characteristics and cultural customs, made his Blackfeet portraits unique. In the summer of 1943, Reiss once again stayed with the Blackfeet, finishing 75 portraits. Many of these portraits appeared on Great Northern Railway calendars

and were included in a portfolio sold by the Great Northern Railway to promote Glacier National Park and rail travel to Blackfeet country in the 1940s.

Portraits of the Blackfeet people by Winold Reiss:

Jim Blood, an old Pecunnie brave

Only Child, Pecunnie girl sitting against a tepee back-rest made of thin willow sticks

Plume, a modern representation of the Kainahs–proud owner of many lodges, horses and a large heard of cattle.

Short Man, A fine old warrior of the Pecunnies who lived until his eight-sixth year. He was an expert sign talker.

Big Face Chief, A stalwart member of the north Pecunnie band of Blackfeet. His necklace and eagle wing fan mark him as a Medicine Man.)

source

The SkySurfer Personal Aircraft – Flying Yourself Around

The Truth News — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 23:59:18 +0000

The SkySurfer Personal Aircraft – Fly Yourself Around

The SkySurfer Aircraft

USA Qualified eVTOL UltraLight Aircraft

Hunter Kowald is the hoverboard aircraft developer — and he touts his aircraft ‘The Skysurfer’ as the worlds smallest and most powerful hovercraft. The SkySurfer Aircraft has a total flight time of 20 minutes and starts at around $85k

Kowald is the founder of Manned Aviation, an aerospace company that is commercializing an all- electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The SkySurfer Aircraft is a personal fight vehicle capable of achieving manned airlift in a system so small, it can be folded down and carried onto a passenger plane.

Here are the specs for this unique new flying craft, taken from the SkySurfer website:

SkySurfer Specs

No Altitude Limit
30 Minutes Flight Time
65+ MPH Speeds
Custom carbon fiber structure has been tested with a 1.5x safety factor and loaded with 750lbs.

https://goodshepherdmedia.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/website-homepage-edit-r2-1080p-taget-bitrate-2.5.mp4

Introducing the world’s smallest personal aircraft, a compact electric vehicle which fits in your luggage & provides anyone with safe freedom of movement within the sky.

NEWS & MEDIA as seen in:

Good Morning America | Jimmy Kimmel | New York Post | The World Games | Weather Channel | Inside Edition | Sony Entertainment | Marvel | CNN | EPSN | ABC | CBS | NBC | MTV | WNBC

Our mission is to revolutionize the future of transportation & life by delivering safe, easy and affordable air travel to anyone.

They’re working around the clock to increase manufacturing & distribution of The SkySurfer Aircraft around the world.

visit their site to get one of y0ur own and have fun, be safe and always drive/fly sober!

Outdoor Fun Archives - Good Shepherd News - Fastest Growing Religious, Free Speech & Political Content

Building a Raised Garden Bed – Using 5 Gallon Buckets and a little Ingenuity

Bucket Gardens: Building a Raised Garden Bed

Raised Bucket Garden – Using 5 Gallon Buckets and a little Ingenuity

Why Plant in a Raised Garden Bed?

Supplies for Your Own Bucket Raised Garden Bed

How to Construct a Raised Garden Bed with Buckets

Get it All Together at McCoy’s

History of July 4th, also known as Independence Day

History of July 4th, also known as Independence Day

The Story of the Fourth of July

The Declaration of Independence

So what did happen on July 4, 1776?

How did the Fourth of July become a national holiday?

History of Independence Day

Did you know?

Early Fourth of July Celebrations and Traditions

Fourth of July Fireworks

Fourth of July Becomes a Federal Holiday

A Natural Firefall at Horsetail Fall at Yosemite Valley Briefly Every Year

A Natural Firefall at Horsetail Fall at Yosemite Valley Briefly Every Year

The “Perfect Storm” Must Happen

How Did Yosemite’s Natural Firefall Get Global Fame

The Original Firefall At Glacier Point

It’s Horsetail Fall Not Horsetail Falls

The Fiery Glow of Horsetail Fall

Viewing Horsetail Fall in Late February

Make a Firefall Reservation (look for tickets in January)

Placerita ‘White Oil’: A Crude Wonder

Placerita ‘White Oil’: A Crude Wonder

White Oil Seep Do You Smell That?

1. White Oil Seep Marker

Newhall near Santa Clarita in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

2. White Oil Seep Marker Photographed by Craig Baker, March 26, 2024

3. White Oil Seep — Behind the Marker

4. White Oil Gusher

5. Oil/Gas/Water Separator

How Big Can Mosquitoes Get?

How Big Can Mosquitoes Get?

Biting Midges/No-See-Ums/Punkies/Sand Flies

Southern House Mosquito/Culex quinquefasciatus

Malaria Mosquito/Anopheles Mosquito/Marsh Mosquito

Northern House Mosquito/Culex pipiens

Yellow Fever Mosquito/Aedes Aegypti

Asian Tiger Mosquito/Aedes Albopictus

Gallinipper/Psorophora Ciliata

How Amazing is the Joshua Tree Find out!

How Amazing is the Joshua Tree? Find out!

1. Joshua Tree National Park includes two deserts.

2. Despite its geological age, as a national park, Joshua Tree is a Millennial.

3. Joshua trees are not actually trees.

4. Joshua trees were given their distinctive name by Mormon settlers.

5. Joshua Tree National Park has a long human history.

6. It snows in Joshua Tree National Park.

7. The cover of U2’s famous album was not shot at Joshua Tree National Park …

8. … The Eagles, however, did shoot an album cover at Joshua Tree National Park.

9. Joshua Tree National Park is the site of music history’s most famous cremation.

10. Some believe Joshua Tree National Park is a UFO hotspot.

Time to make plans to view April 8th 2024 total solar eclipse

Time to make plans to view April 8th 2024 total solar eclipse

The path of the total solar eclipse passes west of the Mississippi River and north of the Ohio River.

What’s the big deal about the April 2024 total solar eclipse? Why it’s so interesting.

Total solar eclipses over the US are rare: The next one won’t happen for 20 years

This eclipse will pass over millions of people and be a short drive for millions more

April 8, 2024 — Great North American Eclipse (Total Solar Eclipse)

What the Eclipse Will Look Like near the Maximum Point

Where to See the Eclipse

Path of the Eclipse Shadow

Eclipse Shadow Path

When the Eclipse Happens Worldwide — Timeline

Countries Where the Eclipse Is Visible

How Many People Can See This Eclipse?

What time is solar eclipse in Los Angeles?

What is frostbite? How cold does it need to be to get frostbite and how fast does it occur?

Frostbite

What is frostbite? How cold does it need to be to get frostbite and how fast does it occur?

How to avoid skin injury during extreme weather in the US this week

What is frostbite?

When does it happen?

How serious is it?