Places where it's all okay, or not.

Who's up and who's down

  The Gallup Well-Being poll asked a lot of people all over the United States about their well-being.  The survey asked about physical health, emotional health, access to medical care, how is you job, are you happy where you are.  All of those sorts of questions to determine yours or my well-being.
  Last year Hawaii was the "happiest" state, this year the study took an unexpected turn, well almost the opposite of Hawaii.  The state that was MOST happy is:  North Dakota.
  In the map which you can click to enlarge the darkest shade indicated the happier.  How does you state measure up?
  Go to: http://www.livescience.com/43484-happiest-saddest-states-2013.html
or:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/167435/north-dakota-well-being-west-virginia-still-last.aspx

In an instant and then it's gone

A Polaroid Highlander made 1957-1959
Photo: www.Wikipedia

  Edwin Land introduced the first Polaroid Land "instant" camera on February 21, 1947, the first camera sold about one year later.
  Mr. Land worked at Research Row in Boston and developed a method for chemical reaction that could be contained in a "film packet" layers of emulsion would make a negative of the photo and a by-product would print the picture.  Don't ask me how.
  The name was changed to Polaroid after Mr. Land retired in 1982, and the last camera model was introduced in 1983.  Digital photography stuck Polaroid hard when people discovered that they could take a photo and print it at home.

Mr. Land and the first color Polaroid Land Camera
Photo: www.shootingfilm.net

An update on the Bay Bridge

Starting construction
Photo: Lance Iverson San Francisco Chronicle

  A while back, February 13th, I wrote about what appears to be faulty steel fabrication on the bridge.  The leaks and corrosion are being treated but meanwhile there is more money being paid out.
  The contractor of the construction is being paid nearly 49 million dollars for finishing the work on time.  Contractor supplied bolts that snapped when the nut was tightened apparently weren't an issue.  Those bolts helped secure the part of the structure that protects the bridge during an earthquake.
  Of course the contractor didn't make the bolts and the steel fabrication was done in China for the most part, but shouldn't there have been an inspection team?
Read the article here:

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/matier-ross/article/Bay-Bridge-contractor-gets-almost-49-million-in-5246275.php

Concrete waits for an addition
Photo: Lance Iverson San Francisco Chronicle

Snow and stuff

Anybody know where this is?
Photo: R1forJesus via Google Earth

  It's 1:45AM, there is about six inches of snow on the ground and it's still coming down.  Linda has an appointment at 9:45 so it shouldn't be much of a problem.  It may be a problem IF the lot's not plowed out by then.  It won't be a huge surprise if it's not.
  I took a low dose aspirin so I don't have to worry about a heart attack; that's what the commercial tells us!  You get a note "your heart attack will arrive tomorrow", rush home find that brand name low dose aspirin and smile.  See how easy that is?
  I guess that's enough out of me, stay tuned for tomorrow.

See it with your own eyes

Seen by satellite - the Guitar Forest
Image: Google Earth

  That forest was planted by a man in memory of his wife, it was intended to look like a guitar and it certainly does.
   Many things seen from space show the intent of people, but you can't distinguish the shape or size looking at it from the ground.
   See a bunch more at:

http://www.weather.com/travel/google-earth-argentina-guitar-forest-20140214

A Playground in Spain
Image: Google Earth

New use - old fort or Ain't peacetime lovely?

The Spit Bank Fort Hotel
Photo: Spit Bank

  So here in the Portsmouth, England harbor we have a unique luxury hotel.  The Spit Bank Fort was built in the 1800's and decommissioned after World War Two.  It was purchased by the Clarenco Group and now is the hotel you see here.  It has a Light House, a 16 person hot pool, fine dining and some nice rooms.
  Take a look here:

http://earth911.com/news/2013/03/01/spitbank-fort-hotel-island-retreat/6

  The last snowfall here in the hinterlands wasn't too much about eight inches, and nice dry stuff this time for easier handling.

Some of this, some of that

Proposed Offshore Patrol Craft
Illustration by Bath Iron Works

  That's BIW's proposal, nobody know yet what the final will be, or who will build it.  But let's look at some historic US Coast Guard ships and boats at work.  Click on the link for those photos"
http://www.weather.com/tv/tvshows/coast-guard-cape-disappointment/vintage-us-coast-guard-photos-20140209

People and a dog walk on Higgins Beach in Scarborough, Maine on Feb 10 2014
Photo: Derek Davis Portland Press Herald

  It's snowing again today, may total a foot by the time it's done later in the day.

The two Americans have been found guilty in the Narwhal case I wrote about earlier this week, the Canadians will be tried in Canada.  No sentences have been imposed.  Yet.  The American face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $365,000.00.

And finally for today:  Peanut Butter must contain at least 90% peanuts, the rest is oil and salt.  I guess.