Hobo Jungle

[webenda]

Roger,

Topics discussed in a Hobo Jungle would not always train related, would they?

Robert,

I hope your infection was not too bad.

For those not familiar with diseases specific to desert areas, Coccidioides is a fungus found in the soil here. It, like soil bacteria, lies dormant until the rains come. Coccidioides spores produced during the rains, blow with the dust during the four dry seasons.* I never got sick from it, but some people do.

The CDC recommends, "It is difficult to avoid exposure to Coccidioides, but people who are at higher risk should try to avoid breathing..."

I would call that important information for hobos riding the train in desert areas.

Reference: http://www.cdc.gov/fungal/coccidioidomycosis/

*The Sonoran Desert has five seasons — dry winter, dry summer, monsoon summer, dry fall and dry spring.

[webenda]

James,

We have a lot of dry farming (meaning no rain) here in Arizona. Crops produced are barely, cotton, hay, sorghum (for grain) and wheat. Cotton does very well here, yielding 1,548 pounds per acre last year. The 2011 crop was about 800,000 bales. Unlike desert weeds, which seem to require no water at all (and have been farmed for cattle feed), these crops are irrigated from wells dug right in the fields. If Mars has underground water reserves, dry farming might be possible there.

Reference: http://westernfarmpress.com/cotton/ariz ... ounds-acre

[rogruth]

Wayne,

Possibly for reasons given above in several posts that is why so few forums have jungles.

Jungle implies a certain amount of uncontrollability [!!?] IMHO.

[jw_clarke54]

Thanks Wayne, with all the Lack of rain all around and w/ siol conservationthat we can get more w/ less. Rogruth, is thatcalled the Chaos theory

[rogruth]

Rogruth, is thatcalled the Chaos theory

Naw,it's just mine.

[E7]

Sometimes, when sea water freezes, wonderful frost flowers grow out of the ocean.

Marvelous image Wayne, you're the best!

Rich

[E7]

WOW!

I wonder what they do with harvested frost flowers?

Margaritas on the rocks!

Rich

[webenda]

Yesterday, while watching the last butterflies of 2012 in the Hobo Jungle (my backyard), a Monarch Butterfly came to visit the Lantana.
The Monarch was camera shy, but it's buddies, the Arizona Queens (Danaus gilipus) allowed me to get within six feet. Got a few
sorta OK pictures. The camera (Samsung NX100) could not follow focus fast enough so I ended up in manual mode... focusing with one
hand and squeezing the shutter release with the other.



The Arizona Queen Butterfly is a smaller, darker relative of the Monarch Butterfly.



Unlike the monarch, queens do not migrate. In the Sonoran Desert it is a permanent resident where the caterpillars feed on various species of milkweed.

[sarge]

And so, it is the Night before the Night Before Christmas, and we give you...

T'was the Night before Christmas and all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, certainly not a mouse (what with the currently sleeping cats).

The stockings were hung by the chimney, the stairs,
over the table and backs of the chairs (dam kids never put their clothes away)

Mum in her kerchief, and I in my cap
just settled ourselves for a long winter's nap

When up from the bedroom there rose such a flap
"Wake up, dear, there's one more that's yet be wrapped!"

I growled and I grumbled; I groaned and I moaned
To my wandering eye the hard truth became known

For there on the carton the print made it plain
and visions of sleep quickly fled from my brain.

We all have our fears, some of things loud
Others of speaking in front of a crowd.

But three little words still give me a fright.
"Some assembly required". To all a good night.

Best regards,
The Bard of Dungfield Manor

[Mitch]

Quite amusing, Sarge, and so very true! Merry Christmas!

[Mitch]

Anybody heard from Jon lately? Is he deployed again? Hopin' everything is OK in Jackson.

[webenda]

Clever Sarge, and so true to many. I suspect most of us train nuts enjoy an occasional "Some assembly required" challenge.

Heard from Jon yesterday. He said he wanted one of these for his layout: http://youtu.be/yRvsm1W-5Ck

[rogruth]

Sarge,
I agree with Wayne.

Where is Jon?Hopefully he is involved with Christmas with his family.

[sarge]

Roger:

Talked with him this morning. He's fine and quite cheerfully busy with Christmas, family, and young son, a combination well known here as well.

[Mitch]

Hey Pete, can ya give me a hand on today's Mammoth 2012 Crossword puzzle. 820 across; 815 down. Takes up the whole kitchen table! Answers 12/30/12.