Think This is Bad in a Car?

It's positively scary as hell on a bike:

from today's xkcd 2932

First they slow down (seldom fully stopping).  Then they give this wave-wave of a hand, but you can't quite see through the glint off the windshield.  Is that person waving me through?  Doing something on facebook?  Maybe... reloading?  Can't tell, so let me not just bet my life on a chance here.  Then they sometimes honk, then (more rarely) get mad and start yelling about the fact that you won't jump out in front of them.

The only good solution I've found is to make a mental note of the oncoming vehicle, come to a full stop, take hands off the bars, and casually look the other way.  If you're not looking, they can't do that ridiculous little wave-wave thing.  Then they'll usually go on by in the normal fashion.  If it escalates from there, I get off the bike and wait on the other side of a tree or similar stationary object.

It's all been ironed out long ago, with stop signs, right-of-ways, and the usual driving rules of the road.  Obviously mistakes will occur, and we should all be alert and ready to make exceptions for these.  But everyday sitting-at-a-stop-sign?  That cute little wave-wave is getting people killed.

Thoughts from a Previous Phase

And that is all for today.  Try the fried mullet and be sure to tip your waitress.

Aurora in Florida

This is a phone camera 3 or maybe 5 second exposure from around 10:15 EDT last night.  To the eye it was nowhere nearly this dramatic, a just-barely-see-it pink glow off to the north over Tate's Hell Swamp.  Certainly no lights up there, so it's definitely not city glow.  No trace of the rosy glow to the south or to the west.  Went back an hour later and things had significantly faded, nothing to be seen by eye and only barely by camera.

Five Outa Five

Wrapped up teaching a Tech-upgrade-to-General class this week, and the students took the test this evening.  All five passed.  Yeah, I'm bragging on them.  They worked their butts off.

So what worked?  I just taught from the ARRL class slides (you can download from here), used KB6NU's No Nonsense! Study Guide as supplemental material, and they drilled using the practice test at qrz.com.  Success!  BTW, if you want to DIY it, here are the instructions for that.

Anyway, I'm sitting proud as punch this evening.  Think I'll go have a shot of Old Overholt about now.

Meanwhile, Down at the Gates of Hell...

Here's a brief video over at Atlas Obscura's youtube channel outlining the various cave openings around the world that are allegedly entrances to the underworld.  Sort of interesting how people will pick out any old spooky hole that's leaking methane (lit or not) and call it such.

Personally I'll take the local version, one of the entrances into Tate's Hell Swamp, earlier shown here.  (picture recycled below)  Nice pavilions with a nice view, with charcoal grills.  Yes, that's right, here in Franklin County you can go grilling at the Gates of Hell.  In fact I've done it, and can recommend it for a lazy afternoon.

I really need to get over there with the gravel bike again before the weather gets too toasty.  Maybe after this class is finished up this Thursday.

Apalach Tour of Homes 2024 – A Good Day

Not a lot to add beyond a link to the homes site.  As usual, I had never been in most of these.  Beautiful restoration projects all, if a little... over-decorated for my tastes.  Mostly though, glad to seem them preserved, glad to seem them in person.

Grew up around the corner from this one, but had never been inside until today.