Saturday, January 30, 2016

TRYING to finish this photo series!

Once that's done, I can start a new one! There's always more stuff to photograph!

 Several months ago I described what seemed to be a high-security installation with a black tower, or water tank, for fire suppression. They were obviously concerned about security, due to the lighting system, cameras, razor wire. Every time we've driven by we've failed to find a name. But not this time. And the gates were open, which allowed a view inside via telephoto. Frankly, the place seemed deserted. At any rate, it is a "Compress". Now we know. And now that YOU know where it is and what it is, feel free to check it out. Don't trespass, though, and be nice. I think people should take an interest in local industries. I think a "Compress" usually has something to do with cotton, and there's nothing sinister about cotton.






 We found an old Buick!
It looks like a good candidate for restoration. I hope that's the intention.



 There was a great old tree house, too.





Well, that's enough for today! I'll try to finish this photo series soon! Bye!

Friday, January 29, 2016

More Of Lubbock

Out of the way places revealed.




Lots of trash, just like the Texas Legislature. But this trash is harmless.




Texas has a major problem, in the form of ignorant trash in high places. You could start with the governor and work down. 




And then you've got the "oil men", who are not doing so well right now. They are very eager for a war in the mid-East, the bigger the better, to drive prices up. They love it when American soldiers die for their pecuniary interests. A little blood, a lot of money. Yeehaw. Let's all hope and pray that these vipers don't get what they want.




People are excited about lead pipes right now. Lubbock might still have some lead pipes in the form of service lines connecting main lines to meters. Lead pipes were commonly used in such applications before people knew any better. Lead is a neurotoxin. Actually, leaded gasoline lowered more IQs, damaged more children, than lead pipes, and lead in that application was an equal opportunity destroyer. Government regulation killed leaded gas and that was a very good thing. Anyone older than about forty grew up exposed to lots of lead, lead in paint and lead in gasoline additives. That might explain why older people seem to be more susceptible to FOX news and right wing talk radio-- their brains are damaged! Just kidding. But seriously folks, any old lead service lines in Lubbock are going to be found in the older parts of town, older neighborhoods and downtown. Last time I checked, Lubbock's water had a pH above 8. That means it is not corrosive. It is in fact rather alkaline. That means mineral deposits form in pipelines, and those deposits cover interior pipe surfaces. The problem of lead is exacerbated when a water is CORROSIVE, with a lower pH. In that case, instead of depositing minerals, the water dissolves what it touches, and if it is in contact with lead, that lead will leach into the water. That seems to be the problem in Flint. If our water is still alkaline, our remaining lead pipes are not such a hazard.




 

Monday, January 25, 2016

More Lubbock Hidden Places

Nice weather yesterday! We got out and about, checking real estate, but no new pics because I have such a backlog. Well, here are more:




These are not tourist destinations.




Scenic Lubbock!




Things like this are really the only bits of Lubbock that are actually interesting. 




An interesting thing about Lubbock is that it is BACKWARD! I've even heard conservatives call it that. I think, in my opinion, you could also call this city STUFFY. But we like it here. It works for us. We think it is overpopulated. We hate to see it growing. Cities like Lubbock should not grow. Growth does not make them better. Growth does not make any city better. There is an optimum size for collections of human beings. Lubbock has gone beyond the optimum.