We’d already been in the Boundary Waters Wilderness Area for two weeks, and my clients were black fly bitten, but I was feeling fit and pure.
Black flies are worse than mosquitoes. When black flies bite, they inject what seems to be a poisonous sap into the skin.
After we received the initial bites, they swell up like a tick on a dog. For the next few days the red and elevated bit ooze this pussy sap-like substance. Like tree sap, it seems to harden when exposed to air, but this is no place to worry about how one looks.
I spent two weeks up in the BWCA, and that was quite a bit of time for my long unkempt hair and red weeping bites. I would brush my long, but thinning on top, hair at night before bed, and all kinds of critters and detritus would come out, but after this many days in the woods, vanity doesn't mean shit. As a novice guide for some city living buddies, I tried not to complain.
I still complained but would try to convince myself not to while talking to myself aloud during long portages; my two friends had run out of booze after day three, and as daily drinkers, they were on edge for the rest of the trip. So, my complaints wouldn't have been heard, anyway.
Bradley's Blog:Jason Bradley is a freelance writer, editor, and blogger. Jason blogs about transportation, hobbies, travel, and other random topics.
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Brainerd Lakes Live Music: Dec. 10-16, 2015
For week of Dec. 10-16; bands perform from 9 p.m. to close with no cover unless otherwise noted.
BACKUS
American Legion
Near Highways 371 and 87 W.
Frankie Lamb's Frankly Country Band, 2-6 p.m. Dec. 20, followed by a 4-H benefit dinner.
BRAINERD
Coco Moon
601 Laurel St.
Bluegrass, first, third and fifth Friday of the month
Eagles Club
124 Front St.
Wayne Renn, 7:30-11:30 p.m. Friday.
Last Turn Saloon
215 S. Eighth St.
Comedy show featuring Tim Harmston, seating at 6:30 p.m., show begins at 8 p.m. today, Dec. 10; $10 per ticket.
Liquor Pigz
718 Laurel St.
Karaoke, 10 p.m. every Wednesday
Jam session/open mic, 9 p.m. every Sunday
Shep's on Sixth
315 S. Sixth St.
DJ, every Friday-Saturday in Elbow Room
St. Mathias Bar and Grill
4640 County Road 121
Old School, Saturday
BREEZY POINT
Commander Bar
30279 Airport Road
Slapshot, 9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday
JJ's Pub
Downstairs of the Commander
Jud Hailey, Saturday
CROSBY
The Bridge Tavern
26929 Highway 6
Live music every Friday; Classic Country Dinner Theater, 4-8 p.m. Sunday
NISSWA
American Legion
25807 Main St.
Sideways Karaoke, 7 p.m. Dec. 18
PIERZ
The Brickyard Bar and Grill
214 Main St.
Alan Godage & Sundown's country Christmas show, 5-8 p.m. Saturday
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Midwest Coast Transport: Paid Truck Driver Training
Visit http://www.joincomcar.com/our-carriers/mct-company-drivers/# to apply!
 |
| Hiring Area Map |
We offer one of the most comprehensive—and paid—training programs in the trucking industry. Travel assistance, lodging and some meals are provided during orientation and ADTP.
Orientation takes place in Atlanta, GA and Sioux Falls, SD.
If you attended another school, you could qualify for our up to $6,000 in tuition reimbursement paid within 25 months.
Career Planning for High School Students: Part 2
When Should I Start Career Planning?
- Is it ever too early or too late?
I am often asked by students and teachers about the best time to start career planning. Many classroom teachers feel starting in middle school is way too early, but I have found quite a few article that suggest this is the best time to start.
This is discussed in this post via http://www.ecampustours.com:
Career planning is a process that should begin in 8th or 9th grade. By starting the process early, you will have ample time to research a variety of career opportunities and learn about your likes and dislikes as you grow and experience new ideas. However, you should keep in mind that it's never too late to start career planning even if you are already in college. Use these tips to help in planning your career as you go throughout high school and college.
Based on my life experience, I started thinking about careers at an early age, and I assumed many students and individuals had the same experience. This stems from a common question in my early life: What do you want to be when you grow up?
I was never stumped by this question. Some of the answers I gave included: truckdriver, professional football player, and lawyer.
I wonder if parents and other adults still ask young kids this question in present day society. I think it is a great question to ask, as it allows young kids to use their imagination, and to think about their dream job. It is also a good question to ask adults dissatisfied with their current profession.
One question every career seeker should ask themselves:
What is your dream job? (Link to most common childhood dream jobs via Washington Post)
This is a great starting place in terms of finding a fulfilling career!
Please post your dream job(s) under comments.
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Cornelius, North Carolina and Lake Norman
On my recent trip to Charlotte, NC to visit my daughter, we took a road trip north of the Charlotte metro area to check out Cornelius and a few other cities near a large reservoir named Lake Norman. My daughter and I stopped in Cornelius to take some pictures of the library and courthouse. I have always appreciated the architecture of the south, and this town didn't disappoint.
This is my daughter Amrie in front of the library in Cornelius, NC.
Picture of your truly in front of the same library.
Down by the water at a park by Lake Norman in Huntersville, NC. I asked some local fisherman what they were catching, and they replied:
"Little bit of everything."
Amrie and I enjoying the warm day by Lake Norman
The courthouse was impressive, but my daughter was wondering why anyone would take a picture of this place. I am impressed with the stately columns used to mark entrances in the South.
"Little bit of everything."
Friday, December 4, 2015
Brainerd Lakes Live Music December 3-9, 2015
Live Music - Dec. 3
By BRAINERD DISPATCH on Dec 2, 2015 at 7:16 p.m.
Live Music - Dec. 3
Brainerd MN 506 James St. / PO Box 974 56401
For week of Dec. 3-9; bands perform from 9 p.m. to close with no cover unless otherwise noted.
BACKUS
American Legion
Near Highways 371 and 87 W.
Advertisement
Usual Suspects Theater Co., three musical comedy, 5:45 p.m. Saturday; free.
BRAINERD
Coco Moon
601 Laurel St.
Bluegrass, first, third and fifth Friday of the month
Eagles Club
124 Front St.
Tim Williams, 7:30-11:30 p.m. Friday.
Last Turn Saloon
215 S. Eighth St.
Comedy show featuring Tim Harmston, seating at 6:30 p.m., show begins at 8 p.m. Dec. 10; $10 per ticket.
Liquor Pigz
718 Laurel St.
Karaoke, 10 p.m. every Wednesday
Jam session/open mic, 9 p.m. every Sunday
Shep's on Sixth
315 S. Sixth St.
DJ, every Friday-Saturday in Elbow Room
St. Mathias Bar and Grill
4640 County Road 121
TBA, Friday-Saturday
BREEZY POINT
Commander Bar
30279 Airport Road
Southbound, 9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday
JJ's Pub
Downstairs of the Commander
Mark Hailey, Saturday
CROSBY
The Bridge Tavern
26929 Highway 6
Live music every Friday; Classic Country Dinner Theater, 4-8 p.m. Sunday
NISSWA
American Legion
25807 Main St.
Rare Phorm Entertainment, 7 p.m. Saturday
By BRAINERD DISPATCH on Dec 2, 2015 at 7:16 p.m.
Live Music - Dec. 3
Brainerd MN 506 James St. / PO Box 974 56401
For week of Dec. 3-9; bands perform from 9 p.m. to close with no cover unless otherwise noted.
BACKUS
American Legion
Near Highways 371 and 87 W.
Advertisement
Usual Suspects Theater Co., three musical comedy, 5:45 p.m. Saturday; free.
BRAINERD
Coco Moon
601 Laurel St.
Bluegrass, first, third and fifth Friday of the month
Eagles Club
124 Front St.
Tim Williams, 7:30-11:30 p.m. Friday.
Last Turn Saloon
215 S. Eighth St.
Comedy show featuring Tim Harmston, seating at 6:30 p.m., show begins at 8 p.m. Dec. 10; $10 per ticket.
Liquor Pigz
718 Laurel St.
Karaoke, 10 p.m. every Wednesday
Jam session/open mic, 9 p.m. every Sunday
Shep's on Sixth
315 S. Sixth St.
DJ, every Friday-Saturday in Elbow Room
St. Mathias Bar and Grill
4640 County Road 121
TBA, Friday-Saturday
BREEZY POINT
Commander Bar
30279 Airport Road
Southbound, 9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday
JJ's Pub
Downstairs of the Commander
Mark Hailey, Saturday
CROSBY
The Bridge Tavern
26929 Highway 6
Live music every Friday; Classic Country Dinner Theater, 4-8 p.m. Sunday
NISSWA
American Legion
25807 Main St.
Rare Phorm Entertainment, 7 p.m. Saturday
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Hauling Cattle as a ... | Beef Cattle | Agriculture
Hauling Cattle as a ... | Beef Cattle | Agriculture
Hauling Cattle as a Business
Beef InsiderUpdated: 02/09/2015 @ 2:30pm
By: Raylene Nickel
Since moving into semiretirement after selling their cow herd and farmland, Waldo and Kathy Westrum of Turtle Lake, North Dakota, now focus on their side business: custom-hauling cattle. With the purchase of a new trailer, their client base and service area has expanded, doubling their cattle-hauling miles.
“Custom-hauling cattle is a good side business for a ranch because it provides cash flow,” says Waldo. “The extra income the business earns helps justify the purchase of a good stock trailer for our own ranch use.”Waldo bought his first gooseneck trailer for hauling his own cattle back in 1992. Soon after, neighbors began asking him to haul their cattle. The business grew from there.
The Westrums’ new, custom-built trailer plays a key role in the present growth of their business. They took what they learned over many years of hauling and ordered a custom-built trailer that increases the ease of loading cattle.
The following specialized features reduce their stress and labor, and help minimize breakdowns.
• Steel construction. Relative ease of repair figured in their decision to buy a trailer constructed of steel rather than aluminum.
“If we have to repair a steel sidewall, for instance, this can be done at a regular welding shop,” says Waldo. “Repairs to aluminum have to be done at a specialized shop.”
• Heavy-duty undercarriage. The 34-foot-long trailer has three axles, each rated at 8,000 pounds. Wheels are heavy-duty, and the tires are 14 ply.
“This gives us good carrying capacity, and we’ve got more stopping power with the bigger brakes,” says Waldo. “Tire blowouts are common with stock trailers, but we’ve only had two flats in the last 26,000 miles. Those resulted from two small nails we happened to pick up.”
• Two-speed gearbox on the jack. Because the steel construction increases the weight of the trailer, the Westrums added a two-speed gearbox to the jack. The gear reduction makes it easier to crank the jack to lift the hitch out of the pickup bed.
• Double-wall design. Smooth interior walls are easy to clean and reflect light, brightening the interior. Outside walls are of horizontally designed construction materials, which tend to deflect gravel.
“Vertical structures on the outside catch rocks and chip the paint, giving rust a place to get started,” says Waldo. The trailer interior is 80 inches wide with straight sidewalls all around.
• Light interior. The interior and the exterior of the trailer are painted white. “Cattle are easier to load into a trailer that’s light inside rather than dark,” notes Kathy.
• Rubber flooring. At the factory, the floor of the trailer was coated with a ½-inch layer of a material made from recycled rubber. “It adds a layer of cushioning to the floor that makes it more comfortable for the cattle to stand on,” explains Kathy. “It’s easy to clean.”
Hauling Cattle as a Business
Beef InsiderUpdated: 02/09/2015 @ 2:30pm
By: Raylene Nickel
Since moving into semiretirement after selling their cow herd and farmland, Waldo and Kathy Westrum of Turtle Lake, North Dakota, now focus on their side business: custom-hauling cattle. With the purchase of a new trailer, their client base and service area has expanded, doubling their cattle-hauling miles.
“Custom-hauling cattle is a good side business for a ranch because it provides cash flow,” says Waldo. “The extra income the business earns helps justify the purchase of a good stock trailer for our own ranch use.”Waldo bought his first gooseneck trailer for hauling his own cattle back in 1992. Soon after, neighbors began asking him to haul their cattle. The business grew from there.
The Westrums’ new, custom-built trailer plays a key role in the present growth of their business. They took what they learned over many years of hauling and ordered a custom-built trailer that increases the ease of loading cattle.
The following specialized features reduce their stress and labor, and help minimize breakdowns.
• Steel construction. Relative ease of repair figured in their decision to buy a trailer constructed of steel rather than aluminum.
“If we have to repair a steel sidewall, for instance, this can be done at a regular welding shop,” says Waldo. “Repairs to aluminum have to be done at a specialized shop.”
• Heavy-duty undercarriage. The 34-foot-long trailer has three axles, each rated at 8,000 pounds. Wheels are heavy-duty, and the tires are 14 ply.
“This gives us good carrying capacity, and we’ve got more stopping power with the bigger brakes,” says Waldo. “Tire blowouts are common with stock trailers, but we’ve only had two flats in the last 26,000 miles. Those resulted from two small nails we happened to pick up.”
• Two-speed gearbox on the jack. Because the steel construction increases the weight of the trailer, the Westrums added a two-speed gearbox to the jack. The gear reduction makes it easier to crank the jack to lift the hitch out of the pickup bed.
• Double-wall design. Smooth interior walls are easy to clean and reflect light, brightening the interior. Outside walls are of horizontally designed construction materials, which tend to deflect gravel.
“Vertical structures on the outside catch rocks and chip the paint, giving rust a place to get started,” says Waldo. The trailer interior is 80 inches wide with straight sidewalls all around.
• Light interior. The interior and the exterior of the trailer are painted white. “Cattle are easier to load into a trailer that’s light inside rather than dark,” notes Kathy.
• Rubber flooring. At the factory, the floor of the trailer was coated with a ½-inch layer of a material made from recycled rubber. “It adds a layer of cushioning to the floor that makes it more comfortable for the cattle to stand on,” explains Kathy. “It’s easy to clean.”
College Scorecard: Websites for Comparing Colleges
 |
| Ole Miss-Oxford, MS |
Here are some of the criteria you can compare using the basic search function:
Find Schools
- Compare schools now Programs/Degree
- Programs/Degrees Location
- Location Size
- Size Name
- Name
- Type of school
- Public
- Private Nonprofit
- Private For-Profit
- Specialized mission
- Religious affiliation
Check out: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/
Links to other sites for comparing colleges:
- Big Future College Comparison: Compare up to three colleges and utilize the extensive resource at Big Future
- http://www.studentadvisor.com/match: Compare up to 5 schools and use the college match function to explore schools that fits your interests.
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
The Building of the Freightliner Revolution Innovation Concept Truck
From Freightliner.com: Welcome to the Revolution. Meet the new concept in crossover cab design and see what happens when engineers get the green light to put their creativity to max with the start to finish concept, design and building of the Freightliner Revolution Innovation Truck. Hear from the researchers, engineers and product designers of the fully functional demonstration Freightliner Revolution Innovation Truck.
The Freightliner Revolution Innovation concept truck was revealed at the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) 2012 to help launch the celebration of Freightliner Truck's 70th Anniversary
I am very interested in the way they are using technology and design to make trucks more fuel efficient. I also like the way many new trucks are using CNG as a lighter and more efficient fuel for
some applications. The futuristic designs can benefit owner operators by decreasing the amount of money they need to spend on fuel. The lack of creature comforts and space could be a big negative to most OTR drivers.
Find Apprenticeship Opportunities- Free Career Training
Benefits for an Apprentice (provided by U.S. Dept. of Labor)
An education and the potential to earn college credit, even an associate or bachelor's degree, in many cases paid for by your employer.
With the high costs of a college education, apprenticeships can be a great option for people at all stages in their lives. If you are graduating from high school, or looking for a career change, but face financial problems, free training can be a great way to find a high paying career.
Links
- Check out the U.S. Dept. of Labor's Apprenticeship website to search for opportunities.
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