Yesterdays lunar eclipse had me wondering just how I was going to view it.  I recalled many, many years ago, an hobby astrologist I worked with brought in a box one day and we were able to set it up in the parking lot at work and view an eclipse.  I went to work looking up how it was done on line.

The on line help said I needed to build a box a minimum of 6 feet long!  That seemed a bit much to me and I did not recall my astrologist friend having a box that long.  And so, I decided all I needed was a short box and an end with a pin hole in it.  I could cast the suns light on something far enough away to make it visible and hopefully we could see the shadow of the moon as it crossed in the suns path.

About 6:45 p.m. Brandon called and I told him what I was up to.  He wanted to come and see and so, it wasn’t but a couple of minutes and here were the kids to see.  I did not realize just how quickly the eclipse would take place.  I figured we had plenty of time.  We headed out to find a likely spot to set up our pin hole box.

Luckily for us there was an old metal door laying in the metal recycle pile we could use to project the sun against and when we set it up…wholey moley, the eclipse was already happening.

McKenzie and Conner had to get into the picture and I’m glad they did.  Proof that I was not alone in this adventure.

And so, with camera clicking away I was able to capture some of the images of the moon passing between the earth and the sun.  Remember, this image is reverse of what you would have seen if you could have looked directly at the sun.  It’s sure a lot easier on the eyes than looking directly into the sun and we did not have to use welders masks or plastic garbage bags to view the event.

This was the first picture and you can see we were late getting into the action.  So for next time I will be setting things up at least 45 minutes before the total eclipse happens, maybe sooner.

And so, even though the pictures aren’t that good, at least you can see what we saw by using just a pin hole in a piece of aluminum foil and rabbit ears over our head.

We did this in Northern Utah on May 20.  The total eclipse was seen about half way through the state to the South.  They got to witness the “ring of fire” as it’s called, but we were too far north to see that.  We still had fun and it did not cost us anything to go down there.  This sort of thing is not dangerous, it is informative, somewhat scientific and fun.

Bears Butt

May 21, 2012

Today marks the National celebration of Eliza Doolittle but unlike her last name Eliza really did quite a bit.  Of course she had a whole lot of help doing it.  Sort of like Bears Butt.  I have a lot of stage crew that keep my image high (in your mind at least), why else would you keep hanging around this site reading the obscure?

Behinds the scenes of Eliza’s life are people of eloquence and grace.  She, after all was just a poor, almost homeless lass who barely could speak the language and be understood.  She was not very clean in her early days as she didn’t have the advantages of the richer folks and therefore had to take cold baths when ever that occasion presented itself.  How often would you take a cold bath?  I too would rather put up with smelling and being dirty until I just couldn’t stand myself before venturing into a cold bath.  Kind of like being on the muzz hunt with a bunch of guys.

She could speak the language, but was really rough and talked “street talk” quite well.  Since she was a girl, the boys gave her a wide range.  She could handle herself well with the roughest of the boys out there.  But, when she came into favor with a rich woman who could see she was a blossoming lass, the best of the best of teachings were thrown her way and she learned quickly just how to say the words properly and how to carry herself among the well to do.

I’m a lot like that myself, only pretty much self trained.  Notice how I swagger when wearing my leathers.  Not too closely boys!  I like girls.  Notice how my language changes with whom I’m speaking.  Notice how I know just what to say and when to say it.  Some of you might think I have had just a few too many bubblies, but I almost always remember what went on.  Just a spoon full of sugar you know.

Eliza Doolittle, went from a street lass to a high class lady in less than the time it takes Bears Butt to draw a Crawford tag.  And her countenance was quite the opposite of one who might have heard, “Your countenance makes time stand still”!  (In other words, you are so ugly, you could stop a clock).  She was a beauty in every way.

As for Bears Butt in this parody, I may not be the most handsome, I may not be the most intelligent, I may not be the tallest, the thinnest or have perfect teeth, but I will offer you a drink and tell you a story.  Did I every mention about the “Rain in Spain falling mainly on the plain”?

Bears Butt

May 20, 2012

Have you ever wondered what it is they put in propane fuel that smells so bad?  Well, yours truely has done all the research you need on the subject and I’m here to share it with you right now.

Chemically speaking it’s a combination of a Thiol group and a Ethyl group.  Ethyl groups are groups that have multiple Carbon atoms, while the Thiol groups have Sulphur atoms.  It’s quite easy if you do a bit of study.  You see the Ethyl compound is stated as CH3CH2, clearly two atoms of Carbon (C) and 5 atoms of Hydrogen (H) and the Thiol group is simply one atom of Sulpher and one atom of Hydrogen or SH…combine the two and you have the existence of some very stinky stuff CH3CH2SH.

Now I’m not a chemist but in my little pea brain I can not seem to understand why those little C’s and H’s don’t get together and make the whole thing C2H6S, that seems like it would stink even more than CH3CH2SH.  I mean sound it out:

CHCHSHHHHHH  vs CUHUSSSSSSS  The later sound just sounds more smelly to me.  Maybe I’m a little hard of hearing, but it just does sound more smelly.  And if you were to be attempting to hook up your BBQ to the propane tank and you kept smelling that nasty odor time after time of trying to get it connected without any leaks, you would be cussing up a storm, right!  That would be smelly!  Now look again at the sounds…which is closest to “cussing”?  Of course, CuHuSSSSSS (cussssss).

Ok, I’ve kept you in suspense long enough, the word for the additive that smells so bad that they add to propane and other odorless gases is called Ethyl Mercaptan:  Ethyl = Ethyl Group, Mercaptan = Thiol Group.

In my extensive research, I also found where the Guiness Book of World Records lists Ethyl Mercaptan as the “foulest smelling substance in the world”.  I suppose it could be, but have you ever smelled yourself after a “you know” while wearing chest waders?  I guess the Guiness folks would have had to of been there.

Ethyl Mercaptan, that’s what you are smelling, not propane, it don’t stink.

Bears Butt

May 18, 2012

It’s National Visit Your Relatives day!  When I announced it, Sherry said, “At the cemetery”?  Well, I guess you could do that, but I was thinking about the living ones.

It’s currently quite rainy outside, something we really needed and I suppose some of our deceased relatives had something to do with that.  Perhaps it was their way of paying us a visit!  It sure has brought a smile to my face!

So to all of you “my relatives”, even if I don’t get to see you face to face, consider this a visit from the old Bears Butt!

Enjoy!

Bears Butt

May 18, 2012

I just ran across a very interesting thing.  The Utah DWR has joined up with Cabelas in a tagged fish contest.  You could win a bunch of money, a boat or some great gear just for going fishing!  There are some stinking rules, but what the heck, everything we do has rules.  Check this out!

Catch a tagged fish, win a great prize

The 2012 “Wanna’ Go Fishing for Millions?” contest runs until July 8.

Utah is one of 19 states that are holding a “Wanna’ Go Fishing for Millions?” contest this year. The contest is sponsored by Cabela’s.

If you catch a fish with a contest tag on it, you’ll be eligible for some big prizes.

The fish were tagged by biologists with the Division of Wildlife Resources. “We’re happy to help,” says Roger Wilson, Aquatic Section chief for the DWR. “We wish the anglers who participate in this contest the best of luck. We hope you’re one of the prize winners.”

The following are Utah lakes and reservoirs with tagged fish and species of tagged fish:

How to get involved

To qualify to win, you must pre-register online.

In one of the 19 states, a fish has been tagged with a tag worth $1 million. The grand prize will be doubled to $2 million if the person who catches the fish had Cabela’s Fish Recon app on his or her smartphone before they caught the fish.

Other prizes include two Ranger 520Z Bass Series Comanche boats and trailers with Evinrude outboard motors, valued at $65,000 each, as well as more than $20,000 in gear from Costa sunglasses, Abu Garcia and Rapala.

All rules and requirements, as well as contest details and registration information, are available at cabelas.com/fishformillions.

Bears Butt

May 17, 2012

Boy Howdy!  Is this ever a national day to remember, it’s National Pack Rat Day, how about that!?!  If there was ever a pack rat it is me.  I save almost everything and if I ever decide to toss it out, I’m down to Home Depot buying another very soon.

You know what I’m talking about, “good stuff”.  That piece of shiney metal that surrounds a shower head or the extension hose from the sink sprayer with a still good sprayer end.  The 12 volt water pump you know will only take a minute to get working again.  A perfectly good metal coffee can with the plastic lid.  The aluminum pan you cooked last Thanksgivings turkey in.  The old frayed rope from the flag pole.  Metal grate from the defunct bbq grill or the end of the old twisted garden hose.

I have a garage full of these good things and there are more.  Half a can of screws that came from an old camping trailer and all the light covers from the same.  Not to mention the handles from the cabinet drawers inside.  These are good things!  How could anyone toss them in the trash?  Do any of you need some of these things?  I have them and they are free to you!

How about out in the shed?  Yes, big items like shovel heads and spades with broken handles still inside.  Perfectly good if they just had new handles.

And there are some things that are around just because “Dad” used it.  It’s totally broken, but how can you throw it away?  Pa bought it and wore it out, hung it up because he knew he could fix it someday, but someday never came around…so there it hangs.  Sort of a priceless thing if you know what I mean.  And in the other corner is a atv sprayer tank that will hold 20 gallons of spray…ya it has a small hole in one corner from a leaking mounting bolt, but dang it’s almost like new.  Someday I’ll fix it.

How about you?  Are you a pack rat?  Today would be a great day to have a garage sale and try to get rid of some of the pack rat stuff.  If everyone who is a pack rat had a garage sale perhaps we could all get together at a common location and have a giant happening sale.  National Pack Rat Sale Day!

Anyway, take the screws out of that old toaster before you throw the rest into the metal salvage bin.

Bears Butt

May 17, 2012

Well it’s that time of year to expect the expected!  Watch your credit card balances on line.  The DWR are beginning to hit the credit cards for the permits you applied for back in February.

Did I draw a moose tag?  Did I draw a muzzy deer tag?  How about my LE elk?

My wife says it would not be a good time for any of the biggies to be hit right now…OUCH!  You just watch…this is the time it will happen…anyone want to buy a boat?  HA HA!

Good luck to all!

Bears Butt

May 16, 2012

WOOOHOOOOO!!!!  UPS just delivered my new muzzleloader sights!  Just in time to install and sight in before rendezvous!  Look out fellas!  All the prizes will be coming my way.

The only way it could be better is if there was some sort of Gyro that held my rifle more solid.  But, I will behave myself and not have a heavy beating heart when on the line.

Bears Butt

May 15, 2012