More Model Trains

Model Trains...I can't wait to have a layout again. I am not sure what gauge I'll go with HO, N, Or Z......depends on the space I'll have.

In the meantime, I'll read issues of "Model Railroader" and get ideas.

Here are some sources:

http://www.walthers.com/

http://www.nmra.org/

http://www.atlasrr.com/

http://www.modelrailroads.net/

http://www.lionel.com/

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/index.php

My last father-in-law worked his entire life at the ALCO (American Locomotive Company)in Auburn NY...I still have family living there and lived there myself for 9 years. http://tardis.union.edu/community/project95/ALCO/index.html

UFO's and How They Change Your Life!

OK, I admit it I've seen a UFO and it changed my life! It was March of 1967 in Boulder, Colorado at the University of Colorado. It was the second night of viewing a white light cruising in a zig zag pattern, east to west then reversing. A dorm friend and I watched this for several hours until about 1:30 AM. In that time it turned into a red glowing ball. seemed to seperate and drop , shot at high speed making sharp 90+ degree turns, then finally came about 200 feet silently over our heads heading north.

Decades later, I realized the UFO was originally flying over the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant, and finally through research into the phase of the moon at the time and last year a UFO report in Montana (north remember) that I realized the correct timeframe. Why it took 40 years to put this altogether I have no idea.

This is the UFO that I saw that night. http://www.cufon.org/cufon/malmstrom/malm1.htm




Here is a major UFO INFO PORTAL WEB SITE:http://www.wovoca.com/links-ufo.htm

Colorado Fly Fishing – Bait Huckin' vs. Fly Fishin'

This scene looks like fishing in the Thousand Islands, NY or in Northern Minnesota. I've fished in the states of Minnesota, New York, Colorado, and Ohio. I am old fashioned.....I like live bait..........worms, minnows, crawdads, etc. I like jigs, plugs, etc., but was never interested in fly fishing! My favorite "fishing holes" in Colorado are the Poudre River, near Fort Collins, and a bunch of stocked ponds in the same area. I guess I haven't had a fishing license in over 10 years!


It was one of those fishing trips. You know, everyone catches fish but you, you loose six or eight of your most expensive streamers, it rains buckets, and you sink the boat. That’s right; I got skunked at Steamboat Lake over Memorial weekend.

I was determined to show those meat huckers (worms and power bait) that a well chosen and strategically placed fly was as effective as anything a conventional fisherman could load on a hook and hang under a bobber. Well, no such luck, I got stomped.

The fish were rising like mad on a midge hatch, and I threw everything in the box at them. I could swear I saw a hefty rainbow nudge my fly to the side to eat the natural laying only centimeters from my damn near perfect replica. As we watched the group of 12 year olds add another 18” fish to their stringer (full loaded, I might add) I decided it must be a lake thing. I don’t fish lakes often.

I usually have good luck with a streamer in faster moving water, so I head for one on the several tributaries hoping to get the boat up far enough to make a make a few good casts. No such luck, here comes the wind. Determined and frustrated, I proceed to lose several of my best streamers in the dense shrubbery surrounding the mouth of the creek (can’t retrieve them since the current is too strong to get the boat any further up the creek).

On the way back to camp we are passed by a couple of boats with stringers of fish crashing off the bows of their boats (hmmm, are they just rubbing it my face, or are they tenderizing the meat?)Questioning my decision to become a fly fisherman, I head over to the dock to pick up my 5 year-old son and a fresh styro of night crawlers. I'll let my son fish the meat before I crumble and load one up on the spinner myself. Surprising, no luck with the meat either, and hear comes the rain. I throw my arms up and ponder my karma activity of the past year.

We charge for shore as the lake turns to white caps. The rain and lightning moves in fast. Did I mention that we got the boat for free and have no clue what to do in the rain? We pull the boat up close to shore near our camp, outside of the no-wake zone. We leave all of our gear and head for the soggy camp.

Well, apparently it’s best to leave your boat in protected cove in the no wake zone. From what we could tell, our boat was hammered with 300 to 400 gallons of water from the waves and boat wakes from boaters rushing back to the dock. Yes, it sank in 18 inches of water. I didn’t realize a boat could sink in 18” of water! All of our gear is floating around the shore. The gas tank and gear which included an Orvis waste pack with hmmmm, some 500 plus flies. Every box any fly had to be opened and dried on the dashboards of our trucks.

We bail the boat, load the truck and haul our soggy gear and crippled egos back home.

Next Memorial Day, it’s back to the river!!!

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com


About the Author:
Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of writing journals for fly fishing. Visit NomadJournalTrips.com to read more about the great outdoors as well as fly fishing articles and stories.

Model Trains

I had an extensive model train layout when I was young...vintage Lionel .027 gauge, 12' X 16'. I sold it when in college to one of my dad's coworkers younger son. Seeing the vast increase in prices of Lionel equipment..........I had a dozen remote switches, for example. I regret it.

I hope to have another layout, if I ever get to my retirement digs..this time will be in HO scale.

Model train manufacturers have done a great job of recreating life size trains as realistic models. And they’ve been doing it since the late 19th century when electric model trains first appeared. Take a moment to discover the magic of model trains.

Germany is where it all began when Marklin introduced their full line of model trains back in 1891. Their first trains were based on earlier toy models and were available in three scales. They were made from tin and were very crude, but they were a great success.

Then, in 1901, Joshua Cowen entered the market with Lionel trains. Lionel would soon come to dominate the model train market in America.

Of course there were other companies that came on board with their own lines of model trains. Ives, American Flyer, and Marx all introduced model trains.

Because model trains are so interactive they are a great choice for children and adults. Even the youngest children can enjoy them. It’s not uncommon for adults to recall their first train when talking about their fondest childhood memories.

Lionel was quick to recognize the importance of starting train collectors at a young age and that’s why they’ve got wooden train sets for ages 4 to 6. By the age of 8, kids are ready to be introduced to S scale, G scale, and the ever popular HO scale electric trains. And the hobby continues into adult life. Of course expanding on your model trains is just a matter of time, money, creativity, and space.

There are several different scales of model trains to choose from to fit your space, budget, and personal preferences. For example, if you are limited by space you can choose one of the smaller scales. Here are some of the most popular scale choices you have.

1. Z Scale is a 1:220 ratio. It is tiny and highly detailed, and is an excellent choice if you have limited space.

2. N Scale is a 1:160 ratio. It is the second smallest scale available and it’s a great choice for the hobbyist that want to be able to incorporate scenery and longer trains.

3. HO Scale is a 1:87 ratio. It is probably the most popular scale of model train. There is an endless supply of trains, cars, tracks, buildings, and scenery. The detail on HO is good and a fabulous setup can be put together in a reasonable amount of space.

4. S Scale is a 1:64 ratio. It is larger than the HO and is popular among those with plenty of room. It is the scale of American Flyer products.

5. O Scale is a 1:48 ratio. It is a popular choice for young children because they are able to easily handle them. Lionel carries a full line of O scale for the young ones.

6. G Scale is a 1:22.5 ratio. It is the perfect choice for the garden set up. Bachmann, L.G.B, and Aristo-Craft all make G scale trains.

To put together your model train you will need at least one engine along with some train cars. You can decide whether you want passenger cars or freight cars. And of course you will need train track. The type of track and how much track you’ll need is a personal choice.

You’ll also need a transformer to provide the electricity to your train. Then all that’s left is the scenery you want. Choose trees, tunnels, people, signals, or a host of other items.

If you are looking for a fun and rewarding hobby, why not discover the magic of model trains?




About the Author:

Gray Rollins is a featured writer for GetModelTrains.com. To learn more about model train kits, and model train sets, visit us.

Read more articles by: Gray Rollins

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Preparing For A Natural Disaster, Terrorists Attack Or Bird Flu Pandemic

I have been doing this (preperation), since three days before 1-1-2000..and I gotta tell you the "pickings were slim"........camp stoves, flashlights, batteries, MREs, etc. were out of stock....I had to go to at least 5 stores just to get bottled water. That was mere speculation....imagine a disaster! I have a "bug out" kit complete with surgical instruments and KI.

How prepared are you? Will you be like thousands of others and wait until the last minute to stock up on food and water? Do you even have a working flashlight in your home or auto? As we have clearly seen, waiting until it is too late does not work. Grocery stores run out, gas stations run dry and we certainly can’t depend on the government to help.

You need to start planning today, preparing for the unexpected so that you and your family can survive. Official sources always recommend having a 72 hour or 3 day kit. While it certainly helps, it is nowhere near adequate for an extended survival situation. As we have seen a natural disaster can last for more than 3 days. A possible bird flu pandemic may keep you housebound for weeks or months at a time. So how much is enough and what do you need?

You should plan on meeting your family’s daily needs for a minimum of a month, preferably up to 3 months or longer. This can include:

Food—Stock up on the basics. Flour, sugar, non-perishable foods like macaroni products, rice (a 25lb bag of rice is around $6.00 at SAM’s club), dried milk. Canned goods usually are good for a year or two. Start adding to your pantry now by buying a few extra items every time you go to the grocery store. Take advantage of sales, coupons and store brands. Buy foods you can fix easily, don’t need a lot of water or don’t need to be cooked at all. You can also add to your supply long term dehydrated foods that you can supplement your other food stores. They are vacuumed sealed and have a shelf life of 20-30 years. MRE’s ready to eat meals can also expand your food stores. Buy food and supplies in bulk at Sams club or Costco. Rotate your stock so you always have the freshest food available. Also include things like high-energy bars. Don’t forget pet food.

Water—You can store water in large containers, 5-gallon mylar water bags, camping jugs and other containers. You should also own a good water purifier.

Tools—are you equipped to handle minor repairs around your home? Fix your auto? Repair or build needed survival supplies? Tools to turn off natural gas, shovels to dig out, chainsaws to cut up downed trees and other essential rescue tools may be needed.

Energy—there may be interruptions or outages in electrical and other utilities. Do you have an alternative way of heating your home? A way of supplying power to lights and other needed electrical devices? Stocked up on batteries? A portable generator can be used for emergency backup. You will need gas to run the generator. Solar panels are handy for charging batteries. Extra propane can be used for a stove, lights or heat. Have several flashlights on hand. Newer flashlights feature L.E.D. bulbs that burn brighter and last forever. Also look for hand cranked flashlights that don’t need batteries. Include lighting such as oil or propane lanterns.

Medical— a good first aid kit is a must have. Over the counter drugs such as ibuprofen, aspirin, antacids, etc. Also personal medications and other first aid supplies. Don’t forget spare glasses/contacts and contact lens solution. Brush up on your first aid skills.

Household supplies—everything from shampoo and toothpaste to toilet paper, soap, detergent, bleach, disinfectants and everything else you use on a daily basis. Don’t forget hair clippers if you can’t get out to the barber. Have supplies on hand to deal with sanitation and garbage.

Communication—Newer walkie-talkies that have a 10-12 mile range will help you stay in touch with your family in the event your cell phone stops working. Give each member of your family one and tune them all to the same channel. Buy an emergency battery for your cell phone. They are good for about 60 minutes of talk time. Portable shortwave radios will help you keep in touch with the world. A small portable tv will also help keep you informed if the power is out. A hand cranked radio is also a must have.

Camping equipment—stoves, tents, sleeping bags can all come in handy especially if you need to relocate. Pick up camping supplies on sale and used equipment at garage sales.

Bicycles—if you need to get around and there is no gas a bike is the best item to have.

Relocating—if you choose not to stay in your home, then you need a plan on how you will relocate-to another town or remote cabin, etc. You may want to stock your vacation home with supplies and be prepared to “bug out” before travel is restricted.

Figure out how far you need to get away. Think about storing extra gas to provide a full tank and enough for your journey. 3 or 4–5 gallon gas cans, could be enough to get you several hundred miles away. Because of the fire danger it is very important that you store them safely and rotate them on a regular basis. Meaning, if you have 3 filled cans, week one dump that in your gas tank and refill that can. Week 2 dump the second can in your gas tank and refill that can. Week 3 dump can 3 into your gas tank and refill that can. Week 4 start over with can one. Using this system you will always have 15 gallons of fresh gas on hand in addition to gas that is already in your gas tank.

Plan your exit strategy from your city or town. Keep a map in your car with the roads out highlighted. Find all the alternative routes out of your city or town. Stay away from main highways if at all possible. Have copies of the map in other vehicles if other family members need to meet you later. Practice your escape route by driving it at least once.

Store your “bug out” survival supplies in containers that can be quickly loaded into your vehicle. Keep a smaller version in your vehicle at all times.

Start today preparing for the unexpected and if it happens you won’t need to divert your time and energy away from caring for your family, waiting in long lines for essential goods and services or waiting for the government or other aid organizations to come to your rescue.




About the Author:

To stay up to date on avian influenza, bird flu and the h5n1 virus visit The Bird Flu Index http://www.birdfluindex.com Find links to bird flu websites, blogs, forums, official medical and government sites and full information about how the bird flu could turn into a global pandemic.The latest bird flu news at http://pandemiczone.blogspot.com

Read more articles by: Pandemic Zone

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Build Your Own PC?............No Way!

I have bought software, and “parts” from three places: Tiger Direct, Computer Builders Warehouse, and Micro Center.......this includes mother boards, CPUs, hard drives, DVD drives, fans, cables, etc.

I personally have.......... and most companys have, a “budget” per unit..........weather it be $1,000 or $5,000.

Buying it built or custom, the budget still exists. Look at the prices...............your really only saving the labor costs..........your not going to get the specs of a $5000 machine for $1500......even if you build it yourself..........my estimate is the most you save is 35%. Everything in the unit has to be 100% compatible and correct.....screw up and everything gets fried and you've lost it all. No warranty, no one to complain to........yeah it's cool, you built your own PC..........but I would say less than 5% can do it. Less than 5% of companies even need those high specs. Some “gamers” use machines more powerful than those used to create the movie “Final Fantasy” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_graphics

Like I said before, Maya, Dreamweaver, Macromedia Flash and Shockwave, Photoshop, as well as audio software like Audacity and Muzys, etc. rung on my 400 mhz Dell. Eventually I'll get a faster machine, but will probably only spend $500-800. Like I also said I don't game.

Tiger http://www.tigerdirect.com/

Computer Builders Warehouse http://www.cbwstores.com/

Micro Center http://www.microcenter.com/