Today I serviced the Model T truck, changing oil and checking grease joints.
Changing oil is a simple matter of removing the drain plug and draining the oil. Once the oil is drained the transmission inspection cover is removed and the oil is poured in.
The Model T transmission was a “planetary” transmission, which is system consisting of one or more outer gears or “planet” gears and is often called the first automatic transmission. It was an integrated part of the engine and was lubricated by the splash method directly with oil in the engine pan.
When I restored this truck some 15 years ago, I also rebuilt the engine and transmission. At that time I put an after market screen in to catch any metal filings or debris that may be in the engine. The inspection cover goes over this screen.
Below is a photo of one of the engines I rebuilt with the head and transmission cover (hogshead) removed showing the transmission just behind the flywheel.
It was a good day once again working on a Model T.
We stopped by the dreaded Verizon store this past week to ask a question about using my wife's iPhone as a hotspot, similar to our mifi. Every time we deal with Verizon I feel like their first objective is how much they can bleed out of me.
Before they answer any questions it is, "well... let's take a look at your account." And the next thing said is, "did you know you are eligible for an upgrade?"
We know! But, we're not ready to shell out another $600 - $1000 for another iPhone and my dumb phone works just fine. Did I walk in with a sign on my forehead saying "ready to be fleeced again?"
And, while we're at it, how come your so-called unlimited data plan isn't?
When you advertise and promote an "unlimited" data plan, how come it really isn't? You figure it's okay to sell me an "unlimited" plan and then throttle usage?
"Mobile Hotspot with 10 GB of 4G LTE data is included at no charge (after 10 GB you’ll get 3G data speeds)."
I really didn't get an answer to that question.
Somehow the conversation went back to "you are eligible for an upgrade." This time it wasn't elective. I was told my basic phone will no longer work on the Verizon system after the first of the year. Something about system changes and upgrades.
I said I don't need another phone. Mine works just fine. When it rings I answer it. When my wife is looking for me she sends a text and I text back. That's all I need.
You don't have a choice I was told. It won't work after the first of the year. My response was, "fine, then just give me another basic phone that will work since you are making mine obsolete."
Wrong. The only choice is either a "smart" phone at a gazillion dollars or a chintzy flip phone at $180. (Can you even text on a flip phone?)
As I mentioned in the previous post, I came back sooner than expected from the Medicine Bow Forest this week. Aside from the reasons I mentioned in that post, one other issue caused me to head home early. But, first some background:
As a result of damage from RK eye surgery some 30+ years ago, my corneas are irregular causing distorted vision. Initially I was able to get by with several glasses each day which had to be switched around as my vision changed throughout the day. In recent years I have been seeing ophthalmologists (MD) specializing in treatment of the cornea. Short of a corneal transplant, nothing could be done for my eyesight. That was until this past winter in Arizona.
I went in to update my eyeglasses prescription and just by chance the ophthalmologist who did the exam was also a specialist in contact lenses for problem cases. What was recommended was scleral contact lenses.
Scleral contact lenses are a hybrid of soft and hard contact lenses. They are called "scleral" lenses because, unlike conventional small contacts, they are large lenses that actually vault over the entire corneal surface and rest on the "white" of the eye (the scleral).
Conventional vs. Scleral
In the center of the lenses there is a protruding bubble. Because the lenses are vaulted, special saline fluid fills the lenses and the bubble.
Because there is more involved in manufacturing scleral vs. conventional contacts, the cost is $2000 per pair. I was fortunate enough to be referred to a vision insurance company that pays for "medically necessary" contacts and requisite exams with an annual premium of $200 each year. That is limited to one pair and exam each year. They are warrantied for loss or damage for six months.
While in Wyoming I used a new bottle of contact cleaning solution which ruined my contacts. I had to limp by on the only pair of eyeglasses I brought along, however because of my irregular corneas it was distorted vision.
I contacted the eye clinic and was informed my warranty had expired 17 days ago. That was on a Friday. All I could think about was having to shell out $2000 for a new pair and decided I just as well head home to find a local ophthalmologist and be fitted for a new pair.
On Monday my luck turned and the clinic in Arizona phoned and said they appealed to the manufacturer who agreed to honor the warranty and send out a new pair. In my case these contacts aren't a convenience. They are a life necessity, bringing my vision to 80%-85%. That was a scleral scare I don't want to ever go through again.
I'm back on the farm from the trip to the Medicine Bow National Forest in Wyoming. The weather at that elevation was perfect, however it didn't last as long as I hoped.
The forest has been hit hard by the bark beetle infestation. Virtually every forest campground has been clear cut of dying or down trees causing some to be closed.
What I didn't expect was that every available campground, which are dry camping only, was full. Even the dispersed camping sites were full. It wasn't until I asked a park ranger why that I learned the reason. I was told that, aside from weekend campers, most were from Colorado because of the Colorado forest fires.
I stayed in the area for 4 days and since I was nearly 600 miles from home, I wasn't too pleased to have to leave the Medicine Bow earlier than planned. On the trek home I had considered doing it all in one drive, however after 435 miles I was shelled, so I pulled over at a wayside area in Nebraska for the night.
That turned out to be a mistake. With the temp at 85ยบ and an equal humidity level I had been lulled by the weather in the mountains. Even in the shade it was uncomfortable with little sleep and by 3:00 in the morning I had enough.
When I got home I had a surprise. My friends (two bachelor brothers) had left a Model T at the farm. It was one I had sold to them when I retired. Prior to retiring I restored Model T's as a hobby. When I retired my friends bought most of them.
The Model T they dropped off is a 1924 C Cab truck. It was rough when I found it and over time I restored it back to factory original condition.
While I was gone my friends went to an auction and bought another Model T. With some 20+ Model T's they are running out of room for storage. Since I have done some work on cars they purchase to get them running, they are going to leave this truck at the farm. It will be nice to have it to drive around on the country roads. I had forgotten how much I miss those days.
Well, I haven't left yet on my trip to Wyoming and couldn't pass this up.
POPLAR BLUFF, MISSOURI
If Mid Continent Nail Corporation, which according to a spokesman is “on the brink of extinction” because of President Donald Trump’s tariff on steel, does have to close, it will hit this whole town hard.
Yet all but one of those I tallked to also agreed that as difficult as the closure would be for Poplar Bluff, population 17,000, down near the Arkansas line, they’d never hold the loss of those jobs against Trump.
“It would be a detriment to our community,” said Carol McGee, a nurse still in her Spiderman scrubs because she’d come straight from work. “But when you look at the bigger picture, blaming him solely is not necessarily accurate.”
"He’s the only one who hasn’t lied” about what he was going to do in office, insists Eric Turner, a chef. So although through the tariffs “he's going to drive up the cost of everything, people are still going to stand behind him" in heavily Republican Butler County.
Sean Foust said if his friends who work there do lose their jobs, “I don’t think it will turn them” against the president, even if “on the surface, it’s going to look bad.” Why is that?
Nearby in the downtown parking lot, in between the train tracks and the farmers market, a man wearing a shirt emblazoned with a red, white and blue peace sign, who only gave his first name, John, said he’s “pretty worried” since two of his friends have already been laid off. But more important to him is that “there were so many illegals in the area taking jobs away.” And Trump “is better than the Muslim we had in the White House.” For him, a real threat to jobs is less frightening than an imagined one. (by Melinda Henneberger, Kansas City Star)
Even when a major business is on the brink of closing... Even when they are losing their jobs... Even when virtually every politician condemns tariffs, these lemmings are willing to follow not-my-president Trump over the cliff.
Kind of reminds me of the college fraternity hazing when a pledge is whacked with a paddle and asks for another.
What the hell are they putting in the water supply in Poplar Bluff?
That's it! I don't have to take this abuse much longer.
I'm about at my end watching not-my-president Trump run this country into a dark hole.
And this heat and humidity is getting to be too much.
I've got my possibles packed in the truck camper and I'll soon be off to the Snowy Range in the Medicine Bow National Forest in Wyoming where the elevation should be much cooler and less humid.
I had planned on leaving tomorrow, but wouldn't you know it, the forecast is for thunderstorms here on the farm. We'll see. However, Thursday looks good.
As luck would have it, there will be a music festival on the 27th and 28th in Centennial, Wyoming I'll check out. Reminiscent of attending music events years ago in my VW Beetle. Far out.
And while many will be sleeping in tents on the ground, I'll be nice and comfy in the camper.
Speaking to reporters, Trump again lambasted the special counsel's investigation stemming from Russian interference in the 2016 election as "a disaster for our country.”
"I hold both countries responsible. I think that the United States has been foolish. We've all been foolish," Trump said at the news conference in Helsinki, Finland. (emphasis added)
"I think that the probe is a disaster for our country. I think it's kept us (the US and Russia) apart. I think it's kept us separated," Trump said.
John Brennan, the former CIA director and a career intelligence officer, called Trump's comments "nothing short of treasonous."
"Donald Trump's press conference performance in Helsinki rises to & exceeds the threshold of 'high crimes & misdemeanors,' " Brennan tweeted. "It was nothing short of treasonous. Not only were Trump's comments imbecilic, he is wholly in the pocket of Putin. Republican Patriots: Where are you???"
18 U.S. Code § 2381 - Treason
Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States. (emphasis added)
2020 is shaping up to be a pivotal year because of the presidential election. However, it also means that a Medicare change buried in the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act will be implemented.
Outlawed by the Act will be the sale by private insurance companies of Plan C and Plan F in Medicare supplemental insurance policies.* Also known as "first dollar" coverage because the patient essentially pays nothing when they have this comprehensive coverage, Plan C and Plan F pays the Medicare Part B deductible.
It is important to note that this supplemental health insurance coverage is paid by the individual to a private insurance company authorized by the government. With that coverage deductibles and copays are paid for in the policy. So, why did Congress decide to eliminate these choices?
Congress decided to make Medicare recipients more responsible for more of the out-of-pocket expenses or making them have "more skin in the game."
With no substantiating data, Congress claimed that Medicare recipients with the "first dollar" coverage went to see doctors more often than if they had to pay the deductibles on their own. In other words, if recipients had to pay the deductibles they might think twice about seeing a doctor for minor ailments and fewer doctor visits would save Medicare money.
Opponents argued that Plans C and F cost more than other Medicare supplemental plans and if an individual wanted to pay for the added coverage they should be able to so. After all, it is a policy between the individual and a private insurance company (albeit authorized only by the government).
And who doesn't think that the insurance lobby played a role in this legislation? Less coverage means less expense and more profit in their already bloated coffers.
More evidence of why the alphabet soup of Medicare supplemental insurance is meant to profit the insurance company over the medical needs of Medicare recipients. More evidence that the cobbled up health care insurance and Medicare need to be replaced by single payer health insurance for all Americans. Oh wait... I forgot that we have a dysfunctional Congress paid for in part by the insurance lobby.
* Medicare recipients who have Plan C and Plan F coverage prior to January 1, 2020 will be allowed to keep the coverage. Something to think about if someone currently on Medicare wants to upgrade.
A fellow blogger has asserted that, “The nation once known as the United States of America has become the Failed States of America.”Based on what has happened this week in our nation and with our Buffoon-in-Chief, I wholeheartedly agree.
To kick it off, not-my-president Trump displayed his arrogance and lack of knowledge of history by insulting and intimidating our NATO allies.This moron (Tillerson, 2017), playing right into the plans of Vladimir Putin, sabotaged the NATO summit goal of unity in the face of Russian aggression by arguing with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, including saying that Germany “is a captive of Russia.”
Even before going to the summit, not-my-president Trump showed his loyalty to Putin when he said,"I have NATO, I have the UK, which is in somewhat turmoil, and I have Putin. Frankly, Putin may be the easiest of them all. Who would think? Who would think?”
This in advance of his scheduled closed door meeting with Putin next week where no other American officials will be present.
___________________
After leaving the NATO summit, not-my-president Trump tromped into England and showed his racist tendencies in an interview with the British tabloid The Sun.He criticized Europe’s immigration policy, claiming it has “changed the fabric” of the continent.
“I think you are losing your culture. Look around. You go through certain areas that didn’t exist 10 or 15 years ago.”
“I think what has happened to Europe is a shame,” he added. “Allowing the immigration to take place in Europe is a shame.”
“I think it changed the fabric of Europe and, unless you act very quickly, it’s never going to be what it was and I don’t mean that in a positive way,” Trump said. “So I think allowing millions and millions of people to come into Europe is very, very sad.”
And, what exactly does not-my-president Trump mean by “changing the fabric of Europe” and “losing your culture?”White Anglo-Saxon?
_____________________
As if all of not-my-president Trump’s idiocy wasn’t enough, yesterday Congress displayed their dysfunction in a hearing interrogating FBI official Peter Strzok.
In an attempt to distract from the Russia collusion investigation, Congressional Republicans displayed their outright animus and ideological loyalty to not-my-president Trump when they maliciously grilled Strzok about his lack of judgment in pre-election texts critical of not-my-president Trump.
The objective was to derail the Russia collusion investigation by claiming Strzok’s texts tainted or impacted the investigation.
Notwithstanding the poor judgment of Strzok’s texts, an inspector general’s report showed there was no bias or impact to the collusion investigation.
____________________
This has been a shameful and disconcerting week for America.
As not-my-president Trump drives a wedge between our allies, bolstering his relationship with Putin, and as Congress continues to show their complete incompetence, we are swiftly becoming the “Failed States of America,” or simply “Amerika.”
The heat wave continues and today includes a heat advisory.
I have several outdoor projects and the only way I can get them done is to get out early before it gets too hot. Today's project was changing oil in the "farm pickup," which we basically only use around the farm. It's a bit rusty and high mileage, however we don't use it for long distance travel.
I was out shortly after dawn and by the time I finished changing the oil the temperature was 78ยบ and the humidity was 76%. It is it is headed for a high of 95ยบ.
Tomorrow morning I'll head out early again to take care of another project before the temperature and humidity chase me indoors. The only way to get them done is picking away at them one at a time.
This morning I went out the door at 5:30 to spray a couple rows of hedges and a few ornamental trees that the bugs have been feasting on.
Unless I get out early enough in the morning, by midday it is virtually unbearable to be outside working. As if the high temperature wasn't enough, the humidity is like being in a sauna (86% this morning).
We are surrounded by corn here on the farm and corn "sweats," meaning it puts off humidity. The nice neighbor farmer rotates corn and beans each year and this is the year for the corn. Corn as far as the eye can see when it is this tall.
The heat and humidity doesn't seem to bother the nice neighbor farmer's cows, however by the afternoon they are seeking shade in our tree line that borders the fence.
If this keeps up I might have to consider heading over to the Medicine Bow Mountains in Wyoming to get some relief.
We are back on the farm from our trip to Denver for our son's 45th birthday, which turned out to be a learning experience.
Denver is one of the worst places in the nation to find an RV park, which is almost a requirement this time of the year with the high temperatures and the need for A/C. We did reserve a spot several weeks in advance at a park in Wheat Ridge.
Learning experience #1:
On the first night out we had no hot water from the water heater on either propane or electric. No matter what trouble shooting I did, I couldn't figure out why.
When on electric the switch inside the camper would light up and after a length of time, still no hot water. The same for the propane switch. It would light up, however no ignition.
When we arrived in Denver the next morning we stopped at an RV dealership on an outside chance someone in the service department could make a quick inspection. Before I went into the service office I flipped the propane switch on and this time it lit the burner. Perplexed, but happy it was working, we went on our way to the RV park. After we got all settled in I turned on a faucet and no hot water. Crap!
That night as I was in bed, going over it in my mind what exactly could have happened between the time we last used the camper and now, it came to me. When we got home in March from our winter stay in Arizona it was still freezing at night, so I "winterized" the camper as a precaution.
By now other RV'ers reading this will have guessed what the problem was. When I winterized the camper I moved the water heater lever to the bypass position so the antifreeze wouldn't go into the water heater.
In the morning I moved the lever back to the open position and checked a faucet. Super hot water! What a relief that nothing was broken and the only damage was to my pride that I made such a rookie mistake.
Learning experience #2:
Since we were staying in Denver for only two nights, it didn't make sense to take the camper off the truck. It also didn't make much sense to unhook the camper from the campground utilities to drive around Denver, especially with the amount of traffic and if we decided to have a few beers with a meal.
The solution was UBER. We have never used UBER before, so before we left home my wife downloaded the UBER app on her smartphone. We were amazed how it worked. Literally, within minutes after requesting an UBER via the phone app a car arrived. No doubt if we had called for a taxi we would have been waiting much longer.
play\หfa-shistalso-sist\noun or adjective, often capitalized
: a political philosophy, movement, or regime that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocraticgovernment headed by a dictatorialleader, severe economic and social regimentation, and suppression of opposition.
: a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control.
