[Texascavers] TCR Survey Contest Results 2022
Hi all, This year's Survey Contest involved an about 110 meter long loop of eight stations to be surveyed with Suuntos and tape. The course included going through a flood water culvert, dealing with a survey shot that was longer than the provided survey tape, and a station located on a steel railing. Cait McCann-Terán and Oscar Berrones made 1st place with a loop closure error of 1.39 meters; yielding them cash prizes of $30 each, a survey pouch full of GGG goodies, a copy of Bill Steele's book Huautla, and a rare Caveskinz pouch. Team Rutherford's loop closure error would have been 0.46 meters, had they not flipped the vertical direction in the recording of a back sight shot (and who hasn't before?). As reward for making 2nd place Ron, Barb, Ashley, Rick, and Kevin got cash prizes of $20 each, as well as a number of GGG goodies. Many thanks to our main sponsors: the DFW Grotto for the donation of cash prizes, and Gonzo Guano Gear for survey pouches and a whole host of other goodies. Thanks also go to Andrea Croskrey for helping to design and set up the survey course, and Dale Barnard for helping with crunching the numbers. Cheers, David ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] another LED headlight / Video of the Week
This headlamp has allegedly been around for 3 years, but I just now noticed it at Fry's Store. https://www.casedealer.com/2780r-rechargeable-led-headlight-details.aspx?gclid=cjwkcajw_udsbrameiwaafiha6huilhjkae8lmevqggrnytizjbnvlikewp4jbott51yuqmln6egpbocbbyqavd_bwe Caving Video of the Week https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0kWqoP1Czg An obituary for a cave owner / spelunker https://www.farnsworthmortuary.com/notices/Richard-Olsen It looks like I am going to have to go on a hiatus. My Craigslist roommate-thing is starting to sour unexpectedly, and I may have to pack up and bail out without a parachute. The only exciting thing that I have to report today, is this email is coming to you using Torvald's 5.4.0.rc1 kernel, from a computer I assembled running Fedora Rawhide ( a.k.a. Fedora 32 ).And I was unable to find any caver obituaries in the past week or so. I probably just jinxed that, so please wear your seatbelt and drive 55, and don't visit Houston or Dallas after dark. P.S.The new Rambo movie is really lame.If you go see it, just skip the first 15 minutes.Stallone should have called me, for advice. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] a personal story
Please email me privately if you would like to hear the details of my daughter's quincea~nera ( a.k.a. CavePearl ). I am only posting this hear, as I have not other way to get the story out to my friends, and I had invited a few cavers to attend. Below is a short summary ( hit delete button now ) CavePearl's Mother ( herein, CPM ), planned most of the event, and I was just along for the ride, patching problems in the background. The police had to come and shut the party down at 1:30 a.m. this morning. It was moved from the venue ( the neighborhood clubhouse ) back to CPM's house where it continued on as Mexican slumber-party for about 30 of my in-laws from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Their caravan is southbound now on Hwy. 59 heading back to Mexico. The party was quite extravagant and my mother-in-law now thinks I am an angel.CPM is happy that I rescued the party from an imminent disaster of lack of food and cold beverage.The Locklear clan is now northbound on I-45 for Midlothian /Mansfield.And my mom and her husband's family ( Tomlinson clan ) are back home near Cypress and The Woodlands. And I just got back to Houston, after staying in a hotel nearly two days near Sienna Plantation ( party was 7 miles southwest of Arcola ). My Toyota Sequoia almost paid for itself during this event.CavePearl fainted during the photo-session. I had to eat dinner next to my very estranged-ex-sister in-law, ( who had once assaulted me with an old telephone. ) CPM's boss and her boss' husband had dinner together for the first time in several years. My mom and biological-father were in the same room for only the 3rd time since 1972.Having him there was like having a sack of rocks tied to my leg and a scorpion in my pants. All 140 guest showed up with no food or beverage, but over a dozen friends of CPM slaved away on various task, that would have cost us thousands of dollars had we had to hire someone to do all that. I can only guess we got it done for under $ 3,000, ( not including what all the 140 guest spent on travel expenses ) The venue was a new elegant building that was spacious, and very comfortable, which encouraged a lot of people to stay and socialize. I was too doing party-task for the past 24 hours to take it all in and relax.The DJ was good ( teenage latino music ), and people danced for at least 4 hours, mostly the teenagers.But my 84 year old mother-in-law, and my 72 year old mom, danced once, as did many of the adult couples. [ Sidenote: 100% of my side of the family spends hours a day watching Foxnews, so their first quincean~era was a huge shock to their ideology about the direction American culture is heading in. ] A thousand photos and a hundred videos were taken, as if some royal person from an aristocratic family had just married. Party tip / lesson learned: Someone bring a sack of pita chips. I will likely have to skip TCR. See you all in 2020. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] a video clip of merit
The link below is an animated video ( from a video game ) Start watching at 3:40 and watch through to 5:53 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYd7Wog_PZE To watch in full-screen mode, you need to click on the white square in the bottom right corner of the video. D.L. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Illusive Pit
The ranch was sold three years ago, and the family moved away. They are not in contact with the new owner. Someday, somebody will have to go to Candela and ask around to be introduced to the owner.. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] A new LED headlamp
Here is yet another LED headlamp. This one you might find in small private hardware stores. https://www.simsupply.com/departments/electrical/batteries-and-flashlights/flashlights-and-lanterns/headlamp/channellock-products-3-aa-4-mode-headlight-41-3508/?CATARGETID=120012830001328655=m=Cj0KCQjwoKzsBRC5ARIsAITcwXEP9ag8BLkeWXs6WTvZVifjdK8xP0kKczL_IsVKO0Gyy0xRmhk3YXsaAspGEALw_wcB It is my opinion that if a newbie were planning to visit one of the big Texas caves, they would want a headlamp with 3 or 4 AA batteries, and NOT the AAA variety, as your primary light. A more experienced caver would probably not be interesed in these cheap retail lights.for caving, but maybe for camping or doing chores. D.L. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Take me on a caving-roadtrip
I think this photo needs that slogan on it. https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2019/09/1862/1048/bison5.jpg?ve=1=1 2019 Chevrolet ZR2 "Bison Edition" ( $ 5,000 of aftermarket add-ons with factory warranty ) D.L. Hit Delete Button now please Cavepearl's Quinceanera is just 100 hours away.I almost would have missed it, as I had to refrain myself today ( bite my lip ) to keep from getting thrown in the pokey by the secret Gestapo Division of The Texas Highway Patrol.I need to close my subpoena delivery business tonight, and go find a remote serene waterfall to sit under. I have been post-poning that urgent need for close to 20 years, but my work-task have gotten worse, and I have become far grumpier. On a different note, I saw the movie, "Ad Astra," It reminded me of the movie about the guy that fell in love with the female-voice of his home-entertainment system, or any other movie where the protagonist talks to themselves the whole movie. The science in this new movie, was about as close to retarded as you could get, so leave your brain at home and just enjoy the idea that all the b.s. that goes on in the deep-state of gov't and between gov'ts will occur on Mars, but even worse. Sometime back in the late 70s on Saturday morning, I think, was a show aimed at 5 year olds featuring the inside of a space-ship and some British astronauts. It was super corny. "Ad Astra," seemed to have stolen a lot from that show. I could not find it on YouTube. This might be it: https://youtu.be/6Hrwut2dV0k These three below are similar to what I think I am remembering, but the one I remember was for toddlers, pre-dating the Teletubbies. https://youtu.be/EpF6o2-nx4I https://youtu.be/E_q4oKbCgbQ https://youtu.be/8mWDWYg5j3E ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] sort of conservation related
We are all conservationist here to some extent, and should be able to discuss conservation without getting our knickers in a wad, or using the p-word. Today in the world news, was a young passionate girl giving an official speech of some sort to the United Nations, I assume which was on behalf of her generation. Some of you may have seen parts of it or all of it. Our conservation efforts are likely better in 2019 than what was going on in 1943. As a self-employed person, I struggle to even recycle the products that I use that are recyclable. I made numerous efforts to drive a fuel-efficient car, for most of my adult life. My V8 Sequoia is now a necessity to survive, although, in hindsight it was a waste to get the 4x4 version. There is no way on Earth, I could use public transportation in my daily routine.I wasted thousands of dollars trying. As for wind-energy, there is little of that in southeast Texas, and windmills kill birds and bats, and are unsightly on the landscape. Solar-farms are highly sensitive to sand-storms and the areas with the greatest sun-potential have sand-storms. Population growth is a topic nobody seems to want to touch.We have too many humans on Earth - especially humans who are not in any way trying to make life better for their neighbor. ( I do lots of charity work ).My job is a charity job in a sense. We have people in our society that proudly drive their trucks intentionally spewing fumes into the air - as if it is a counter-statement. We have vandals who damage natural places, out of boredom and pure nefarious intentions. What this young activist does not understand is how capitalism works and the private sector and the public sector, but more importantly how people with low morals end up in high places, like being a judge in a court-room after having spent 10 years helping low-life criminals get through the revolving-door quicker. I am in the private sector and I have to deal with b.s. up to my waist. Why just today, a crooked gov't official caused me to waste about $ 10 in gas, out of my own pocket.This young lady has never had to work, and see the b.s. that goes on. At many places that I had worked in previous years, I was coerced into forging a time-sheet, over-charging the rich customers to under-charge the poor-ones, or maybe even vice-versa. We do need to plant more trees, but it will be years before those trees grow to replace the ones that got cut down. It is likely those new trees would be cut down too someday, so what is the point ?Nearly every tree-planting effort in Houston has been a disaster.The last big drought a few years ago, killed most of them. Elon Musk is selling Teslas as fast as he can, but this young lady does not understand the economics behind all that. Tesla is a crappy choice of a car in southeast Texas. People in southeast Texas need vehicles that are 4 feet off the ground, and are bullet-resistant. There was a big push for ethanol vehicles a few years ago.That program was a disaster in Houston area. Millions of buyers here over-payed for the ethanol-compatible cars ( flex-fuel ), only to find out that it was a pain in the ***. Cheaper fuel and more fuel stations and larger fuel-tanks in the vehicles was needed. Light-Rail in Houston has been a disaster and there is talk of ripping it out and putting in a dedicated bus lane in the same spot. I was in favor of light-rail until I saw how ludicrous the management of the projects were, and the hurt it did to the businesses along the route. The UN did not "steal this girls dreams." "The fairy-tales of business greed," is what the have-nots always have said during every revolution, as they over-throw the rich and powerful. It is always ironic when a poor person suddenly becomes rich, how they don't want to pay taxes, and buy Learjets, and yachts and have wild-parties. I am sharing a 2-bedroom apartment with a strange introvert stranger. This effort is due to economic stress, but I have always wanted to share my living space with someone who was compatible. I do not need a kitchen, nor bath, nor living room, nor dining room all to myself.But the practicality of it is not feasible. I need a place where my teenage daughter can visit, and my girlfriend and other friends and relatives. So I got to figure out some kind of plan to escape from this situation. While I am ranting incoherently, One thing America needs to fix is slumlord's. What is the solution to slumlords over-charging people for crappy apartments and crappy rental property? My opinion is hypocritical.I believe slumlords need to be held accountable. But that would cost taxpayer money, and use up valuable judicial and law-enforcement resources. We need to publicly identify slumlords on the front page of every web-site. But they would just retaliate against their tenants.Ironically, the gov't is the
[Texascavers] a new animated video
Someone out there might like this one, especially maybe kids. First make some good popcorn, and your favorite beverage. This skip to 1:18 into the video https://youtu.be/JLFbtQUNvYQ I may have been the only person to have watched this so far. I do not think that has ever happened before, except for maybe junk-videos that have no purpose. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] cave diving - glacier related
The presentation in the link below maybe of interest to someone on this list-serve I am not familiar with any of this topic in any way, shape or form. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZopoeYnHos I only skimmed thru it, but there seems to be discussion here that is rare or not very common in cave-diving presentations. D.L. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Generating electricity from natural underground resources
Here is an interesting study https://www.foxnews.com/tech/breakthrough-device-can-generate-electricity-from-the-night-sky I can only imagine the best way to create electricity underground would be to find some air-flow, or water-flow. Or maybe to find a cave rodent, and put him or her in a caged-wheel. Or to use human-physical energy like a bicycle. Probably best to just bring lots of rechargeable batteries.And charge them some how near the entrance. Or ask NASA to loan one of those nuclear cells. How would one power an electric jack-hammer, though ? https://www.amazon.com/2717-21HD-Brushless-Cordless-SDS-max-Rotary/dp/B01LXJ13SB/ref=asc_df_B01LXJ13SB/?tag=hyprod-20=df0=309763890402=1o1=g=1803753453457414425c===9027599=pla-649710402197=1 ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] honoring cavers who passed
I just now discovered that one can search via keyword on Legacy.com for
obituaries.
Below is a summary of two that I may have missed in my recent emails:
Sheldon Clutts
Sheldon was born in Huntsville, AL on May 5, 1962, a member of the National
Speleological Society, and
passed away May 16, 2019
Is this him ?
https://dux7id0k7hacn.cloudfront.net/as/assets-mem-com/cmi/0/7/6/5/8715670/20190521_084657355_0_orig.jpg/-/sheldon-clutts-pulaski-tn-photos11.jpg?maxheight=650
This may be him on the left with Gerald Moni and Brian Roebuck:
http://caves.org/grotto/sccg/photos/anniv/Sheldon_Gerald_Brian.jpg
Stephen Kenyon Stafford
Steve was born in Worthington, Ohio on April 24, 1938. He passed away June
20, 2019. He was a member of the celebrated Ohio State University Marching
Band ('58, '59, '60),
He graduated from OSU in 1962 with a Bachelor's degree in music theory and
composition.
*As a speleology enthusiast Steve travelled extensively in the United
States to visit many and varied caves. *
Speaking of music, in this month in American history in 1978, a song
hovered around #39 on the charts about a boy and girl who
had just turned 17 and were about to discover "paradise by the dashboard
light."Allegedly a common phenomenon back in the day.
Imagine in 2019, how different this scenario plays out.Both 17 year
olds would have been exposed to extreme for probably at least 5
years.Probably no seat
in the car comfortable enough to partake in that activity. Probably
know mention of "Will you love me forever ?"
Likely a lot of OMG and emojis being texted during the discussion about
hooking-up. And then they would likely take selfies afterwards, and put
it on Instagram, if they were not live-streaming the whole evening. I
am sure I am leaving out lots of stuff.
Here is probably the best cover version of the song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMHVs8EYcTA
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[Texascavers] Ralph Doerzbacher **Jr.**
This email is to honor Mr. Ralph Doerzbacher Jr. ( Major Ralph E. Doerzbacher, Jr., USAF-retired ) of Saint Paris, Ohio passed away, September 16, 2019. Born on April 6, 1935 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Graduated of the University of Pittsburgh with a B.S. in Physics ( ~ 1957 ). Major Doerzbacher served his country in the USAF for 23 years. He then worked for the Dept. of Defense as an engineer for 3 years. He enjoyed caving, the Ohio Nature Conservatory, Boy Scouts and was a supporter of Cedar Bog in Champaign County, and a member of the National Speleological Society. https://cache.legacy.net/legacy/images/cobrands/urbanacitizen/photos/123565047_web_doerzbacher-ralph_20190917.jpg I was going to try to post more info, but there may be another Ralph Doerzbacher, so I do not want to post anything in error. Ref.: https://books.google.com/books?id=v7E_DwAAQBAJ=PA87=PA87=ralph+doerzbacher=bl=EBYamSGRjs=ACfU3U3PcTuaTu1ko-C9xgsNnGpHCTF9Pg=en=X=2ahUKEwiXqP20wOPkAhUQMawKHVEuAqs4ChDoATAAegQICRAB#v=onepage=ralph%20doerzbacher=false ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Nature related
I am passing through the town of Brenham - a town that once had a scenic drive around the edge of it ( Hwy. 290 ). One of the small scenic hills has been carved away, to make room for a 20-acre strip shopping center - featuring a nail salon, tailor, tobacco store, tattoo parlor, pizza express, Chinese take-out, etc. It looks like it will have a 5 acre concrete parking lot. Someone should really right a song about this tragedy. D.L. My Sequoia transmission now has passed 278,000 miles. I sense it is the next big "unexpected" setback to affect me, as I feel the reverse gear might not be engaging sometimes. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Carlsbad Caverns
There needs to be a large artificial replica-cave on the surface., and charge tourist to go through the artificial section first. 90 % would choose to skip the real cave. Cave tours are wasting valuable resources trying to teach the REHS ( reverse-evolved homo-sapien ) information that their IQ's can not absorb nor retain. Things are so so bad now that all of our civic leaders, coaches, clergyman, authority-figures, CEO's, are REHS, especially in southeast Texas. I have not met a non-REHS here in over 7 years. The mayor of Houston declared to the world yesterday that the freak-storm was not what was forecasted and was instead due soley to global warming and will likely happen again and again randomly during a regular summer / fall afternoon rainshower. Yet it has happened numerous times in the past 200 years, and was a reason that the levees west of Houston were built. Civic leaders allowed ludicrous development in flood zones, including a major national interstate near downtown Houston. It is appalling their ineptitude, and even far worse now with a county commissioner who does not know the terminology of equipment used to prepare for a hurricane.She is cute though, and has the support of the majority of voters here. She got a wake-up call from this, and some real job experience finally. So she will likely get re-elected, even though one could blame her for the chaos yesterday. She and the residents of Harris County lucked out that the 40 inches of rain fell elsewhere. It would have destroyed parts of town had it happened here. Can you tell I am grouchy today ?I missed work, and Cavepearl"s quinceañera is just eight days away. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Sort of Houston related
This is mostly a correction to my post 48 hours ago. Rainstorm Imelda hung around, ( as forecasters warned was possible ), but only dropped about 8 inches of rain inside the city limits of Houston. Surprisingly some specific low spots that always flood, had severe to extreme flooding and caught a lot of people by surprise ( even though they had 4 days of warning ). A majority of people probably missed work today.So many people in southeast Texas ( thousands ?? ) do not have a high enough IQ to understand the term "flash flood." I almost got caught in this one, as it was so hard to skip work, but I sheltered in place. On a totally different note, I was driving yesterday in a part of Houston that I had not been in 23 years. It was where my caving friend, Charles Haskett, had fallen out of a tree.The old run-down neighborhood had many new homes and the tree was gone. Also, in other news An old caving acquaintance whom I very deeply admired, Victoria Arbizu-Sabater, has returned to live in Spain. GHG old-timer, Mike Connolly is still trying to get healthy. I have survived 5 weeks renting a room from my Craigslist roomlord. On another topic, I do not know if I met Lee White at the past NSS Conventions, but he sounded like someone who I admired. 2019 has been a difficult year for the caving community. Another rant, It is going to be interesting next week to see how many of the newly developed areas flooded ( ones retardedly built after Tropical Storm Harvey ). I say storm, because Hurricane Harvey never hit Houston proper. Why are Houston school buses and gov't vehicles here not better at handling high water ? But more importantly, why do officials park them in low-lying areas to purposely let them flood ? Also, All the caving discussions are clearly on Facebook now. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
Re: [Texascavers] weird things in caves
In the town of Hidalgo Mexico, there is a typical old Catholic church, but the wall behind the pulpit is a rock-shelter. The entrance had an ugly galvanized chain-link fence ( or did back in the mid-90s.) Right behind the pulpit is a rock formation resembling a 24 inch long rock projecting outward and downward about 6 feet off the ground. It has been touched by a million tourist in hopes of receiving an instant miracle from their diety. A very vague rumor is that many decades or centuries ago, the formation was once shaped like a baby or maybe some divine image like the ones that appear on toast sometimes.. Cavers used to go in the cave, but not sure if there is a good map. Local spelunkers and tourist likely go beyond the fence. I had some really really good food there near the food market, sometime around 1996. If there were a company that constructed cave gates, then a unique esthetic barrier could be built here. I doubt though, that the congregants would want to encourage a smelly bat roost nor a potential bat attack. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Chorrito https://es.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Chorrito I do not remember there being a carving of The VoG on the formation, nor a man-made tunnel into the cave. Nearly all caves in Mexico with public access have a memorial to The VoG, which sometimes might include a small assortment of abandoned walking-sticks or crutches. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Some more news
I doubt any of this email is new news, but just in case, here it is: https://gazette.com/news/local/strange-discovery-found-lurking-inside-deadly-colorado-cave/article_4ba3ed7a-d966-11e9-915a-07c570eb1a03.html https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190425073625.htm Obituary Frederick Stone of Hawaii ( passed away in 2018, but mentioned making donations to the Cave Conservancy of Hawai ) https://obits.staradvertiser.com/2018/06/23/frederick-doren-stone-2/ Computer news - supplemental I am personally excited today about the public release of the Beta version of Fedora 31, a Linux distribution. I like it enough that I have been running my business computer for a week on it. In my weird secluded world, I get a warm fuzzy feeling when my computer gets a major update. Fedora 31, however, is still just a niche for Linux nerds, especially the quirky ones that insist that they have any easy path to a system free of proprietary software. I am not one of those. It boots up quick enough for me and runs great on my 5 year old ASUS PC. Wired internet is flawless. wi-fi is getting better. I have heard it will work with "wi-fi 6." Apparently, my new HP printer was one model number too new to make the cut, but it prints fine. It seems better than Windows 98, so I imagine the final version will be better than Windows Millenial Edition ( Me ).I can not remember any of my Linux machines crashing in the past year, nor any applications freezing up. But still too many WTF moments. Tropical Depression Imelda was an over-hyped sprinkle, or dud, as if this writing. I have the window open enjoying the rare Houston breeze from the northeast. I say Depression because the "Tropical Storm," did not hit most of Harris County. As I was driving tonight, I noticed more cars here with LED headlights, and it was very annoying. D.L. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Sand caves on Mars ?
Several science journals have published the picture below https://cnet3.cbsistatic.com/img/WlcXZdMWg5_hngz8_53JUE-1TH4=/2019/09/16/a250240d-588e-4372-bffb-b0f5cf2adc52/north-polar-dunes-on-mars1.png It would seem obvious here, we are looking at dunes of some kind, and I will call them sand dunes for lack of a better term. The article claims the dunes are frozen.Meaning, the dunes are allegedly hard as a solid rock, not soft like dunes on Earth. If you zoom in carefully, in certain areas, the black mineral is clearly displaying a pattern of having flowed into the position it is presently in. It would seem it is lighter in weight than the sand below it. What I would like to draw your attention to are the areas where the black mineral flow is "resurging" on the opposite side of the dune ( flowing from left to right in the photo ) If this is true, it would indicate the black mineral has tunneled its way through the dune, in some places I would guess the dunes were formed by wind, ( during a warmer time ?? ) I believe that I see slot canyons where the black substance cut through the dunes. I would buy the theory that the black mineral once flowed as a liquid and not as a gel or molten rock. I would say it originated from below the sand. I do not see where the black mineral was blown by the wind. I do not know what that means.Is it to heavy to get airborne. I do not see any splatter like you might see with a geyser. There is something interesting in the valleys of the dunes to the far top left corner. The basins seem to be filled with boulders and craters or holes. One could possibly imagine there in those basins a giant field of popcorn-like-structures the size of a school-bus. Another possibility is something like black-moonmilk.But that would be a little too exciting. Right ?As that would indicate a bacteria-infused liquid. And since bacteria is a living organism, that would excite a lot of people. D.L. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
Re: [Texascavers] Caves in movie scenes
In this movie, "It - Chapter Two," I think at the main intersection of the sewer system, there was a large room about 50 feet in diameter and 100 foot tall main-made concrete cylinder, obviously designed and engineered and built around the secret ancient cave. ( But with no manhole above ??? ) The room was about chest-deep in very nasty water with some kind of odd ancient wooden platform around the cave entrance. Feel free to correct me, as I was half-asleep. A few seconds after my post mentioning the passing of singer Eddie Money, I learned singer, Rik Ocasek died. When I was in college, a lot of guys were jealous of him, because he married the most beautiful woman on Earth, while Billy Joel only got Christie Brinkley. On my first caving road-trips, I still had an 8-track tape-player, but eventually either had a portable cassette-player, and eventually a fancy in-dash cassette player. I would listen to both Eddie Money and Rik Ocasek ( of The Cars ) on road-trips to various caves. Like Biden, I too reminisce about a simpler time in life, but I do not think listening to an 8-track tape player is going to fix our nation's problems. While the nature protesters were dangling from the now famous bridge near LaPorte, Texas, the Houston area lost 1,000 acres of forest-land, ( deforestation ), and it did not make the news anywhere. Most of that was in Fort Bend County for the extension of the Fort Bend County Tollroad. Every single tree in the route is now gone, many were 100 years old: https://maps.app.goo.gl/QNyLnxFwm7jBUqM29 I seriously doubt that any real plan to replant trees will be enforced. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Caving in movie scenes
My daughter, Cavepearl, twisted my arm to take her to see the new Stephen King movie, "It - Chapter Two." [ Disclaimer:I despise horror stories in any format ] So after wasting $ 23 on movie tickets and $ 10 in gas, I was not a happy camper. The protagonist group of alleged misfits ( a.k.a. The Losers ) find a very odd wooden hatch that looked of ancient origin, maybe thousands of years old, and maybe built by a forgotten Indian tribe or aliens. This was not odd to them apparently, so they easily open the hatch and found a cave. No surprise to them that there was a cave, so they chose to descend in to it with just one crappy flashlight [ Sidenote: they had already used that flashlight for an hour to defeat a man-eating-crab the size of a pig. ] There was a caving scene after that similar to Longhorn Caverns. I think one character eventually had a headlamp. [ Sidenote: Had they not seen "The Goonies ?" ] This whole caving scene was so retarded, ludicrous, etc Spoiler Alert: This was essentially the same as sitting through a 2 hour episode of "Stranger Things " I hated the movie, and Cavepearl loved it. Generational gap is so odd. I am deeply saddened by the passing of rock legend, Eddie Money, but nobody I know, seems to care. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
Re: [Texascavers] various topics
I overlooked that Geary had already mentioned the passing of Mr. Curl, so please consider my post about that a supplememtal note. I think I met him in Kerrville at the big ISS / NSS Convention,. and if so, he looked familiar then to me. On a different note, Boston Dynamics announced that they will have 20 real commercial robots, ( there "Spot" model ) available for purchase at the end of the month and are testing production methods to eventually sell 100 of them. It will be interesting to see if Spot can autonomously complete a tour-cave path alone. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] oops
https://howecaverns.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/hc-NIC-9-18-2nd-fb-post.jpg ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] various topics
Some random cave photos: https://howecaverns.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/hc-inter-nude-day-4-18.jpg https://www.sierraclub.org/utah/utah/sites/www.sierraclub.org/files/uploads-wysiwig/2019-9-OpeningShot-ph1-vert-WB.jpg Obituary Rane Curl, passed away May 12, 2019 https://cm-web-news-files.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2019/06/curl-obit.jpg Curl received his Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Science degrees in chemical engineering in 1951 and 1955, respectively, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Following employment by the Shell Development Corp. and Technische Hogeschool Eindhoven in the Netherlands, he joined the University of Michigan in 1964 as associate professor of chemical engineering. While at MIT, Curl discovered caves and karst, an interest that developed into a lifelong passion, combining exploration, scientific endeavor and organizational leadership. He applied principles of chemical engineering and mathematics, including the then new study of fractals, to geologic processes to offer explanation of how cave passages formed and cave minerals deposited. He was a force in the development of the National Speleological Society as a true professional organization, serving as its president and in other administrative positions. After Curl retired from teaching in 1997, he continued his long-time interest in speleology, the scientific study of caves and other karst features. He served on the boards of the nonprofit Michigan Natural Areas Council, the Karst Waters Institute, and the Michigan Karst Conservancy, of which he was founding president and for which he conducted field projects. He also continued a research program involving mathematical modeling of geomorphic processes in karst. Below is an update to my blog: https://david-locklear.blogspot.com/2019/09/linux-news-fedora-31.html ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] A proto-type gadget
Can anyone imagine this gadget being used in a speleological situation ? https://youtu.be/-3dh4vGaCto On TV tonight, the 12th of September, was a debate over our nation's future. Without diving into the p-word, which is highly dis-encouraged on this list-serve, I would like to mention a few things, all which are probably maybe just my own bizarre opinion. Decisions made by past generations shaped or set forth in motion the current chain of events. There are things that could be done to patch problems, but it is best to let the private sector and capitalism address it. The government mucks up everything it tries to fix.Fraud is rampant in every government agency. People who can't survive in the private sector find some way to weasel their way into a job in the public sector. I commonly run into totally incompetent people who work for the government, who receive a respectable salary. There are problems that simply can not be fixed, and we just need to ignore them, and instead focus on the ones that can be fixed. The constant back and forth debate over the last 50 plus years on one specific topic, has wasted millions of dollars in resources, that could have been better spent. If I were running for POTUS, I would state every thing is broken and the glass is not half-full. I would void everything and reboot the nation with a totally different operating system. I would sell cherished American assets to the highest bidder. "No humanoidian is created equal, nor ever will be," will be the first line of the motto, of the Declaration of Independence of the New Western Nation ( NWN ), and the dollar bill will instead will have a map of the Western Hemisphere and it won't have any catchy slogans on it. On the back will be an advertisement for Walmart, or Amazon. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] a cave-diving video
skip the first minute of this one and turn down the music. There are some good scenes in the video showing exploration of some long passages. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E315StoCor0 If you don't have time to watch it, start at 5:45. The video below has an entrance that someone might call, "sporting." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkGNTAF_Xag D.L. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Medical news
With all the toxic news to avoid, I thought I would share this: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2019/09/when-human-liver-supercooled/597637/ I guess if a caver were to injure their liver, maybe there would be some faint hope of recovery. It would also seem feasible to me, that based an embryo nurturing in the womb for 9 months, that the entire body could survive 10 months in some kind of stasis. Someone should make a movie about that. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Caving Video of the Week
This video has several of the attributes that make a good video for cavers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWXTjf0VIec I would have liked to have been there. I am on Day # 26 renting a room in an apartment from a random person on Craigslist. My roomlord, has not come out of his room for several days, and I would be tempted to call 911, but this seems to be his thing, especially on weekends.It is very likely, that I am the roommate from H***, but he has not indicated that. I have 90 % of my stuff here now. I built a bunk bed out of heavy-duty steel storage racks, and now have a comfy bed, and plenty of room to store tote boxes full of the junk that I like to hoard ( LED lights, camping gear, books, winter clothes, etc. ).I hope to set-up my bookcase tomorrow, and maybe next week start putting some of my caving books in it.In summary, I am gambling that I may be here a few months or longer. Another caver departed Ralph Hess Jr. Ralph Samuel Hess Jr. passed away on Thursday, August 1, 2019. He was born on March 24, 1922, in Danville, Va. He was a graduate G.W. High School and then went to VPI (VT) where he graduated in 1944 with a degree in aeronautical engineering. *He was a life member of the National Speleological Society and has part of a cave named for him, "Hess' Hallow" in Blacksburg, Va. * He and Ruth loved traveling and they visited many countries. He loved sailing and being on the water and flying small planes. https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/godanriver.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/bf/4bffc52f-be8f-5932-aa88-971be7c08325/5d44f8c8b6d47.image.jpg?resize=300%2C433 ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Internet related
I have had old AT basic internet service at my office, which is located in an old commercial building. A salesman called a month ago alleging AT is replacing their old copper wire in the building with fiber.I did not authorize anything. They said to just be present on August date, and they just needed to swap the modem. They claimed no additional charges. Their tech never showed, after waiting around for two days. He finally showed up today, spending nearly the entire day in my office. I have now missed 3 days of work ( I make money delivering subpoenas, meaning driving - not sitting in the office ). I have been trying all afternoon to straighten out the new mess.Not only are now they billing me for two separate business accounts now, but the new fiber account is more expensive. I am at the same store where I signed up for the initial service, and they say that I must call customer service, which is overseas call center. They claim that they have no computer history of the so-called free-upgrade, and nobody ever asked me for new account pin number.From their perspective, I am committed and responsable for 2 accounts. In addition, they say I am responsable for mailing the old modem back to AT If I ran my subpoena-delivery business this way, I would be out of business in less than 24 hours. Somehow, I got scammed by AT and I feel very ripped off. I should have sensed something wrong when the tech showed up today telling me that there was no fiber. But I seemed already committed by that point. D. L. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
Re: [Texascavers] The Hall
Thank you, Bill. I recall reading many of those older stories when I first started caving during the mid 80's, and sadly again as more happened. Let's hope we don't make the list for another 50 years. There were some members of GHG and ASS that passed away, but the only one I can think of that was active for many years was Jim McLane. Lyle Moss was once a member of GHG, but I do not know if he did any Texas or Mexico or New Mexico caving. Storm update: As of 4:30 a.m., the center of eye of the hurricane is a few miles offshore of the community of Beaufort, North Carolina, projected to move northeast passing just off Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and then hopefully stay off shore and weaken. I have heard that the Carolinas are a beautiful place to live. Some of my ancestors lived or passed thru the Carolinas in the 1700's. I can only imagine they were lured to migrate westward for reasons similar to my own reasons for migrating - in search of greener pastures. Allegedly there is an Native-American group there called Lumbee, and many of them have my last name - a name which is not common in Europe. Like a recent politician, I claim part of that Native-American heritage, based on stories from my grandparents. I should do a DNA test. D. L. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Hurricane Dorian
As of 9:47 p.m. Texas time, the eye of the storm turned northeast, sparing South Carolina any more major damage. The community of Myrtle Grove, North Carolina, seems to be getting the most rain this evening. https://maps.app.goo.gl/sA5h9duwZ3gRg3Zy9 Meanwhile, I am on Day # 24, renting a room off Craigslist. I am sorry to report that things have settled down and are now too boring to report. I just paid up thru November 15th. So now my dilemma will be whether to stick it out longer or move on to greener pastures. If any of you ever need to come to downtown Houston, there is a new convenient hotel opening up in about a week or two: 3220 Katy Fwy. at northeast corner of Columbia St ( at south edge of The Heights ) "Courtyard by Marriot" Houston, TX 77007 (281) 888-5896 https://maps.app.goo.gl/eAubHt4KFdT4ezMG7 Unfortunately, nothing even close to walk to, except maybe a Subway sandwich shop. I looked to see if any of the scuba-divers in the tragic boating fire had done any cave-diving. This was all I found: https://scontent-dfw5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20246164_449078595490602_3435920832887231903_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_oc=AQkHN95IVjQupcQorPkWS3yJOXB1vHqWGbM7pKYOU_fILrx-5iU-rA2clHo8wUtvPTSNp4EHZb7QsSo0QNq1thxV&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-2.xx=8b7eef9f93b24f41c06686dc5e027c6f=5DF9D502 ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] an old news story
I think I missed this news story last year. https://www.theonion.com/icy-cave-at-peak-of-andes-mountains-now-sole-remaining-1828466516 And this one too, https://www.theonion.com/elon-musk-insists-he-d-be-much-more-innovative-pedophil-1827630054 ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
Re: [Texascavers] Suicide Falls
When I did this drop in 2000, the trip leader ( who resembled one of the guys in the bolting photo of Minton's slide-show ), had a very low cost tiny walkie-talkie, and he went down first and the last person to go down of about 5 or 6 cavers had an identical walkie-talkie. "On rope" and "Off rope" were simplified. I had been on drops before where those walkie talkies would have been helpful. I doubt that I have been on any significant drops or any drops since. I had big plans to make several trips to the upper entrance of Cueva El Abra in 2004, but I had some major work setbacks, and then under-estimated the demands of fatherhood and owning a fancy brick home in the extra-suburbs, etc. The home is half-paid for now, but I seldom if ever spend the night there. D.L. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] West Virginia caves
In 2000, I had the unique opportunity to go on a recreational caving trip into Cass Cave.That trip was one of the most fun ever. ( But only to learn two weeks later, that one of the cavers on the trip had later had a heart attack and died [ Sanders ? ] ) While in the area, I visited entrances to several caves. I could only wonder what was below and the undiscovered passages remaining there, as the potential for digging seemed enormous - breakdown blocked passages, airflow, sumps, subterreanean resurgencesc, springs etc. What a wonderful place for a caver to live. It will be exciting to someday hear the news of any connection between two caves. D.L. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Not the Caving Video of the Week
I think the video below qualifies as cave-porn. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOEpOXsOwoo I guess somebody had to make such a video.I hope this does not become a fad or a trend. But I like the caving going on there.I hope I can do that someday. I am on Day # 20 of my adventure renting a room from a Craigslist lessor. I have about 90% of my stuff moved in now. I have been playing musical chairs with all my stuff going back and forth from my office and storage unit, trying to figure out the most efficient way to live for the next month or two. In summary, I wasted a whole lot of time frolicking.I am not ready to call the lessor my room-mate yet.We have only had one small conversation.He stays in his room for days, allegedly playing anime games.Is that normal for a 32 year old single guy ? There is a gourmet barbeque place just 3 blocks away called "Blood Bros."They have the best cream of corn that I have ever tasted. and next door is a Mexican restaurant and an Auntie Pastas. Just saying, that there are are some perks to living in this specific apartment complex. If I had a self-balancing personal transporter, I could get to about 50 restaurants, and other types of businesses that are common in strip malls. Across the big pond, British cavers recently lost one of their colleagues: https://scontent-dfw5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/67249245_889938308039063_7433591072200065024_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_oc=AQmpyGyyDQgUSnhl6oPejOyd4hiZxEAAPwbBdM6biSRRMSmFK4_wvOrmh_KHJOrgq00ed10YcgVK-42aeNJuQTL1&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-2.xx=e5599ff779445fa7a78fb3a75576a96f=5E07BEF8 Nigel John Ball was allegedly active in the BCA for 20 plus years. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Just for fun
https://news.google.com/articles/CBMia2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnNjaWVuY2VhbGVydC5jb20vY2hpbmEtcy1sdW5hci1yb3Zlci1oYXMtZm91bmQtYS1nZWwtbGlrZS1zdWJzdGFuY2Utb24tdGhlLWZhci1zaWRlLW9mLXRoZS1tb29u0gFvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2NpZW5jZWFsZXJ0LmNvbS9jaGluYS1zLWx1bmFyLXJvdmVyLWhhcy1mb3VuZC1hLWdlbC1saWtlLXN1YnN0YW5jZS1vbi10aGUtZmFyLXNpZGUtb2YtdGhlLW1vb24vYW1w?hl=en-US=US=US%3Aen I would like to be the first person to propose that they found something identical to "snottites," on the Moon. https://g.co/kgs/sVJRGJ ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] various topics
I hope you are all caving this Labor Day Weekend, or at least enjoying a shady spot on a lake or river somewhere.I wish I was sitting under a beautiful waterfall. But I am stuck here in Houston for weeks, if not months. As I have mentioned several times, it is my opinion that if someone is going to sum up their life in a tiny paragraph for a few people to read in the news, and they or their loved ones make the effort to mention they were a member of The National Speleological Society, or loved caves, or loved caving, etc., or that he asked for donations to go to a caving project, etc. then the least I can do is mention that here. Terrance Murray Terrence Alan “Terry” Murray, age 57, of Aurora, IL, passed away in the evening of August 25, 2019. Terry loved the outdoors. He liked to go hiking, skiing, canoeing, and birding. He also liked to explore caves as a member of the National Speleological Society (Windy City Grotto.) Terry especially liked birding and became expert in bird songs and the identification of birds. He led birding walks in parks and forest preserves around Aurora and the greater Chicago area. He led numerous birding walks around Nelson Lake in Batavia where a bench was installed in his honor. He was a member of the Kane County Audubon Society, the Sierra Club, and the Phoenix Club of Aurora. Terry was a loving brother and friend, an avid nature enthusiast, and an adventurer. Additional visitation to follow on Saturday, August 31, from 10-11 a.m., with a service to celebrate his life of laughter to follow at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kane County Audubon Society, 513 S. 13th Ave., St. Charles, IL 60174. Tributes may also be left on Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page or at www.conleycare.com. Richard E. "Trick" Howard Lafayette ( Tennesse ?? ) 62, passed away peacefully on July 4, 2019, at home with his wife. He was a nature lover, wood worker, eagle scout, huge caving enthusiast. I am not certain of the passing of the next one, so someone else will have to inquire ( someone with the same name had an obituary that was in the same area, and mentioned caving ) https://www.facebook.com/shirley.sotona For any of you out there craving news related to caving, here is a web-site, that seems to be well organized https://www.karst.org/ Back on the home front, or I should say office front, my new HP OfficeJet Pro printer barely survived the first day of use.These new models are so flimsy, that you have to be super extra cautious moving them around. Remove the paper tray, and all the cords, save the packing material, wrap it in bubble wrap if you have to move it, and keep it horizontal.Better just not to move it at all, and go buy another one for each spot you think you need a printer. These models would not survive in a business where employees, and customers have regular access to the unit. I sent 20 faxes, and not a single one of them was received.So Day # 1 was a bummer.Faxing in 2019, seems so *#%&, but that is the way it is still done in most law firms, and courts. D.L. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] a toast to two beloved cavers
This month marks the 10th anniversary of the passing of Carl Ponebshek, and the 20th anniversary of the tragic caving accident of Christy Quintana. I am sure there are others worth mentioning. plus or minus a month, you could say something similar in memory of Joe Ivy, and Ed Alexander, too. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] consumer tip
For anyone shopping for a new printer for their computer. I have a very tiny business, or at least I pretend to. I have been trying to get by with old printers and fax machines for most of my 21 years in business, and lately it was getting frustrating that my printer and fax machine was limited on certain features. Today, the straw broke the camel's back, and I had to go buy a new printer. I had been shopping for months, so I had a pretty good idea what I wanted. So I went to Sam's Club and got their best HP printer, which as of this writing is the OfficeJet Pro 9018. This model stands out slightly over a lesser model sitting next to it, as the box includes full-capacity cartridges, and a USB cable.If you are the kind of person that prints a couple of full-page multi-color pages per month, then this is a logical choice for you, as the cartridges are nearly twice the size of printers that are slightly less expensive. If you are doing a lot more color printing than that, then you need to order something online, or go to MicroCenter or Fry's, an get an enterprise class, but those start at $ 500 for HP models. This printer has some bells and whistles on it, like allegedly voice-printing. If you have not purchased a $ 200 printer in the past year or two, you might be in for a surprise at how complicated the set-up is. You are going to want a 6-pack of your favorite beverage, and do your yoga or find your happy-place first. I would have to say you need to plan on a 3 step process and take a break between those 3 steps. 1 ) unboxing, drink your beverage 2 ) find a place to set down the printer and connect the 3 cables.( You are going to need an extension cord, for example, and maybe even a USB extender ), drink your bevarage. and 3 ) getting your computer to finish the set up, drink the remaining 4 beverages. In my case, I have a Linux computer, so setting up an HP printer is simple, if not almost fully automatic. This printer shakes when it prints, so if you have it on a folding table, or wobbly table, you are going to notice it vibrating back and forth. Everything about the printers in the home-market class are cheap disposable quality.I can only hope it will last 2 years. It is no surprise, but even at Sam's Club the ink cartridges are super expensive. In my opinion, ink is # 1 factor in choosing a new printer. I have used Brother printers and faxes for the past few years. Those will save you money, but you are missing out on some features. For example, HP's ePrint works really well. And in my case HP printers are easier to install than Brother. The cheap HP printers do not do photo-quality printing, but the pictures are good enough to win an NSS Award for a grotto newsletter. When was the last time a Texas grotto won a Newsletter Cover Award at the NSS Convention ? David Locklear P.S. I am on Day # 17 renting a room from some random stranger on Craigslist. I am probably going to try to stick it out till October. Things today are better than they were when I moved in, almost livable by my standards.The main problem is the air-quality coming out of the AC unit. David ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Consumer tip
I would recommend avoiding driving on highways in Harris County, Texas, especially between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., and especially inside of Beltway 8, and especially anything marked I-69, and even moreso during rainfall, or shortly after rain, and the once a year ice-storm. No offense please to cavers in Harris County, but it appears a contingency-plan for permanent migration to karstlands, would be a good idea now. I think for me, it may be too late. Is the pasture greener out there on the western side of the Brazos River, or is it just a grand illusion ? D. L. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
Re: [Texascavers] Caver Storytelling Contest
Unfortunately, my best caving stories can never be told. While most of the stories I tell here are about my transgressions, I have had to withhold my best stories and will likely take them with me when I pass. I would like to here the details of Bill's adventure in Arizona. Or what really happened to Gill ? And did the unknown caver ever get his dynamite back from the law ? And what became of The Sacred Bucket ? ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
Re: [Texascavers] HCC and TCMA
That is the best news I have heard in years. Whatever happened to the radio-location project for finding a potential dig upstream of the shaft ? It would be even more awesome if someone could workout a similar agreement at Prassel Ranch Cave ( PRC ). D.L. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] A cave-related video
This new 48 minute long documentary is available in 1080p https://youtu.be/74ruQwqExoo ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] A personal story
I am on Day # 12 renting a room, in a sixty-two year old apartment, ( from a random stranger on Craigslist ). Here are some photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/09o39f95e594t1y/AABTVnnrU1SpK6Ai3Zznflcta?dl=0 All the stuff in the photos is my stuff - except for the model of an old sailing ship. The guy / room-slumlord, is a hermit. I have not had a real conversation with him yet. He is obssesed with anime. I assume that he is about 35 years old. I found a popular vegan restaurant just two blocks away from the apartment. I learned a remarkable thing there today: one can sell a tiny bean burrito for $ 15, if you add a teaspoon of hummus in it. In the photo of my bunk-bed, is a box that has some of my vertical caving gear in it. I thought it was all in there, but now I have to add that hunt to my list. Ironically, or sadly that other stuff, would be in the caving-vendor sack from the 2007 NSS Convention. As crazy as all this may seem, I legally own half of a $ 160,000 house, in a fancy subdivision called "Sienna Plantation." A place that I avoid sleeping at - unless there is a hurricane slamming Houston. I have spent days trying to clean this slumlords aparrtment, as it was really nasty.I have no idea yet, if I will be here after three more weeks. My only real option is to get my own apartment, but that is not yet practical. I could very easily move just 20 feet away, as the adjacent unit is vacant and cleaner.But then, I would be stuck with this crazy guy as my neighbor. David Locklear ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Video of the Week
This is an old video, but worth skimming through: https://youtu.be/DaSlZx_BlJk ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Urban sprawl
The news of the Hill Country karstlands becoming threatened is disheartening. Here in the Houston area, there is little regional concern for the environment. People protest hi-rise residential condos in heavy populated areas, but they don't protest hi-rise business towers there. Valuable lots have set vacant for 50 years, as some special-interest group claims anything built there will adversely affect them, or the land was contaminated many years ago. Hundreds of lawyers here make money on such land disputes. Very little has been done "on a regional scale" to prepare for the next Hurricane Harvey. The new interchange at Hwy. 290 and Loop 610 has been without trees for nearly 10 years now as is all of Hwy. 290. TXDOT might plant some seedlings there in 2021. In the past year here, over fifty new 4-story cheap hotels have popped up, as the cost of living in an apartment here has become unaffordable or not practical to "the new average people" ( people who work contact with zero benefits ). The good news is that electric and hybrid-plug-in cars have become a popular trend. New residential condos are being built downtown for the affluent working-class, which will ease congestion once occupied - assuming the owners can find tenants. Near or in downtown, there are 10,000 homeless people with no practical access to toilets. Imagine that going into Honey Creek ! Dumping toxic waste in the creeks that feed the main waterway, " Buffalo Bayou," has become a routine daily activity. Major industrial accidents at petrochemical-plants seem to happen on a monthly basis. To make matters worse, millions of people in the region around Houston, go to all-you-can-eat-buffets, so their excrement is twice above normal. All of that flows downhill - a highly misunderstood phenomenon. Then finally come extra urban sprawl, where new subdivision are being built on failed agricultural properties 50 miles from the center of the region advertising quite country living but with modern amenities. Some author in the 1930's should have written a dystopian novel portraying this 2019 scenario. People back then would have gasp in horror at such a book or movie as being impossible to believe. One weird thing, is that people are unlikely to waste gasoline here, as they are all saving their money now, as they all want to spend $ 1,300 on "Samsung Note 10+." Every day here in and around Harris County, we lose thousands of mammals and birds to road-kill incidents and nobody cares. David ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] An Ernie story
I did not know Ernie well, but knew of him for nearly 33 years. We crossed paths once around 1990, at the then new Columbia Bridge crossing point. We were each travelling south with a caving friend to go caving. I was headed to "Las Grutas del Precipicio," and he was heading deep into Mexico. We would have probably chatted for a while, but he already had his crossing papers, and we did not. In my brief but frequent visits to caving gatherings, Ernie always greeted me with a smile. I closely followed his announcements of a tiny hole opening up just 100 meters in front of his front door on Billie Street. Once that became a cave-dig, I was sort-of invited to help dig.Ernie let me camp on his property, twice I think. He offered to let me stay in his tiny old trailer. I think he may have even possibly subtly mentioned renting it to me.And in my haste of leaving the cave-dig in my tiny Honda Fit, some of my stuff ended up in his rustic storage shed. For several years, he would greet me and say, "your stuff is still in my shed."He offered to bring it to me at caving gatherings, but I did not make it. One thing that I recall about Ernie was that not only did he only use a compost-toilet, but that this toilet was inside his house. He was a remarkable minimalist and conservationist, but I will let one of you elaborate on that. On my last futile effort to help dig in the cave entrance near his house, he walked over to the cave and he subtly indicated to me that it was time to stop digging. I had about an hour-window to dig some more, and I knew I would probably never get a chance to dig again in a cave, so I followed him back to his house and he let me use his shower before driving back to Houston. I assume Ernie played a major role in that cave-dig, but someone else will have to tell that story. Around 2011, GHG hosted an NSS B.O.G.Ernie was instrumental in helping that, driving all the way from Austin. He also slept in the back of his truck 2 nights in the Houston heat and humidity. I think I recall him coming to Houston for Mr. Tuttle's presentation and for Mr. Nicola's presention. Somewhere in Ernie's photos is a hopefully a group photo for 1993 TCR of about 15 Aggie Cavers who were posing to commemorate 20th Anniversary. I would be in the photo, along with several 1993 Aggies, and several from the 1970s, maybe Alan Montemayor and John Brooks and Alicia and John Gale ?? David Locklear NSS # 27639 ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] just ranting - part 2
This is a good time to hit the delete buttton, please I do not have a good way to communicate with distant caving friends. So please see my blog to catch the latest personal update. https://david-locklear.blogspot.com/2019/08/august-20th-2019-personal-update.html I have been excitedly waiting to see then next Starhopper launch. The latest rumor is that the FAA might maybe possibly let Mr. Musk and team launch tomorrow, August 21st, with a window thru August 23rd. If any of you happen to find yourself near Arcola, Texas on the afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 28th, feel free to drop by and watch Cavepearl's quincenera celebration. I have no earthly idea what is going to take place, but the facility is a new community center at the back of a master-planned subdivision called "Sienna Plantation." There is a scenic patio with a small pond, but they did not rent that part of the facility.Hopefully nobody else did at the same time. Maybe I am just being an old grouch, but I am not yet into this Quincenera fad, which in my opinion is far worse than trying to keep up with the Joneses - meaning pretending to be affluent and traditional, and borrowing lots of money to do all that. D.L. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Future caving off-world
NASA allegedly approves mission to Europa. https://news.google.com/articles/CBMiNWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy9zY2llbmNlLWVudmlyb25tZW50LTQ5NDA4NDk10gE5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmJjLmNvbS9uZXdzL2FtcC9zY2llbmNlLWVudmlyb25tZW50LTQ5NDA4NDk1?hl=en-US=US=US%3Aen I have an idea. Some very smart Texas cavers could get together and build and test a proto-type probe and propose to NASA to send it to Europa. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Caves near Boerne
Dropped pin
https://maps.app.goo.gl/PhNzdaw6FPbvRdqK7
In 1987, a former Aggie Caver who was from Boerne took me to an interesting
cave east of Boerne about 5 miles.
He called it "Klar's Ranch Salamander Cave." ('#1 or # 2 ? ).
I think we only went in one of the two caves, but that was the most
crawling that I ever did in one day.
The trip leader, is now Dr. Jim Mueller. He lives in Burnet. He is a
specialist with horned lizards and songbirds. I think he works in or
associated with TPWD.
We have exchanged vague Facebook messages, but he did not express any
interest in reminiscing the old A.S.S. days with me.Maybe someone else
could get him interested. I can't imagine he would have given up caving.
He had done a ton of spelunking around Boerne before rekindling the A. S.
S. in the fall of 1983.
He saved my life twice on the same day in Las Grutas de Precipicio in
December of 1983. But he is also responsible for taking 6 newbie cavers
there with just one set of vertical gear. We may have all died that day,
had it not been for one newbie, who was wise enough to see the trip
deteriorating and remained at the top of the 2nd drop.
I have tried my best to get him to write the story, and other caving
stories.
D. L.
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[Texascavers] Charles Stuart Daw
I have never seen anything like 2019. Charles "Stuart" Daw, of Farragut, Tennessee March 16, 1950 - July 2, 2019 Stuart was first a friend, then a scientist. His example has served as inspiration for many of his proteges to emulate as they continue his legacy. Stuart’s hobbies included hiking, cycling, attending story-telling events and archaeology; he was also an expert flint-knapper. He particularly enjoyed caving, which he engaged in for over 50 years with strong interests in conservation, exploration and scientific study. Active in the local East Tennessee Grotto of the National Speleological Society, he also co-led the Cave Research Foundation expedition at the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park; he was elected as a fellow in both the NSS and CRF in recognition of his contributions to the caving community. In these pursuits, he translated his love for learning, even in the smallest of discoveries, and love for team building to his fellow cavers. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] A new fish ?
Just for fun I guess this ichthyologist does not watch sci-fi movies, and never seen a Goa'uld symbiote take over it's host. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
Re: [Texascavers] vision of Mixon, William, and Ernie
I heard Lee Jay, or one of the other's that you did not mention say, "Up here, ( or down here ? ) we can get CaveTex without all that cr*p, about LED lights, and broken-down marriages." P.S. I will hack into that once I get there, if Oztotl will let me. LOL ! D.L. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] In memory of a departed caver
James Willis Hodson 12-13-40 to 6-22-19 https://cache.legacy.net/legacy/images/cobrands/tennessean/photos/ten129886-1_20190713.jpg James was a long time resident of White House, Tennessee. He passed away in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He is survived by his daughters Ilene (and Bob) Cherry, and Dana (and Charles) Keele. He was born in South Fork, Pennsylvania. First and foremost, he was a true adventurer and explorer. James was a Fellow of the National Speleological Society, NSS #8804. He was also very involved with the Nashville Grotto, a local caving club. He was an early pioneer of cave exploration in Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia, helping map and explore such caves as Big Bone Cave, Cumberland Caverns, Nunley Mountain Cave, Camps Gulf Cave and many, many others. Blowhole Cave in Cannon County, Tennessee, held a special place in his heart. He helped explore and map Blowhole Cave, and helped with the installation of a large bank vault door, to help protect the cave for future visitors. He was also a mentor to many young cavers throughout the years. He also loved hiking, and paddling lakes and rivers, and especially loved backpacking in the Grand Canyon. He would venture deep into the Grand Canyon by himself, and explore off trail, where rescue was virtually impossible. He will be missed by his family, and all of his caving and hiking friends. He served in the United States Air Force from September 17th 1959, to September 18th 1965 at the Sewart Air Force Base in Smyrna, Tennessee. While stationed in Smyrna, he served at the Communication Center as a Radio Operator Specialist. After leaving the Air Force Base, he worked for the Nashville Police Department, and then became an Optician for most of his life. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Just ranting
>From David Locklear Hit delete button, please I am personally disappointed that I missed the celebration of life for our recently departed caving friends. Oztotl seemed h*ll-bent on keeping me in Houston. I am starting to think he or she or it does not like me. I hope you all made it and were able to find closure from the gathering. Ironically, one of the old GHG alumni that I was trying to coerce into going was in Austin this weekend. Did anybody from east Texas make it ? On a personal note, I moved into a room tonight, from a guy I met on Craigslist. This is likely not going to help my situation, but the place does have lots of trees and a decent pool. This may be the weirdest person I have encountered on Craigslist. I am not counting, but he would be about the 12th person in my adventures on Craigslist, that I have had to share some kind of space with. To add more drama to it all, my feminine Nigerian Craigslist roommate still has not moved out of my old apartment. I am going to give him 65 more hours. I learned today how to say, "Just shoot me," in Spanish. Also, I sure would like to watch next week's launch of The Starhopper.Are any of you following that story ? ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Houston related
The only way that I can attend this evening's function at the TSC, is if I ride with somebody else in their vehicle. I can leave Houston at 4 p.m., if someone can pick me up off of Chimney Rock and Bellaire Blvd Tel. 346-801-4952 ( text me please ) I have cash for gas, food and motel, etc. David Locklear ( not affiliated with any other characters ) ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Houston related
Is anybody in the Houston area going to the Texas Speleological Center ( the TSC ) tomorrow, Saturday, the 10th ? I am planning to attend the celebration of life to be held there. Disclaimer: My only drama going on, outside of my normal drama, is that I met a strange person on Craigslist yesterday, that claims they are going to let me move into their apartment tonight.So over the next several days, I am hoping to resolve my drama related to moving some of my stuff out of my rental storage unit and into that person's apartment. Other than that, I have no excuse for not attending. David Locklear # 346-801-4962 ( text please ) ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Future caving on the Moon
With all the gloom and doom in the news, I thought I would post something enlightening See photo in link below https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcRuophYnz-dduRwKJKYl7mka5KmGBZbKcPdFbc4Ui4iy26w39uo That is the nose cone that protects the payload on SpaceX Falcon Rocket. It breaks apart like a clam-shell Now watch video below https://youtu.be/9k98XgJ7Ye8 A lot of people have claimed Elon Musk was crazy or worse, but he and his team have proven every one of those naysayers and haters wrong. This was allegedly the second successful catch. Now they need 2 catcher-boats The implications of this feat are numerous. A whole new industry can now be created - that is - catching falling things off rockets from the edge of the atmosphere Imagine 20 tourist paying for a part-way ride and then riding a bobsled all the way down at 700 mph. ( Or maybe even in the speleo-submarine LOL ! ) The fairings can now be made of extremely expensive materials and designed to do more than just fall, and be designed to be reused hundreds of times The practice of catching the payload fairings should aid in expediting the launch of scientist, rovers, and robots to the caves of the Moon, and hopefully beyond. It is an exciting achievement. D.L. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] caving newsletters on the web
I know there are various places on the web for finding caving literature. But I am not familiar with that topic.Here is just one example: https://digital.lib.usf.edu/SFS0055197/1 ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] sort-of barely Houston related
>From David Locklear ( not affiliated with any other character ) My lease on my apartment in Alief ends in 13 days. In the apartment, I have only a plastic folding chair and plastic folding-table and inflatable-mattress and an inflatable loveseat, and a used 65 inch flat-screen tv. All that junk, is going into my storage unit next week, with all my other junk. I have no idea whatsoever what happens after that. My #1 goal in life at the moment, is to kick out my feminine Nigerian Craigslist roommate. He and I are not compatable roommates. Imagine that ? I am worried that he will try to be a squatter, and ruin my plans to evacuate. So I invited him to share a seedy motel with me for 2 weeks after I move out. He declined. If I were to get my deposit back from the slumlord, I might could get another apartment. But signing a lease again, would be so unpleasant. I am burned out and diminished from apartment shopping. I can almost guarantee you that few jobs as bad as mine does right now. I watched roofers spreading hot asphalt in the blazing sun, and that obviously is a different kind of . My spoiled daughter, Cavepearl, is giving me about 3 weeks to come up with the funds for her quincenera party. She is barely speaking to me, but occasionally text an emoji. Part of me does not want to go to it. The party to me, feels like an undesired deadline - like a final exam. I am disappointed that I missed the recent caver gatherings near Austin or in Austin. D. L. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
Re: [Texascavers] the comic strip
>From David Locklear Hit delete button now. I am not partially in favor, nor opposed to the recent comic strip posted here. I have never paid much attenttion to it.One of the protagonist in the series seems to be very loosely based on a true-life moron. The cartoonist seems to be subtly poking fun at that character"s unfortunate mishaps. But the color cover page posted today, did catch my eye.The image on the quasi-caver's t-shirt, so much resembles my estanged-wife, a.k.a. "The Estranger," that I have never chuckleed so hard in my life.If she ever finds out, I will have to go live in a remote undiscovered cave on Vancouver Island. Since the cartoonist has never met her, that is true a divine inspiration, that should be mentioned in future biblical chapters. I have never owned an mp3 player, nor would put one in my cave-pack, so I do not claim any real relationship to the real protagonist. However, my brother-in-law is now using the cropped head of Bockbeer, as the caller-I-D. Image, when I call or text him. D. L. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
Re: [Texascavers] MOPAC extension meets "karst features"
As a young child in the 70's, I grew up in an environment, where we watched movies like "Soylent Green," and read paper books about a dystopian future. We were brainwashed into believing that in the year 2020, candy-bars would cost a whole dollar.That frightened us and we could not believe it would happen. In one of those stores, "Brave New World," it was considered such extreme adventure and risk to travel outside the walls of the city, that you needed months of planning and permits and special medication to ease the burden of seeing nature. The movie was really good, but it flopped.It is on YouTube, but the quality is so extremely poor that it is not viewable. It would not make sense to most millennials, as they already are desensitized to such things. The movie, "Idiocracy," is a must watch movie, and "Freejack" is pretty good. My point to all that, is that in my opinion, nobody is going to give a rat's tail about nature in the next 50 years or so, and those that do will be labeled Greenpeace supporters, treehuggers, nature-wackos, etc. Candy bars in some places now cost $ 5. Those who made predictions in the early 70's missed certain things. There are discount stores, where bargains can be found, but you spend time and gas going to such places, and that has to be figured into the cost of buying the product. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
Re: [Texascavers] construction article
I wish these types of articles would not be published for a 3rd grade audience. It would be worth noting what the largest known cave within 5 miles is, or the deepest, or prettiest, or most significant. Or that cave explorers have lots of in in nearby caves. Or that the caves could, in theory, be 10 mile long, or have the largest population on Earth of a unique troglobitic arthropod. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] A new LED headlamp
I mentioned a few weeks ago that I saw a new headlamp at Walmart that caught my eye. I am in very deep doodoo at the moment, but I went ahead and bought the headlamp today. First impression is this is the first department-store headlamp that I have ever seen under $ 25 that is suitable for real Texas caving. 6 light settings, strap fits over helmet, and has 3 piece strap, dust resistant, plastic seems good plastic. No green or blue or strobe or flash settings. The rotating hinge seems cheezy, so I would set it at the best angle and epoxy it. I would bet you could cave with it for 5 hours, but after that you would have to put on a different headlamp. So this headlamp is better as a back-up, if you plan to cave for more than 5 hours. I would not venture into Honeycreek Cave with it. Maybe you could gerry-rig it to be water-resistant, but not water-proof. Hopefully, it will end up at the 2020 NSS Consignment Sale. David Locklear P. S Friday morning ( in 29 hours), I go before a county criminal judge for cyber-bulling a witness that I spent 9 wasted days trying to deliver a subpoena to.I think I know how Mueller feels. It is a nauseous or unsettling feeling. The case will surely get postponed. Imagine not having any idea who your accuser is - just some random insignificant name on a piece of paper. And then imagine you are certain they are the ones that should be on trial, instead of you. I live in the upside-down.I haven't even met with my attorney. He is out of town till next week. But we texted each other. I hope that I don't end up like Epstien. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] caving magazines
One of my many regrets over the last 32 years, is that I never purchased a copy of DESCENT. Here is the cover of the June issue. https://www.wildplaces.co.uk/1715-large_default/descent-268.jpg I probably read a few articles around 1987. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
Re: [Texascavers] Stories
Y'all are killing me with all these emails in my inbox LOL! I may have to unsubscribe. LOL! David Locklear ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] The future ?
Are any of you surprised by anything in 2019 ? Google Maps now displays the inside of buildings such as where condiments are located on the isle inside grocery stores. It seems obvious now, that a shopper will someday be able to zoom in and actually see which brands and flavors of salad-dressing are in stock, and click on the bottle of their choice -as if you were grabbing the bottle in real life. Some of the uncertainties remaining are: 1 ) will a drone fly from the store to your house 2) for how much 3 ) how fast 4 ) who will control the overall ecoystem of technology. 5 ) and how to stop criminal enterprises from abusing the ecosystem 6 ) will a rovot-personal-assistant actually log onto Google and order the salad-dressing for you, while your mind floats you around in the sky from the effects of a "soma" pill. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Sent from my iPhoneX. LOL!
An old-timer just posted, Sure would be good to go back to the good ole days ( From his iPhoneX ) ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
Re: [Texascavers] caving antiques
This moment seems like the best time for me to formally announce my retirement from armchair-caving. But I do have some nice antiques that I want to someday donate to caving or to the TSC. On a private note, I have hired the best attorney in Texas for the current jam that I am in. And for those of you who think I am a jerk, I took off work today and drove 300 miles to babysit my elderly mother-in-law. Now, 12:30 a.m., I am stuck in the town of Hidalgo, being swarmed by my in-law's c*ckroaches, just like in that 70's horror movie about "cucarachas". ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Just for fun
I still can't believe people believe the government's version of July 1969. Do any of you have any weird conspiracy theories about it all ? I am 100% certain we do not have the whole story. On a related note, I am certain that The Holocaust had nothing to do with WW2, but was instead just a side effect of the events. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] an attempt at humor
Imagine just for a moment, the worst day that you have ever had ( not counting real serious family tragedies, of course ) Now imagine being forcibly locked up with the guy in the link below, in a tiny cold jail cell and all alone ( for several days ), listening to him talk, in a very-slurred east Texas drawl, non-stop, ( going on and on ), about LED lights, road-trips without a car, caving trips that sort-of-almost happened 30 years ago ( but didn't ), NSS Howdy Parties, and a video that he watched on YouTube a few months back, and a the tribulations of 30 people that he once knew that had passed away, and other ridiculous things that might maybe have the word "cave" in the theme or topic. https://photos.app.goo.gl/K2SfJ3T1tXdm11ee6 Anyways, that guy in the image is me after almost 24 hours of being out of the pokey. I still have not mentally or physically got back to "my normal."I have some major charlie-horses going on, and had to salamander down the hall to the restroom this morning. I obviously needed nourishment. Life as a hermit has its drawbacks. There is absolutely nothing in my apartment now, but a foam pad, a tv, and an inflatable chair and folding table, ( and my feminine-speaking Nigerian male Craigslist-roommate. ) I no longer have any towels, or sheets, or toilet-paper there, nor clothes, It is like a camping trip each time I am forced to go there. If any of you happen to be on the southside of Monterrey, Mexico next week, well, my daughter, CavePearl, will be spending summer vacation there at https://goo.gl/maps/4MwnMhxoZHMedcM37 ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Oztotl story ?
>From David Locklear If you have no interest in Oztotl stories, nor my personal tragedies, please, please hit delete button as hard as you can. When I was trying to hitch-hike home in the blazing sun from the NSS Convention, Oztotl and I had a little one-on-one chat. _ Me: Give me a break, dude, or ma'am. Oztotl: this misery is to prepare you for something I am cooking up far worse. _ Well, I assumed that moment or day finally arrived Thursday, as it was my worst day of the year - that is, until today. This morning shortly after midnight, a state trooper followed me and allegedly wrote me a warning for a dirty license plate, but he wrote on the warning "speeding." I swallowed his jagged little pill hoping to get on my way, but my 6th Sense smelled something rotten from the get-go. He cuffed me and put me in the front seat, and we waited for the DA to confirm charges. He said, that he would let me go in 5 minutes - if they did not respond, and 3 minutes passed. And then the DA agreed to the false charges. So my beloved Sequoia went to the pound. After 15 hours in the newly built county detention center with smelley strange people, I can only say that that experience was less misery than being married. Since I knew I was being railroaded by rogue gov't agents, I had to just play dumb for 15 hours, which is one of my fortes. My Spanish was no help in county jail, as the inmates were mostly very disenfranchised Ebonics speakers. Getting my beloved Sequoia out of the pound on the same day was an enormous feat. My Spanish and Oztotl's protection saved me on that task. Life is back to "my normal." I got out of jail free ( without an attorney ), but the overall cost of getting the Sequoia, was right at $ 200. I never found out during the 15 hours of misery in the detention center, what this was about. Was it some cyberbully thing ? I was worried it might have something to do with the caver-girl I had been trying to help, and that thought made me sad. I thought it might be some evil scheme from my estranged-wife, and that thought worried me. 15 hours of racking my brain in misery, with people - almost as insane as me. I even considered a caver might hold a grudge for my persistent spam. But after I got released, I called an attorney and he found out it was false charges filed by a crazy-lady that I had tried to serve papers on back in February. Why nobody ever contacted me about that, is ludicrous and corrupt. And the jerkwad attorney never paid me for a week's worth of work on that. Anyways, as of Saturday, July 20th, I have still never been in a jail cell, nor a jail-suit, nor the back of a patrol-car, nor had my Miranda Rights red to me. But I have had to deal with a whole lot of b.s., far beyond my pay-scale. I still have to lawyer-up and fight the false charges. But I sense or have a false-sense of hope, that the local lawyer's association will take an interest in this, as it is beyond ludicrous. I do not think that it even makes the Top 20 of my tragedies. I will be incensed if they give me community service. Had I known about the four-month-old warrant, it was only $ 100, and there would have been an easy way for the attorney to void it all in advance. The moral to the story is that being a process server is a huge scam. The industry is propagated by people in gov't and attorneys who all have nefarious intentions. D.L. P.S. I am going to miss the caver-garage-sale The county intake officer asked me to sign an affidavit that I do not hear voices in my head. LOL ! ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Houston related
If anybody in Houston area has something valuable to donate to the announced caver-garage-sale, I am pondering the idea of going to it. David Locklear Text at 346-801-4962 I could easily find something to donate, if I could get my act together. I have a Pilot-brand stereo system that I inherited from caver James McLane, probably worth $ 5. I need to figure out how to justify spending $ 60 in gas and possibly even a motel in Giddings. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] eco-tour caving
The article in the link below appears to be published today, but I think I have seen it before or something very similar to it. https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/vietnam-best-caves/index.html You can view the photos at the links below and enlarge them by changing the number 1100 in the hyperlink https://dynaimage.cdn.cnn.com/cnn/q_auto,w_1100,c_fill,g_auto,h_619,ar_16:9/http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.cnn.com%2Fcnnnext%2Fdam%2Fassets%2F190715161220-hang-tien-2-cave-ryan-deboodt.jpg https://dynaimage.cdn.cnn.com/cnn/q_auto,w_1100,c_fill,g_auto,h_619,ar_16:9/http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.cnn.com%2Fcnnnext%2Fdam%2Fassets%2F190715162053-ken-cave-oxalis-adventure-2.jpg ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Video "clip" of the week
I am giving the video in the link below a merit award, but only as a "clip," and not as an entire video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E-xFXON0BU at 50 seconds, the cameraman has to get out of the way, and so for about 30 seconds the clip is not watchable, but then the caver being filmed appears to bypass the awkward restriction. I have been in several wet squeezes. Klar's Ranch Salamander Cave ( # 1 or # 2 ?? ) Eriks River Cave in Indiana, and Lamplighter's Cave in Indiana. I have been stuck momentarily in some dry squeezes The One-Legged-Man Passage in Airman's ( long legs ), and The Corkscrew in Midnight Cave in Carta Valley ( only because I was fat ) I think any other tight spots that I encountered ( in the late 80's ) where only because I was 6 feet tall and had broad shoulders and was over-weight. D.L. I have a question for you. Imagine yourself as self-employed and all alone operating some sort of business - as your only source of income ( no other money coming in ). How much money, would you realistically expect to profit per day after subtracting expenses and taxes ? I don't see how anybody can do it. I worked my tail off today, and while I may eventually someday get paid $ 100 for that work, I had $ 50 in gas expenses, and overhead related to an office, fax machine, internet, cell-phone, car repairs, taxes. ( One can write off just about everything though, so when it is all said and done, there is not enough taxable income to even pay for social security ) But you got to figure in the dead-days, or in my case dead-weeks. I do pay my fair share of taxes, as I eat out 14 meals per week, and stay in motels, and buy lots and lots of gas.For the past 21 years, about 10 % of my income probably went to sales taxes. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] a historical post for posterity
Speleo-History of Texas Armchair Caving _ Facebook has superseded CaveTex as the primary method of mass communication with Texas Cavers. It seems appropriate ( for historical purposes only ) to formally declare, that as of July 14th, 2019, speleo-communication amongst Texas cavers has become more prevalent on Facebook than on other forums or listserves. The fact is that now, we have at least 10 scattered Facebook pages related to caving in Texas. I would guess that number is higher, maybe 13 or 14. I think there are still lots of active cavers that do not use Facebook, and many more that just have an unused account or a bogus account with fake name. I still have an account, but it is fake, and seldom if ever use it unless it is just a necessity. DFW Grotto has a few recent post on their Facebook page. I am not able to see post of grotto pages that are not public. For example, I can't view anything prior to February 2007, on the Underground Texas Grotto Page, and can not view anything on the Greater Houston Grotto Page. Here is a list of most of the major pages.I do not know if some are "unofficial." https://www.facebook.com/DFWgrotto/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/102420208204/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/AggieGrotto/?fref=nf https://www.facebook.com/lubbockareagrotto/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/2228997855/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/BexarGrotto/ https://www.facebook.com/NCKRI/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/TexasCaveManagement/ https://www.facebook.com/texasspeleologicalsurvey/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/28567352179/ Some of those need to update their domain name ( TSA, for example ) One ironic thing about all this is that back in 2011, and especially prior to that, there was quite a bit of hostility in the caving community towards Facebook. The most important post that I observed in this research was from Peter Sprouse concerning the blockage of the entrance to Lookout Road Cave. One could argue that email is just annoying or those pesky people that post irrelevant emails killed CaveTex ( shame on them !, especially that one crazy guy ). Or that an app on the smartphone, makes Facebook so simple and convenient, or that groups on Facebook are able to focus on specific issues that are more important to them. Feel free to elaborate, and expand and edit and re-post this article in paper format in a caving newsletter. David Locklear NSS # 27639 RL On a related note, I received a virtual-star recognition on Facebook for the rants that I post on the page for the Texas attorneys. They actually think I am weird, in the same way that others do. I imagine that probably 100 or more of them think that.But my post there, are about the insane things that happen to me while trying to serve a subpoena on a police officer who is wearing his pajamas. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
Re: [Texascavers] Don"s humor
You may all find this hard to believe, but Don is in my top 5 favorite people ( Disclaimer: I don't get out much, if at all ). All jokes aside, from an outsider's perspective, Texas caving seems to be in an awkward phase this summer. I have seen no mention on Cavetex of certain things. Maybe there are other forms of communication going on in smaller circles ? Obviously nobody cares about new LED lights, nor YouTube videos, nor breezy rainstorms in Dulac, Louisiana, nor caves in tv shows, and the speleo-obituary thing is just an unpleasant reminder of reality. I have currently run out of stories about my situation here in Houston. How about "Whatever happened to that caver _ ?" Whatever happened to Tommy Joe - a GHG alumni from the 90's, or Travis Kitchen - an A.S.S. caver from the early 90's ? I have not heard from Butch Fralia in a while. Is he okay ? D. L. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
Re: [Texascavers] Rancho del Elusive Pit
This is a response to John's question. My very fuzzy memory remembers alcoves or small ledges near the top 100 foot of the drop where there were faint remnants of rotten lumber and areas that looked like digging and mining had taken place a long time ago. All that mining, was likely to provide construction material for runways at clandestine air-strips used by AFQ ( AeroForzo de Quetzalcoatl ), in alleged dog-fights with the evil Spaniards over Coahiila ( but in reality used only by "El Q," [ as his followers called him ] to smuggle crack into the State of Alaska. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quetzalcoatl We learned that at D.J. Trump Elementary School. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Tropical Storm Barry
The center of the eye of the storm crossed land southwest of the rural coastal community of Abbeville, Louisiana. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbeville,_Louisiana As of 2 p.m., Saturday, the majority of the rain is heading northeast from there passed Mississippi, and dispersing across the entire region. I would bet that low-lying areas around the community of Dulac, Lousiana are going to be wiped out by the time the floods arrive - in a matter of days. The Beaumont, Texas area is only likely to get a normal summer afternoon sprinkle. Meanwhile, I have been organizing boxes in my storage unit. In reality, I am living in my car now, although I still have 36 days left on my fancy apartment lease. I have places to go - they are all just very inconvenient. I may have to start taking showers at truck stops. I am not sure if I will be able to get another apartment in 2019. That is not a priority at the moment. I am searching Craigslist for a room. It is likely, the men at all the local shelters and boarding houses have a better cash-flow situation than I currently have. D.L. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Metal scrap ?
Here is a photo of the lost bucket, that I had been hoping to rescue. https://photos.app.goo.gl/vosXf4stm9FUWSWS9 It had custom reinforcements, a spreader bar and chain. I can not believe that Oztotl would allow it to be sold as scrap metal, or worse. While I never expected to get it back, I had hoped cavers would use it on small digs, especially at the one across the street from Ernie"s house. D. L. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
Re: [Texascavers] photo box
Why wouldn't the TSC want to store the photo-box in the Speleobarn ? ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
Re: [Texascavers] Ernie's shed
Somewhere in Ernie's shed is a 10 gallon metal bucket that I want to save. I will come from Houston to get it - if that is the only way to save it David Locklear # 346-801-4962 ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] a YouTube video
There is probably a good caving video this week to watch, but I would like to draw your attention to a more important video - probably one of the most disturbing new videos on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKjCWfuvYxQ If you can't stomach the whole thing, skip to about 1:45. In other news, I was not able to find any new caver obituaries. There are some new videos this week concerning the old Thai cave rescue, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsTXglgdGrM ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Tropical Storm Barry
I have been closely following the forecasted storm in the Gulf over the past 12 hours. The caves around Marianna, Florida are now getting a nice dose of H2O. The storm has been Boring Barry so far, at least in Texas. I did correctly predict the eye of the storm would stay in the Gulf today, and continue moving westward. The center is now west of Houma, Louisiana, and barely off the coast. But it does look like the center is finally turning north ( as forecasted ), so the Houston / Beaumont region as a whole probably would not get any significant rain on Sunday - at least not blowing in from the coast. There should be nice breeze right now in the coastal community of Dulac, due south of Houma, but I imagine the humidity is miserable. It is hard to believe that here in 2019, weather scientist still do not have an accurate radar method in the center of Gulf. The animated radar maps all appear to me to be just educated guesses based on Doppler towers along the coast. The mosquitos next week are going to be nasty in all the areas that received heavy rain. D. L. On a personal note, I am just about finished moving out of my apartment, and today was the busiest that I have been at work in the past week. I am on Day # 11, of my new Craigslist roommate from Nigeria. I have been serving subpoenas for over 21 years now, and Wednesday was probably the 3rd worst encounter I have had.Last night, I had to bypass a security fence at a restricted gov't facility, in order to get my subpoena served ( after already being told by them to stop doing that ). It was almost straight out of the movie, "Serving Sara," but I am almost done with this b.s.. It is time for me now, to throw in the towel and if necessary go homeless - like 20,000 other Houstonians. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Hurricane Barry Party
I would propose the TSC throw a Hurricane Barry Party. My sixth sense says the south Texas weather forecasters have no clue about this one. I predict a few flooded cars in the low-lying areas that always flood near Houston, on probably Monday night, in part, because so many motorist here have no clue how to drive in areas that are one foot above sea-level during a tropical storm. D.L. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Bill"s generous offer
For some reason unknown to me, Bill's offer of a cave-ballad stirred up a an old repressed memory from the 1960"s - an infamous movie scene known as, "The Music of the Bell." https://youtu.be/967mzzDpBbk ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
Re: [Texascavers] Rancho del Elusive Pit
I would propose one goal would be to establish a solid artificial permanent rig point on the lower ledge. I would propose at least one bolt on the upper ledge I would propose a separate map of the upper section of the cave. And some sort of portable gin-pole rig for cavers to safely attach to the rope. The rock we rigged to was not ideal as it was below the lip and 100 feet away, making it easy to get stepped on or get cut. I would ask James Loftin for suggestions.He was one of the last people there. Lots of water and shade needed. Good news is no flying insects. Nice sunset. Awesome view of the Milky Way. Remote desert camping, but lots of dust. A very large wire grid could be placed across the large entrance to keep animals and people from falling to their death. An informative sign could be erected, or plaque. D. L. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] approximate location
https://maps.app.goo.gl/1RYXkX6ARJUyAg4p9 The ravine flows east to west Cave is on south slope of ravine, thus you would be facing north rapplleing into it. There are faint remnants of old mine shaft platform around lower-lip of the mouth of the pit. Do NOT walk around entrance zone, nor fall into cave. Dangerous fall area. Approach rappell from lower-lip, where the mining platform once was. It is a 2 hour hike with gear in the winter, assuming you have a macho person carrying the 600 foot rope. And that you drove as far as possible to the invisible trailhead covered by lechuguilla. ( Cakewalk compared to the hike to Precipicio ) ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Oops
The gate location is in this area, on south side of road passed the sharp curve. https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZYJGWbb5txb2TVaf7 ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Rancho del Elusive Pit
The gate to the ranch is about here and was the only gate in the area around 1995. https://maps.app.goo.gl/JhahJ7GmyLhWBCVW8 Gate was constructed of pipe and painted bright yellow, with a protected single heavy-duty key lock. There is a ranch house about 1/4 mile southwest beyond the gate. Only one spot required serious four-wheeling across an arroyo before the house. Bring lumber, 2×6. The rest is flat with sharp rocks and tall sharp plants. So there, you just need good ground-clearance and really tough tires Ranch hands lived in Candela 4 blocks south of Municipal building. Locals called it "La Mina de Something. ??" Owner's adult daughter lived on Nebraska St . in Laredo, Texas about ten years ago. See Eustorgio Garcia ( R.I.P. ) Using rebelays, the pit could be rigged as 3 easy drops ( 2 ledges, one of which is large enough to get off rope in an emergency ( I tested it ). Leads are around but up high, but I think those passages may be mined tunnels. There could potentially be more passage beneath 20 tons of guano. I would recommend doing all the popular caves in the region there and just skipping Illusive Pit. I ridge-walked the lower elevations of the west face of the mountain several times while searching for it and while hoping to find other caves. If there are other caves, they would probably be higher above Illusive Pit. Most likely there are more caves, on that mountain. I do not know if the east face gets more rain. I did not re-find it by myself. The ranch-hands knew of it, but did not know where it was exactly. They were one ravine off, as I recall and about 100 meters off elevation. I gave them a 12-pack of American beer, which did not please their wives. I think I made up for that on the second trip. I recall Terry Raines saying he verified the ledges interrupted the free drop. My opinion is that you would have to install bolts if you did not bring a 600 foot rope. We tied 3 ropes together and crossed knots which unfortunately were not placed at the ledges.( The first time we did it ) D. L. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Reminiscing a Texas Caver article
Thank you for the comment, Mr. Jasek. You took me twice to "The Squid Room." I have very fond memories of that. Once in 1986, and again in 1995. The article you refer to, unfortunately did not get the cover photo that Oren Tranberger and I had hoped for. The intented picture arrived too late, I was told. I wonder who has it. I never got it back. My involvement in that trip was re-finding the cave ( which is illusive ), and doing so with almost no idea where it was ( a remote area in Mexico ). Then befriending the owner - who did not speak English. And then futility planning several trips - of which two made it to the bottom of the pit. There are numerous reasons there are few Gringo trips there. It was just too much effort to plan it from Texas. The owner died about 10 years ago, and I futilely tried to stay in touch with the family. It just became too dangerous to go down there. I did sketch the surface map in the article. I love caves, and have done some spelunking and helped a few cavers - and about two-hundred newbies. But I have only tried once very briefly to do any mapping or surveying, and all my attempts at photography in caves was more than lame. I futilely tried to stay in touch with cavers that I new from 1984 to 1987, ( when I was into getting muddy. ) So at best, I have been a semi-retired quasi-armchair caver, since 2011. And I did post a couple of articles on CaveTex, since at least 2001.I could guess and say over twenty.But none worth re-reading or archiving. D.L ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Caves in the news
There is a ton of stuff in the news this week that is cave related. Here is an example: https://globalnews.ca/news/5459218/nl-disease-cave-trip-in-cuba/ ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] CaveTex Caving Video of the Week
This week's winner is none other than Brian Kakuk. http://www.bahamasunderground.com/images/376_Briansurfacemug.jpg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJbF_40csaE Ref: http://www.bahamasunderground.com/aboutus.html ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] more new LED lights
Walmart just got in three new LED products from their Hyper-Tough brand. Two are USB rechargeable flashlights and the other appears to be an upgraded version of a previous headlamp. I hope to test one in August. When did Walmart start selling cars inside the store ? David Locklear P.S. Were any of the US Revolutionary Army Airports ( RAA ) near caves in Texas ? Cornwallis of Plugerville was trying to take the big steel-cable suspension bridge ( Fred Hartman Bridge ) over the Buffalo Bayou. Right ? I am on Day #2 of my Craigslist roommate from Nigeria. He claims that he is a hotel-clerk at Four Points on the night-shift. I have a vacant clean master-bedroom / master-bath.I am still using the smallest of the 3 bedrooms, but only plan to go there if I can not find anywhere else to go. After August 14th, I will probably stay in weekly motels, until I figure out what is going on with my job. [ Self-employment tip - income surprisingly tends to drop when all your customers suddenly want twice the quantity of work for half the price of the previous amount of work, meaning a worker is working four times as hard for the same amount of money - or as in my case, just as hard as before, but for 1/4 income. ] ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Earthquake related
There are caves northwest of the epicenter of the recent Ridgecrest, California earthquake. Some are marble caves. Lilburn ? And Mitchell Caverns is in the region, but far to the southeast. It might possibly be interesting to see if anything is noticeably different. On an off-topic note, after nearly 2 years of searching for a roommate on CRAIGSLIST, I sort of have one living with me now. I have been using the new CoolPad Legacy phablet by MetroPCS for three weeks as my only phone for both business and personal use. All is sufficient, except the CPU and memory are not good enough to say that it is a great experience.I am fairly certain those accustomed to the $ 600 smartphones, would not like it as their only phone. The CoolPad Legacy is only for people who use both hands while "smartphoning." D.L. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] For your amusement
>From David Locklear My beloved Sequoia left me stranded for the second time this week, but this time in the scorching sun, while wearing my fancy work clothes. I have the Sequoia back in the shop now. I assume its just a battery. In my younger days, I would have just gone to the store and put in a new battery, but in the modern cars, it requires additional labor and head-scratching, etc. But they let me use a loaner-car. Being late to work, I had no choice but to pay them an arm and a leg to replace a battery. The Sequoia is hereby renamed, "The Drama-Machine. " It would have never made it to Cookeville, Tennessee and back without devestating me. D L. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Climate change ??
Is this for real ?? https://news.yahoo.com/freak-hail-storm-strikes-mexican-city-guadalajara-000911507.html ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] sort-of related to nothing
>From David Locklear Please hit delete button now The link below shows my new ladder https://www.dropbox.com/sc/wdtcvehx7vtz88m/AAAcP5Z4tHx2fqyKAatGssVla In the event that the TSC needs such a ladder someday, then it is my sincere hope that I can donate it. The platform of the podium is 9 feet 6 inches off the ground. The attic-space in The SpeleoBarn at the TSC is under-utilized, and this ladder could help with that. I would guess that the attic-space there could be converted to an insulated storage closet. What you can't see in these two photos are my 15 Gorilla-Racks, a 50 year old Sears trailer for hauling camping gear behind a station-wagon ( remember those ? ), 40 heavy-duty plastic storage-boxes, tons of garage-sale junk, some basic furniture, my 25 year old Cannondale mountain-bike, an old wooden rifle-cabinet, tools and tool boxes. I have been searching for years in there for my caving helmet, but Oztotl clearly has no plan for me to find it anytime soon. The water-tower is four miles due west of Brenham. The yellow platform is a new six foot scaffold with heavy-duty leveling-jack's. I doubt Cavepearl will want to inherit any of this stuff. There is a very nice $ 400 pink and pastel-blue playhouse inside. All my road-trip stuff and more, caving books, record albums, clothes, antique knick-knacks ( Smokey Bear coin-bank ), etc. But there is quite a bit to just give away or throw away. I plan to haul a load to Reynosa, Mexico someday, and donate that load to in-laws for them to sell or give away. D.L. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] lava cave science in the news
vulcanospeleology related https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/braille_rovertube_2.jpg NASA's robotics team drives the test rover, "CaveR," into "Valentine Cave" at Lava Beds National Monument. The science instruments, visible in the box-like structure pointing to one wall of the cave, will begin testing further downstream in the cave. One of the CaveR engineers is perched on a lava ledge, a marker of one of the lava flows in the cave. Ref. https://www.nasa.gov/feature/ames/braille http://www.vulcanospeleology.org/ ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
[Texascavers] Various rants
>From David Locklear Please hit delete button now. Does anybody have an exact headcount as to how many Texas cavers attended the 2019 NSS Convention ? And former Texas cavers ? 4 % of attendees ? I would be nice if each would post a report of their trip along with why a newbie should not miss the 2020 NSS Convention. It is going to be amazing. I think Mr. Schindel left out the funny part that the NSS was unable to find a replacement for him. I learned today that old-timer James Manning who lives in Dickinson is 83 is healthy enough to go caving. ( Mary Kay Manning's dad ). Someone should interview him in a cave. Had you been in Houston this morning on Dashwood Street, you would have seen my 55 year old l*rd*ss, pushing my Sequoia all alone about a 1/4 mile. That nearly killed me, seriously. The tiniest gradient or pothole made the task almost futile. But I am back on the road now with a giant $ 700 hole in my wallet. I have been pondering lately the first caveman to have had a teenage daughter become interestes sexually in boys. For 100,000 years or more it was perfectly sane and normal for a loving dather to trade his daughters for an ox ( or oxen if she had a skill ). It is a good thing we recently cancelled that part of our culture, cause I doubt I could get a goat for Cavepearl. Please don't get me wrong, she is sweet, kind, smart, beautiful. But she can't cook toast, nor operate any appliance - especially the clothes-washing machine.She is demanding that I give her $ 1,000 in two months for her Quincenera.She caused me to miss a day of work this week, at a time that I can't be screwing up. I am in a grumpier mood now that I am 55. My next report should feature something about my new fancy podium-ladder, assuming nobody steals it, where I abandoned it at. D.L. ___ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
