Big Flakes

Just started snowing some huge snow flakes. Tried taking a picture but could not capture it well, by my measure the flake are 2 centimeters + !! It's obvious Central and Northern Wisco is going to get a good snowfall tonight. 8 to 10 inches expected. Looking forward to getting snowed in.

Essence of Beyond

Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.
- Ernest Hemingway

Another day in paradise. I'll be the first to admit I have not achieved much so far today. There is still hope however. Spent the morning running errands and shopping then stopped by and chatted with my pal York at his garage. If you need your car fixed York is the man. In Back of Beyond endorses River West Motor Works in Plover Wisconsin. Tell them Jeff sent you. I would get my car fixed (pictured) there except mine never breaks. The Shadow Rocks......

Experiencing another case of writers block. I've noticed a trend developing. Great productivity for about 10 days then WHAM I run out of gas overnight. I can't take for granted that I work 12 sometimes 15 hours+ a day on my projects. Hard to maintain a crazy work schedule for extended periods I guess.

A crazy life however?
Forever.......
The essence of being In Back of Beyond.

Jimbo Lives

My fishing buddy has been found alive! Jimbo, who was consumed by a Killer Whale while ice fishing on the Wisconsin River, was apparently vomited up by this savage beast. The whale has not fared as well - alive but nauseous - it's breath reeking of spicy Chile con Carne! Plans are now being made to relocate this regal animal to
White Trash SeaWorld in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Jim will be ice fishing on Lake Emily in Portage County this weekend. **Please note- no animals are harmed in the Blogging of "In Back of Beyond". See February 15 post for graphic video of Jim "catching the Big one".

From In Back of Beyond - February 16, 2007.... In case you missed it, now you know the rest of the story.

Tuned

All is well in snowy Central Wisconsin. Yesterday was a beautiful day and I took full advantage of it.
Put on a set of skis and wandered around the woods for the whole day. Had a wonderful time. Brought a coyote call with me and much too my own surprise called a pair to within 50 yards of my position. They were quite surprised when they realized I was not a wounded rabbit. My only significant wildlife sighting of the day. One that I'll always remember however.......

In the eve I retreated to the nest and built a antenna for Medium Wave (AM) reception. It's called the crate loop, a tunable passive loop antenna. Read about it here. Made it operational with some parts I scavenged from an old radio and a little advice from a knowledgeable engineer. Waiting for some additional parts I ordered to complete the project to my liking. Getting good results already.
I have not been formally logging the stations I receive but decided I'm going to start today. I'll surely publish some of my entries in the future.

In other news I now have a pen name. I'm not going to reveal it so don't ask.....

Whale Of A Story

Jimbo woke at dawn on a bitter cold February morning. Ice Fishing was on his mind. Jim recently purchased a new powered ice auger, and was anxious to put it to the test. He drilled some holes, his new rig performed perfectly. Confidently, he baited his tip-up's with the largest smelt he had ever seen, thinking he could catch a "whale" with this offering. Jimbo then sat upon his fishing bucket, back to the wind, clutching a jigging pole in his mittened hand. The sun now just above the horizon, wind howling on the frozen Wisconsin River - Jim was at peace. Jim loves fishing. He was "In Back of Beyond".
Click Here for the rest of the story.

Originally published February 15, 2007. Tragically Jim has only ice fished once since.

Let's Do It Bloggy Style

How do I Love thee? Let me blog the ways. I love the way you scroll my page, the gentle touch of your "right click" on a cold dark night. I love you when you explore my "Cool Websites". You leave me to view them, but always come back. You know "10 Things about Me" but I know so very little about you. Your comments drive me wild with anticipation.
We can be alone if you want. Perhaps we should create a "link"- together. I didn't tell you a "Turn On" that makes my heart race. When you read my "Quotes" you put a smile on my face. Today is Valentine's day Dearest Reader - True Love fuels this page. I Blog you. Do you Blog me?
Read "In Back of Beyond" for eternity.
Love Jeff Kopp

First published February 14, 2007.

Standing

Wow it's Friday already. Sometimes life is just one long day. Did not sleep a wink last night, way to busy for that. I get these ideas in my head and I need to make them reality today instead of tomorrow. Just finishing up a rotating table for my shortwave radio's. AM antenna's are highly directional in nature, the rotating table will make fine tuning distant stations easier. Turned out great. very elegant. Don't like the paint job though. Had some green tempera paint on hand and thought I'd use it up - it does not cover wood worth a crap. Oh well.... Also made a stand for my audio mixer last night that I really like. Now all the controls will be in easy reach and off my clutter desktop. Problem solved......

Kind of a damp grey day today. A lot of snow has melted the past week or so. The ski and snowmobile trails have closed in most the state except the far North. Another short season the way things are going. On the bright side! Winter is flying by fast. I'm thinking spring.
How about you?

Fat Mean Granola's

It's been a weird day today. You never know what might happen on Main St. in Stevens Point. On my way to the office this morning I encountered a young lady who is a friend of a friend. She informed me that she was en route to the local natural food coop for some grocery shopping. She also brought up that she is almost flat broke and is having problems finding a new job. I asked her why she was going to shop at the MOST expensive store (by far) in town when she is so low on cash. She answered that none of food in regular old grocery stores has any nutrition. I then replied "sweetheart getting enough nutrition is the least of your problems". She then SLAPPED me across the face (hard) and cut my cheek wide open with the gaudy cheap ass ring she was wearing. This bitch is 50 + pounds over weight (I'm being kind) - a Fat Mean Granola - one of many in this town. I should of had her arrested for assault but that's not my style. She called me an asshole and resumed her journey. End of story......

"M" it takes a boxcar to lug ya and 10 foot arms to hug ya.

Carp and Ducks

There is a place in the world where ducks walk on the backs of carp. Click here and be amused.

P.S. NPR downloads Rock!!

Stimulate Me Please

The second half of a man's life is made up of nothing but the habits he has acquired during the first half.
- Fyodor Dostoevsky

Good morning! The frozen tundra is melting!!! Near record high temps expected today - 50 degrees in February? What's going on here? Last week we were freezing our asses off.

I can barely read or listen to the news since Obama took over the presidency. His "stimulus" package has me worried - if this so called plan does not have much impact the good ole US of A will in deep shit. In one stroke of a pen and the US will taking on more debt than we did cumulatively from 1776 to 1975. The waste will be astronomical......

The economy might not be stimulated but my mind is. I've been rereading Howard Zinn's wonderful book, " A People's History of the United States" - a great work! A MUST read for all Americans in my opinion. The problems we are facing now are not that unique in our history. The solution? Unprecedented. I will be writing more about Zinn's book soon.....

Radio Propogation

A beautiful day! Sunny and mild and more of the same expected for at least the next week or so. My new toy arrived in the mail yesterday, the Eton E100 is now part of my growing collection of communication devices. Nice radio!! Put it through some tests last night and it passed with flying colors. Will give a full review soon.

I've been on an early morning groove lately often waking around 5 AM and hard at work in my studio by 5:30. Love the early morning, the mind is fresh and clear, by far my most productive time of the day. Nothing better than savoring that first cup of coffee and listening to the morning news on NPR while I work on ruling the world.
The stuff dreams are made of.

Only the mediocre are always at their best.
- Jean Giraudoux

The Well is Dry

Another frigid morning. 8 below 0 at the moment here in Stevens Point. Just went outside to experience the environment and quickly retreated to my office for a morning work session. My nostril hairs freezing is not what I had in mind this morning. The good news - a major warming trend starting tomorrow - 30's through the weekend. Where's my swim suit?

Trying to break out of a slight case of writers block. The well has temporarily ran dry. Not a crisis since I've been writing like a mad man lately but don't want to lose my momentum.

Just tracked my Ebay order and it looks like my new radio is in Wisconsin. Should be in my hot little hands this morning. Can't wait! New toys are always fun. Will give a full report soon.

Until later.....

What A Game!

Survived SuperBowl Sunday in good style. Ended up road tripping to Madison with Phat Tony and joined the boys at the Dry Bean Saloon for a party. Had a blast! Thanks Bob for sharing your good fortune! The Pittsburgh Steelers made a heroic touchdown drive in the final minute of the game and were victorious. My prediction was wrong. Oh well. The best SuperBowl in years in my opinion.

The Music Died

Music is the wine which inspires one to new generative processes, and I am Bacchus who presses out this glorious wine for mankind and makes them spiritually drunken.
~Ludwig van Beethoven

Tomorrow will be the 50th anniversary of the day "music died" - of course I'm referring to the tragic plane crash in Iowa that killed Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper. What an impact these individuals, all very young men at the time, made on the history of Rock n Roll. I was listening to some Buddy Holly tunes earlier and got a little choked up thinking about the careers they would have had if they lived.

The music has not died however, Rock n Roll Lives!! and will forever - Rejoice Children of Rock!

Super Bowl Sunday. I'm not that into it but will make a prediction. Arizona Cardinals will defeat Pittsburgh - the score - 31 -28.

Bought yet another radio on Ebay this morning. The Eton E100 read about it HERE. Will give a full review when I receive it in a few days - can't wait!!