Ink Lake

Blow Your Own Way

Took this while flying yesterday, to SLC.

The plane didn’t have the seatback console with which you can track your flight (or listen to  Rumours over and over again; damn you, Delta – it’s not sufficient you transport me through the air across the continent in safety, I demand you entertain me while you do so!)

But using Flightaware, I believe this is the Wyoming Wind Energy Center, in Uinta. As of 2008, it was the largest wind-farm in the state. There are 80, 220-foot tall turbines, and the complex generates enough power for 43,000 homes.

Wyoming is an ideal place for serious wind-power generation - big spaces, not a lot of people.

SLC Arrivals

Cleaning out the photo-archive. These are from Salt Lake City airport, this past spring.

At arrivals, there is almost always a crowd to meet an LDS (Mormon) church-member returning from their proselytizing “mission”.

Young guys go off or two years, young women for a year-and-a-half. They aren’t paid, and in fact, have to pay their own expenses. At any time, there are 50,000 church members out all over the world.

But the two women (top and below), caught my eye, as they had another mission in mind. The one up top was waiting for her boyfriend in the Army, who was returning from deployment overseas. The woman with the candy-bar poster is her sister.

The Strangeness That Is Utah (For A New Yorker)

Yes, they now have a state gun, and tons of this stuff in the supermarket, but there are also unattended post offices... you just walk in (after driving there, of course).

I had to take a movie of it. It’s nicer than my apartment (and larger). In fact, if I lived here, I’d probably move in.

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Sharing My Ski Snacks

Ran into these two as I was driving back from Snowbasin. I had just eaten all the carrots I had, but still had a bunch of raw almonds in my pocket.

I’m not sure I’d ever seen a horse’s “winter coat”, before.

 

Out The Window

I snapped a couple of shots as I drove through the suburbs of  SLC. (apologies for the blur).

A rainbow, and a store, which I’m guessing caters to transvestites? I saw garters and the like in the window. The parking lot was pretty full.

Some Of The World's Most Beautiful Libraries

Hat-tip to Thin Slices, for alerting me to this cool list. These things are always going to be subjective — not making the cut are the NYPL’s reading and map rooms, as well as the Morgan Library, while the insides of the Swedish and Belarusian libraries leave me cold. Still, some amazing places here. I’m sorry to say I haven’t visited any of of them — yet.

I’ve been to the British Museum, but didn’t stop in at the library. Next time!

 

I was curious about Jay Walker, the only private citizen whose library is featured — turns out he founded Priceline. Lastly, not on this list, but on mine... the NYPL. When I was in high school, I’d go there to do research for papers — yes kids. This was in the day of typewrites and Liquid Paper.

It was a near-ruin — dim, smelling of mildew, the ceiling murals water-stained. Think of the Chambers Street BMT station. It makes me happy to see it restored — and they kept those little lamps.

Perfection x A Trillion

This past week up at Alta, a dusting of snow has fallen. Hopefully a portent.

I caught this snowflake last February up at Solitude. While it’s true, that no two snowflakes are exactly alike, there are well-defined types. The kind you see here, is a “stellar dendrite”, and only forms in very particular conditions, and make the best skiing. They are so dry, you can hardly make a snowball with them.

You could dig through the billions, maybe trillions of snowflakes that fall in Vermont or New York, and you will not find a one that looks like this. They do, however, abound in Little and Big Cottonwood Canyons. The Utah license plate says “Greatest Snow On Earth”.

They ain’t lying.

Insane Vacations

The only thing crazier than that clip, is this one. It’s like an outdoor version of Moria, or a video game. I keep waiting for the giant gorilla to start throwing barrels.

I reckon someone could make a good living, parking himself at the bottom of the trail and selling clean underwear.

Texas

I’ve been in Texas for a few days. My first time here. Back to New York, later today.

How can I tell I’m in Texas?

• Drove on President George Bush Turnpike  - I’m still tingling.
• The security desk at the office has a sign saying “No Weapons Permitted” (no photos permitted either, otherwise, I’d be showing one)
• The men’s bathroom says, “Gents”
• The New York Times is nowhere to be found

A couple more pics here…

Holy Sheep!

Took this on the way to dinner, tonight. You’d never know it, but this is right next to an office park, and a bunch of car dealerships. It’s a busy road, but I don’t think too many people stop and take pictures, as quite a few of the sheep stopped their munching, and stared at me for a bit. It definitely smelled sheepy, too.