Words Have Meanings

We were again pushing the deadline to get a design package out the door and I was monitoring our designers to make sure they were on track and had no distractions. Our young Process Engineer walks in and announces, "I have some changes that need to be made."

He was totally surprised when the grenade went off in his face!

Eventually he was able to explain that what he really had were some minor corrections and he was allowed to depart with his head intact. I bet next time he will choose his words more carefully.

Random Thoughts

From an old email......

• I changed my car horn to gunshot sounds.   People get out of the way much faster now. 
• Gone are the days when girls used to cook like their mothers. Now they drink like their fathers.
• I didn't make it to the gym today.  That makes five years in a row.
• I decided to change calling the bathroom "the John" and renamed it "the Jim". I feel so much better saying I went to the Jim this morning.
• Last year I joined a support group for procrastinators. We haven't met yet.
• Old age is coming at a really bad time. 
• When I was a child I thought “Nap Time” was a punishment. Now, as a grownup, it feels like a small vacation.
• The biggest lie I tell myself is, "I don't need to write that down, I'll remember it."
• I don't have gray hair; I have "wisdom highlights." I'm just very wise.
• If God wanted me to touch my toes, he would've put them on my knees.
• Why do I have to press one for English when you're just gonna transfer me to someone I can't understand anyway?
• Of course I talk to myself; sometimes I need expert advice.
• At my age "Getting lucky" means walking into a room and remembering what I came in there for. 

Deanston 12 Year Old

The Deanston Distillery is located on the River Teith in the highlands. The building was erected in 1785 as a cotton mill but was converted to its present use in 1965. The 12 year old single malt is aged in bourbon barrels and is "un chill filtered". Chill filtering is a process where the whiskey is chilled to freezing temperatures and then filtered to remove various molecules that solidify at those temperatures. It is done primarily as a cosmetic measure to prevent the whiskey from becoming cloudy when ice is added. But who adds ice to good whiskey?? And many argue that chill filtering removes elements of taste and aroma. Who am I to argue with that?

Color: Rich amber
Nose: hay, barley
Palate: Very smooth and pleasing to the tongue
Finish: Provides a lingering warmth

This is a very drinkable whiskey suitable for both new and experienced whiskey lovers. It is another example that age does not necessarily mean a better whiskey as this can hold its own against many older products.

Re Qual

Saturday morning was spent in class and the range in order to submit my renewal for my concealed carry permit. The local gun shop has a good system where they provide a notary and a fingerprint guy for first timers so that you can get all the paper work done at once. None of that was required for renewals so after a couple of hours lecture on safety and a re-education on the concealed carry laws, I went to the range to demonstrate my "proficiency" with the weapon (my .38 S&W Airweight). All I can say is that all rounds fired hit the back stop. But that's OK. I don't use it for long range sniping. Now I'm good for another 5 years.

Head Count

After a flurry of beheadings last month, Saudi Arabia added 9 more to their head count in February. This was the usual mix of drug offenders and murderers but also included 1 rapist. Year to date total stands at 64.

This Week in Oil and Gas History

March 2, 1944

The first gasoline transported in the "Little Big Inch" pipeline arrives in New Jersey. The 1200 mile long pipeline was built in response to tankers being lost to German U Boats operating off the east coast. The "Little Big Inch" was a 20" refined products pipeline. It carried gasoline, heating oil, diesel and kerosene separated by solid rubber balls called "pigs". Its companion pipeline, the "Big Inch" was a 24" pipeline that carried crude oil and was completed soon after.

For comparison, the Trans Alaska Pipeline is only 790 miles long. The Keystone XL pipeline is 1200 miles long and 36" in diameter.

After the war, the two pipelines were sold as surplus government property. Texas Eastern Transmission Company was formed for the sole purpose of bidding on the pipelines and converting them to carry natural gas. Their winning bid was over $143,000,000. They operated the pipelines for the next 40 years. In the 90s there was a flurry of sales and reorganizations in the oil industry. The pipelines are now owned and operated by Spectra Energy.