Ghost fleet of small ships with dead crews wash up on Japan's north west coast.

A fleet of 11 ghost ships containing the rotting remains of sailors has washed up on the Japanese coastline, sparking an investigation in the country.

The mysterious ships have given rise to numerous conspiracy theories in the country, as authorities battle to discover the identities of the bodies.

Rescuers told Japanese broadcaster NHK that the bodies of at least 20 sailors were ‘badly decomposed’ and ‘skeleton-like’.

The only clue, a scrap of flag that appears to be North Korean, and a bit of Korean writing.

The Japanese Coast guard told broadcaster NHK that the crews may have been drifting for months on end without anyone knowing where they were.

The primitive design of the vessels suggests that they were not created in the West.

It is believed that the boats have come to light now, following recent storms which may have swept them towards the coastline.

A map of the landfalls of the ghost boats with skeleton crews.  How many more are out there?

South Lake Tahoe this morning.

Via Nevada Seismological laboratory fire cam at Heavenly

Thanksgiving leftovers, with a canine begger watching closely.

Leftovers are the best.

Blue water sailing

Blazer Mills ruins, the site of Buckshot Roberts last stand.

The fight of Buckshot Roberts at Blazer's Mill, on the Mescalero Indian Reservation, is perhaps the most remarkable combat of one man against odds ever known in the West.

Roberts was, at one time, a member of the famous Texas Rangers, and had reputation as an  Indian fighter. He had been badly shot by the Comanche. Again, he was on the other side, against the Rangers, and once stood off 25 of them, although nearly killed in this encounter. From these wounds he was so badly crippled in his right arm that he could not lift a rifle to his shoulder. He was usually known as "Buckshot" Roberts because of the nature of his wounds.

Roberts took up a little ranch in the beautiful Ruidoso Valley of central New Mexico, one of the most charming spots in the world; and all he asked was to be let alone, for he seemed able to get along, and not afraid of work. When the Lincoln County War broke out, he was recognized as a friend of Major Lawrence G. Murphy, one of the local faction leaders; but when the fighting men curtly told him it was about time for him to choose his side, he curtly replied that he intended to take neither side; that he had seen fighting enough in his time, and would fight no man's battle for him. This, for the time and place, was treason, and punishable with death. Roberts' friends told him that Billy the Kid and Dick Brewer intended to kill him, and advised him to leave the country.

It is said that  Roberts had closed out his affairs and was preparing to leave the country, when he heard that the gang was looking for him, and that he then gave them opportunity to find him. Others say that he went up to Blazer's Mill to meet a friend of his by the name of Kitts, who, he heard had been shot and badly wounded. There is other rumor that he went up to Blazer's Mill to have a personal encounter with Major Godfroy, with whom there had been some altercation. There is a further absurd story that he went for the purpose of killing  Billy the Kid, and getting the reward which was offered for him. These latter things are unlikely. The probable truth is that he, being a brave man, though fully determined to leave the country, simply found it written in his creed to go up to Blazer's Mill to see his supposedly wounded friend, and also to see what there was in the threats which he had heard.

There were three eye-witnesses of what happened at that time:  Frank and George Coe, ranchers on the Ruidoso today, and Johnnie Patten, a cook on the Carrizzo Ranch. Patten was an ex-soldier of H Troop, Third Cavalry, and was mustered out at Fort Stanton in 1869. At the time of the Roberts fight, he was running the sawmill for Dr. Blazer. 

Frank Coe said that he himself was attempting to act as peacemaker, and that he tried to get  Roberts to give up his arms and not make any fight. Patten said that he, at the peril of his life, had warned  Roberts that Dick Brewer, Billy the Kid, and his gang intended to kill him. It is certain that when  Roberts came riding up on a mule, still wet from the fording of the Tularosa River, he met there Dick Brewer,Billy the Kid, George Coe, Frank Coe, Charlie Bowdre,  John Middleton, one Scroggins, and “Dirty Steve” Stevens, with others, to the number of thirteen in all. These men claimed to be a posse, and were under Dick Brewer, "special constable."

The Brewer party withdrew to the rear of the house. Frank Coe parleyed with Roberts at one side. Kate Godfroy, daughter of Major Godfroy, protested at what she knew was the purpose of Brewer and his gang. Dick Brewer said to his men, "Don't do anything to him now. Coax him up the road a way."

Roberts declined to give up his weapons to Frank Coe. He stood near the door, outside the house. Then, as it is told by Johnnie Patten, who saw it all, there suddenly came around upon him from behind the house, the gang of Billy the Kid, all gunfighters, each opening fire as he came. The gritty little man gave back not a step toward the open door. Crippled by his old wounds so that he could not raise his rifle to his shoulder, he worked the lever from his hip.

Here were a dozen men, the best fighting men of all that wild country, shooting at him at a distance of not a dozen feet; yet he shot Jack Middleton through the lungs, though failing to kill him. He shot a finger off the hand of George Coe, who then left the fight. 

George Coe, in 1934, displays the shot off finger.

Roberts then half stepped forward and pushed his gun against the stomach of Billy the Kid. For some reason the piece failed to fire, and the Kid was saved by the narrowest escape he ever had in his life. 

Charlie Bowdre now appeared around the corner of the house, andRoberts fired at him next. His bullet struck Bowdre in the belt, and cut the belt off from him. Almost at the same time, Bowdre fired at him and shot him through the body. He did not drop, but staggered back against the wall; and so he stood there, crippled of old and now wounded to death, but so fierce a human tiger that his very looks struck dismay into this gang of professional fighters. They actually withdrew around the house and left him there.

Roberts now staggered back into the house. He threw down his own Winchester and picked up a heavy Sharps rifle which belonged to Dr. Appel, and which he found there, in Dr. Blazer's room. Brewer told Dr. Blazer to bring Roberts out, but, like a man, Blazer refused.  Roberts pulled a mattress off the bed to the floor and threw himself down upon it near an open window in the front of the house.

The gang had scattered, surrounding the house. Dick Brewer had taken refuge behind a thirty-inch sawlog near the mill, just 140 steps from the window near which this fierce little fighting man was lying, wounded to death. Brewer raised his head just above the top of the sawlog, so that he could see what  Roberts was doing. His eyes were barely visible above the top of the log, yet at that distance the heavy bullet from  Roberts' buffalo gun struck him in the eye and blew off the top of his head.

Billy the Kid was now leader of the posse. His first act was to call his men together and ride away from the spot, his whole outfit whipped by a single man! There was a corpse behind them, and wounded men with them.

Thirty-six hours later there was another corpse at Blazer's Mill. The doctor, brought over from Fort Stanton, could do nothing for  Roberts, and he died.

Big birds lined up

A C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft taxis with other C-5Ms in the background Nov. 2, 2015, at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware.  Dover is home to the Air Force's only isochronal maintenance facility for C-5 aircraft.

Beautiful

Spindle Bottle with Handle

Period: Egyptian New Kingdom, Amarna Period

Dynasty: Dynasty 18

Reign: reign of Akhenaten

Date: ca. 1353–1336 B.C.

Geography: Probably from Egypt, Middle Egypt, Tuna el-Gebel

Medium: Glass

Vase with overlapping pattern and three bands of palm trees / ca. mid- to late 3rd millennium B.C. / Persian Gulf region or southern Iran / Chlorite (a gray-green stone)

Micmac Indian Beaded Hide Moccasins

Ferves Ranger.

Looks like something that the Pink Panther would drive.

I'll stick to Dodge.

Interesting report from the US National Weather Service, Reno Office

"8:40pm: Very light snow showers are persisting across the region, causing locally slick roads tonight. We have received reports from NHP of 9 accidents in the last hour between South Reno and Carson City along I-580 due to loss of control when encountering black ice. Bottom line: If traveling tonight along the Sierra Front or Eastern Sierra, including Highway 395 from Reno south to Mammoth, you may encounter black ice."

Drove this road yesterday evening.  At the time I passed through the area there was ice on the roads in Washoe Valley, but none north of Minden.  Thank goodness for my 4wd.

You're way too close to that.

Eruption of Mount Vesuvius, 1944

Hahaha!

Via Xbrad

Nice!

Blogish things I'm thankful for.

Thanks are in order to and for all the fine people that I've met on the internet.

For me, running this blog as a hobby has been richly rewarding.   The folk I've "met" over the internet from doing this are simply amazing.

Irish, at the Feral Irishman, first of all, for putting my budding blog on his blog roll and getting me some early exposure.  As a regular guy like me, he was and is an inspiration, and is always willing to be helpful to a complete stranger.  You're the man, my friend!

I'm thankful that I've met Chickenmom, who produces what she calls a "boring" blog over at Chickenfeathers, but who can make raising laying hens really fun to read about.  It may help that I've got four chickens of my own, so I can relate.  In addition, she and her "hubby" have been a joy to interact with over the years, and she's taught me a whole new appreciation for the state of New Jersey.  It's not all Bayonne!   I'm truly thankful for Phyllis and her ladies.

LL, for all his fun comments and his great stories.  I've always thought that LL would be the guy that would be big fun in any adventure, and if things got rough, would reliably have your back with something of absurdly large caliber.  He's got several good blogs as well, namely Virtual Mirage, and my fav, the Diavel Tales.  I've always wanted to ride a Ducati, but Larry is the guy who really did it.  Hats off!

I'm glad the internet introduced me to B W Bandy, over at Everybody Has To Be Somewhere,  who rides his motorbike all over western Canada, and tells us about what he sees.  Every post he puts up teaches me about some place I've never seen or heard of, and about a corner of the world that I really need to know more about.   Good work, Mr. Bandy!

I'm thankful for frequent commenter Lou, and for his enthusiastic delight and knowledge about all things IH.  Of course, I'm thankful as well for his generous introduction to my appreciation for cool cabins, to dusty trips across the Nevada/Eastern California, and to all the annual Scratch and Spit meet ups.  Thanks for great times, Lou!

There are many more who I've corresponded with over the years who I'm truly glad to know, and who produce thoughtful and excellent blogs, like OldAFSarge, at Chant du Depart, who shares my love of the F-4 Phantom fighter jet.

There are the two Brig(h)ids, who produce Brighid's Place and Home on the Range.  Both great reads, and both of which have given many pleasurable stories and tales over the years .  Plus, they are the only two people I've ever run into named Brig(h)id!  Thanks, ladies.

I'm thankful to have run across South African/Texan Bayou Renaissance Man, who brings a unique perspective to current events based on his fantastic life experience.  Check out his stories about his military service in the old South African Army.  Amazing stuff.

Brock over at Free North Carolina is also a voice I value, bringing his southern perspective to all things.  Brock and I also have a flock of daughters between us.  It's always nice meet a guy who can appreciate living around the "estrogen express" that life can be with a house full of girls and women. Thanks for years of great posts, Brock!

I'm grateful for guys like the Mohave Rat, who knows what's what, for Gorges-Smythe, who writes so well, and for his inspirational quiet strength in all weathers, and for funny rebels like the Lonely Libertarian and Wirecutter, who keep us laughing and kicking back at the Man.

Life is a whole lot richer and more fun for me because of all of you.   Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

John Muir's cabin in Glacier Bay

I knew Harry Reid was old, but this is ridiculous! 

From July to September 1890 John Muir and his friends toured Glacier Bay. Dr. Henry Platt Cushing did the meteorological, geologic and botanical studies on the trip. He was a prominent geologist who taught at Western Reserve University . He was joined by his collegue Dr. Henry Fielding Reid of the Case School of Applied Science in Cleveland, Ohio. (Today these two universities are combined to be Case Western Reserve University).
Their students were:

Comfort Avery Adams, who had just graduated from Western University with a degree in mechanical engineering and later taught at Harvard for 45 years in electrical engineering.
R.L. Casement of Plainesville, Ohio.
Mr. James H. McBride later physician at CalTech.
John F. Morse (presumably taking the photo) who later was a physician in San Francisco, but died at the age of 40 in 1898 there.

In 1890 Muir’s health was poor and he suffered from snow blindness. He expressed irritation with the “stream of tourists habitually snapping their Kodaks and asking naive questions, and with the haste at which they ceased gazing at glaciers whenever a dinner bell sounded.” However, like many tourists today, Muir returned to Glacier Bay in 1899. All of his friends later had glaciers named for them.