MaxRedline

Onions Ain't Easy

A new rail shipping center is expected to be constructed and will function via a partnership between onion shippers, Malheur County, Americold, and Union Pacific Railroad. However, some officials were under the impression that dirt would be moving by now, and the delay has onion suppliers wondering if they will be able to ship the next harvest from the new location.

They're a big crop in Oregon, but shipping them out has long been problematic.  The planned rail center there should speed the logistics up - but only if they can get the darned thing built and running smoothly. That's always been a problem for farmers in the arid lands around Malheur County, and one that isn't going away soon enough for the cash-strapped area. We'll just have to see how the project ultimately pans out for them; the area's got a lot of history behind it. Pretty part of the state, but nothing's ever come easy out there.

Malheur's a very large county; its name, however, is French for "bad water".

 

Pig-Hearted

In a medical first, doctors transplanted a pig heart into a patient in a last-ditch effort to save his life and a Maryland hospital said Monday that he’s doing well three days after the highly experimental surgery.

While it’s too soon to know if the operation really will work, it marks a step in the decades-long quest to one day use animal organs for life-saving transplants. Doctors at the University of Maryland Medical Center say the transplant showed that a heart from a genetically modified animal can function in the human body without immediate rejection.

GMO may save a life.

No word on whether he eats bacon.

 

Migration

California already has some of the highest taxes in the United States and is losing residents as a result.

So, their answer? Another tax hike! Naturally. They've evidently never heard the old bromide: when you're in a hole, stop digging.

California lawmakers have introduced a plan to almost *double* state tax revenue, at an additional cost of $12,250 per household.

So glad I didn't follow the herd by moving there in the 60s and 70s. I suspect they can kiss their business startups goodbye.

Understandably, over-taxed residents are moving to places like Arizona, Oregon, and Texas. But frankly, we neither need nor want more Californians here, as all too often the refugees bring their voting habits right along with them.

In the words of the late, great governor here: "Welcome to Oregon! But don't plan to stay."

 

As Usual, Portland Carries Lead Weight

While the EPA demands utilities take action when lead levels surpass 15 ppb, Dr. Bruce Lanphear, who has been studying lead poisoning for 25 years, said lead in drinking water can have detrimental health impacts once levels hit 5 ppb. He recommends Portlanders in high-risk homes use filters for their water.

The water bureau says the homes most at risk for lead in the water are those with copper pipes joined with lead solder, which were generally built or plumbed between 1970 and 1985. That’s potentially up to 15,000 homes, according to the bureau. Twice a year, Portland will sample water from the highest risk homes — those built between 1983 and 1985.

Edwards, the Virginia Tech Professor, said Portland holds the distinction as the largest major city consistently displaying high concentrations of lead in their water samples for high-risk homes.

The city's much-ballyhooed Pure Bull Run water isn't so pure once it hits the pipes.

Bottled water is likely fine, but folks may want to steer clear of Portland-area beer producers. I get mine from brewers in Eugene and points south.

 

Welcome To The Mootrix

Cows cooped up for the winter are being fitted with virtual reality goggles — so they think they are outside in a summer field.

And the bamboozled bovines appear to be happier and producing more milk.

Weirdness works overtime.

 

Fork-Tender Around The Tire-Tread Marks?

Pennsylvania police pulled over a suspected drunken driver around midnight on Thursday and discovered a live deer in the back of the vehicle.

It had apparently been briefly knocked out when it was struck by a previous vehicle, so when the occupants of this vehicle saw it, they stopped and loaded it into the trunk of their car. Everything was going great until the animal regained consciousness.

https://dailycaller.com/2022/01/07/police-drunk-driving-deer-car-pennsylvania/

It's A Cultural Thing, Over There

A dog and her puppies are being credited with helping to save a newborn who was abandoned in a field in India, possibly because she was a girl.

The Epoch Times reports local residents in Chattisgarh, India reported finding the infant while going out into the field to work in late December.

According to Chattisgarh Police, the newborn girl was naked and her umbilical cord was still attached. Local residents said the baby was surrounded by a dog and her litter of puppies, and they believe the animals kept the baby warm by snuggling up against her through the night, the Times reports.

In India, they only want male offspring - likely, that'll be a real drag come dating/marrying time....

 

Yet Some Still Try To Drive Through

The City of Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections has warned of potential landslides, and the Washington State Department of Transportation closed multiple highways Thursday and Friday amid the extreme weather. Some have since reopened.

Washington State National Guard members have been deployed to Lewis County in Washington state to assist with flood relief efforts.

And a 72 year-old guy who was old enough to know better apparently tried to drive through the flooding. They've not yet been found.

 

Nicely Summed

“If hard times only make you stronger, I should be able to whip Superman’s ass by now.”

 

Should've Eaten More Beans Yesterday

National Pass Gas Day is held annually on January 7, and there is no better time to express ourselves and free our bowels of stale air without shame.

Take a hike in the open air!

 

One Two Three, Doing The Batty-Bat

U.S. health officials are urging people to take precautions and seek treatment when coming in contact with bats after five people died from rabies last year.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/01/06/cdc-warns-increase-rabies-deaths-bat-contact/9115089002/

Bats, maybe. Leftists, assuredly. Best advice: stay away.

Both will kill you.