Monthly Archives: August 2015

Why “It was not marked classified” does NOT fly!

Posted on August 28, 2015 by merlinjr01

“Loose Lips…” – One Perspective on Classified Material and National Security No, I never worked for the State Department. However, for the 25 years before retiring, I worked for top tier government contractors where exposure to classified material and information … Continue reading →

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The Durbin Rocket “In the Tunnel”

Posted on August 26, 2015 by merlinjr01

Photo of the Week Durbin Rocket, Durbin West Virginia The Durbin Rocket is a re-purposed logging steam engine that now pulls a tourist train through five miles of West Virginia countryside streaking along at about five miles per hour. The … Continue reading →

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The Dam that Couldn’t Hold Water

Posted on August 19, 2015 by merlinjr01

Photo of the Week Hales Bar Dam Hales Bar Dam, completed in 1913, was originally built by the Tennessee Electric and Power Company (TEPCO), and taken over by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA – 1929) as part of its flood … Continue reading →

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16 Months of Adventure – Riverside 177 White Water Retro Camper Report

Posted on August 18, 2015 by merlinjr01

A 16-Month Performance and Adventure Report Sixteen months ago we drove our brand new Riverside 177 White Water Retro camper off of the dealer’s lot. Shortly before I posted the first “Camper Report,” we had experienced several minor issues, but … Continue reading →

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The Boulder in the Pulpit – The Sallie Howard Memorial Baptist Church, Alabama

Posted on August 14, 2015 by merlinjr01

What do you do when you want to build a church, but there is a huge boulder in the way? Make it part of the church, of course! I am beginning to believe that “serendipity” could easily be a synonym … Continue reading →

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Silent Partners

Posted on August 12, 2015 by merlinjr01

Photo of the Week Tennessee Truck and Barn Driving around the Middle Tennessee countryside offers many photo opportunities. Over the years I have taken photos of many barns. The older and more worn, the more I like them (as long … Continue reading →

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DeSoto Falls, Alabama – Witness to History

Posted on August 10, 2015 by merlinjr01

After lunch at the Wildflower Café, we followed the signs to DeSoto Falls. I hate to pass up a chance to visit any waterfall. The falls are immediately below a dam across the Little River that runs along the top … Continue reading →

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Cee’s Black and White Photo Challenge: Hands, Feet or Paws

Posted on August 6, 2015 by merlinjr01

“Generations” Great Grandmother with her great granddaughter. Posted in response to “Cee’s Black and White Photo Challenge: Hands, Feet or Paws“.

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“One Word Photo Challenge: Foggy”

Posted on August 6, 2015 by merlinjr01

Images for “One Word Photo Challenge: Foggy” Growing up on a farm on a river in Virginia, foggy scenes were common. The photo of the boat with the catfish pots was taken with an Argus C3 Rangefinder 35MM camera using … Continue reading →

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Wildflower – What is It?

Posted on August 5, 2015 by merlinjr01

Photo of the Week Taken: Summer 2015 Along the edge of the yard, next to an intermittent creek, there is a dense, wild thicket of privet hedge, honeysuckle, and wild roses. On one of my morning walkabouts I discovered this … Continue reading →

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