Snake in the Pool

I was warned when I bought my house that when I checked the swimming pool skimmer filter that should watch out for snakes. I hadn't seen one until Sunday.

Can anyone tell what kind of snake this is? I will post the answer later. I will not accept "dead snake" as an answer.

Genius Boxes At Work

Every years during Laboratory Technologist Week we have what is know as "Genius Box" competition. Any team that wants to participate are given an identical copy paper box with a variety of materials that are used in the laboratory on a day to day basis. The only other thing that they can add outside of these materials is glue, paint, and/or glitter.

This picture is the items that each team is given

The creativity is always amazing. Here is one entry. The face is made from parafin (one of items provided) and they molded the face of one of the techs in the department.

This is the inside of the casino seen above.

This is the first prize winner "Crab Shack" from our lab in Savannah.As I said, the creativity is amazing. This slot machine actually rotates if you pull down on the handle.

Swamps and 'gators are always a popular theme.

Remember that all of these projects were made from the same building materials.

Lake Park Antique Tractor Pull

Nothing says "good time" like the semi-annual antique tractor pull and anvil launch in Lake Park, Georgia. All of the tractors have to be 1957 or older.

These are amazing to watch.
Some could use a little bit more paint.
Of course with the tractor pull you have to be concerned about safety, so our Lake Park Volunteer Fire Department was standing by in their antique fire truck.
Sometimes it wasn't just about tractors, but just engines in general. This one was set up to mix something an boil eggs at the same time. The mixer is the square opening on the left next to the belt drive. The square opening on the right next to the smoke stack was for the cooling water and boiling eggs.
You just can't beat a 1947 Case tractor with custom flames.
The first motor home, a 1953 Dodge.
You can't have a tractor pull (and anvil launch) without some entertainment, and what is better than an accordian.

This was my favorite steam engine. Did really run anything, but the potential was certainly there.

By the way, the anvil launch, where they shot an anvil 300 feet up in the air was canceled due to bad weather and mechanical difficulties. Hey! Even NASA has a canceled launch once in a while.