Post A4VT2fPFEFPXd5LQbQ by Cyn_de_Vita@social.quodverum.com
(DIR) More posts by Cyn_de_Vita@social.quodverum.com
(DIR) Post #A4VCD12xvSPuQDGyQq by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T15:04:45Z
0 likes, 9 repeats
THREADNovember 1980, Chile, SACONOCO MINERAL EXPLORATION CAMPAndes foothills (west of Iquique)Village of Mocha, pop. ~200,An entire book could be filled with just the amazing experiences I had in this camp alone.The Conoco camp housed geologists, geophysicists, land surveyors, and a cook.Labor, including housekeeping for the camp, was provided by the tiny 200 yr-old village of Mocha, located directly across a river which poured in from the High Andes.I'll add to this thread slowly.
(DIR) Post #A4VCR0mJikqldw9vzU by saramangas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T15:07:17Z
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@StevenDouglas This sounds really interesting...
(DIR) Post #A4VCsaD06EeVLamsLo by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T15:12:15Z
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Having a nearby camp is always an economic boon to any remote village, and the chemistry created from that is HIGH MORALE, and quite the makeshift family environment.Whether in the Conoco camp or in the village, every day is a feast, every day you're with friends. Nobody lacks.OUR OBJECTIVE: To provide "resistivity" surveys to estimate best places for the camp to drill and obtain [VERY EXPENSIVE] rock core samples. These samples are then used to justify applying for ore mining patents.
(DIR) Post #A4VDOQS9uDh4MF3r2O by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T15:18:01Z
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RESISTIVITY SURVEYS(technical blah blah)All rocks have varying levels of electrical resistance. Rocks containing metal ores tend to have lower resistance.Small gaps between certain types of rocks (e.g., quartz and gold) behave as electronic "capacitors". Capacitance is the ability to "hold a charge". If you inject electricity into the ground between two distant points you can measure the ground's electrical resistance and capacitance.
(DIR) Post #A4VDpzbTKHbLC1YvK4 by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T15:23:00Z
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One type of equipment I supported provided that electricity. A giant box, called an Induced Polarization Transmitter, transmitted a deadly 10,000 VOLTS (DC, or direct current) at 1 AMP (so, 10,000 WATTS) directly into the ground.In a square wave. On every two seconds, off every two. This produces resistance data that other sensitive equipment picks up as the ground is electrified, and also a capacitance curve for how long it takes the ground to charge and discharge, and where.
(DIR) Post #A4VEAfjGPhZldR4FSC by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T15:26:45Z
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When a survey is finished, data are compiled and processed to produce a detailed 3D contours "images" based on some of the ground's electrical properties which, when added to geologists' surface samples, strongly suggests the types of minerals that will be found below.From that data, core sample drilling (EXPENSIVE) sites are chosen.
(DIR) Post #A4VEXuOW3QCFmNRWfw by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T15:30:56Z
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Enough of that. I have a strong electronics background and now you know what brought me to South America.Now I have around five experiences (off the top of my head) that blew me away, and that you may also find interesting. I'll pick a fun one soon and post it under here.
(DIR) Post #A4VEhG0T4PaPPkeViS by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T15:32:38Z
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@saramangas It gets better, I promise.
(DIR) Post #A4VHafH31mwNcCxJJo by Redrabbit85@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T16:05:03Z
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@StevenDouglas interesting
(DIR) Post #A4VHkgQla8ha6BHLBQ by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T16:06:52Z
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Your handle, @RandomVagaries, would fit me just fine. Dad called me his bubble on a piss pot. There was much to learn and try. So I sampled everything that caught my interest. I could never land 100% on anything and just rest contented and commit to it. Foolish life. Fascinating, impossible sounding to many, but ultimately foolish.When I was young I could sleep 13 hours a night. Comatose. Now I'm lucky if I get 5 or 6.
(DIR) Post #A4VIdWExAhTOQ7tuoC by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T16:16:47Z
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MOCHA - Experience #1Sunday, devout Catholic village, everyone was off. So I was going on a hiking adventure. Alone.The camp cook (we called him "Cookie") made me some special "pan" bread sandwiches, which he packed along with some fruits and nuts for the day.In front of the village was a massive llama pasture. Llamas - such pretty eyes. And nasty spit.The pasture ended at a rock outcropping that had a series of miniature canyon entrances, each about five feet wide or so.I chose one.
(DIR) Post #A4VJKmxKtkZYiRIELI by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T16:24:36Z
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The little canyons all had dry gravel floors full of smoothed rocks - carved out by heavy flows once upon a time. As I hiked through the meandering dry riverbed, the side walls got gradually higher, until eventually as high as twenty or thirty feet. But the width remained remarkable uniform throughout. It went on forever! I had hiked for at least a couple of miles on a very gradual downgrade, when suddenly found myself on a rising slope.Which made no sense. Rivers go in ONE direction.
(DIR) Post #A4VJjMWQJgZxyIQFyi by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T16:29:02Z
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I concluded that I was no on area that had uplifted AFTER the river had carved out the canyons. A geophysicist friend at the camp later wholeheartedly agreed. That was the only explanation. So I followed the uplifted part of the canyon for ANOTHER couple of miles or so (three or four hours later).The incline got gradually steeper, until I was actually climbing up some parts. Finally, I hit a summit of sorts.
(DIR) Post #A4VK9fednxGQq5oLj6 by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T16:33:48Z
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In front of me was like terrain from a cartoon. It was a shallow bowl depression, about 50 yards in diameter. BRIGHT PINK.The ground looked like bright pink snow. I walked into it. Crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch...My feet sank 6 inches into the foamy glass with every step I took. Crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch...FREEZE. My hackles rose. I looked behind me, then around at the entire depression. MINE WERE THE ONLY FOOTSTEPS! NOBODY HAD EVER STEP FOOT HERE BEFORE!
(DIR) Post #A4VKZA0w47uEEmOSps by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T16:38:24Z
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I backtracked out through each footstep I had taken and sat on the highest surrounding rock I could find. It was one of the best lunches I've ever eaten in my life. Savored every bite as I took in the beautiful, completely surreal volcanic site. I might as well have been Neil Armstrong, or anyone on the Starship Enterprise. I had gone where NO MAN had gone before. I took a small geo-party out to it the following Sunday. They were beyond impressed. And excited.END Experience #1
(DIR) Post #A4VKiiwrY9zxBs35Jg by just_me@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T16:40:08Z
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@StevenDouglas So enjoyed reading this Steven! Anticipating the next story. Well done. 👍
(DIR) Post #A4VLHAMu6qPO4teWoq by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T16:46:21Z
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@LakePacificLover Foamy volcanic glass. LOADED with pumice. Likely Ignimbrite, all the geologists initially agreed - a silica pyroclastic flow, dominated by pumice and stained pink by iron impurities: Ignimbrite: a pyroclastic igneous rock that is an expansion of hardened tuff. It's made up by crystal and rock fragments in a glass-shard groundmass. Pyroclastic: fluidized mixture of hot rock/gases that move at high speeds. Temperatures can reach 600 to 700 °C (1,100 to 1,300 °F).
(DIR) Post #A4VLIeDAdhHsvLo3Q8 by Dawnz@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T16:46:36Z
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@StevenDouglas Very cool! Did you bring back any of the pink glass as a momento?
(DIR) Post #A4VLcKiunxaCH62dHM by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T16:50:10Z
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@Dawnz No. I brought a sample to the geologists and didn't get any for myself. Want to hear something really messed up about me? I don't care about keeping records. Or taking pictures. I SUCK at keeping a journal. The internet's my journal now, that's as good as it gets.Samples? Pfft, what do I need those for? I saw it. Let the geologists take the samples. I had a camera with me in Chile and I think I took a dozen nonsense pictures. Mostly of people. And that's long lost and gone.
(DIR) Post #A4VMDT6Ecq2oy2elE0 by Dawnz@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T16:56:53Z
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@StevenDouglas Your experiences and memories are more than most people will ever have. I can understand that.Through your words I can envision it. What a wonderful adventure!
(DIR) Post #A4VON72VhOSfLydmnw by Jaygarza1@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T17:21:01Z
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@StevenDouglas Just Awesome account ! Anticipating the next 👍
(DIR) Post #A4VPkZuEdjPnUoWV5k by SwampWitch@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T17:36:29Z
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@StevenDouglas I'm already addicted. Now I'ma need me a FIX, bro!😭
(DIR) Post #A4VQajYlzZpkUlM1dA by stephanieanne@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T17:45:54Z
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@Dawnz @StevenDouglas I heard the crunching glass!
(DIR) Post #A4VQeTY5Sl8Rzookls by Flipscuba@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T17:46:35Z
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@StevenDouglas Wait, why was it pink?
(DIR) Post #A4VQi5Am2BaFYNdIX2 by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T17:47:15Z
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@Flipscuba It was pink (they thought) from iron impurities in the flow.
(DIR) Post #A4VQpupINzAxmVK0Wm by Flipscuba@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T17:48:40Z
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@StevenDouglas nevermind, kept reading glass as grass
(DIR) Post #A4VR8bf5raflqUSj2G by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T17:52:02Z
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MOCHA Experience #2Pusitunga Saturday NightPusitunga is an alcoholic beverage made in Bolivia. It's 186 proof (93% sugar cane alcohol). Basically, Everclear.As a controlled substance, Pusitunga was smuggled OVER THE TOP of the Andes Mountains from Bolivia into Chile.As it made its way down THROUGH Mocha (on its way to Iquique and wherever else), the occassional can of it would be bought by someone. This time that someone was my friend, Tomas, the head geologist of the camp.
(DIR) Post #A4VRUmqIyRdqtRHauO by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T17:56:03Z
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The can of Pusitunga was poured 50/50 with OJ into an enormous punch bowl.The Pusitunga Party in the camp canteen had begun. Now there's a strange (to me) custom in Chile. It involves lengthy impassioned speech making.MELODRAMATIC! Bellow from your heart, gesture, and get the crowd riled. About what, I don't know. My Spanish wasn't yet up to snuff yet, so the speeches were incomprehensible to me. BUT THE DRAMA! OH!They LOVED it, and took turns at it, like bad karaoke without music.
(DIR) Post #A4VRvLFNgJiz7rfrW4 by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T18:00:51Z
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Tonight it was a contest. The prize: A brand new gorgeous geologists' pick everyone was slobbering over.Several people have already had a go at their speeches. I'm two sheets to the wind when it get to MY TURN. (?!!)"Sorry, can't do it in Spanish!"None of them spoke English. And they didn't care. "¡Dilo en inglés!"So I did. I got up. And I made my impassioned plea: Joe Biden plagiaristyle. With the help of one William Shakespeare.
(DIR) Post #A4VS6RoFcgPmfFHQO0 by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T18:02:50Z
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Julius Caesar, Act I, Scene IMarc Antony addressing a crowd of ingrates who are celebrating Caesar's return after Pompeii's death.I addressed everyone in the cantina as if they were the ingrates.The two Americans I came with were stunned and laughing to tears toward the end.Here it is:Wherefore rejoice?What conquest brings he home?What tributaries follow him to Rome,To grace in captive bonds his chariot-wheels?
(DIR) Post #A4VS9KxfXZJ6II3yPw by Dollcakes24@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T18:03:22Z
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@StevenDouglas You could make some quality jungle juice with that!
(DIR) Post #A4VSFtfJQPSJfDbYoK by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T18:04:34Z
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You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things!O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome,Knew you not Pompey?Many a time and oftHave you climb'd up to walls and battlements,To tow'rs and windows, yea, to chimney-tops,Your infants in your arms, and there have satThe livelong day, with patient expectation,To see great Pompey pass the streets of Rome;
(DIR) Post #A4VSNPFCPjSNdAyHo0 by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T18:05:55Z
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And when you saw his chariot but appear,Have you not made an universal shout,That Tiber trembled underneath her banksTo hear the replication of your soundsMade in her concave shores?And do you now put on your best attire?And do you now cull out a holiday?And do you now strew flowers in his way,That comes in triumph over Pompey's blood?!Be gone!Run to your houses, fall upon your knees,Pray to the gods to intermit the plagueThat needs must light on this ingratitude.
(DIR) Post #A4VSRPBCazcIab0b0S by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T18:06:39Z
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LOUD standing ovation, and they meant it!THE GEOLOGIST PICK WAS MINEEND Experience #2
(DIR) Post #A4VSa2qV0BXPvbRd9U by EarlThePearls@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T18:08:11Z
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@StevenDouglas Those moment are AWE some in a mystical way.I call them Glimpses of the Great Unknown A sudden Transcendental Awareness beyond description in words
(DIR) Post #A4VSfooQ5iam8pE1c8 by macoman4u1@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T18:09:14Z
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@StevenDouglas Well done! 🙌
(DIR) Post #A4VSqUHgknl7f10EVM by EarlThePearls@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T18:11:10Z
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@StevenDouglas @Dawnz These type of experiences are LIVED.Hopefully Dawn you have had one so as to be able to understand thatThey JUST AREIt is like G-D brushing against you
(DIR) Post #A4VT2fPFEFPXd5LQbQ by Cyn_de_Vita@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T18:13:22Z
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@StevenDouglas Great writing, love these stories.Do you still have the trophy geologist pick?
(DIR) Post #A4VTCK2FXXvsFEC1QG by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T18:15:06Z
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@EarlThePearls @Dawnz There is interesting aspect to that. I was only 20 then, but after that experience I didn't need to see the rest of the world.I'd seen it all.Nothing could compare to that. Even if it did, it wouldn't compare because it wouldn't be my first. From that day on I NEVER craved to see anything else in the world. Just tell me about it. Show me pics, I'll believe you.I lived in Sedona, AZ, 45 mins. from the Grand Canyon. I never once went to see it. Or wanted to.
(DIR) Post #A4VTJFx97HLfbv71AO by Dollcakes24@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T18:16:21Z
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@StevenDouglas Kind of makes me want to live the geologist life.
(DIR) Post #A4VTVWiEdAat42zM4u by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T18:18:36Z
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@Cyn_de_Vita No, I saw the geologist who really, REALLY wanted it. I traded him for his old one. Then I gave his old one to a kid in the village who was using an old hammer trying to help the geologists. My philosophy on gift-giving: If you don't need what I gave you, keep passing it on until it gets to the rightful, grateful owners hands. Get rid that shit and everyone's free.
(DIR) Post #A4VTZnj7JXl2zWRIkC by EarlThePearls@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T18:19:21Z
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@masterd @StevenDouglas The land vs manAlways been a struggle with my engineer self vs my hunter/gatherer selfWent to school in Copper Country Michigan. Hard rock copper mining everywhere.Trays upon tray of core samples. 1000s of feet I found while thoroughly investigating every abandoned site in the areaIn Utah? Nuclear Missiles during the week, Tech free primitive camping on the weekends miles from civilization
(DIR) Post #A4VUMIFJ9DcVXqcSG0 by Darngood@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T18:28:07Z
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@EarlThePearls @StevenDouglas @Dawnz You can have that type of experience in your own backyard. Just look at a flower or the stars at night. Take a walk in some woods and just listen. Not as glorious as Steve's experience but still the same. If you are not in awe of Gods creation I'm sorry you can't feel it.
(DIR) Post #A4VVKkNNgn4eAFDpC4 by deighs@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T18:39:03Z
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@StevenDouglas if you’ve never written a book, you should, really..your threads are outstanding
(DIR) Post #A4VVb9X7vI9YoybT4y by seeker@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T18:42:01Z
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@StevenDouglas @Dawnz Have to really laugh out of recognizing it.I am not that clear, but I know the direction.Sometimes I took notes, but now I cannot even read my handwriting.But you have a better memory than me.
(DIR) Post #A4VVrPj1UQbZflvCZE by just_me@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T18:44:57Z
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@StevenDouglas Outstanding! You are a gifted writer.
(DIR) Post #A4VWB9rs9kxmHfTYIK by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T18:48:31Z
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@deighs I have never written a book, but I am in the middle of writing one now. One that is BADLY needed here in Vietnam. Vietnamese to English Speech PathologyA guide to EVERY mistake they make, WHY they make it, and WHAT they can (MUST) do, specifically, to change it. For maximum intelligibility and native-sounding speech. I'll practically give it away online, as a supplement to free teaching videos.In THIS arena, THIS ONE MAN can make an enormous difference.
(DIR) Post #A4VWDYBqhKsiITxaym by Cyn_de_Vita@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T18:48:57Z
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@StevenDouglas A very nice philosophy! Thank you.
(DIR) Post #A4VWcj41PH8hGFIt04 by deighs@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T18:53:30Z
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@StevenDouglas I’m not familiar with the subject matter but will certainly do some digging...
(DIR) Post #A4VabU0SIvgW5WIYyW by saramangas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T19:38:06Z
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@StevenDouglas 👍
(DIR) Post #A4VqNfk7TCb7hV5sZ6 by timr@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-21T22:34:53Z
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@StevenDouglas You do write interesting threads
(DIR) Post #A4Vywr7XxUY8l0L6pM by Clayrjr@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T00:10:53Z
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@StevenDouglas Definitely not James Bond. Steven Douglas is DEFINITELY THE DOS EQUIS GUY.
(DIR) Post #A4W1Hk77PAkT10E6oS by Ozzytrumpster@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T00:37:04Z
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@StevenDouglas Excellent story.Was it a meteor crater with that glass from the heat?
(DIR) Post #A4W62bKgGqqbCwAZUW by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T01:30:21Z
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@LoveAlmonds I don't remember names. And it's not an age thing either (although that does make it a tad worse). The phrase "I never forget a face" is absolute for me. At the expense of names. I'm screwed there and always was, even at a very young age.Sometimes it bites me, because people take it as me not "caring" enough to remember. That's not it at all.UBER-famous people, CLOSE friends I had AND LOVED in the RECENT past, cities, really important names - I Biden them all the time.
(DIR) Post #A4W6PaokLsbiGqCCh6 by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T01:34:31Z
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@LoveAlmonds Real quick irrelevant point. I used the term "bright pink", and that might have produce the wrong picture in people's minds (like REALLY pink). "Light pink" is more like it. Very light. The "bright" came from the sun it reflected. Think snow, only lightly tinged with pink.
(DIR) Post #A4W6oh5u9UscyeBsSu by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T01:39:03Z
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@LoveAlmonds Just to be clear, I learned a LOT about geology but I'm not a geologist. I was just there for technical support (electronic) for the equipment.I was mainly as insurance against equipment failure. I had spare parts for everything and all the tools needed to do diagnostics and repairs in the field.
(DIR) Post #A4WBJElTvi4juPSQJE by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T02:29:24Z
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@Ozzytrumpster No, volcano for sure. The Andes Mountain range is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, thousands of volcanoes over parts of the earth where the crust (along with ocean water) are subducted. The water at pressure causes rock to melt and rise at much lower temperatures.
(DIR) Post #A4WERRFDiLownDyBEW by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T03:04:30Z
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Experience #3 (in one toot)My American co-workers: "DON'T DRINK THE WATER. Parasites!"They lived on bottled MINERAL water. Yecch.I was a Boy Scout. I remembered the rule: Fast water moving over a hundred feet of rocks is PURE.So I didn't drink the SLOW water in front of the village.The mouth of the STEEP canyon that fed the river was a couple hundred yards from the camp. I captured the icy cold water from that cascade. And GUZZLED.My co-workers got parasites. I didn't.END Exp. #3
(DIR) Post #A4WIBfOFkk5NqevhFw by DennisCampbel16@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T03:46:27Z
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@StevenDouglas As a fellow scout, we used the tablets most of the time if a water buffalo (tanker) wasn't around. My years of scouting were in Florida, were there aren't any waterfalls and in Central Germany, which resembled low foothills and flatlands. Most of the mountains are down south.
(DIR) Post #A4WM4D4l1i83p2ViS0 by Eiualumni@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T04:29:56Z
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@StevenDouglas Having lived in West Africa and many times while in the bush, I needed water... And you are absolutely correct except a village on a stream washes clothes and get their drinking water upstream from the village and poop downstream from the village......enough said!
(DIR) Post #A4WPzHjEhQq2cbLpmi by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T05:13:52Z
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@Eiualumni Yep, fortunately the village upstream from Mocha was a good mile away, with nothing but white water cascades between going down.
(DIR) Post #A4WyRImnl43sS2YA9Q by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T11:39:54Z
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Mocha Experience #4Only Stubs, the camp crew leader, drove the crew truck ("La Camioneta").Stubs was a stout, swarthy alpha made of nothing but powerful fat-muscle. Universally feared and loved, that beautiful monster with his massive gums and stubby teeth could move mountains. A minute after La Camioneta pulled up next to me, I knew Stubs was there to clean my clock.I didn't know why.
(DIR) Post #A4Wydub903O5CL6tY8 by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T11:42:11Z
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Stubs fired off questions in Spanish."No intiendo", every time. Not a word.Finally he got out and stepped into clocking range, serious and menacing.Fuck. I'm about to get decked. I don't even know why. Stubs asked me two more questions. MEASURED.I stayed mute. No emotion. His game, not mine.After a pause, Stubs closed his eyes, relaxed, and exhaled with smile. As he looked up at me his smile grew bigger.He stepped right into me and gave me a warm bear hug.
(DIR) Post #A4WyjjgcTxGd5rRrhg by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T11:43:14Z
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Lots of awkward translation later:Stubs finally realized that I was telling the truth. I really didn't understand Spanish. I wasn't playing games with everyone. AND. I was in charge of LETHAL equipment.I wasn't putting the crew in danger by pretending not to understand them. Now, how in the hell did Stubs think I could understand everyone?
(DIR) Post #A4Wyt8sqAYS1qaeMC0 by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T11:44:56Z
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EARLIERWe're all in the back of La Camioneta on our way to drop some cable.We're young, laughing, and taking in a crisp, beautiful morning. On the way one guy decides to teach me a sentence in Spanish. As a prank. "Yo. Soy. Maricon." ("I. Am. Gay.") Too simple. I already knew THOSE words.But I played along.
(DIR) Post #A4Wz0qhLfLHHlMwvdw by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T11:46:20Z
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I acted stupid so that the one teaching me would keep repeating it. "I am gay! I am gay! I. AM. GAY." Finally I smiled and said, "¿Verdad? ¿Eres maricon?" ("Really? You're gay?")The joke was on him and he absolutely died in an explosion of laughter from everyone.
(DIR) Post #A4Wz3aKsxOJvsvkOES by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T11:46:50Z
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I acted stupid so that the one teaching me would keep repeating it. "I am gay! I am gay! I. AM. GAY." Finally I smiled and said, "¿Verdad? ¿Eres maricon?" ("Really? You're gay?")The joke was on him and he absolutely died in an explosion of laughter from everyone.BUT...
(DIR) Post #A4Wz4RYX5NjEwbXXMW by Clayrjr@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T11:46:57Z
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@StevenDouglas How do you have time to Toot when saving lives on top of Everest without a rope? And how do you get WiFi up there? Verizon?Stay thirsty my friend. 😉
(DIR) Post #A4WzIpBg1PSOI1hsZs by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T11:49:34Z
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My pronunciation and grammar were TOO perfect. Too natural. Too CHILEAN sounding.Pronunciation and imitation have always been gifts of mine.Stubs didn't know that. He was my Teddy Bear brother and devoted protector after that.And I don't remember his name. I call him Stubs now because of his physical build and the fact that his gaping maw was always surrounded in stubble.END Experience #4
(DIR) Post #A4WzmRzSpeCX277Z56 by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T11:54:56Z
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My pronunciation and grammar were TOO perfect. Too natural. Too CHILEAN sounding.Pronunciation and imitation have always been gifts of mine.Stubs didn't know that. He was my Teddy Bear brother and devoted protector after that.And I don't remember his name. I call him Stubs now because of his teeth, his physical build, and the fact that his gaping maw was always surrounded in stubble.END Experience #4
(DIR) Post #A4X0ls0AjjPlN2jtrs by AZBeto@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T12:06:01Z
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@StevenDouglas Lol! Great story.One among the first phrases I was taught in Portuguese was “I want to marry you”. Not by my asking.
(DIR) Post #A4X1GO2OC1NhPoKO00 by Dawnz@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T12:11:33Z
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@StevenDouglas lol great story!! One time I got my memorised Italian phrase wrong..I thought I was cussing someone out (I was really angry) Instead,what I I had said was "as long as you dont smoke" She laughed, I laughed,we became friends 😂
(DIR) Post #A4XFSY9zmW0Ldxa04O by EarlThePearls@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T14:50:37Z
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@StevenDouglas So you are an accent chameleon, too?So far I have yet to be clocked for similar tendencies
(DIR) Post #A4XG6UxD7aZHHbeGXI by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T14:57:50Z
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@EarlThePearls When immersed I'm REALLY good at accents. If I'm tuning into subtle differences, I hear all of them. Ronnie of Ronnie's Australian Pub in China, had some friends from Perth in on holiday. He told me, "When they ask, tell 'em your from Queensland, none of these cunts have ever been there and wouldn't know what to ask you."We all chatted it up for about a half hour before Ronnie said, "Steve-O here is from California. Never been to Australia."All five: "Bullshit!"
(DIR) Post #A4XH68fI5jCQ6oevEO by EarlThePearls@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T15:08:58Z
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@StevenDouglas Someone asked yesterday how I managed to find out if folks who join this place are trolls or hold a pov that may not be conducive to furthering our illumination.Your description of Stubbs approach to vetting you sums it up nicely.You pass that test and you're in!
(DIR) Post #A4XHC5Oj9SCfiIkP8y by DLMarch54@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T15:10:02Z
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@StevenDouglas Great story. I have a simulator story of learning Spanish that involved an employee that could not speak English. Back in 1980 I hired him to ride in the truck with me to teach me Spanish without being able to cheat and revert to English. It was sink or swim. Within a month we were congregating verbs. I learned the art of going around the block describing a word to learn it. Fun times.
(DIR) Post #A4XJaB1U5ZOY1AUUhE by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T15:36:49Z
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Mocha Experience #5I was walking back to camp with Tomas, the chief geologist there, and our young friend who knew the most English there (we were teaching each other constantly).On the way back a Mocha farmer hailed us to one of his hillside garden terraces.The farmer plucked up three small handfuls of tender young asparagus shoots and handed them to each of us. We sat on a couple of large boulders and ate them raw. Sweetest and best I'd ever tasted, then or since. Heavenly.
(DIR) Post #A4XJs2jjdTYFWyhxrM by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T15:40:02Z
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While we sat, Tomas wrote a sentence for me in his field notebook:¡Yo no tenía idea de que iba a estar tan lleno! Translation: "I had no idea that it was going to be so crowded!"Tomas asked me to translate it into grammatically perfect English, then coach him into saying it like a native speaker. So I did. It was fun. Took about an hour, but he was a quick study.When we were finished Tomas was a Heartland American. For that sentence.
(DIR) Post #A4XK2ecjcwvLvoUfIm by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T15:41:57Z
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I later taught Tomas how to say about fifty more sentences, all of his choosing.He LATER explained why he wanted it that way.1) Grammar patterns. Without needing to know the details. Every sentence I taught him had a fundamentally different grammatical structure. 2) Pronunciation. All habits learned would spill over into other words and sentences.And best of all...
(DIR) Post #A4XKDjBB1w5FFHsrE8 by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T15:43:58Z
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3) He could now say MANY things by selecting just ONE WORD. For each sentence he had me teach him, a single verb, noun, or adjective was always the main idea.Now he could just substitute a single word and have a completely new sentence. "I had no idea it was going to be so (crowded, hot, cold, fun - INSERT ADJECTIVE HERE)."Ingenious. Especially because it worked so damned well for him! END Experience #5
(DIR) Post #A4XLERr71ZoFlFPFNg by Zemeliko@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T15:55:18Z
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@StevenDouglas Yes, your friend found a VERY good way to study a new language.It's a bit similar to how I do it (did several already), especially when I have to study by more speaking the reading.Though along the way one may accidentally say quite a few awkward and/or hilarious things 🙂
(DIR) Post #A4XLVlM3mR7f9x8c5Y by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T15:58:25Z
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@chungasrevenge If you look at map of Chile, north of Santiago is Iquique. The village of Mocha is due west in the Andes foothills. I also spent time in Arica (far north).
(DIR) Post #A4XMri4ImOdbI9rQXo by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T16:13:36Z
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@chungasrevenge The dirt road switchbacks going down into Mocha took two hours to traverse and were some of the most terrifying I've ever seen or been on. I've yet to see a pic of "scary" switchbacks that does it any justice at all. But oh, so worth it.
(DIR) Post #A4XORmOkG7cV6EBbWa by conduit118@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T16:31:19Z
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@StevenDouglas @deighs That's wonderful, Steven. A friend of mine has been living in Vietnam for years, teaching English classes to youth. I'd love to send him it to use when you do publish it.
(DIR) Post #A4XOjETR7yHJ66hd3Y by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T16:34:28Z
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One more sideshoot on this part. The OTHER clue that let me know that the rock had been lifted AFTER the water had carved out the little mini-canyons:The side walls were increasingly fractured, until I was finally walking over a dry riverbed covered in places by by piles of squared off boulders of every size and shape imaginable.
(DIR) Post #A4XOlUTcbFbzJDrkmW by conduit118@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T16:34:52Z
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@StevenDouglas Steven, your stories are awesome! Thank you! Well done! SQV is awesome because of people like yourself writing as you do here, upon the context of awesomeness created by Thomas & Saul and a few others.
(DIR) Post #A4XPAZ24naX2g5wDEe by DonnaLea@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T16:39:24Z
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@StevenDouglas What a life of experiences. Thank you for sharing.
(DIR) Post #A4XPMeuukKRKP4M5CK by selah18@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T16:41:36Z
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@DonnaLea Good Morning, Donna. We are getting more snow. How’s your mom?
(DIR) Post #A4XPeHqRGbIk3hfRT6 by DonnaLea@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T16:44:47Z
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@selah18 Good morning. My co-worker (my office is in Quarryville Pa) just told me it was coming down heavy. I have high wind and rain down here. I talked to Mom last night, she's doing good. A little stir crazy but good. She is worried about falling so she won't leave the house until every thing has dried up. Thanks for asking. I'll be heading up to see her in about 2 weeks, weather permitting. How much snow are you getting today?
(DIR) Post #A4XQG1sp3laxYimO3c by selah18@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T16:51:37Z
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@DonnaLea It’s coming down steady! Flakes are a little big. Leaving to go to back surgeon. From lifting patients all those years, and doing heavy work on farm, and being petite, I’ve done a job on myself. I’ll send a photo in a minute of snow. Thank G-d your mom doing well. Quarryville is 2 hours from me. Surprised you have rain, but I’m North of Doylestown. Have a safe blessed day.
(DIR) Post #A4XQlaGXHCmhAguwa0 by DonnaLea@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T16:57:19Z
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@selah18 Remember, I'm in lower Delaware. I hope all goes well with your surgeon. Nothing worse than an injured back. Hubby hurt his years ago and I feel bad when he has a flair up. Your snow looks refreshing to me. I don't mind cold weather but prefer hot. Take care and be safe!
(DIR) Post #A4XQnJQ8sR2vVTEcuO by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T16:57:37Z
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BONUS Experience #6Random Memory FlashStubs' brother on a D10 Caterpillar that went over when a soft edge in the narrow dirt road broke loose.He leaped off to the side and ran downhill as fast as he could, but the grade was VERY steep and the Cat kept pace, sliding in all the loose dirt right after him.Finally the Cat stopped but Stubs kept running the extra 100 yards or so as a mad dash straight into the river, where he kept kneeling, bobbing up and down.He had shit his pants!END
(DIR) Post #A4XR7Zu1J7EsPqsDr6 by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T17:01:16Z
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BONUS Experience #6Memory FlashStubs' brother was on a D10 Caterpillar that went over when a soft edge in the narrow dirt road broke loose.He leaped off to the side and ran downhill as fast as he could, but the grade was VERY steep and the Cat kept pace, sliding in all the loose dirt right after him.Finally the Cat stopped but StubsBro ran the extra 100 yards or so as a mad dash straight into the river, where he stopped and kept kneeling, bobbing up and down.He had shit his pants!END
(DIR) Post #A4XRmIAGA5whH7spaS by lolajl@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T17:08:39Z
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@StevenDouglas I don't blame him!
(DIR) Post #A4XS4chsWbpSCMLihk by oakkqs@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T17:11:57Z
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@StevenDouglas Wow.
(DIR) Post #A4XWvi0PxBGNnVabjM by Lou_Syd_Barrett@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T18:06:22Z
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@StevenDouglas So what was Stubs saying to you to elicited zero reaction? Or is it too graphic to recap? 😂
(DIR) Post #A4XXPBqM63NcjewNpw by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T18:11:42Z
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@Lou_Syd_Barrett I didn't understand a word Stubs said. I had only been in Chile for a couple of weeks, my Spanish was shit.I only KNEW from tone and deadly serious body language that he was throwing down gauntlets, ready to follow with blows.
(DIR) Post #A4XZUeVf8xKYzxzhVg by EarlThePearls@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T18:35:05Z
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@StevenDouglas LOL You ever try running down hill on purpose just for fun?The Wasatch Front in Brigham City UT had mountains literally in my back yardThere where several areas just north of town that had large sections of relatively smooth flat slope to them. Mix of loose shale like rock and dirt.If you were limber enough and in tune with the hill you could bound down the slope in great leaps. Very exhilarating.Like walking on water though. If you thought about it, you fell
(DIR) Post #A4XacXLBmUXt2FQ1Fw by EarlThePearls@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T18:47:44Z
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@TearGasBreakfast @StevenDouglas If you are familiar with Snow Basin Ski Resort you will note that there is a big antenna building at the top.Late spring my hiking pals and I climb to it from the Ogden side.There is very nice wide open slope there. Made some excellent Glissades on the way back down.
(DIR) Post #A4XbWSIDjhCZb1h6TA by oystergirl@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T18:57:50Z
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@StevenDouglas Oh Steven, you so have to write a book about this. You have the gift of the story teller's tongue! I took a big group of Girl Scouts to Europe and we hiked to a glacial spring in Switzerland. Some of the other adults were like don't drink the water it could have parasites, but I KNEW it would be pure and I drank deeply. The best water I ever tasted in my life!
(DIR) Post #A4XbnrDaJlcHp6p8Xw by selah18@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T19:00:59Z
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@DonnaLea Thank you! Drive was treacherous but I have my Jeep Weangler. Haven’t been here in almost 2 years. People very impersonal. Intake woman, late 20s wearing 2 masks goggles and a plastic shield. How can she breathe ?
(DIR) Post #A4Xfjk23Uc1mC8iwOe by SwampWitch@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T19:45:03Z
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@StevenDouglas Reminds me of my experience of eating fresh dandelion greens I found growing next to some ancient cliff-dwellings. Absolutely divine! People thought I was insane, plucking weeds & eating them🤣fwiw, I deliberately don't mow the areas of our land where the dandelions grow - nothing better than fresh, washed & chilled greens. I wait for them each Spring🤗 Loving this Mocha Experiences Thread!💖
(DIR) Post #A4XfuzY48ymJVG3qYi by SwampWitch@social.quodverum.com
2021-02-22T19:47:05Z
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@StevenDouglas 😬 🤣