Keeper

Here are some pictures from the worst winter we had while on the farm. Click to enlarge the photo's.

 

 

 

 

 Whenever people talk about Winter's cold weather, I will often say, "What will you do when winter gets here?" Why do I say that... becuase when I was growing up, winter did indeed come ONE year. My family's experiences during Jan 1977 were reprinted in 1983 by our local paper. You can find them below.

Notes

• Interstate 80 was called the Keystone Shortway. It was less than a mile from our farm.
• We had built a freestall barn with a milking parlor in 1973. The original bank barn was being used to house the heifers and the calves (thus the 'heifer' barn).
• At the time of this diary, I was 16 and my brother Victor was 17. Along with my father Henry, we were the 'men' that my mother refers to. ;-)
• The Feb 6 entry that mentions the whole family included help from Kathy (15), Sarah (13), Ruth (11), and Dave (9). That was a day!!

 

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Winter Diary

January 22, 1983 DuBois Courier-Express

Editor's note -- The following excerpts are from the journal of Mrs. Henry (Margaret) Verbeke, farm wife. She relates the family struggle to keep all systems going on their dairy farm in Beechwoods, during the severe cold winter of January 1977.

JAN. 17 -- Extremely cold, never above five degrees above zero all day. We found the water frozen between the milking parlor and the first waterer and have been carrying water to it all day. There were also problems with the milk tank compressor.

JAN. 19 -- Prolonged cold is freezing all rivers and lakes making the shipping of oil, gas and salt for roads very hard.

JAN. 24 -- Sort of a warming trend with two days in the twenties. They were able to scrape the barn of all frozen manure.

JAN. 25 -- The water is frozen between the shop and the old milk house, making chores at the heifer barn much harder.

JAN. 27 -- Governor Shapp ordered all schools closed yesterday. High winds caused drifting. A "drunk" got us out of bed at 2:30 a.m. He was stuck in the snow. Henry pulled him out. After many more "pull-outs" I finally called PennDOT and a huge pay loader came and worked two hours clearing the road. We should be O.K. for a while.

JAN. 28 -- Writing this at 5 p.m. in the afternoon. The weather has been freakish all day. The bank thermometer registered 34 degrees. The first above freezing mark since Christmas. This afternoon a regular blizzard came and by 4 p.m. the temperature was down to two below zero. We listened to the radio, everything was canceled. The shortway was closed and route 28 is closed. Our road is open because of yesterday's plowing. Our phone is out. I just hope the electricity stays on.

JAN. 29 -- 15 degrees below zero. Henry to barns at 5 a.m. to check water.

JAN. 30 (Sunday) When Henry went out at 5 a.m. the water wasn't running in the milkhouse. However the problem was resolved. We are now letting it run all the time. The salt mixture on roads and streets isn't working very well as it is too cold. We have had no mail or newspaper for two days. Church was chilly, and many churches canceled. There is no traffic at all. The wind is even worse than yesterday.

JAN. 31 --  Minus 5 degrees. Henry and I were up at 4:40. The water is still running in the barn. Henry takes a bucket of hot water to the old barn to use to unthaw things.

FEB. 2 -- Days run into days much the same. It has been 10 degrees above, the last two mornings. I heard that the average temperature for DuBois for January was 10 degrees above zero. Today is the day it is finally to get into the twenties. The ensilage is frozen on the west-side of the silo. The men must keep crawling up and adjusting the unloader. Henry thaws spigots and drinking cups at 5 a.m. We check at midnight to make sure of everything. Last night we saw on t.v. a farmer letting milk out of  a tank and down the drain, as milk trucks can't get through. There is really not that much snow but the wind and drifting are bad. The snow piles along the road are over 10 feet high. I can't see a car passing except at the driveway. Our kids have been off school a week now.

FEB. 3 -- We are staying up all night to keep water running to the barn. At 9:30 a.m. this morning our fear of a shut-off materialized. They were pumping from spring to cistern as usual and no water was coming up. We called the Falls Creek Fire Company and they brought us a tank full (1500 gallons.)

FEB. 4 -- Staying up all night to keep water recycled from milk house back to cistern. We can't waste any water by letting it run so we catch it in tubs and carry it back to the cistern.

FEB. 6 -- The days and nights run together. I did not write last night, as I "slept", was tired from going to the barn every one and a half hours. Temperatures dropped to five below zero again. It is a test of endurance. We decided to buy 600 feet of plastic pipe and lay a new line on top of the ground from the spring to the cistern. It required heating the pipe in the cellar with the "salamander heater." The whole family had to help to get it heated and uncoiled as it was big, stiff and unwieldy. Finally all systems were go and everything was ready for the big test. It worked!
        Meanwhile the water in the cistern was getting lower and lower. I called Falls Creek Fireman and they said water was on the way. They are true volunteer firemen. My mind is so much easier tonight knowing that there is water for the cattle. Everybody has worked so hard these last two days to keep everything going. The cows seem to be holding up fine.

FEB. 7 -- I just returned from my hourly trip to the barn. Zero degree temperatures the last two nights. I heard on the t.v. that it has been below freezing, 40 out of the last 43 days. We are still plagued with frozen ensilage. They got some special teeth for the silo unloader only to find out they would not fit. So we still have to crawl up and dig ensilage away from the sides when the sun shines on the one side.

FEB. 9 -- The thermometer stayed at 32-34 degrees since 2 p.m. this afternoon. This is the first time since Christmas Day that it really got above freezing.

FEB. 14 -- Almost a week of warm weather, 20 degrees, 40 degrees, even 50 degrees. The snow piles really went down around here. I'm taking it easy today after two weeks on the "night shift."

FEB. 24 -- I read that this winter comes out as the coldest in 177 years. The worst since the founding of the republic. It was three weeks last night, since I took over the "night shift" at the barn. It is not over yet as the frost will be in the ground for a long time.

On Oct 13, 2009, we cut down our dying silver maple in our yard. We had nursed it along for a number of years, but it was finally time to remove it. We had planted a Red Maple to replace it 10 years ago and this should provide some shade for our deck as it grows.

Below are pictures and videos documented by Laurie.

First Branch Taken Off: The first branch that they cut off actually "re-planted" itself in the yard.


Falling Tree #1


Falling Tree #2


Falling Tree #3: Upper limb breaks off


Falling Tree #4


Tree Down


Tree Down: Showing the wedges used and the rot in the upper side


Tree Down: Rot Close-up


Tree Down: Limb broken in fall close-up


Tree Down: trunk close-up



Silver Maple Video #1: Cutting Rot



Silver Maple Video #2: Slow and Careful


Silver Maple Video #3: Almost There


Silver Maple Video #4: Snap and Pop


Silver Maple Video #5: Falling Down

The Google Maps gadget allows you to give individuals a quick and easy way to find their way to you.

To test this out, I used the code generated by their Add this gadget to your webpage with both my home and work addresses. You can add several, separate addresses with a | symbol.

309 Elm Ave Clearfield PA 16830 | Agricultural Administration, University Park, PA 16802 (Penn State University Park)

In my sidebar you can add your address as a starting point. Then you can choose between either of my 2 locations to get directions to these spots. 

If you use a Penn State blog as I do,  Here are steps to add your code to your blog.

1. Go to Google's Add this gadget to your webpage and generate the code for your blog.
2. Highlight and copy this code. 
3. Log on to http://blogs.psu.edu and enter your blog.
4. Click the Design link on top then select Widgets.

5. Under Widget Templates, choose Create widget template.

6. Enter a name for the widget. Example: Google Maps Directions

7. Click on Line 1 and paste in the code from the Google site.

8. Click Save.

9. You can now review How To Add and Remove Sidebar Widgets from the ITS Help site to add the Widget to your sidebar.

10. Publish your blog and the new Widget should be there. Good Luck!

To read more about the gadget, check out this Google blog entry. 

http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2009/07/help-customers-find-their-way-with-new.html

Today I received a phishing email with a ZIP file attached (called 'updated-password.zip') Our Exchange sever is protected by Ninja and it will normally block these from the end user if they have a virus payload. So I was a bit stunned to see it. Here is the original email. You can easily tell that this is not a valid email.

 

From: service@psu.edu [mailto:service@psu.edu]
Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 9:56 PM
To: Vince Verbeke
Subject: You have successfully updated your password

Dear user vcv1,

You have successfully updated the password of your Psu account.

If you did not authorize this change or if you need assistance with your account, please contact Psu customer service at: service@psu.edu

Thank you for using Psu!
The Psu Support Team

+++ Attachment: No Virus (Clean)
+++ Psu Antivirus - www.psu.edu

 

Being the curious type I wanted to see (safely) the contents of the ZIP file. I have a program called Sandboxie that allows you to run programs in a Sandbox. I then downloaded and ran the 'updated-password.zip' file to see what immerged.

All I received was a text file that said the following:

 

The file "updated-password.htm                                                                      .exe" was found to be infected with W32/Mytob.PR@mm (exact) by Authentium and has been quarantined.

 

Another email engine, protected by Authentium, had already cleaned the virus before our Ninja software was able to see it.

 

What is COOL though is the file name. Note how it would have just looked like 'updated-password.htm' to a cursory glance.

But there are 70 SPACES in the file name to mask the .EXE at the end. So they intended for me to double click on a 'safe' file that ended in .HTM when instead I would have been launching a malware EXE installer.

 

Cool mashup for Benny Hill fans.

 

http://james.nerdiphythesoul.com/bennyhillifier/

 

You can paste in the YouTube Video Id (ex: AtJDcYtb8co) from this one.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtJDcYtb8co

 

and then send that link out

 

http://james.nerdiphythesoul.com/bennyhillifier/?id=AtJDcYtb8co

Today was finally able to take the time to look at the Tech Ed 2008 (Tech·Ed North America 2008 IT Pros) sessions from back in June. Lots of good stuff here on security. There are 3 links below. The first requires that you have a Windows Live ID login. The second should just open in your video player.

 

You can browse or download more of the sessions from here:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/events/teched/cc561184.aspx

 

 

Windows Security Boundaries

In this session, learn what constitutes a security boundary; get a tour through core Windows technologies, including user sessions, Code Integrity, PatchGuard, Service Security Hardening, and User Account Control, to learn where Windows currently defines such boundaries; and gain insight into why application compatibility and user experience make defining boundaries much more difficult than it might seem. Speaker: Mark Russinovich (session SEC372).

 

At 55:25, he starts discussing Vista's UAC.

 

http://www.microsoft.com/emea/spotlight/sessionh.aspx?videoid=993

 

http://mfile.akamai.com/14853/wmv/microsofttec.download.akamai.com/14853/TechEdOnline/Videos/0993_b.asx

 

 

A Hackers Diary: How I Can Hack Your Vulnerable Services and How You Can Stop Me

This live session demonstrates how a hacker will try to exploit vulnerable applications in order to compromise remote systems and how you can defend yourself from such attacks. Marcus Murray of the TrueSec Security Team exposes the latest and greatest in exploitation frameworks using live demonstrations and at the same time demonstrates and talks about countermeasures that are effective in the real world. The countermeasures discussion includes a step-by-step-approach using the latest technology from Microsoft, as well as the processes needed for a successful security implementation. Speaker: Marcus Murray (session SEC354).

 

http://www.microsoft.com/emea/spotlight/sessionh.aspx?videoid=989

 

http://mfile.akamai.com/14853/wmv/microsofttec.download.akamai.com/14853/TechEdOnline/Videos/0989_b.asx

 

His notes from the session are on his blog. From 42:00 to 45:00 you get a chilling warning of why hacker's hack and why we should be upgrading to up-to-date software. It is inherently more secure than old software. 

.

 

Windows Logins Revealed

Every day we log into our Windows systems. But what really happens when we do? How DO our workstations and our domain controllers exchange logon information without revealing our passwords? Security hardening guides talk about how scary old-style LM, NTLM and NTLMv2 logons are, but why EXACTLY do they say that--particularly when it's practically impossible to keep all of the old-style logins from happening even in the most modern network? How DOES AD's favorite logon protocol, Kerberos, work? Join expert Windows explainer and security geek Mark Minasi in an in-depth look at how Windows logins work, how they can not work (and how you can fix them) as well as how to better secure them. After seeing this talk, you will have NO excuses for not tweaking those group policy security settings! Speaker: Mark Minasi (session SEC450).

 

http://www.microsoft.com/emea/spotlight/sessionh.aspx?videoid=995

 

http://mfile.akamai.com/14853/wmv/microsofttec.download.akamai.com/14853/TechEdOnline/Videos/0995_b.asx

 

 

Back on July 1, John Dorner tagged me. Here are my lists of 5 in response.

 

Five snacks I enjoy:

1.       Bread and (anything to put inside) to make a sandwich.

2.      Dove dark chocolate

3.      Chips

4.      Apples

5.      Gum

 

Five Things on My To-Do list today:

1.       Enter my "I'm tagged" blog entry

2.      Attend meetings

3.      Play v-ball at lunch

4.      Call Carla at the York office

5.      Kiss my wife when I see her tonight

Five Things I would do if I were a billionaire:

1.       Start a fund for my nieces and nephews for College (to attend PSU)

2.      Give money to Penn State DuBois

3.      Give money to the Alpha Zeta Fraternity

4.      Give the rest of the money to Laurie so she can do whatever she wants

5.   Go back to work on Monday

 

Five jobs I have had:

1.       Dairy farmer

2.      Produce clerk at grocery store

3.      Vo Ag teacher

4.      Taught electricity at Voc Ed retraining center

5.      Database Specialist

 

Five of my bad habits:

1.       Procrastination (thus this post after being tagged on July 1)

2.      The "Vince Look" when I get frustrated by myself

3.      Talk too loud

4.      Bull forward without considering others (I am a Taurus)

5.      Smile mysteriously at meetings causing people to question what I'm thinking

 

Five places I have lived:

1.       Hormtown PA

2.      State College PA

3.      Ephrata PA

4.      DuBois PA

5.      Clearfield PA

 

Five people that I've tagged: I tried to check your blogs to see if you've been tagged already.

1.       Peg Shuffstall

2.      Peter Fleck

3.      Mitch Owen

4.      Kevin Gamble

5.      Rich Phelps

 

Five Random Things:

 

1.    One of my favorite games as a small boy was to build a dam across a drainage ditch in our cow pasture after a heavy rain. Looking back, that may not have been a great idea. Of course, we didn't know about anti-bacterial hand sanitizers back in the 1960's. We just went out, in essence "ate dirt" and became desensitized to all the "bad" things in the environment.

2.    My step-daughters Lana and Lynn are 32 and 27 years old.

3.    I was on the task force that started Penn State's student alumni corps, the Lion Ambassadors, in 1981. The Task Force meetings were held at 8am, Very early for students, then as now I bet. But this was never an issue for me. 8am after all is halfway through the morning. And the fact that they provided coffee and donuts for us was a double plus.

4.    I've played soccer for 29 years now. My position of choice for past 15 is goalkeeper. This works since I don't need to run around very much. I'm also dumb enough to not worry about getting slammed into by the other players or the ball.

5.    I've lost 2 college friends to cancer. They were taken way too early. The world's light is dimmer because Peggy Frost Barrett and Donald Gephart Jr. are no longer with us.

 

 

There are many parts of my youth that I'm not proud of... there were loose threads . . . untidy parts of me that I would like to remove. But when I pulled on one of those threads . . . it had unraveled the tapestry of my life.

 

- Jean-Luc Picard, Tapestry