gemfeller
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Post by gemfeller on Mar 24, 2024 21:56:10 GMT -5
I'll stay away from my views on CA. That's Cave stuff. As to San Mateo's pronunciation, locals say "San-mat-ay-oh." Fair call. And thanks for clarifying. How embarrassing... I've been saying it wrong for years (along with 40,000+ other idiots ). I wonder what any visiting Americans thought of us. titaniumkid, I'd hate to have any Aussies hear how Americans butcher pronunciation of Australian place names! I recall an Australian guest visiting us who said she'd had a flight layover in Oakland. I assumed Oakland, CA and couldn't figure out why her flight was routed there until I realized she meant Auckland N.Z.
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gemfeller
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Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,786
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Post by gemfeller on Mar 22, 2024 22:25:57 GMT -5
parfive The little town where I lived in central CA tried valiantly to build a plant to purify wastewater but was stymied every inch of the way by bureaucratic hurdles. And CA is adamant that no new storage reservoirs can be built, yet millions of acre-feet of fresh rainwater flow back into the Pacific each year, carrying with it untold tons of nasty debris and toxic trash. Is there intelligent life in CA? I was always under the impression that CA was cutting edge for pesticide regulation and environmental protection, given they were among the first to ban problematic pesticides like atrazine and chlorpyrifos. I held the state in high regard. Have things changed over the years or was I only hearing good things? And this is unrelated, but how is "Mateo" pronounced (as in San Mateo)? The town I grew up near was settled by two Californian brothers, so American street naming conventions and names were used (lots of avenues and numbered streets). There is a San Mateo Avenue everyone pronounced "mat-ee-oh", but I would not be surprised if that is wrong. I'll stay away from my views on CA. That's Cave stuff. As to San Mateo's pronunciation, locals say "San-mat-ay-oh."
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gemfeller
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Posts: 3,786
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Post by gemfeller on Mar 22, 2024 17:28:31 GMT -5
Here’s the real question. Do you get the quality of material as what he posts? Only speaking for myself, absolutely not! Not even close. Been taken Big Time by him twice. Never ever again on one of his mail deals! In-person buys only!
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gemfeller
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Posts: 3,786
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Post by gemfeller on Mar 22, 2024 16:47:54 GMT -5
parfive The little town where I lived in central CA tried valiantly to build a plant to purify wastewater but was stymied every inch of the way by bureaucratic hurdles. And CA is adamant that no new storage reservoirs can be built, yet millions of acre-feet of fresh rainwater flow back into the Pacific each year, carrying with it untold tons of nasty debris and toxic trash. Is there intelligent life in CA?
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gemfeller
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Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,786
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Post by gemfeller on Mar 22, 2024 16:34:44 GMT -5
gemfeller Marina district, or just similar? Hit bad in the ’89 Loma Prieta ballgame quake, liquefaction of landfill, reclaimed land. Similar but on the more southern part of the east bay near Union City and Newark. Foster City, on the west bay in San Mateo County and near the heart of Silicon Valley, was built in similar fashion but I haven't heard of settling or earthquake problems there. I recall there were several such projects but foggy memory tells me they were finally outlawed.
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gemfeller
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Post by gemfeller on Mar 21, 2024 23:08:54 GMT -5
Creating new coastal land is an interesting (bad) idea. We saw new houses on reclaimed land in Penang with huge cracks in the walls, possibly because the land was developed before it "settled". Most likely the houses were going to have issues anyway. Despite this, they are still going crazy with reclaimed land, despite criticisms. Coastal living comes with risks, and the risks get higher the more we modify things so someone out there makes a few dollars. thesun.my/local_news/reclaimed-island-can-be-destroyed-in-40-years-expert-HF1135485I recall a racket involving reclaiming land around San Francisco Bay. In certain beach areas where it was allowed, promoters would open up a dump or tip in Oz-Talk, and allow people to get rid of all sorts of stuff, for a fee of course. And the fee wasn't small. Eventually the dump encroached far into the Bay itself. Employees were ready to salvage any metals and other stuff that could be sold at a profit. After several years of operation they'd advertise for clean fill dirt and wouldn't allow any more trash dumping. When they decided they had enough fill they'd let it settle for far too short a time and then a new housing development would appear on the fill. An acquaintance bought one of the houses and we were invited for a dinner after he'd live there a year or so. We were appalled to see huge cracks in the foundation and interior walls due to settling. It was awful. But the promoters had their money and hey were off to find another corrupt batch of politicians who'd sign off on a similar new development. It's the way of the world I guess.
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gemfeller
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Post by gemfeller on Mar 21, 2024 17:57:26 GMT -5
Not only does 'the grass grow greener over the septic tank," but that particularly nasty wastewater eventually ends up coming out of someone's tap, pure and clear. All fresh water is recycled when one takes into consideration the water cycle: sea evaporation to clouds, clouds to rain, rain to rivers, rivers to the sea and over and over again. Our astronauts at the Space Station seem to do OK on recycled water too. We'll never get to Mars without it.
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gemfeller
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Post by gemfeller on Mar 20, 2024 15:01:28 GMT -5
I’ve used a piece of basic white/clear agate before to beef material up. You could also quartz cap it Thanks - I'll take a good look at that. I have some optical quartz that might work. I've also used first surface mirrors a time or two and the results were pretty good. I'd forgotten that.
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gemfeller
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Post by gemfeller on Mar 20, 2024 14:31:00 GMT -5
I have some very nice Carey Plume cabs. But here's a piece of rough I want very much to cab; However there's a little problem: I'll need to (very carefully!) cut a doublet. At first I thought of using black basanite. But on consideration I wonder how well the black will show off this basically red stone. I've tried using white howlite for other doublets but haven't been happy with the results -- they look odd and cheap to me. Any suggestions folks?
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gemfeller
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Post by gemfeller on Mar 19, 2024 18:59:28 GMT -5
I'm going to go tell my wife that I really am a diamond in the rough. If you guys don't hear from me in a while you can assume the worst. LOL!
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gemfeller
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Post by gemfeller on Mar 18, 2024 17:34:47 GMT -5
I was skeptical about the process after reading Robert James's report years ago. I still am to some degree, especially in regard to the promotional aspect of the business. But here's a report that claims to be wholly 'scientific.' I leave that judgment to you readers. afteryourtime.com/cremation-diamonds-real-or-hoax/That does verify what I mentioned earlier about extracting the carbon from the rest of the cremation ashes. One thing I would question in this article though is where the author writes: "Furthermore, just like with other types of lab-made diamonds, the Federal Trade Commission has confirmed that cremation diamonds can be marketed as real and genuine diamonds because, just like “natural” diamonds, they are “pure carbon crystalized in the isometric system.”" The reason is that these are not natural diamonds, they are synthetic diamonds. And the FTC does not allow other synthetic gemstones to be referred to as "real", which implies natural. Synthetic stones such as sapphires including ruby, alexandrite, etc. have to be listed as synthetic stones or lab grown, not as real stones. Same with simulants such as diamond substitutes such as YAG or aluminum oxide "diamonds", which must be marketed as simulants.
vegasjames The whole issue of man-made, synthetic, natural etc. has created a semantic maze for the FTC. Here's a couple of articles that go into the new rulings by the FTC regarding man-made diamonds. Apparently the term "synthetic" is no longer required for lab-made gems that are chemically identical to mined stones, if I read correctly. www.forbes.com/sites/pamdanziger/2018/08/02/what-the-ftc-diamond-ruling-means-for-consumers-and-diamond-marketers/?sh=4ac6fdb020fanationaljeweler.com/articles/956-a-quick-review-of-the-ftc-s-rules-on-lab-grown-diamonds
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gemfeller
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Post by gemfeller on Mar 18, 2024 13:15:17 GMT -5
I was skeptical about the process after reading Robert James's report years ago. I still am to some degree, especially in regard to the promotional aspect of the business. But here's a report that claims to be wholly 'scientific.' I leave that judgment to you readers. afteryourtime.com/cremation-diamonds-real-or-hoax/
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gemfeller
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Post by gemfeller on Mar 16, 2024 14:52:21 GMT -5
gemfeller Minnesota Lapidary Supply has a bunch of slabs available. I just talked with Val to make sure they were still in stock and he will ship. Phone is (763) 631-0405 Many thanks! I'll call today.
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gemfeller
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Post by gemfeller on Mar 16, 2024 14:51:31 GMT -5
50 years ago I could have helped you, but it is all gone now. gemfeller, I'm amazed you are still going! I left some nice chunks I collected in Idaho when I moved to AZ. Couldn't haul all my rocks here. 1dave, 2023 was a very bad year health-wise. Almost died. Amazingly I've bounced back and am making the most of the reprieve as long as it lasts. I'm sorry to hear of your health issues. Hope you have a reprieve too!
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gemfeller
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Post by gemfeller on Mar 15, 2024 20:11:06 GMT -5
In previous searches I noticed sellers were selling the typical 1/4” thick or so slabs. Great for the featured material but seems to me a thinner slab would be better and easier to start with for use as a backing(?) So, I’ve instead been on the lookout for a small chunk I could slab myself. Yes, that's an issue for me. My own "lost" material was slabbed in various thicknesses depending on the use i had in mind. I'm looking for 2-4 mm. material.
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gemfeller
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Post by gemfeller on Mar 15, 2024 17:58:22 GMT -5
Me three. Also, clear quartz for capping doublets. Do you need just the quartz or are you looking for calibrated quartz caps?
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gemfeller
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Member since June 2011
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Post by gemfeller on Mar 15, 2024 15:44:22 GMT -5
I need to cut some doublets and my stash of basanite slabs apparently was left behind when I made an intestate move. Does anyone know of a source? My slab saw is temporarily out of service so I can't cut from rough. Don't need a lot. Black onyx or black jade might do the trick if sizes are right. Need pieces several inches square. TIA.
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gemfeller
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Post by gemfeller on Mar 15, 2024 12:34:44 GMT -5
Welcome from Arizona.
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gemfeller
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Post by gemfeller on Mar 14, 2024 21:36:21 GMT -5
For a couple of years I only owned 2 DVDs, The Meaning of Life and Search for the Holy Grail. Yep, anything by Monty Python. And nearly anything with or by Clint Eastwood: Play misty for Me, the Dirty Harry series, Unforgiven, The Outlaw Josey Wales, the whole schmear.
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gemfeller
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Post by gemfeller on Mar 14, 2024 16:06:59 GMT -5
O Brother Where Art Thou, and all the Coen Bros. movies, especially Blood Simple, Barton Fink, Fargo of course, and Miller's Crossing There are so many! it's hard to select favorites.
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