Climbing Platteville, Wisconsin's Mighty M

Just to the east of Platteville, Wisconsin is a rise of land off the prairie with a gigantic white "M" on it, facing to the west. You can see it for miles, in fact you can see it from Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois. After several trips past the 241 foot tall M over the years we decided to get closer and snap a few photos.

At the base of the whitewashed stone and concrete M completed by students in 1937 from the nearby University of Wisconsin-Platteville, School of Mines (mining is no longer offered at the school) is a picnic table and a set of stairs leading to the top of the hill. After climbing 266 named-stairs by financial donors you can see the midwestern prairie stretching for miles. If you take your time - and an oxygen tank - you can climb the stairs stopping at three lookout posts along the way. Consider the lookouts as basecamps. At the top of the climb is a large platform for scenery viewing including a freestanding set of binoculars (no charge to view through it.)

The best part of the journey up is the outstanding view of the rolling country side. To the south is Amish country where you can see horse and buggies and well-kept farms. To the west is Platteville. Ironically you cannot readily see the M once you are on top of the hill (see photo above.) The other best part of the journey up is the much easier descent. Know that.

Trucking Fleets Idle in Eastern Iowa

A visible sign of the nation's economic health can be seen within a city block of each other in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For several months two large trucking firms based in 42N country, CRST International and Westside Transport Systems have parked a large number of semi-trailer truck fleets at their respective corporate headquarters. At no time in recent memory have these two regional icons been so concentrated in their idle behavior. At CRST, the maintenance garage is completely filled with trucks being tuned. A positive sign in recent weeks is a few less trucks parked in these lots. Perhaps the freight transportation industry is turning around. Know that.

Ultralights Fly in Marion, Iowa

Update from December 30, 2008 post: Each year around Independence Day the small private airport located in Marion, Iowa hosts the fly-in/drive-in breakfast. Highlights of the one day event include plane rides (always a crowd pleaser) and static displays of small aircraft sometimes including ultralights. The event in 2009 will be held rain or shine on June 28 from 6:00 am to 11:30 am. This video was taken at the 2005 event and remains my number one most watched YouTube posted video - currently at 17, 735 views to date. Who would have guessed? Apparently there is enormous interest in ultralights worldwide. Know that.

Ford Model T Battery / Coil Survives into 21st Century

Placed in a lot box of old mason jars at a recent auction in Raymond, Iowa was this ancient-looking battery or coil housing. Clearly the Ford logo is still recognizable on the hardwood case that had metal parts on one end. I don't know if this is a battery or a coil housing. A search of the Internet provides that use of these objects were in Ford's Model T roadsters back in the day. While I was not present when the item (and the jars) sold, one can find examples for sale on eBay for about $15 to $35. Know that.

JOB 38:11 Stop Right Here

Basically the translation of verse 11 of chapter 38 is 'stop right here and go no further.' Silas did not accept that notion but Sister the guardian did. Each edition is different depending on the translation. The Priory used it to throw off those who sought the sangreal. You decide. Know that.

BNSF Moves Coal Through Raymond, Iowa

A fast moving line of freight cars trekked through Raymond, Iowa on Sunday, afternoon June 7th. Led by two locomotives from the BNSF (Burlington Northern Santa Fe) the dominant item of transport was eastbound coal in open cars. Following up the long train was an attached locomotive (bottom photo) pushing the line. I have been told that the coal is mined in Wyoming. America at work. Know that.

Statue of Liberty on a Dry May's Island

About a year ago this miniature Statue of Liberty was up to her heels in Cedar River flood water on May's Island in Cedar Rapids, Iowa - the heart of 42N country. Today she oversees a much more normal Cedar River, an abandoned City Hall, and a vibrant Quaker Oats plant. City officials are still deciding how to proceed with the Veterans' Coliseum building as it relates to housing the city's government offices. Here's a view of the flooded river from last year. Note the statue's location in the flood waters to the far right. Know that.

(Photo courtesy of sbphotoblog.com)

Demon's Hole in 42N Country

Though not quite an ossuary annex, this fixture located at the heart of 42N country certainly holds one of its Renaissance church counterpart's features - stench. A year ago this fixture was covered by a historic river flood. Now the likely manhole cover is visited by more than one Angels and Demons clue finders. But unlike the movie where the demon's hole held a victim branded with "Earth," this oculus holds no more than water - another of the infamous four brands. Know that.

Face on Mars Resembles Lion

(top and bottom original photo source: NASA)

The Viking 1 orbiter photographed the so-called Face on Mars on July 25, 1976 while performing photo recon work for future landing sites on the red planet. The release of this image touched off three decades of investigation and conjecture.

The original 1976 press release from NASA stated: "The picture shows eroded mesa-like landforms. The huge rock formation in the center, which resembles a human head, is formed by shadows giving the illusion of eyes, nose and mouth. The feature is 1.5 kilometers (one mile) across, with the sun angle at approximately 20 degrees. The speckled appearance of the image is due to bit errors, emphasized by enlargement of the photo."

In April 2001, the Mars Orbital Camera (part of the Mars Global Surveyor) imaged the Face in much higher resolution. Once again depending on your viewpoint the martian landmark was interpreted as either a geologic feature that happens to resemble a human face or it represents a sculptured work - therefore purposely created.

While the Face feature rests near 41N martian latitude (coincidentally near 42N, hmm) there is an interesting comparison to illustrate.

Although I am not the first person to show this comparison my version is to take last week's masonic lion photo (see posting below,) divide the portrait in half, then position it with the high resolution NASA image of the Face from 2001. Interesting, don't you think? What is it telling us? Here is an opposing viewpoint for consideration. Perhaps the first human expedition to the area will settle this debate. Know that.

Strength & Sovereignty Guard the Grand Lodge of Iowa

Since 1955 two identical white marble statues of lions guard the entrance to the Masonic Grand Lodge of Iowa in 42N country. A mid-afternoon sun created intriguing shadows that emphasize sculptured, angular cuts of masonic power and strength.


The Grand Lodge houses an extensive library and is located at 813 First Avenue S.E. in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The building is open to visitors Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until noon and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. You will find the facility is steeped in symbolism. Directly behind the white marble building to the south is 5 Turner Alley where famed artist Grand Wood painted some of his best known works. Know that.

Memorial Day 2009: Cedar Rapids, Iowa

The remembrance of Amercian war dead is celebrated annually as Memorial Day. One of the many ways in 42N country that the sacrifice is remembered is through the small scale version of an Arlington, Virgina sculpture. Outside of the Cedar Rapids' Veterans Memorial Building is the United States Marine Corps War Memorial portraying the flag raising on Iwo Jima from World War II.

This sculpture (above) is based on the one that Felix de Weldon designed for display half a continent away. The Cedar Rapids' version was prepared in 1960. Directly behind the flag raising diminutive is the illumination side of the stained glass window designed by Grant Wood. The story tall window, designed in 1928 was damaged during the 2008 flood (June 2008) and is being studied for repair.

As millions of Americans enjoy a long holiday weekend the words on the statue's base reflects the sentiment of sacrifices made by the men and women of our military.

"Our finest tribute to their valor will be the quality of our own lives." Know that.

Lee's Summit Preservation of Rail History

A Missouri Pacific Lines caboose is on display at the 1905 train depot in Lee's Summit, Missouri. The caboose is the only rail car on display at the Historical Society Depot Museum. No sign of paranormal activity. Know that.

The Transformation of the Northern Michigan Asylum

Two summers ago I stopped at Traverse City, Michigan's Grand Traverse Commons to see how this sweeping complex was being transformed. Built in 1885 the Northern Michigan Asylum operated as a psychiatric hospital treating the mentally needy for decades. Part of the then cutting edge therapy was introducing patients to farming and livestock production. This experiment gained critical acclaim in professional circles for the advancement in patients' self esteem and self-worth. After many years of use the grounds fell into disrepair as the state built more modern facilities in other cities. In 2000, a group of private investors bought sections of the run down property to transform it into condos, restaurants, and shops - today known as the Village at Grand Traverse Commons. In 2007 portions of the facility had been restored while other building wings remained untouched.

Check out the gate's iron works located in the rear of the main building complex. Any symbolist will tell you that the mirrored fleur-de-lis image represents the struggle of the Trinity with those of evil forces - somehow appropriate to the battle within the mind. Know that.

Iowa's Roswell Incident

(photo courtesy of sitfu.blogspot.com)

42N country has its own UFO crash story. Apparently in 1882 near Ely Station in Marion County, Iowa (close to Des Moines) a flying "arrowhead"-shaped object descended from the sky and smacked into a passenger train destroying the locomotive and two passenger cars. A U.S. government follow-up by the 12th U.S. Engineers two years later indicated that something was still pulsating deep under the debris crater. Credible? Visit the 1277 web site archive and inform yourself. Know that.