Musings Over a Barrel is not the most prolific blog on the internet. It has always been a niche blog — that niche being me. Part review site, part experience log, and mostly a journal for me to reminisce over.

One of the most popular pages is the search link, and it’s quite likely many of those hits are my own.

To my surprise, sometime in the last 24 hours, the blog recorded its 10 millionth hit. Granted, that took more than 18 years, but still, it’s a cool milestone.

18+ years and 3,718 posts later, I offer a hearty “thank you” to everyone who spends a few moments of their time reading these ramblings.

Musings Over a Barrel is not the most prolific blog on the internet. It has always been a niche blog — that niche being me. Part review site, part experience log, and mostly a journal for me to reminisce over.

One of the most popular pages is the search link, and it’s quite likely many of those hits are my own.

To my surprise, sometime in the last 24 hours, the blog recorded its 10 millionth hit. Granted, that took more than 18 years, but still, it’s a cool milestone.

18+ years and 3,718 posts later, I offer a hearty “thank you” to everyone who spends a few moments of their time reading these ramblings.

County Roads, Take Me Home

My phone served up a cover version of this John Denver classic as I was chauffeuring my wife around yesterday. Something about the lyric hit me in a way that I'd never noticed before.

Almost Heaven, West Virginia
Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River
Life is old there, older than the trees
Younger than the mountains, blowing like a breeze

That is scientifically accurate. The Appalachians are the oldest mountain range on the planet and certainly predate human life, if not all life, by millions of years.

So now I'm wondering, was Denver taking a poke at creationism with that line? Or did the words just flow? It's from the album title, Poems, Prayers & Promises, which is a little on the nose. But Denver was way more of a liberal than his marketing, especially in the 70s, would have one believe.

John Denver original
Ghost Hounds cover

My phone served up a cover version of this John Denver classic as I was chauffeuring my wife around yesterday. Something about the lyric hit me in a way that I’d never noticed before.

Almost Heaven, West Virginia
Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River
Life is old there, older than the trees
Younger than the mountains, blowing like a breeze

That is scientifically accurate. The Appalachians are the oldest mountain range on the planet and certainly predate human life, if not all life, by millions of years.

So now I’m wondering, was Denver taking a poke at creationism with that line? Or did the words just flow? It’s from the album title, Poems, Prayers & Promises, which is a little on the nose. But Denver was way more of a liberal than his marketing, especially in the 70s, would have one believe.

John Denver original
Ghost Hounds cover

That's a lot of work for a name tag.

15 weeks of classes, 5 or 6 field trips, a final exam, and a practical application (I made a zine) to earn this.

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Date: 2026-04-29 Tags: Personal Summary - I finished my Virginia Master Naturalist training Title: That’s a lot of work for a name tag —

15 weeks of classes, 5 or 6 field trips, a final exam, and a practical application (I made a zine) to earn this.

Virginia Master Naturalists name tag

Researchers at the National Museum of Denmark have interpreted a clay tablet in their collection that records an ancient transaction:

Researchers at the National Museum of Denmark have interpreted a clay tablet in their collection that records an ancient transaction:

Sunday Dreary Sunday

After some much needed rain last night, the temps barely hit 50°F (10°C) today, with the wind making it feel much cooler. I have not left the house today. I haven't really left the computer. I had some much needed vacation research to do. I've booked a campsite for the Little World Series in August. 44 years after my playing days ended, I'm finally making it to the LLWS. We actually visited the museum and the ballpark a few years ago when passing through Williamsport, PA, on the way home from a camping trip. There are pictures, if you are into that sort of thing.

I also have our Florida birding trip this fall mostly sorted. One campground doesn't allow reservations earlier than 179 days before arrival, so I've got a note to do that on the appropriate day. It's a very popular campground on the water in Florida, so I figure it's 50/50 at best that I'll even get a site. The other three places we will be camping are all reserved. I really should buy a spotting scope before that trip. More research to do. More money to spend. If you have opinions on spotting scopes, feel free to share. The contact link is at the bottom of the page.

Yesterday I attended training to become qualified to do bird-friendly yard certifications for the Richmond Audubon Society. In doing the training, I learned I have some work to do with my tiny patch of yard before I can get it certified.

I picked up the new Drivin N Cryin album this week. It's a classic DnC album, mixing rock, country, folk, and punk into a sound that is uniquely theirs. Peter Buck of REM contributes on a couple of songs too, which not surprisingly, feature 80s college rock jangly guitars.

Speaking of music, I finished my review of the 1986 albums that I owned. Stay tuned for 1987, next year!

Only a couple of links this week, but I have finally fixed my link collecting workflow, so hopefully I'll save them more often in the future.

As a Purdue Boilermaker, it pains me to share anything positive about Notre Dame. But 100 years ago Notre Dame students literally beat the KKK out of town.

The average new car payment in the US is $806 a month. That is freaking insane. It also makes me feel a lot better about dropping $10K on repairs on our vehicle last year.

If you are a baseball nerd, this tabletop game looks fun. I'm going to download it and keep a copy in the camper for rainy afternoons.

After some much needed rain last night, the temps barely hit 50°F (10°C) today, with the wind making it feel much cooler. I have not left the house today. I haven’t really left the computer. I had some much needed vacation research to do. I’ve booked a campsite for the Little World Series in August. 44 years after my playing days ended, I’m finally making it to the LLWS. We actually visited the museum and the ballpark a few years ago when passing through Williamsport, PA, on the way home from a camping trip. There are pictures, if you are into that sort of thing.

I also have our Florida birding trip this fall mostly sorted. One campground doesn’t allow reservations earlier than 179 days before arrival, so I’ve got a note to do that on the appropriate day. It’s a very popular campground on the water in Florida, so I figure it’s 50/50 at best that I’ll even get a site. The other three places we will be camping are all reserved. I really should buy a spotting scope before that trip. More research to do. More money to spend. If you have opinions on spotting scopes, feel free to share. The contact link is at the bottom of the page.

Yesterday I attended training to become qualified to do bird-friendly yard certifications for the Richmond Audubon Society. In doing the training, I learned I have some work to do with my tiny patch of yard before I can get it certified.

I picked up the new Drivin N Cryin album this week. It’s a classic DnC album, mixing rock, country, folk, and punk into a sound that is uniquely theirs. Peter Buck of REM contributes on a couple of songs too, which not surprisingly, feature 80s college rock jangly guitars.

Speaking of music, I finished my review of the 1986 albums that I owned. Stay tuned for 1987, next year!

Only a couple of links this week, but I have finally fixed my link collecting workflow, so hopefully I’ll save them more often in the future.

As a Purdue Boilermaker, it pains me to share anything positive about Notre Dame. But 100 years ago Notre Dame students literally beat the KKK out of town.

The average new car payment in the US is $806 a month. That is freaking insane. It also makes me feel a lot better about dropping $10K on repairs on our vehicle last year.

If you are a baseball nerd, this tabletop game looks fun. I’m going to download it and keep a copy in the camper for rainy afternoons.