My Daily Smile

Life is short - begin every day with a smile!

Video: Watch this helicopter pilot trim trees along power lines from the air

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If you have ever seen power lines running through a forest you might have wondered how they keep the trees trimmed back from the wires.

Well, believe it or not, much of that tree trimming is done by helicopter!

The precision flying required to pull this off is simply amazing. The pilot has to make sure the line of rotating blades suspended below the aircraft doesn’t come into contact with the wires, while at the same time making sure the helicopter doesn’t get too low and crash.  [Read more…]

Video: Why Death Valley is the hottest place on Earth

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As you probably know, California’s Death Valley is one of the most inhospitable places on the entire surface of our planet.

The area’s extreme heat combined with the virtual non-existence of water has claimed the lives of numerous people over the years.

It’s really not hard to imagine how this very unique place got its name.  [Read more…]

Video: The world’s most dangerous roads

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Have you ever traveled on a road that made you too nervous to even look out the window?

Like me, you have probably crossed a mountain or two and driven across some pretty rickety bridges, but if you want to see some really dangerous roads just check out the video below.

In many parts of the world the roads aren’t as wide as the ones you’re probably used to, with some being barely wide enough for the wheels to find a place to grab onto. And on top of that, they tend to be little more than a combination of jagged rocks, dust and mud.  [Read more…]

Video: Do you remember the great Hawaiian blizzard of 2021?

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Snow on the ground in Hawaii

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Did you hear about the terrible blizzard that struck Hawaii back in 2021?

No, I didn’t horribly misspell North Dakota, Minnesota or Alaska. I really did mean Hawaii.

As I mentioned in this post, the big island of Hawaii receives snow on its two highest volcanic peaks every winter, and the winter of 2021-2022 turned out to be quite a doozy.

[Read more…]

Backbone Rock: “The Shortest Tunnel in the World”

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Backbone Rock

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A while back I posted this short video tour of Backbone Rock and it was quite well received.

Today I’m sharing “the rock” from a different perspective – the perspective of Jim Hayes, my long-time friend and host of the awesome Jim Hayes Hiking & Biking YouTube channel.

But first a little background info for those who might be unfamiliar with this amazing place…

Rural Johnson County, Tennessee is home to Backbone Rock, one of numerous natural wonders that are well-known to locals and absolutely fascinating to the visitors who happen to stop by.

I grew up just a few miles from “The Rock” in nearby southwestern Virginia. It’s always been one of my favorite places to visit.

My family spent lots of time there during my formative years, primarily for picnics and family reunions. But whatever the reason for the visit, it usually ended with a hike across the the rock.

Backbone Rock Recreational Area has long been a haven for picnickers, hikers and folks who just love the outdoors. It’s pretty much the same today except for the addition of a relaxing creek-side campground.

Watch, and enjoy as Jim takes you on a short hike around – and across – Backbone Rock.

Note: You can watch this video at full screen by clicking the little “square” icon in the lower-right corner of the video after it begins playing.