Glimpses of South Pasadena: Whatchamacallit

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Whatchamacallit

I'm not sure what it's called. I'm not even sure exactly what it does. But I'm so glad that it's painted all those happy colors...

29 comments:

bertN said...: Looks like a shutoff valve to me.; June 22, 2010 at 6:13 AM
Mister Earl said...: I wonder if it can shut off the whole town? You turn that wheel and the whole town becomes darker until it blacks out entirely. You can regulate the town's colors, and pace, by adjusting the wheel. Must be protected: hence the yellow protective fence that creates a deadly and impenetrable force field unless you have the remote control that turns it off.; June 22, 2010 at 6:26 AM
dbdubya said...: That would be the whosis valve that controls the flow of the ephus gas used to fertilize the fields. The different colors designate the age of the hardware. IE, blue was manufactured, in the 60's, red in the 70's, etc.

WV: splogi - what happens to the athletic fields when you over-fertilize with ephus gas.; June 22, 2010 at 7:17 AM
Leslie Saeta said...: This conversation is way to technical for me ... I was going to say that I love the colors but more importantly ... I can't wait to meet you this afternoon!; June 22, 2010 at 7:32 AM
dbdubya said...: You should have had lunch at Julienne's yesterday, Leslie. I was with a friend and there was a group of about 6 women at the next table. One of them received a gift and it was a Leslie Saeta painting. The giver explained how the artist paints a new piece every day. They were all quite impressed.; June 22, 2010 at 7:40 AM
Anonymous said...: DB, is that true? Different colors for different ages? If so, what a great piece of trivea.; June 22, 2010 at 7:48 AM
dbdubya said...: Of course it's true, AH. And the yellow poles were made in the 90's, the black pipe coming out of the ground in the 80's, and the green grass in the 50's. It's good they didn't plant the fields in the 70's, otherwise the grass would be red.; June 22, 2010 at 8:11 AM
Judy Williams said...: Before I read what other people said, I'm thinking it is some sort of valve system for the water supply there. Perhaps the sprinklers too?

I love how we are forced to study an ordinary thing and after we are thoughtful on it, then it becomes extraordinary. :); June 22, 2010 at 10:23 AM
Trish said...: argh...you should know better than to believe db! ;-)

that is a backflow prevention device, most likely for the entire field system. Making sure that water on the field (or from any source it is flowing i.e. toilets), doesn't backflow into our city water system. You wouldn't want birdpoop to backflow into the water system, now would you? Or, the barf from the right fielder?

The colors may just be a manufacturing design. May also be there to help the employee who has to manage it figure out which part goes to what. There should be no color reason behind the design.

And the yellow poles---so that people don't hit them...yeah, THAT didn't work!

now that I've continued the work of my grandfather...I'll get back to the real world.; June 22, 2010 at 11:44 AM
Jeremy said...: This shot brings back some major memories of getting picked up after my AYSO games. Loved those sun-soaked Saturday's out on the field; not to mention the visit to Hi-Life after a tough game. Thanks!; June 22, 2010 at 11:50 AM
Shanna said...: I believe every word db says. I also laugh!; June 22, 2010 at 12:08 PM
TheChieftess said...: Shanna...I think DB has some property he wants to sell...; June 22, 2010 at 12:35 PM
Laurie Allee said...: DB rocks! Who knew a valve could generate this kind of fun? :-); June 22, 2010 at 1:12 PM
Laurie Allee said...: Oh, and welcome, Jeremy! I often drive by during games and watch a little of the action.; June 22, 2010 at 1:13 PM
Judy Williams said...: I'm always surprised at which images get the most comments. This has already doubled yesterday's and it's only mid-day!!; June 22, 2010 at 1:43 PM
Bellis said...: It's a work of art worthy of a place outside the Norton Simon. Much better than Richard Serra's gift of rusty metal. I love the bright colors, the wheels and the chains.; June 22, 2010 at 2:34 PM
Leslie Saeta said...: So ... I was going to email you and thank you for lunch but thought that may never get to you ... So thanks for a wonderful afternoon and it was so great to finally meet you!
Let's do it again soon.; June 22, 2010 at 4:55 PM
TheChieftess said...: this guy must be related to DB...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLDgQg6bq7o; June 22, 2010 at 4:57 PM
TheChieftess said...: Very fun indeed LS and LA!!! Thank you for a delightful afternoon!!!; June 22, 2010 at 4:59 PM
Mister Earl said...: Ephus gas is nasty stuff. They have to cover the whole field with a mylar tarp that's fixed to the ground in order to use it.

Chieftess: I watched that video and it made perfect sense to me.; June 22, 2010 at 5:28 PM
dbdubya said...: Nice try, Chieftess, but you're mistaken. That's guy's not related to me - that's me explaining the entabulator. It's part of a series on science and technology I'm doing. The next one in the series is on the effects of ephus gas.

WV: sphisti - third in the series; June 22, 2010 at 5:48 PM
Mister Earl said...: @Leslie Glad you finally met Laurie. The universe was out of whack until that happened. Although you probably won't read this, if indeed you're doing one painting every day, STOP! You need keep the supply limited so when you become famous, your paintings will command millions of dollars!; June 22, 2010 at 6:19 PM
Trish said...: ok, that youtube vid...a load of hogwash..but, someone had fuuun! It certainly was NOT created by the foundation for cross connection control and hydraulic research...whom, originally, probably approved the plans for the backflow prevention device Laurie snapped a photo of..; June 22, 2010 at 8:32 PM
Laurie Allee said...: Okay, that video is one of the funniest things I've seen in a while. The reciprocating dinglearm isn't cheap...; June 22, 2010 at 10:43 PM
Laurie Allee said...: Leslie and Chieftess, I had a great time, too!!!; June 22, 2010 at 11:56 PM
Joe Ryan said...: If you grew up in L.A. in the 60s and 70s you'll remember those big oil pumps out in open fields. There were many more in Orange County at that time. As kids, we would call them horses. They looked like giant horses going up and grazing on the grass.; June 24, 2010 at 5:46 PM
Tash said...: Trish knows her stuff.
You won't believe it but while in college I worked at a USC lab that tested these backflow prevention devices. We had to drive all around the county to check the new models in the field. The grad student who ran the lab drove a white Malibu and took us to In-&-Out --- it was my 1st Double/Double.; June 27, 2010 at 1:07 AM
Tash said...: PS - he also strictly played Jimmy Buffett...I would of never heard "Come Monday" (which I love) otherwise.; June 27, 2010 at 1:08 AM
Laurie Allee said...: So cool, Tash!; June 27, 2010 at 9:36 AM