so how is "a Jupiter-sized planet orbiting a tiny star that is only four times the size of the solar system gas giant." and "The extrasolar planet, or "exoplanet," orbits a red dwarf " newsworthy?

a finishing repair is gonna look like a finishing repair unless you know exactly what you are doing and what colors to mix into the multiple coats of refinish to hide the repair. even for cheap-ass ikea, i'm sure they used a modern high durability finish and it probably won't be easy to match it.

lesson learned. biscuit joints aren't perfect. next time clamp something sturdy and flat across the finished side of the joint that wont stick to glue, like lumber, plywood, and wax paper.

during the rainy season? i can point you to an indiana department of conservation area which has a sign saying that basically from that point, which was about 20ish miles southwest of south bend, indiana, along the yellow river, kankakee system and calumet system, an area of close to 1000 square miles of swamp existed before there was any white settlements.

i'll look for it online in a little while, and if need be, i'll drive there and take a picture. it probably included what we're talking about.

canoes are still a form of trade right? i realize i'm speaking from a more theoretical viewpoint, but the basic premise of what i've been saying seems to hold true.

if indians could do it in canoes then so could pelt traders.

north end of lake nipigon is further from gulf than benton. i think we need to compare apples to apples. thats what i was trying to say.

in 1848 which predates op and fort benton in 1880. i'd still say that the south branch chicago river could have been navigable by smaller craft. but maybe not large steam boats.

it did. the chicago river used to flow into lake michigan. over time, sewage built up in the lake and chicagos' drinking water was poisoned with bad disease outbreaks happening. so engineers reversed the flow around 1900ish in order to move sewage away from city and clean up the lake.

here

i been down the chicago river south branch almost to midway airport in a 40 ft. sailboat as it was being motored into winter storage at a marina along the river. thats almost to the joining at des plaines river and i saw barge traffic the entire way. entirely possible to get to the mississippi river from there.

illinois river most definitely reaches lake michigan. especially before chicago played engineer with the chicago river. even now there is barge traffic there. btw chicago river had its flow reversed and now drains away from lake michigan. but its all still navigable.

edited to fix flow mistake.

from what i can tell its possible to get to lake nipigon via the illinois river and great lakes. almost the entire lake is more northerly than fort benton. only question i see is that there is a dam and Cameron falls on the way up to nipigon but it looks from satellite like the falls are man made.

otherwise, seems pretty navigable all the way from illinois river. currently accessible through navy pier to des plaines river to illinois river, or further south at little calumet to illinois river.

this makes a little more sense, but in that vein, couldn't you hit the great lakes to get to canada as well?

furthest navigable point" wut?

pretty sure there were people, traders, and rivers in canada in the 1880's. every reason for river traffic.

or am i misunderstanding?

edit...and btw 2473 km or 1536 miles.

>"digging up the suspect spots"

short of being at the north pole, that depth ought to be fine for the freeze line. assuming the pipe getting to that depth and coming out of it is protected from the cold. could be a bad install. is it pvc? copper? did someone forget to sweat or glue a joint?

if its a fresh install then doing the rod method and digging up the suspect spots might not be a bad option.