Kitchen Demo - Discoveries

Ok, so cabinets are out of the kitchen. The kitchen island is gone too. The paneling is removed from the wall between kitchen and living room. Here are some interesting observations:

First of all take a look at the wall and how it barely touches the beam above it!

I wasn't expecting the beam to be supported by a wall since these houses are post-beam construction anyway, but I wasn't expecting this either. So, it is probably possible to remove this wall (disclaimer: don't believe everything you read on the internet, check with a structural engineer)

 Of course, you need to figure something for all the wires in that wall and probably replace that vent pipe with whatever mechanism people use in kitchen islands with plumbing inside.

Oh, by the way, here is a little block of wood filling some of that gap. 

I wonder if that is original. What would happen if I pull it out? Could it be holding up the entire structure like a keystone? :)

Discovery #2:

There is a 220v conduit coming in right behind where I was planning to put the oven in. That will make our life easier in terms of getting all the proper circuits for the new kitchen. Look who is hiding in that corner.

Discovery #3:

In addition to the electrical conduit coming to the island, there is a smaller conduit with telephone line in it. I haven't had a land line for more than 10 years, so not sure what to do with it. Still I want to make use of that conduit somehow since it is buried in the concrete slab. Ideas? :)

More to come on conduits, electrical etc. later...