Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Great Einstein quote on research
"If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn't be called Research." - Albert Einstein
Monday, November 10, 2008
Video - Powering the Planet - Space-Based Solar Power
Watch a 19 minute video on the future and development of Space Based Solar Power on The Future Channel:
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Space Based Solar Power - Alternative Energy Solution
Read the statistics closely. Think about what they mean to our future. There is tremendous opportunity here . . . and tremendous risk if we don't get to work.
Monday, August 11, 2008
The Height of Folly
Is Nancy Pelosi nuts? This folly of asking the President to release oil from the national reserve is just crazy. What if we need it for the purpose for which it was intended? A national emergency. We would have to replace that oil with HIGHER priced oil. Again, nuts! As a nation we would just spend even more. Besides, although it HURTS and our economy is suffering, we'd better just suck it up and get used to the higher oil prices. They're going to fluctuate, but I don't think they are ever going down really low again. Even at $4 a gallon, we are paying far less than the rest of the world and using more of the world's oil. Oil is not going to be cheap, ever again. Using foolish measures to try to lower the price is just throwing money away.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Alaska Jellyfish
These jellyfish at the Alaska Sea Life Center in Seward, Alaska were so beautiful and graceful. I never got the perfect photo because they were moving too quickly in the dark water to get clear focus, but the short video clips turned out pretty nicely.
The water sounds are added. We couldn't hear any water noises through the aquarium glass, and I doubt that they make any noise, anyway. However, the ambient noise in the room was distracting and I thought that adding something more appropriate than music would be soothing.
Moon Society Creates Space Solar Power Demo
The Moon Society (see Blog Links For Curious Minds at right) created a demonstration project for the National Space Society Conference at the end of May, working from an original design by LTC Peter A. Garretson, USAF. For more information and photos, see this link, or, if invisible, check the links at right.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
The Anti Woman, Anti Hillary Prejudice Marchs On
It isn't even subtle. It's blatant. I ask you, if another man were running neck and neck with Obama, there wouldn't be constant calls for him to get out of the race. In fact, if he left, someone would fault him for quitting.
The anti-Hillary bandwagon has been in full swing since long before she ever decided to run. We aren't getting "news," we are getting propaganda.
It doesn't matter whether you are for Hillary or against her. What matters is FAIRNESS and the treatment of a female candidate. It's disgusting.
The anti-Hillary bandwagon has been in full swing since long before she ever decided to run. We aren't getting "news," we are getting propaganda.
It doesn't matter whether you are for Hillary or against her. What matters is FAIRNESS and the treatment of a female candidate. It's disgusting.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Photo of the Day - Shawl seller
Many of the street vendors who have stalls in China display their wares with a fine sense of color and design.
"The Great Risk Shift" by Jacob S. Hacker
It's amazing that our President seems unaware of the myriad reasons that Americans are feeling insecure. The current financial industry crisis and the devaluing of our homes is the latest, and most visible, blow to middle class American families, but it's hardly the beginning and not likely to be the end.
In this important book, subtitled, "The New Economic Insecurity and the Decline of th American Dream," Hacker details the swift eroding of many of the underpinnings of the basic security we once worked for, and now can't achieve, from the decline and near disappearance of pensions to the lack of health insurance or underinsurance. He documents the rise of the so-called "Personal Responsibility" crusade for the "ownership society," a crusade and society that can only work for those of wealth. For the rest of us, it is financial brinksmanship, keeping us on the ladder of middle class status only if we are fortunate enough to avoid a major financial disaster . . . which would not likely be of our own making, such as losing a job, or having a health crisis for which we cannot pay (even with insurance).
He makes a strong case that this kind of insecurity costs society greatly, and that there has to be some basic security for opportunity to be real.
Read this important book. Then think about where our country is headed. As he says, get mad. Then do something about it.
In this important book, subtitled, "The New Economic Insecurity and the Decline of th American Dream," Hacker details the swift eroding of many of the underpinnings of the basic security we once worked for, and now can't achieve, from the decline and near disappearance of pensions to the lack of health insurance or underinsurance. He documents the rise of the so-called "Personal Responsibility" crusade for the "ownership society," a crusade and society that can only work for those of wealth. For the rest of us, it is financial brinksmanship, keeping us on the ladder of middle class status only if we are fortunate enough to avoid a major financial disaster . . . which would not likely be of our own making, such as losing a job, or having a health crisis for which we cannot pay (even with insurance).
He makes a strong case that this kind of insecurity costs society greatly, and that there has to be some basic security for opportunity to be real.
Read this important book. Then think about where our country is headed. As he says, get mad. Then do something about it.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Reading is Fundamental funding to be cut
In a shocking display of behavior contradicting the lip service given to "No Child Left Behind" the Bush administration proposes deleting funding for Reading is Fundamental (RIF), a program funded since 1975 to help improve literacy. If Laura Bush knows about this, I can't imagine that as a former school librarian, she's taking it lightly.
A mere "$25.5 million in funding for this program, RIF would not be able to distribute 16 million books annually to the nation’s youngest and most at-risk children." What a bargain!
Read the RIF press release on this blow to children and reading here:
Reading is Fundamental Home Page - with link to campaign for funding reinstatement:
If the links do not appear, please see them in the Sites/Links list on the right side of the page.
A mere "$25.5 million in funding for this program, RIF would not be able to distribute 16 million books annually to the nation’s youngest and most at-risk children." What a bargain!
Read the RIF press release on this blow to children and reading here:
Reading is Fundamental Home Page - with link to campaign for funding reinstatement:
If the links do not appear, please see them in the Sites/Links list on the right side of the page.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Photo of the Day - Roofs at the Forbidden City
The yellow glazed tile roofs in the Forbidden City in Beijing created many interesting compositions with their angles, upswept ends and marching animals meant to keep out bad spirits.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Watch out! Your bank may be out to gouge you
Take a close look at your bank statements. Check all transactions online. Make sure you look at every line of your credit card statement. If you don't, you may end up losing significant amounts of money.
I got a shock this morning. My bank subtracted a "monthly maintenance fee" of $20 from my savings account. This has never happened before, though when I called to protest it, I was told there was no change in the rules for my accounts.
No change? I've had this account for several years and never been charged $20 a month for the "privilege" of having this bank keep my money and invest it for themselves, paying me a small interest rate, nor have I greatly reduced the amount in the account. This account has always had a healthy amount in it, and is not one of those accounts that incurs a fee from lack of activity.
The explanation from the bank? I must have this account "linked" to a particular kind of checking account, and maintain a combined daily balance of over $15,000, or I will get this fee. This checking account incurs its own fees. I've had a checking account at this bank for over three years with none of these fees or problems.
What a rip-off. Banks, including this one, are advertising how they are helping people save, but then they turn around and subtract $20 a month of those savings if they aren't maintaining large amounts at low interest rates. Most passbook or money market accounts won't even earn that much interest in a month, so it's a net loss to the customer and a great net gain for the bank.
In my 45 years of banking, I have never encountered such usury until recently. First it was the excessive fees and interest rates on credit cards, which I luckily haven't had to pay, though I have canceled two cards from this same bank just on principle, but I know they are hurting others who have far less than I do and can little afford it.
The first time I encountered this kind of "disincentive" for savings was several years ago when a young person I knew opened a small savings account(at a different bank in a different state) . . . and found out that unless he had at least $100 in it at all times and at least one transaction a month, the bank was going to subtract $5 a month as a "maintenance fee." Maintenance of what? How much work was it taking their computers to keep track of that account? How can banks "encourage" saving that way?
Protest. I called the bank and complained. They took the $20 charge off "this one time," but I told them I will be taking my money elsewhere . . . that is, if I can find a decent bank without such policies.
On top of the annoyance and loss of funds, I hate the time it takes to deal with these things, and they probably count on that to keep people right where they are. Moving my money market account will be an inconvenience to me, but $240 a year in excessive charges are not worth "conveniennce" to me.
I got a shock this morning. My bank subtracted a "monthly maintenance fee" of $20 from my savings account. This has never happened before, though when I called to protest it, I was told there was no change in the rules for my accounts.
No change? I've had this account for several years and never been charged $20 a month for the "privilege" of having this bank keep my money and invest it for themselves, paying me a small interest rate, nor have I greatly reduced the amount in the account. This account has always had a healthy amount in it, and is not one of those accounts that incurs a fee from lack of activity.
The explanation from the bank? I must have this account "linked" to a particular kind of checking account, and maintain a combined daily balance of over $15,000, or I will get this fee. This checking account incurs its own fees. I've had a checking account at this bank for over three years with none of these fees or problems.
What a rip-off. Banks, including this one, are advertising how they are helping people save, but then they turn around and subtract $20 a month of those savings if they aren't maintaining large amounts at low interest rates. Most passbook or money market accounts won't even earn that much interest in a month, so it's a net loss to the customer and a great net gain for the bank.
In my 45 years of banking, I have never encountered such usury until recently. First it was the excessive fees and interest rates on credit cards, which I luckily haven't had to pay, though I have canceled two cards from this same bank just on principle, but I know they are hurting others who have far less than I do and can little afford it.
The first time I encountered this kind of "disincentive" for savings was several years ago when a young person I knew opened a small savings account(at a different bank in a different state) . . . and found out that unless he had at least $100 in it at all times and at least one transaction a month, the bank was going to subtract $5 a month as a "maintenance fee." Maintenance of what? How much work was it taking their computers to keep track of that account? How can banks "encourage" saving that way?
Protest. I called the bank and complained. They took the $20 charge off "this one time," but I told them I will be taking my money elsewhere . . . that is, if I can find a decent bank without such policies.
On top of the annoyance and loss of funds, I hate the time it takes to deal with these things, and they probably count on that to keep people right where they are. Moving my money market account will be an inconvenience to me, but $240 a year in excessive charges are not worth "conveniennce" to me.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Photo of the Day - Lychees
When I was growing up in landlocked Kansas, the only time I saw lychee "nuts" was the canned variety, rarely at home or in a Chinese restaurant. By that time, their prickly reddish rind had been peeled off and the small seed removed leaving only the white fleshy fruit in the canning syrup. I had no idea why anyone would call them "nuts" or what they looked or tasted like when fresh.
When I was in China, I saw fresh lychees for sale in the Guilin area . . . on the baskets of street vendors on bicycles, on carts, in markets. It was a treat to peel them and eat them fresh. I still found it odd that they are called nuts and not fruit, since we can't eat the slightly poisonous nut. After all, we don't eat peach pits but we don't call peaches "peach nuts."
I had a similar experience in Japan. I grew up only knowing mandarin oranges as the canned product, but in Japan, I went "mikagari," or mandarin orange picking. How wonderful, fragrant and tasty the fresh ones were!
The Horse Race
It was greatly satisfying to hear Brian Williams read email from viewers disgusted with the media coverage of the election, nailing them for treating it like a sports event and reporting only polls, campaign strategy and commentary like calling Hillary Clinton's passionate and emotional reaction a "near breakdown" (hardly!), and asking where the real reporting on the issues, candidates stands on them, and plans is.
The media got their comeuppance in the new Hampshire primary. Kudos to the people of New Hampshire for not allowing media polls to tell them how to vote! Whether you're for Hillary or against her, you should applaud and welcome this scenario in which all the pollsters and pundits will be forced to reevaluate. NO ONE should be "anointed" as the nominee this early in the process. Let the voters have their say without being told their candidate is already out of the running or bound to win. Make them rethink polling that fails to take into account that people change their minds, that events can change minds, and that candidates continue to evolve. Do not let them hijack the process!
While we're at it, let's remember this campaign as something special in the history of American politics, where a woman, an African American and a Hispanic all ran as serious and creditable candidates for the presidency of our nation, and realize that among the voters, there may be more pulling us together than pulling us apart. Let's hope the policitians get it.
Let's hope whoever wins the nonimations will be up to the job and truly understand the important problems facing our nation and the world.
The media got their comeuppance in the new Hampshire primary. Kudos to the people of New Hampshire for not allowing media polls to tell them how to vote! Whether you're for Hillary or against her, you should applaud and welcome this scenario in which all the pollsters and pundits will be forced to reevaluate. NO ONE should be "anointed" as the nominee this early in the process. Let the voters have their say without being told their candidate is already out of the running or bound to win. Make them rethink polling that fails to take into account that people change their minds, that events can change minds, and that candidates continue to evolve. Do not let them hijack the process!
While we're at it, let's remember this campaign as something special in the history of American politics, where a woman, an African American and a Hispanic all ran as serious and creditable candidates for the presidency of our nation, and realize that among the voters, there may be more pulling us together than pulling us apart. Let's hope the policitians get it.
Let's hope whoever wins the nonimations will be up to the job and truly understand the important problems facing our nation and the world.
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