Archive for September, 2021

Pick And Choose

Posted: September 28, 2021 in Opinions and Observations, Poetry
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
0

Given Ten Commandments
Directly from the lord above
In stone are the important things
Faith, friends and love.

Law abiding beyond reproach
Ready to throw everyone else in jail.
Money will buy you a good lawyer
Everyone else won’t even raise bail.

I’ve known you for years and years
I know how much you hate to lose.
So when it comes to time to pay your fare
You act like you can Pick And Choose.

Stop signs and traffic lights
Never applied to you.
Laws and rules are for other people
And have no effect on what you do.

I’ve known you for years and years
We never shared the same views.
Only special in your own mind
You act like you can Pick And Choose.

The End of Time

Posted: September 24, 2021 in Opinions and Observations, technology
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
0

I posted thoughts much earlier about Super Black Holes, and have waited for the launch of the James Webb telescope for a pretty long time. Hubble showed us amazing things. Many confirming Einstein’s theories. It forced us to see our universe is expanding rapidly, rather than slowing as expected, in all directions at the same time. Constellations, star clusters, galaxies and eventually suns and their planets will grow further and further apart. The stars and galaxies we see now will not be visible from Earth in just a few eons. (and they were so much closer eons ago) This will never end – speeding away – light constantly retreating. Our universe will get darker and darker, all matter – including black holes, will burn out or blow up, until there is no energy – anywhere.

But if my earlier theory has any merit, this might not be the end. In short, I suggested we are NOW in a black hole. With no proof whatsoever (#noproofwhatsoever) I suggested dark matter and dark energy are converted from regular matter when sucked inside a black hole. This is why our universe continues to expand. Literally everything we see or can detect is matter jettisoned through the Event Horizon with nothing to slow it down. One big sneeze from each black hole. Countless more black holes created as material is ejected – or pushed into a separate universe……?

I love science fiction and can recommend a few books almost as old as I am. I would love to write a novel on this subject but the next step is to think that OUR universe is expanding and will eventually die, but if intelligent life can manage to cross back through the Event Horizon, through the other side of a black hole, we may find a totally different universe that is quite stable or just plain weird. Who knows!

I suggest we can become that intelligent life.

PS I hope the new attempts to recreate the genius of “Dune” and “The Foundation” live up to the hype. These are treasured ideals for me, not just books on a shelf lol!

Thank you for listening.

My wife Ellen and I giving our grand kids a glow stick show in a dark room
Collision of Star Clusters of glow sticks
glow stick Nebula

The pictures remind me of other visual games we would play and eventually showed our grandkids, but that is a different post.

“The Same People Are Wrong”

Posted: September 21, 2021 in Opinions and Observations, Poetry
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
0

The Same People thought the Earth was flat
And the Crusades were just.
These same people thought the stars were gods
Turning cities to dust.

The same people believed the Earth was the center
Against which everything turned.
These same people held trials to justify
Witches tied and burned.

These same people pray to ghosts and spirits
Listen to voices in their head.
The same people imprisoned men of science
Until not only the truth was dead.

The Same People Are Wrong
Just as they were back then.
How can you keep being wrong
Again and again and again?

You are wrong about Global Warming
The true existential threat.
You are wrong about your part in racism
Or the petty things you fret.

You are wrong about the age of the universe
You are wrong about evolution no matter how true
These Same People believe they deserve what they have
Even when taking it from those that don’t look like they you.
You are wrong blaming fake media
Because it doesn’t agree with what you do
Wrong about immigrants searching for a peaceful land.
You are wrong about pollution and the things humans do.
If you can’t win simply change the rules
Repeating the same lies never makes them true.
Patriots love their country win or lose
The same people are wrong about sex, drugs, and Rock ‘N Roll too.

Wasson Way Opens

Posted: September 14, 2021 in projects
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
0

Out for a ride yesterday and they are almost finished. This will be a great resource for decades to come. I believe the mayor of Cincinnati will be on-hand to officially open the new section of the Wasson Way Trails tomorrow.

  • Almost there!
  • Black top being laid
  • The completed portion of Wasson Way path
https://videopress.com/v/GXmrz2ct?resizeToParent=true&preloadContent=metadata
Workers finishing the sidewalk and entrance

Even though I took a sneak peak and ride before the path was officially opened I can’t wait. Only a small section will be needed to connect to other bike and walking trails in the city.

https://videopress.com/v/OMXU6uqU?resizeToParent=true&preloadContent=metadata
This is the next section connecting the Ault Park trails

Wasson Way Addition

Posted: September 13, 2021 in Photography, projects
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
0

Bicycle riding is something I have loved since being a kid. I get exercise, fresh air, new scenery and a little bit of escape all wrapped into one. Recently cities in Ohio and other states have purchased unused train rights of way and turning them into bike and walking paths or trails. This is perfect because the train tracks are fairly level, the perfect width, and they go through neighborhoods that are rarely connected any other way.

Case in point is the latest addition of the CROWN section of the pathways including Wasson Way. When I-71 was built around 1966 to 1975 it split Cincinnati in drastic and unfortunate ways like every other town. Once built, many neighborhoods were completely severed from each other and in some cases from the business districts they created. This is a point in history for me as my family was renting a house on a street that was demolished and we had to move for them to build I-71. The neighborhoods I used to ride through with my friends were no longer accessible to a kid on a bike.

https://videopress.com/v/ddKzxppQ?resizeToParent=true&preloadContent=metadata
Strollers enjoying the Marburg Avenue section of Wasson Way

Anyway, they are about to extend that section next week so the Wasson Way path connects to one of my favorite local parks of all time! I have shared many pictures of Ault Park here and it is still a lovely place to see. When this section is completed I will be able to take bike trails (including on-road lanes) from my house all the way to Ault Park. The big plan is to have various trails in Ohio that will take you from the southernmost point in Ohio near the Ohio River all the way to Cleveland at some point in the not too distant future.

I took some pictures of the progress made to the unfinished section so you have an idea of the work they are putting into this.

  • Existing trail on Wasson Road
  • New section connecting to Ault Park
  • Erie Avenue overpass
  • They are almost ready to open new section!
  • Truck pouring another cement foundation for drainage

They will start planting trees along the current paths next week. As old as I am it is still nice to get out and take a ride through familiar neighborhoods like I did when much younger. It is satisfying to see the city I have lived in for almost ever finally embracing these outdoor activities and unique neighborhoods long cut off from each other.

Blaming the Media

Posted: September 10, 2021 in Opinions and Observations
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
0

It is easy to blame the media for everything. Go ahead and try, it’s simple. My current beef has nothing to do with fake news, but irritates me just as much.

Once a catchy sound bite is written it is carried by every outlet and repeater station no matter how misleading it is.

Which brings me to the coverage of the Delta variation of Covid-19.

The general news line goes something close to this:

“The Delta variant is ripping across the country….

The country is ravaged by the Delta infections…

Over 95% of new infections are caused by the Delta virus… “, and on and on.

This intentionally gives the listener the wrong impression altogether. The Delta variation is not causing hospitalizations and death in the US……

People that are eligible but not getting vaccinated are causing the increase in hospitalizations and death in the USA.

Quit saying it is because of Delta. The vaccines work for the original strain and this one too. All we have to do (if eligible) is get vaccinated. That’s all.

In fact, it might be tempting to blame the unvaccinated for allowing this and next variation to take hold in this country.

But that is just as easy as blaming the media.