Above The Clouds

Spring! And thoughts turn toward. . . The Home Depot!

2005-04-15T23:09:00.000-04:00

Or Lowes, or The Tractor Supply Company, or wherever else you may find yourself this time of the year. Actually, this is an anxious time for me. Spring is getting on. . . some of the trees are already in leaf. The potatoes are already in. I need to prepare the other garden beds, put the deer fence back up and, most of all, make sure the mowers are all in working condition. I have one of those properties that some dismiss as “too small to farm, too big to mow.” But I find it comfortable- large enough for as much garden as I want, not so much that I can’t handle the mowing.

And, this is the time of year I spend almost as much time at the local home supply store as at my job. There’s mulch and grass seed to buy, tools to replace and one can never never have too many long wooden stakes or too much wire fencing (very useful stuff).

I have heard said that it is plant the main season crop when the “oak leaves are as big as squirrels’ ears.” I’ve been watching closely and it looks as if it’s almost time. I mostly grow tomatoes and tomatillos, but also grow peppers, corns and cucumbers. My goal is to bring in the first ripe tomatoes around July 4^th.

The first round of seedlings is ready to go into the ground. Here are the seedlings, ready to go outside and “harden off.”

And here are the same seedlings after four days of “hardening off.”

I don’t own a cold frame (yet), so I place the seedlings outside during the day and bring them in at night. Once the weather turns and the nights stay above the thirties, the seedlings will stay outside until they are planted.

Seven Habits for Not-So-Effective People

2005-03-28T21:30:00.000-05:00

Saw a poster of the "Seven Habits of Effective People" the other day. Don't remember what they were but immediately thought of a rebuttal (why I am always trying to argue?). And here it is- seven habits for not-so-effective people:

1. Be Late: if they can’t find you, they can’t bother you with their silly little problems.

2. Delegate: a task delegated is a task completed. Now, someone else has to worry about it.

3. Equivocate: Motto “They won’t be able to pin that on me.”

4. Objurgate: Often, you can argue your way out of an action item.

5. Complicate: If they can’t figure out what the problem is, maybe they’ll forget there’s a problem.

6. Obliterate: If you can’t beat it, have some plausible deniability.

7. Celebrate: The end of the day! Another day, another delay.

Arcadian Bliss?

2005-03-25T22:59:00.000-05:00

Ever walk into someone’s home when no one was there? Even though there on legitimate business, it’s an absolutely eerie feeling: Everything is still and dark and quiet. Any moment I expect the homeowners to come bursting out, demanding to know why I’m there. It’s even eerier being on a farm when no one’s around. As far as the eye can see are fields. And it is absolutely quiet. The house is empty and quiet. The goats in the next field are quiet. The cattle in the far field resemble an oil painting. Even though I am there on business, all the while I feel like a trespasser and am filed with disquiet. At the same time I marvel at the beauty. I am fortunate that I can work in (and partake in the delights of) an urban area and live in a rural one. Many days I can hear cows lowing and roosters crowing. There’s a horse farm down the street and a National Forest less than a mile away. Many times, my co-workers express desires to live in such a place.

But, I warn these urbanites, there are many things they don’t tell you about life in a rural area. Now, a disclaimer- some may feel that this small town is not “really rural” (whatever that means) but I offer the following evidence: More than a few neighbors have chickens, goats, or horses in their yards, there are at least 3 farms within a short walk of my house and we don’t have a Wal-Mart yet. Ok, that last one may not count.

Anyway, I was raised in suburbia and I learned a lot since I’ve moved out here. The things they don’t tell you about living in the country:

1. Be prepared to deal with the occasional loose cow, horse or whatever that comes wandering across your property.

2. Bear sightings are not uncommon.

3. Look out for the ATVs. They are immensely popular and seem to be required equipment for every 10 year old.

4. Look out for the Sunday visitors: the number of cars (and especially motorcycles) doubles on nice summer days when city folks come out to enjoy the scenery.

5. The sound of gunfire- all year, but especially shortly before the general deer season.

6. Pitted gravel roads will ruin your alignment.

7. Wells can go dry.

8. Bugs the size of Unmanned Ariel Vehicles.

9. It gets really really (really) dark at night.

10. Burning piles of brush (and trash)- something I had never encountered before.

But all in all, when I see the rising sun light up the mountains, or smell the green smell that rises in the woods at dusk I recall:

The heavens are telling the glory of God

And the firmament proclaims His handiwork.

Psalms 19:1

2005-03-25T22:57:00.000-05:00

Watch out for that first step.

Where are the prophets?

2005-03-05T11:20:00.000-05:00

The other day I saw a teaser on the local news for an interview with a crime solving psychic . Apparently, this woman can “read” objects and interpret the images to solve crimes. I wonder- are there really people who can sense such things? Are there people who can see beyond this physical world? We hear that there were prophets once- in the distant past. Where are they now? If there are prophets in the world today, where were they before September 11th? Almost 2,000 people died. And where were they on December 26th 2004? Almost 200,000 people died. If such disasters, which are almost beyond imagining, don’t solicit warnings from these gifted people I wonder if there are any left at all.

Europe, the US and China

2005-02-28T08:57:00.000-05:00

The US President made a visit to Europe last week, the first in this new term. Both “Old” and “New” Europe were included (I see that the Administration isn’t using that terminology any more). No, we’re all friends here the press conferences seemed to say. Despite such differences over Cuba, Iraq and potentially Iran and what really makes a good cup of coffee, Europe and the US aren’t in completely opposite corners. But another issue has come up: Sale of European arms to China. The pundits have kicked this issue around the columns and the talk shows but Europe and the US (as well as other concerned parties such as Russia/Japan) haven’t yet a sit down on this issue yet, and we may need to.

As the pundits tell it, the foremost issue is the potential for US forces to be facing such weapons, probably over Taiwan. And there is general agreement on why Europe is making a move to lift the embargo now- money.

As I see it, there are two potential areas of conflict: Transmission of controlled technology and potential for conflicting alliances.

First, if the US makes any sales of arms to Europe, that technology could be transferred right over to China (and anyone China re-sells to). While European arms dealers may not wholesale hand over US made weapons to China (at least not legally), parts of these weapon systems or the technology may be transferred. And with no agreement to control this technology, China would be free to transfer the technology as well. And while any country has the right to arm itself as it sees fit, some states are much more unstable than others. If any unstable country becomes a failed state (e.g. Syria, North Korea), that technology would be out there.

Second, despite whatever agreements Europe enters in with China, China is going to pursue its own interests. And what is their most prominent concern? Oil. And where do they get their oil? Domestic production, and from Russia. In fact, China recently entered into some sweet trade/resource development deals with Russia.

I have heard some speculate that what Europe is actually trying to re-create a bi-polar world: US and China. However it may be more like US/Japan/(Europe) vs. China/Russia. With European arms and technology, China may feel more emboldened. They may strike against Taiwan (although I think that unlikely) or they may strike out for the Spratley islands (more likely) or they may put the squeeze on oil supplies to Europe and Japan from Russia (perhaps most likely) in exchange for sweet trade deals. In the mean time I expect the US will keep a major presence in the Mid-East, after all a region with ample oil reserves.

Attention Product Designers

2005-02-20T23:29:00.000-05:00

I know there is a product problem when the simple gas can becomes an exercise in complex problem solving. I needed a new gas can. So I trotted down to my local national retailer to pick one up. A fifteen minute trip- so I thought. They had two sizes: small and very large. The small was rather small (I have a lot of gas-powered equipment) so I considered the large size. It looked satisfactory until I took out the spout. Instead of the usual spout arrangement, this one had a scary looking plastic assembly. No spout. No matter how hard I tried, I had no idea of how to make it work. There no instructions or helpful pictures. A sales clerk came over and gave it a try. In the end, it took me and three sale clerks to figure it out. Turns out the user has to tip the can and pull the apparatus back to get the gas to come out. This arrangement is touted as “leak-proof.” Now, how I am to do this pushing and pulling lifting a large gas can to shoulder height while filling up a lawn tractor is beyond me. So I ended up buying the small can. Even with a child resistant cap it is much easier to use. Please product designers- keep it simple.

When news is really not

2005-02-11T22:43:00.000-05:00

North Korea has officially announced they have nuclear weapons. Now, is anyone surprised? (deafening silence) Now, the question is “Does North Korea have the capability to launch these weapons any distance?” I bet this is a question Japan is most eager to know.

2005-02-09T21:45:00.000-05:00

Blue blue the sky, Green green the grass- a scene of "Big Sky" from Down Under (New Zealand South Island).

Words in Context

2005-02-09T21:36:00.000-05:00

Funny thing, language is. One thing I have noticed- In American English, people wait in a "line." However, most other English speakers (from my experience listening to New Zealand, British and Australian speakers) say people wait in a "queue." However, Americans will sometimes use the word “queue." But (here is the interesting part) only in reference to a line of intangibles, and then it is used consistently. For example when speaking of electronic documents sent to a printer, they are always in “the print queue." But I have never heard an American use the word queue in reference to waiting people or objects. The earliest references to “queue” date back to the 15th century while the word “line” seems to go back to the 14th century. But how and why this “split” in use occurred, I have not discovered. (Thanks for info go to the Online Etymology Dictionary).

Next Stop on the Axis of Evil (Part Two)

2005-02-09T21:29:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, the Washington Times published an article about the defense budget and the Pentagon’s request for funding. Among other weapon systems, funding was requested for work on something called “Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator.” This, in short, would be a nuclear weapon capable of penetrating underground bunkers. The first thing that came to my mind was “oh, they’ll be able to use that in Iran.” But then I paused- in reference to Iran, the new Secretary of State Condie Rice said “Force is not on the agenda – yet.” So, no pre-emptive use of force? However, while she is in Europe this week, she appears to be reinforcing the notion that there is a group effort in dealing with Iran and that “ . . . everyone is telling the Iranians that they’re going to have to live up to their international obligations, or next steps are in the offing.” Hmmm, do I detect a veiled threat? A tag-team attack? Sanctions? I still have this lurking notion that something is in the offing. This time around the Secretary of Defense, Vice President and the Secretary of State are all on the same page. Well, we shall have to see. I guess "the warrior princess" no longer wants to "forgive Russia, ignore Germany and punish France." (Sources: The Washington Post, CNN.com, The Washington Times)

2005-01-30T18:04:00.000-05:00

Here it is in all its archaic glory: The Card Catalog.

Endangered?

2005-01-30T17:53:00.000-05:00

Already gone?

I may be dating myself, but I can use- and have used card catalogs. Remember those? Large cabinets with many little drawers with letters on them. Sort of like a giant rolodex. Pull the drawer and thumb through all the little cards and presto, the perfect source may present itself.

Of course, the library databases are fast- and one can even search them online. I enjoy using those but there was something to the tangible flipping of the cards, to the fact that an entire drawer could be pulled and a researcher could withdraw and peruse the cards in private. Flipping through the cards provided the pure physical pleasure of digging, searching for information.

To tell the truth, I haven’t even thought about these in a long time. But next time I’m in a library, I’m going to make it a point to look for one. And, if it still sits there massive and wooden, I’m going to use it- before progress takes them away.

Are Star Mags actually an Earnings Index?

2005-01-23T14:07:00.000-05:00

Perhaps I am too ready to see ulterior motives, but I wonder if the fact that "celebrities" tend to do certain things and frequent certain places not just because they are "cool" but to ensure that they are seen by the paparazzi and that their names and faces are featured prominently in the media. What started this train of thought are the regular "celebrity gossip" features that certain radio stations carry. These mostly feature embarrassing moments by music or movie stars: drunken brawls, feuds, drug induced mishaps, etc. Listening to one, and then another, I notice that they often feature the same "news" and I wonder is there an element of premeditation to this?

More than the radio shows, are the "candid" shots, incidents and imbroglios that certain celebrities get into the honest result of their chosen life styles or are they (in a certain sense) staged in order to get their names into magazines like "People" or "Us" or "Entertainment Weekly"? Are they actively trying to get their names out there? And if so, for what purpose?

Of course, if I asked readers and publishers of these magazines they would respond that they read/publish these items out of pure personal interest. And, I have to admit that I enjoy a sensation of Schadenfreude when some uncouth star or starlet does something and gets their comeuppance.

One can argue that celebrities must promote their projects. In the normal course of events, they can do this through what I think of as "formal" channels of promotion (commercials, book or movie tours, etc.). But when a celebrity does not have a specific project to promote, do they feel that they have to "keep their name out there"? In a certain sense, perhaps they do. These people earn their money by appearance in movies, TV shows, music acts, etc. And the more "prominent" their profile perhaps the more bookings they will receive. So, they engage in more "informal" promotion.

For performers (like sports stars) that are measured in more concrete terms, they do not seem to feel the same need to self-promote (or at least to the same extent). Also, celebrities in fields such as Opera and classical music do not seem to feel this same need (even though it can be argued that Yo Yo Ma is as much a "celebrity" as a musician- but he plays a most beautiful "Variations on Bei Mannern, Welche Liebe Fuhlen" by Beethoven).

"Informal" promotion is beneficial to celebrities because it is "free" and can generate "buzz" about the particular person. The more "buzz" the more potential earning power a particular celebrity may have if booked in an event or a movie.

However, this informal means of promotion has its own risks. Take Ben Affleck for example. Linked to Jennifer Lopez, they were christened “Bennifer” by the media and it seems that one could not pick up a magazine or anything without hearing about the Bennifer: where they partied, their fights, how they decorated their love nest, whether or not the Ben half was going to “pop the question.” But some are blaming this overexposure for the subsequent “curse” that has plagued Ben Affleck ever since. Some blame the low “Gigli” boxoffice returns on backlash against the overexposure of the Bennifer. And thereafter Ben A. has not had the earning track record that he needs to be a blockbuster leading man.

Of course, I am assuming that the celebrities themselves are making decisions regarding this "informal" promotion. If, in fact, the media owners themselves have a hand in it. . . well, that would be something else to consider.

2005-01-19T01:05:00.000-05:00

People partying at the White House. Entitled "President's Levee, or all Creation going to the White House" by Robert Cruikshank (US Library of Congress).

Party Like it’s 1828

2005-01-18T23:51:00.000-05:00

Here in Washington DC, everyone (ok not everyone but a lot of people) are preparing for President Bush’s coronation I mean inauguration. There will be parties, there will be dancing, there will be bag searches and metal detectors a plenty. And, hopefully, everyone will have fun. But the parties are so, how shall I say, sedate. People stand around talking, maybe dancing, passing out business cards. Even at the “Black Tie & Boots” party, even though the first inaugural “Boots” party featured a live Texas Long-Horn. I mean, for a real inaugural throw-down, let’s look back at 1828 and the inauguration of President Andrew Jackson. Jackson threw a “frontier” gala and people came right into the White House (without an invitation; things were more casual then). Out came the punch and things got wild. Muddy boots on damask carpets, boots on the furniture and even the curtains were town down. They had to lure the crowd out with more punch, served outside. Not that drunken debauchery is admirable, but it makes for entertaining reading. Even 177 years later.

Next Stop on the Axis of Evil?

2005-01-18T23:50:00.000-05:00

Not that I am a prognosticator, nor do I have any special channels of access, but as I read I grow increasingly concerned. Whatever one may think of our current involvement in Iraq, I think we all can agree that another large scale military action would be ill-advised at this point. Perhaps not from a policy perspective (after all, conflict may come unbidden) but from a logistics perspective. I mean, if soldiers are scrambling for vehicle armor now, no telling what will happen if the number of troops on the ground has to double or triple in order to keep the peace in a third country.

On Monday 17 January, Seymour Hersh wrote in the New York Times’ Magazine that the US had been “conducting secret reconnaissance missions in Iran at least since past summer.” And he goes further, stating that he has been told that “the next target is Iran.”

Notwithstanding the fact that there may be been serious compromises of intelligence information, news that the US was investigating Iran’s nuclear program should not come as a surprise to anyone. Any country with any sort of nuclear program is under scrutiny. But to assert that the US is actively planning to take some sort of action against Iran . . . are we really ready to go there?

The Pentagon dismissed Hersh’s article saying that “Mr. Hersh’s article is so riddled with errors of fundamental fact that the credibility of his entire piece is destroyed.” (CNN.com 1/18/05)

I worry because I feel that there may be not sufficient review (both political and military) of our options. I don’t remember the first rumblings before the invasion of Iraq, so I have started paying more attention. Perhaps this is a “tempest in a teacup” and will soon be forgotten. But hopefully all parties will marshal their sources and facts and carefully weigh their options. After all, we are still gathering Lessons Learned from the current action.

2005-01-15T19:34:00.000-05:00

This world of ours-
To what should we compare it?
To the morning mists
That disappear with the sun.

The Turkey Catchers Come at Night

2005-01-15T19:18:00.000-05:00

The turkey catchers came at night. I used to live near a turkey farm. The farm consisted of several long, low buildings filled with turkeys. It sat at the base of the mountain. Every time I drove by I saw the dirty white turkeys clustered at the screen doors, looking out. There they waited until their time came.

The “catchers” would come at night. The trucks pulled up to the side and the whole farm would be lit as bright as day. I knew that they were inside, at work, catching the turkeys and putting them in the trucks.

The next day, the buildings stood wide open and empty. The only sign of the turkeys were the white feathers left on the ground outside.

A few days later, the buildings would be filled again with young turkeys.

Stop the Lies

2005-01-14T23:33:00.000-05:00

Stop the Lies: The movie Racing Stripes and the myth that "anything is possible."

I'm not going to review this movie. First, I haven't seen it. Two, the director's (Fredrick du Chau) previous credits include Quest for Camelot (1998) and he helped write Racing Stripes. I have nothing more to say on this matter.

The story, I gather, concerns an abandoned zebra that is obsessed with the idea of becoming a race horse. Conveniently, there is a race track nearby. Do his barnyard friends advise him of the folly of his actions? No, rather they encourage this insanity and, if this movie follows the formula (and I have no reason to believe that it won't), this creature will enter some race and actually win against thoroughbred horses that (side from many other physiological advantages) stand hands higher than this zebra.

Now, to be fair, I have no problem with movies that have the underdog triumph against all odds. That sort of story is a proud American tradition. I point towards Rocky (1976) as a fine example. But in most of these movies, such as Rocky, the fact that the underdog triumphs is (of course) an example of spirit and perseverance, but also it is actually physically possible.

Let's look at the facts. Speed for land animals is a function of (1) how fast they can move their legs and (2) the length of their stride. The average thoroughbred horse stands 15-17 hands high and has a stride length of approximately 20-22 feet per stride (I'm relying on memory here). A zebra (in this case they used S. African Damar zebras) stands maybe 10-13 hands high and probably has a stride half this length. A "hand" is four inches and horses are measured from the ground to the top of their withers (or shoulder blades). It would be physically impossible for a zebra to outrun a thoroughbred over any sort of distance (ok, assuming the thoroughbred isnt standing still).

Perhaps I am just an incurable grinch. I understand that this is a kid's movie. (So I'm not even going to go into things like: if a zebra was missing from a circus, wouldn't they go looking for it, and of course, there is the zebra's natural temperament.)

While children should be encouraged, they should not be lied to. If a person cannot sing well, it does them no good to encourage them to go on the stage professionally (I point to the American Idol tryouts). To lie to these people and to tell them that they can certainly make it on the stage is a grave disservice to them (and their listeners). And to tell stories that include the same sort of lie is also a disservice.

More movies will be made showing the underdog triumphing against all odds. I hope in the future, the achievement will be something in the realm of possibility and not just a well-meaning lie.

In my opinion, for a movie showing one animal "outsider" triumphing against adversity I'd recommend Babe.

Starting off. . .

2005-01-14T22:49:00.000-05:00

In the movie Wings of Desire the angels needed no assistance in listening to the endless prattle of human thought. We, however, who are a little lower than the angels need assistance. And this internet thing makes it oh so very very easy to put one's thoughts out there- for all to see. Welcome to my mind- it is a very cluttered messy place, so please excuse it. However, perhaps there are some interesting things here and there I can put on display. Or there may be some objects that can be discussed. Most often though I think I will display objects and themes that are laudable (my raves) and those that are lamentable (my rants). The door is open, so welcome.