Why Do We Yawn?

You get up in the morning. You stretch your arms and there it is. Your mouth opens wide, you breathe in slowly and deeply, and then exhale quickly. You might even hear a rumbling sound in your ears. We call that a yawn. In fact, chances are that you just yawned right now because you were thinking about it. Babies do it. Adults do it. Even birds and mammals like our dogs and cats do it. We yawn when we wake up. We yawn when we need to go to bed. We yawn when we are bored.

Yawning is an involuntary reflex consisting of a wide mouth opening, a deep inhalation, and a short exhale. It typically lasts a few seconds and is common when you feel tired, bored, or waking up. It also happens when other people yawn. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yawn)

But why do we yawn? There are several theories about why it happens. One idea says that the body is trying to get rid of excess carbon dioxide in our blood. Carbon dioxide is the stuff we breathe out. Another one saws that it is the body’s attempt to help keep us alert. It’s possible that the extra oxygen we breathe in can help wake us up. One researcher thought it might help cool the brain. For me, I notice is that my eyes get watery when I yawn. Maybe it helps us see better also.  Others think it could be a group signal to tell everyone it’s bedtime. One other theory says that it might help us keep our airway open and help us to be able to swallow and speak easier.

Did you know that yawns are thought to be “contagious”? Try it. If you are someone around you yawns, there’s a good chance that it will cause others to yawn also. Group yawn everybody! It could be that we are showing empathy (letting them know that we know how they feel). Some researchers have noted that some individuals that struggle with empathy also do not yawn along with other people as often. Although it has been used in movies by profilers to check for sociopathic, or psychopathic tendencies, there has not been a definite link established. This is still hotly debated since empathy is a difficult trait to measure. It might be that we just learn to imitate it when we were children. They say that our dogs learn to yawn from us!

Most of us cover our mouths when we yawn. Most likely this is because your parents said that is the polite thing to do. I mean, no one really wants to look down your throat! (We’ll maybe your doctor: and he tell you to say ah.) In the Middle Ages it was thought that you might “yawn out your spirit”, or that and evil spirit might get into you if your mouth was open too long, but we know that was just a myth. Still it’s probably better for everyone if you still cover your mouth when you yawn. Don’t want a fly to get in! Wow, I think I have yawned 5 times just writing this. Empathy? Or maybe I just need a nap…

 

What Would It Be Like to Live in a Castle?

 

In my blog for my grandkids, one of my grandsons wanted me to write about castles. His is going to be imaginary, with a diamond drawbridge, a lava mote and alligators in armor. It got me wondering what it would be like to live in a medieval castle. It is important to note that there is a difference between a castle and a palace. Castle were made primarily for defense, whereas a palace is a fancy living space for royalty.  

Medieval castles did not really come with a standard floor plan, but they do have many parts in
common. Across Europe there were 3 or 4 basic plans, but the surrounding terrain, water availability, and other environmental factors often dictated how they were designed.

The first thing you might notice is the wall around the castle, often called a curtain wall. It was normally made of stone. This wall could be up to two meters thick. It normally surrounded the whole castle. There would be openings high on the wall for windows. Many walls had the toilets built right into them. The waste would usually drop down into a moat. There were usually small, angled, openings in the wall called arrow slits or arrow loops where archers could fire at attackers without being out in the open. On the top of the wall was a parapet, a small wall about chest height where the archers could stand. Every few feet or so were higher sections called merlons, for soldiers to hide behind. There might even be openings called Machicolations that hang out away from the wall where soldiers could drop rocks or boiling oil onto an enemy. There were often towers built into the wall. They served as lookout areas, defensive structures, living quarters, and even prisons.

The only entrance in the wall was the main gate. It was guarded at all times and usually had huge wooden doors that could be barred from the inside. It usually included a gate of iron bars that could be raised and lowered. In most castles there was also a draw bridge that spanned the moat. It could be lifted to stop entry and also further help protect the gates.

The moat was usually a lake or deep pit that encircled the castle. It could be filled with water, or even oil that was lit on fire during a siege. The drawbridge was the only safe way across. Since the toilets emptied into it, it would not be pleasant trying to cross through it.

Inside the castle you would usually find a kitchen, a chapel, and a great hall which served as a banquet room. There could be stables and another fortified area called a keep. These were all housed in an area called the bailey, which was the hub of castle life and also contained shops and possible other living areas.

There was usually some source of water inside the castle. Since a river running under your castle wall could be a security risk, a spring or well would be preferable. If a river was the only option, there might be a secret tunnel to the river so water could be available during a siege.

Stairs in castles were almost always circular due to conservation of space. They always turned clockwise, which favored the defenders stopping soldiers coming up. Although the majority of the soldiers were right-handed, this design would be less of a hindrance to someone who fought left-handed.

As much as it would seem romantic to visit a medieval castle during their heyday, I imagine the smells would be alarming. Common people usually never bathed and the elite may have only bathed weekly. Couple that with the moat, and you realize that herbs, flowers, rose gardens weren’t just for looks. Still, I think they would be fun to visit and just imagine.

(https://www.historyhit.com/facts-about-medieval-castles/)

Short Beep or Long?

 I was paying attention, sort of. I was waiting at a light and already going through my upcoming day. And then I heard it. Beep! It was just a little beep. The kind that says, “I don’t wish to interrupt, but the light turned green. I like those kinds of beeps. They bring you back to reality, but don’t come across rude. It is also the beep that you to say ‘hi” or “over here”. I call it the short beep.

Then there’s the long beep. It says, ‘If your window was down and I was right beside you, I would be yelling in your window”. In text it would look like @#@#*!!*%@. Now don’t get me wrong, I have seen times where the long beep seems appropriate. But most of the time it’s delivered but mean people who just don’t care about being angry, rude, and obnoxious.

I myself am not a beeper. Not because I don’t want to, but because I seem to always forget which car I’m in. In my wife’s car, the horn is activated on the side of the steering wheel. In my car, it’s right in the center. To top it off, my car might honk, or it might not. Hey. It’s almost as old as my kids. When it does honk, it’s this embarrassing underwhelming “beep” that sound more like the Warner Brothers roadrunner than a car. Put me up against a truck and I’m gonna choose the better part of valor and just bow out.

So what does this have to do with real life? Well, if I have a choice, I’m going to use the short beep. Even if someone deserves a long beep, I want to be as gracious as possible. The bible says, "Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." (Colossians 4:6) Romans 12:17-18 tells us, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone”. I’m sure there are time that most people agree that a long beep would be fitting. I strive to give the person a little slack. You have no idea what they have just been through. Perhaps they just got bad news about a job or a project they were working on. Maybe they, or a loved one are going through a tough medical issue. I personally want choose to give them the benefit of the doubt. So what will you choose? Short beep or long?

Oh The Humanity!

 It’s that time again. My work at the State Park is winding down and school is about to start up again. This summer I’ll have to admit, I’m pretty worn. I almost let humanity get the best of me. When I’m at school, I work, for the most part, with people of integrity and who are honestly trying to better themselves and do the right thing. The park has been another matter. Seemingly endless days of people who can’t throw away their trash, make a total mess of the restrooms and showers, and often show total disregard for the rules.

I once decided that if I had a superpower, it would be to turn things (including people) on and off with mind control. I’m sure I would abuse it, but it would come in handy. Music too Loud? Off. Student out of control? Sleep. Crazy drivers on the highway? 10-minute car time out. Ya, I would definitely misuse it.

This week for whatever reason, probably because God knew I needed it, I remembered a song that one of my 6^th graders brought to class sometime in the last millennium. It was from Steve Green’s children’s album “Hide Them in Your Heart vol. 1”. It was taken from the last verse of Romans 12. Verses 17-21 say, 

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.  On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

 Here’s the song. It’s simple, but hard to forget. It followed me all week.

One of the other park employees and I we talking about it. Making things clean for people that don’t appreciate it. Helping the entitled when they could easily do things on their own. Enduring being lied about because the other person was too embarrassed to admit their own failure. Picking up the slack for another employee who isn’t quite doing their part. It could really get to you if you let it. We both agreed that were not really working for them. We are working for those that deserve a clean park, a nice place to relax. But ultimately we both agreed we’re doing our best because God expects us to overcome evil. So we do – by doing good. And that’s ok. We’ll let God sort it all out in the long run. Today, I’m just, doing good.

Why Can’t People Throw Away Their trash?

After months and months of blaming the raccoons for the torn napkin, the lone chip bag, or the piece of foil that used to hold barbequed chicken, tucked away in the bushes, I have come to a sad conclusion. The animals are not the problem; the people are. Last week we cleaned a campsite that must have had at least 50 or 6o cigarette butts scattered all over the ground. We found multiple beer bottles thrown into the bushes right next to the trash can. (And yes, we have recycling area that no one seems to notice either.) I even found a McPherson Strut off of someone’s car neatly tucked under a small bush – not 10 feet from a half empty dumpster.

The teens & children are not totally innocent either. We often find candy wrappers, squeeze drinks, and other various broken and unbroken toys spread all around. One of the hardest things to pick up are the straw wrappers form the Capri Sun containers. Ant then there are the bottle tops both plastic and metal. I literally could pick them up all day. Rake and area and you’ll find ten more. It’s a never-ending struggle.

I have pondered the reason or reasons for all this mess and here’s what I have come up with.

1.     Entitlement – many people think it is below them to pick up. “someone else will do it.” Aren’t we paying people to clean it up? Isn’t that what janitors are for?”  

2.      1. Laziness – They just don’t feel like walking to a trash can. It is said that Walt Disney counter that it took 30 steps to finish a hot dog. He then put a trash can every 30 feet. People don’t like to put a wrapper in their pocket or bag until they come across a trash can. How pathetic! (https://jvieker.com/the-story-of-disneylands-trash-cans/)

3.    2. Altered Consciousness – I think many of the beer & liquor bottles pile are the consequence of the “one to many” syndrome. One to many beers = “Where did I leave my drink?”

4.    3. Poor Training – Parents don’t seem to spend the time training their children to pick up anymore. It could be that they don’t want to spend the time to do it. It’s just easier to pick up things themselves. Training takes time and work.

5.     4. Selfishness – I can guarantee that the majority of picnickers and campers would never keep the yards at their own house like they leave our parks. In fact, I have seen people throw things on the ground and then later complain about the “trash” that has blown into their yard form elsewhere in the neighborhood. Something just ain’t right!

So So what can we do? Train the employees, children, friends and family under our sphere of influence to think about others again. If you wouldn’t like to have a place look trashy, don’t trash it yourself. If everyone would just pick up the trash that they come across in front of them every day, imagine what a wonderful thing that would be!

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3-4

OK, Rant Over. Have a great week!

Crazy from the Past

I love reading about the science and Natural discoveries of the past. We believed a lot of crazy things. This week I want to delve into 3 areas of craziness form the past: food, fashion and foolishness. We look back at it now and say, “What were they thinking?” Yet who’s to say we don’t have ideas that someday people will cringe at.

First is food. Did you know that originally, tomatoes were thought to be poisonous? They are part of the nightshade family of plants, many of which are deadly. Tomatoes originated from South America. They we first brought to Italy in the 1500s and then spread to the American colonies in the 1700s. The French
nicknamed them pomme d’amour or “love apple” because they thought it was an aphrodisiac. Others called it the “poison apple”. This was probably because it was sometimes served on pewter plates and the acid in the tomatoes leached out the lead in the pewter. Thomas Jefferson grew and ate tomatoes. It is said that in 1820 Col. Robert Gibbon Johnson, a horticulturalist, ate a basket of tomatoes on the courthouse steps of Salem New Jersey to show everyone they were safe. Soon they spread across the country. The once “poisonous” tomato was now a household staple. (https://www.uvm.edu/extension/news/history-tomatoes)

Second is fashion.  Radium was discovered by Marie Curie in 1898. It is a highly radioactive element. In the 1920s there was a craze where radium was put in all sorts of products. It was used in watch dials

to cause the numbers to glow in the dark. They made a movie about it called “The Radium Girls”. There was radium in hair tonic, cosmetics, toothpaste, and even false teeth. You could find radium glass and water crocks. There was even radium infused mineral water. Sometimes just the name was used as an advertising agent. After many deaths because of radium it was regulated by the FDA in 1938. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radium_fad)

The third is about a good idea that wasn’t really tested and thought through. From the 1920s to the 1950s a machine was designed that used x-rays to help sales people fit the shoe to the person. Seeing the bone structure of the client was a real help, but people, including the sales person received huge doses of x-rays that caused all sorts of problems including cancer and other tumors. We still use x-rays in medicine today, but we know a lot more about it.

So the lesson from history? Jumping into technology without really knowing it can be very foolish! I wonder what they will say about us in 50 years?

Fireworks!

(This week both the Musings page and Notes from Papaw have the same post. I’m either lazy or on vacation. Honestly, I’m not sure which.)

This Saturday is the Fourth of July. People around the nation will attend parades, have picnics, light of fireworks at their home, and if your city is having one, attend a professional fireworks display. There you can see bursts of wonderful colors and different shapes, golden showers of sparkles, and eye-widening kabooms!

Have you ever wondered how professional fireworks are made? Ya, so did I. So let’s take a look at the anatomy of a typical firework. When you see a firework display from the launching end, It looks like a bunch of tubes all lined up together. These tubes are called mortars. Inside the tube is the shell. The shell is made of two parts, The lifting charge and the color pellets. The lifting charge is located on the bottom of the shell that is usually made of black powder. It is there to lift the top section high into the air. This makes it easier to see. It also keeps the explosions, sparks, and any hot embers away from people and high enough to burn out before they hit the ground. The top section of the shell has the colorful part. It contains small pellets called stars. These can be made to produce different colors, shapes, and noises. Some of the designs are proprietary, which means they were invented by the firework makers, and the formulas are closely guarded secrets. There are usually at least two fuses. The first fuse lights the lift charge. Once the firework is safely in the air, a second fuse, sometimes called the timer fuse, causes the section with the stars to explode (the burst charge) and starts the stars burning also. They now can even create designs with the fireworks. One special firework that I have seen ends up making a smiley face!

The colors usually come from various metal salts. A salt is a combination of a metal and one or more nonmetals. Table salt is sodium chloride, made of the metal sodium and a gas called chlorine. Here is a list of the most commonly used salts.

Strontium: Red

Calcium: Orange

Sodium: Yellow

Barium: Green

Copper: Blue

Strontium + Copper: Purple

Magnesium, Aluminum + Titanium: White

(Source: https://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/science-at-home/diy-science-fun/the-science-of-fireworks)

And to think these all started with the Chinese putting gun powder into long bamboo tubes. This is thought to have happened somewhere between 600-800 AD, during the Tang Dynasty.

For those of you who don’t have a fireworks display in their home town, here is a display from 2025, courtesy of the Happiest Place on Earth, Disneyland. Enjoy!

Ice Cream!

Saturday, June 27^th is National Ice Cream Cake Day. I have no idea why, but just the same, let’s roll with it. Except the cake can wait for another installment.  I have met very few people who don’t like ice cream. I even know people that are lactose intolerant who like ice cream. Now I realize it says Ice Cream Cake Day, but I’m only really hearing ice cream at the moment. My favorite flavor? Ya, whatever is available in the freezer at the time. I have serious issues at Baskin Robins or Cold Stone. I end up doing the “Eeny meeny miny mo” thing. Moose tracks is the current option. So me being me, I had to look up where it came from.

According to the Museum of Ice Cream (https://www.museumoficecream.com/blog/history-of-ice-cream/) ice cream has been invented several times. In 400 BC the Persians were eating something called faloodeh, a kind of an ice dessert. In 200 BC the Chinese mixed frozen milk and rice. In India they made kulfi, a slow-frozen milk dessert containing pistachio, saffron, and cardamom. In the Middle East people made sharbat, which is fruit syrups chilled with ice. It’s where we get our words sherbet and sorbet. These all happened independently of each other. Hey, people like their frozen dessert!

Up until the mid-1800’s ice cream as we know it was a luxury, reserved for only the well-to-do crowd. It was popularized in America by Thomas Jefferson who fell in love with it while visiting Europe. It is said that Washington spent a large amount of money just on ice cream.

It all changed when a lady named Nancy M. Johnson invented the hand-cranked ice cream machine in  1843. It swiftly moved ice cream into everyday homes. Add to that refrigeration, and ice cream parlors began springing up in neighborhoods across the nation.

Some of my favorite childhood memories are tied to warm summer evenings when my cousins would come from Missouri and we would have dinner in my grandparent’s yard. The adults would con the children into turning the crank on grandma’s old ice cream mixer for a small share in the product. It was soft serve at its best. I volunteered any time I could. Now they make ones with motors that do the mixing. Still nothing tastes quite like ice cream made with your own two hands. We can’t seem to get enough of it. Hand mixed, Soft serve, frozen yogurt, gelato, there seems to be a store on every corner.

Hmm, I think I’ll have a double scoop with rocky road and chocolate fudge – in a waffle cone please. Nuts on top? Oh, now that does sound lovely…

 

The Summer Solstice

This Sunday is kind of a double-decker. It is Father’s Day witch is always the 3^rd Sunday in June. But this year, it is also the summer solstice. You might also know it as the beginning of summer. Each of the seasons starts with a special day – either a solstice or an equinox. Equinox means equal. It is the point where the length of daylight and night are equal. The vernal equinox is the start of spring. The autumnal equinox signals the start of fall or autumn. Solstices are the extremes. The winter solstice is the longest night of the year. The summer solstice, June 21st this year is the longest day. This is how the seasons go in the Northern Hemisphere, or north of the equator. If you go south of the equator, say to South America or Australia, then things would be reversed. Our summer is their winter and so on. In places close to the Arctic Circle the sun may never go down during summer. They say you can read a newspaper on a park bench at midnight without needing any light.

Many civilizations celebrated the summer solstice. It is believed that Stonehenge in England  was built to mark this event. On the summer solstice the Sun rises directly in the center of the stone circle.

Even though it is the longest day of the summer, it is not usually the hottest. It actually takes some time for the Northern Hemisphere to heat up. That’s why our hottest months are usually August and September. Actually here in California it has felt like summer for 3 or 4 weeks.

The summer solstice is caused by the tilt of the Earth. In the summer, the Earth tilts toward the Sun. This causes more direct sunlight to strike the Earth at a more direct angle. The Southern Hemisphere receive sunlight at a indirect angle, thus causing winter conditions. After the summer solstice, the day length gets slightly shorter every day until they become equal again at the autumnal equinox. 

Sunday, the Sun will rise early and set late. It will be the perfect time for a Father’s Day picnic in the park or a summer barbeque in the back yard. Either way, I hope you enjoy the first day of summer!

Some Things really Bug Me...

Social Media is all awash with people freaking out about drops or proposed drops of insects from planes or helicopters. Some have claimed it’s a conspiracy to infect millions of people with the next “new disease”. The three basic creatures (ticks are not insects) that people have been worrying about are: mosquitoes, ticks, and now screw flies.

There are two things to remember when reading about insect drops.

#1 many of these sites are just trying to get people to read their content because the more visitors they get, the more they get paid. So of course controversial is the go-to content. Because it’s technically their opinion, they do not have to substantiate what they say.

#2 Dropping serialized male insects to reduce populations is not new. It has been used since the 1950s. The screw worm was eradicated from the US using the technique. The recent new occurrences are basically because they haven’t kept up with it.

The basic idea for sterilized insect releases to control pests or diseases was conceived by E. F. Knipling (https://ipmworld.umn.edu/bartlett) in 1937. He used x-rays (later gamma rays) to cause sterility in male insects. It has been used around the world on a variety of beetles, flies, and mosquitoes to eradicate diseases and pests on fruits and vegetables. It is a tried and true method of control. In most species, especially mosquitoes and ticks, it is the female vector that carries the disease. The males do not feed on blood, They drink plant juices. Virtually all the released insects or other vectors are all male. So bokes of ticks dropped from planes (again not a new thing) are not feeding on other animals, they are just not reproducing. Many insects and other creatures mate only once so if it mates with a sterile male – no offspring.

Like anything, it can have issues. It is important to make sure that the insects released are truly sterilized.  One benefit is that it needs no insecticide so no resistance and no poisoning the environment with toxic chemicals. All in all, one of the better successes of applied science.

I hope this helps calms some fears for those that can’t resist scrolling. For more in depth information try this site. https://www.iaea.org/topics/sterile-insect-technique

Invisible.

Have you ever had a moment where you felt invisible? Where you wanted to find a mirror and see if you were really there? I rarely feel that way. As a teacher I’m kind of always in the limelight. Oh, I may feel like they are ignoring me, but never invisible. 

This week I found myself in one of those moments. I was on my way to the state park for a one man show day. (Meaning I was the only person on the schedule.) I decided to treat myself to a nice morning coffee. Black coffee with hazelnut and cream is my go to drink. I walked in and stood by the cash register. I was greeted with - silence. For 5 minutes I stood there. One employee walked past me 3 times without even looking at me.  I was screaming inside, “hello?!” I understand busy. I was expecting a short wait. But there was only silence. I turned around without saying a word, without being noticed, and without coffee. 

Now the day did not end up bad. After a call to customer service, I actually received $5 credit on my next visit. Still it left a lasting impression. I did not like it at all. 

I see it with the poor and homeless. That afternoon on the way home there was a man standing with a sign. He didn’t even look at the cars. Most never acknowledged him either. I usually carry some spare change just for this occasion but I realized I had left it on the dresser. All I could do is smile. The next day he was there again. My change was also still on my dresser. This time I apologized for not having anything. He just smiled and said, “It’s all good.” I hope he’s there again. I want to help people know they are seen. I may not have anything with me to meet their needs but I can at least acknowledge that they exist. We can do better. Wherever we go, let’s make the invisible seen again. 

Be Smarter Than What You’re Working With!

I have often watched short video clips of people trying to do simple things and thought, “Can people really be that clueless?” Now that I have a few years under my belt, I understand what my dad meant when he would say, “Be smarter than what you’re working with”. Now, my wife would correct me and tell me that my sentence form is incorrect. It should be, “Be smarter that that with which you are working”. Nope. It just doesn’t sound the same. Sometimes it’s worth ending with a preposition. So in honor of our untrained Gen Zers (or whatever generation we are in) this week I thought I would give some pointers about commonly used tools.

I need to clear up one issue though. Being the “MacGyver” type guy that I am, you may see me using tools in unconventional ways. Why just today, I used a screwdriver as a lever.  Mostly because I was already on the floor under a desk and didn’t want to get up, but also because I knew it would work. The main thing it to know the limits of your tools. I’m not above buying tools at the discount places, but I also realize they may not be top quality and need to be treated that way. So let’s get too it. Here are basic hints for some commonly used tools.

The Adjustable Spanner – It is also called an adjustable wrench or a “crescent wrench”. Crescent made the wrench popular and now has its name associated with the product, much like how tissues are also called Kleenexes.  Tip: Once you have adjusted it to size always face the smaller jaw (the adjustable one) facing the direction of the turn. If the bolt or nut is very tight, use a box end wrench.

Box End/Open End Combination – These wrenches usually come in basic sets like US standard or metric. One end is closed in, the other has an open slot. Tip: Use the box end to break it loose or finish tighten and the slot to turn it when it is freely moving.

Claw Hammer – The claw hammer is a tool used to hammer nails on the blunt side and remove them using lever action on the claw side. They can have wood. Metal or fiberglass handles. Tip: When hammering, hold the hammer as far back on the handle as possible. You get more swing that way. It wouldn’t hurt to practice your aim either. Get and old piece of wood and a handful of nails. Practice until you can hit the nail square on the head with the hammer most of the time. You can even practice removing them. If a nail is sticking out to far for the claw to remove it, place a piece of wood in between the board and the hammer to increase you leverage. 

Ratchet & Sockets – If you do any shade tree car mechanic work, you had better make friends with your socket set. Now this one can be a rabbit hole. You see, one can never have enough sockets. Again, they come in metric and standard. Biggest Tip: Your ratchet is not a hammer. Don’t do it. You’ll thank me later. Keep in mind, “Righty tighty; Lefty loosey”. I guess I shouldn’t leave that without an explanation. Turning to the right normally tightens; turning to the left normally loosens. Oh, and wear a set of mechanic gloves. Your knuckles will be thanking you.

Measuring Tape – The retractable measuring tape is a life saver. Buy a quality one so that you know the markings are correct. Tip: The wider the tape the farther it and reach without falling over. I recommend a 20 feet/ ¾ inch tape for most projects. Always recheck your measurements in several places to be accurate. Remember, measure 3 times, cut once.

Screw Divers – Screw drivers come in many different kinds and sizes. The most common are Philips (+ head) Flat-blade, torx (looks like a star) and one that is gaining in popularity, the square drive. Tips: Find the right kind and the right size. Push down and turn. Remember: “Righty tighty; Lefty loosey”.  In a pinch Flat-blade screwdrivers can be used to pry things open, and even as a chisel. Again, if you are not sure, proceed cautiously.

One last very important tip. Always use proper PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) what working with tools. These include: Safety glasses or goggles, gloves, hearing protection, proper shoes and a hard hat if required. You can always replace a tool, but spare eyes, ears or fingers aren’t readily available. I hope this helps!

How Did We Get Our American Flag?

Since I did a post about Memorial Day last year, I thought I would post about the flag this time. Our current flag of the United States is the twenty-seventh version since its original design in 1777. It is composed of thirteen alternating stripes, seven red and six white, with a blue rectangle and stars in the top left hand corner. The star alternate in six rows of six and four rows of five. The fifty star flag that was adopted after Alaska and Hawaii joined the union is the longest running version of the flag.

The first flag was call the Continental Colors and looked like this.  It was the first official flag of the thirteen colonies. it was also called the Grand Union Flag. There we other flags used in the colonies during this time including Gadsden Flag, Don’t Tread On Me and the Moultrie Flag that was a field of blue with a blue and white circle with the word Liberty in it.

The first flag to have the stripes and stars, often referred to as the Betsy Ross flag, was commissioned in 1776 by George Washington. From there the design changed as states were added. Sometimes the stars were in rows, other times in a circle or star shape. Many of these had fifteen stripes. In 1818 the flag had twenty stars and thirteen stripes.

At some point we may add other states, possibly Puerto Rico, Guam, and/or the Virgin Islands, current US Territories, which would necessitate a redesign. They have been talked about, but are still currently just territories.

Since Monday is Memorial Day and you may see several flags during the day, I thought I might review proper flag etiquette. These can be found in The Federal Flag Code.

Displaying the Flag

·        Hours: Display the flag from sunrise to sunset. It may be displayed 24 hours a day if properly illuminated.

·        Weather: Do not display the flag during bad weather unless it is an all-weather flag.

·        Hanging Vertically: When hanging the flag on a wall or window, the blue starfield (union) must be positioned at the top and to the flag's own right (the observer's top left).

·        With Other Flags: When flown on the same halyard, the U.S. flag must always be at the peak. When displayed in a group, it must be at the center and at the highest point. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Respect & Usage Constraints

·        Never as Decoration: Do not use the flag for draping, festooning, or as bedding. Use red, white, and blue patriotic bunting for decoration instead.

·        Clothing & Merchandise: The flag should not be used as apparel. However, lapel pins and uniform patches (for military, police, and patriotic organizations) are acceptable.

·        Condition: The flag should be kept clean and mended. If it becomes too worn to serve as a symbol, it should be disposed of in a dignified manner, such as burning.

 

Salute & Pledging

·        Civilians: Stand at attention facing the flag with your right hand over your heart.

·        Military: Uniformed personnel render a hand salute. Veterans may render a hand salute or place their right hand over the heart.

 This not the whole code but does cover the basics. I hope you enjoy this Memorial Day and Always remember what it stands represents.

Many facts taken from: https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/short-history-united-states-flag

 

Hydrangeas by the doorway…

Last summer my wife bought a small hydrangea plant as a decoration. We decided to plant it outside by the back door. I t did almost nothing all winter. At one point she was afraid it was going to die. Then as it warmed up in spring, it finally started sprouting a few branches. Things got busy and I almost forgot about it. A couple weeks ago I noticed it had a few flower buds. Cool, it didn’t die. My wife said something about it, but I never got out there to check. This week I was catching up on some backyard gardening, and low and behold, that little plant was sporting the cutest purple flowers! I was glad they were purple. That’s my wife’s favorite color.  I was about to take credit for that. You see, hydrangeas often change color ranging from blue to pink in response to the soil pH. Ya, turns out she bought it as purple on purpose. (I still think I helped it stay purple.)

It got me wondering about where it originally comes from so I decided to jump down the rabbit hole. The scientific name for hydrangeas is Hydrangea macrophylla, AKA Big Leaf Hydrangea. According to the North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/hydrangea-macrophylla/) hydrangeas are native to Japan, China, Korea, and Southeast Asia. Flower colors range from white to pink, blue, or purple flowers, depending on the soil's acidity (pH). Acid soil produces blue flowers; Soil that is alkaline produces pink flowers. The flowers are a cluster of small flat flowers surrounded by a larger ring of more showy flowers called “lacecaps”. They usually flower in the spring, but some cultivars can have a second blooming cycle, especially in warmer climates. It is a perennial and will come back year after year if properly cared for. It can grow to a bush of about 6 feet tall. In cold winter areas it will need to be covered to shelter it from the freezing winds. Here in California it may keep its leaves all winter. They can be trimmed after they finish blooming, but remember to keep it light. New buds form on the old wood. Be sure to do any trimming before August, because it will start forming buds for spring starting in the fall.

One interesting thing I learned is that the dead hollow stalks from the previous year can often give native bees a nesting sight. Since most native bees either can’t sting are rarely choose to sting, and they are great pollinators, hydrangeas can help your other garden plants.

If you decide to plant hydrangea (or a few) there are many online sites and lots of videos to help you on your adventure. Plant flower – color your world! 

AI: How Far Is Too Far?

This week one of my friends decided I needed an upgrade. He took a picture of me manning the soundboard at Hst Ministries, the place where we feed the homeless and under resourced in Modesto. in just a few seconds I looked like one of the bandits from the movie Home Alone. I love using parts of AI, but this? Hmm, I'm not a fan. I mean, a good head of hair for 65 but still, nope. It brings up one of the main drawbacks/issues with new technology. How do we tell real from fake? If something that never happed can look so real, how can we be sure what is real and what is not?

Now don't get me wrong. I love using Siri for road directions, even when she can
sometimes make mistakes. It sure beats trying to navigate with a map. I have enjoyed using AI to help correct Chemistry equations quickly. I even get some entertainment listening to Alexa throw the other AI entities under the bus. (She can sometime be a little arrogant.) In many ways Ai has made our lives easier. CGI has gotten so much better using AI. Fantasy can now look seamlessly real. 

Like any technology, it is only as good as its users. AI can be instructed to create false narratives or pictures that have never happened that can then be used to deceive and humiliate. Kids have used it for cyber bullying. Students are trying to short cut the actual writing of assignments without doing the work. A simple video that would have been evidence of an event is now brought into question. It's getting hard to tell what is real and what is not. 

So how can we filter through all of the fake stuff?  (some ideas from https://www.popai.pro/)

• Unnatural Movements - Check the background details. Do all the people respond accordingly? Do items just magically appear or transform? Are there things out of place?
• Check for an AI Generated mark - Honest people will normally show it is done with AI
• Textual Clues - Are there strange spelling errors in the text or the closed captioning?
• Perfect but Unrealistic Graphics - Does it look to perfect or violate the laws of physics?
• Unusual Voiceovers or Lip Syncing
• Inconsistent Lighting and Shadows - AI often struggles with shadows and shading
• Repetitive Content Patterns 
• Check the content - Does the writing seem too well polished for the grade level?

The take away is that we are now at a point where we have to be very careful to check the source and content before we react.  What we see may not be the truth. It reminds me of what John said in I John4:4, "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."

Was I a Blessing to Someone Today?

One of my personal growth goals a few years back was to leave anyone whose path I cross doing a litter better for having met me. I t might be just a kind word or a simple smile, but it would be something it elevate their existence. On the way to working at the State Park this weekend I was praying, “Lord help me to be a blessing to someone”. Simple enough. As I rounded the last curve before going into the park I saw some sparrows flitting along the roadside as the often do. This time one of them got to close and ended up smacking into the front corner of my car. Not a good start I thought. I saw him on the road still fluttering but I do not know if he made it. I was kinda sad about it, a then thought, “Maybe there’s a very hungry hawk who just needed a meal”. At least I could be a blessing to him? Not how I was planning to start the day though.

We spent the morning weed eating a large berm area that cannot be mowed with a mower due to Native American burial remains being in the area. It took a while but at least we got it out of the way. One of other aide decided to take a picture of us and send it to our supervisors. We got a nice kudos email of thanks for our hard work. Ok, I was being blessed, but I really hadn’t been able to help anyone else (except maybe the hawk). Later one of the camping groups came over and gave each of us something to drink. I ended up being given a couple sparkling sodas – something I really enjoy. I continued through my day. Yes, I helped a family with directions and made the park a little cleaner. But It still wasn’t what I was expecting. I guess I was fixated on being a big blessing to someone.

On the way home, I noticed that since I was given an extra soda I had not used the one that came in my lunch. I decided to take it with me in the car for the ride home. As I got to the exit on the freeway I noticed a man standing with a sign that said “Old Man Needs Help”. I usually try to keep a few dollars in my wallet for just such occasions.  This time, I was fresh out. I saw the flavored soda water that was still cold and held it out to him. “It’s all I’ve got”, I said. His face broke out in a smile and he said “thanks” as I handed it to him. The lady in front of me handed him a couple dollars. I made me think: None of the things I did today was grand or spectacular. But maybe, just maybe, they were all that was needed. Baby step, add up. Tomorrow’s another day. Who can I help next? If we all help, It can add up to big change.

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:1-4 NIV

Do You Want a Little Cheese With That Whine?

 

Ok, let’s face it. Most of us Americans are whiners. Maybe not all the time, but we all have something that easily comes to the surface. With teenagers we often tease them that we will call the “Wambulance” if they don’t stop. “Why can’t we…”, The temperature is too…” ‘Pizza again?’ These classes are too long.” I’m bored.” I have nothing to wear.’

We have so much that we have forgotten what it was like to do without. If we really look around, we have it pretty good.

·         Instead of an outhouse, we have indoor plumbing. (Ya, ask grandma.) Oh, and add toilet paper instead of leaves or corncobs. (That I don’t even want to think about.)

·         We have cars, bikes, Scooter, & skateboards to get around instead of “walking uphill, in the snow, both ways’. We can cover great distances in a short time.

·         We have hot and cold running water in our houses. We don’t have to go to a well or a pump every day.

·         We have sealed houses with good roofs and central heat and air. We may use a fireplace for ambiance, but it is usually a choice.

·         We have personal cell phones with free long distance. I remember having a party line that we shared with neighbors! Now we can find anyone anytime 24/7.

·         We have talking GPS. It used to be maps and compasses.

·         We have carpeted floors to keep our feet warm in the morning.

·         We have modern HEPA filter vacuum cleaners. No more endless sweeping and beating out rugs.

·         Teacher have white boards, smart boards, tablets, and TVs. No more beating the chalk dusk out of the erasers.

·         We have FaceTime and other video calling. As a grandparent, that’s huge!

·         We can email around the world in seconds. No more waiting weeks for a precious letter.

·         We have record high life expectancy & more free time than any other generation.

·         We have superstores that have everything we can think of, and will often bring it to your car.

·         We have free schools for learning. Education is there if you want it.

·         We have movie choices 24/7. I remember when television stations had a signoff time and just showed a test pattern. (no old jokes please.)

·         We have microwave ovens so even kids can cook for themselves without burning down the house. Popcorn was never the same…

Next time you feel the urge to whine, think about some of these and thank God for the creative minds that He has given humanity to make our lives easier. A little cheese wouldn’t hurt either.