November 20, 2025  ChatGPT Embedded Code -- My First Wrist Watch Had a Radium Dial

Here is the embedded code for the wrist watch that you see below.  The project is detailed in the ChatGPT conversation completed today that is linked below.  It considerably more elegant than the wrist watch I received for my 11th birthday--It had a black dial with glowing hands and markings that were visible outside at night or inside with the lights off.

There's an interesting story about how the radium treated paint was applied to the face and hands of the watches when they were sold years ago.  You can read more about this by consulting Gemini AI.

The story goes that the watch factory workers were instructed to wet the tip of the fiine paint brushes between their lips and then dip the brush  into the radioactive paint--this  procedure would continue throughout the day, day after day . . . etc.   (The sale of Radium Dial Watches and Clocks was discontinued in the 1970s.)

Later on in the project, Gemini helped with smoothing out a few kinks with the double-ticking Platinum version of the wrist watch.

The audio controls code was re-used from a similar post made several years ago. The audio will tick for 10 minutes when started at either 60 or 120 bpm.  The ticks were generated by Audacity and exported as mp3 files that are linked in the audio code.

Getting everything to work properly was not a straightforward process.  Several earlier attempts  did not display everything in the correct place or not at all.   After a few more prompts, ChatGPT generated the code for the replica of an old fashioned radium dial watch as shown below.

The instructions for ChatGPT were to form the case, dial/face,  hands movement, and  crown/stem.  The Extended portion of the circular watch face was a custom touch I added by increasing the  length of the circular outer case to make it appear longer and was curved simply by distortion--not any specialized code  (Original settings were: x axis = width 300px, and y axis height 300px.  I  changed the watch case y axis dimension to a height of 660px).   Notice below how the once-circular watch case has been elongated.

For the  embedded code and other information:  Click Here (PDF file, 766 words, 5 pages).

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Comments:

Lastly, it doesn't taken a coding expert to play around with the code.   For example,  a novice such as myself, can  locate sections of the html, css, and javascript code that has been very well documented by ChatGPT and Gemini (who are definitely experts) with Comments or what were called Remarks many  moons ago.

Gradient values for changing colors of the watch cases and crowns, for example, are completed by simply swapping six digit values for color combinations that appear in sets of two (see comments at the end of the post).  That is, in the two watches below, a  six-digit Hexadecimal value representing the color of gold (#ffe88c) was blended with a six digit value for black (#000000).

For the Platinum Case I blended (#000000), which represents Black, with (#ffffff) for white.  When the gradient value is set for circular, it creates a better visual image than a single solid color.

You can also use the GIMP photo editor to try various color combination to find gradient values that you could apply to your code.  The six digit numerical values (Hex) can be found in GIMP's Color Selection Box--any color you pick will reveal its code near the bottom of the  box.

 --- It Glowed in the Dark ---

       Gold Wrist Watch Audio Controls . . .    

Platinum Wrist Watch -- Two Ticks per Second
Embedded Code for watches created with the assistance of ChatGPT and Gemini

August 11, 2025  School Organizations' Impact on Youth

History of YCL (School Organization, Young Citizens League 1927 — 1971)

While the organization had lofty goals regarding promoting good citizenship, its underlying premise was organized as a mini-government entity within elementary schools at the county level, and statewide.  More information about its history can be found by clicking this link:   Young Citizen's League (YCL).

YCL instilled the concepts of honesty and good  citizenship.  It provided a sense of cohesion among participating schools by holding annual county conventions for every member, as well as a state convention held at the Capitol for county delegates.  Ideals like good citizenship as well as the function of government in a democracy became part of every child’s life.

I still have my YCL County Convention project made in the Sixth Grade:   A Pencil-Etched wooden plaque of the classical pose, Theodore Roosevelt on Horseback (see image below).  Seriously, I have always tried to uphold the YCL Pledge throughout my life. YCL was a worthwhile experience.

The Young Citizens League (YCL) Pledge

"I hereby pledge my active devotion to my country by a study of its ideals and by a constant interest in the general welfare of my state and nation. I shall strive to do something each day to improve the standard of my home, my school and my community, and thereby endeavor to promote better citizenship,"

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Comments:

• In the 1950s, the way of life was more conducive for conveying idealistic goals to the youth of the nation.  Today, there are too many distractions and what is important is clouded over by a multitude of activities, much of which is frivolity.

• A few years later in school--Junior High School or during the Freshmen year, depending on the school or state requirements/structure--classes like "Our State" or "Civics" provided further education in the workings of government.

During my Freshmen year, I had the opportunity to attend school in both North Dakota and Florida and to study both state's governments.  What was remarkable, it seemed through the eyes of a ninth grader, was that while separated by thousands of miles, both state governments were very similar--just the names,  dates, and places differed.

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Character Counts (School Organization 1992 – Present)

Character Counts Link:  Character Counts Week.

Locally, Character Counts was introduced to our school in the early 2000s by the Guidance Counselor.  It was an effort to instill the Six Pillars of Good Character and overall, resulted in positive outcomes.

Character Counts is responsible for helping many students in elementary, middle, and high school get on the right track.  While mature thought is not expected at an early age, elementary student, benefit from organizations like Character Counts by  learning right from wrong--and by and learning about good character through practice and by example. 

As student grow older, their perception of "self" diminishes as they become more aware of the needs of others.  Yet, there will be many older students who have difficulty accepting the six pillars of character (for countless reasons) as well.  Character Counts is especially helpful for them.  Their behavior, self worth, and role in society becomes much clearer.

Schools with Character Counts have sometimes been criticized for overstepping their educational mission.  It is the right of parents to complain. For example, complaints about Character Counts for being an intrusion on family nurturing, or an indoctrination into a specific set if values contrary to parental beliefs, have and do occur.  The role that schools play in the development of a child's value system remains an issue that is open to debate.

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Commenst:

• As one parent shared while pointing their finger at me, "You teach them to read and write, we'll do the rest."

July 30, 2025  Nostalgia Revisited . . .  How it was

• "Ditto That." --  Before the days of Microsoft Word.  Watch this YouTube Video to fully appreciate MS Word's features.  When it comes to offiice work, the good old days were not that good.

• Saturday Night at the Roller Rink -- 1950s (See Google FX images below).  When I got big enough, I wore my sister's white shoe skates.  They were better than the clamp on skates with leather straps that alway fell off when the skating action got wild.  In our town, just grown up individuals and couples who liked to roller skate or skate dance would invest in shoe skates.

Older kids and adults skated in second session 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.  The little kids skated the first session--7:00 p.m. to about 9:00 p.m.  A  few younger girls had their own white lace-up shoe skates but seemed to quickly grow out of them.

At the age of 21 (late 60s), I managed Saturday Night Skating, (Tending to admissions and handing out skates, as recreation director including summer baseball coaching sponsored by the American Legion. The Legion owned the newly constructed skating facility which everyone called the Legion Hall  or sometimes referred to as the Memorial Hall as it appears with its official name and post number on the sign out front.

The Legion Hall was the hub of community activity, including public dances, school proms, school carnivals, basketball games, indoor physical education classes, and of course, Memorial Day oberservances.  Before the doors had been installed on the rear exits, my dad and I clamped on roller skates and gave it a spin.  At the time, we lived only a few feet away from the construction site.  I have to admit we were some of the first to skate on it.

 Skating was a summer event--basketball backboards were removed after the season had ended in March to signal it was time to move on to the next sport.  Then, prior to the approaching basketball season the floor was refinished and given a new coat of varnish/floor finish and baskets were reinsalled before basketball practice resumed.  This process continued until the School built a new gymnasium in the late 60s/early 70s.

Small town life goes on.  The school has closed, but I'm not sure if roller skating still continues.

• Bicycle Ride --1950s (See Google FX images below).   Playing cards attached to the bicycle spokes with clothes pins revved up the noise like a motorcycle.  We never had paved streets in those days and the balloon tires were fatter for a smoother and safer ride.  Some sidewalks could be used; however downtown, near business places, it was not allowed or frowned upon to prevent collisions with pedestrians. 

We were always patching tires and fixing broken chains.  We became good at it.  Coaster Brakes were standard--no Caliper Brakes.  English Bikes (with narrow tires) were difficult to ride on gravel roads.  Streets were all level--no hills to climb, shifting gears was non-existent, but it could have helped out on windy day.  There was  just one  front and rear sprocket.  If the bike had to chain guard, we'd roll up our right pants leg.

My first bicycle was a 26" Hiawatha girl's bike (my sister's hand-me-down).  I had to have blocks on the pedals so I could reach them and most of the time I could only pedal standing up because I didn't weigh enough to depress the pedals while sitting down.  One year later, everything was o.k.

June 21, 2025  Nomophobia -- A New Word!

Google Search Labs Query:

"Are some people who rely heavily on their cellphones afraid to leave their homes without it like forgetting to put on clothes or fastening their seatbelts?"

Search Labs | AI Overview

Yes, individuals who are highly reliant on their cell phones, especially those who exhibit symptoms of nomophobia, can experience significant anxiety when separated from their devices, similar to the discomfort some might feel if they forgot something essential like clothes or a seatbelt. 

Nomophobia (No Mobile Phone Phobia) is a psychological condition characterized by the fear of being without or disconnected from one's mobile phone. This fear can be severe enough to affect daily life and functioning. 

Here's why people with nomophobia might feel anxious:

• Fear of missing out (FOMO): They might worry about missing important social interactions, updates, or events occurring online if they don't have access to their phone.

• Need for constant connection: Smartphones have become integral to communication and daily tasks, leading to a strong reliance on them for information, staying in touch, and feeling connected.

• Smartphone as a coping mechanism: Some individuals use their phones as a way to manage anxiety, boredom, or negative emotions, so being without it removes this coping mechanism.

• Psychological dependency: Excessive and compulsive phone use creates a psychological dependency, and separation from the device can trigger anxiety and withdrawal-like symptoms.

• Fear of being unreachable or unable to access help: Feeling unable to contact others or access information in case of an emergency can cause significant anxiety. 

Symptoms of Nomophobia can include anxiety or panic without the phone, constantly checking for notifications, and even physical symptoms like sweating or increased heart rate when separated from the device. 

While not as immediately life-threatening as forgetting clothes or a seatbelt in some situations, the anxiety related to nomophobia can be significant and debilitating for those who experience it. 

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In Addition the New York Post's article of June 22, 2025 sheds light on another "hidden epidemic":  Pyschologists suggest there’s fear of missing out, fear of a better option — and now there’s “FOPO,” another stress-inducing acronym that stands for “fear of people’s opinions.”

Comments.

FOPO is symptomatic of  those who are addicted to the use of cell phones and social media that needlessly experience anxiety and high levels of stress.  My suggestion for sufferers is to put down the phone and get a life.

June 19, 2025  Television--Then and Now.  Binge watching vs. Weekly Episodes.

Instead of spending my free time posting to this website during June, I've decided to take a vacation and do some serious t.v. binge watching.

The Past (Television:  its Age of Innocence).

During the age of Over the Air Television, most evening and daytime favorites were viewed week by week.   Variety shows and musical performance were popular and had their faithful audiences tuning in weekly.  The Lawrence Welk Show, Perry Como, Dean Martin.  Laugh in, Red Skelton Show, Hee Haw, Grande Ole Opera, Hottenanny, The Ed Sullivan Show, Art Linkletter, and of course, Walt Disney's Disneyland.    The Carol Burnette Show and the Gary Moore Show were also well received.  We must not forget The Munsters, Addams Family, The Flintstones, Jetsons, Rocky and Bowinkle Show, and The Beverly Hillbillies had everyone  laughing.

Westerns were very popular.  Wagon Train, Gunsmoke--that evolved from the radio program, as well as the Lone Ranger, and Zorro, Roy  Rogers and Dale Evans, Bonanza, The Rifleman, The High Chaparral, and Palidan.

There were also comic book and science fiction series including Superman, Batman, Lost in Space, My Favorite Martian, The Twilight Zone, and Science Fiction Theater. 

Detective/crime drama and action series such as Dragnet (Badge 714), Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and Perry Mason were well received. There was also police comedy--Car 54 (Where are You).  Combat and M.A.S.H came a bit later but also had a huge following.  For the teens there was the Hit Parade, American Bandstand, and for the younger children Captain Kangaroo for daytime t.v.  Action/Adventure series included Sea Hunt, and Man from UNCLE, I SPY, Adventures in Paradise, and the Whirlybirds.

Edward R. Morrow, Walter Cronkite, Sixty  Minutes, and On the Road with Charles Kuralt were must watch news and journalistic programming--especially the week Charles Kuralt visited my home town.  The Wild Kingdom was a popular nature series.

We must not forget cooking with Julia, exercising with Jack, Mr. Fix It, The Science Guy, and generations of the Tonight Show.  Before streaming T.V. there was Stars on Ice with Alex Trebek, Bob Barker, and professional wrestling and other sports broadcasts.  

Comedies and Sitcoms were everyone's favorite and people scheduled their evenings around the airing time since "One Demand viewing" was still several decades away.  I'll Drop a few names for those who remember.  The Jackie Gleason Show (The Honey Mooners);  I love Lucy;  The Dick Van Dyke Show; The Andy Griffith Show.

I've Got a Secret; To Tell the Truth, and Truth or Consequences, and the infamous $64,000 Question were early game shows. Over the years there have been hundreds of other memorable programs that were funny, wholesome  family entertainment.

Also, local programming was popular:  Bowling for Dollars Live from North Hill Bowl on Channel 13.  Local bowlers competed for prize money.  Talent performances for March of Dimes Telethon.  Pat Bearsdale, Country Western singer, was a local legend.  The Sis Hadley Noon Show was popular as well.

It was rare if weekly series episodes ended with the words "to be continued..."  In general all weekly programs, whether it focused on doctors/hospital, rescue, police, crime, comedy, etc. lacked continuity from one episode to the next.  When they did, however, we always anticipated this story must be extra special in order to be spread over a two week time frame.   Later, this practice continued in comedies such as Seinfeld, Married with Children, etc., with the  main characters caught up in many rediculous situations (sitcoms).

Pay T.V. and Cable began to emerge but over the air was still king--for a while.   As Tube tv's. began to fade into history a new, clearer, bigger, and smarter digital t.v. came to town.  The delivery mechanism(s) evolved rapidly and there became many players--providers sprang from beneath the ground, digitally, through the air, from space and through  fine strands of fiber optic cable capable of delivering thousands of channels instead of just two or three.

A Product of the Age of Television.

Television later became available 24/7 instead of signing off at 12:00 a.m.  How often had I sat just watching the Test Pattern in the morning awaiting the Playing of the Star Spangled Banner (many kids even stood up, crossed their heart or saluted, and sang along) followed by Saturday morning Cartoons.

A bit later in life, I watched the flag wave and listened while the Nationl Anthem played following the late night movie.  The Test Pattern once again appeared and eventually signed off--the screen turned to snow as a final reminder TV was finished for the day and it was now time to go to bed.

Today (Television:  Diversity in Taste and Thought) .

Binge watching doesn't require many continuous hours on Netflix, for example.  Well, in fact, it does require many hours, but thanks to today's technology viewing can be conveniently broken up as needed.   Features such as Streaming; On Demand; Pause; and Resume makes it easy.   Also, with multiple tv's throughout the home, it is possible to resume where you left off in another room if you're Logged In.

The choices are wide and varied and selecting something to watch occupies much of the viewing experience.

Netflix and many other streaming channels--some free with ads and others that are not--have so much to offer it's like you can never find exactly what you want to watch.  Have we all become that spoiled.

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Comments.

In the old days we were not as fussy about what to watch.  It was mostly uplifting, wholesome entertainment.  The news programming was believable and all broadcasts and networks maintained a high standard  of integrity and journalistic professionalism.  In recent years, however, Weather Forecasts are much more precise.

Lastly, viewing a screen in the year 2025 goes far beyond television--but  television is still there if you want it.

May 26, 2025  Lilacs--Rendered with GIMP

GIMP Photo Editor provides nearly unlimited options for creating or modifying photographs and digital creations.  Today's post captures this year's Lilac blossoms which were especially beautiful due to timely rains.   Lilacs bloom once annually and unfortunately are only at their best for a few days.

Below are two images of Lilac blossoms with leaves and sky in the background.   The remaining images are variations using GIMP Filters and Color settings.  Featured today are the following settings:  Kaleidoscoope, Cubism, Emboss, Mosaic, Whirl and Pinch--all Distorts filters.  In addition, Color options such as  Hue Chroma, Invert, Temperature, Exposure, Brightness and Contrast, and Color Balance, etc.,  were applied. 

New for me today was the application of the High Pass... Filter found in the Enhance filter group.  The Hue Chroma color adjustment was then applied to intensify the colors (see image captions below).

Lastly, some of the images could be used for abstract art while other examples could become part of a duplicated backgound pattern.  These filters and settings could also be applied to geomotrical drawings instead of using photographs.

May 16, 2025  Nature vs. Digital--Nature Photography; SktechUp and GIMP

Here are contrasting views of digital photography of nature--the sky, clouds, and plant life along side a SketchUp conglomeration of shapes and colors that have been filtered, pinched, and swirled with various lighting effects applied.  (Recent Photos from the front and back yard).

The left pane below is set for auto start with a very slow transition speed.  The right pane is also set for auto start but with a slow transition speed which means the left pane view is not paired with the right since the right pane is changing  images about twice as fast.  The viewer will see a greater variety if views with this configuration.  Click on the pane or use the left and right arrows to disable this feature.

March 21, 2025  Old Postcards--Photographic Editing

Before the days of Facebook, people would send postcards to friends and relatives to share a glimpse of what it was like where they had visited or were living.

One such postcard, shown below, found its way back to me that had been mailed by my grandfather to his parents living in Ontario, Canada.  Distant relatives thought I might like to have it.  It was postmarked 1911 on the opposite side--the circular stamping is partially visible in the image below.

People today just can't resist, myself included, colorizing old photographs that in their own right had been beautifully composed using the technology of the time period.  The first image below is shown in its original sepia tone, while the second has been minimally colorized using the GIMP photo editor.

February 15, 2025  Three Crows--Photography

We have been experiencing sub-zero temperatures this week.  The air temperature has dropped to -25 Degrees below with a wind chill of about -50.  In past years we usually see an influx of country animals such as deer that seek out more protected areas within the city limits.  Since the snow depths has not yet limited their access to food, they haven't arrived at this time.

However, three crows circled our house today and then decided to perch half way up in our tall trees to observe the doves and sparrows at the bird feeder directly below.   They didn't seem impressed with the offering of bird seed scattered on the ground so they moved on.

February 11, 2025  Snowy Owl Sightings

Living only a few miles from the Canadian Border it was quite common to spot a Snowy Owl perched on a fence post during the coldest winter months.  I don't ever recall getting very close to these owls before they took flight--between one-quarter to three-quarters of a mile being the closest.

Human impact, environmental, and weather changes have contributed to the population decline of many  species of animals including the arctic owl.

Snowy owls are flagged as Vulnerable but are not on the Endangered species list at the present.

Their numbers are not exact (believed to be between 14,000 and 28,000 breeding adults in existence).  Here are links  to various sources concerning their status. 

At the bottom of this post are sighting maps that identify snowy owl sightings globally as well as regional and closeups that identify areas nearer to my location.

Source:  All About Birds

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"The snowy owl, like the polar bear, holds a special place in human imagination, from ancient morality tales told around Arctic fires to Hedwig from the wizarding world of Harry Potter. These northern wanderers can be found in Canada, Scandinavia, Russia, Iceland and the British Isles—occasionally even making it as far south as Hawaii. They can fly back and forth across continents.

One female owl tracked in 2012 traveled 7,000 miles round-trip from Boston to Nunavut. In a phenomenon known as an irruption, large numbers of snowy owls sometimes emerge from their nests in a given season and make it down to the suburbs of U.S. cities like Seattle and Boston—even as far south as Texas.

The snowy owl, like the polar bear, holds a special place in human imagination, from ancient morality tales told around Arctic fires to Hedwig from the wizarding world of Harry Potter

These northern wanderers can be found in Canada, Scandinavia, Russia, Iceland and the British Isles—occasionally even making it as far south as Hawaii. They can fly back and forth across continents. One female owl tracked in 2012 traveled 7,000 miles round-trip from Boston to Nunavut. In a phenomenon known as an irruption, large numbers of snowy owls sometimes emerge from their nests in a given season and make it down to the suburbs of U.S. cities like Seattle and Boston—even as far south as Texas."

Source:  Smithsonian Magazine

February 8, 2025

August 5, 2024  Mr. Fix It Rides Again

This story is about sheer stupidity and the effects of old age.  Yesterday, my external computer speakers did not turn on as indicated by the green light below the Off/On/Volume knob. The stereo speakers had been working fine the night before.

I therefore checked the connection leading to the computer and the second speaker to see if they had been disconnected or somehow damaged.  They appeared to be o.k. so I thought it might be a problem with the computer.  To check that, I plugged my headset into the front audio out jack  on the computer and everything was normal.

Next, I thought there may be a broken internal wire inside the speaker, so I removed the pair of speakers to take a look.

Small computer speakers are very inexpensive—about $15.00 a pair to replace.  It didn’t seem to be much of a loss if they couldn’t be repaired.  After about 15 minutes of struggling with no success, I found a YouTube video that showed how to remove the tiny 4" x 6” front grill (Altec Lansing speakers).

That was all the help provided on the video so I proceeded to loosen the 3” speaker using a miniature Phillips head screwdriver.  More investigation revealed that the next step was to pull off the volume knob (that usually falls off by itself) and pry off the molded plastic front.

This is where the fun began.  The front was not only a snug fit—it had also been bonded with some type of gummy sealant, probably applied to suppress vibration.  With an abundance of patience, determination and a very narrow flat screwdriver serving as a wedge, the front popped off without breaking (that was a miracle).

The perimeter of the molding was no longer in pristine condition, but that didn’t matter, as long as an internal speaker wire could be reattached or soldered if necessary.  I hadn’t realized at the time how small wires had become inside modern speakers—these were not 14” or 18” woofers.

With the opened front section removed, the dislodged circuit board fell out with wires still connected to the rear input jack.  That was all I needed to know.  The connection had not been broken.  I further speculated that a resistor or some other component on the circuit board had failed.  It was not worth taking them to an electronics shop so this would mark the end of their long life.  They were originally used with an earlier computer 20 years ago.

Rather than throwing them in the trash, the main speaker was carefully re-assembled and the pair were placed on a shelf for future experiments (pack-ratted away).

Today, after a good night’s rest, I began thinking about the challenge of opening the speaker case.  I remembered observing a circular opening at the back located below the input output jack.  The print next to it was too small to read and I dismissed it as an optional method for connecting the input and output signal.

In fact, the Mystery Hole was  for the Power Supply.  Duh.  The power cord must have come loose and had fallen to the floor.  Sure enough, after reconnecting the speakers along  with its power cord, the green light turned on and they both worked like new.  Luckily, I hadn’t damaged the speakers except for marring one case that was hidden from view anyway.

Aged related?  In what respects?   Well I would have to say from experience:  Poor Eyesight and a Narrowing Range of Focus when problem solving.  I can’t blame this one on the cat!  How could I, having installed and set up hundreds of computer systems, make such a basic troubleshooting Miss Steak. 

August 2, 2024  The Congressional Record, The Christian Science Monitor, and Allsides.com

Back in 1965, my Political Science Professor said, "If you want to know what's going on in the country and its government, you'll need to read The Congressional Record.   Most magazines, newspapers, and news outlets are biased in one way or another."  He went on to say , "but the drawback using The Congressional Record is the enormous volume of printed text you'd have to sift through daily is beyond any individual's ability."

At the time, according to the professor and others in his field, the Christian Science Monitor (Established 1908) was considered to be the best non-biased international daily newspaper (due to its non-profit status perhaps) with about a quarter million subscribers.

Today, you don't have to worry about filling your home with stacked volumes of The Congressional Record. Instead, it's available free online, both in text and audio.  Old volumes have been converted to PDFs.  C-Span Channels also provide televised segments of Congressional sessions.

Here is the link to the online version of The Congressional Record for July 31, 2024:   The Congressional Record.  From there you can navigate back to Home and explore it more thoroughly.

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An Original Story

Back in 1965, my Political Science Professor advised, "If you want to understand what's happening in the country and its government, you should read The Congressional Record. Most magazines, newspapers, and news outlets have some bias." He added, "The drawback of using The Congressional Record is the enormous volume of printed text you'd have to sift through daily, which is beyond any individual's ability."

At that time, the professor and others in his field considered the Christian Science Monitor (established in 1908) to be the best non-biased international daily newspaper, possibly due to its non-profit status. It had about a quarter million subscribers.

Today, you don't have to worry about filling your home with stacks of The Congressional Record. Instead, it's available for free online, both in text and audio formats. Old volumes have been converted to PDFs, and C-SPAN channels provide televised segments of Congressional sessions.

Here is the link to the online version of The Congressional Record for July 31, 2024: The Congressional Record.  From there, you can navigate back to the homepage and explore it more thoroughly.
______________________________

After nearly 60 years, the orginizational structure and method of delivery for The Christian Science Monitor has changed, and so has the Political Structure along with the emergence of the Internet and Social Media.

Allsides.com whose, mission is to rank news organizations on their bias and authenticity, does not state that the Christian Science Monitor is non-biased.  Instead, it gives them a "Center" rating.  AllSides.com contends that everyone has biases and that biases are not necessarily bad things.

AllSides.com Confidence Level.  "As of August 2024, AllSides has high confidence in our Center rating for Christian Science Monitor.  Two or more bias reviews have affirmed this rating or the source is transparent about bias."

Here is a YouTube video explaining what AllSides.com does:  About AllSides.

Lastly, on a related topic, here's an interesting short read from the Princeton University Press:  What do you really know about Gullibility?  with excerpts from his book, Not Born Yesterday, by Hugo Mercier (Cognitive Scientist).

May 19, 2024 Minimalistic Life Style -- Unclutter Your Life and Experience Prosperity

My dad was a product of the Great Depression.  While his family was never wanting for the basic essentials in life, they were poor like most and were able to make due.  Later, he would occasionally   comment , "It is a good feeling to look in a store window and think to yourself, I can walk in and pay cash for that wrist watch if I wanted to,"  which I interpreted as meaning he really didn't need to buy it, but had enough money to do so without sacrifice.

His words are etched in memories.  They expressed the notion that you don't have to "have" everything you see.  That outlook had to be the attitude in the "days before credit cards" in order to put food on the table.

Minimalistic life style.   Had I heeded the subtle message of my father, purges of clutter would not have been necessary.  Recycling of every-day refuse such as packaging, aluminum cans, plasttics, glass bottles and jars, or a worn out pair of stockings or shirt after they have been torn up and used for rags  should be the extent of weekly clutter.  If disposed of on garbage day, there would never be a permanent state of clutter.

Size of a Home:   Is the measure of wealth based on the Square Footage of a home.  Not really if there is a burdensome monthly payment due each month for the next 30 years.  You are not a minimalist If the only reason for purchasing a large home is for a place to keep all your stuff.

If your family is large or includes several generations of family, or roommates, then more space is required to breathe and to enjoy privacy.  A small home free of clutter will save you millions over a life time.  A large home filled to the gills with stuff may keep you broke.

Minimalism does not succumb to the lure of advertising.  Minimalism  does not prevent yourself or family members from experiencing a high standard of living.  But do not let advertising and images of smiling and laughing people jumping into the air convince you that their product is for you.

By instilling minimalistic belief at a young age it is possible to build wealth without sacrifice.  Others may suggest that you're denying yourself of the good life.  In fact, it's just the opposite.  The point at which you may want to Cash In on your fortune is up to you.  Maybe you will always be content with the thought that "I can buy that nice sports car if I really wanted it."

The knowledge of financial security maybe the only reward you desire.

May 5, 2024 Computer Printer Woes -- Four Decades of Disappointment

Having experienced the pleasures of recently creating A I generated images with Google ImageFX  and Windows Image Creator, plus beautifully rendered Twilight Images using SketchUp, I am contemplating breaking my vow to Never Buy Another Printer.

In the late 70s and 80s I owned a Ricoh and Apple Imagewriter dot matrix printers.  They both used the same size ribbon cartridge (also, the same ribbon size that fit the spools for my 1915 Underwood Model 5 typewriter).  Both printers were reliable with no paper jams--and both accommodated tractor feed paper and/or mailing labels, etc.

The Ricoh (connected to an Apple II+ computer) had limited print options (could not line justify and lacked graphics capabilities).  A few years later the Apple Imagewriter II printer cost about half as much as my first printer ($940 down to about $450), It was also dot matrix with the same size ribbon, could create almost typeset quality print with many font styles available (connected to Apple IIe and IIc computers), and had some graphics capabilities for printing charts and clipart, etc.

Cost of ribbons was negligible.  I learned how to pry open the cartridge and lightly spray the folded ribbon in place with WD 40 lubricant.  The ink from unused areas on the ribbon would disperse and extend the life of the ribbon by two- or three-fold or until holes would begin to appear down the center of the ribbon or until the print became faint (Just make sure to allow the ribbon a few days to dry).  The Dot matrix printers never wore out or required repair.  They went their way due to obsolesence along with the computers that had driven them.   This is a story about prized possessions that turn into junk in the blink of an eye and continues to repeat itself every few years.

Then came the inkjets in the early 90s.  The expensive HP inkjet--Hewlett-Packard (connected to a PC Clone DOS--pre-Windows) would consume an ink cartridge after a few pages were printed. It was always out of ink.  I had even tried injection kits to refill ink cartridges--but what a mess.  The HP inkjet printer was single colored--black--with limited font capabilities.  It did have a professional looking but limited font set and was quiet comparted to the dot matrix printer's  loud buzz and hum.

Next, was a bargain-basement Okidata Inkjet (connected to my first and only Macintosh computer).  It could use either a black or multi-color inkjet cartridge.  It was also an ink hog, prone to frequent paper jams, and misaligned colored ink dispersion.  It was so frustrating that I took it to the back yard and gave it a couple of swift kicks before throwing it in the recyle bin.  You get what you pay for applied here.

In 2012 my wife gave me a Canon Inkjet for Christmas (by then I had vowed to never buy another home printer).  The printer was also a multi-color ink cartridge glutton.  The Canon printer (connected to a PC  Windows NT that provided a way to print out edited images taken with the Canon Digital Camera she had given me in 2007.  The printer was able to print photo quality images, provided that costly Canon photo-quality paper was used.  We later discovered that Walmart's Photo  Kiosk could provide better quality images at a much cheaper cost and with less hassle.

The Canon printer began to jam, especially while using the heaveir weight photo quality paper.  One day, upon powering up, the printer produced an audible grunt and a little jerk as if something had been downloaded to it and reset.  Thereafter, the inkjet's print head would never return to its home position.  Paranoia set in with thoughts of company sabotage or hackers.  That was my final printer (2014).

Conclusion.  In recent weeks, I've been considering  purchasing a Laser Printer but then again, Why?  How can I justify the expense, paper jams, and toner cartridge frustrations.  Having printouts for the sake of just pressing Print can just as well be printed to a PDF file and avoid the paper clutter.  If I should ever need a document printed, it can be uploaded to a thumb drive and printed elsewhere.  This fellow has endured too much printer misery to be swayed.

August 9, 2023 One Thing Nobody Ever Told Me--About Eye Glasses

If you wear eyeglasses, one thing is for sure, they need to be regularly cleaned.  I started wearing reading glasses in my forties and 35 years later, I finally figured out how to polish the lenses.

Cleaning each lens has never been the problem.  What comes afterwards--polishing, has been a very awkward ordeal.  I have watched others polish their glasses but had not taken a close enough look at the procedure.

Why could they do this so effortlessly while I clumsily rubbed and buffed to no avail.  The optometrist or fitter at the the eyeglasses boutique didn't effectively demonstrate or explain the technique in detail.  Here was my revelation (shown in boldface) discovered purely by accident:

"Clean the lenses and then polish each lens by placing a soft cloth or lens paper/cloth between your thumb and inside edge of your Middle finger. Then gently rotate the thumb while holding your glasses in your other hand at the bridge or near a hinge as needed."  By cradling the lens on the side of the middle finger, equal pressure can be applied to the cloth on both sides of the lens.  The middle finger on the bottom will naturally move in synchrony with the thumb rotation.

I had been using my index finger and thumb in the past but that never felt comfortable.  Perhaps this phenomenon is unique to my hand's anatomy and/or lack of hand-eye coordination--Klutzy.

July 1, 2023 Fun with FireFox Text Reader--FireFox Browser

Open the Fire Fox Web Browser.  Toggle Reader View, Select Listen, and play this paragraph at the fastest speed:

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.  A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper Picked.  Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.  A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper Picked.  Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.  A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper Picked.  Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.  A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper Picked.  Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.  A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper Picked.  

Next, fast forward to this message and decrease the Reading rate:

When, I, am, elect, ted, as, your, Next, Prez, ah dent, of, the You, nigh ted, States, I, will, en, sure, that, the ah, purr, a, shun, of, the Feder ell, Govern, meant, moves, swift, ly, and, e, fish, shunt, ly.  Fur, ther  more, the Off, fiss, of, the Prez, ah dent, will, give, prompt, ah, ten shun, to, all, matt, ters, of, State, that, are, un, der, my, sue, per vision.  Thank, you, very, much, and, Vote, for, your, In, deep, end dent, Can, did, dates, on, No, vem, burr, Fourth.  May, God, Bless, the You, nigh, ted, States, of, Ah, mare, ick, caw.

Normal Cadence:

When I am elected as your next President of the United States I will ensure that the operation of the Federal Government moves swiftly and efficiently.  Furthermore, the Office of the President will give prompt attention to all matters of State that are under my supervision.  Thank you very much and Vote for your Independent Candidates on November Fourth.  May God Bless the United States of America.

June 17, 2023 Learn More About What We're Made of--Living

The National Institutes of Health website provides a behind the scenes look at what goes on inside all of us.   How often do we listen to commercials speed talking through a long list of the side effects from a particular medication or treatment.  There is a lot of technology and research involved before we have an opportunity to use these wonder drugs.

Check out NIH news releases from the past 10 years to track some of the advances that are being made in identifiying causes of disease and potential treatments through genetics and experimentation.   Laboratory findings as well as clinical applications are discussedNIH YouTube Video (May 2023).

May 21, 2023.  Enjoying Life in Rural Towns--Opinion.

Small towns have been experiencing a decline ever since the days of the first automobiles and expanded road systems.  This has been ongoing for at least the past 75 years.  Many communities have faded away completely while others have endured the migration to the cities.

For those of us who have remained, most are content staying where they are.  The young people, of course, yearn for the excitement of city life.

May 19, 2023   Air Quality--Forest Fire Season.

Tom's Take.  Apart from prairie fires, people living in farming country have been fairly tolerant and understand why farmland is occasionally burned.  On the other hand, within the past decade, it is almost a given that smoke from forest and wild fires out west or up north will be carried by the prevailing winds to our part of the country.

I can't remember any other time in my life when it had been this noticeable.  Before regulation, however, it was common to see huge plumes of blue smoke from oil well pit burn off up north in Canada as well as in oil fields in the U.S.

Also, one must not forget numerous above-ground atmospheric nuclear tests in Russia and the Pacific where radioactive fallout drifted across the prairie saturating the soil during the 50s.

Now we are bombarding the planet with high frequency radio waves thanks to billions of cell phones, etc., that cover the planet.

There are too many people with too many trucks and automobiles, trains, planes, cargo ships and oil tankers.   Without trying to sound like an alarmist, we're doing it to ourselves.

Most recently, for the past few days we have been experiencing foul smelling forest fire smoke drifting in from the West Coast States and Idaho; Alberta and B.C. in Canada.  At times, the blue haze has created near zero visibility on the highways.  It makes breathing difficult and causes eye irritation.

Lightning strikes are the main cause of these fires.  Advocates of forest management seem to be struggling to stay ahead, but with tinder dry undergrowth and the frequency and severity of thunderstorms, they're losing ground.

The forests have been there for a long time.  Natural burning is part of a long term life cycle; however, the frequency of such fires have many concerned.  The problem intensifies with our growing population inhabiting housing developments built in forested areas.

Air Quality in the Home.   When air quality due to smoke from forest/wild fires became an issue approximately 10 years ago, I purchased a small Holmes Air Purifier for the bedroom.  Most of the time it is set to low and keeps the dust, smoke, and cat dander at a minimum.  When the first whiff of smoke came in the house this week, I turned it to high and also turned on the Ionizer option.  I know this seldom-used feature did what it was supposed to because the smell was gone within minutes--the air was fresh and easy to breathe.

There is a dispute about whether or not Ionized air is safe to breathe.  For me, I asked myself, "what's better, coughing and scratchy eyes due to smoke, or breathing normally."  The ionizer option is turned on only when needed.  I will then exit the room and close the door.   Fifteen minutes later or when the air is fresh, I turn the ionizer off.

The Holmes air Purifier (desktop model) sits upright on a bedroom shelf (see images below).  A Carbon Monoxide Alarm sits next to it.  Last week I accidentally burnt a piece of toast that had been sliced too thin.  A trace of the smoke reached the bedroom and set off the alarm.  It's good to know that it is working.

The Holmes air purifier shown below sells for under $50.00.  Replacement filters purchased at Walmart won't fit my older model unless I modify the spacer guides on the sides and remove the rubber adhesive spacers on the bottom of the filter.  The spacer guide modification is a one time fix and the rubber adhesive spacers from the bottom can be place on the sides to hold the filter securely over the opening. Filtrete replacement filters, made by 3M, are reasonably priced at Walmart.

There is also a washable filter for catching large dust particles that lays on top of the main Hepa filter. Eventually it became worn from repetitive cleaning.  It was replaced a few years ago with a piece of a similar quality air conditioner filter cut to size with a scissor.

The Carbon Monoxide filter was purchased a few years ago because extremely cold weather caused ice buildup in the sewer vent that could prove fatal.  Ideally, it should be positioned as low as possible in a room.  Like smoke detectors, it also runs on batteries in case of power failure.

Because blocked sewer vents are a problem in many homes in northern regions of the country, the local fire department will assist homeowners by climbing up on the roof to unplug them using whatever method necessary--pouring in hot water or simply breaking the ice.

The fire department has also equipped both sewer vents on our roof with a long Copper T pipe that transfers heat from within the house upward.   It has helped but isn't completely fool proof.  In our town, residents only have to call the fire department and someone is there within the hour to open the vents.

Carbon Monoxide is odorless, but if sewer gas is detected, that is a signal to open up a window or door until the problem is addressed.  Everyone is grateful for the fire department's asistance.

We do not use gas appliances or use combustible gas, coal or wood, etc. for heating.  Utilizing any of them would be another justification for investing $20--$50 to purchase a Carbon Monoxide Alarm.

Important Note:  An air conditioner and air purifier does not eliminate toxic gases or residue.  Open doors, windows, employ fans or exhaust systems, and eliminate the source to prevent further intrusion.  Evacuate the premises including humans, pets, plants, medications, and edibles, or discard food stuffs if contaminated.  Consult trained professionals regarding airborne contamination and poisonous matter on surfaces.

May 8, 2023.  Television Imagery--It Ain't What it Used to Be.

For the past four or five decades, give or take a few years, leisure time once devoted to watching t.v. from antenna based channels has now become subdivided by multiple sources.  The evolution began with Cable and on Demand, VCRs, DVD's, Home Satellite and then progressed to fiber optic streaming of  programming, video games, and integration with cellphones and notepads, etc.

As competition for advertiser's dollars became more and more dispersed, some television prime time viewing hours became bloodier and bloodier.  The progressively more desensitized audience thirsts for greater stimulation from graphic violence or shocking images of carnage.  Even network t.v. is pretty mild stuff compared to movies, streaming t.v. series, and video games that adults and young people are exposed to.

For example, Tonight's CBS's NCIS programming aired at around 9:00 p.m.  It was Season 20/Episode 20 entitled "Second Opinion".  I happened to be flipping through channels with the remote and landed on this most gruesome scene of an autopsy being performed on a young woman.  Her bloody chest cavity was shown pulled open at which time one of the investigators was putting her hand into the opening.  For a more startling effect, the camera angle was shot from the inside the cavity looking upward and outward at the expression on the investigator's face.

This is a common angle when showing people opening refrigerator doors, etc., or for comedic purposes such as in the "Coneheads" where Beldar Conehead was getting his teeth capped.   To use it for visual effect in portraying  the aftermath of a death is about as desensitizing as it gets.   

I think there is a relationship between imagery put forth by the various forms of media and the disregard for human life that exists in this country.  This is not a religious stance, it is an observation.  Things seem to be getting worse, if you haven't noticed.

Some minds cannot distinguish between fantasy and reality.  The cultural acceptance of macabre media content adds fuel to the fire.

Afterthought.  Finally, it is important to give credit to well crafted productions and talented performers that can make us laugh, inspire us, or make us cry.   It is totally unfair to focus only on the ugly or disturbing aspects of media.  It can be ignored (skipped over) if one so chooses.   There is so much pleasant and beautifully written content available -- search for it and enjoy life.

November 18, 2022  Dirt Devil Versatility.   When the power of a floor model vacuum cleaner is not required, a little Dirt Devil may be what is needed for the job.  The best use we've had for the Dirt Devel since purchasing it a couple of years ago is for vacuuming numerous throw rugs and hallway runners.  To make things more cozy and comfortable on bare feet, we've put rugs and runners over newly installed hardwood laminate next to beds and in the hallway.  We also placed a rug on a high traffic carpeted area.

Our large floor model vacuum cleaners are too powerful for this job and will suck up the light weight/rubber backed rugs.   The little Dirt Devil shown below came with an extension handle and a motor driven beater bar attachment that does an excellent job picking up lint, small amounts of pet hair, crumbs, etc., and will also fluff up the rug.   It's not intended for deep cleaning ground-in,  soiled rugs or carpets.

The Dirt Devil Vibe is priced at around $40.00.  That's a good price and seems to be the right appliance for the job.

May 24, 2022  Take Control of Your Web Browsing Experience.   Everyone has their opinion on what is best regarding web browsing.  For me, it's a combination of entertainment, staying informed, and curiosity.

When reading news stories from various informational sources, I frequently run across a new term or an unfamiliar word.  I usually finish reading the paragraph and then do a quick search preceded by the word "define".  All too often at the top of the list of returned  links will be an entry from the Urban Dictionary, for example, with a few raunchy words that catch my eye.  I've been looking for years to find a method to get rid of this garbage once and for all.  The best I had been able to do was to block these sites by adding any offenders to my hosts file, but that's not what I required--it was still showing up in the searches.

Recently, I searched Google's Chrome Web Store extensions for updates and finally found what I wanted.  UBlacklist is an easy to use extension that works like this after it has been added to your browser:   If your search returns something you don't want to be looking at, there is a line above every returned link that says:  "Block This Site".  When you click it, the site will be deleted from the list and omitted from all future web searches.  That's what I'm talking about!  One strike and you're Out.   If you accidentally click the wrong item, you can go into the extension's detail options and remove the URL from the blacklist.

In previous years when I was trying to elminate this annoyance, I had read there used to be an option/extension when conducting Google Searches that would do this, but for some reason it became inoperative in later versions of Google's browsers.  Apparently, it's now back by popular demand.

March 4, 2022  Interesting Observations Unworthy of Home Page Placement.  Click here to view:   Dry Humor.

😐

October 2, 2021  Automotive Ignition Switch Woes--DIY.   Our 17 year old SUV was having difficulty starting last month.  Every time we turned the ignition switch it went "Click" and wouldn't start until it felt like it.  The remedy involved a roll of Duck Tape and a bottle of St. Joseph's Low Dose Aspirin.  Here's what I did .

It had been a very dry summer and then in September it rained a lot.  I thought the ignition switch circuit might be faulty due to the high humidity.  I laid a harmless, humidity absorbent, desiccant packet from a bottle of aspirin on the sticky side of a piece of duct tape and then taped it over the ignition key slot. 

The next day, I pulled the tape down so I could insert the key to try start it.  The car started immediately and has started every time for the past 3 weeks.  After removing the key, the tape and Pillow Pak are put back in place.  That fixed it for now.  If it starts acting up again, I'll look for a replacement desiccant packet and a fresh piece of tape. 

 Precaution:  Sticky tape may cause permanent damage to
metal finish or painted surface and material surrounding the ignition switch.

June 18, 2021  Special Characters Sub- and Superscripts--Editing New Google Sites Web Pages.  The following characters and symbols are not readily available (or easily created) in New Google Sites.  Here is a small selection that can be copied and pasted as needed:

Shown in 12 Point Arial:

Superscript:    1        Normal:   1        Subscript:   1    After pasting in the sub- or superscript 1, change it to anything you want.

Symbols:   ©   ®   ¶  

Accents:  é   ñ   ú 

Fractions:  ¼  ½  ¾   ⅛   ⅓   ⅔   ⅕   ⅖  ⅗  ⅘   ⅙   ⅚   ⅛   ⅜   ⅝   ⅞   Sorry, these cannot be edited here.    

The above were individually copied from Microsoft Word's Symbols option.  The method for changing colors may vary depending on the application in use.

New Google Sites allows you to reduce character size down to One Point.  Here is  9/32 in small fraction form created manually using superscript for the numerator and various normal resizing for the diagonal and denominator:   9/32.       

Here's how: 

1. Copy and paste superscript 1:      1

2. Change 1 to 9 and resize it to 10 point:    9        9    

3. Type a normal / after the  9  (12 point Arial):    9/

4. Type 32 after the diagonal and resize 32 to 6 point:    9/32      9/32  

(Note:  if the point size 6 is not listed in the drop down list, type it over the first number in the list.) 

This method is not perfect but it will give a document's appearance more uniformity than by mixing large with small fractions.  Word's Ctrl-D function can be used to raise the selected numerator but does not copy and paste as such to New Google Sites web pages.

April 15, 2021  Migratory Birds--Photography,  Poetry.   The past 3 or 4 day saw a return to winter with temperatures in the 20's -- 30's and some rain followed by 8 inches of snow.   Our back yard bird feeding area was a hot spot for several hundred blackbirds that sought refuge in the tall trees while waiting their turn to feed.

We tripled the amount of bird seed normally sprinkled on the ground in order to accommodate our unexpected guests.  Blackbirds had also filled the trees in the surrounding block.  It sounded like they were enjoying themselves as they perched in the trees for most of the day--their song was like dozens of wind chimes in synchrony all tuned to the same pitch.  I stopped what I was doing and listened.  This melancholy verse tells more:

The seemingly distant, repeating melody echoed eerily through the treetops.

A light snow was falling that filtered out all other sound.

It was a memorable experience-- 

mesmerizing, a moment of complete tranquility.

                                                                                                  T. Bolton

February 20, 2021  Streaming Media--Revisited.  For the past several years I occasionally offer my rambling two cents worth regarding streaming media--specifically Netflix which I have been a subscriber for 4 or 5 years.

Most recently, I have binge watched the Jericho and Colony t.v. series over the past three weeks.  Both productions were made a few years ago and had aired on other networks.  Violence, warfare, rebellion, and mature content made them unsuitable for family viewing.  Their plots were dark with social and political implications regarding personal freedom.  In contrast, Jericho dealt with disruptive forces from within our government while Colony depicted life after an alien invasion from outer space.

After viewing both in their entirety, I have two positive comments to share:

1. Since both were now being streamed by Netflix, they were commercial free and ready to watch in their entirety.

2. Both series contained very little, if any, foul language and were uplifting in that respect--each series did quite well without vulgarity.  Personally, the first time I heard profanity at the movies, everyone in the Sunday matinee audience gasped as all of the oxygen was being sucked out of the air.  Some elderly ladies, wearing hats, clutched their purses and exited the theater.  As a child, I speculated they had soiled themselves.  For most, times were gentler and less angry back then.  Nowadays, profanity seems to be commonplace with the exception of Network T.V. and G-Rated Movies--it appears to me the bar for decency is also being lowered there as well.

The Downsides:

1. The numbing effect of hour after hour of violence and misery was perhaps a turnoff for many viewers.

2. Both series had been cancelled before the whole story had been told. In my case, it was like buying a book, reading it to the end, only to discover the last chapter or two had been torn out.

Netflix, you have the resources.  Bring these series and others like them to a fitting end.  If not a complete season, do with them as you did with Breaking Bad by producing El Camino.  When the Covid-19 threat has ended, the actors would welcome the chance to get back to work.  Many thousands of fans would be grateful.

November 21, 2020  Splitting Hairs--Word Meanings.  Being able to communicate clearly comes with practice along with having command of a vocabulary set that is comfortable to use.  Myself, this has been a stumbling block that I am always attempting to rectify.

Makeable vs. Makable

Being able to precisely speak or write what you mean can become quite selective regarding choice of words.  For instance, look at these two words:  makeable and makable.  At first, I thought makeable had a variant spelling and meant exactly the same thing.  Actually, make + able (makeable) is defined as able to be made whereas makable, also an adjective, means capable of being made.  To understand this, it is necessary to know the definitions of able and capable (Merriam-Webster Dictionary).

Here's an example.  If I were a skilled carpenter and my wife asked if I could build a wooden deck on the back of the house, I would probably respond with confidence, "It's makeable."

However, if I were asked to pour a concrete patio, I would respond "It's makable, but, I'll have to read up and practice on a smaller project first."  

Since the two words are homophones, it makes absolutely no difference in speech in this instance.   When in written form, the insertion or omission of the "e" at the end of the first syllable does make a difference. 

For these two words, I try to think that of makeable as having all the requisites and skills for getting the job done, or made.  Makable, on the other hand, should be used when these prerequisites are not present, but there is potential for getting the job done or made upon their acquisition.  (Who Cares!)

Anecdotal Remarks--Humor 

Being a life-long fan and player of Carom Billiards, Snooker, and Pocket Billiards, the term Makeable is commonly used while the game is in progress.  One of the biggest parts of a friendly game is the verbal exchange and laughter that can sometimes consume and interfere with the quality of play.  But that's  o.k.

If I were to play today, I might enjoy dropping this line into the conversation in order to evoke some kind of a response:

If a difficult shot presents itself (doesn't matter which kind of game) and my opponent says, "I think this shot is makeable," and then shoots and misses, I might respond by saying "Makeable for me, but only makable for you," and then proceed to clarify between the two.  Of course, this remark would not be presented in a mean spirited manner.  Also, don't say this outside your circle of friends.  You might get clobbered.

September 27, 2020  Garage Renovation--Hobbies.  Thirty-five years ago, I purchased an old Snooker table, restored it, and set it up in what was once my garage.  Windows, siding, and brick trim replaced the garage door.  The garage was pretty much useless in the winter.   For most of the winters I lived in the house, the slightest breeze would fill the driveway with a 6 foot snow drift--cars had to be left outside in order to get to work on time.

Repurposing the garage made it possible to acquire a few more antiques that deserved a new life.  An old piano and coke machine can be seen at the left in the photo below.  Atop the piano was a VHS video camera mounted on a tripod.  It was used to stream live snooker to the internet in the year 2000.  It was pretty choppy using a slow CPU and pre DSL connection.  Here's a link to some of the footage I recorded:  Snooker.

I sold the property many years ago. Today, the only items I've kept include the coke machine which I have in storage, a couple of chairs, and an antique bookcase.  Everything else including the snooker table and cue rack was given to others or discarded.

That's my opinion

September 11, 2020  Conservation and the Environment--Nature and Human Behavior.   In our rural community, crop spraying usually begins in May or June and continues almost non stop into July.  The application of chemicals has become a science and their dispersal depends on what is needed to keep the crops healthy.

Living only a mile from the airport, the distinct sound of crop dusters taking off and flying overhead can be heard from early morning to near sundown.  Application on the ground with huge boom sprayers is another delivery system.  The County Weed Board also gets into the act by spraying the ditches along the roads or wherever invasive weeds are growing.

Humans and their livestock are in need of the high yield crops that flourish in our agricultural community.  The Earth's population requires more food every year.  If our population continues to grow, we will be eating ourselves out of house and home.  The effect on other species living with us is observable--and it doesn't take a scientist to see what is happening.

I know, that if swarms of grasshoppers devour our grain crops, I wouldn't have bread to eat.  I also know that if we didn't feed grain to our livestock, we could eat that grain, instead.  Over fishing in our oceans, lakes, and rivers has also diminished the fish population; however, restocking of lakes and rivers by state fish and game agencies keep the sport fishermen happy.  Urban sprawl and clearing of forests for farming and development have depleted the natural habitat on the planet.  Modern society is also responsible for industrial waste, dumping, landfills, and soil, water, and air pollution.  It is speculated that natural warming of the planet has been hastened by civilized man's consumption of finite resources and the release of toxic waste.

As I see it, not much enters or exits our planet and its atmosphere.  In a few centuries, people may be swimming and crawling around in filth and garbage they inherited from us.

I'm sorry, I don't have the answers to what is so troubling during our brief time on the planet.  Presently, many people view Earth as their personal  possession--to do with--whatever pleases them.  This is not right.

July 10, 2020 Pets and Laughter--Summer 2020.  In my lifetime, this year is set apart from all others due to the ongoing pandemic.  It has caused many of us to change our lifestyles in order to stay safe.  In the midst of all that is happening, being able to appreciate the little things brightens the day.

Our pets always seem to make our time at home complete.   Along with the usual banter between my wife and I, there is frequently something hilarious that happens on a daily basis.  Today was no exception.  This morning I asked Deb, my wife, what we were having for Lunch.  At about the same time, one of our cats brushed up against my leg and let out two soft peeps as some cats do.  I then remarked to Deb what a good cat he was.

As I bent down to pet him, Deb confirmed my praise for the cat by saying, "Super Nice Guy."   Only partially hearing what she had said, I straightened up and replied, "Soup."

May 25, 2020 When Poets Dream--Digital Art.  I always get a bit misty eyed on Memorial Day.  Therefore, I have marked the occasion with a sentimental poem I wrote today about poets.

May 15, 2020  Excerpt--Verse.    Robert W. Service was an author and writer of verse who published his works during the first half of the Twentieth Century.  One of his most recognized works--at least in my generation and two that preceded--is The Cremation of Sam McGee.  Many of his writings were based on his experiences and adventures in North America including the far north in the late 1800's.  The following excerpt is from one of his shorter works,  I Believe.  

Read my remarks by clicking I Believe--Word Document or I Believe--PDF File.

April 15, 2020  The Big List--Updates.  The list of Seven Letter Words that I began compiling several years ago has now grown to 6,540 words (See October 14, 2018 and April 11,2019 posts found in the archives linked on the home page).  New countable words have become much harder to identify, but occasionally, I will encounter a few.  I am not actively hunting for them, but do take note when one pops up. 

Here are the links:  Excel Spreadsheet or PDF File.

March 12, 2020  Speaking and Writing Resources--Links.  Today's post features interesting links to speaking and writing resources.  They explain what is considered appropriate and what is not

During a phone call several days ago,  I took issue with the receptionist's reply to my request to speak with an employee of that organization.  Instead of saying "I'll leave your message with her and she will return your call," the receptionist said ". . . she will reach out to you." 

With a  bit of investigation using the internet search phrases "what does the expression reaching out mean" and "what does the expression reach out mean," I soon found that I was not alone in thinking her reply seemed condescending.  Here's a humorous article written by an individual who becomes very agitated when she hears the words reaching out.    Reaching out, Seriously, Keep Your Hands to Yourself.  

On the lighter side, at the end of the story, the author embedded a video of a 1966 song by the Four Tops, (Reach Out) I'll be There.

Another song that I immediately thought of was Neil Diamond's 1969 Hit, Sweet Caroline, with lyrics: . . . Hands, touching hands, Reaching out, touching me, touching you. . . .  Here's a YouTube Link to his performance of Sweet Caroline.

At the time, I had felt belittled, but later realized the receptionist was probably attempting to use a more sophisticated way of saying she will return your call.  Return you call would have kept us on equal speaking terms and would not have been offensive.

Other links.  Here are several more links to speaking and writing resources:

6 Types of Figurative Language

The Five C's of Style

Euphemisms

Idioms

Much of the content listed above was vaguely familiar, but my ability to apply or cite examples has diminished over time due to neglect.  In an earlier life, every word was scrutinized at the graduate level before a paper could be submitted for approval.  Even then, the paper might be returned with notations explaining what changes were required.

In the 1970's , there were no quick fixes--One or two misplaced or misused words or paragraphs could mean retyping  60+ pages without visible erasures and over strikes.  A high formatting standard was set with strict rules governing footnotes and bibliography pages.  People lacking typewriting proficiency often commissioned others to proofread and type their graduate level theses and dissertations.  Typists were usually paid by the page.

Lastly, here is another personal anecdote about why speaking or writing in an appropriate style is important: True Story.

It was the summer of 1979.  I was finishing the graduate degree program at a University that was a five-hour drive from home.  I had just completed my independent study (research paper) and submitted it in a hard bound cover to my adviser who would then forward it to the Graduate School, so I was led to believe.  Feeling relieved to be finished, I decided to drive home for the weekend.

No sooner than I stepped in the door at home, the phone rang.  My adviser's graduate teaching assistant had called to explain that the professor had identified a few more items that needed to be changed before the Monday deadline.  She was kind enough to slide the marked-up copy under the door of my residence hall suite. Fortunately, it was the same co-ed facility where many graduate students, including herself, resided.   I jumped in the car and headed back.  Five hours later I was on campus at 2:00 a.m.

I removed  the pages from the binder and began retyping the entire paper with specified changes including an updated table of contents.  Most of the page numbers had to be changed because of a handful of corrections scattered throughout the paper.  Everything was completed by Sunday evening.  On Monday morning I had several photocopies made and then resubmitted the revised paper for approval.   It was accepted and approved.

Today,  the same changes could have been made in less than 10 minutes.  Back then, 36 hours of continuous typing were.required.  My portable-manual Smith Corona typewriter was really smokin' that weekend.  I was lucky to have a new typewriter ribbon and a couple boxes of erasable bond typing paper on hand.

March 8, 2020  Sentence Structure and Proofreading--Speaking and Writing.   Incomplete sentences and paragraphs with numerous grammatical errors impair communication.  Vocabulary and good spelling alone are not enough.  

The internet provides an abundance of grammar resources.  For example, here are two websites that can provide help.   Grammar Monster.Com  and  GrammarBook.Com.  

Software applications such as Microsoft Word with spelling and grammar checking are convenient for flagging errors. They are not 100% reliable.  Proofreading is still an absolute must.  Spelling and grammar checkers do not identify many types of human errors--content omissions and errors (e.g. complete sentences, paragraphs, sections), incorrect headings or titles, names, dates, and other numeric data, or relationships (e,g, mother, father, sister, brother, son, daughter, husband, wife . . .).  

Many people who have the responsibility of creating accurate printed material are under the false impression that proofreading is no longer necessary and will shrug it off completely.   They rely solely on the spelling and grammar checkers and sometimes will not even take the time to review flagged words and phrases.  Some of their mistakes can be very serious or at least embarrassing.  Anyone suffering the consequences at the receiving end may take issue.

Admittedly, spelling and grammar checkers provide time-saving assistance when writing.  Neither, however, explain word/spelling usage and grammatical errors that will likely be repeated in another instance such as during an important conversation, interview, or oral presentation, etc.

Of course, a more relaxed manner of speech (but nevertheless correct in form) can be adopted during casual and informal situations that's appropriate for the audience.  Using broken English or baby talk is not a good model for the youngsters--Television and their little friends will provide that along with a few unsavory words and expressions.

Considerable effort is required to proofread for spelling, grammar and correct meaning.  One of the more frequently made errors, today, involves the use of copy and paste.  When sentences and paragraphs used to create a new document are copied and pasted from an older version, it is likely that names, times, dates, addresses, cost, etc will need to be updated.  It is very common to see that one or more of the updates had been overlooked.

Proofreading:

• • Verify Spelling, Grammar, Meaning, and all names, times, dates, places, quantity, cost and version number, etc.

  • Check for Completeness, and required format.  Word Count minimum and maximum requirements may apply.

No one is perfect.  A single proofreading is usually not enough.  With that said, readers must be wary of questionable content.  Many errors are recognizable as typos, but others remain oblivious to the reader.

Before this story was complete, at least a dozen edits were made to correct typos, spelling, sentence structure, and paragraph arrangement.  With personal web page content, the writer is free to make changes at any time in the future until they are completely satisfied.  Then, too, corrections and apologies may be in order.

March 6, 2020--Out of Touch--Writing.  Here's a link to some of my more off-beat posts with links to essays, short stories and opinions.   Out of Touch Word Document or Out of Touch PDF File.  Out of Touch was my choice for the link name because the content and opinions expressed therein are not necessarily in tune with today's popular trends and schools of thought.

Other weird stuff is scattered about in the Miscellaneous section.  Click its link in the left sidebar.

New    March 4, 2020  More Odds and Ends--New Web Page.  Welcome to the Grand Opening of  
More Odds and Ends.

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