For climate scientists, the future looks pretty bleak. If their projections are correct then severe droughts and rising oceans will create fierce competition for resources, wars, starvation, and many a climate refugee. And, get this: humanity is in the same spot we were a century ago. I’ve been reading a book by Thomas Hager, The […]
Jim’s reflection at the recent service honoring our high school graduating seniors got me to reflect on an experience I had earlier in the year. I was staying in a Fairfield Inn in Roanoke, VA, on my way back from Washington, DC, and headed to the free breakfast in the morning. It was winter, and the weather […]
Read yet another article of how IRAs, 401(k)s, HSAs, 529s, etc. are benefiting the people who need it the least. These financial products provide tax-free benefits for the minority of people who actually save money. Of course, the need to save for a rainy day has been communicated time and time again and, still, here […]
My older brother works in the nuclear power industry. Most of his jobs have been with investor-owned nuclear power plants; however, he did have a job at a coal-fired municipal plant (a dirt burner, as he calls it). This article is not about energy or the environment or even my brother. It’s about partisan politics and […]
Space missions are complex and take decades to develop. However, there are ideas for missions that we dismiss in hours. Engineers can quickly determine if an idea breaks one of Newton’s three laws, and then go to lunch. I often wonder if there are some equivalent principles for human society. Although there are things that […]
I read an interesting article forwarded to me by my employer. It was an assessment of the technology field, and the primary focus was machine automation. Of course, there were wonderful things that our machines were going to do for us, such as extended life expectancy, solving the third world problems of hunger, and access to water. […]
I came across a quote yesterday: “Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally it is accepted as being patently obvious.” —Arthur Schopenhauer, German Philosopher (1788-1860). That quote was somewhat reassuring to me in two ways, namely: things I believe to be true may still be in one […]
No doubt, the most inspiring event this month was the Sunday we welcomed our new members. It was a clear reminder of how our principles of inclusiveness and respect are reaching people in the community, and I am glad to be a part of it. Thanks to everybody who participated, and a special thanks to Susan Maybin […]
I remember reading an observation from the elections that we should be able to find a shorter and cheaper way to pick the worst people in America. It reminded me of a study that examined how airlines board airplanes. Any other method, including no process, just random boarding, got the plane boarded faster (nothing changed, of course, […]
I’m sure we are all anxiously awaiting the end of the election marathon. Of course, there are no guarantees that it will end election night, as demonstrated 16 years ago with a Florida recount. This year, there is the possibility of Evan McMullin winning Utah to enable a non-majority split of the electoral vote and […]