Monday, June 25, 2012

Battery Problems

My favorite computer — my Mac Air — has a battery problem. It requires recharging every few days! Why can’t it get the Energizer bunny and just keep on playing? There may be some lap top, somewhere, out there, with longer battery life than my little Mac, but I doubt it. I just have too high of expectations.

I’m even becoming tired of charging my iPad, which I have to do more than twice a month!! This is ridiculous. These devices should take a lickin’ and just keep on tickin’.

The problem, as I’ve been able to conclude, is batteries. While the electronics and computer industry as a whole has improved devices during my lifetime, like from the Flintstones to the Jetsons, yet batteries are still somewhere in the ‘50’s with doo-woop. What gives?

Now people want electric cars. I understand the issue of economics and economics. I once drove an electric car from Denver to San Francisco on seventeen cents worth of electricity.

Unfortunately, the extension cord cost $243,184 … (rim shot).

Again with the batteries. Quit fooling around American Industry. Give us a better battery before the Chinese do!!!

The simple answer: Battery development is hard, slow work. Throwing loads of money at it will help, but it will not make it happen overnight, as so many electric car proponents have predicted. There are no specific moving parts in a battery, but it's one of the most complicated things to develop, in terms of all the things happening inside. You've got multiple materials trying to come together in one place. It's volatile. And there are a lot of opportunities for things to go wrong.

It's a matter of thermodynamics. There aren't any things you can just grab off the shelf whenever you want higher energy.

Most of the battery experts say it's unfair to compare the rapid development of electronics to that of batteries. Electronics have been using the same material (silicon) for more than a half-century. To reduce the feature sizes of their chips, semiconductor manufacturers keep improving their chemical deposition processes and photo-lithography techniques. Their efforts are essentially a triumph of manufacturing.

In contrast, battery makers are constantly searching for new materials, combining them, testing them, and then waiting for the results. It's a physical sciences challenge. And it's limited by nature. You're always working with something new, like a cobalt oxide one day and a manganese oxide the next. You can do anything you want to those materials, but you aren't ever going to get any more energy out of them than the thermodynamics allow.

Outside the prescribed boundaries of the battery industry, the general public blames some entity — auto companies or oil executives — for suppressing a technology that could change the world. To this day, there's no shortage of individuals who are convinced that GM or Ford has a cheap, high-energy battery wrapped in oily rags in a basement somewhere.

The truth, though, is much more boring. Battery development is just hard, slow work. It requires some of that STEAMD stuff, and that stuff is in short supply. Anyone want to major in batteries in college?

Sunday, June 24, 2012

The Name Game

I changed the name of my blog today. It used to be called “A Pirate Looks at 60,” a Jimmy Buffett reference. The name didn’t really fit except possibly the age part. Suddenly, today, the right name became obvious to me, and thank you Google for making it so easy to change.

I started blogging on this site in 2009. Prior to that I wrote a lot of long essays on Facebook using the FB “Notes.” I had several goals in mind for the blog. As I wrote in my first blog, “Getting Started:"

“I don't know if what I have to say will be of any interest to anyone but my wife, and I can see her yawning now, so that may not even be true. Still it is fun to write it even if no-one ever reads it.”

“I have a particular perspective on life. You may agree or disagree with what I write. I read in the local paper today, in a letter to the editor, a Tom Waits quote, "If both of us think exactly the same thing, then one of us is unnecessary." That's good. I like that. So welcome to my opinions, and feel free to disagree and call me a jerk. I won't take it personally.”

I didn’t know what to name the blog. Since introspection and a source material for a memoir were on my mind, and since retirement was on the horizon and it was a time in a man’s life when he thinks back over the road he has trod, then the “Pirate” quote seemed appropriate.

I’ve been a fan of that Buffett song for many, many years, and we played it in about every jam band I’ve ever played with, so it worked. It was only later that I learned that Jimmy himself had titled his autobiography “A Pirate Looks at 50.” So it wasn’t really as personal as I would like. I never really thought it worked for me.

I also wrote in that first blog:

“I love music and science and technology and family and nature. So I expect to write about all of those topics and more. I've spent a lot of years in education teaching at a private technical school, a state college, and as an IBM instructor. So some of my posts may be tutorials. They won't be on the exam, and everyone gets an 'A,' so hang in there.”

Over these last four years my writing has covered those topics as promised and even a bit more. There has been a couple of attempts at fiction short stories, a song, and even a comedy routine.

I often spoke of the acronym “STEM” which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Those are the core subjects of my life and studies. You mostly see that acronym in reference to education or possibly career choices during this time of great unemployment.

But time has past and my view has shifted yet again. I am still a big fan of STEM, but I also have come to realize more and more how important Art and Design are, especially when coupled with STEM.

The final turning point was when I read Steve Job’s recent biography by Walter Isaacson. I had so enjoyed his book on Einstein, and still need to write more about that topic, but in the Jobs story I realized fully the integration with those two concepts.

Sometimes they are considered disjoint, but I view them as integral. A new acronym began to appear in my writing: “STEAMD.” That includes Art and Design with STEM. I didn’t invent this new acronym. Others are realizing what I now understand.

Suddenly, this morning, it dawned on me that that was the appropriate title for my blog: "STEAMD." That is, Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics, and Design. Certainly STEAMD is a short phrase.

I hope my writing has improved. Certainly practice is good for any Art, be it guitar or singing or painting or writing. Oddly my photography and video work has received more comment, awards, and even some monetary remuneration. So far my writing has been amateur in every sense of the word. I do have a goal of publishing.

This, of course, is published, but I mean in the more common sense of the word. Plus, a little remuneration would boost my spirits and my bank account too. Of course, I could set up a PayPal account and you all could just donate. Perhaps you could bribe me to keep quiet. In any case, it’s all good.

“I don't know if I'm talking to anyone, or just myself. But enjoy what I write if that is possible and add your comments. I love questions and talking, so keep those cards and letters coming.” That was one of the last paragraphs in my first blog.

I have not had much luck with that. I know people are reading my writing, but I get damn few comments. Wish I could get more. I would love to converse on these topics, but – if you gentle readers don’t write back – then it is a monolog that you’ll get.

As I closed the original post, “I don't think I qualify as a Pirate since I'm a chronic rule follower, but it is fun to pretend.” Now I don’t have to pretend any more.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

The Decade of Music


Some of my age (there are relatively few that are older) will remember a little television show called “This Was the Week that Was,” or TWTWTW or TW3. This British come American show hosted by David Frost has nothing to do with what I’m about to write about. But it could give me a title as I discuss the “Decade that Wasn’t a Decade.”

This is the period, in my not so humble opinion, which was the most prolific and groundbreaking era of popular music and Rock and Roll. The period is the ten years from 1965 to 1975. Not a decade by usual expression, but it is on the bi-decal five year milestones. Actually, it would probably be more accurate to say 1963 to 1973. Yea, that’s the ticket. This is about 1963 to 1973.

This was the era — dare I say “decade” — in which popular music took the greatest turn for the better, a musical explosion, and we’re still benefitting from that most productive musical time.

I don’t have much to say. Either you know this music or you’re deaf. These are the songs that made the songs that made us what we are today — song-wise that is.

A simple list of the artists with top albums during those years will suffice to make my point.

1963

The Beatles
James Brown
Bob Dylan
Beach Boys
Stevie Wonder
4 Seasons
Rick Nelson
Roy Orbison
Martha and the Vandellas
The Surfaris
The Tymes
Peter Paul and Mary
Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs
Trini Lopez
The Rooftop Singers
Nino Tempo and April Stevens
Lesley Gore
Little Peggy March

1964

The Beatles
John Coltrane
Muddy Waters
The Ronettes
Beach Boys
Johnny Cash
Sam Cooke
The Kingsmen
Bob Dylan
The Supremes
The Animals
Dionne Warwick
The Rolling Stones
The Drifters
Jan and Dean
Manfred Mann
Dusty Springfield
The Wailers
4 Seasons
Louis Armstrong
Dean Martin
Peter and Gordon
Joan Baez

1965

The Beatles
Otis Redding
B.B. King
Bob Dylan
The Byrds
The Rolling Stones
Beach Boys
Yardbirds
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
James Brown
Marvin Gaye
Tom Jones
The Lovin’ Spoonful
The Miracles
Roy Orbison
Righteous Brothers
The Shangri-Las
The Temptations
The Zombies
Herb Alpert
Them
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
Little Anthony and the Imperials
Freddie and the Dreamers
Mel Carter
The Impressions
Ramsey Lewis
Barry McGuire
Martha and the Vandellas
Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs
Sonny and Cher
Shirley Bassey
Four Tops
Billy Joe Royal
Wilson Pickett
The McCoys
Gary Lewis and the Playboys
Tom Jones
Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders

1966

The Beatles
Beach Boys
Cream
The Mama’s and the Papa’s
John Mayall
Simon and Garfunkel
Bob Dylan
The Rolling Stones
Mothers of Invention
Otis Redding
The Yardbirds
The Who
The Lovin’ Spoonful
The Monkees
Otis Redding
Sam and Dave
Nancy Sinatra
Dusty Springfield
The Supremes
The Association
The Byrds
James Brown
The Statler Brothers
Frank Sinatra
Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs
Paul Revere and the Raiders
Donovan
The 4 Seasons
The Cyrkle
Tommy James and the Shondells
Righteous Brothers
The Supremes
Simon and Garfunkel
Percy Sledge
Johnny Rivers
Petula Clark

1967

The Beatles
The Doors
Aretha Franklin
The Velvet Underground
Jimi Hendrix
Moby Grape
Cream
The Byrds
Jefferson Airplane
Pink Floyd
Buffalo Springfield
Blood, Sweat and Tears
Bob Dylan
Otis Redding
Merle Haggard
Albert King
The Rolling Stones
The Bee Gees
Ray Charles
Herman’s Hermits
Franki Valli
The Royal Guardsmen
The Monkees
The Mama’s and the Pappa’s
The 5th Dimension
Arthur Conley
Gladys Knight and the Pips
Paul Mauriat
Elvis Presley
Dion Warwick
The Association
The Box Tops
The Cowsills
The Left Banke
Van Morrison
Sam and Dave
Jackie Wilson
Beach Boys
Glen Campbell
Bobbie Gentrie
Lulu
The Music Explosion
The Buckinghams
Spncer Davis Group

1968

The Beatles
Johnny Cash
Van Morrison
The Band
Love
Jimi Hendrix
The Zombies
Aretha Franklin
The Who
The Byrds
Dr. John
Otis Redding
The Flying Burrito Brothers
Cream
Simon and Garfunkel
The Kinks
The Grateful Dead
The Velvet Underground
The Mothers of Invention
Big Brother and the Holding Company
The Moody Blues
The Monkees
Marvin Gaye
The Doors
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Glen Campbell
The Supremes
Steppenwolf
Herb Alpert
The Box Tops
Mason Williams
Sly and the Family Stone
Tommy James and the Shondells
Marin Gaye
The Delfonics
Archie Bell and the Drells
Simon and Garfunkel
Hugh Masekela
Bobby Goldsboro
Dion
Dionne Warwick
O.C. Smith
Hugo Montenegro
Richard Harris
Gary Puckett and the Union Gap
The Isley Brothers
The Irish Rovers

1969

The Beatles
Elvis Presley
Led Zeppelin
Dusty Springfield
Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band
The Band
The Rolling Stones
Creedence Clearwater Revival
The Who
Sly and the Family Stone
Santana
The Stooges
Quicksilver Messenger Service
Neil Young with Crazy Horse
The Grateful Dead
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
Nick Drake
MC5
The Velvet Underground
Jefferson Airplane
The Archies
Johnny Cash
Frank Sinatra
Bob Dylan
Mary Hopkin
Joni Mitchell
The Temptations
Stevie Wonder
Zager and Evans
The 5th Dimension
Classics IV
The Edwin Hawkins Singers
The Young Rascals
The Ventures
Tammy Whynette
Henry Mancini
James Brown
Jay and the Americans
The Supremes
Tommy Roe
Tommy James and the Shondells
Blood, Sweat and Tears


1970

The Beatles
George Harrison
Simon and Garfunkel
The Grateful Dead
Van Morrison
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
John Lennon
Neil Young with Crazy Horse
James Taylor
The Velvet Underground
Derek and the Dominos
Carpenters
The Stooges
Santana
Black Sabbath
The Meters
Nick Drake
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Randy Newman
Beach Boys
MC5
Elton John
Neil Diamond
Led Zeppelin
The Jackson 5
Three Dog Night
Stevie Wonder
The 5th Dimension
Chicago
Eric Clapton
Dionne Warwick
B.J. Thomas
The Jaggerz
Robert Flack
Allman Brothers Band
Bread
James Brown
Ike and Tina Turner
Edwin Star
Joni Mitchell
The Kinks
Merle Haggard
Dawn
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
The Supremes
Ray Stevens
B.B. King
Norman Greenbaum

1971

Led Zeppelin
Carole King
The Who
Black Sabbath
Marvin Gaye
John Lennon
Joni Mitchell
The Rolling Stones
Cat Stevens
Jethro Tull
Allman Brothers Band
Janis Joplin
Sly and the Family Stone
T. Rex
Rod Stewart
Dolly Parton
The Doors
John Prine
Alice Cooper
Elton John
Funkadelic
James Brown
John Denver
James Taylor
Don McLean
The Osmonds
Isaac Hayes
Carpenters
Van Moorison
Jean Knight
Johnny Cash
Aretha Franklin
Neil Diamond
Bee Gees
Chi-Lites
Cher
The New Seekers
Richie Havens
Tom Jones
Ocean
Joan Baez
The Temptations
Melanie
Paul and Linda McCartney
Carly Simon
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
Nilsson
Diana Ross
Donny Osmond

1972

David Bowie
Neil Young with Crazy Horse
Stevie Wonder
Curtis Mayfield
The Rolling Stones
Todd Rundgren
Lou Reed
Proessor Longhair
Steely Dan
Al Green
O’Jays
Nick Drake
Randy Newman
Elton John
Eagles
Dr. John
Big Star
War
Mott the Joople
Three Dog Night
Harry Chapin
Mac Davis
Loggins and Messina
Hollies
Michael Jackson
Yes
The Temptations
Deep Purple
Chuck Berry
The Hillside Singers
Chi-Lites
Gilbert O’Sullivan
Carenters
Bobby Vinton
The Moody Blues
Sammy Davis, Jr.
The Staple Singers
John Denver
Johnny Cash
Billy Preston
Edgar Winter Group
Carly Simon
Paul Simon
Bread
Alic Cooper
Billy Paul
America
The 5th Dimension
Lobo
Neal Diamond
Seals and Crofts
Bill Withers
Luther Ingram
Chicago
Michael Jackson


1973

Pink Floyd
Led Zeppelin
Paul and Linda McCartney
Elton John
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Al Green
Marvin Gaye
Grand Funk (no longer a railroad)
Stevie Wonder
Bob Marley and the Wailers
The Stooges
Bruce Springsteen
Sly and the Family Stone
New York Dolls
The Who
Paul Simon
David Bowie
Lou Reed
Mott the Hoople
Toots and Maytals
Roxy Music
ZZ Top
Jackson Browne
Maria Muldaur
George Harrison
Al Wilson
The Stylists
Allman Brothers Band
The Isley Brothers
The Spinners
Stories
Electric Light Orchestra
Gilbert O’Sulivan
Vicki Lawrence
Jim Croce
The Doobie Brothers
Stealers Wheel
Mike Oldfield
Carpenters
Ringo Starr
Deodato
The Jackson 5
Aerosmith
Dawn
Diana Ross
Donny Osmond
Tower Of Power
Charlie Rich
Gladys Knight and the Pips
Bob Dylan
Elton John
Eagles
Helen Reddy
Rick Derringer
Barry White
Brownsville Station
Cher
Steve Miller Band
Kool and the Gang

I rest my case.

Bed Time Story


I suppose that most of you don’t have any problem going to bed. You pull back the covers. Climb into bed. And then pull the covers over you. Normally, neither do I, have trouble climbing into bed, that is. But last night it was rather warm. So I had the window open and the ceiling fan running, and I decided to just lay on top of the covers while I read before going to sleep.

I have one of those electronic reading devices. I won’t mention its brand because these corporations get too much advertising most of the time anyway, at least in my opinion. So I just lay on top of the covers in my pajamas which my wife will tell you I don’t wear which is why I just call my underwear “pajamas.” After a while, I got sleepy, and fell asleep uncovered.

Later that night I awoke. It had cooled off outside, and I was now chilled and ready to get under the covers. Rather than get out of bed, pull back the covers, climb back into the bed, and then pull the covers over me, I tried an alternative method.

I rolled all the way over to one side, at least until I ran into the still body of my wife. That is, she’s still my wife, and she wasn’t moving. That’s how she likes to sleep, and I’ve learned not to argue with her. Especially when she is asleep.

Then I rolled the covers over, but just until they met my body. They were at sort of a forty-five degree angle to the head of the bed, although it was dark so I can’t be sure of exactly what angle they were at – geometrically speaking.

After that I rolled, over the roll of covers, arriving on the uncovered side of the bed, which was my intention. There still wasn’t room for all of my body, but I was able to get my legs into the covers sort of like putting a letter into an envelope. From that position, I was able to maneuver the rest of the covers over me, and quickly fell back asleep.

This morning, I mentioned this to my cousin who lives in the basement. I rent him and twelve members of Cirque de Solei an illegal apartment in the basement. It’s a small room, so they sleep in a chest of drawers. Not only does that solve the problem of no space for a bed, but, if one of them snores, they just close his drawer.

Now these renters are trampoline performers. We don’t have a trampoline here for them to practice on, so they just jump on the bed. The ceilings are rather low in the basement, so I let them use my bed since we have cathedral ceilings. They do have to watch out for the ceiling fan.

There used to be thirteen of them before the terrible accident, but I don’t really want to talk about that. Besides, I’m sure you read about it. It was in all the papers. The ceiling fan wobbles a little bit now, but otherwise things have returned to normal.

Anyway, they decided that would be a good stunt to add to their act. They would all start bouncing together and then, while in the air, they would reach down and pull back the covers. I’m sure you can figure out the rest.

They practiced it for a while, and I think they got the hang of it. I may try that the next time I am in a similar predicament.

Now I had better stop writing because it is almost time for breakfast. I don’t want to be late, because we don’t have enough chairs at the table for everyone, and the last person has to stand through breakfast. I used to fool them by playing the Star Spangled Banner on my harmonica, and when they stood up, I’d grab an open chair.

But then someone put soap in my harmonica, and all I can play is “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles,” a song I don’t really know how to play anyway. So I’ll close now, as I can smell the toast burning in the toaster, so breakfast must nearly be ready.

Saturday, June 16, 2012

A Study in Contrasts

My recent trip allowed me the opportunity to compare and contrast. Like an electronics store with dozens of TVs running side-by-side, my visit to Nevada gave me the chance to consider contrasts in STEAMD … that’s Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics, and Design. As the sights were filtered through my personal paradigms, I pondered on their existence, timelessness, context, and purpose. What did these artifacts tell me about human kind and our progress on this planet? How did I react to these visions?

My visit to Las Vegas and nearby Boulder City provided two contrasts of construction and purpose, as well as a comparison of the different eras these structures were created. Boulder City is a town created for the purpose of the construction of what was originally called the Boulder Dam. At a location in a narrow river valley about thirty miles from Las Vegas, a dam was constructed which is considered one of the engineering miracles of our age. The dam was named at dedication “Hoover Dam” in honor of the former president, although he wasn’t invited to the ceremony.

At that time the United States and the world was immersed in a deep economic depression, and large public works projects such as this tallest dam attracted workers from all over the country. The work was difficult and dangerous – over one hundred workers died in the construction, but it was a proud achievement of modern technology.

The engineering that went into the dam was beyond the state-of-the-art and included new ideas for pouring and curing the massive amounts of concrete required for a dam of this size. Such a combination of art and design with engineering and technology, it stands today as a model of how man can change the world he lives in with a positive intent. The dam provides electrical power for nearby Las Vegas as well as much of southern California. The water storage and flood control provided by Lake Mead, as well as the recreational opportunities of the body of water have brought bloom to the desert.

The dam, completed in 1935, continues to provide service to the area and is the destination of 9 million visitors a year. The art of Hoover dam matches the strength and power of the structure, and all that this modern wonder of the world represents to the citizens of a great nation. Although dams are not without environmental damage, they are examples of renewable power production with zero greenhouse gas emissions.

If you follow the power lines from Hoover dam to the north and west, you will arrive at Las Vegas. It was a town of less than 10,000 residents upon completion of the dam, but today it boasts over half a million permanent residents and about 40 million visitors every year.

Las Vegas has become home to some of the most impressive and downright unusual architecture short of Disneyland. The various hotels range from massively modern constructions of glass and steel to themed amusement parks with the style of ancient Rome, Venice, Egypt, and the cities of Europe. Inside these giant structures you will find much art … some fine and some rather crass. The painted ceilings of Michelangelo are reproduced along with Italian canals and faux blue sky in the Venetian. Caesars Palace boasts spiral escalators rising amongst great fountains while the Bellagio does a fountain one turn better turning the former site of the Dunes hotel into an 8-acre lake that dances as a giant fountain on the quarter hour.

The amount of energy, both human and physical, that went into the creation of these structures and the maintenance of their air-conditioned atmosphere is staggering. These symbols of gambling, fun, and decadence are truly awe inspiring. As I enjoyed the spectacle, I could not forget the fact that buildings accounted for about 40 percent of total U.S. energy consumption.

Although 75 percent of that energy consumption is in homes, commercial buildings use the remainder. That is not all together a bad thing, but it is something to consider as energy sources and uses become more critical to our politics and well-being. While we consider gas gulping V-8 engines a bad thing for the environment, there may be no greater example of conspicuous consumption of energy than Las Vegas.

Odd to see so much dedicated in a city that advertises that what happens there, stays there. Vegas truly is sin city in so many ways. Although the STEAMD aspect of the construction is not lost on me, I did not find it as impressive and nurturing to my soul as the much simpler and more functional Hoover dam.

My stay in Vegas was interesting and exciting, and I had a nice time, but my impressions seemed to always include a negative reaction to the environment. The streets were filled with people that, if they didn’t have one bottle of beer in their hands, they had two. Loud music and party hardy was the theme, and I doubt that too many of the visitors were there to view the art … although there was a nice display of fine art at the Bellagio. It is a city that enjoys its night life with little worry about the hang-over the next day. YOLO is the motto, but it is more like live for the moment, with little thought of tomorrow and what this lifestyle will ensue.

The long lasting structure of Hoover dam is contrasted with the rapid demolition of old hotels to make room for newer and grandeur and gaudier construction. The landmark Sahara hotel is now closed and marked for destruction. This is not a city of timelessness and history, but a city that is constantly reinventing itself.

This is not a city to relax in. You can lie by the pool enjoying the sun and the palm trees, but even that simple pleasure seemed interrupted by the vibration of a city that never sleeps.

It just didn’t fit my need, and I was glad when the visit was over. It was a fun and hectic ten days, but I didn’t feel relaxed and renewed. Vegas is more like too many cups of coffee, leaving you feeling buzzed and awake.

Our next destination was a natural work of nature … a true wonder of the world. After ten days in Vegas, we relaxed for two days at the Grand Canyon. Here the works of man are meant to be unnoticed so that nature’s beauty could be focused upon. Instead of glittering lights and giant video screens, I got to enjoy the faint light of the Milky Way … a sight normally drowned out by the bright lights of civilization.

It is in this peaceful and pastoral location that I found the greatest peace. There were few STEAMD artifacts to enjoy, unless you count the science of geology. But rather it was quiet and respectful enjoyment of the God given wonders that stirred my soul the greatest.

Contemplation of the forces that formed the canyon, consideration of the wild life that make this place home, and thoughts of how the park represents man coexisting with nature in a … well … natural way. More examples of architecture and art from the 1930’s, like Hoover dam, little changed in the nearly one hundred years since construction. The timeless link to the near-past of quaint lodges and watchtowers augments my joy at the million years of earthly creation that this great canyon represents. The quaint transportation of the railroad rather than the zooming noise of the airport. The simpler times hinted at by rustic settings and natural views fit my worldview much better than the crazy celebration of Las Vegas.

I think the example of the Hoover dam with its engineering and art, and even the example of Las Vegas, which has taken creation of a recreational and entertainment environment to the peak of its science, are all well and good. These structures stand as examples of the brilliance of human endeavor and the power of our economic system. But when contrasted and compared to the simple beauty of nature, the crassness of even the greatest of human efforts becomes obvious.

Such a study of contrasts has strengthened my resolve. I plan to continue my study and path of discovery. However, my plans for the next adventure will be a return to Grand Canyon or possibly Yellowstone Park. It is among the power, art, and beauty of nature that I find my inspiration for science and technology, art and design.

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Lear and Foathing in Las Vegas

Four A.M. Sunday morning; the strip in Las Vegas. Sitting in traffic on Las Vegas Blvd somewhere between the Flamingo and Bellagio. Or is it still Saturday night? The street is full of traffic and the sidewalks, although not full, have plenty of pedestrians. Some are dressed for the club; some are dressed for the pool. Guys outnumber gals about five to one, and the gals are skimpily dressed. “It’s Vegas baby,” shouts the kid in the backseat of the car next to me as he flashes a peace sign. I smile back. It is Vegas baby.

I’m on the way to pick up Linda’s dad. He has an early flight out. The trip, at least the Vegas part, is winding down, even if the town is not. We’ve been here ten days now. Walked the streets; seen the sights; paid the prices. Kids are pretty warn out from hardy partying, pool, nightclub, and amusement park. I don’t think they can stand much more fun. Tonight, Fremont street, the zip line, that’s all that’s left, in them and me.



After dropping grandpa off at the airport, I head west. Want to get the sun rise over the strip. Predawn light, good for pictures. Catch the tower at the Stratosphere in the morning sun. McDonald’s for coffee and breakfast sausage. Even the McDonald’s is special here. Harley motif decorations. The glitz and the glitter. The five star casino hotels, like little cities. The giant parking structures. Plenty of room ... on the fourth level. Parking is free and easy ... well, free anyway. Got to get those bodies into the shops.



Circular / spiral escalator ... Caesar's has it. An entire lake with dancing water show ... Bellagio has it. Pirate ship ... Treasure Island. Pyramid ... Luxor. Volcano ... I don’t know; lost track. Amusement park ... Circus Circus ... or, Stratosphere, if you can stand the height. Also roller coasting at NY, NY. The slot machines lost their arms, but not their songs. A cacophony of dinging music as you cruise the aisles.



Limousines and taxi cabs mix with cars from California. Convertibles, sedans, mini vans and trucks. Flashing red and blue lights as the well policed city deals with the crowds. Bicycle, motorcycle, squad car, and patty wagon are all on the prowl. The town is waking up as the 6:00 A.M. shift heads for work and the all-night-party heads for home or hotel. McDonald’s is full of party crowd and day workers. Some tired from early rising and some tired and headed for bed. The rhythm of a great city. An adult Disneyland. A city of great hotels and architecture that amazes, all a driving economic engine blooming in the desert. Given power and water and dollars, the desert blooms.



A stop at the Welcome to Vegas sign for pictures. One more cruise down the strip. Reservations in Grand Canyon on the rim. Now we’ll see how nature does it. Enough jangling bells and singing gambling machines. No more broadway shows on the strip. Enough parking structures. No more air conditioned expanses. Exchange the mini skirt and hot pants for longer attire. Replace the lights with stars. The trip continues.



Grand Canyon (Grand River renamed “Colorado”), four corners, Mesa Verdi, Durango, Montrose, the beautiful view (buena vista) then home. Time to recoup and regroup, refinance and reload, restore and recharge. Then off to the next stop. North, South, West, not East. Those are the directions. Point the nose and drive, drive, drive.

Not loathing, but just warn out by bright lights and glitter. Even the pool is no longer restful. Off for moonlight and starlight on the canyon, the mountains and valleys, enough of Las Vegas. Enough gonzo.



Parked on the third floor. Yellow Chevy with two asleep in the front. No hotel? No money? Does it matter? Viva Las Vegas! One more day. Then it's pack our bags and head back north. Those mountains are beckoning.

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Love

Art is about interpretation. With art we view the world through the eyes of the artist. The perspective is often revealing, and, as we add our personal experience to the artist’s view, we arrive at the ultimate object of art. Art lets us see life differently. It is this new view that is the goal. Through the eyes (and ears) of the artist our world and our view of the world is enriched.

Much art is visual. Here, in this desert oasis, art has arisen like a mirage. There is fine art here. Monet at the Bellagio, Georgia O’Keeffe too. Expressionism and the painting with light. That is classical fine art.

There is the architecture. Like some Disney dream gone wild there is the New York skyline reproduced in a hotel form. There’s Paris, Las Vegas and Caesar's Rome with Egyptian pyramids and the far east of Mandalay all reproduced with electric light and giant video screens. There are statues and fountains and all the wonders one expects of a Europe, but done here on the sun baked desert in a scale not seen anywhere else.

The desert has bloomed art with the sole intent of separating people from their money. Can Las Vegas be considered an artist’s town? Yes, that is the question.

But on to more art. It is not all visual. The art of my generation and those generations that followed is music. Stronger than the classics from previous centuries, our music fills our lives from boom boxes to massive subwoofers hidden in car trunks to portable music constantly providing a sound track for our lives through tiny buds in our ears.

There are certain musicians who have shaped the consciousness of generations and whose stories are told and retold in our conscious and subconscious minds. Melodies and tunes that are always there just below the surface.

Few musicians have had the power and influence of the quartet from Liverpool. Their music has played throughout my life. It’s been interpreted and reinterpreted and simplified and orchestrated and has become background elevator music. Their skill and talent has been recognized by musicians and listeners all over the world.

Their music is especially cherished by those of us who grew up with it as it was revealed. I associate with most Beatles songs an event in my life that occurred with the latest hit as a background. Whether it was Eight Days a Week, our theme song for the state basketball tournaments, or Sgt. Peppers that I first heard while living in Libby, Montana with friends working in the saw mill. Or The Letter while I was in boot camp. (All right, that was the Boxtops, not the Beatles.) Or the White Album that came out while I was stationed at Lowry Air Force Base. Then the final Beatle’s songs as they struggled with their own artistic strife that eventually broke them apart.

These are songs I’ve heard and listened and felt so many times. They are as much a part of me as my blood and my bones … maybe not as much as my hair. (Inside joke.)

Now I’ve experienced the Beatles reinterpreted in dance and light show and acrobatics as only Cirque du Soleil can do. The Cirque is no stranger to Vegas. There must be at least five different circuses here, including an Elvis interpretation. But none of the others touch me at my core like the Beatles.

Some of the theme I didn’t like … they portrayed post war Britain as if this was Tommy or The Wall. I never heard that in the Beatles. But as they moved to the psychedelic generation, their vision meshed with my deep held memories.

I never cried with a Beatles song before (okay, maybe a few times — Norwegian Wood), but by the end I had tears in my eyes. What a wonderful way to finalize the concert.

But before I describe that, let me explain my journey. I mentioned the Sgt. Peppers album. Well I first heard it when a close friend bought it back in ’67, and we played it in our little trailer in Libby. I expected something special since Rubber Soul and Revolver showed how much the Beatles were changing. Just as Brian Wilson was blown away by Strawberry Fields, I recognized something different, something special, something that had not happened before in the changing Beatles’ perspective.

But Sgt. P, that was an experience. Was this even rock and roll? Or was this just skiffle music taken to the ultimate. Other rockers were exploring the blues, but the Beatles were on another planet. These were stories. How many times have we heard these songs since used to fill a story line and provide a background to a video. These songs played in the head … way back in the drive-in movie part of the brain.

So it is no surprise that some forty years later I again was introduced to something new and Beatle by that same friend when he sent me a CD of “Love.” For those that don’t know … and shame on you … George Martin and his son went back to the studio to remix the Beatles’ catalog. With the permission of the surviving Beatles and the Beatle heirs and the sponsorship of Cirque du Soleil, they created a remix and mash-up of the Beatles’ creations that was, at once, new and fresh, yet nostalgic and tied to the original.

For we hard-core Beatles fans it was like a new Beatles record, but also our old friends and memories in there too. We would point and exclaim, “Look how they’ve put that together!”

From that moment I knew I had to see the thing. Ron beat me to it, visiting the desert a few weeks back and he “enjoyed the show.” With that prelude I arrived here in the desert with one goal in mind. I had tickets in the front row … well, the front section anyway … and I was ready for some Beatles magic.

Cirque did not disappoint. I can’t put it in words. Hell, Hemingway couldn’t put it in words, and I’m no Hemingway. (On that I get complete agreement.)

I started to describe the perfect ending … the last three songs. I don’t think I'm giving away the plot or anything … it is so obvious.

First (or nearly last) they played Day in the Life. The epic half John Lennon and half Paul McCartney song. It’s not just one song … it’s several. D. A. Pennebaker in his “History of Rock and Roll” declared Day in the Life the number one all time rock and roll song. That was in the 70’s, but I’m here to tell you it has kept the crown. No other song embodies the great depth and hight that rock songs can obtain. We’re not talking a couple of guitars and a set of drums. This is orchestra for the mind.

So, naturally it starts the final set. Then into Sargent Peppers. That song provides the drama and theatrics for any Beatles recreation (along with some images of yellow subs).

These natural codas from the greatest album of all time are an appropriate conclusion. The lights go out. The audience is on its feet. The applause is deafening.

But what rock show doesn’t have an encore. The applause continues. The actors return to the stage. Now for the real final song. Well, of course (sound of hand slapping forehead) it is All We Need is Love. The whole thing is called “Love.” It’s a no-brainer.

A little rock and roll. Some travel back to where it all started (She Loves You — yeah, yeah), and mental visuals of all the world singing for peace. Could music truly end the war? That was the question, but no-one waited around for the answer.

Lucky the theater was dark and no-one could see my tears. Thanks for taking me back. Thanks George and Giles. And thanks Ron.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Unintended Consequences

Definitions: Unintended — not deliberate or planned. Consequences — Something that logically or naturally follows from an action or condition; the relation of a result to its cause; a logical conclusion or inference.

My regular readers know I’ve written before about the importance of understanding technology. We live in a complex world surrounded by technology and all the benefits that modern science has given us. It is our responsibility to understand that world in order to make proper decisions about the future. That is the essence of a democracy. We are all responsible. That is why public schools are so important. We are self governed, and that requires knowledge and experience in order to make the right decisions.

In this complicated world, I often wonder what people are thinking and how they are making those decisions. For example, consider the current situation with fracking. Fracking or Hydraulic Fracturing is a process using high pressure water and additives to fracture rock deep underground in order to release natural gas and oil. Some consider it an efficient and effective way to expand our energy reserves, lowering prices for gasoline, and reducing our dependence on foreign oil. Others argue that it is a dangerous method that can pollute the environment and even cause earthquakes. What is the right decision? How do we balance technology and its ability to do good for society with the dark side of industrialization and damage to our environment?

Here’s another example: In order to save energy and reduce the need for oil and coal, Compact Fluorescent Lights or CFLs have been developed. They are even being mandated by law. But the CFLs contain mercury, a very poisonous substance. In fact, certain environmental laws had to be modified allowing an exception for the mercury content in the bulbs. “It is for the greater good,” we’re told, and, “they will be disposed of properly.” That makes me wonder how many CFLs are just dumped into the trash? And what about the manufacturing facilities in China; are they environmentally safe? Is the benefit of energy savings in the replacement of incandescent bulbs with CFLs worth the risk to the environment?

Life in this modern world requires us to continually make these kinds of decisions about trade-offs and consequences.

Let me tell you a cautionary tale about a couple of inventions that were intended to make our lives better. This story is about a chemist and engineer you may have never heard of, but you have likely heard of his inventions. His name is Thomas Midgley, Jr., and he worked for General Motors (GM) at the start of the last century. Back then, the automobile was just becoming an important part of American life, and one of the problems was the amount of power produced by the gasoline engine. In order to improve the efficiency of the automobile engine, the compression ratio was increased. That’s how much the gasoline and air mixture is compressed before being ignited by the spark plug.

Simple physics indicates that the higher pressure fuel mixture will return more energy upon ignition. But there is a problem. The goal is to have a rapid, but smooth burning of the combustible mixture. Unfortunately, with low octane fuels, the mixture may explode suddenly during compression. This ill timed and premature explosion can cause damage to the mechanism. This problem is called “knocking” due to the sound produced.

Diesel engines make a value out of this compression caused explosion and run on low octane “diesel fuel,” but gasoline engines are intended to fire when the spark plug fires and knocking is a problem. This led to a quest for methods to increase the octane of gasoline.

Midgley was working with a team of scientists at GM trying to find ways to increase the octane and reduce knocking. He developed the tetraethyllead additive for gasoline. Now lead is a strong neurotoxin and cumulative poison, and, even in 1921, people knew that. Conveniently, General Motors left the “lead” out of the name and marketed this additive as “Ethyl.” Not satisfied with the rate of adoption of the new additive, the Ethyl Corporation was founded by GM and Standard Oil of New Jersey (ESSO) to literally “sell” the general public on the advantage of this additive. The production of the additive was managed by the DuPont chemical company. Some of us with gray hair may remember those cute little advertisements for “Ethyl.”

However, as I stated, lead is a poison and using the additive increased greatly the amount of lead in the atmosphere. Lead pollution has increased by over 625 times previous levels in the past century due partly to pollution by leaded fuel. This even affected the inventor. Although the Ethyl Corp. denied the health risk, in 1923, Midgley took a prolonged vacation to cure himself of lead poisoning.

Ironically, some historians believe that poisoning from the lead water pipes was one of the causes of the decline and fall of the Roman Empire. Here we were repeating the process, although not all lead in the environment was from Ethyl. Back then lead was used in everything from ammunition to paint to food cans. However, the EPA has ruled that leaded gasoline is the primary cause of the increased amount in the atmosphere.

Some would argue that Ethyl was a necessary evil, and that it did support the expansion of our automobile industry and even contributed to winning the second world war. However, there were other choices to increase octane ratings of gasoline, and Ethyl may have been more of a successful product due to advertising and the backing of industrial giants such as General Motors, DuPont, and Standard Oil (now known as ExxonMobile.)

Eventually we realized that we were steadily poisoning the entire human race. The levels of lead in the atmosphere sky rocketed after the introduction of the Ethyl additive, and, finally, in 1986, it was banned from gasoline in the United States. A recent U.N. report predicts that all use of leaded gasoline in the world will end by next year. Fortunately, the lead in our atmosphere has dropped considerably since we stopped using lead compounds in gasoline.

The next part of the story doesn’t have so happy of an ending. I am not trying to portray Midgley as a monster or a bad man. Like many scientists his goal was to make things better for society. However, this man did seem to have a particularly bad record in that regard. After inventing the Ethyl additive, Midgley turned to refrigerants.

Keeping things like food and medicine cool is certainly a benefit to mankind, and the invention of the refrigerator was a wonderful device. However, early refrigerators used gasses that were very dangerous.

At that time air conditioning and refrigeration systems used chemicals such as ammonia, chloromethane, sulphur dioxide, and propane. These materials were poisonous and could catch fire and explode. In one instance in the 1920’s a refrigerator at a hospital leaked a poisonous cloud and killed over 100 people.

Frigidaire, a division of General Motors, was a leading manufacturer of these cooling systems, and so they assigned Midgley to search for a refrigerant that was non-toxic and non-flammable.

The team searched for a material which is both volatile, which is required for a refrigerant, but also chemically inert. They eventually settled on the concept of combining fluorine into a hydrocarbon. Even though these compounds contained highly reactive elements such as chlorine and fluorine, Madgley assumed they would not be toxic, believing that the stability of the carbon–fluorine bond would be sufficient to prevent the release of hydrogen fluoride or other potential breakdown products.

Midgley developed a family of gasses called “dichlorofluoromethane,” the first chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), which they named "Freon." This compound is more commonly referred to today as "Freon 21", or "R 21".

These materials soon replaced the dangerous substances used in refrigerants at that time, and they were later used as propellants in aerosol cans, to create foams and plastics, as solvents and degreasers, and in asthma inhalers. Midgley was awarded a medal by the Society of Chemical Industry in 1937 for this work.

Due to the widespread use of CFCs and leakage into the atmosphere of coolants, the amount of CFCs in the air increased rapidly after introduction of Freon. Eventually scientists learned that the gas was reacting with sunlight at high altitudes and producing chlorine gas which combined with the ozone in the upper atmosphere, causing holes in the ozone layer. That increased the amount of ultra-violet light penetrating the atmosphere, which increased further the chlorine release from the CFCs.

The ozone layer provided protection from high energy rays from the sun, and loss of this layer can lead to skin cancers and also contributes to global warming. Finally, by 1974, production of CFCs was halted. However, the high level of stability of these materials means that the amount remaining in the atmosphere will last for around another 100 years. It will take some time before we can recover from this unintended consequence.

So we are left with a tale of a brilliant scientists who, twice, developed what he hoped would be a boon for mankind, only we later discovered they were both very bad for the environment and our health.

The final ironic twist to the story is the fact that Midgley, a victim of polio who was severely disabled as the result of the disease, had developed a set of pulleys and ropes to assist him in rising out of bed. One morning he became entangled in ropes and  was strangled and died at the age of 55.

There are lessons to be learned from this story of technology and business, and it has application in our world today. Right now there are thousands of “Midgley’s” working in the laboratories and development centers all around the world. What will be the next great invention? What will be its unintended consequences?

This cautionary tale is not taught in most history classes, and few people today even know who Midgley was. That is very sad to me. Those that don’t know history, are bound to repeat it.