Without a doubt, Winston Churchill's decision to keep Britain fighting the Nazis after France and Belgium had fallen was extremely brave (even reckless, in the view of Lord Halifax).
Let this video remind you to be sure to see the movie "Darkest Hour," nominated for Best Picture.
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Tuesday, February 27, 2018
Civil debate
In yesterday's posted video, Billy Graham and Woody Allen interact in a civil manner, listening to each other and interacting without rancor. Amy Wax, law professor at University of Pennsylvania law school, would like that.
She co-authored an article that shouldn't have triggered hate, but did. There were letters, statements, petitions "hurling slurs and epithets, name-calling, vilification, and mindless labeling," much of it coming from her own law school.
"There were demands that I be removed from the classroom and from academic committees. None of these demands even purported to address our arguments in any serious or systematic way."
How should disagreement be handled? "The proper response would be to engage in reasoned debate—to attempt to explain, using logic, evidence, facts, and substantive arguments, why those opinions are wrong." Without name-calling.
That would be civil discourse. That's what we need.
She co-authored an article that shouldn't have triggered hate, but did. There were letters, statements, petitions "hurling slurs and epithets, name-calling, vilification, and mindless labeling," much of it coming from her own law school.
"There were demands that I be removed from the classroom and from academic committees. None of these demands even purported to address our arguments in any serious or systematic way."
How should disagreement be handled? "The proper response would be to engage in reasoned debate—to attempt to explain, using logic, evidence, facts, and substantive arguments, why those opinions are wrong." Without name-calling.
That would be civil discourse. That's what we need.
Monday, February 26, 2018
RIP Billy
Billy Graham of Montreat, North Carolina, preached to more people than anyone in history. But everything I've read since his death last week also emphasized his integrity. Consistently high standards earned him global respect.
He treated people well and kindly. For example: he and Woody Allen had very little in common in terms of worldview and personal life, but the two of them were able to be civil to each other. Enjoy watching two smart people of differing values interact respectfully and honestly:
He treated people well and kindly. For example: he and Woody Allen had very little in common in terms of worldview and personal life, but the two of them were able to be civil to each other. Enjoy watching two smart people of differing values interact respectfully and honestly:
Friday, February 23, 2018
Still suffering
Nigeria has suffered violence for years (you can read my posts about it under the "Nigeria" label). I haven't run across any reports of further violence lately and wondered if it had stopped. According to this article, the answer is a definite "no," the violence continues.
But where are the reports? The author says that Western media are not reporting it and that agrees with the fact that I haven't seen any. So how does this author know it? He explains:
But where are the reports? The author says that Western media are not reporting it and that agrees with the fact that I haven't seen any. So how does this author know it? He explains:
photo: ontheworldmap.com
A Christian pastor has denounced the national president for not caring, and a warrant for his arrest has been issued.
Thursday, February 22, 2018
Russia too
Churches have been attacked in Egypt, Nigeria, Iraq, and now Russia can be added to that list.
From the New York Times: "A man carrying a knife and a hunting rifle opened fire on worshipers on Sunday at an Orthodox church in Kizlyar, in the Dagestan region of Russia, killing at least five people and wounding several others, according to a Russian state news agency."
"The gunman shouted, “Allahu akbar” and began firing, a priest told the local news media. Churchgoers said they had prevented more casualties by closing the door to the church and stopping the attacker from getting inside.
Islamic State has taken "credit" for the murders.
From the New York Times: "A man carrying a knife and a hunting rifle opened fire on worshipers on Sunday at an Orthodox church in Kizlyar, in the Dagestan region of Russia, killing at least five people and wounding several others, according to a Russian state news agency."
"The gunman shouted, “Allahu akbar” and began firing, a priest told the local news media. Churchgoers said they had prevented more casualties by closing the door to the church and stopping the attacker from getting inside.
Islamic State has taken "credit" for the murders.
photo: nytimes.com
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
NatGas choked
(cont'd from yesterday's post)
One of the principles of responsible environmentalism is to use local products. (Example: people who commit to eating only local food are called "locavores.") If you transport food or anything else from far away, when it's available nearby, then there's unnecessary use of energy which makes for a bigger "CO2 footprint" - not to mention bigger expense.
So, does this make sense? "To save New England(U.S.) from freezing in the dark this winter, a shipment of high-priced liquefied natural gas, or LNG, had to be imported . ." The shipment came from a location over four thousand miles away . . to the biggest natural gas producer in the world (the U.S.) . . and natgas comes out of the ground just 300 miles away in PA.
Boston Globe editors say, "Massachusetts’ reliance on imported gas . . is a severe indictment of the state’s inward-looking environmental and climate policies. Public officials have leaned heavily on righteous-sounding stands against local fossil fuel projects, with scant consideration of the global impacts of their actions . ."
One of the principles of responsible environmentalism is to use local products. (Example: people who commit to eating only local food are called "locavores.") If you transport food or anything else from far away, when it's available nearby, then there's unnecessary use of energy which makes for a bigger "CO2 footprint" - not to mention bigger expense.
photo: pressherald.com
So, does this make sense? "To save New England(U.S.) from freezing in the dark this winter, a shipment of high-priced liquefied natural gas, or LNG, had to be imported . ." The shipment came from a location over four thousand miles away . . to the biggest natural gas producer in the world (the U.S.) . . and natgas comes out of the ground just 300 miles away in PA.
This goofy situation seems to be the product of local politics and regulations. "This is what happens when you don’t build your own natural gas pipelines, which are the safest and most economical way to transport energy." People literally pay the price for this situation in shortages and high prices.
Boston Globe editors say, "Massachusetts’ reliance on imported gas . . is a severe indictment of the state’s inward-looking environmental and climate policies. Public officials have leaned heavily on righteous-sounding stands against local fossil fuel projects, with scant consideration of the global impacts of their actions . ."
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
NatGas exports
(cont'd from yesterday's post)
As poverty declines and living standards around the world improve, global demand for energy is increasing. Natural gas is cheap and clean, a very good solution. America has lots of it.
So the obvious next step is to export. U.S. law banning the export of natural gas was changed, and then the first shipment was made in March 2016. One blogger says that "from a climate change and human development standpoint, it's a moral obligation to export a modern fuel like natural gas."
Technology makes the shipment of natural gas possible and practical. When it is cooled to 162 degrees below zero (C), it becomes a liquid (LNG) and takes up 600x less volume. Here is Shell's overview of the process:
(cont'd tomorrow, the city that prefers to bring in natural gas from 4500 miles away)
As poverty declines and living standards around the world improve, global demand for energy is increasing. Natural gas is cheap and clean, a very good solution. America has lots of it.
So the obvious next step is to export. U.S. law banning the export of natural gas was changed, and then the first shipment was made in March 2016. One blogger says that "from a climate change and human development standpoint, it's a moral obligation to export a modern fuel like natural gas."
Technology makes the shipment of natural gas possible and practical. When it is cooled to 162 degrees below zero (C), it becomes a liquid (LNG) and takes up 600x less volume. Here is Shell's overview of the process:
(cont'd tomorrow, the city that prefers to bring in natural gas from 4500 miles away)
Monday, February 19, 2018
NatGas miracle
"The incredibly powerful combination of fracking and horizontal drilling has sent U.S. natural gas supplies through the roof and prices through the floor."
Natural gas is an energy miracle. It's abundant in the U.S. - It burns cleaner than oil or coal - and it's cheap right now, the lowest price since 1999 (what else could you want in an energy source).
The supply here in America is about 86 years' worth, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (updated July 2017). Our huge reserve, and the bargain price we pay for power created by natural gas, both result from innovative technology: greatly improved methods.
"We are experiencing a transformational shift in the role of natural gas, increasingly an essential component of a clean and secure energy complex." CO2 emissions from energy have declined by 30% since 2005.
It would be crazy if an American city actually imported natural gas from 4500 miles away. But one city does.
(cont'd tomorrow)
Natural gas is an energy miracle. It's abundant in the U.S. - It burns cleaner than oil or coal - and it's cheap right now, the lowest price since 1999 (what else could you want in an energy source).
The supply here in America is about 86 years' worth, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (updated July 2017). Our huge reserve, and the bargain price we pay for power created by natural gas, both result from innovative technology: greatly improved methods.
"We are experiencing a transformational shift in the role of natural gas, increasingly an essential component of a clean and secure energy complex." CO2 emissions from energy have declined by 30% since 2005.
It would be crazy if an American city actually imported natural gas from 4500 miles away. But one city does.
(cont'd tomorrow)
Friday, February 16, 2018
Married & happy
People want to have a happy life. Yale's most popular class, "Psychology and the Good Life," teaches students social skills and gratitude. Good lessons, yes, but studies say that marriage itself is also a predictor of happiness.
"Numerous studies have associated marriage with a lower risk of disease, from diabetes to cardiovascular and respiratory problems – particularly if you are a man. “Married people tend to smoke less, drink less alcohol, and eat more healthily . .
"People who get married and stay married have roughly double the wealth of those who never marry"
"Numerous studies have associated marriage with a lower risk of disease, from diabetes to cardiovascular and respiratory problems – particularly if you are a man. “Married people tend to smoke less, drink less alcohol, and eat more healthily . .
"People who get married and stay married have roughly double the wealth of those who never marry"
"Additionally, married couples who attend church together are more likely to live longer, avoid depression and stay married."
"Studies consistently show that children raised by happy, committed parents are less likely to have behavior problems, drop out of school, be abused, use drugs, commit crime, become pregnant as teenagers, suffer poverty or become sick."
Thursday, February 15, 2018
She goes for it
Kelly Clark is 34 years old, twice as old as some of her snowboarding competition at the Olympics this week.
She won her first gold medal at the 2002 games in Salt Lake City, but later struggled with depression. Then she heard someone comfort a different competitor with the good news that God loved her, and Kelly sought out this believer. “I think you might be a Christian,” she said, “and I think you need to tell me about God.”
photo: stream.org
She won her first gold medal at the 2002 games in Salt Lake City, but later struggled with depression. Then she heard someone comfort a different competitor with the good news that God loved her, and Kelly sought out this believer. “I think you might be a Christian,” she said, “and I think you need to tell me about God.”
Her friend Natalie describes her: "Everything with Kelly is an adventure . . On one side, you have the athletic adventure. On the other side, you have the identity adventure . . She’s so brave, not only in the halfpipe, but even with figuring out who she is as a person, who she is in God, everything. She just goes for it.”
Wednesday, February 14, 2018
Stay-at-home
More millennial moms are staying home to raise their babies.
"For many millennial women, staying at home is both a desire and a convenience . ." They want to bring up their own children and they want or need to earn income - both of those things. Sometimes the money/time cost of a full-time job just isn't worth it.
No surprise there, since most (not all) women would like to have the best of both of those worlds. But more millennial moms are figuring out a way to do it today than generation-X moms did 20-30 years ago.
"For many millennial women, staying at home is both a desire and a convenience . ." They want to bring up their own children and they want or need to earn income - both of those things. Sometimes the money/time cost of a full-time job just isn't worth it.
No surprise there, since most (not all) women would like to have the best of both of those worlds. But more millennial moms are figuring out a way to do it today than generation-X moms did 20-30 years ago.
photo: playfulnotes.com
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
Refrigerator
(cont'd from yesterday's post)
Just 99 years ago, Americans would cut ice out of lakes and ponds to chill their food - there was no other way to do it. They would store it between layers of straw and saw dust. My mom actually remembers seeing this in her childhood. In 1919 the "Frigidaire" became available (to the rich) for the price of $11,000 (in today's dollars).
Today 99.8% of Americans have at least one refrigerator, meaning that even those living at today's poverty level have a technology only the ultra-rich could get a hundred years ago. We all take the fridge totally for granted. How did that happen?
In the same way wealth has been built for hundreds of years. Innovators would figure out how to improve the technology, making a better quality fridge or making it with fewer labor hours to reduce the cost. This process happened over and over again for decades.
Today's fridge is much better quality and it's much cheaper. Everybody wins when makers innovate, and customers are free to make their own choices. That's basic free trade.
(from "How Markets Brought Refrigeration to Everyone")
Just 99 years ago, Americans would cut ice out of lakes and ponds to chill their food - there was no other way to do it. They would store it between layers of straw and saw dust. My mom actually remembers seeing this in her childhood. In 1919 the "Frigidaire" became available (to the rich) for the price of $11,000 (in today's dollars).
ice harvest: growlermag.com
Today 99.8% of Americans have at least one refrigerator, meaning that even those living at today's poverty level have a technology only the ultra-rich could get a hundred years ago. We all take the fridge totally for granted. How did that happen?
In the same way wealth has been built for hundreds of years. Innovators would figure out how to improve the technology, making a better quality fridge or making it with fewer labor hours to reduce the cost. This process happened over and over again for decades.
Today's fridge is much better quality and it's much cheaper. Everybody wins when makers innovate, and customers are free to make their own choices. That's basic free trade.
(from "How Markets Brought Refrigeration to Everyone")
Monday, February 12, 2018
Hans Rosling
RIP, Hans. Sweden's famous statistician, Hans Rosling, died about a year ago, and he is missed. Entertaining, lovable, and smart, he "made it his life’s goal to challenge misconceptions about human development with data."
As a professor of global health, he discovered that his Swedish students had the idea that the people of earth were getting sicker and poorer. But the opposite is more accurate. He and his son started an organization to "fight devastating ignorance about the world."
His website is Gapminder. Data exists about the health and wealth of people in the countries of the world over the years, and he made visual graphs using those facts to show human progress in those countries.
Here is Hans with his graph showing how each country has increased its average lifespan and wealth over the years since 1860:
(rising wealth cont'd tomorrow)
As a professor of global health, he discovered that his Swedish students had the idea that the people of earth were getting sicker and poorer. But the opposite is more accurate. He and his son started an organization to "fight devastating ignorance about the world."
His website is Gapminder. Data exists about the health and wealth of people in the countries of the world over the years, and he made visual graphs using those facts to show human progress in those countries.
Here is Hans with his graph showing how each country has increased its average lifespan and wealth over the years since 1860:
(rising wealth cont'd tomorrow)
Friday, February 9, 2018
Pizza spin
Fourteen million have already seen this video, but maybe not you.
This dad has taught his sons the skill of tossing pizza dough, but probably that's not all they've picked up. They spend their Saturdays at his business, watching him work - maybe learning things like good customer service, hard work, discipline (to be there doing what's necessary in spite of not feeling like it), the value of looking ahead.
It's likely that their dad has been modeling diligence for years.
This dad has taught his sons the skill of tossing pizza dough, but probably that's not all they've picked up. They spend their Saturdays at his business, watching him work - maybe learning things like good customer service, hard work, discipline (to be there doing what's necessary in spite of not feeling like it), the value of looking ahead.
It's likely that their dad has been modeling diligence for years.
Thursday, February 8, 2018
Wednesday, February 7, 2018
Launch success
(cont'd from yesterday's post)
"People are coming from all around the world to see what will either be a great rocket launch or the best fireworks display they've ever seen," said Elon Musk on Monday, predicting that the test flight of Falcon Heavy would be exciting either way.
It turned out to be a spectacular launch, the rocket performing "nominally" - that is, just as it was supposed to. SpaceX streamed the launch live:
Cheering in the background is the sound of very excited guests and employees watching it take place.
Falcon Heavy will carry customer payloads in the future, but for this very first test flight it carries a red Tesla roadster with a mannequin in the driver's seat, wearing a space suit.
"People are coming from all around the world to see what will either be a great rocket launch or the best fireworks display they've ever seen," said Elon Musk on Monday, predicting that the test flight of Falcon Heavy would be exciting either way.
It turned out to be a spectacular launch, the rocket performing "nominally" - that is, just as it was supposed to. SpaceX streamed the launch live:
Cheering in the background is the sound of very excited guests and employees watching it take place.
Falcon Heavy will carry customer payloads in the future, but for this very first test flight it carries a red Tesla roadster with a mannequin in the driver's seat, wearing a space suit.
photo: ndtv.com
Tuesday, February 6, 2018
Launch today
At the time I'm writing this, the launch is still a GO for today. Here's a link to SpaceX and live streaming. I'll add information throughout the day.
*Update - weather looks good at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, so launch time has been set for 1:30 EST this afternoon.
*Update - Elon is feeling good about it: "What I find strange about this flight is that normally I feel super stressed out the day before; this time I don't," SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said in a news teleconference yesterday (Feb. 5). "That may be a bad sign. I'm not sure. I feel quite giddy and happy, actually — I'm really hopeful for this flight going as planned."
*Update - Launch time has been changed to 3:15 EST, 2:15 CST
*Update - Falcon Heavy has launched successfully! SpaceX is celebrating their achievement.
*Update - weather looks good at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, so launch time has been set for 1:30 EST this afternoon.
*Update - Elon is feeling good about it: "What I find strange about this flight is that normally I feel super stressed out the day before; this time I don't," SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said in a news teleconference yesterday (Feb. 5). "That may be a bad sign. I'm not sure. I feel quite giddy and happy, actually — I'm really hopeful for this flight going as planned."
*Update - Launch time has been changed to 3:15 EST, 2:15 CST
*Update - Falcon Heavy has launched successfully! SpaceX is celebrating their achievement.
Monday, February 5, 2018
Launch tomorrow
Falcon Heavy launches tomorrow - unless there's another re-schedule. Elon Musk guarantees that "it will be exciting."
Re-post from Sept. 21, 2017:
Elon's Pucker Factor
About building the Falcon Heavy, he says, "It's way, way more difficult that we originally thought." How difficult?
"It requires the simultaneous ignition of 27 orbit class engines."
"Impossible to test on the ground"
"Heavy sonic buffet"
"Aerodynamics totally change"
"Triple vibrations and acoustics"
"There's a real good chance that that vehicle does not make it to orbit. Set expectations accordingly. I hope it makes it far enough away from the pad that it doesn't cause pad damage. I would consider even that a win, to be honest."
Re-post from Sept. 21, 2017:
Elon's Pucker Factor
About building the Falcon Heavy, he says, "It's way, way more difficult that we originally thought." How difficult?
"It requires the simultaneous ignition of 27 orbit class engines."
"Impossible to test on the ground"
"Heavy sonic buffet"
"Aerodynamics totally change"
"Triple vibrations and acoustics"
"There's a real good chance that that vehicle does not make it to orbit. Set expectations accordingly. I hope it makes it far enough away from the pad that it doesn't cause pad damage. I would consider even that a win, to be honest."
Friday, February 2, 2018
Fix yourself
A bracing challenge from Jordan Peterson, clinical psychologist in Toronto, Canada. The challenge is to approach life's sorrows with this question, "What can I do differently?"
Thursday, February 1, 2018
SpaceX flight
At least four of us in my family have been highly anticipating the test flight of SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket. It's finally going to happen:
"SpaceX Falcon Heavy Ready For Highly Anticipated Test Flight On February 6"
Photo: spaceflightnow.com
Its first stage is three Falcon 9 rocket cores strapped together, for a total of 27 engines that must ignite all at once. All three will return to earth to be re-used in the future.
If this works next Tuesday - if the FH successfully makes it into orbit - "it will be a mind-boggling feat of skill and engineering."
(this blog will cover the test flight next Monday and Tuesday)
(this blog will cover the test flight next Monday and Tuesday)
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