“I know there have been questions and concerns about this, but there is no—again, no—indication of aliens or extraterrestrial activity with these recent takedowns.” ~ press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre during a recent Press conference

Would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon
Would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon
We could float among the stars together, you and I
For we can fly, we can fly…

Happy Saturday morning, and so we enter another weekend. I’m enjoying my first coffee, sniffing it as much as sipping the hot stuff. My cold has come and gone, but with our daily temperatures bouncing between 70F and freezing on a weekly basis, we’re probably in for a round two.

Old School – this week our airport initiated flights of a new start-up airline – Breeze. What this one brings to the ‘party’ that is new and different is that it’s bringing back something from the Old School. Breeze is initiating “direct” flights versus “non-stop”.

“OK Dirk, now I am confused, what’s the difference?” It’s a concept I remember from years ago. I’d be traveling somewhere and my flight would make a stop, some folk would get off and some might come aboard, but I’d stay on the plane and twenty minutes later we’d be on our way to the next/final final destination – thus it was a ‘direct’ flight, but not a non-stop.

The last time I experienced this type of travel was years ago flying from Detroit to Chippewa airport in Michigan’s UP; with an intermediate stop in Alpena MI. That this trip was made in a tiny prop-driven Swearingen Metroliner dates it. I remember those Swearingers being so tiny that I was forced to either crawl or ‘duck-walk’ to my seat while climbing over the cross-aisle hump housing the wing struts.

Feb 15, World Hippo Day – The ‘Nati has become the nation’s Hippo center with Fiona (the preemie) and now a lovely nubile young lady of 1,300 pounds. This past year she was joined by a new baby brother, Fritz.

Yup, we take note of something as importants as World Hippo Day!

Yoko Ono – turns 90 today. Somewhere John Lennon has to be singing “<u>Imagine</u>”.

“Imagine all the people
Living for today,……..
…..You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will live as one….”

The BIG burn – and train accident 300 miles from us in the other corner of the state, East Palestine. I’m already watching a decrease in news coverage as almost everyone, except the Palestine residents, want to shovel this mess under the rug. The Feds, the State, the Rail company, all are probably culpable and want the whole thing to disappear.

But, what I discovered is an existence of a consortium of States (since 1948) that have pulled together to improve water quality in the Ohio River Basin. Meaningful, since this river basin is our area’s most valuable resource; for transportation and water. And we have an ample, year round, supply of the stuff.

I never knew that ORSANCO (Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission) even existed. Yet, in the background and without interruption this entity keeps tabs on this resource and communicates with our Cincinnati Water Works constantly. The net result is that our drinking water is some of the best in the nation. Through an array of sand and charcoal filtration systems this level of excellence has been achieved.

Beginning late tomorrow the water intake gates will close and not reopen till after the toxic plume passes on though. This is a screen capture of how the spill sampling data is presented on a daily basis specifically during for the East Palestine mess.

A Canoe? – I haven’t seen it yet, but Vili tells me that he and his sixth grade classmates finished building a full-sized canoe. Previous sixth graders did the same thing and the finished product has hung on display somewhere in the school. I think that this project has much positivity on several fronts. Yeay Montessori!

Pieter – my brother has had, for a decade, a weekly music/interview show; Listening Lyrics on KDRT 95.7FM in Davis, California. Now, over 300 interviews later he’s taped his final show. Click here to listen on past shows on Apple Podcasts. Is Pieter done? No he is not! Next week I’ll post on his next endeavor.

Ciao. Stay strong and value your health. Remember, you can’t change the world, but you can your own house and neighborhood – work on it. Say safe.

Keep on storming the castle. Pray for Peace.

Dirk

This was some week. Along with anthems of ‘cheers’ and ‘boos’, our snollygoster-in-chief, our unprincipled scalawag-par-excellence, the master of the teleprompter, held forth.

We were privileged to learn that what is up is actually down, what is a positive is really a negative, what is more is less, what is white is black, what is wide open is totally secure, what is good is bad.

Our first President, President George Washington, gave the nation a series of over 20 insights in his farewell address – here are eight I think should be on any list. These days, we best pay heed:

1) “Be vigilant, people will seek to use the government for selfish ends.”
2) “Control bureaucracies; make sure they all work together.”
3) “Avoid political parties; they will cause divisive factions and unscrupulous men will use them to undermine the government.”
4) “Be suspicious of administrators; they may serve themselves rather than the people.”
5) “Preserve existing checks and balances and add more where power needs to be checked.”
6) “Religion and morality are essential to create the virtue necessary to preserve the union.”
7) “Avoid debt; and immediately discharge any debt created by war.”
8) “Be guided by principles, not interests.”

Fun Time – with young Viliami last Sunday. I know I described the afternoon concert Vili and I attended so no more on that, just a few photos from the event. But, let me just say that George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue reset into a Jazz piece warranted a standing ovation!

Deutsch or Dutch? Every so often I’ve been asked whether I can speak of understand ‘Pennsylvania Dutch’. No, I cannot. The Pennsylvanian ‘Dutch’ is really a German variant of ‘Deutsch’ spoken mostly by their Amish population.

Anyway, since I am sitting around even more trying to gain the upper hand on a cold, I dug around a bit more into the languages. Dutch is connected to Middle English. While German is connected to a series of Germanic peoples and languages found along the northern edge of the European continent – as can be seen in the Roman ‘Germania”.

Both England and ‘de Nederlanden’ (Netherlands or ‘low-lands’) were major sea faring nations during the 1500 1600’s and with trade and skirmishes there was quite a bit of cross cultural and language movement with Middle English (the Dutch eventually substituting the letter ‘d’ for the English ‘th’ sound.

I thought it’d be of interest to view this set of words (you should sound them out – at speaking speed for extra fun), same meaning in each of the three languages. The left is English, the middle balloon is German, and the right-hand balloon is Dutch.

The BIG Game – will come and go tomorrow. Our home team would have been playing in that game had, during the final seasonal game, the one which determined who would play, our opposition not received a never seen before, critical, FIFTH down. As must be realized there now reins a lack of interest at this end.

However, there was an incident that occurred during a previous game with the Buffalo Bills. Our opposition had a player who collapsed on the field in full cardiac arrest. His heart had stopped and for almost 10-minutes, on the field, CPR was performed.

He was sped to our University of Cincinnati Trauma Center (a Level III and the same one Adrianne rushed me to with my eye issue). With the care he received, there, his comeback was almost miraculous.

In appreciation the medical team was honored in Phoenix where the recovered Buffalo Bills Safety, Damar Hamlin, paid tribute to those who had a hand in giving him a second chance at life. At not quite 25 years of age he gave this very eloquent statement:

”My entire life, I felt like God was using me to give others hope and now with a new set of circumstances, I can say he’s doing what he’s always done,” …. “I have a long journey ahead, a journey full of unknowns and a journey full of milestones, but it’s a lot easier to face your fears when you know your purpose.”

for clarity’s sake – “We are calling this an ‘object’ because that is the best description we have right now” (i.e. an ‘object’ is an object which is an object an so forth); John Kirby of the National Security Council during a briefing at the White House. OK!

February 11, 2020 – mere months after the first case in Wuhan, China, and approximately three weeks after the first U.S. case was reported, the World Health Organization officially named the illness that would go on to cause a pandemic “coronavirus disease 2019,” shortened to the acronym COVID-19.

I would arguably declare it the most poorly dealt with viral outbreak in memory. The lockdown of healthy people, forced treatment of the unaffected (kids), compulsorily housing of elderly in facilities, the absolute blocking of the use of early intervention medications, and arbitrary application of those deemed ‘essential’ versus ‘unessential’ was unconscionable. I firmly believe that history will prove me correct.

Ciao. Stay strong; work hard to maintain friendships, keeping healthy is a priority, keep those affected by the disaster in Syria and Turkey and especially the rescue teams providing aid there in mind. Say safe.

Keep on storming the castle. Pray for Peace.

Dirk

It’s 4:30 on Saturday morning. I know for a fact that I am currently up with several thousand people. The difference between them and me? They’re all prepping for the Cyclone 2023 “Frozen 5/10K”. Like them, I too have a bib, number 925, but mine will stay here. I really enjoy this event and have participated for over 4 years straight, signing up early last December.

At yesterday’s session with my eye surgeon I was told in no uncertain terms that I would not be participating (agree that he and Marcia ganged up on me?). Just in case you think me a complete idiot, I had already come to grips with the fact that I would not participate.

I should point out that with a current ‘real-feel’ temperature of 11, it is a perfect time to hold a ‘Frozen’ event.

To not ruin my day completely he did give me the OK to again drive. So yesterday I drove home from the appointment. The first time behind the wheel in over a month!

“Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It’s splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.“ ~ L.M. Montgomery

With a Buddy –I’ll be attending an event tomorrow afternoon. The ‘buddy’ will be young Viliami, our family’s youngest grandchild. Next year he’ll be starting Middle School and is maturing oh-so-fast. Additionally, he’s got a super inquisitive mind (which has not yet been dulled) and a great sense of humor. On top of that he plays Saxophone in his school band.

So what is the event? We’ll be off to the First Unitarian Church for a Jazz concert. There we’ll be part of an event featuring Cincinnati-based saxophonist Rick VanMatre in a concert fusing the worlds of classical and jazz. VanMatre will join virtuoso pianist Phil DeGreg on a new, arrangement of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue as well as their own compositions.

You might ask; who are these characters, DeGreg and VanMatre? Both are Professors Emeriti of the University of Cincinnati’s renowned CCM (Conservatory of Music). Both are huge in this town’s vibrant Jazz world.

In addition, these smallish concerts held at that church have an intermission complete with a drink, cheese, and grapes and a big PLUS. The ‘plus’ is the opportunity to then mingle with people, including the musicians. And, if tradition holds true, these musicians love to hold young interested folk ‘under wing’, i.e., they show interest.

A tip for all you parents and grandparents. This thought came originally from neighbor and friend, Fanchon Shur (whose late husband, Bonia, was professor and head of music at Hebrew Union College); “if you want to have a youngster maintain interest and attention, sit them as close to the front as you can.” This is a given at the church venue.

Should be a great afternoon. I’m excited!

“Go oft to the house of thy friend, for weeds choke the unused path. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Friends and Distance – means that communication is even more important. Bulent M and I have had ongoing correspondence and even more so since he and Barb moved to Halifax.

Originally a Justin Trudeau (Canadian PM) voter he realizes the downward direction that’s come about under that guy’s leadership (similar as to what happened under the Pierre Trudeau – Justin’s dad in the 1980s). Bulent is a changed man.

Naturally, some of our discussion deals with all the happenings. Fast forward to the other day, but first a bit from my own ‘path’. Ever since one of Canada’s best thinkers, Dr. Jordan Peterson stiffened his spine to the screaming Woke mob, I’ve been following Peterson’s journey, now back to the other day.

Bulent sent me a 90-minute long conversation of Dr. Peterson with American theoretical physicist Dr. Steven Koonin. The subject title; “Unsettled: Climate and Science — Weaponizing Doomsday Hysteria”. Don’t even bother to open the attached YouTube of the full conversation if all you’re interested in are answers through 30-second sound bites. However, if your cup-of-tea is to understand what lies ahead with ‘climate’ from a thought through, nonpolitical, perspective then you must take an evening and listen to these two mega-intellects. I really hope you take the time, for this conversation is as actor Mike Meyers said in the Austin Powers comedy, “most excellent”:

72 hours and counting – It’s been that long since Kirstin, Derek, and Kellen have been living ‘off grid’. And, not by choice, but as part of the aftermath of the ice storm of the century which hit Austin.

Luckily the temperature has risen, but at first especially, it was not comfortable. It was a time to pull out the woolen Hudson Bay blanket, make pancakes and boil tea water on the outdoors griddle. Yesterday, Kirstin told us that they’d been advised it might take as much as another week before power is restored, WHAT?

Yesterday, February 3, 1959 was the 64th anniversary of, “when the music died”. In a tragic plane crash those of us from that era were devastated by the news that Buddy Holly, J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson, and Ritchie Valens had died. As a side note, then a band member, Waylon Jennings, was supposed to be on the plane. Jennings opted to take the bus instead with the other band members, Holly had joked, “Well, I hope your old bus freezes up.” Jennings joked back, “Well, I hope your plane crashes.” Valens had taken Jennin’sg seat in the four seat plane.

Ciao. Stay strong; work hard to maintain friendships, keeping healthy is a priority, educated vote casting is imperative. stay safe.

Keep on storming the castle. Pray for Peace.

Dirk

Jump starting the day a bit since I have to travel out of State to do some Costco shopping – into Kentucky. Actually it’s not as bad as it sounds since our regular location closed and opened up further to the north, it’s now actually better (I think) for us to head into KY. What we won’t do just to re-supply our coffee stash.

And yes, our truck has heat. The costly six-hour ‘fix’ (a dealership bills on) was handled for $288. And, the place which Marcia had panicked about proved exemplary, efficient and personable.

And, the other reason for the Costco morning run is to beat the “Who Dey” Bengal crowd getting ready for tomorrow’s AFC Championship game.

This town has gone football crazy!

Birthdays and more –It seems like this week’s been an ‘event’ cornucopia. Cathy and Kirstin both have celebrated their birthdays. Just as meaningful is that this week, 5-years ago (2018) Tevita became a US citizen. That day was truly a big one for the whole family. If in doubt, just look at the pride shown in everyone’s face.

“It’s amazing what ordinary people can do if they set out without preconceived notions.” ~ Charles F. Kettering (1876-1958 founder of Delco, Dayton, OH)

Vince’s Legacy –This year it’s coming up on six years since Vince’s passing, but what a wonderful legacy he left his family – direct and extended families. His legacy goes much beyond just letters inserted after his name [Vicente Briones, University of Central Florida with a BSME and Professional Engineer (PE) license designation, LEED AP]. Vince’s passion for environmentally friendly engineering became crystal clear as became a driving force in the formation of the US Green Building Council, Central Florida Chapter and the green building movement. Those efforts are now in the form of an annual scholarship award to a worthy student from his alma mater.

Yesterday, on her birthday, Kirstin was invited to present this year’s scholarship award in Orlando. It’s significant enough in that Orlando Mayor, Buddy Dyer, was there for this year’s presentation.

“An inventor is simply a fellow who doesn’t take his education too seriously.” ~ Charles F. Kettering (1876-1958 founder of Delco, Dayton, OH)

This Week’s Lesson – For some time I’ve followed the efforts and work of a Marina Amaral, Brazilian, best selling author, Forbes under 30 list, artist and openly declared Asperger/autistic person. She researches history and using those insights to colorize early historical black and white photographs.

Currently she’s researching the early beginnings of photography; Louis Daguerre (1787-1851) who with a partner created a new form of visual communication, the first commercially viable photographic process: the daguerreotype.

So, here is where her research is leading me to? In 1849 a person by the name of James Presley Ball (1825-1904) opened a new daguerreotype studio in Cincinnati, Ohio – “Ball’s Daguerrean Gallery of the West” right here in Cincinnati! Oh, and what I hadn’t mentioned is that Mr. Ball was a Black free man.

James Presley Ball was a “fierce outspoken abolitionist who had learned the daguerreotype process a few years earlier in Virginia, from another Black free man, John B. Bailey”. At this pre-Civil War time, here in Cincinnati (then considered America’s outpost of high culture in the West) he “held photo exhibitions and oversaw the creation of a 2,500-square-yard panoramic mural put together by a team of local Black artists, depicting the horrors of slavery.”

Ball was a hugely successful individual, traveler, and ended up photographing notables such as Frederick Douglass, Queen Victoria, Charles Dickens, and more importantly, he captured American history by photographing images of children, blacks and whites, the poor and the privileged, even wounded soldiers.

Now my takeaway of all of this; especially to you who hated history while at school. Take some time and discover, round out if you will, your understanding of what is today and how it came about. Dig around and discover.

(a wounded soldier and Frederick Douglass taken by James Presley Ball)

Fin – This week we approved sending tanks to Europe and the Ukraine. I think I am beginning to see a pattern here. And it’s NOT any strategy that I see! What I see missing is any concerted effort to organize an equitable peace. From our government it appears to be more, more, and more — weapons and war.

This past week, seventy years ago in 1953, three provinces in the Netherlands flooded with untold deaths, with village after village flooded. This then became the massive Dike building works to prevent such a disaster.

And yes, we did spend a few hours sorting at Matthew 25 Ministries. As you can see, we had a great time volunteering.

Ciao. Stay strong; look back even as you look forward, stay connected and safe.

Keep on storming the castle. Pray for Peace.

Dirk

Yesterday was a busy one. Really busy, especially since the first part of the week ‘slid’ past like chilled molasses. Bottom line; I slept in and Marcia is still out. Seven AM and little Mr. Coffee just alerted me that it’s ready; now, first my mug of coffee.

Since my keyboard efforts are still horribly slow. And since immediately after posting I have to run (not literally, explain shortly), this week’s Ramblings will be somewhat shorter than what you are used to.

Which does lead to a question; let me know either by comments or mail if you prefer a bit shorter Ramblings stretching into the future.

The “Logging” Road – Now that winter is here, our F150’s heat has called it quits. Through the fluke of some horrid engineering a problem, which I now realize has been around for at least a decade, has raised its horrid head and (with the fancy title of) the Heater Box Actuator broke.

The part is a mere handful of dollars. To get the old out and the new in has Ford dealers – with a straight face – tell you it’s a six hour job. Translates into $1,000 to $1,4000. Predicament? with my eye situation I can’t drive and with the cold, Marcia won’t. It needs fixing!

Some decent research and I’ve found an independent garage willing to tackle the situation. Once at the place, friendly staff, shop is pristine; but it’s the driveway to the place Marcia noted with consternation. The shop (and several businesses) sit behind the Rumpke Recycling center. Where the drive is still a joint one it’s wide and paved. As soon as the Rumpke trucks pull into their facility that same drive turns into what I view as a “logging” Rd in our part of Canada – complete with the, requisite, water filled pot-holes.

We’re dropping the truck off shortly after posting this since we need Adrianne to haul us home and she’s also got stuff going on. So here is the lineup:

Dirk – Navigator w/ minimal sight (mostly quite minimalist)
Marcia – Driver ‘sans’ heat
Adrianne – Uber driver par excellence.

What a cast; Marcia is in a bit of a panic.

Jeff Knoop’s passing – came as a shock. We knew that he had one of those insidious terminal diseases, his being Pulmonary Fibrosis. Younger than us, his passing did come as a shock. Jeff and his wife, Mary Anne, have been friends and neighbors since our kids were toddlers.

Early in his career he headed up the music department of a large neighboring school system. Loved, absolutely loved, classical music with Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana near the tippy-top of his favorites list; I’ve inserted this full rendition by UC Davis California in his honor:

Yesterday was Jeff’s funeral, held at Heritage Acres Memorial Sanctuary. I mention the name since it’s our areas;

“…. only dedicated natural burial ground in the Cincinnati area. We are here to provide a “green burial” alternative for the Tri-State while offering compassionate care to individuals and families as they grieve and process the transitions of life and death……..

Before there were contemporary conventional cemeteries with graves organized in carefully measured rows and marked by gray cement headstones, there were natural burial grounds and practices that did not include chemical embalming, varnished caskets with velvet lining, or concrete vaults. A natural burial is a return to a tradition that provides a simple, less wasteful, non-toxic means of dedicating one’s physical form back to the earth to rejoin the soil with dignity and minimal environmental impact.”

I found it to be a wonderful and comforting and participatory service. It was so much more personal and embracing than those I’ve, and we all, have gotten accustomed to.

Marcia on the other hand made it very clear that for her cremation and then placed on the mantle is what she thought as best. My question (not asked) is; “just how many ‘elves-on-a-shelf’ do we need?”

For both of us it’s a bit of a ‘starting-the-discussion’ point, and that isn’t all bad.

Now, if everything goes as planned it’ll be a couple of hours of volunteer work at Matthew 25 Ministries with Adrianne, Vai, and Vili right after lunch.

Ciao. Stay strong; keep pushing onward, stay connected and safe.

Keep on storming the castle. Pray for Peace.

Dirk

Marcia got up early (I smelled the coffee) and so ‘one—eyed’ Dirk is giving this Rambling keying a go. A bit of a struggle, but hey, here goes; left handed “hunt’n and a peck’n” on the keyboard.

Yesterday I had my one week after surgery checkup. The Doctors are delighted. The reason they are so happy is that 75% of the gas bubble inserted in my eye is still intact (apparently this is a cheerable situation). Legally, I am still blind as a bat in my right eye.

Actually, I too am thrilled. Prior to surgery about 85% of my vision was a pitch-black void. A smallish crescent moon-shaped curve gave me some peripheral sight. A week later I have vision from left to right, it just looks like seeing the world through a frosted-glass window.

I am told that over the next five weeks I’ll ‘see’ (pun intended) a marked improvement – with continued improvement for a period of up to nine months.

In the meantime my life is being dominated by eye drops. It wouldn’t surprise me if I found myself trying to eye-dropper coffee into the eye for continuity’s sake.

Plus, I can’t forget to mention my sleeping position of choice and one approved by the medicos. It’s something I’d seen in WWI movies of troops sleeping in trenches; I’ve built a ‘trench’ made of pillows. It works!

Cross Country sight – on George and my travels a couple of weeks ago we drove into the town of Alamogordo, New Mexico. Huh? Why promote that little town?

See, somewhere around the summer of 1974 Marcia, toddler baby Kirstin, and I visited brother Art who was stationed in El Paso at White Sands Missile Range. From there we were heading to visit my old college roommate in Albuquerque. NM. All this ‘vacationing’ done in our, then brand new, VW ‘Westfalia’ campervan bus.

15-miles outside of Art’s base we sucked a valve in the engine – 2,000 miles outside of a measly warranty period.

What took most of the morning I managed to hitchhike back to base. There, after some phone calls (remember, no mobile phones), located a garage in Alamogordo and secured a tow to the place. Three days later Art picked up the van and delivered it to us in Albuquerque where we’d traveled to via Greyhound bus.

This is the kind of adventure Marcia really never got used to, even after 51 years of marriage. Aaah for the memories!

Freezer Bowl. This weekend it’s the 41st anniversary of the freezer bowl. The Cincinnati Bengals were in the playoffs. Game day the actual temperature was –9 degrees and with wind gusts of 35mph the real feel temperature touched –59 degrees.

Watch these two delightful very short clips to help revive some memories of years ago. Fun stuff.

Ciao. Stay strong; keep pushing onward, stay healthy and safe. Have an enjoyable Martin Luther King Day – personally I think he’d preferred that the kids stay in school and take the day to focus on the likes of Frederick Douglas, Thomas Sowell, Booker T. Washington, Justice Clarence Thomas, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Bessie Coleman, Mary W. Jackson, and I could go on and on. But then, doing so would give kids a ‘leg up’, it’s substantially better to have them stay home, to game, mall, or ‘hang’ (as on a street corner) for yet another day.

Keep on storming the castle. Pray for Peace.

Dirk

Adventures galore!

Over the past two weeks:

A cross-country flight

A cross-country drive

A detached Retina

A visit to our Front Line Trauma center

Surgery at one of the premier eye centers — CEI

Moping about as the surgical block lifts

Thrilled as surgery appears successfull !!!!

Thanks for all who are part of these Ramblings

For You In Appreciation

Marcia got up early (due to the cold) and told me to just inform the thousands following these Ramblings that it’s; “too d*mn cold to type this morning”. Meanwhile, curled in a cozy cocoon under a load of blankets, I was too comfortable to even get up. Hence, The Ramblings are a bit late.

Two mugs of coffee and hearing the furnace blasting away, along with the outside temp a balmy 2° following the ice-cube -7°s yesterday, means that finally I am all set to go.

Which makes me think, what the ‘it’ is in the following sentence; “I wish it would warm up.” [answer: in Dutch so that you still have to look it up. I don’t want to make it too easy: in Dutch it’s termed an ‘onpersoonlijk voornaamwoord’]
Good luck 🙂

Now to put you in the mood:

WLW700am our local powerhouse 50,000 watt clear channel station was just awarded best AM station in the nation. A while back I detailed the amazing history of WLW especially its role during WWII – it’ll be worth your while to explore a bit.

Anyway, Marcia got up as mentioned and began listening to one of her favorite Saturday morning personalities on WLW, Gary Jeff Walker. His regular job is Bar Tender at a place in Northern Kentucky. Small banter delivered with perfect timing is what’s kept him on the air every Saturday morning for at least 15 years.

I paused my morning efforts to enjoy a bit of my coffee with her just in time to hear one of Gary Jeff’s regulars, a retired Lowe’s employee, Dick-from-Dayton. See, he has regulars call-in, folk such as a sweet little old lady from a nearby retirement home. Then there is Radio Rick, also from Dayton. Rick has a garage and basement full of vintage radios. He’ll discuss a new find or recently repaired classic radio. And, thus, it’s all totally listenable ‘stuff’. Bottom line; sure is a wonderful way to ease into one’s Saturday with a smile.

An early gift Well, I guess we all got an early ‘gift’ from the clown circus in Washington we collectively call our “representatives. And I am talking about, with a couple of exceptions, those in both parties; one exception being Senator Rand Paul from across the river.

Here he’s singing his version of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ to ‘celebrate’ and detail our ‘gift’:

The Cincinnati gang – meaning Vili and Vai and Grandpa (Opa) went out for lunch mid-week followed by a 2½ hour work stint at Matthew 25 Ministries. Where we were seated in the workspace we stared at 15 or so pallet loads of donated Zest “hand sanitizer”, 12 to a box. We had to block out the barcode on every container and reseal/restack.

This atmosphere surrounding us doing our chore was like ‘party central’ and the time flew by. Down deep I think it’s good for them, both to appreciate what they have and what it takes to get stuff to them. Here, a few pictures to tell the story.

     
Matthew 25 Ministries is one of my favorite charities serving folks caught up in disaster zones. They are always among the first to be on scene delivering both truckloads and plane loads of necessities. Also, and this is important, their administrative costs are about as low as possible. Keep them in mind with your own giving. This solicitation is not sponsored :).

Egg Nog Jog 5K – was lovely. Since it was also open to folk in costume, I dressed like a (as brother George called it, and he would know) a retiree from a Fort Meyers Retirement Village. Somehow I placed first in the +80 class and I hope there were more than just two of us in that group. Here are the a few photos including one of the route map, for those familiar with the Mount Adams part of the ‘Nati.

Fini – This week we experienced our winter solstice. Looking up some numbers:
• Stonehenge – theorized by the ancients to track solstices will have experienced somewhere around 5,000 of them.
• On planet Uranus the approximate length for each solstice (in our years) is about 21.
• The last year the planet Neptune experienced a winter solstice was 1997.
• Marie Curie on the winter solstice of 1898 placed the atomic number of radium (her discovery) as 88.

Isn’t all this grand? You’re now a little wiser.

As many of you know, I struggle a lot with nonsense of what seems illegal edicts, laws, etc. Most of these put forth to empower one group for self-serving purposes, or for covering a miss-step, or illegality, or for increased power/$$$. I came across this meme which hit me between the eyes and thought I’d share:

Arrogance can give people strength beyond their wildest dreams, especially via the pen, especially via Social Media. How about this individual telling Elon Musk to “shut up and build rockets and self-driving electric autos….You don’t know how to run a social media company.” Of course a social media company (the same one Musk bought) was used to inform Musk.

This week my little Dell Chrome opened up with a new photo display (it changes every so often). This one was of Ecuador’s nearly 5,900 meter high Cotopaxi Volcano National Park. It was years ago when we were in Ecuador that Marcia and I rode bicycles down that volcano. It was quite the ride, starting out with a squeaky voiced; “here we go” (due to the altitude). The experience of a lifetime.

There will NOT be a Rambling next week since I’ll be doing my cross-country travel
so let me give you my thought for the New Year now; this from President Reagan:
”We need only to believe in ourselves, in our country, and in tomorrow. Happy New Year.”

Ciao. Stay strong; keep pushing onward – please have a wonderful Christmas and stay safe.

Keep on storming the castle. Pray for Peace.

Dirk

OK, I’ll let this cat out of the bag and confess; “At heart, I am a Hodophile!. More on that later, but rest assured, travel is involved.

But, today it’s off to another happening, this one fueled by merely a single cup of coffee, plus two poached eggs and a slice of Dutch ‘Roggebrood’ followed by some water. As soon as this is posted Marcia and I will head for the hills of a slice of the city named Mount Adams. There I’ll join the 30 th Egg Nog Jog 5K. I’ve been part of this jog previously. It winds through a great neighborhood, has wonderful views of the city/river/and Kentucky, plus the hills – some down most up.

The social following the jog will be at a local pub, El Barril; where there will be an offering of Beer, Egg Nog, Bananas, and Bagels. All this explains the reason Marcia is coming along (hint: somebody is needed to taste the fare prior to the joggers returning). My bib number, 1481, means that well in excess of 1,500 of us will participate. It should be a great time!

Did I mention that there will also be a costume judging? My costume is not so much a costume as a wish. A wish for global warming to actually do its thing.

The Cincinnati gang – is trying to break out of the starting gate and head for the local Omnimax to see the new 3-hour long Avitar movie. So, you can imagine the smile on my face when I ran across a theater lobby placard from in a UK movie theater:

: “Dear Customer, due to circumstances beyond our control there will be no ads or trailers, so the movie will start at the time it says on your ticket. Apologies for any inconvenience caused. Vue Management.”

When Architects dream – wonderful things can happen. Earlier this week I
wandered the streets of our neighborhood of long ago, Hyde Park. Nestled
somewhere in the middle sits this jewel. Once a ‘starter’ home it’s been
remodeled and is as you see it pictured for probably twenty years. It’s still a
showstopper. Thank you Mr. or Ms. Architect.

The Snows – they are a’coming. At least they are in Canada near our place,
Northern Comfort. A few miles away are friends who post regularly, including information on the heavy snows which began to fall this week. We’re hearing it described no longer in centimeters, but being referred to as in feet.

Since it’s also hunting season, snow makes it both easier to track, but also more difficult to follow creatures in the woods. Next, I began to wonder, “just how easily or fast can a Moose get around in heavy snow”? Seeing this video, the specter of a speeding locomotive through the Rockies came to mind. Enjoy!

A Strong Woman and an Idea – I got this from the ‘Fascinating’ site. Now that we’ve got the James Webb Space Telescope out there doing marvelous stuff, and a moon visit on the horizon, I felt this bit to be worthy.

Back years and years, ca 1880 to be more exact. The director of the Harvard Observatory was not pleased with his staff (think Elon Musk and his Twitter crew). At one point he was heard to say; “my Scottish maid could do better.” And like a Musk who also skewered his staff, he showed them and did hire her, his Scottish maid Williamina Fleming. Would you believe it? She went on to discover many, many, thousands of stars.

I have used Twitter for about 15 years. Now, since Musk has fired about half of the Twitter staff, I’ve become convinced that the site runs smoother than ever. Just think what could happen were some President and a wise Congress reduced the Federal workforce by 50%? Possible?

”Once a government commits to the principle of silencing opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens ~ Harry Truman (1884 – 1972) 33rd President of the USA

”Me a Hodophile” – was mentioned in the beginning. Well, it’s true. In about a week a quick trip will begin. First, brother George and Sandy have their car and dog, Augie, at daughter Heather’s home in California – both need to be brought back to Florida. Currently they are visiting Heather and family for Christmas. Due to circumstances Sandy can’t drive back and will be flying home. See where this is going?

OK, so on the morning of December 27 I’ll fly to San Diego, California. There George will corner me at the airport and so the cross-country trip East will begin; George, Auggie, and me. What an adventure waits! Eventually ending up in Naples, Florida, where I’ll fly home on New Year’s Eve (if all goes as planned I’ll arrive home at 7:30PM, just in time to bring in the New Year).

Fini –

• As pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson never asked about his patient’s political affiliation or ideas. Now the ‘brain-dead’ imbeciles heading up the Detroit School system have removed his name from one of their high schools. Any wonder that the ‘system’ is totally broken?

• Read alongside the previous point, “freedom is the right to tell people what they don’t want to hear”; George Orwell.

• At birth one of our grandchildren weight 1lb 14oz. Now a high school freshman I asked her about her favorite subjects. No hesitation there, Band and Literary Arts. “What then are you reading” I asked? “I just read and discussed Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451. But right now I am really enjoying the Trojan Wars by Adele Geras and want to read her book, Ithaka”. Grandpa was both proud and amazed.

• The one question I have regarding this map put out by WHO/Unicef is what is going on in the UK?

• Truly exciting is the apparent breakthrough of a nuclear fusion reactor. For years the concept has been operational in military vessels. Just think something small enough for household use or vehicle travel.

• If Vincent van Gogh were living today, this is how he might be seen when hard at work.

• I came across this photo of Robert Wadlow (1918 – 1940), the tallest man on record, irrefutably so. He was 8’ 11.1” It gives a visual of just how much beyond the average 8’ 11.1” is.

Ciao. Stay strong; keep pushing onward – Make this Christmas an extra special one; you need it as do the rest of us.

Keep on storming the castle. Pray for Peace.

Dirk

Please take note that there is no (as in zero) Orange on this week’s post. Yesterday it was World Cup semi-final soccer & my Dutch team, the Orange (as in ‘Oranjeboven’), lost. Actually, the opposition, Argentina, outplayed. Dutch were losing two-nil with seven minutes to go and tied the score. Two shortened overtime periods kept the tie. Then came the Penalty shot shootout and that was the killer. Amsterdam is in a deep state of depression.

Hence, my morning coffee is not providing me with Saturday Morning joy from my orange mug – I left it on the shelf. Just can’t do it.

”In football [soccer], the result is an impostor. You can do things really, really well but not win. There’s something greater than the result, more lasting — a legacy.” ~ Xavier Hernández Creus (known as Xavi), widely considered one of the greatest midfielders of all time

Breaking news – this morning has it that probably the very best US Soccer Journalist, Grant Wahl, died suddenly while covering his eighth FIFA World Cup at age 48; condolences to his family and RIP to Mr. Wahl.

He collapsed while attending the media tribune at yesterday’s game in Qatar. Medical attention was immediate, but to no avail. I am not a much into conspiracy theories, but from what I read there is a spike in sudden deaths in that same age group. Sudden deaths at a rate that is well beyond the expected norm. If true, the question is ‘Why’?

Language – is so very interesting. Using soccer as the example of a ‘battle’, I’ll use this descriptor of a long-ago Dutch battle fought in 1672, in Dutch it’s written as “redeloos, radeloos, reddeloos” (in English that would be “reasonless, distraught, helpless). The English doesn’t come near to conveying the meaning and the rhythm that the Dutch language captures.

Marketing – has occupied my life for a chunk of it. Marcia says I drive her nuts whenever I stop during a shopping trip to then make some observation about a display or packaging. Likewise, the same goes for TV viewing; as the title of a Bonnie Raitt song goes: “The Boy Can’t Help It”.

From my perspective, marketing in the USA is on a downward path. Much of it is made so poorly that it’s unreadable and unwatchable. Much of it is loud, harsh, in your face, juvenile, and caters to whatever the ‘group du jour’ is.

So it was with some delight when I came across this advertisement made in Japan – Bach’s: “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” set in a forest scene. And it’s for a high tech company.

I read where it took four days to set it all up and create –no shortcuts, no ‘green-screen’, no dubs. This was made for a newly launched cell phone offering by NTT Docomo, the largest mobile service provider in Japan. The shell of the new phone is wood and their idea was to use domestic woods that are produced from trees harvested from a maintained Japanese forest. The ad is calming and connects the earth to a high-tech product. Visually and audibly it pulls you in. Listen to this peaceful bit of beauty which, as an aside, also fits the season:

Oh, those Painted Ladies – It’s not a great mystery (at least to my immediate neighbors and my family) that my walking is wearing out the surrounding sidewalks a fair bit. In order that it not get boring I try to change my walking routes and distances.

Over the past week I had the opportunity to walk through one of the ‘Nati’s’ oldest neighborhoods, Columbia Tusculum which was established in 1788. What makes this a fun walk are the hills. I guess that subconsciously I was prepping for next Saturday’s Egg Nog Jog race held annually through the hills of nearby Mount Adams (and yes, I am registered to join the 1,500 or so participants for the 30th annual jog – Rain [Snow] or Shine).

More importantly, the Columbia Tusculum area has any number of Victoria era homes done up in stunning style. These ‘Painted Ladies’ did slow me down a bit as I tried to capture a few on my camera. Enjoy!

”Don’t Bring Me Down” – Were you aware that in Canada their legacy media outlets – nearly 90% of them – are almost fully subsidized by tax dollars. These are media outlets such as the CBC (TV & Radio), the Globe & Mail, and the Toronto Star, and even in little Thessalon the weekly ‘North Shore Sentinel’. It doesn’t take much insight to realize that for the subsidized media it’s not a good idea to “bite the hand that feeds you”. Watch the complete takedown of Canadian mainstream media by the British author and political commentator, Douglas Murray. Succinct and amazingly accurate:

Fini –

• From the World of Statistics, the time it took to reach one million users on their Social Media platform:
Netflix – 3.5 years
Twitter – 2 years
Facebook – 10 months
Spotify – 5 months
Instagram – 3 months
ChatGPT – 5 days

• This week two ‘bits’ caused me to pay a bit of attention. First, on an afternoon walk in nearby St. Bernard I spotted this posted in the rear window of a parked truck. The second was that while the Administration is pushing hard for gun control they just released an international arms dealer, Viktor Bout known as the “Merchant of Death”, who was locked up for conspiring to kill Americans. Stew on that for a bit.

• From England is this posted notice in their movie theater. You have to agree that it’s probably the most appreciated of all notices.

• Since I seem to be on a bit of a British bent. Don’t you just love these ladies self-defense gloves from ca. 1850 in London.

• Our nearest Costco relocated 4-miles further up the Interstate. But, I think I have a solution. Earlier this week I took Tevita to the airport and thought I’d swing by the Costco in Florence, KY, that’s Florence Y’All. Not much difference in miles but more direct and quicker (assuming the river bridge isn’t backed up). However, since it’s located in Kentucky with differing laws, take a look at the department available to us. I am now sold on switching allegiance to this Costco outlet.

• The building adjoining ours is sitting empty. The LLC that had purchased it went ‘belly up’. A branch had fallen into a bush in front of the place and I went over to get it out of there. Getting closer, saw that it was a glorious 10-foot tall Firethorn (scientific class is Rosaceae).

• I’m certain that next year some new Tax rules will kick in. And, that with 87,000 new Tax inspectors that no one is safe. In that light I thought I’d share this bit: The Pentagon: “we don’t know where $2.2 Trillion dollars went”. The IRS to you and me: “You just sent $601.00 dollars from your bank account, don’t forget to report it!”

• Then in the ‘for cuteness sake’ department here is a map and the most famous brand associated with each state.

Ciao. Stay strong; keep pushing onward – question it all and don’t let any person or government silence you.

Keep on storming the castle. Pray for Peace.

Dirk