2018 Fall October 21 Sunday

48 degrees this morning Walk 34:48 minutes, 78% humidity 

Good walk this morning.  Full moon (or close to it) descended as I walked.  It was high in the western sky when I started and had basically set by the time I finished my walk.  The full moon is early this month. 

Temperature was somewhat “crisp”, but not really that bad, especially since I was dressed for it, probably dressed a little too warm as usual.

Pace was 12 seconds slower than my goal.  I thought I was going a little faster than that, but…..

Apparently my time for sitting on the patio for this year has come and gone, suddenly it is  too cold to sit on the patio and I probably won’t sit on the patio until next mid-May or so, although you never know.  

Every October 21, another year clicks by since I first started working my first full time job for a City, so many years ago now.  On October 21, I started working full-time for the City of Liberal, Kansas.  I certainly never could have guessed what the future held more me at the time!

Watching the “qualifying” for Formula 1, the “United States Grant Prix”.  I was actually there last year, and it is truly amazing.  Hopefully we will be able to return sometime or somewhere else.  

Thinking about the privacy issue again.  Since I mentioned it yesterday morning, I am more and more aware of “tracks” we leave and really it wouldn’t be hard to reconstruct almost every move you make.  Where you ate breakfast, what you bought, when and where you bought gas, when and were you went to Starbucks, etc.  

Again, it really “doesn’t matter until it matters” and someone wants to misuse it.  

One comforting thought is the the library system here destroys all records of what we check out, so we have the “freedom to read” without fear that someone will try to track what we checked out.  As I noted, not that I would care, but it  seems that anything can be used against you.   

Apple Computer apparently is going to have an event soon where they will introduce the new “iPad”.  I was disappointed they didn’t have it at their last event, but that is maybe just as well.

Pleased  that the Dodgers are in the World Series.  Due to the minor league  farm team, we actually have personally watched many of the players play, including some of the players who made key plays.  

I realize at the level, a lot depends on “luck’ and it easily could have turned out otherwise but to some degree you make your own luck.  

That’s it for now, Sunday, October 21, 2018.               

2018 Fall October 20 Saturday

49 degrees this morning, walk 34:45 miles, 100 % humidity

Overall good walk this morning.  It is hard to dress for this type of weather, end up usually dressing too warm, which is ok.

Very foggy this morning.  Makes me think of how fog is associated with crime and spooky stories and movies!  It didn’t really affect me, but I did think about how so many times the criminal or the ghost etc. “comes out of the fog”.  

I’ve noticed (at least in my opinion) how my morning walk seems to energize my mind, more than when I miss it.  If my mind needs energizing!

Reading more about vaccines and listening to the “Great Course” on biology.  I have to admit I am slow to pick up on biology.  A “double Helix” is as foreign to my mind as a “DNA Strand”, my mind kind of shuts down when I hear it.  

Actually, it is interesting, I just don’t feel I really understand more than a vague concept of such things.  Not that I couldn’t learn (although I never really did in college), but there are a lot more important ways for me to spend my time.  

I do like getting information on the subject and I may be interested or find value in learning more in the future.

Probably one of the key decisions we make about our lives are how we spend our time, and so much of our time is frittered away without any real plan.  On the other hand, I also feel a certain amount of “frittering” is important!  

Leaned some more interesting items about vaccines.  There is evidence that some of the Revolution War battles etc. were won by the troops where smallpox vaccine was required, which makes sense.

Back to the Newsletter I read on a  regulate basis, and his take on the the future.  The Newsletter writer noted the dangers of computers and privacy. 

I never never really cared too much whether companies had my information or not (except for my e-mail address or phone number!).  However,  the Newsletter points out just how much of our private information is documents. 

For example, he notes that a new car may have over 100 computers sending back information to the manufacturer.  Much of it may be used for “good”, but….

He points out that this basically provides a “map of your life” to companies and eventually the government and businesses.    

This got me thinking of a “map of my life”.

For example, every time i use my credit card, I leave a record of where I have been, my purchases,  my interests, perhaps even my income, age and other demographics.  

In addition, the “turnpike pass” provides exact details o where you have been and even the parking meters now provide an exact record of your movements.  

It is like everything else, “it doesn’t matter until it matters” and the information is there if someone wants to use it against you.

That’s it for now, Saturday, October 20, 2018.

2018 Fall October 19 Friday

53 degrees this morning, no walk (rain again), 98 % humidity.  

Looking forward to walk this morning, looked like light rain.  Almost walked anyway, but didn’t when I saw the “weather app”, which proved to be correct that shortly a heavier rain was coming in.  A cold high humidity walk is probably not good for my cough.

More reading on vaccines, it is actually very interesting.  As I mentioned, by chance, I am listening to a “Great Course” on biology and reading a book about vaccines and they are providing a lot of information that is both interesting and surprising.  

The first smallpox vaccination (that is documented)  was actually by the Chinese (900-1000 AD) when they took the scabs from persons who survived smallpox, crushed them into powder and then breath it into the nose.  

This became a standard practice for children when they reached about 5 years of age.  

There is some indication that the Greeks, physicians in about 400 BC also were aware of the concept of immunity by people who survived smallpox etc.

Inoculation or “shots” first were crude incisions etc., but apparently became common around 1700, although a “small” percentage of persons inoculated died (about 2-3%) died from small pox.

I guess you could say this is “small” unless you are one of the 2-3 %

Anyway, I didn’t intend to give a lecture on the history of smallpox vaccines, it is just interesting.

I was surprised learn Cotton Mather (“Sinners in the hands of an Angry God”) was one of the early popularizers  of smallpox vaccines.  He played a major role in early tests and his support made it widely accepted.

Ironically he was criticized  for “interfering with God’s will” by popularizing and his support of vaccines to cure smallpox.  

I can remember reading “Sinners in the hands of an Angry God” when I was probably about in the 4th grade, it was a selection in my brothers and sisters high school literature books.  I don’t know that I ever really was affected by it, but I remember reading it, and probably more important, the introduction to it and an examination of it  

Anyway, until now, I had no idea that he was one of the persons who was at least socially responsible for the development of smallpox vaccines.

George Washington actually ordered all soldiers be inoculated for  smallpox if they hadn’t lardy surveyed it, so it was common by then.

Perhaps also, it reminded me that until just recently, deadly diseases like polio, smallpox, the plague etc. were common and everyone lived in fear of the disease.  

It makes you think perhaps there will be a “cure” or preventative technique for cancer, and other diseases/conditions that are still common. 

Glad it is Friday.  Will be a rainy day.  Not good since I am “In the field”, but I will deal with it!

That’s it for now, Friday, October 19, 2018.  

2018 Fall October 18 Thursday

55 degrees this morning, no walk, 72 % humidity

55 degrees actually seems “warm” after the last few days!  I need to check and see if these temperatures are lower than “normal” this year.  

No walk due to medical appointment early this morning.  I hated to miss walk this morning with 55 degrees and no wind, but I hate to get too rushed and I didn’t know how exercises might affect any tests.  

I noted cold weather has affected my cough (increased it), but it is still much better than it used to be.  

Thursday, and the 18th of the October!  

A rather long dream recently, but one that seemed to have significance, so I decided to go ahead and note it.

Dream 10-13-18

Dream I was working at my present job, except it was in a huge office building.  I drove to work each morning and  parked in a high demand parking area.

Drove to work one morning, there was some kind of work being done on a car which stopped everyone from getting to the “normal” parking area. 

A relative told me when i was coming in there was space at the parking of the top of the hill, but I waived it off, since I worked at an office where the bottom of the hill parking was better.  

I didn’t get a parking space and was frantically trying to find a parking space.

I met someone who I talked to about it and he said “some of the Supervisors are covering the parking fines”.  

At one point I even ran into an Airline ticketing place to get parking space (remember this was a dream)  

For some reason I was walking around naked,(absolutely no clothes on).  Again, remember this was a dream!

then I realized I had forgotten my briefcase which had my computer in it.  (It was a brief case that my Dad used, if that has any significance and actually has his initials on it.  I got it for him when I worked at Samsonite  in the summers while going to college.)

I ran back to the airline ticket (which hd been empty) but now had a large dog running around the hallway so I couldn’t go to the office I had been in.  Again, there was on one in the area and the office actually had nothing in  it.

It only had a big phone cable which had been cut.  

Someone said the State had a contract, it doesn’t matter  how many phones the state had.  

I was running around naked looking for the brief case with my computer in it.  

I was thinking “maybe this was dream” then I woke up and it was dream. 

A very powerful dream,  it took me a while to fully realize it was only a dream.  I have no idea what would happen if I lost my computer, it is probably something that just doesn’t happen!  

That’s it for now, Thursday, October 18, 2018

2018 Fall October 17 Wednesday

41 degrees this morning, Walk 34;52 minutes 91% humidity 

Walk this morning was ok, in spite of the temperature.  No wind, so the cold wasn’t that bad.  No moon. 

During the walk I was aware of my slow pace the last time, so I tried to at least keep up the pace and was 12 seconds slower than my goal.  Not bad for cold weather.  

An exercise in local participation last night, we went to a Planning Commission concerning a nearby zoning.  I still feel weird and rather disoriented when I attend a City meeting and am sitting in the audience instead of being involved in the meeting! 

Anyway, it was all polite and a model of “everyone having their say” in a civil way, until at the very last when the developers attorney make a threat that may well have cost them several votes.  It certainly changed my mind, I thought it if they had to resort to gutter tactics, maybe I couldn’t trust them to do what they said.

Anyway, it was interesting and we intend to follow-up as it goes through the process.  

Fortunately, we are not directly affected (although we would be affected by the increased traffic and the increased population using trails etc.). 

For some reason it seems like a “slow” week this week.  It seems like it should be Friday, and it is only Wednesday.  I changed my “Field” and “Office” days this week and that may be one reason.  On the other hand, it may just be a slow week!

I like playing a game with the credit card companies, mainly trying to maximize the time  we get an “interest free” loan.  Not that it really matters, since interest on savings is literally nothing, but it still gives me a feeling of satisfaction to watch the credit card “statement dates” and time my big purchases so that they are right after the start of the period.  

It always gives me a feeling of frustration when I have a big purchase fall right before the statement date!  For example, if I make a purchase October 15, I have to pay the bill on November 12 (more or less).  If I time it to fall on October 16, I don’t have to pay the bill until December 12 (more or less).  

While there aren’t really any “savings” involved, it is kind of fun and does help me control the cash flow, which can be important if we even need to withdraw from our IRA etc. to buy something.

My “big” timing now of course is with the tax laws and trying to delay any income until after January 1, which saves me a whole year (actually a year and 4 months!) of having to pay taxes on the income.  

Not that I spend a lot of time on all of this, but it is a minor game that I enjoy, so why not?   Perhaps I am too easily amused and could use my time more usefully somewhere else, but I would have a hard time finding cheaper amusement!

That’s it for now, Wednesday, October 17, 2018.

2018 Fall Otober 16 Tuesday

39 degrees this morning, (feels like 36) 85% humidity, no walk (schedule).

Somehow, it seems as if Winter was already here, although I expect I will adapt to the lower temperatures.  

Recently reviewed a monthly Newsletter I enjoy reading.  Note I didn’t say I agree, I  agree with some of it.  What I do disagree with, with some limitations, I feel at least he tries to support his opinion, maybe not with facts, but at least reasons that he believes.

I recently noted how many people follow the behavior of the incompetent lying coward lunatic, who is so insecure he has to criticize (usually with lies, he has no concept of the truth).  

Recently a senator for this state tried to praise someone, but ruined any praise by following with some vicious lying criticism of the previous persons involved in it.

I have to ask, “why” do they feel so insecure they have to (obviously with lies) criticize someone who (of course) isn’t around to defend themselves.  Sounds like a bunch of incompetent, insecure cowards.

Anyway back to the Newsletter, I don’t really care for the “Chicken Little, Sky is falling” theme, but he does at least attempt to justify his beliefs with reasons.  

One of his themes is the dangers of Cyber-hacking, and possibly a “Cyberwar” that will put the Internet down for an extended period of time.  

I have to agree that I think the dangers of a “cyberwar” are certainly there, or at least a major breakdown of the internet or certain industries, including financial, utilities etc.  

I have to admit, I don’t see the benefits in normal “hacking”, but I can see who an enemy country would want to try to attack the internet.  

Thinking of how much the internet is involved in our daily lives (and probably much more than we realize) it seems this would be more of a concern.  

In fact, I can’t even imagine life without the internet, which indicates how important it is.  

Obviously I don’t know the answers, or even what the problem is.

The author of the Newsletter states that government military contractors are “not the ones that make the best weapons, but the ones who own the most politicians.”

Unfortunately that is probably somewhat true, especially with the current administration.

He mentions some companies which should “benefit” from a cyberwar, but I have to think this is like selling water for huge sums in a disaster, but you can’t eat or drink or live in gold.

That’s it for now, Tuesday, October 16, 2018.

2018 Fall October 15 Monday

36 degrees this morning (“feels like” 26 degrees, 17 mph wind), 83% humidity 

When I went outside this morning, it wasn’t quite as bad as I expected it could be.  Decided not to work due to the temperature and especially the wind.  A little too much too soon!  I know I have to tolerate walking in weather like this this winter, but…..

I always admire restaurants since they are normally “only as good as their last meal”.  A customer can have good meals for years, have one bad meal, and never come back.  So, I don’t like to criticize restaurants for a bad lapse or two.

However, we went to Panera Bread bread yesterday, and I had a sandwich which was somewhat edible, but that was about it.  I don’t order a grilled cheese sandwich often, but while I was avoiding meat, I developed a taste for one at another restaurant.  

I will never order one again (at Panera Bread), it also was very expensive when I saw what I actually got and the cheese may have melted but the bread was certainly not “grilled”.  

Actually my last two experiences with Panera Bread have been negative.  The last time, Aliene got some potato soup that wasn’t even edible, it was like it had been diluted with water or something.  I ate a little and it was not good.

The time before, I had developed the habit of stopped by Panera Bread for my lunch break. They were out of ice coffee and didn’t really seem to care. (I can understand that, but I also never went back.)

All understandable (except perhaps the potato soup), but it seems like a trend is starting and we will probably avoid it in the future.  

Maybe I am just becoming too critical and picky.  At one restaurant recently I ordered scrambled eggs and was given what seemed like one small egg instead of the two I ordered.  In this case, I did comment and was advised another egg which be made, which never came!  Normally this restaurant is excellent, so I we returned like always. They were short-handed and had some new staff. 

Another restaurant has gotten so bad at having startling high rates for small changes or items we are considering not going back.  We don’t mind paying for substitutions, extras etc., but enough is enough.   It isn’t the cost so much as they way they do it.  

There are enough restaurants, unlike airlines, we don’t have to go back if they start to nickel and dime us!  

I didn’t really mean to discuss this (restaurants) at all, it is just one of those things that I suddenly thought about.  

I really don’t like to criticize unless I have asked for a resolution to the problem at the time.  I am trying to be better at mentioning a problem when I have one and not complaining later.

When I was City Manager, i always (honestly) said I wanted to be advised of any problems so I could do something about it.  It really did help a lot when I was advised of a negative experience, a problem etc. at the time.

I need to “walk my talk” and follow the same behavior in my role as a customer!

That’s it for now, Monday, October 15, 2018. 

2018 Fall October 14 Sunday

52 degrees this morning, 100 % humidity

Rain most of the day yesterday, I am beginning to wonder if it will ever stop, which is normally when it stops and then it seems like it will never rain again!  

It has rained so much on Saturdays, they (whomever “they” are) moved the children’s soccer/flag football games to an indoor arena, which is actually a lot better for this time of year, although when it is nice outside you miss being outside.  

Pondering the concept of “vaccines” again and whether the number of people who for some reason don’t want their children vaccinated is going to lead to pandemics of smallpox, polio, plague etc. again.  

While even from my little experience of suspicion about the “whooping cough” shot I don’t believe I have ever really had or even know about an actual bad experience with a vaccine and I know a lot where it has helped.

I am old enough to remember when chicken pox, mumps and  measles were normal childhood diseases (before vaccines were common for them) and it wasn’t any fun and created a lot of problems.  

I actually only remember getting a light touch of chickenpox on my forehead, I vaguely remember having measles and I don’t think I ever got mumps.  

It is interesting to read (and listen to) how vaccines were developed and their impact on society of people who for whatever reason don’t have their children vaccinated. It raises the interesting question of the rights of adults (for whatever reason) who don’t protect their children and what happens if their beliefs harm the children and create extreme harm for society when an aggregate of adults act in that way.  

That raises all kinds of questions about ethics and the role of the individual and government in protecting society.  

Unfortunately, due to the juvenile lying coward lunatic and his perverted lying cowardly attacks on his “enemies”, it is becoming impossible to resolve any cultural or society problem without creating deep divisions.  

The lying coward lunatics behavior is spreading as his congressional cowards and local politicians and news media  follow his behavior.  Recently I noted that our states “elected representatives”  (the word “representative” doesn’t mean much any more as they cowardly kowtow to a lying perverted racist coward lunatic) are following his lying juvenile coward attacks. 

Most noticeable, both the our senators are unable to even “praise” anyone without a vicious cowedly  personal lying attack on the perceived “enemies” which they consider to be anyone who disagrees with them.

It appears that any honest disagreement anymore is a reason for a vicious, cowardly (usually by social media where a response is impossible) lying personal attack, usually blaming someone else for the failures of the coward making the attack.

Hopefully, like all extremist sadistic behavior, there will be a reaction against such behavior and it will stop being considered “normal” behavior but the sick, unethical behavior it really is.  

That’s it for now, Sunday, October 14, 2018.

2018 Fall October 13 Saturday

2018 Fall October 13 Saturday

49 degrees this morning, walk 35:14 minutes, 93% humidity 

+14 lbs

Temperature this morning was ok, no wind made it relatively nice.  No moon. Obviously I am not sitting on the patio this morning!  

Pace was a disappointing 39 seconds slower than my goal.  I was aware that my speed was’t great during the walk, but my primary purpose is’t my speed, so i don’t worry about it.  

I think my primary goal is simply to finish the walk and do it every day, or at last most days.  My other goals (and much less priority) are the pace and, somewhat of a higher priority than my pace is the opportunity to learn something new.  

Listening to a “Great Course” on biology.  I have never been good at math or biology etc. I”m still not.  I am picking up a few things. 

There was a lesson discussing how vaccines work and the research over the years.  Several years ago, Aliene and I got a “whooping cough” shot and immediately developed what we perceived as “whooping cough”.

Of course the Doctors office etc. insisted there was no relationship but we still feel we got whooping cough from the shot.  

However, listening to the details of how vaccine was developed, I can see a small instance where  we could (and did)  develop whooping cough from the shot. 

Something to do with the dead virus becoming “alive” when it is combined with the live virus that activates the dead virus.  Something like that.  I need to look more at it. 

Probably they are right, there is no way we could develop whopping cough from the shot, but …. I see where it could happen.

By chance, I am reading a book about vaccines and how the  failure to get shots in children can have an impact far larger than the number of children who aren’t vaccinated.  

I’m not really sure if I  understand  the workings of it, but if enough children (and it is a small number) do not get there shots, it basically negates the children who got the shot.

People who say there decision “only affects them” are obviously wrong.  “Boo Science” unfortunately affects everyone and could lead to a world health crisis.  

Hopefully I”ll have time to read the book and develop some sense of how it works.  I always think it is good when a situation like now (happen to be listening to a book on biology , while reading a book about vaccines.  

Without any planning on my part, this makes both of them more valuable!  

Synchronicity!

Weekend is here, as is a bunch of what one news item called “wacky weather”.  When I started my walk, I noted a lot of rain etc. coming in, but it was several hours away.  

That’s it for now, Saturday, October 13, 2018.