With or Without?

Electric Cars

There are many people in this country that have purchased electric cars and have been very happy with them as far as I can tell, especially with the electronic dashboard and the performance of the vehicle both in town and on the road.  However, my concern is not the performance or the electronics but the ability to find charging stations when on the road.

It would be fairly easy to drive a mile or two to the grocery store or to eat at a local restaurant of which we have several, because once done with the drive, one returns home and plugs vehicle into the home utility grid.  But, that would not necessarily be the case, when one is driving to Myrtle Beach, SC which is a 6 hour drive from us...  I don't recall seeing any electric charging stations.

And...  let's suppose there are plenty of these charging stations  around...  how long is the wait to completely recharge the vehicle?  That is what no one is really wanting to share with potential buyers on these TV commercials.  When you are charging at home, it is convenient to charge over the night...  but, on the road, one is going to have to wait...  HOW LONG?

And, does the family wait inside the car or outside in the potential heat or cold???  Think about that?

 

IN CONTROL

 

Adults Only Cruise

(CNN) — When you step into the Scarlet Lady cruise ship, you know immediately you're on Richard Branson's ship.

There's a record store on the left selling limited edition Sex Pistols and Lady Gaga on vinyl. The crew has cooler outfits than you. And there is red, red, red everywhere -- lest you forget this is a Virgin-branded endeavor.

Then there is Branson himself, back from space and joining his executive team in New York City to show off Virgin Voyages first ship before it starts sailing from Miami on October 6.

It finished a short run in the United Kingdom, where strict vaccine and testing requirements kept major Covid-19 problems at bay.

Without kids splashing about, the ship's pool area aims for
well-being and tranquility.  Channon Hodge/CNN

The 1,408-cabin ship is hip, alternating luxury with a casual vibe that beckons guests to come as they are if they happen to be very cool kinds of people. 

The adults-only ship has luxurious gold fixtures and bannisters, ultrachic, boutique-sized restaurants and double chaise loungers absolutely everywhere that seem destined for guests who want to canoodle the day away.  READ MORE

Fast Boat

 

Unpredictable behavior

GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WZTV) — Great Smoky Mountain National Park Service is warning visitors to keep their distance from elk in the park as breeding season is gearing up.

Elk are the largest animals in the national park, attracting visitors from all over. But as fall nears, males, or "bulls," are ready for the rut.

"This season is highly anticipated, as bulls begin to mate and make their notorious bugling calls to challenge other males," GSMNPS wrote.

During the rut, park rangers say elk behavior is unpredictable and bulls have been known to charge at people and cars.

All fields are closed to pedestrian traffic this time of year. People should stay near or inside their vehicles. Dogs should be kept on leashes.

What To Do via the GSMNPS:

• Use binoculars, a telephoto lens, or spotting scope for close-up views
• Keep at least 50 yards between you and them
• Use your thumb: Extend your arm, raise your thumb, and close one eye. If your thumb covers the entire animal, you’re a safe distance away.

Learn more about elk in the Smokie here.

Watch Out...

 

Witest White Paint

The whitest paint in the world has been created in a lab at Purdue University, a paint so white that it could eventually reduce or even eliminate the need for air conditioning, scientists say.

The paint has now made it into the Guinness World Records book as the whitest ever made.

So why did the scientists create such a paint? It turns out that breaking a world record wasn't the goal of the researchers: Curbing global warming was.

“When we started this project about seven years ago, we had saving energy and fighting climate change in mind,” said Xiulin Ruan, a professor of mechanical engineering at Purdue, in a statement.

The idea was to make a paint that would reflect sunlight away from a building, researchers said.  READ MORE

You Want These?

 

Being Blessed

 

Wanted

Proud & Perky

 

Our Federal Govt

 

Hungry Dog

 

Working Remotely Tips

After working office jobs that required long commutes and stringent 9-to-5 work schedules, I woke up and decided it wasn't how I wanted to spend the next 50 years of my life.

I love office camaraderie as much as anyone, but an over one-hour commute before and after a more than eight-hour workday leaves little time for fun, and the belief that a workday has to fall between certain hours feels super outdated to me.

So, I joined the remote work world in 2015 — transitioning from freelancing to a full-time work-from-home job and back again.

Of the six years I've been working remotely, three have been as a freelancer, and three have been as a full-time employee at a fully remote company. While there are definite differences between the two, they both offer MUCH more flexibility than a traditional office job.

But I would be lying if I said working remotely was always easy. Here's what I wish I knew in the beginning:

1. Don't be afraid to ask if you can alter your working hours to make time for things that are important to you.
This one depends on your boss and company, but chances are, if you consistently show up, put in your time, and get your work done, they'll be flexible with you.

If you're training for a half marathon, ask if you can shift your hours from 9-to-5 to 10-to-6 so you can get in a long, early morning run. Or if there's a boxing class every Thursday evening at 5 p.m., ask if you can start your workday an hour early so you can cut out early every Thursday.  

TO READ ABOUT THE OTHER 14 TIPS, CLICK HERE...

Bunny

 

Quantum Physics: Denying Reality

This morning I had a bowl of plain Greek yoghurt and toasted muesli for breakfast. I could have had a plain bagel with mashed avocado — or, I could have had nothing at all. But I had the yoghurt and muesli. I know, I know, damn millennials and their hipster breakfast food. But, also, who cares what I ate for breakfast? Well, perhaps the universe does.

Imagine that, after breakfast, I dutifully went to the lab to perform some quantum physics experiments. The results of the experiments obviously depend on what I do in the lab. But, they shouldn’t depend on what happens outside of the lab, right? 

I mean, why should laser light bouncing around through crystals and mirrors care what the current value of the S&P 500 is, let alone what I had for breakfast?

The conditions under which an experiment is performed are called its context. In practice, the contexts we consider are very limited to a few settings on the devices in the lab. But, maybe the temperature of the room is important. Were the lights on? Was the door open? Especially when things go wrong — which is more often than not — the context is where you look for answers. 

But some parts of the context are so far removed from the experiment that there is absolutely no way they could affect the results, such as that delicious muesli. (Did I mention it was toasted with a hint of maple and paired with a pot set Greek yoghurt?)

A theory is a set of mathematical rules that make predictions about the outcomes of experiments. Most theories automatically rule out most contexts simply by ignoring them. Dependence on other contexts are ruled out by experimentation. 

If there is no possible experimental arrangement in the lab that can distinguish what I had for breakfast, then the theory shouldn’t make reference to that context. Think of it as an application of Occam’s razor. Indeed, quantum physics makes no mention of breakfast choices.

As successful as quantum physics is, it is merely an operational theory. It’s like a lab manual with instructions about the preparations and expectations of experiments. It’s remarkably accurate, allowing us to engineer materials and devices which form the basis of all modern technology. But, it doesn’t tell us anything about reality — and that bothers a lot of physicists.  READ MORE

Exicted Cat

 

Florida National Parks

When some people think of parks in the Sunshine State, visions of castles, roller coasters, and Mickey Mouse-shaped pretzels come to mind—but national parks in Florida are just as prominent as theme parks. 

From the panhandle to the tip of the Keys, protected lands showcase stunning ecological and biological diversity. Here, mangroves provide kayak mazes, rockets launch over lagoons, and alligators and crocodiles coexist—Florida is the only place on Earth where the two reptilians share turf.

Whether you’re looking for a lazy day at a pristine beach, or perhaps a hike through a tranquil pine forest, these state and national parks in Florida deliver.


Getty - Bahia Honda State Park

Out on the Keys, Bahia Honda State Park is a pastoral stop on the way to Key West. The postcard-worthy park off Big Pine Key is anchored by Calusa Beach, whose turquoise-tinted waters beckon swimmers, snorkelers, and kayakers alike (snorkeling and kayaking equipment are available to rent). 

A photo-worthy moment here is atop the Bahia Honda Bridge, a historic structure erected in the early 1900s, as part of Henry Flagler’s woebegone Overseas Railroad to Key West that was never completed. There’s a short trail along part of the bridge that will take you to one of the highest points in the Keys, for sweeping views of the bay below. Speaking of photo-worthy, stick around for a sunset—and subsequent stargazing—you won’t soon forget.


Getty - Apalachicola National Forest

A stone’s throw from the state capital of Tallahassee, Apalachicola National Forest is a natural haven. The largest national forest in Florida, clocking in at a whopping 633,000 acres, the park is divided into two main sections: Bradwell Bay Wilderness and Mud Swamp/New River Wilderness. Between the two, visitors can paddle, swim, hike, fish, and go off-roading or horseback riding. 

The park also exhibits striking biological and ecological diversity, from longleaf pine sandhills and pine flatwoods to coastal plain hammocks, basin swamps, and floodplain forests. The area teems with wildlife, like woodpeckers, bobcats, gray foxes, and alligators. Drink in the diversity on a one-mile loop at the Camel Lake Trail, or by kayaking to Owl Creek from Hickory Landing, a two-mile route along the Apalachicola River that gets paddlers up close and personal with that classic Florida river swamp terrain.  READ MORE

Flowing Water