Brown Motion

I mean to be blunt about what I saw in my recent visit to the state of Florida.  While it is inquiring human endeavor to extract the most out of nothing...as in the case of this state it does not alter the fact that it is largely a swamp.  While geologists and their kin might argue it as a slow moving river that meets the sea from a practical standpoint it is a hotbed for all things that like murky, damp environs to procreate (e.g. the mosquitoes). We were bit by one (or two or three) - the first in North America in two decades of living here (I do not consider Mexico as part of North America so the statement stands). While the Government certainly did use this piece of real estate wisely in couple ways it is in many ways like Las Vegas, Nevada where ideally no one need visit.  I mean there is nothing there that you will ever need for survival nor enrichment other than man made establishments that simply exist to help you part with your cash all the while enterta...

This year around Christ's birthday we decided to visit the opposite coast.   Being California residents it is a hard sell but we wanted to enjoy it with our daughter who had never been to the Sunshine state. So we spent a week doing the usual - cover as much terrain on land or water - and soak it in along with the abundant sun.  So we began a loop around the state by starting out at the eastern shore in Fort Lauderdale just north of Miami.   It is not as busy as Miami in terms of the population or the variety of food or sand under your feet.   But offers some beachfront cruising opportunities to gawk at spendy (an informal term I use to describe items that are priced purely based on intangible worth which is mostly anything that is not-functional) items and people. Sampled some very interesting chewy biscotti and a sort of French sounding pastry that was quite alright.  Food in any shape and form to me is not spendy - it is just nutrition in a...

Saw a wonderful BBC documentary showcasing the life of Richard Feynman.  Theoretical physics can be a very drab subject to appreciate but in watching how this Nobel winning professor went about making it easy for the lay person to understand made him a more wise person IMHO. Understanding is only part of the solution but to put something to good use requires it be narrated or communicated simply.  He knew how to do it.  From working to develop the A Bomb to solving the puzzle of what caused the Challenger Space Shuttle to blow up, he spent his life investigating and exploring and never being tired of being curious. Some of his books like 'Surely you are joking Mr. Feynman' provide a vivid look at his work and personal life of 70 years.  In it he reminisces of his curious habits and encounters that drove people wild but also proved a point beyond dispute. The documentary provided insight into his life from his close friends and family who are all ...

That's what killed the cat. But since satisfaction brought it back I decidely have continued to be curious. On further investigating some inane news (mind you this is dangerous territory in itself) I discovered that the world has been stuck with a title song from the album CURIOSITY by Carly Rae Jepsen as top of the charts at number 1. Of course I refer to 'Call Me Maybe'. I also then on an unrelated encounter found that NASA had named their MARS rover with the same name - Curiosity. That peaked mine. Why would that be? Curious coincidence? So I decided to let the cat out of the bag (to see if it gets killed). I suspect that NASA actually bought the rights to play that song to the aliens out there to indicate what we as a species have achieved and are up to these days. So as Curiosity sits and samples mud from MARS its also playing 'Call Me Maybe' to unsuspecting alien ships that troll the deep darkness of space.