Fred rantings

This is a copy of an older posting I didn't want to lose... it's timing was March 2018. I'm starting on an 8 city, 24 day European adventure.  For those interested in following my adventures & ops... i'm keeping a blog at:    http://eurotrip33.blogspot.com.es/2018/02/barcelona-2018.html I've got a separate blog going for my 8 cities in 24 day tour of Europe... here's the link http://eurotrip33.blogspot.com/2018/02/barcelona-2018.html [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1500"] Cologne Carnival[/caption]

The 2018 World Cup (WC) just concluded with well over 3 billion people watching worldwide (it was 3.2b in 2014). The USA viewership was down 44% from 2014.   The WC happens every four years with 32 countries competing in the world oldest sport. It used to be called the beautiful game and this year one team returned that moniker to some its former glory.  I have a lifetime of soccer behind me from NCAA and i n 1954 I tasted my first champagne and cigar in Germany when they won the World Cup. I also celebrated four years ago when Germany won it again. I was utterly sad this year when Germany failed to make it out of group play - for the first time ever. A 2:0 loss to South Korea did them in. South Korea? I didn't even know they played soccer :-)! kiddin'... I think the reason why 3+ billion people tuned in, is because most of them played soccer at least when they were a little kid. One can roll up a piece of paper and kick it around on any surface and make...

In keeping myself 'relevant' in my old age, I've been volunteering for the last few years with a varied array of organizations.  You'll find me at Bioneers this year and soon at TEDx.  But for now I've discovered a new passion of mine and it's been the highlight of my year:   PCTA trail crew.    It's by far the best, healthiest and beautiful volunteer work I've ever done.  This pic is the work crew at a bridge building project on the John Muir Trail outside of Mammoth.    see if you can find me... (answer at the end) After two years of going through their Trail Skills College in Truckee, I've mastered a few things - like tool sharpening, hauling big rocks, brushing with the McCoy (ahem... McCloud :-) and swing an ax and a pulaski pretty good.  Nothing beats hauling up two 30lb rock bars, a pack, safety gear (aka sweating) up a switchback laden trail to a work site.  Peer pressure keeps me going :-) Here's a few pics fr...

As I delve more into living energy, I regretfully must put most of my engineering brain to the side... and  forget everything I learned in engineering school .  Not the science and most theorems, but the whole systems, processing and infrastructure things.  All they do is provide fresh meat to keep our current systems going.  That's our system of 2% efficient cars, 5% efficient electricity supply, bleching/polluting/carcinogens loaded transportation system, hydro dams that wreck havoc on fisheries, on...and on....  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I'Il never forget these carved words on the front of the University of Wyoming Engineering School: 'Strive on - the control of nature is won, not given' Note:   I worked there full-time as a research technician, and finished my degree part-time.   In 2005 (the year I met Dr. Michael Braungart at SRI and later did a short stint at his  EPEA ...

i recently checked into a hotel for the first time in over three years  (I'm a big AirBnB lodger).  A large LCD TV was in the room and I couldn't resist channel surfing.  I watched CNBC for a bit and recognized the same panelists (?)...  How do these people continue talking day after day, year after year about the same stuff - money.  dhaaaaaaa!   Greed and fear are two of the main drivers of human behavior and there's no doubt these talking heads are make lotsa mulla talking shit about making money. For other TV stations with talking heads - they seem to switch out every year or two given daily scandals about non-PC talk,  erring with a slipping comment, or some other .... how much shit can you talk in 4hours each and every day about money, stocks, futures, commodities, trends, etc.   As long as people believe they can make money and get rich, they'll continue this endless gabble... I used to listen to these talking heads in my ca...

'feeling groovy' so goes the Simon Garfunkel song of the 60's.  Another one bites the dust also comes to mind. Ever reflect on your immediate feeling by singing the lyrics to a song?   this morning I feel ready to sprint out of the gates. This morning I feel out of sorts. this morning I feel like staying in bed. 

There's few things in life that are inevitable. the trusty old standbys of death and taxes need a modern revision - like a dead phone,  Speaking of longevity, there's three things that seem to dictate our real age:  environmental hazards, genetics, and diet/exercise combos.  The first one is probably the easiest to get a handle on, but few do.  Everyone seems to focus on the latter - as if by just eating more of this or that and getting into this or that exercise routine will turn our lives into a new beautiful blooming rose.   Hey, com'on - get a grip on REAL modern life.  We're assaulted each day by deadly weapons of mass destruction - oops, let's stick to NVC here - by deadly bacteria and man-made elements - oop s, let's stick to gender neutral - human made elements.  OK, OK... enough PC bullshit talk.   There are three main environmental culprits in our daily lives that we can easily change:  air, water, food.  Start...