Now This is a Real Problem

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We are often told about “problems” identified by politicians so they can promise “solutions”. Rarely are these the most important problems we face. While illegal immigration is a problem, it isn’t nearly as dire as some politicians would have you believe. The numbers just don’t show it. On the other hand THIS is a problem. It is a distinctly American problem and it has possible solutions. Yet you don’t hear much about the problem, let alone the solutions.

When You Have the Best Band

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There is a line in the movie “The Blues Brothers” where the late Donald “Duck” Dunn says, in his great southern drawl, “… Jake’s’ not lyin’, we had a band powerful enough to turn goat piss into gasoline.” I’ve always loved that line. In 1975 Bruce Springsteen played the Hammersmith Odeon in London. He had that kind of band…

I have never gotten to see Springsteen, placing him on my list of “Bands that got away”. But I always heard he put on a helluva show.

What the Hell is Wrong with Car Companies?

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Ford files patent for a car with holographic cops and guard dogs

Okay this is insane. I recently heard of a guy who bought a Kia Stinger (about $30 to $35 thousand dollar car) and then got in a front end fender-bender. The repair bill was $27,000 due to all the sensors in the front end.
Personally, I do not want “automatic braking”, “lane assist”, or “automatic parking” or a tailgate that opens when I wave my foot. And for God’s sake, why would I need Wi-Fi?
I recently saw a video from, I think CBS, where Audi proposed the answer to today’s super-bright headlights was “adaptive headlights” where a mini-computer moves tiny little shades in the headlight to shield oncoming drivers. How the hell much is that going to cost?!?!
Really Ford? Holograms?

NASA finally dishes on Boeing

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This is a sad testament to the ineffectiveness of our government. How is it that anyone on Boeing’s management team still has a job? If I was a shareholder I would want the bunch of them out. The CEO and Quality Control Head should both be facing prison time for bilking the American taxpayer. This is what happens when government and industry get too cozy.

NASA inspector general gives damning assessment of Boeing’s quality control

As a result, the two astronauts that flew the Boeing Starliner to the ISS may not get home until February! On a better built Space X Dragon no less!
Cost to develop Starliner – 4.2 billion dollars (not including cost overruns)
Cost to develop Dragon – 2.6 billion dollars

The Hottest Day Ever Recorded

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was yesterday. Beating the previous record holder, the day before yesterday. How long will we keep electing fools who ignore the coming disaster? Hope you like higher food prices for a start.

Monday breaks the record for the hottest day ever on Earth

A movie opened last week called “Fly Me to the Moon”. It is a fictional tale set around the first American moon landing. It portrays a possibility of NASA faking the landing. I sincerely hope everyone associated with this garbage loses their careers. We already have 1 in 8 Americans who think we didn’t land on the moon, one of our country’s proudest achievements. Sadly, America’s once proud association with science and reason seems to have vanished.

Oxygen from the Ocean

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Okay, this could be a real game changer. People have been talking about mining manganese nodules (metal nodules made from a number of rare metals) from the bottom of the ocean floor since I was in elementary school. Just as the technology is being developed we discover this…

Oxygen discovery defies knowledge of the deep ocean

If this is true, mining these nodules could be another heavy straw on the camel’s back as far as the ocean is concerned. Our world ocean is already stressed to the breaking point.

So Important

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As we think about life, the future, and everything that bothers us, remember this…

In 1990, as Voyager 1 was leaving the solar system. NASA turned it around and took one last photo of the Earth. It was at the limit of Voyager’s camera’s ability. Earth is just one blue dot in a vast sea of darkness.

Starliner Return is Delayed Again

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I would be dumping my Boeing stock if you haven’t already. This is not going to be resolved without government intervention. Small scrappy Space X has been kicking Boeing’s tail in the commercial space race. Boeing probably needs to be broken up. It’s just too big, and unfortunately run by financial types not engineers. As are too many American “manufacturing” companies.

Also, keep an eye on the Chinese, we are decommissioning our orbital space station without a replacement as they expand their program. (see next post)

Speaking of Music and Musicianship

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I was mentioning how it didn’t matter that the Stones weren’t technically perfect and I thought I should post a band that is technically perfect live. Plus the Rolling Stones may be the greatest rock and roll band ever, but this is the greatest rock and roll drummer, ever.

Fun fact: YYZ is the airport code for Toronto International Airport. The beginning cymbal riff is actually Y-Y-Z in Morse Code.

Also: How legendary must you be to play a rock-and-roll instrumental, which is a thinly disguised sped up piece of classical music, to a stadium of close to 100,000 people, and have the crowd “sing” along?!

New Material From NASA’s Glenn Center

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This is awesome news. 3D printed metals have the capacity to change so much. Just another reason why NASA’s Glenn Research center is an awesome part of NE Ohio! Ignore the talking heads at the end. Why does every local news station think I want to listen to the anchor’s opinions on each story? Please just shut up and read the news.

The Rolling Stones at Browns Stadium June 15th

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Those of you who know me know I am quite the music fan and have been lucky enough to see many, many live acts over the years. The Stones have always eluded me. Mostly due to the eye watering cost of the tickets. They have long been on Mrs. Boch’s bucket list as well. I finally agreed to spend the money a few years ago and then COVID happened and the show was canceled. This year our kids went together and purchased the tickets for our birthdays. We had great seats.

Wow! All I can say is 80-year-old guys should not be so energetic. It was an amazing show. Some bands you go to see for their technical skill and musicianship. The Stones are not that type of band. As you can see in the video below, mistakes were made. Mick clearly blows his cue to start singing. It just doesn’t matter. It’s the Stones. It was sort of a Rock-and-Roll religious experience.