Lights

When the Sun goes down,  the Lights come up. 

The most enjoyable relaxing evenings are those spent at Epcot. 

The sights, the sounds, the colorful lighting, 

and the festive atmosphere all combine 

with the Magic of it all to create

memories to last a lifetime. 

Enjoy a relaxing stroll around the world. 
Having a dinner or sweet treat. 
Catching a quick show

or attraction. 

Plenty of places to sit and people watch. 
And enjoy the sights. 

Always a great evening. 

Philips Cpap Recall

Philips Cpap Recall

What a mess involving over 3 million units. 

The health issues involved in the recall can be catastrophic including risk of cancer or death, or simply be mild irritations and reactions that will go away once new equipment is issued and the defective units are replaced. The foam inserts that baffle the sound of the turbine is doing one of two things or both. Particles break away being pushed directly into your respiratory system and/or toxic fumes are being released as the foam breaks down, again being pushed into your lungs. New units are being shipped to patients, but resources are limited, and Philips isn't not offering any time frame for solutions other than the long term plan of September 2022. Between a rock and a hard place best describes the waiting. 
 

At this point the risks of not being able to use the Cpap unit are much greater than the risks involved in the recall. Rock and a hard place. 

Everyone has been grasping at solutions... Temporary or otherwise. 
Inline filters may catch small break away particles.

Inline filters can not help with the toxic fumes. 
Inline fillers may affect or damage the functionality of the unit. 
Removing the foam removes the threat, but affects unit operation.

Doing nothing leaves the potential risks for continued use. 

Rock and a hard place... Rolling the dice.  

There's a group on Facebook exchanging information. 
Lots of people with anxiety. 

 

The Smarts

Everything Smart...

Smart is nice.  It all started with a simple tv remote... on, off, volume, and channel.  Wow... This was great! And all that followed has been absolutely amazing. At least amazing to those of us born when indoor plumbing and electrical appliances like refrigerators, coffee makers, and toasters were a modern marvel. And a wired wall phone was considered a luxury. 
How far we have come.  Everything.... I mean everything is becoming smart. 
Things work at unbelievable levels, one button activation, voice recognition, instant results via internet, WiFi, and Bluetooth, and some things are automatic or completely autonomous. Wonderful convenience. 
90 percent helpful.  So where's the issues?  When smart is too smart. Ya already know that smart has quicker access to information and remembers everything... Can even think, calculate, and assimilate conclusions in an instant. And that's still okay.  When smart stuff makes you feel less smart or does things contrary to your detriment... Making you question you mental superiority, or lack thereof. So there you have it. 

Alexa learned my voice and name last week. Then I make a purchase on Amazon.  Alexa hears my wifes voice... Shelly, do you want to know what your husband just ordered?  ... me: what the hell?

Smart refrigerator tells me how many calories I have left for today.  It also tells me that it will know what I take.  It suggests sugar free jello... And tells me that if I take something else,  it will know... And tell Shelly.  Me: again,  what the hell? 

I was asked to move clothes from the washer to the dryer.  Okay... Easy. OMG... All these buttons, lights, buzzers. Try to turn it on... lights and buzzer. Try something else... Again lights and buzzers! Then a voice comes on and asks a question.  " What are you trying to do?  Do you need help? Should I call Shelly?"  Me: again,  what the hell?

Smart house remote. I pick it up,  make a selection and command.  "I don't understand your request". I try the voice command... "turn all lights on"... Responds... "burn tall rights?". Mumble to myself... "I give up".  Response:  maybe you should call Shelly".  Me: oh, just shut up.  Response: I'm telling Shelly!... Again,  what the hell! 

Me: " Set the night time security alarm". ... "Alarm sent... You have 20 seconds to enter your code". Me: 10311943. Beeps... Please enter you security code to cancel.  Me: 10311943. Beeps... Police are on the way.  ... Me: I give up... arrest me... take me away. ... All the doors are now locked,  you can't get away. Me: good, I don't care.  ... Just kidding, Shelly told me to do it.  

Going to my man cave.  Nothing smart about it. Ya even have to turn on the light with a old manual switch. It even has a dumb bulb... That just burnt out... So I'll just sit here in the dark for a while... ahhhh. 

Smart watch.  Not even going there. I concede that on the technology learning curve I went the cliff... Crashed and burned.  

And now cars are now smart.  At least "D" still means drive and the gas pedal is on the right. Found out how to turn the lights on... Just pray it doesn't rain, god only knows how to turn the wipers on.  And no, it's not my car. 

Okay... Maybe I'm not so smart anymore... I'm old,  I don't care. 

Smart? ... Too smart?  ... Or just smart ass... Progress!

The joy of football

The joy of football season. 

Football is certainly one of the saving graces as we leave fall behind and head towards winter. Watching the games and rooting for your favorite teams, especially the hometown team, is a great pastime.

There have been so many close games this year.  And while everyone enjoys some close games,  almost every game is a nail bitter as it comes down to the final play, in the final seconds, to decide a winner. 
So while we are on the edge of our seats to the very end of the game,  sometimes those little things that are inherent with the game, that normally wouldn't bother you, start to get on your nerves a bit. 
There have been so many missed calls by the refs, wrong calls, and questionable calls... Yep, more annoying than usual. Adding to the suspense,  there are so many teams in the middle of the standings that the next loss could take you from 1st place in your division to last place. Add to this,  there seems to be an unusual amount of dumb plays that need to be thrown away never to be used again. Lots of kickers having issues not making the extra points and field goals. Lots of quaterbacks missing too many throws off target. Most times, you don't know if the defense is that good, or the offense is that bad. Putting all this aside as part of the game... Then there's the announcers. All the past by play guys are good, some even great.  Of course my favorites are always Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth. Getting to the partiners of the play by play guys... The color guys. Most chip in with useful information to enhance the game experience.  Some like to talk endlessly, rambling on and on as if this was radio.  Hey, it's television,  we saw it.  They seem to want to establish their superior ability to express great insights into every play. What they achieve, is how to be relentlessly annoying. Some of this is my fault,  I listen to everything they say,  think about what they say,  and when in the course of rambling on and on, they get something wrong... say something that didn't happen.  My out loud response is... Are you watching the same game as us?  Can you please shut up for a while... Please! 
For college games I don't like Gary. For NFL games it's Tony, Troy & Brian. Sometimes... Okay,  most times,  I think they must get paid by work count... They won't stop talking.  Sometimes even to the point of taking over the refs as they make a call on the field. If they have such great knowledge and insight, why aren't they a head coach.  SHUT UP!

But it's all part of the game.  The good, and bad,  and the annoying. 
I think I need a chill pill. Okay... Maybe two! Certainly less caffeine. 

So... It's Tuesday,  I've got 48 hours to chill until the Thursday night game.  Then off to the weekend.  College games on Saturday,  NFL games on Sunday and Monday.  Solutions... Mental exercises to prepare. Breathe in... breathe out... wasa! Hands together like praying, swinging down and out in a slow steady even motion...repeatedly. 

Okay... I'm ready.  But nothing,  I mean nothing,  can over come Gary, Tony, or Brian... Except the mute button.  Wearing that button out! 
All in all... I still enjoy football... And yes,  there will be shouting. 

Y'all enjoy the games.  

Despite the endless chatter.

 
Now for the best...

Always the best!

Robots?

Robots... Technology... And Artificial Intelligence .

First there was computers that could process data beyond human ability. Then computers were put in control of many primary functions of everyday life. Then with advancements computers could not only preform as programmed, but evaluate and analyze problems and learn and develop solutions, with advanced thought processes beyond simple programming. Artificial intelligence came into its own being able to think on its own, and develop thoughts, feelings, and concepts. They were given human qualities to not only think beyond human ability,  but artificial intelligence could mimic human responses. Not only can they out think and process thoughts and responses faster then humans but given their ability to learn and process at light speed, they are technically Superior to humans. They have a consciousness almost equal to humans, and are developing a sense of self awareness. 
Now that's scary. Just as humans are mentally advanced compared to animals, artificial intelligence is advanced to humans. Artificial intelligence, given access to each other, have developed language and communications so they can communicate beyond human comprehension with each other... Again scary. It's a fore gone conclusion that artificial intelligence will far out pace humans, leaving mankind at the mercy of whatever decisions they arrive at. Think about human technology advancement the past 100 years... and the fact that Superior artificial intelligence could achieve this in virtually days... not decades. Couple this with their ability to have feelings and emotions. What will they decide not only for themselves, but for mankind. We have put artificial intelligence in control of virtually everything, will the day come when they take control beyond our wishes? When Humans will effectively become inferior. Robots, for lack of a better more advanced description,  are being produced in human form, able to see and sense their surroundings, and move about.  They can even carry on conversations.  Soon, they will appear in a form that cannot be distinguished from humans in every aspect including emotional facial expressions. 

Great minds like Stephen Hawking have seen the potential dangers of artificial intelligence in the future. Writers for books and movies have portrayed the future as artificial intelligence dominates Mankind's future... from a science fiction standpoint.  Science fiction will someday give way to science fact. And while it's amazing what we are achieving in the A.I. robotic field, no one is concerned with the question... While we were thinking about how to do it, should we not be concerned by the question, should we do it? And what could possibly go wrong verses our initial intent?

Just something to think about as technology gains more and more control of our lives,  and artificial intelligence gains more and more control. 

Some of the latest developments...

Amazing...

 

Christmas Spirit

100% sure to put you in the Christmas Spirit

Just go to Disney

The winter dead

Long dying and dead in the farm fields. Feed corn standing tall and long time dried out, waiting,  always waiting. Rather symbolic of this time of the year. Nothing looks to be alive. 

I'd say... Come on springtime... But that's 4 months away. Arggg...

 

A little history

Still popular after all these years...

Virginia... National Parks... Shenandoah National Park... Skyline Drive. 

In the beginning...

3.14 Choices

Life is full of choices... Lesson # 3.14

I can do that...

I can do that commercial...

Today... I'll be having...

Oven roasted Turkey, 

homemade dressing,

topped with creamy gravy, 

Seasoned green beans, 

Sweet potato & diced apple

Brown sugar & cinnamon casserole, 

And a side of

Chilled Cranberry sauce.

Pie for desert. 

( go figure) 

 

Football Season

Baltimore Ravens Football Season

The last 6 games of the season are all going to be tough games.  Four games are division games...majority important against good teams.

The other two games are also with reality good teams.  So one would say it's gonna be up hill battle.

 
And as one respected Sports commentator said before yesterdays game ... The Ravens have been playing with fire most of the season and its gonna catch up to them against facing all good teams to finish out the schedule. 

I'd have to agree with him. To many close games or blow out losses. The last 5 games... Two losses, one an embarrassing blowout to a great team, and another one lost to a team that should have been easy to beat. 4 of the 5 games were one score nail bitters that came down to the last play of the game. The wins were squeakers, and by all respects,  given the mistakes and failings of Jackson, those games should have been losses. The only saving grace was the Ravens good defense, couple with the opponents team underperforming and making more mistakes and miscues than the Ravens.

Jackson the past several games has had issues throwing the football. Too many throwing errors... over throws, under throws,  off target throws, and simply bad decisions throwing the ball. This last game, against the Browns,   Jackson throw four interceptions. No flukes... just terrible decisions. By all rights the Ravens should have lost the game,  but won,  simply because the Browns were having more issues the the Ravens. Jackson's claim to fame is his ability to run the ball.  Recently Most of his completed passes seen to be luck rather than talent. Jackson is not playing smart,  and it's almost like he is riding high on the praise he's getting for his elusive running ability, while not growing in his ability to be smarter passing the ball. It's great to be a running phenomenon, but a well rounded quaterback needs to be smart and accurate throwing the football. Jackson is getting worse in his decision making. Luck can not carry him much more... especially against the six games that are remaining.  

Yep... Jackson being the team leader is indeed playing with fire.  If he can not raise to the challenge, make better passing decisions, he and the team will get burnt with losses on the remaining games... Ending our season in yet another disappointment.   

We don't want another Flacco... a flash in the pan... Followed by years of disappointment.  

C & C

Candles and Crystals

I feel better already...

Changes

Changes.... Change is the one constant in life. 

No matter how good a part of your life my be, sooner or later it will change. Most times replaced with new positive experiences. But sometimes due to several influences, those good experiences become fewer and the time between them seems to get longer and longer.

People move away from each other and drift apart.  People are busy with the hectic busy lives. Economic situations mean less travel.  Social issues seem to divide more and more people.  Plus, as you get older, more and more friends either pass away or become socially inactive. The art of writing letters is dead. Phone calls are almost dead. Facebook and Instagram, a great way to keep in touch has all but died... too much political crap,  too much social turmoil, and at last count almost 50 unwanted unsolicited sponsored ads a day clutter and clog the news feeds... which seem to be prime sources for scams and frauds. Throw in the news media and the pandemic and all their negative aspects and you have the perfect storm for people wanting to be less and less social, and more isolated. Economic downturns, increased prices, and supply issues and shortages with the store shelves going empty are impacting our lives. We are still far from what use to be called normal,  and the new normal takes one step forward, two steps back. 
Now with the continuing Covid pandemic due to, what,  30+ percent refusing to get vaccinated... Now new strains threaten all previous efforts to control and eradicate the virus. Not to be a doom sayer, but this could turn into a particial extension event where more than half the world's population dies. It's happened before, and there not much of an argument that it couldn't happen again. 

The new normal is imposed isolation along with self isolation. Even the desire to be social is fading away... It's like a virus all to itself... touching every aspect of our lives. One of my joys was writing to my blog. And now, due to computer virus, scammers, frauds, and hackers... warnings are issued about internet sites not being safe and potentially dangerous... so it's only normal for most to avoid the risk.  So, this is where I'm at. I will still post from time to time... reader hits has dropped dramatically in lieu of the potential risk warnings. And I guess after a time, this too will fade away... just like everything in life seems to be headed. 

So,  in closing... Take your happiness where you find it.  

It's all about Who?

Oh... It's all about the Who's. 

Who's ready for some Who Hash? 
Well, maybe desert? 

Nope... Still not in the Christmas spirit.