How Robert Caro Wrote a Masterpiece
An interesting back story on Robert Caro and how he went on to document some of most powerful men of the 1960s ...
17 views that aren’t on any tour
Some stunning pictures of a pretty looking state capitol ...
Inventing the LED Lightbulb
The LED was invented in 1962, with research into creating a "solid state" laser produced a visible light. Researchers in 1962 knew that "solid state" lighting was the future, but they had no idea that it would be another 50 years until all the elements of the technology would come to place to make the it a practical lighting solution for the masses.
I was at Walmart last night and I noticed how many LED light bulbs they now have on sale. It seems almost certain that traditional vacuum-tube style lighting (incandescent and fluorescent) has less then 10 years left in it's life -- prices continue to drop -- and LED lighting is now superior in most ways to the vacuum-tubes that have long lit our buildings.
Sometimes innovation takes a long time. Who would have ever thought a half century would pass before we would light our buildings with something other then vacuum tubes? Vacuum tube electronics disappeared within 10 years of the introduction of the transistor and solid state electronics, but it shows you how different technology progresses at.
Why don’t modern pop songs end by slowly reducing in volume?
Peak fade out has come and gone ...
Mid-September Mid-Week Update
Good Morning! Happy Wednesday. Fairly nice morning out today, although in the city it is foggy. Camped out at my folks house in Westerlo, as I’m pet sitting for them while they are on vacation. Had a small, rather smokey campfire before bed. The stars were pretty. But I got up early enough to do the chores, get home and take a shower and walk down to the Park and Ride lot, rather then getting stuck taking the local bus. I try to avoid the local as much as possible, as it’s slow and local.
It Was Nice Sleeping in the Truck Last Night. Beautiful night with a lot of stars. But apparently my gas can leaked some gasoline, so everything stunk of gasoline all night long. I now have my sleeping bags on the clothes line airing, and left the screens open on my truck. Gasoline is a volatile chemical, it evaporates and disappears pretty easily if you air it out. Personal experience shows this.
The Route 719 at 5 PM Was Late Again. On Monday, the 5:10 and 5:40 bus once again arrived at the same time. On Tuesday, the same bus route appeared at 5:23 PM. I really got to stop taking the Route 719 at 5 PM, as it’s never at time. The 4:40 bus and the 5:40 bus is always on time, but not the 5 PM bus. I’ve heard they run another route before, and that makes the bus late.
It’s kind of frustrating, because one can make other arrangements, but you got to think the 5 PM bus would be able to run on time. For a couple of years it was pretty good 90% of the time, but lately it’s gotten to the point where it’s always late. I guess I could drive to work or take the local home, but I like missing the crowds by taking the express. But if it’s never on time, that’s a real problem.
Save the Pine Bush Dinner is Tonight. Rezin’s Lasagna is for dinner. I will be there washing dishes and eating good lasagna. Tonight’s speaker is Assemblywomen Pat Fahy, who will speak on environmental issues. It’s always interesting to hear what our elected officials think on the issues of the day, especially with election day rapidly approaching.
Still Chewing Over the Weekend. I was looking at the forecast, and it looks pretty gray out at this point. That probably means it will turn to rain as these forecasts often turn into. We will see about the forecast, but I probably are going to have to go to Gloversville to exchange my air gun with one that works, and then that will mean I have to go the Adirondacks somewhere I can safely shoot. Plus, I’d like to do some fishing and a nice morning in the Adirondacks would be nice. I have plenty of good at home, so I can eat well without picking up much for the weekend, just need to gas up the truck.
Fall Is Starting to Appear in the Capital Region. It’s still pretty green out, but the colder nights are pushing us towards fall weather rapidly, with some hints of color. But it’s supposed to be pretty warm out by the weekend, shorts and t-shirt weather will take a brief return for Indian Summer. We can pretend it’s still summer out, but the daylight won’t lie, and we are quickly sliding into fall and then into November. Hunting season though gets underway at that point.