Years ago, I used to think on vacation that I should try to visit as many places as possible. But nowadays it seems like life is going by too quickly, and it’s better to take things slowly, observe nature more, and not try to hit as much as possible.
Politicians Drinking
With all this talk about politicians drinking beer these days,💭 I have to admit I drink less and less of it. 🍺As I’ve gotten older, I really don’t enjoy getting drunk, I don’t like the hang overs😵 or the even just the cost of alcohol.💰
Sure, I’ll occasionally have a beer or two when camping⛺ but I have all but given up on drinking at home or even when I’m on the road for work.🍻 I guess when I was younger, alcohol made me more relaxed but now it’s really kind of not that great, a lot of empty calories and honestly hang overs are really bad. 💩
Moss Island and Citizen Activism
Moss Island was saved from becoming simply a bridge support largely by the activism of Paul Stewart and a few others from the SUNY Albany Save our Environment Group. They fought and asked questions, raised concerns and spoke out against constructing the bridge over Moss Island. Instead the bridge was moved slightly to the south and is virtually as quick to get to Little Falls.
Citizen activism in one’s community can really make a difference. While the national environment may be almost untreactable, citizen activism on the local level can make a real difference. Often the opinions of citizens are dismissed by governments as unworkable only to be implemented after enough activism forces government to reconsider the default options.
Moss Island today is a big draw for rock climbers and tourists alike. It provides a beautiful place to walk, enjoy nature within city limits, to carefully observe the natural wonders known as the potholers. Indeed, what city leaders at one time just viewed as a place to cross is one of the city’s greatest assets
Being a Professional
Being a professional is about more than just having a job or a title; it’s about embodying a set of values and behaviors that reflect a commitment to excellence, ethics, and responsibility in one’s chosen field. Professionals strive to make a positive impact, both in their work and in their interactions with others.
- Expertise and Competence: Professionals have a deep understanding of their field and possess the necessary knowledge, skills, and qualifications to perform their job effectively. They continuously seek opportunities for learning and improvement to stay up-to-date in their field.
- Ethical Behavior: Professionals adhere to a strict code of ethics or a set of professional standards that govern their behavior. This includes honesty, integrity, and a commitment to doing what is right even when faced with difficult decisions.
- Responsibility and Accountability: Professionals take responsibility for their actions and decisions. They understand the consequences of their work and are willing to be held accountable for their performance.
- Reliability: Being reliable is a crucial aspect of professionalism. Professionals meet deadlines, fulfill commitments, and can be counted on to deliver high-quality work consistently.
- Respect and Courtesy: Professionals treat others with respect and courtesy, regardless of their position or status. They maintain positive and productive relationships with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders.
- Effective Communication: Professionals are skilled communicators. They can convey their ideas clearly and effectively, both in writing and verbally. They listen actively and respond thoughtfully to the concerns and needs of others.
- Adaptability: Professionals are open to change and are willing to adapt to new circumstances and challenges. They embrace innovation and seek opportunities for growth and development.
- Dress and Appearance: Depending on the field, professionals often dress in a manner that is appropriate for their workplace and reflects a certain level of professionalism. This may involve adhering to a dress code or wearing attire that conveys competence and respect.
- Continuous Improvement: Professionals are committed to lifelong learning and self-improvement. They actively seek out opportunities to enhance their skills and knowledge, whether through formal education, training, or self-study.
- Dedication and Work Ethic: Being a professional often involves a strong work ethic and a dedication to one’s job or career. Professionals are willing to put in the effort required to achieve their goals and excel in their chosen field.
- Teamwork and Collaboration: Many professionals work in teams or collaborate with others to achieve common goals. Being a team player and effectively collaborating with colleagues is an important aspect of professionalism.
- Leadership: In some cases, professionals may be in leadership positions. Effective leadership involves inspiring and guiding others, setting a positive example, and making decisions that benefit the organization and its stakeholders.
MRP 1954
Some neat pictures of Moose River Plains when it was timberlands in 1954.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/120015814699641/permalink/3628739200493934/?sfnsn=mo
The Electric Gas Station of the Future ⛽
Automobiles are going electric. Not just because of climate change concerns, but because the technology has slowly but surely matured, and gasoline motors are reaching their limits as tailpipe emission standards become tougher as the human health concerns grow over what was once seen as acceptable levels of nitrous oxides, carbon monoxide and other hydrocarbons in urban air basins.
Electricity is a much more flexible of a fuel. A highly-refined form of energy, much more of it is turned into useful work then gasoline in an internal combustion engine. When you “burn” electricity, it can come from coal, natural gas, nuclear power, hydro-electric, solar, wind among other sources. You can turn what makes sense locally into electricity. With modern inverter-drives, high-voltage three-phase inductive motors you have very good control over wheel torque, horsepower and speed. No complicated transmissions or gear boxes to control wheels. Just computer code telling the inverter to create the desired sine-wave to get the desired output on the wheels.
It’s the future. It will be a really good future for gas stations. While most people will fill their electric cars up at home to maximize their savings by using home-purchased electric power, when out on extended road trips or travel, people will need to recharge their batteries. And that’s where fast-charging at gas stations comes about. Travelers will need a place to stop and recharge their batteries — and not just their cars’ batteries but themselves.
The gas station of the future will look a lot like the modern gas station and convenience mart of today — only bigger with more full-service facilities. A typical fast charging takes around 20 minutes, which will mean time for the traveler to get out of their car, run to the bathroom, and get lunch or dinner. Many stations may be full service – you pull up, the clerk comes out, plugs your car in, and asks if you would like a bite to eat or some coffee. They will have free Wi-Fi and comfortable seating inside to drink your coffee.
Gas stations might not just be the traditional single-purpose gas station. There is no reason why McDonalds and all the fat-frier shops wouldn’t install electric charging stations, so people spend more time lingering and buying food. Gas stations, typically a dirty smelly, greasy business that lately has been trying to lure customers in, aren’t nearly as dirty or smelly if they aren’t vending volatile gasoline. Dinners would also add chargers, to get people to come and eat while they top-off their cars. Shopping mauls and other retailers may get into the business too — electricity is relatively cheap bought in bulk, and it’s an added revenue source if you install chargers in your lot.
Ultimately, many businesses may choose to add electric chargers, as most have access to 480 volt or high-voltage three-phase electricity. 240-volt Level 2 chargers are very basic, and inexpensive to install, and fast chargers aren’t that expensive to install if there is a sufficient 3-phase feed into existing businesses. And they will only get cheaper as time goes on and they are mass-produced and manufacturers find ways to further costs.
Unavoidable consumption of non-renewable resources…
That God damn flipped statement in nearly every environmental impact statement. While a true statement, it always annoys me how flipped the language comes across when they use it. Environmental analysts might just be covering their asses but it’s an obnoxious statement on its face, especially if the document doesn’t propose any mitigation towards stopping to push our planet off the cliff, expanding more of our lands into dumping grounds, fouling the air and paving over our farms and forests.